Astrologicalmind

The magic of astrology explored

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  • Astrology through Time

    Once we enter the realm of traditional astrology our view of life and the nature of reality shifts. As we begin to encounter the philosophical rational, the beauty and precision that is at the heart of traditional astrological doctrine, we cannot help but be influenced and inspired. As we rediscover the wisdom of astrologers that has been handed down through the centuries, we are left to wonder at the profundity of our astrological legacy. However, it is the commonality of our contemporary human experience with that of those who lived in the distant past, that takes us by surprise. It is that which binds us through time.

    We live in a world that is imbued with ideas promoting evolution and progress. Whilst everything on earth is born, grows, withers and dies in the endless cycle of life, giving rise to the illusion of a forward movement of time, it is but that; an illusion.

    Classical astrology understands the importance of Saturn, not only as the ally of the astrologer but also as the significator of time. Saturn of old was also called the Lord of deception and it is possibly his rulership over time which earned him this moniker. As astrologers, we deal in time and are prone to getting caught in its apparent but deceptive forward momentum. By looking back into the past, we recognize that we have not moved far. The cycles of life, of the planets and stars, mark our experiences, but time stands still in a forever present moment that is re-experienced over and over and over.

    The theory that Darwin made famous; that every living creature adapts and evolves is so accepted that it is nigh near impossible to conceive of a past that is not somehow more backwards, less evolved than our present day. Astrologers are not immune to this notion and so they enthusiastically interpret each new discovery in our cosmos as a sign of the collective evolution in our consciousness. This implies that the consciousness of people in the past was not as evolved as that of people alive today.

    Even a cursory knowledge of political, philosophical, or astrological history easily disproves this idea. The wisdom of the past is awe inspiring when one makes friends with Saturn and takes the time and effort to explore it. While technological advances made by humans gives the outward appearance of progress (or evolution) the actual nature of human kind has not changed. We still have the same concerns and desires, for health, happiness, wealth and power. This is why traditional astrology has not lost any of its importance. In fact, I would argue that it has as much relevance today as it ever did.

    The term traditional astrology is one that I use to identify horoscopic astrology as it was practised up until the mid-seventeenth century in the Western world. From its inception (circa 400 BCE) till its demise some 2000 years later astrology underwent changes which are reflected in the variations of techniques used and are encompassed in the concepts on which astrological wisdom was built. Beginning with the Hellenistic period, flowering through its Arabic stage, returning to Europe during the late medieval age and emerging as a serious discipline in the renaissance, astrology wove into its development the historical, cultural, religious, and philosophical concepts and prejudices of the times.

    There are differences between the astrology that was practised in the various periods over these two thousand years, but the basic principles, which underpinned it, remained to a greater extent unchanged. It was only with the advent of “the age of enlightenment and reason” when a radically new understanding of our world and the reality of the Universe took hold, that astrology was forcibly altered in order to survive1 . From that point on, matter was measured and understood to be the spring from which life emanated and the foundation on which reality was built. Physical laws of cause and effect over took the divine laws of essence, soul and the spiritual understanding of creation.

    There is no place for traditional astrology in a worldview that is anchored in a mechanical and materialistic understanding of reality. When matter, rather than mind became accepted as the principle building block of life, astrology along with all other doctrines based on metaphysical principles were made redundant unless they could prove their adherence to physical laws. One of astrology’s basic principles is its observations of the movement and cycles of the planets from a geocentric perspective, so when it was demonstrated that the movement of the planets in the solar system were heliocentric, astrology was deemed by some to be based on a false premise. Some astrologers tried to reform astrology in order to make it more acceptable to reason and natural philosophy, stripping it of its association with Hermetic magic, divination and neo-Platonic spirituality. However, the advances in science marginalised astrology and the attempts to reform it failed; it’s now perceived tainted past making it vulnerable to ridicule.

    As maligned and ridiculed as astrology became it nonetheless refused to die! Evidence of astrology working continued to be a thorn in the side of science, a thorn that could be ignored but not easily removed. As long as there was some spark of a possible physical or materialistic causation to explain astrology’s effect and this could be demonstrated or ideally proved, then astrology would, begrudgingly have to be allowed to exist. Unfortunately, astrology cannot exist comfortably within these confines, and many fine research astrologers have spent countless and fruitless hours trying to prove the relevance of astrology from this materialistic perspective.

    Astrology is not causative, it is reflective. What we see in the skies mirrors what is happening here on earth and what happens here is symbolically reflected in the skies, but cosmic movement do not cause these happenings. The physical world was understood to be a three-dimensional embodiment of soul, without which the physical world could not exist. The unseen world of essence and spirit, the world that lacks material manifestation was as real as the world of physical experience. This unseen world was the realm of the gods and semi-divine beings, who took on the form of many things including the planets. Our forefathers understood reality to be interrelated, nothing stood isolated on its own and the gods lived a neighbouring parallel existence to man. This gave rise to the ongoing debate about the place of human consciousness and freewill in astrology, a debate that has been raging since the time of St Augustine2.

    The astrologer’s job was to interpret the movement of the sky, thereby imparting the messages and wisdom of the celestial gods to the people on earth, in order to help them take right action; be it the right time to sow their crops, to marry or to make war. For it was known that not all moments in time are equal, as it is written; “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven”3. Time, is measured by the cosmic movements and cycles of the planets and so it is only logical that one way that the quality of a particular moment in time can be defined is by the position of those planets relative to earth. A horoscope is a picture of a frozen point in time and its interpretation is the domain of the astrologer.

    1. There were also legal challenges facing astrologers that forced some redefining of the Art. ↩︎
    2. 354 – 430 CE ↩︎
    3. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 ↩︎

  • Charlie Kirk: Words have Consequences (part 1)

    Wikimedia commons

    Charlie Kirk was a polarising public figure who was admired by some, loathed by many and ignored by most until his shocking public assassination on September 10, 2025 in Orem, Utah. He was born into a politically moderate household and grew up in the affluent Chicago suburb of Prospect Heights, Illinois. While his family were financially comfortable rather than wealthy, he nonetheless entered the world with privilege and financial comfort. A comfort that grew exponentially during the course of his short life.

    Charlie made a name for himself as a young conservative political activist and right-wing influencer. At the age of 18 and with the help of a rich benefactor he founded TPUSA (Turning Point USA) a non-profit organisation that advocated for conservative politics on high school, college, and university campuses. He claimed himself to be a proponent of free speech, expressing his right-wing, at times provocative views on politics, race, morality, gender and religion. He was an avowed Evangelical Christian who strongly supported Trump and white Christian nationalism; he vehemently opposed abortion, DEI and gun control; was highly critical of feminism, civil, gay and transgender rights, Islam and immigration. He also promoted conspiracy theories including false claims about the 2020 stolen election, Covid-19 and the ‘great replacement theory’. 

    His tragic public assassination propelled him into the limelight. Ironically, as his supporters elevate him to the status of martyr: the slain hero of free-speech; there is a move to suppress any public criticism of the man or the words he spoke. The myth making and distortion of truth regarding Charlie Kirk the man, is so thorough that he may forever remain an enigma.

    We shall never know whether Charlie Kirk would have made amends for the pain his speech caused, because he was robbed of his potential to mature, to evolve and gain wisdom. For better or worse history will judge Charlie Kirk by his word and the ideas he gave voice to.

    Astrological Chart

    Charlie Kirk was born on October 14, 1993 in Arlington Heights, Illinois. There is no recorded birth time, so I have used the pre-natal eclipse angles.1 The resulting chart has 20 Cancer 11 rising and 0 Aries 35 on the MC2. We will look at how this chart was impacted on the day of his death, but first let us delineate this chart. It is often the case that the astrological chart of a public figure or a person we know, is not what we expect. People are far more layered than is evident, so it is important to let the chart guide us, rather than impose our own opinions on what it should mean. Easier said than done!

    Oct 14, 1993 in Arlington Illinois – PNE angles

    General Observations

    Almost everything is under the horizon, indicating that there is much that is hidden beneath the surface. What you see is not necessarily what you get. It is worth noting that both benefics are in essential debility, while the two malefics: Mars and Saturn are in their signs of rulership. Located on the IC, the root of the chart, the essentially debilitated Venus has a lot of influence over the life.

    There is an abundance of Air in this chart, with both luminaries, Jupiter, Saturn, the South Node and IC in Air signs. The hot, moist element of Air indicates a sanguine temperament, being of a friendly and social nature. Air is associated with intellect, ideas, communication and social interchange. Unless balanced by the cold, dry Earth element, Air can tend towards shallowness and an avoidance of deep contemplation. Earth with its natural inclination to stillness, depth, scholarship and tangible reality, will ground the idealised, hypothetical and intellectualised reality of Air. In this chart there is very little Earth; with only Venus in Virgo and Uranus/Neptune conjunct the Capricorn DES; the angle representing the other and the open enemy.

