Astrologicalmind

The magic of astrology explored

Tag: traditional astrology

  • 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 discussing1. However, 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.

    Houses in the astrological scheme

    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 common 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 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’ from 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.

    The further out we move from earth, the more constant, less corrupted, and purer a thing is considered to be. The zodiac exists in the furthest sphere from earth. It is closest to the Source from which it was conceived. The symbolic nature of the zodiac inspires us to reach for the heavens and search for meaning. 

    As we move towards Earth through the planetary spheres, the more distant a planet is the more stable its cycle. The superior planets: Saturn, Jupiter and Mars which are furthest from Earth6 have a relatively constant cycles; but once we get to the inferior planets: Venus and especially Mercury their cycles get far more complex, their movement more erratic and harder to follow. The Moon, moving swiftly connects the planets and distributes their virtues to the central sphere that is the Earth. This central sphere, our manifested world, is forever changing: the cycle of birth, growth, decay, and death is inherent through the continual interaction of the elements and their primary qualities7.

    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.8

    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. In the Aristotelian/Ptolemaic scheme of the Universe ↩︎
    7. The two active qualities: hot & cold initiate movement. The two passive qualities: moist & dry modify it, creating the elements and constant cycle of life. ↩︎
    8. 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.) ↩︎

  • Focusing the Chart Using Yearly Profections

    Have you ever wondered why some transits come and pass with seeming little impact on the life of the individual, even though they looked pretty powerful? Have you or one of your clients ever experienced a huge life changing event and yet there is nothing obvious happening in the chart that could be attributed to it?

    The main technics that modern astrology has at its disposal for advancing the chart through time are transits and progression. Traditional astrology uses techniques that identify planetary periods and time lords. This is one of the principle differences between modern astrology and traditional (being pre-18th century) astrology. A time lord refers to a planet which has governorship over a period of time in a person’s life. When a planet takes over the role of time lord whatever it rules in the chart will come into focus; its condition and position in the natal chart will dictate how easy or difficult the period is likely to be.

    Anything that happens to the planet that is the Lord of the time period will come to the forefront and be more likely to manifest in the life. Transits to or by this planet will be active and produce impressive events in the life, while transit to other or by other planets during the same period may feel like duds; nothing of any significance happens. It is as if the planet that is the time lord is switched on and lights up a particular part of the chart and therefore a sphere in the life. There are also times when a second planet may also be “switched on” and it will act as co-time lord./ This can be very helpful to the astrologer who is now better able to tell which of the many transits coming are likely to actually produce some activity and which can in all probability be dismissed.

    There are many different planetary period outlined in the tradition; some cover periods of many years of an individual’s life and others that cover a much shorter period. One of the oldest and simplest time lord techniques that come to us from the tradition is yearly profections. Simply speaking the chart is moved or profected one whole sign per year. The ruler of the new profected Ascendant takes the role of time lord for that year. If there is a planet or planets in the sign of the new profected ascendant they will also be activated for the year.

    Having the knowledge of which planet is the profected Lord of the year also helps to focus the solar return chart; for the position and state of this planet in the solar return chart provides more information.

    Natal chart data withheld

    An example of how this might work:

    The native turned 51 years old in 2011, this is a 4th place profected year. We move everything in her chart by 4 full signs; her 4 degree Capricorn ascendant profects to 4 Aries, a sign ruled by Mars. Mars therefore becomes the Lord of the year from her birthday 2011 to her birthday 2012. Since she also has her natal Moon very close to the degree of the profected Ascendant, the Moon will also take on an important role during that year.

    The 4th house themes are home and family and also cover literally, the physical home we live in. Her Moon being right on the IC point brings in the themes of the 7th house which she rules; therefore relationship and partners. Natal Moon reinforces this theme by being opposite natal Venus; the universal significator of relationship and partners. In her natal chart Mars also rules the 11th house; the house of friends, colleagues and our “hopes and wishes”. Note as well that the profected 7th house cusp lands on natal Venus at 4 degrees Libra, and profected Venus comes to the natal ASC at 4 degrees Capricorn, emphasis on relationship coming from many directions through the profections of the year.

    We would expect that all these themes: home, relationship and her “hope and wishes” will be brought to the forefront during this year. And they were. The native wanted to sell her existing house and buy a bigger place, one that was more modern and to her taste; her “hopes and wishes”. She had been living with her partner for just under 2 years and there were problems in the relationship that made her want to live alone again, though she was emotionally torn.

    We can see by the state of her Moon that relationship generally would be a challenge for her. Moon in Aries means she has a strong emotional need for freedom;  Mars which rules it, has little dignity and is in the frustrating position of being weak in the cadent 6th house, squaring his dispositor Mercury, (universal significator of communication). He is also opposite Jupiter the natal ruler of her 3rd and 12th houses. Relationships would bring up this frustrated Mars and the difficulty she has in communicating without getting emotional or argumentative. As Mars is in the 6th house the stresses of all this are likely to impact on her health.

    Using the yearly profections it is fairly easy to see that she is going to experience a difficult year, as well as a pivotal year, for both the home front and the relationship represent fundamental areas of life.

    Her 2011 Solar Return

    The solar return chart can be thought of as frozen transits for the year. Her solar return for the year 2011 strongly reinforces the themes brought up by the 2011 profections. This is not always the case, but being so tells us what an important and charged year this is for the native.

    Lord of the Year, Mars and Moon are opposite on the ascendant and descendant angles. Both are in pretty bad shape essentially; Mars is in sign of its fall and the Moon is in her detriment. The Moon is also conjunct natal Saturn at 11 Capricorn and squaring the SR Saturn at 15 Libra. Bringing a Saturnian theme and further emphasizing the difficult nature to the year. The IC point of the SR chart is conjunct her natal Moon and there we find Uranus.

    Because Mars is so powerfully placed on the 7th cusp, we know that the native will have the ability to take the action necessary, as difficult as it might be. Mars is about cutting or severing. Uranus is strongly placed on the IC of this chart indicating a change on the home front, but as it is also transiting the natal Moon, who rules the natal 7th it highlights the relationship sector as well. Uranus is associated with divorce and relationship breakups. In fact she did with great difficulty and emotional stress sell her house, break up her relationship with the partner and move into her new home alone.

    One of the problems in the relationship had to do with money. She had worked hard to own her own home and was about to upgrade. Her partner had no assets of his own and she feared that he would be able to claim some of hers if they continued living together. She did not want to risk her fortune on a relationship that had problems (they argued an awful lot), even though she did not really want to break off the relationship totally as she enjoyed the companionship. Lord of the Year Mars in the Solar return chart is on the degree of her part of fortune, symbolically an interesting placement.

    The year was immensely stressful for her and she developed a serious problem with her digestion, which weakened her physically as she was unable to eat very much. The South node in the solar return chart is on the 6th cusp and conjunct her natal Mars. As Mars is the Lord of the year, ruler of the profected ascendant, he governs her body and the south node is draining her vital energy.

    Pluto is making a transit to her natal ASC which tells of major changes to her life, but the profections really focus us on which areas of the life those change are going to manifest. There is always so much that can be seen in a chart, but having a method with which you can focus on which area will come to the forefront makes it far easier to interpret what is likely to happen in the life over a particular period of time..

  • ADOLF HITLER a Study in Evil

    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.  ↩︎

  • Using traditional techniques is it possible to find “evil” in the natal chart?

    EVIL  • adjective 1 deeply immoral and malevolent. 2 embodying or associated with the devil. 3 extremely unpleasant: an evil smell.  • noun 1 extreme wickedness and depravity, especially when regarded as a supernatural force. 2 something harmful or undesirable.
    In religion and ethics, evil refers to the “bad” aspects of the behaviour and reasoning of human being – those which are deliberately void of conscience, and show a wanton desire for destruction. The opposite of goodness, which itself refers to aspects which are life-affirming, peaceful, and constructive.

    Can evil be seen in a chart? Do certain individuals choose to be evil or are they fated to be so? And do their charts reflect this? And are we fated to live out what is in our chart? These questions are all loaded and profoundly disturb many in our profession. 

    In this day, when even the ancient descriptions of planets as benefic and malefic elicits discomfort in contemporary astrologers, it is no longer regarded as correct to think in these terms.  The idea that a planet or person could be inherently bad goes against our accepted standard of judgment. Deviation from acceptable behaviour is seen as an understandable reaction to the emotional and psychological experiences that have traumatized or otherwise wounded individuals.

    Ironically as we move away from judging an individual as evil we continue to embrace the idea that evil exists in the world. As illustrated by our “war on terror” and our fear of the “terrorist threat”. The concept of evil has always been present but we have confused the doing of evil with being evil.

    When our ancestors spoke of a planet bestowing malevolent or benefic influence in a horoscope, we tend to imagine this as being a very cut and dry affair: bad planet cause bad things, good planet, cause good thing. The reality is far richer and more subtle than it appears at first glance.