    An essentially strong Mars in Scorpio conjunct Mercury and Pluto and the Cancer ASC provides water in this chart. The cold, moist element of water is associated with emotions and feelings. Here, they would be driven by Mars, the most essentially dignified and well placed planet in the chart.

    Missing from this chart is Fire, with only the North Node in Sagittarius and the Aries MC. The hot, dry Fire element is associated with light and spirit. Fire takes us outside ourselves to inspire3.The inspiration brought to us through the Fire signs, leads to insights which can reshape our understanding of life; bringing us to a higher, broader and more wholistic perspective of the world and ourselves.

    The angles, Sun, Jupiter and Moon (L1) are in cardinal moveable signs. Associated with the initiating impulse, action and beginnings. Cardinal signs are focused, vibrant and associated with excitement; anything is possible, but they do not carry much staying power. The MC degree at 0 Aries is especially telling, in that this is the very beginning of the entire zodiacal circle. The symbolism of Aries being singularly focused on their objective and blind to the other, is at its most potent at this first degree.

    Like the missing element of Fire, there is a notable lack of mutable energy in this chart with only the Nodes and Venus in mutable signs. The reputation of mutability equating to indecisiveness, belies the fact that they are best able to consider multiple perspectives and change direction if needed.  Mutability can impart subtlety and shades of meaning.

    The Chart in Detail

    The Moon being the ruler of the ASC being, emphasises the importance of needing to feel safe and secure. In this chart the Moon is much afflicted, so Charlie’s sense of safety would be challenged. The Moon being in the 4th house of family and roots, conjunct the two planets associated with God and religion, indicates that he found safety within family and through religion. Sun is the natural significator of God and Jupiter is naturally associated with religion and philosophy, especially in this chart as Jupiter rules the 9th house.

    The Moon, is only a few degrees from his exact conjunction to the Sun, after which he begins a new cycle. The beginning of any cycle holds the immature potential of its unfoldment. There is a fragile innocence or naivety that has yet to be moulded by experience, reminiscent of a new born child’s almost infinite potential in need of support.

    So how supported is the Moon? It is peregrine4, in the via-combusta5, combust the Sun, square Uranus/Neptune, trine and received by Saturn in the 8th into his exaltation. It is interesting that Saturn and the Moon are in each other face (decan), a dignity which bring a sense of concern, anxiety or fear with it6. This connection with Saturn would exacerbate the insecurity that the Moon’s condition indicates and imply the need for a strong external authority or structure to rely on.

    The Moon’s dispositor Venus, provides little support as there is no aspect between them. This being a night chart Venus, the universal significator of relationship, is in fall and peregrine. Moon in air can impart the ability to distance one’s self from their emotions, by approaching them from the safety of their intellect. Those with Moon in Libra tend to use relationships with others to define, recognise and validate their feelings.

    The Sun is essentially afflicted by being in fall and peregrine. The negative expression of an afflicted Sun is arrogance, something that Charlie was often accused of. The Sun makes the same difficult contacts as the Moon. As the ruler of the 2nd house and the exalted ruler of the 10th the Sun informs us as to his attitude around money and power. A planet is essential debility can convey an insecurity or lack of confidence around the matters it governs. Insecurity around money, can lead to focusing on what is lacking and constantly striving for more. The Sun’s dispositor Venus though in essential debility, is strongly placed on the IC and is also the lord of the 11th house of good fortune and benefactors. He had financial benefactors who supported him from the time he was eighteen years old.7

    The Sun is received by Saturn in the 8th, ruler of the 7th house of “others” and 8th house their money. Normally we would see reception as helpful especially coming from an essentially dignified planet such as Saturn in Aquarius. However, there are a couple problems here; the Sun is very uncomfortable with Aquarius where it finds itself in detriment, so this reception will fail in its promise. Saturn would provide support, but would also have much power over the Sun. A retrograde planet will often express itself in a very tangible manner; here this could literally be other people’s money. Saturn (OPM) was able to provide tangible resources to the Sun (L2), but these would come at a price.

    The Sun’s conjunction to Jupiter, also bestowed good fortune, but like with Saturn, there would be a cost. Jupiter is conjunct the lucky fixed star Spica and the Sun would have shared in its good fortune. Charlie’s ability to generate money was strong. Jupiter’s rulership of the 6th house indicates that he no doubt worked hard for it.

    Jupiter only has dignity by face, squares the ASC/DES, is combust the Sun at the tail end of its synodic cycle8 and will shortly begin a new one. The same sense of immaturity we see in his Moon, envelops Jupiter who also receives no help from his dispositor Venus, in Virgo the sign of her fall and Jupiter’s detriment. Though received by Saturn, his dispositor by exaltation, what Saturn as Lord 8 in the 8th offers is the antithesis to Jupiter’s expansive and optimistic nature. Mars as ruler of the MC and the 5th house, shows that he was inclined to focus his energy on his career and public life. Having Mercury, the natural communicator & the lord of the 3rd house, along for the ride, was made evident through the creation of his successful platform that communicated to masses of people. In true Mars/Mercury fashion this was achieved in a way that engaged and inflamed emotions. Through incendiary verbal pronouncements, that provoked reaction and pushback, he was able to successfully project himself into the world.

    Mercury in Crisis

    As Charlie was most known for the words he spoke, it is interesting that Mercury is in such a terrible position in this chart. He is peregrine, having no essential dignity whatsoever. This Mercury has no mooring, which only exacerbate the tendency of Mercury to take on the nature and characteristic of those around him. He is besieged between a conjunction to his dispositor Mars and the square with Saturn, both in rulership. He is also afflicted by his conjunction to Pluto and sextile to both Uranus and Neptune. He is devoid of any benefic influence.

    Saturn in Aquarius, fixed air sign can impart on the native a tendency towards fixed, dogmatic ideas, while Mars in Scorpio will tenaciously defend their position to the end. The two malefic planets in their fixed signs of rulership would strongly impart their nature on to Mercury. The fixity and confidence of Mars & Saturn would endow Mercury with the ability to forcefully express and defend his opinions with absolute authority. It is reported that his views on many topics became more extreme over time.

    Mercury rules the 3rd house as well as the 12th. He was a confided communicator who may have painted himself into a corner. One has to wonder if his meteoric rise and success, beholden to other people’s money and power may have entrapped him into an immutable position that in time could have become untenable. We shall never know as his life was cut short, ironically by a gun; the ownership of which he defended as a ‘god given right’.

    There is no aspect between Mercury and the Moon; there is nothing that connects them except their applying aspect to Saturn; which Mercury will not perfect as he stationed retrograde a full degree before his square to Saturn. This disconnect between the sensible mind (Moon) that is informed through the bodily senses, emotions and feelings; and the rational mind (Mercury) that is informed by the intellect and objective thinking reinforces the difficulty he would have in forming nuanced understanding or recognition of the paradoxical and interwoven nature of life.

    Venus is also the ‘significator of the mind’9 in this chart. The significator of the mind does not denote intelligence but rather the manner in which one uses their mind and to what end. As such, she does not herald a positive use of his mind. She is essentially debilitated, being both in fall and peregrine. She is unaspected, except for her separating sextile with Pluto. Being located on the IC, the root of the chart, Venus had a lot of influence over the life.  And here we find an enigma.

    Symbolically her location in the darkest part of the chart and in fall is descriptive of his voiced opinions of a woman’s place in society10; in the home with the children and submissive to the man. From all reports he was in a good marriage; his wife who was 5 years older (Saturn Lord 7), was educated and a successful business woman.

    Conclusion

    Charlie Kirk died so young that he did not receive the opportunity to mature, to gain depth and wisdom through experience. Wisdom is rarely present in the young, but I firmly believe that we all have the ability to find that wisdom in time. He was clearly an intelligent man who held fixed notions about life, society and morality. At the moment of his death, he still had that exaggerated swagger and self-assurance in himself that only the young can have.  

    He was born with an innate sense of naivety and lack of self-confidence. He would have been influenced by the strongly expressed ideas of others especially if they were void of subtlety. In order to find safety, he needed a clear and strong structure to believe in. He found comfort and confidence through his evangelical Christian faith and his family that mirrored the moral values of that faith.

    He was motivated by fear.  His Christian faith provided him with the arrogant notion that he was on the righteous side with God. Therefore, he could cruelly condemn and dismiss all who differed from him. He defended ignorance as a virtue, cruelty as strength and prejudice as common sense. At his core he was insecure, seeking strength and power outside himself, whether through money or powerful friends.

    He was a talented communicator who expressed himself with absolute conviction, using his intellect to craft simple and straight forward opinions of good versus evil. The ability to think with nuance did not come naturally to him; far easier to have a clear black-and-white view to hang on to. In time he may have allowed himself to consider the grey. But we shall never know.