    The Malefic Planets: Mars & Saturn

    In the traditional cosmos the so-called malevolent planets were Mars and Saturn. At their best both are a necessary and positive force in the chart, allowing us to take righteous action, be responsible and build strong foundations. Both have ‘jobs’ related to ending and death. When these planets were afflicted, they went out of balance and their influence becomes negative and destructive.

    A planet is at its best when in essential dignity and with some reception. A debilitated planet has a really hard time expressing its true nature; they become an exaggerated or distorted version of themselves. Mars doesn’t just take action; he kills all who stand in his way. Saturn doesn’t just take responsibility he becomes tyrannical. The other planets can also cause trouble when in a debilitated condition, but their effect is unlikely to be thought of as evil.

    Whether fate is pre-destined or created by the native’s choices is a tricky one.  The modern paradigm places more emphasis on the free will and choice of the individual then was the case in the past. In previous generations the individual had their place within the social hierarchy and few had any choice about it. Even those at the top of this hierarchy had limited choices. Overseeing all, there was God.

    Now we may speak of the higher self rather than God. Many have become uncomfortable with the concept of a Supreme Being overseeing us all, choosing for us, and allocating our fate. The concept of the “higher self” individualises us, if not in fact certainly in title. It allows us the illusion of having more power to choose. Regardless of our modern belief in the importance of the individual, fate can not be denied; it is what is bestowed on us.

    We are born into a certain era or time, a particular body, gender, to a particular set of parents, within a family, culture and nation. We do not consciously choose this; we are given this. This is fate. Our free will to choose is confined to limits of our given fate. Man’s essential nature is both corporeal and spiritual; the integration of these polarities draws us closer to our essential nature. Essential nature by definition signifies a more balanced state of being.  A state more aligned with the Divine, however we define that word.

    In nature a daisy will grow into the best daisy specimen possible within the environment it is given. It can not do otherwise or choose to grow into a rose. Because nothing in the natural world can stray from its essential nature, there is no evil there. A volcano may cause devastation, cruel as this may seem, it is nothing more then the restoration of balance. Nature has no will to choose otherwise. But the human being has free will to choose and can turn away from his essential nature. He must come to know and accept who he is, what he has been given, understand his purpose in the scheme of things and fulfil it.  The further away from his essential nature he moves the more he encounters evil or in the words of our fore bearers; malevolence.

    The principal thing that pushes man away from his essential good nature is his desires; desire that stem from his corporeal existence. His desire to possess more than what he has been given, to have more power than he needs and to strive for a purpose not of his own.  In modern jargon these corresponds to the ego and remember that the ego is never satisfied.

    The Lord of the Ascendant, Pilot of the Soul and
    The Significator of the Quality of the Mind

    Using traditional astrological methods, we can see in the natal chart how easy or not it will be for an individual to stay aligned with his true nature and how strong the pull of his desires will be. By identifying three planets: the Lord of the Ascendant, the Pilot of the Soul and the significator of the Quality of the Mind, we have the information needed to judge how likely one is to move towards or away from his/her essential nature.

    To find these planets we use the table of essential dignities to calculate the almuten (overall ruler) of particular degree of the zodiac. Giving the planet in rulership 5 points, in exaltation 4 points, in triplicity 3 points, in term 2 points and in face 1 point, we simply add up the points for each planet to find the one with the most essential dignity at a particular degree or degrees. It is important to note whether it is a day or night chart and use the appropriate triplicity ruler.

    The Lord of the Ascendant is the planet which has the most essential dignity at the ASC degree, in other words the almuten of the ASC. Often this is the planet ruling the ASC but not always. As the overall ruler of our ASC this planet is most concerned with our corporeal life; the driving force that motivates us. In modern jargon we could say it signifies our ego.

    The Pilot of the Soul, is the planet with the most essential dignity overall; and in the strongest position, in the chart.  Ideally it would also be free of accidental debility such as retrograde or combustion. The Pilot of the Soul is the planet that would ideally take charge. This is the planet that could set us on the right path and redirect us if we get side-tracked. This is the planet most closely aligned to spirit; most connected to Divine source. This is the planet we should endeavour to engage and make friends with, for it is most likely to raise us above our corporeal fate.

    Finally, we find the significator of the Quality of the Mind by finding the compound almuten; the planet with the most essential dignity at the degrees of the Moon, Mercury and ASC.  Quality of the mind does not refer to intelligence, but rather to how and to what purpose the mind is used. It relates to conscience and the moral nature of the native. This planet represents the balance between their sensible and rational minds and how well their corporeal and spiritual facets integrate. In other words, do they use their mind for good or evil?