    (Part 2: Charlie’s death, coming soon)

    1. See article by Eve Dembowski https://astrologicalmind.wordpress.com/2025/10/23/no-birth-time-what-can-the-poor-astrologer-do/ ↩︎
    2. It is to be noted that the USA (Sibley) chart has 1 degree Aries on the IC. ↩︎
    3. The word inspire means; “to influence, move, or guide by divine or supernatural influence or action”.  The meaning is a metaphorical extension of the word’s Latin root: inspirare meaning “to breathe or blow into.” The metaphor is a powerful one, with the very breath of a divine or supernatural force asserted as being at work. ↩︎
    4. Having no essential dignity. The planet has no connection to that part of the zodiac. It is like a person that is lost in a foreign land. ↩︎
    5. Via Combusta is Latin for “the burning way”; it refers to the last fifteen degree of Libra and the first fifteen degrees of Scorpio. Considered to be particularly afflicting to the Moon at those degrees. ↩︎
    6. Lee Lehmann, Essential Dignities, Whitford Press 1989 Chapter 5, p. 127 -136 ↩︎
    7. In 2012 at the age of 18, Charlie met Bill Montgomery with whom he founded TPUSA (on June 5 2012) and Foster Friess who financed it. ↩︎
    8. It would not be until March 2016, that by progression, Jupiter would emerge from the beams of the Sun. The same year that he made his appearance at the 2016 Republican convention on July 18, 2016. On that day progressed Mercury was on the degree of his natal Mars. ↩︎
    9. The significator of the mind is the compound almuten of the ASC, Moon and Mercury ↩︎
    10. Kirk repeatedly stated that women should prioritize motherhood over careers, asserting young women are suffering because they are encouraged to focus on jobs over families. He criticized birth control, claiming it makes women “angry and bitter” and that females over 30 “aren’t attractive in the dating pool.” 
      Discussing news of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement on The Charlie Kirk Show, 26 August 2025  He said:
      “Reject feminism. Submit to your husband, Taylor. You’re not in charge”. Responding to a question about whether he would support his 10-year-old daughter aborting a pregnancy conceived because of rape on the debate show, “The answer is yes, the baby would be delivered.” published on 8 September 2024 ↩︎

  • No Birth Time? What can the poor astrologer do?

    “…and the Chaldeans say that from eternity there has been a divine and intelligible stream through the eastern/rising part of heaven. And this stream both moves and turns the cosmos, and brings to life everything in it by sending them their own soul… And every degree, when it came to be around this eastern/rising place, which is the gate of souls and the spiritual inlet of the Universe, is made powerful.”     
    Porphyry: Introduction to Ptolemy (3rd century)

    The importance of a birthtime in natal astrology, cannot be over stated. While there are ways to work around the lack of an accurate birthtime, we are restricted. In this article I will present a method I fortuitously stumbled across, which has yielded some astounding results. I want to be clear up front that this is not a method of rectification. If the birth occurred within a window of time, then rectification can be successfully used to refine the ASC degree. The narrower that window, the more accuracy we can achieve. However, when all we have is a date, then rectification becomes fraught with pitfalls, not the least being confirmation bias.

    Without rectifying a chart, the most common ways to deal with an unknown birth time would be to set the chart for noon, create a solar or sunrise chart. These options result in valid charts that can be useful, albeit with limitations. With out a time we may have a chart, but since we cannot identify the ASC, we do not have a horoscope. The word horoscope is derived from the Greek words ōra ‘time’ and scopos ‘observer’. Horoscope also referred to the ASC itself; the ‘marker of the hour’. By definition we cannot have horoscope without a time.

    Traditional astrologers placed much importance in identifying particular planets (or points) that were responsible for different area of the life. The planet that ruled the sign on the cusp of a house was understood to govern the affairs of that house. As well as its universal signification, a planet’s nature and condition would provide information as to how things would fare in that area of the life. Without an ASC it is impossible to identify houses or their rulers, so we are reduced to drawing information sole from the planet’s universal signification.

    In the tradition the Hyleg; the giver of life was one of the most important planets or points to identify. It was considered to have the greatest influence upon vitality and life. There were only five points or planets that could serve as the Hyleg; the Sun, Moon, Ascendant, Lot of Fortune & the syzygy1.

    Without a time, we have no ascendant, and without an ascendant, we cannot calculate the Lot of Fortune2. With out a time the degree and potentially the sign of the Moon is uncertain. Only the Sun’s position and the syzygy degree can be relied upon. We are unable to access some of the most important information that a horoscope can provide. Many technics like Solar & Lunar returns, primary direction will be made void and others will be limited.  The most reliable tools we are left with are transits and to a lesser extent progressions.

    The Prenatal Eclipse

    For years I have used the pre-natal eclipse chart with my clients. I cannot recall when I began to do so or for what reason. I do not differentiate between solar or lunar eclipse. I simply use the one closest to the birth date. Once I identify the eclipse, I locate it to the birth location. Over the years I have found that the degrees on the angles of these relocated pre-natal eclipse charts are sensitive and important. These degrees are so often highlighted in synastry, that I now expect them to be.

    Eclipses are true syzygy, which is defined in astronomical terms as: a roughly straight-line configuration of three or more celestial bodies in a gravitational system. An eclipse occurs when there is a lining up of the three main bodies in our astrological cosmos: Sun, Moon and Earth. These three bodies equate to spirit, soul and body. The moment of an eclipse is a moment of opportunity, as the three aspects of man, the three levels of existence align; allowing an exchange between them. The light of spirit can enter the soul/psyche and be received into the body, and vice-versa.

    The moment of an eclipse is anchored to the location from which it is experienced. This results in its manifestation being unique to both the location and the individual to whom the eclipse is connected. While everyone born in a location within a particular time frame will share the same pre-natal eclipse horoscope, the location of the planets on the day of their birth will be different.

    Discovery on a Whim

    George Perry Floyd woke up on the morning of May 25, 2020 an ordinary man, black in America; he did not wake up with the intention of making a mark on the world; nor did he wake up that day to die on the street under the knee of Derek Chauvin.

    Through his tragic death the importance of George Floyd’s life was elevated beyond his individual human experience, to become a powerful symbol, a talisman for change. The cruel and heartless criminality of his death held a mirror to all that is unjust and corrupt in our world. In death George Floyd left a mark on the world. I was intrigued as to what astrological signature might be in his chart indicating such exaltation in his death.

    George Floyd was born on October 14, 1973 in Fayetteville, North Carolina. There is no recorded birthtime for him. Frustrating as this was, I decided to explore his chart nonetheless. Setting it for noon confirmed that he had a Moon is in Taurus, but I could not identify any angles/houses meanings.

    I decided to look at the pre-natal eclipse chart which would have active angles and see if it might shed light on the manner of his death. The eclipse occurred on July 15, 1973; in Fayetteville NC it was at 7:56 am. It was a Lunar eclipse at 22 Capricorn. With 13’06” Leo on the ASC and 5’35” Taurus on the MC. I noted that the ruler of the eclipse degree, Saturn at 27 Gemini, was trining the USA (Sibley) chart’s Moon at 27 Aquarius, and was on the antiscia of the USA Venus at 3 Cancer.

    As I started delineating this chart; on a whim I wondered if I could use these pre-natal eclipse angles degrees on his natal chart. I rectified his birth chart to these PNE angles and this is the resulting chart.

    George Floyd PNE Angles

    Oct 14 1973 in Fayetteville NC
    PNE angles giving a 1:58 AM time

    Looking at this chart from the perspective of death was rather fascinating. One of the most striking things is the presence of Mars on the MC. Mars is natural significator of police, aggression and violence. Here it rules the 4th house (grave and endings); and 9th house (law, publication, higher learning, philosophy and foreign places).

    ars in Taurus, is in detriment, retrograde and mutually applies to sextile the ruler the 6th house Saturn in Cancer, (lungs/chest) conjunct South Node. There is also a mutual application by square between Mars and Lord 8 (death) Jupiter, positioned in the 6th and who applies to Pluto in the 3rd of communication (public death by bad police) by trine. There is a generosity3 between the Lord 6 & 8, Saturn in Cancer and Jupiter in Aquarius; and both aspect Pluto. Mars (police) will carry the light of Saturn (knee) to Jupiter (death).

    The ASC ruler, Sun in Libra is in Fall and cadent in the 3rd house. Sun only aspects Uranus by conjunction and will not make any other aspect until his ingress into Scorpio. Once there, the natural significator of life and vitality will first encounter a square with L8 Jupiter, then a trine to Saturn and opposition to Mars.

    Venus, ruler MC (public life) and 3rd house, is also the almuten of the 8th (co-significator of death). She is in 4th house and disposited by Jupiter (death brings fame). The Venus/Neptune conjunction (martyrdom), is inconjunct the MC/Mars & Saturn (apex of a Yod); and sextiling Pluto on the 3rd cusp (everyone will hear about it).

    George Floyd’s Death

    May 25, 2020 at 21:25 CDT in Minneapolis, Minnesota

    The incident that led to George Floyd’s death began at around 8:00 pm, and at 8:20 that witnesses began to film what was happening. He was officially declared dead at 9:25 pm on May 25, 2020. The chart for that moment has 14 Sagittarius rising which is very close to the USA ASC (12 Sagittarius 21).

    Lord 8, Moon at 14 Cancer is close to the USA Sibley chart’s Sun (13 Cancer 19). The next aspect the Moon makes to a major planet, is a mutually applying & received opposition with lord of the ASC, Jupiter (life) on its degree of fall4. Life receives death. There is a very close contra-antiscia (4 minutes from exact) between the Sun and Pluto. Life/light and the underworld.

    There is an exact sextile between the volatile and destructive planets: Uranus and Mars, Lord of the 4th,12th and 11th. At the time of his death Jupiter (his natal 8th ruler) was at 27 Capricorn, the degree of the USA Pluto.

    Transits:

    • Uranus was on his natal MC & Mars (echoing the Mars/Uranus sextile)
    • Mars on his natal 8th cusp & POF
    • Saturn on natal 8th ruler, Jupiter
    • Sun opposite natal Lord 10 Venus/Neptune.
    • The MC (7 Libra) was very close to his natal Pluto.

    Profection:

    • Profected ASC was at 13 Gemini on the death charts 7th cusp (the portal of death)
    • Profected Lord 8, Jupiter at 2 Sagittarius comes to Venus/Neptune.
    • Profected Venus/Neptune 5 Libra comes to natal Pluto; and death chart’s MC
    • Profected Saturn 4 Taurus, comes to natal MC and Mars
    • Profected Moon 18 Pisces, close to transiting Neptune
    1. Syzygy is a traditional astrological term that refers to the pre-natal lunation degree. Considered very important in delineation of a natal horoscope. ↩︎
    2. The Lot or Part of Fortune is a calculated point found by taking the distance between Sun and Moon and projecting it from the ASC. I personally use the fixed formula. ↩︎
    3. Planets in each other’s sign or exaltation, but not making an aspect. Sometimes falsely referred to as being in mutual reception. These planets are really in mutual disposition. ↩︎
    4. Each planet is in fall when in the sign opposite the sign of their exaltation; they also have a specific degree that is said to be their degree of fall, which is opposite their degree of exaltation. Jupiter’s degree of exaltation is 27 Cancer, so 27 Capricorn is its degree of fall. ↩︎

  • What is a Horoscope? (a short philosophical digression)

    A horoscope is a map of the heavens, taken at a specific moment & place on earth; showing the relative positions of the Sun, Moon, planets, the ASC & midheaven in the degrees of the zodiac. A horoscope captures & anchors a moment, crystallizing it into a symbolic framework that provides a wealth of information. It is made up of three principal ingredients: the signs, planets and angles/houses. Each are of equal importance, symbolically defining and providing information on different: types of time and levels of existence.

    A very brief look at levels of time

    Looking at these three principal ingredients through the lens of time, we find that the signs of the zodiac are in essence timeless, they exist beyond linear time as we know it.

    The signs do not define periods time. While you may consider that zero degrees of the cardinal sign heralds the beginning of a new season, it is not so. Rather it is the Sun’s entrance into the cardinal signs that defines the seasonal division of time. The meaning of the signs is wholly symbolic and only activated when visited by a planet, at which point that planet begins to express its nature through the prism of that sign. The symbolism of the signs is not based on time; it is we who project our lived experience of the cycles of life onto them.

    Planets represent both real & symbolic time. As they travel through their diurnal and zodiacal path, each planet divides time in its own proportion, creating infinite interweaving real time cycles (the bread & butter of an astrologers trade). Via diurnal motion the Sun divides time into days and its journey through the Zodiac defines the years. The return of planets to a particular degree happens in a predictable real time.

    The movement of planets can also represent symbolic time. The degrees a planet travels may be taken to symbolically represent a particular unit of time; such as a planets movement in a day representing a year in secondary progression, or primary directions where a planets movement by diurnal motion over 4 minutes1 will equate to a year in the life.  Fidarias2 and other ‘time lord’ methods, divides the life into planetary periods, derived from their mundane time cycle, but used symbolically to designate unfolding periods in the life of an individual.

    The angles represent real timeand define how strongly the planets in signs will be manifested in our individual human life. When things will manifest lies with the movement of the planets. The ASC is the degree that dictates the other angles, for these are fixed to the location. The angles literally represent time over a 24-hour period.

    In summary: the signs of the zodiac are timeless; the planets divide life in real time movement & cycles and symbolic time through progression, planetary periods and such; the angles and houses define real experienced time.

    Even briefer look at level of existence

    In many of the world’s traditions, the universe, life itself was understood as existing on three levels or parts: the holy trinity3, the three parts of Hermetic wisdom4 and Plato’s theory of the tripartite soul5. This was envisioned as a triangle divided into three levels of existences, or divisions of the Universe.

    Looking at the three ingredients through level of existence we find that the top most section which represents the unchanging world of primary cause: the non-material, divine realm, the source from which everything emanates; this is best expressed by the signs, as the signs do not vary their nature.

    The middle section represents the in-between world of secondary cause:the world of elements, soul6 or psyche, which is best expressed by the planets who vary their expression and present different facets of their nature as they move through the signs of the zodiac and in their individual synodic cycle.

    While the base section represents the world of laws, the manifested, complex & everchanging, material world we inhabit.  This is expressed by the angles and houses, which represents the various areas of our everyday experience of life in this world.

    Sun, Moon & Earth

    The most important bodies in our astrology are: Sun, Moon and Earth (angles). They represent the tripartite nature of human beings; the three level of soul7; which are associated with the three levels of existence (spirit, soul or psyche and body).

    Spirit related to inspiration. This is the human or rational soul, and is what we aspire to. It is consciousness. The unified divine aspect of self, shared by all humanity. It is represented by theSUN in the chart and is symbolised by the Circle which has no beginning nor end.

    Soul or psyche related to emotions. This is the animal soul; it is what moves and drives us. It is our senses (sight, smell, hearing, touch & taste), our feelings, instinct and emotions. This is the individuated aspect of self, that distinguishes us from each other.  It is represented by the MOON in the chart and is symbolised by the Crescent, the alembic that holds spirit giving it context and definition.

    Body related to matter and physical existence. This is the vegetative soul; it is the physical body through which we experience life. It is the biological functions and innate, non-rational intelligence of our body. It is represented by EARTH/the angles in the chart and is symbolised by the Cross of matter that anchors and manifests spirit in the physical world.

    1. Primary direction is based on the ascensional rising times of the signs over the ASC which varies according to location and seasons. ↩︎
    2. Firdaria are a system of planetary periods much like the dasa systems of India.  Each period of life falls under rulership of the classic seven planets and Nodes. ↩︎
    3. Holy Trinity—Wisdom (Word), Intelligence (Holy Spirit) and Power (Source). In the Christian faith these are associated with God the father, the son and the Holy Spirit. ↩︎
    4. Hermes ‘Trismegistus’ (thrice great) said to know the three parts of the wisdom of the whole Universe They are referred to as Alchemy, Astrology, and Theurgy, which are also known as the Operation of the Sun, the Operation of the Moon and the Operation of the Stars respectively.  ↩︎
    5. The Platonic soul consists of three parts, which are located in different regions of the body: logos (reason) located in the head; thymos (spirit/emotions) located in the chest/ heart area and Eros (desire) located in the stomach. ↩︎
    6. The term ‘soul’ can be problematic as it is defined and conceived differently by many and leads to complex theological debates. For clarity I define soul as a non-individuated essence that is the interface between Spirit and matter, connecting our earthly being to a higher power. My understanding is that soul exists in all things on different levels. Where there is life there is soul. (see note 4) ↩︎
    7. The human or rational soul; animal soul and vegetative soul. (See note 4) ↩︎

  • Saturn: the great malefic or the astrologer’s friend?

    Traditional astrologers viewed the planets quite differently than how we understand them today. They understood the planets to be living conscious beings, or as 12th century Guido Bonatti called them: superior beings.

     “…On those things which move a man to pose a question. The first is the motion of the soul, when someone is moved by his intention to pose a question. The second is the motion of the superior beings, namely when someone asks what they are impressing into the quaesited thing, what will come of it…”1

    Planets were not owned in the way we speak of them, when we claim some authority over “my Saturn” or “my Moon” … In the past each planet was understood as having a fundamental nature that dictated its specific function, promise and associated chain of correspondence. Depending on their condition at a particular moment in time, they would express the best or worst of their nature and fulfill their promise to a lesser or greater degree.