  • Traditional and Modern astrology: a philosophical exploration (part 5 – Pythagoras)

    Pythagoras and the Magic of Numbers

    It is probably redundant to say that most everything in our Universe can be understood through numbers. Mathematics is truly the universal language, the secrets of which were first explored and brought to our consciousness by Pythagoras who lived from about 570 to 495 BCE. He was a philosopher, mathematician, mystic and scientist who established a philosophical school in Croton in Southern Italy. Plato was one of his students. Little is actually known about Pythagoras the man; however his ideas and teachings have been very influential. Pythagoras is famous for saying that “ALL is number”. While we may never know whether Pythagoras the man actually said this, we do know that he saw numbers as more than just a means of quantifying things; to the Pythagorians numbers were understood to have and to bestow qualities as well.

    The ideas attributed to Pythagoras gave rise to sacred geometry as well as musical theory. His assertion that numbers had qualities and could be experienced expanded the notion we have of mathematics to include an esoteric dimension which included the ability to bring about healing. The doctrine of aspects in traditional astrology is based on Pythagorean principles.

    Pythagorean number theory

    One or the Monad is not considered a true number; it is the principle of number. It signifies the creative potentiality of all things, for it is potentially any number. It is both mother and father and is the source of all other numbers. One, is like God for it preserved; multiplying by one always gives you the number you started with, it preserves that number. It is unity that has yet to be manifested as it remains potentially anything and everything.

    Two or the Dyad is also not considered a true number; but rather a process that flows from the Monad. Two is the source of multiplicity and the principle of knowledge, for it creates the difference between the knower and the known. The Dyad is said to attract the Monad to it and from it generates the rest of the numbers; as such it is related to love.

    Three is the first actual number. It is a figural number because three points creates the shape or figure of a triangle. Three signifies knowledge and consciousness, as the knower and the known can now be recognized from a third perspective, bringing about conscious understanding or consciousness of knowing. The trine is related to three, giving easy understanding or communication between the planets.

    Four is the number that represents manifestation and solid physical foundation. It is of course related to the square. The circle, which has no beginning and no end is said to represent unity or God as yet not manifested, the square represents manifested unity. From an astrological perspective four can be associated with the foundational cardinal point of the chart; the angles ASC, IC, DES and MC. These represent the body/health, home/family, relationship/marriage and career/purpose which are the foundation of human life.

    The multiplication of three and four gives us the number 12 and we have twelve zodiac sign. While the addition of three plus four gives us seven which corresponds to the seven visible planets.

    Six is a perfect number for it contains one, two and three (1+2+3=6), it is both odd and even (2×3=6). It is the number associated with reconciliation and represents “ensoulment” of the body by the soul. The number six creates 2 triangle that fit together bringing the elements together or God and the manifested world together.

    We can see evidence of the Pythagorean number theory is the traditional doctrine of aspect. The monad is like the conjunction, the Dyad is like the opposition, the number three relates to the trine, the number four represents the square and finally the number six relates to the sextile.

    Twelve was seen as representing a version of the bodies/sphere in the Universe: the one eternal and unifying God (realm of the fixed stars), the 7 planets, the 4 sub-lunar elements(fire, air, water and earth), arranged from most orderly to the least, from most perfect to most corrupted.

    According to the Pythagorean understanding there were 3 parts of the Soul: the Curious part, that seeks knowledge, the Ambitious part that seeks honours and the Covetous part that seeks profit or power. Each part of the soul needs to function properly and be harmonized with the other 2 parts. We can associate these parts of the soul with the 3 traditional outer planets; the Curious soul with Jupiter, the Ambitious soul with Mars and the Covetous soul with Saturn (as the empire builder).

  • 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

  • Traditional and Modern astrology: a philosophical exploration (part 3 – the birth of modern astrology)

    The industrial revolution (1750 – 1850) changed the lives of ordinary people and had a profound effect on society. The shift from an agriculturally based economy to a manufacturing one saw a decline in rural population and an increase in urban living. It also led to changes in the distribution of wealth and class distinction; as entrepreneurs were able to make fortunes in manufacturing which in turn created new jobs and led to the rise of a new middle class through the 18th and 19th century. As this middle class became more numerous, better educated and influential, they developed an interest in and fascination for occult subjects and mysticism evidenced by the founding in the mid- 19th century of the theosophical society amongst others. It was through the mystery schools of the late 19th early 20th century that astrology began to re-emerge from its years in the wilderness and find a new audience.