    The notion of some planets being “malefic” and others “benefic” is one that sits uncomfortably with contemporary norms. Our world promotes the notion of equality and neutrality, to the detriment of natural order. Each of the seven classic planets was understood to govern an aspect of the divine order which dictated that everything in this world must be born, grow, sow their seed and die. The benefic planets were life promoting, initiating growth, birth and expansion; whereas the malefic planets functioned to restrict and destroy, ensuring that no one out stayed their allotted time. Each was crucial in maintaining balance in the world.

    The human experience tends to judge one side of this balance more favorably that the other. We want to avoid the pain that comes with lose, grief and death; and to seek out that which promotes life, joy and happiness. One is brought to us via the malefic planets Mars and Saturn, while the other by the benefic Jupiter and Venus.

    Who is Saturn?

    Saturn rules time and the restriction this imposes on our earthly existence. As astrologers, we deal in time and are prone to get caught in its apparent, but deceptive forward momentum. However if we are to look honestly into our past, we can recognize that we have not moved far. The cycles of life, the movement of the planets and stars, mark our experiences, but time stands still in a forever present moment that is re-experienced over and over and over. 

    Traditional astrology understood the importance of Saturn, not only as the significator of time but also as the ally of the astrologer. For it was only through hard study and serious application to this sacred Art that any relationship with the “superior beings” (the planets) is possible.

    Saturn is encountered at the beginning and at the end of all endeavors, including life. He provides the body that allows us this earthly experience, and at the appropriate time, he takes it away. It is for this reason that he is associated with the ASC and 1st house, the beginning point that marks our birth; and the 8th house of death.

    Saturn is the first planet in the Chaldean order, the first planetary gate through which the Soul must pass on its journey into incarnation. Encountering Saturn, the soul takes on structure and authority as well as the limitations of the physical body, matter and time. Even as modern astrologers we are well aware of the association of Saturn with restriction and limitation. The reason for this becomes obvious when we consider that Saturn exists at the outmost edge of our visible solar system, and defines our natural limits. Saturn is the border between our known world and the Divine sphere of the fixed stars.

    The basic qualities that make up Saturn’s temperament are cold and dry to the extreme. Cold constricts and dry limits movement. Saturn is of a melancholic temperament; he is stern, serious and authoritative. He is a masculine and diurnal or day planet. Saturn’s extreme cold nature needs the warmth of the Sun to function in a more balanced manner, therefore though he may like and feel at home in the cold darkness of night, he functions better in the heat and light of the day.

    Saturn’s extreme cold and dry nature is what accounts for his reputation as a malefic planet. The absence of warmth and moisture is antagonistic to life and growth. Yet it is these qualities of Saturn that allows matter to crystallise and take physical form. It is the discipline and structure of Saturn that allows life to exist and ideas to take shape. From a human psychological perspective, it is only when we engage with the discipline and structure of Saturn that we accomplish anything.

    The tears of grief are another of Saturn’s gifts to the soul. Hidden deep in Saturn’s strictness and authority lays the impossible longing for the return to the divine. The grief of Saturn is the knowing that one must pass through incarnated life, with its pain and joys and that one’s authority is fleeting and illusionary. The ruins of the past, the laws of old, and the desolation of yesterday are all part of Saturn’s cold and dry rule; and so, his association with melancholy and in its extreme form, depression.

    The great malefic demands hard work and is associated with death and the inevitable end to all beginnings. Interestingly he is also connected with births, to which death is always a close possibility. This is illustrated by the fact that the birthing process is called “labour”, for it is indeed hard work to give birth and hard work is Saturn’s territory.

    From a traditional medical understanding Saturn governs the memory function of the “animal spirit” which resides in the brain. Without Saturn our individual thoughts and knowledge could not be retained. Saturn is the storehouse of wisdom.

    Saturn is associated with the hardest, heaviest and oldest things. He is associated with old age (from 70 to 99 years old) and the seventh age of man, the age of resignation and ideally, wisdom. Saturn is associated with the metal lead, the heaviest and most poisonous of all the metals. Saturn corresponds to the most toxic and poisonous plants, including hemlock and belladonna.

    Saturn is said to rule the bones, teeth and skin of the body, that which defines the structure and limits of the physical body. All boundaries are under the rule of Saturn. At the borders of our travels, we encounter Saturn in the form of immigration and border authority which demands that we present our documents, our right to passage, or we can go no further.

    No need to fear the great malefic?

    Once we enter the world of traditional astrology our view of life and reality changes. Once we open our minds to the wisdom of our lineage, it is very difficult not to be influenced by the great astrologers that came before us. However, it is the incredible commonality between human experience of the past and our own that takes us by surprise. The emotional and psychological needs of the everyday person have not changed over the centuries, even though our technology has.

    We live in a linear world that is imbued with the ideas that promote evolution and progress. Whilst everything on earth is born, grows, withers and dies in the endless cycle of life, giving rise to the illusion of a forward movement of time, it is but that; an illusion.

    Saturn is the path less taken, because it is the path of greatest hardship; the path of blood, sweat and tears. Saturn provides us with challenges and obstacles that in the end force us to confront the inevitable transient nature of life. Saturn teaches us that this life is an illusion to which we are not meant to get attached. But by making the effort to befriend Saturn and do the hard work he requires, we are rewarded by the awe-inspiring storehouse of ancient wisdom that is his domain; and by making friends with Saturn the door is open to the other superior beings in our cosmos: Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Venus and the Luminaries.

    1. Guido Bonatti Book of Astronomy – Treatise 5: 146 Considerations  translated by Benjamin Dykes ↩︎

  • The Importance of the Horary Question

    The question is the most important step in the horary process. Without a clear question there will not be a clear chart to interpret. It is not the subject matter that is important, but rather the motivation in its asking. There needs to be a soul intention to the question, it must be genuine and carry an unconditional resolve to accept the judgement made.  Only then will the question must be radical or rooted. A radical question will result in a radical chart fit to be judged.

    Such a horary will provide clear symbolism and clear answers. However, it is wise to understand that life is complex and multi-facetted, this fact is reflected in astrology. The depth of insight that can be gleaned from a simple horary is astonishing.

    When you work as a horary astrologer you quickly learn that the horary chart is a powerful tool which must be given respect. Horary is never to be treated lightly. There is much written in the astrological literature about the importance of the question and warnings about asking your own question, but honestly there would be few horary astrologers who have not done so.

    I asked a question that produced a chart so full of ominous testimony that at first, I simply refused to engage with it. Experience has taught me the power and accuracy of horary and so my heart sank on first viewing this chart: what it showed I did not want to face. But as always, the chart proved overwhelmingly accurate.

    In order to interpret a chart, we must understand the background to the question. I was about a week away from leaving for an overseas trip that was going to take me to Cambodia to visit my son, then to England where I was to present a talk on Medical horary at the AA conference and speak at the Lodge in London, spending the final two weeks visiting my family in the US; three continents in just over five weeks. An important background factor was that I had undergone a brain surgery on Feb 12 of that year, and had only been cleared to travel by my neurosurgeon two months previously. I was generally apprehensive about travelling as I was still feeling fragile, having minor concerns with dizziness and balance.

    My question was simple: “Will my trip go well?”

    The natal contacts to my chart make this a very radical chart1. The angles of this chart are the reverse of my natal angles (21 Leo rising and 14 Taurus MC) symbolically this shows circumstances that maybe contrary to or oppose my natural inclination. My natal Mars is at 13 Scorpio 43 conjunct the MC and my natal Moon at 6 degrees Pisces in on the horary Neptune (meaning that I was having a Neptune transit to my Moon). The hour ruler Mercury does not accord with the ASC or its ruler in this chart, indicating that there will be no easy outcome to the situation in question.

    In a nutshell this was the judgement: the indications are that this trip will not go smoothly as the two malefic planets Mars & Saturn sit on the MC and the Moon is combust the Sun on the cusp of the 8th house of death, loss and anguish of mind. The testimony for this judgement are:

    My significator is the Aquarius ASC (which sits on my natal DES – the portal of death) and its ruler Saturn at 17 Scorpio, peregrine2 and conjunct Mars on the MC; as well as the Moon at 10 degrees Virgo, combust the Sun at 2 Virgo (opposing my natal Moon) and conjunct the 8th house cusp. Mercury ruler of the 8th house is very strong, being in rulership and exaltation; he is making a close sextile to Saturn and Mars.

    There is a new Moon indicating a new beginning, which by definition means there was an ending. Saturn on the MC shows that the trip was partly taken for career reasons and to visit my parent particularly my mother3 who had not been well for a number of years.

    As this is an overseas trip taking me to foreign places, it is signified by the 9th house and its ruler Venus on the DES (the portals of death) and approaching a partile square of both Saturn and Mars at 17 Leo. There is a negative reception between Saturn in Scorpio and Venus in Leo, mitigating the positive testimony of an angular Venus. Pluto makes a square the cusp of the 9th house. So the trip will encounter malefic influences.

    Outcome

    The chart proved to be accurate, as on September 4th, the day after arriving in Cambodia I received word that my mother had had a bad fall. At her age and in her fragile physical state, I knew that this was not something which she would likely recover from. Though my father told me not to change my plans as she was currently in hospital and being well looked after, I began to contemplate getting to the US as soon as I could. In the interim I focused on sending her much love and light; I sent messages that I would be there as soon as I could.

    A few days later I was having trouble sleeping, I awoke thinking of my mother, tearfully trying to let her know that I was there with her in spirit if not in body. I finally got up as I could not sleep and turned my computer on to see the time. There was a message from my brother saying that he did not think I would make it in time as my mother was having difficulty breathing. I knew that she had died. Minutes later the phone rang; my mother had died (September 8) at 4:39 pm Chicago time, exactly 4:39 AM Cambodian time (September 9). It was then 7:15 AM.

    I would like to think that she felt the love I was sending to her, but I shall always regret that I missed her. The last time I was in Chicago had been in April 2013, having planned to return in April 2014, however a benign brain tumour derailed my plans and delayed my trip.

    The angles on my mother’s solar return chart for 2014 are almost identical to those of my natal chart so the horary chart plugs into her chart as well as mine. At the moment of my mother’s death in Chicago, the MC was at 17 Scorpio and the Moon was full with the luminaries straddling the 2nd/8th cusp of the horary chart.

    Mars as ruler of the 10th house signifies my mother in this horary. The testimony of her death in this chart are: Saturn on her Turned ASC (MC), Mercury the lord of both the radical and turned (from the 10th) house of death being the only dignified planet in the chart. The Moon’s next aspect will be to Mars/Saturn after which she carries their light to Mercury.

    1. A radical chart is connected to the querent or the moment. It has roots and will provide a clear answer. ↩︎
    2. A peregrine planet is one that has no essential dignity in any of the five dignity levels: rulership, exaltation, triplicity, terms and face. It is lost, wandering, unconnected to its location. ↩︎
    3. In traditional astrology the 10th house signifies the mother in particular. ↩︎

  • What is Horary Astrology?

    In the past astrologers were called upon to answer all manners of enquiries: from lost objects, missing animals, health & money concerns, interests related to work & and public life and the perennial, matters of the heart. The use of natal charts was not as common as it is today, as few had accurate birth data; and on a practical level, the information that can be extracted from a natal chart is not detailed enough to shed light on specific everyday concerns. To assist with their enquiries, astrologers would use a ‘consultation chart’ cast for the moment they met with their client and understood their concerns.

    Over the centuries this evolved to become known as Horary; the art of answering a specific question posed to the astrologer. The word horary means ‘of the hour’ and relates to the measure of time. Horary astrology is the astrology of the moment. A question is asked; once the astrologer fully understands it, and makes a commitment to judge the matter, a horoscope is cast.

    The historical importance and prevalence of horary in practice, is attested to by the many ancient texts that have codified the technical and philosophical foundations of horary judgement. Take for instance the first of Guido Bonatti1 “146 Considerations”; it relates to the question.

    “The first consideration is of those things which move a man to pose a question (and there are three motions). The first is the motion of the soul, when someone is moved by his intention to pose a question…”2

    A horoscope captures & anchors a moment, crystallizing it into a symbolic framework that provides a wealth of information. Past, present & future are all present in the horary. In essence horary is astrological divination, a system of prognostication that comes to us from the divine realm; the Cosmos.

    “The second is the motion of the superior bodies, namely when someone asks, that they at that time imprint on the thing enquired after, what shall become of it…“3

    The Cosmos provides a clear and profoundly detailed snapshot of a moment, that captures what was, what is and what could be within the confines of the horoscope. The Cosmos speaks to us via the planets (the superior bodies), through their movement, placement, condition and influence. It is our responsibility to understand what the Cosmos is communicating through the symbolism present in the horoscope.

    “The third is the motion of free will, which can itself be an act of the one asking, because even though the soul is moved to ask, it does not suffice unless the superior bodies lead him to pose the question, nor does the motion of the stars suffice, unless from the motion of the free will the act of asking is reached.”4

    The act of asking involves two people; the one who poses the question and the one who receives it. Both must engage their free-will to offer and accept the responsibility of engaging with the Cosmos in seeking its assistance. The one making the enquiry, must be prepare to accept the judgement unconditionally. As astrologers, we have a choice to make judgement on a question, but once we choose to do so, we are committed to judge the matter regardless of its outcome.

    The study of horary helps us to decipher the symbolism inherent in a chart. Approaching a chart in order to find an answer to a specific question, we are called upon to understand the power of planetary movement, diurnal and zodiacal; to know the nature of the planets, how they interact and bestow influence within a particular context.

    The practice of horary hones our skill in interpreting astrological symbolism within any focused context; be it horary, natal, or event. It teaches us to recognise that which is of primary importance and that which is inconsequential relative to the issue being investigated. It improves our ability to understand a moment as a dynamic, unfolding potential.

    Horary, like all astrological applications reveals different levels and facets on the matter at hand. Seeing a chart unfold and reveal the answer to a seemingly simple question is to experience the magic of astrology in action. branch of government having full or limitless power over an area of governance.

    1. Guido Bonatti was an Italian mathematician, astronomer and the most celebrated astrologer of the 13th century.  ↩︎
    2. Guido Bonatti “Book of Astronomy” Benjamin Dykes translation (2007) page 263 ↩︎
    3. Ibid ↩︎
    4. Ibid ↩︎

  • The Inconvenient Problem of Houses

    Astrology has a problem; it is a perennial issue that most will encounter at some point in their astrological studies, and which can never be fully shaken off. Throughout Western horoscopic astrology’s history this inconvenient problem has caused many a discourse to descent into bitter disagreement and threatened to derail the profound truth and beauty of astrology.

    House systems have always been a great point of debate amongst astrologers, sometimes to the point of ridiculousness, as has been made evident by the recent drama unfolding online. The self-aggrandizing and emotionally charged condemnations of those who hold different views regarding the topic; belies the illusion that this may have any real importance in the grander scheme of life, or dare I say, astrology. This is at once sad and laughable.

    Over the past few decades, the notion of a whole sign houses (WSH) has become very popular particularly in the US. This has been primarily due to the work of project hindsight, which promoted the notion that the WSH was the original system used by Hellenistic astrologers. The basis of this idea stemmed from their translations of Greek texts, in particular the work of Vettius Valens (75 CE). These texts are actually somewhat vague on which house system was used in practice, and are devoid of any actual drawn charts. Whether the idea of WSH stems directly from any clear statement found in the translated texts, which is debatable; or that it arose from the translator’s interpretation of the texts seen through the lens of their own expectations and preconceived notion on the subject is not the issue that I will be discussing1However, the ensuing controversy is.

    While there is still much debate that can be made as to whether this ‘new’ house system is in fact the original system, it is in many regards a moot point. No other area of astrological doctrine has caused so much bickering over the centuries as the division of the sky into astrological houses.

    How we choose a house system

    Many years ago, I began my formal study of astrology. This was during the height of enthusiasm for humanistic or psychological astrology. As with any astrological course we were introduced to the signs, the planets, and the houses. Charts were presented to us in the preferred format of our teachers. There was no reason or need to question that format, which included the house system of their choice.

    Years later when I began to explore works by different astrologers, I started to notice that charts did not always look the same. There was the obvious fact that some astrologer included different points in their chart (asteroids, vertex, Part of fortune); but sometimes the chart looked different because they used a different house system.  

    At first, I ignored these different house systems continuing to use the one favoured by my original teachers: Placidus. I told myself that it worked, so why go change things. I was not aware of the reason I used Placidus, nor did I know exactly how the Placidus system differed from other house systems, such as Campanus, Regiomontanus, Porphyry, Alcabitius to name a few2. Like many students of astrology, I chose to use a particular house system by default.

    As my studies continued, I learned that astrologers have different ways of approaching chart delineation. They had different opinion regarding which technique were best and held differing views on the planets, signs, and aspect. As with any art, the artists choose their tools Astrologers could discuss these differences more often with interest and respect for the other, without resorting to attacks and impassioned demands that their way is the only way and the ultimate truth of the matter. To understand why the subject of houses is so fraught with emotion and passion, I believe it is important to look at the whole of astrology from a larger perspective.

    Humans are by nature creative beings. The human experience gave rise to stories and myth which they projected onto their environment. It was only natural that humans would stand in awe and wonder at the Cosmos which enveloped them and lite up the night sky.  The heavens inspired a sense that there was a higher realm populated by divine beings and gods, who played out the everyday drama of human life on a grander scale. They came to believe that our earthly experience was intricately linked to the heavens, and so ritual evolved in order to commune and interact directly with the divine realm of the gods.

    Human are also by nature rational beings. The perpetual movement of the cosmos was observed and over time the reoccurring patterns and phenomena noted. This elicited a need to record, measure and find some rational meaning to this constant and yet ever-changing sky. Astrology may reflect life’s mysteries, but it grew out of human curiosity and the desire to decipher the mechanism by which these mysteries might works.

    Out of this competing mixture of human experience and divine beings; of mathematics and poetry; of science and art, horoscopic astrology emerged. As groups of stars and planets were identified, the building blocks of astrology were set: the signs of the Zodiac and the planets including the Sun and Moon that traversed them. The signs and planets may have been understood to exist in a distant realm of the deities, but they manifested themselves by rising, culminating and setting within the confines of our local sky. And so, we divided the local sky and created ‘houses’ so as to know where these divine emissaries were having their effect relative to our mundane human experience. Houses are the interface between the heavens and earthly experience.

    The Philosophical Basis of the World

    The philosophical notion that at the beginning of time everything emanated from one pure source. Existence being the result of a Creator dreaming, thinking, or speaking us/it into being, is a thread found in the fabric of many traditions. The notion that the further one gets from the source, and the closer to physical manifestation, the more complex, changeable and corrupted3 things become.

    According to Plato the world that we inhabit is but an imperfect manifestation of a greater reality consisting of non-material ‘qualities’ that combine to make up all that exists. Plato called these qualities ‘forms’ and hypothesized that these essential ‘beings’ existed in a realm that laid beyond the physical manifested world that we experience. To have knowledge of a thing according to Plato, one needed to go beyond the sensory experience of that thing and come to know the essential ‘forms’ of which it was made.

    In effect the idea that our world and physical body are but imperfect reflections of the essentially pure, non-material spirit from which it is born. Our senses inform us only of the manifested and therefore imperfect material reality we inhabit. True knowledge and its ensuing wisdom can only come by piercing through the illusion of the senses and engaging our rational mind or Spirit. Without doing this we are left with mere illusion of knowledge and opinions4.

    This idea was further expounded on when looking at the model of the universe according the Aristotle/ Ptolemy that puts the earth at its center, divided into the four level of the element (Fire, Air, Water and Earth) and surrounded by the seven planetary spheres, the sphere of the fixed stars and finally the Primus mobile, beyond which exists the single pure source, the one, the monad that put the whole scheme into motion5.

    Houses in the astrological scheme

    The astrological houses are measured from the perspective of a particular place on earth. They are a division of the sky that is measured from the ASC, the eastern point of the ecliptic, a ‘fixed’ point relative to a particular place on earth and the MC the highest point on the ecliptic. The houses map the primary motion of the Sun/ Moon and other planet’s daily journey through our skies. The relationship of the houses with the observer is altogether more personal and direct, and through them the effect of a planet in the zodiac is grounded to reveal its specific influence upon a particular place on earth at a particular moment in time. From the perspective of the Ptolemaic/Aristotelean cosmos, the doctrine of astrological houses is by definition the most ‘corrupted’ and least pure thing in our astrology. The houses are earth bound, they are created relative to a particular place on this planet; they are at once forever changing and simultaneously fixed to a place/point in the manifested world we experience.6

    Houses evolved to represent areas of life and arenas of earthly, human experience. Houses reveal the stage on which the drama of human experience unfolds, and if we are being honest, we have to admit that we love a good drama.

    Is it a wonder that house systems are the one area of astrology that people become attached to or in some cases reject outright, as in the case of Cosmobiology. Is it a wonder that it also the most disputed? Is it a wonder that the subject of houses causes some of the most dramatic and emotive arguments between otherwise level headed astrologers? I think not.

    Choose your house system (or not), continue working with the higher beings that populate our cosmos, commit yourself to mastery, take responsibility for your words, be present and humble, but most of all, always remember that opinion is not knowledge.

    1. For a more thorough understanding of this see Martin Gansten’s paper on the subject https://brill.com/view/journals/ijdp/4/1/article-p1_1.xml
      ↩︎
    2. For a full breakdown of the differences in house system see Deborah Houlding’s The Houses: Temples of the Sky (The Wessex  Astrologer Ltd 2006) ↩︎
    3. Corruption is related to the constant change of physical corporal life. All life on earth eventually dies and decays. This is the meaning of being impure and corruptible. ↩︎
    4. [1] The fascinating fact that Mercury is the planet that signifies astrology and is associated with the rational mind should not be lost to any of us. Its glyph incorporates: the cross of matter, the circle of spirit and the crescent of soul. ↩︎
    5. Some model added an extra 10th sphere between the fixed stars and the Primus mobile…that of the Zodiac. I would ascertain that this would be when the Zodiac became connected with the cardinal seasonal points and decoupled from the stars. ↩︎
    6. The ASC/DES and MC/IC anchor is fixed to a place on earth and will remain the same relative to that place, regardless of time or season. (If 21 Leo rises and the MC degree is 14 Taurus; every time 21 Leo rises at that place, 14 Taurus will be the degree on the MC.) ↩︎

  • ADOLF HITLER a Study in Evil

    April 20, 1889, 6:30 am, Braunau am Inn, Austria

    Looking at Hitler’s chart we find that the Almuten of the Ascendant is Saturn 13 Leo in the  10th house, because it has both exaltation and triplicity dignity over the ASC degree of at 21 Libra in this day chart.

    Finding the compound almuten over the degrees of the Moon 6 Capricorn, Mercury 25 Aries, and 26 Libra ASC we find the significator of Quality of his Mind to be Mars 16 Aries with 13 points, closely followed by Saturn 13 Leo with 12 points.  These two planets would function very much as a team especially as they are aspecting each other by square as well as by a very tight, almost to the minute antiscia1 conjunction. This antiscia allows these two planets to function far more cooperatively than their stressful square aspect would indicate.

    Finally, we must find the Pilot of the Soul. In this chart the search is difficult because Mars, Saturn and Moon are all in detriment, Sun and Mercury are peregrine which means they have no essential dignity whatsoever and Jupiter though he has face dignity is in his fall. Of the seven classical planets only Venus in Taurus has any dignity and she is retrograde, conjunct Mars as well as being very close to the 8th house cusp. Yet by default she wins the position of Pilot of the Soul. This would have been the ideal planet for Hitler to follow…But did he? Let us review.

    His Lord of the Ascendant is Saturn in Leo in the 10th house. The planet signifying his Quality of Mind  is Mars in Taurus in the 7th house with Saturn in Leo a close contender. Finally the Pilot of the Soul is Venus in Taurus in the 7th conjunct Mars.

    Lord of the Ascendant, Saturn in the 10th house, is debilitated in his sign of detriment, in other words far from his (Saturn’s) essential best nature. Saturn was seen as the great malefic by the ancients. Debilitated malefics function in extremes, their nature is amplified and exaggerated. This planet could bring great misfortune in one’s life unless it was on his best behaviour. At its best Saturn is patient, responsible, disciplined and holds authority. But in this chart, he is not at his best, he is at his worst and yet he is positioned in the 10th house to act and act strongly. So, he will act in a strongly malefic manner.

    As Lord of the Ascendant, Saturn represents Hitler’s corporeal desires; being in the 10th house, he desires power and authority. Saturn in Leo, he probably wants to be king. Saturn’s dispositor (and MC ruler), Sun is peregrine, he has no ability to keep Saturn in check. Saturn disposits Moon and Jupiter in Capricorn conjunct the south node. Moon in Capricorn is in detriment and would feel insecure unless in control. Jupiter is equally debilitated in his fall, though he has a bit of face dignity this is more to do with fear than an actual strength2.  Both being with the south node only adds to their debility and sense of weakness. All this would give Saturn more justification to take control and not let go (Leo fixed).

    The significator of the Quality of the Mind is Mars working closely with Saturn. Here we find Mars equally debilitated in detriment squaring his ally Saturn.  One of the main meanings of the quality of the mind is conscience, knowing that an action is right or wrong because we are conscious of a higher and broader perspective than just that of our individual ego. Mars is a mutual reception with the Moon; both are peregrine and in detriment, but are trining each other with reception by exaltation. Unfortunately this will not bring the promised support usually associated with reception; the only thing they can provide the other is the insecurity of their debility.

    Mars also rules Mercury in Aries. Mercury being peregrine was easily enlisted to do Mars (and Saturn’s) bidding. Hitler was a great orator who was able to stir the emotions of the masses and lead them into war. As an aside, Germany is said to be ruled by Mars and Aries. Hitler became Germany’s mouth piece. So Hitler’s Quality of Mind was not going to tame or soften his Saturn’s drive for power and authority. On the contrary the two would work in tandem together and both bring with them the insecurity of the Moon and fear of Jupiter.

    So far, we have a dire situation, but was it absolutely necessary for Hitler to become what he became? The Pilot of his Soul may have helped him steer a different path. As Venus in Taurus, we see fertility and creativity, but it is retrograde, conjunct Mars and square Saturn. The good nature of Venus is over shadowed by the strong malefic energy working together and feeding off the long-term fears and insecurities (Moon, Jupiter conjunct South Node). The two malefics used the veneer of Venus to camouflage their indent, presenting a more benign face of Hitler to the world.

    Remember that Hitler’s first aim in life was to be an artist and then an architect. Unfortunately, he was rejected by the Vienna Academy of Art in 1907 and 1908 and didn’t have the educational qualifications to apply for study of architecture. We can only speculate how history may have turned out differently if he had been accepted by the Academy. So, his Pilot of the Soul was not given a chance to take the drivers seat. Does this mean that Hitler was inherently bad or evil? I do not think so, he was insecure and angry, so the odds were stacked up against him. He needed to overcome an awful lot to turn his life towards goodness.

    Astrology is about time and we can not look at Hitler’s life or chart without regards to his time. Hitler’s fate was that of Germany’s. Looking at the chart of the man I would conclude that this was a man who was essential weak with little choice then to be carried by the forces of the times in which he lived. Picking two events that seemed to have been pivotal in Hitler’s life; one mundane and one personal and, we may trace the growing dominance of Mars & Saturn’s influence in Hitler’s life.

    The Weimer Republic

    November 9, 1918 at 13:30 CET in Berlin Germany

    In 1918 on November 9th the Weimer Republic came into being, shortly followed by the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. This perceived public humiliation of the German nation coincided with the period of Hitler’s Saturn return and marked a turning point in his life. This event planted the seed of his nationalistic and racial fervour that germinated into the Nazi Party and lead the world down the road to holocaust.

    On that day the Sun 16 Scorpio was directly opposite Hitler’s Mars, Venus conjunction at 16 Taurus and in contra-antiscia to his Saturn 13 Leo. The event chart’s North Node was at 13 Sagittarius, conjunct its MC and was on the antiscia degree of Hitler’s South Node 15 Capricorn, whilst the event charts Jupiter 15 Cancer was transiting Hitler’s natal North Node; his 6 Capricorn natal Moon was being opposed by the obsessive and at that point unknown, Pluto at 6 Cancer. On a more personal front his progressed Moon 8 Aquarius was moving to oppose his Saturn 13 Leo.

    The fate of his nation evidenced by this charts MC, Sun and North Node triggered the worst of Hitler’s horoscope promises: deeply malevolent Saturn and Mars in positions of extreme power, fed by the insecurity of his foundations (Moon, Jupiter and South Node). 

    Geli Raubal

    Another incident that was very pivotal in the development of Hitler’s persona was the death by gun shot to the heart of his niece, Geli Raubal on Sept 19th 1931. Rumored to have been his mistress, Geli and Hitler had an unusual relationship which in many ways played out the symbolic configuration of his Mars conjunct Venus in Taurus in the 7th house square Saturn.

    Hitler, twenty years her senior, found happiness with Geli, her presence subdued and relaxed him and yet he was totally controlling and fanatically jealous of her. There were questions as to whether Hitler was in any way involved in her death. The rumours and innuendos were never proved, but her death was to have a profound effect on Hitler.  became suicidal and never regained the public joy he had exhibited in Geli’s presence.

    Her body was discovered at approximately 10:00 am on the 19th, by the landlord. It is believed that she died sometime on Sept 18, 1931.

    Body discovered Sept 19 1931 at 10:00 in Munich Germany

    On the day her death was discovered, Saturn was 16 degrees Capricorn trining Hitler’s natal Mars, Venus and conjunct his South Node; and transiting Jupiter at 13 degrees Leo was on his Saturn. Mars, ruler of his 7th house was transiting his 1st house, at 1 degree Scorpio applying to square his MC (5 Leo) and oppose his natal Mars, Venus conjunction. His progressed Moon sextiled natal Mars, Venus and was conjunct his North Node and on its way to conjunct his MC on the day he took the control of the newly formed Third Reich (January 30, 1933).

    Hitler’s highly afflicted Saturn and Mars were triggered by this event. It is said that after Geli’s death Hitler threw himself ever more into his public life. Having enough political influence to ensure that his involvement surrounding the suspicious circumstances of her death never came to light, must have empowered his sense of invincibility.  The ambition of his Lord of the Ascendant, Saturn coupled with the ruthless and destructive Mars, devoid of the balancing force of Venus (possibly symbolized by Geli herself, her death being the final death of Hitler’s Venus) allowed the evil that was festering below the surface to be given full expression.   

    We can not judge a chart in a vacuum. Hitler’ fate was linked to the circumstances of his era, culture, nation and birth. Hitler did not act alone in perpetrating the evil that was the Third Reich. Yet as the figure head for this movement he became the focal point of its manifestation. Was Hitler an evil man? The answer is that he was a weak man who through fateful circumstances yielded a huge amount of worldly power (symbolized by his celestially weak planets in terrestrially strong placement). What could have been done with this power need not have been so destructive, but it takes a strong individual to resist the allure of the ego.

    The 13th century Saint Thomas Aquinas expounded the truth that: “The stars may incline, but do not compel.” 3 Yet even Thomas Aquinas conceded that only when a man’s soul was in communion with God, was his will freed from the bondage of his corporal nature – with his physical body and its appetites, needs and desires. The stars may only incline, but your spirit needs to be in touch with a higher power to resist their inclination. Clearly this was not the case with the individual Adolf Hitler.

    1. Antiscia – From the Greek, meaning “opposite shadow”. A degree and its antiscia are equidistant from the summer-winter solstice axis (Cancer/Capricorn). Planets related by antiscia have the force of a conjunction.  Contra-antiscia (the opposition to the antiscia degree) has the force of an opposition. ↩︎
    2. The Faces supply some intriguing leads about those areas where the individual has fear or problems. The point is that most people don’t like fear and would rather cloak fear with hatred”.  From Lee Lehman “Essential Dignities” page 136 ↩︎
    3. This is a paraphrase of a Latin saying: “Astra non compellunt, sed inclinant”, translating to: “the stars do not compel, but they do incline”. A concept that Aquinas frequently used to explain how astrological influence may suggest a course of action, but because of human free-will, a person is not forced to follow it.  ↩︎

  • Traditional and modern astrology: a philosophical exploration (part 4)

    How does Greek Philosophy Relate to Astrology?

    Horoscopic astrology developed alongside the ideas of classical Greek philosophy. It could be said that the observation of the sky and planetary motions inspired much philosophical musing. In the past there was little separation between science and philosophy, between religion and astrology or between mathematics and magic. The world was understood to be idealistic; that is that idea or mind came before matter, matter being a result of idea.

    From this perspective spirit and matter were considered equally real and important. The interplay and mutual relationship between God and humans or the planets and the affairs of the earthly realm was a given. The axiom “as above so below” rang true in every sense of the words; what occurred here on Earth was naturally to be reflected in the movement of the cosmos. This was not perceived as magical, but rather as logical.

    It is only when our focus began to shift from a spiritual perspective of life to a biological one that matter became the ultimate reality and soul a construct of the human mind. This shift had a profound effect on our world. Mechanical science and technology has changed life on this planet as well as our human consciousness. No longer are we part of a tribe, no longer do we accept the concept of a predetermined fate, no longer do we see the movement of the planet and stars as evidence of their soul or ours, and no longer do we accept magic as being natural. For the most part we now see ourselves as a collection of individuals jostling to be and to find our purpose; our bodies and the rest of the material world is a manifest proof of chemical reactions that adhere to the laws that govern the physical universe. We elevate logical and rational thought based on sensible evidence over and above magical thinking that is dismissed as flights of the imagination, not based in rational reality.

    Astrology has reflected this change by becoming primarily focused on the individual and his inner processes of realization. The natal chart has been elevated to being a tool to help in the individuation of the native. Astrology’s recent focus on the psychology of the individual is an illustration of this shift.

    The Roots of Traditional Astrology

    To really understand traditional astrology we need to shift our focus from the modern paradigm and reset it on how the world and cosmos were understood around 2500 years ago, when horoscopic astrology first began to appear. One of the first problems we encounter is the modern notion of evolution and progress, which has ingrained itself so firmly into our psyche that it is difficult for us to accept that where we find ourselves is anything but a higher more evolved level than what came before. We need to perceive the past not through the prism of the present, nor through the romantic notion of a past golden age, but rather from the neutral position of a novice or student eager to learn.

    We need to let go of our preconceived ideas about astrology and accept that there is much we can learn from the ancients. This can be a very uncomfortable process as cherished notions and ideas need to be relinquished or at least re-examined. At the same time, it is immensely freeing to open our minds to other possibilities. Our understanding of concepts such as: god, soul, evolution, knowledge and information are different to what they were in the past and it is important to appreciate these differences.

    Much of the rational for astrology can be found in the philosophical ideas and principles of ancient Greek philosophers including Pythagoras, Plato and Aristotle as well as the Stoic school. Having even a cursory understanding of these can be immensely informing to the astrologer.

    part 5