    The astrology that returned was changed and coupled with the legal challenges that many of its practitioners faced, astrology came to reject event-oriented and predictive horoscopic analysis while focusing on natal astrology with an emphasis on character analysis and the psychological and spiritual development of the individual.

    It was Alan Leo (1860 – 1917), an immensely successful and influential astrologer who through his work put astrology firmly on the road to the more individual focus and psychologically-oriented horoscope delineation of modern times. He is rightly known as “the father of modern astrology”.  Being a devout theosophist he also incorporated many of the concepts of karma and reincarnation into astrology. One of the principle things that modern astrology rejected outright was horary, which was seen by Alan Leo as being spiritually dangerous.

    “Horary astrology, as practiced today, is the vilest rubbish imaginable, and not worthy of the name. Indeed, it is not astrology at all, but simply divination, for which purpose geomancy or card laying would answer just as well… It is the curse of the science and the ruin of the astrologer.”1

    While it could be argued that so much of the techniques and knowledge of traditional astrology had been lost, making the practice of horary near impossible, the main issue was probably more philosophical and possibly legal.

    By the early 20th century the world had changed to such a point that the reasons for astrology’s initial decline were but a distant memory; a forgotten and irrelevant footnote in the history of science. It had been so long since astrology had figured in serious theological, intellectual or scientific discussion, that most would find it unlikely that it ever had.

    Without prediction, astrology was safe from legal persecution and accusations of fortune telling. Focusing on character analysis was a good way of deflecting any awkward need to justify astrology to an intellectual world steeped in a scientific perspective, which was firmly focused on material rationalism. Astrology could continue to amuse and entertain the masses without being any threat to serious thinkers of the day.

    The astrology that emerged in the early 20th century was rooted in the mystery schools of the 19th century. It was also informed by the new science of psychology and the advances in astronomy. This astrology incorporated recently discovered planets, emphasized universal significance of the signs and planets and became firmly focused on natal astrology and character analysis. By the 1980’s ancient myths, Jungian ideas, popular psychology and a sprinkling of “new-age” concepts were dominating astrological discourse, but astrology was still unacceptable in serious, academic circles.

     

    1. Alan Leo from Modern Astrology II/VII: 10 (1896) pp. 434-437 as quoted by Patrick Curry in A Confusion of Prophets Collin & Brown (1992) p. 165 ↩︎

  • Traditional and Modern astrology: a philosophical exploration (part 2 – history)

    While we may never know exactly how or when horoscopic astrology first began. We do know that it sprung out of a time and place that was greatly influenced by the cosmological ideas of the Babylonian, the celestial religions of the Egyptians, the Hermetic magical understanding of correspondence in nature and the philosophies of the great classical thinkers and their schools, including Pythagoras, Plato, Aristotle and the Stoics. The period between the 4th and 2nd centuries BCE was a time when many of the ancient cultures and their accumulated wisdom came together. The city of Alexandria and its famous library became the cultural and commercial centre of the Western world. Here Jewish, Egyptian, Babylonian and Greek traditions intermingled and unified under the Greek language of the Hellenistic lords. Horoscopic astrology appears to have been the results of this interchange of wisdom and ancient learning.

    The Babylonian contributed their concept of the 12 fold zodiac and the planetary positions in the signs. The Egyptians brought the concept of the 36 decans and the importance of the rising decan which is possibly the origin of the Ascendant and it’s the importance in the horoscope. The Greeks contributed their understanding of the characteristic of the planetary Gods, the elements and most importantly their system of planetary rulership which was based on the distance of planets to the Sun.1

    From these rich ingredients arose horoscopic astrology; a subject which was to profoundly influence man throughout his cultural, religious and political history. Astrology was understood to be at various times: a tool for predicting a predestined and fated future, a way of interpreting the will of God or the Gods, a form of Divination with which one could enter into a dialogue with the God(s) and sometimes a bit of all the above. By highlighting some of the mysteries that have fascinated mankind since the dawn of the ages, astrology engendered serious philosophical and scientific debate and challenged intellectual thought and beliefs over the centuries.

    Horoscopic Astrology

    One of the foundations on which horoscopic astrology was based was a perception of life which was accepted for over two thousand years. This view was idealistic and held that the physical, transient, sub-lunar world that we experience through our senses was the result or expression of an immaterial, eternal and essentially divine reality. Over the centuries the details of what that essential reality actually constituted and how the natural world and humans were connected or related with it, was the subject of much debate; however the understanding that matter was subservient to a higher and more refined spirit or mind was the accepted paradigm.

    In the centuries leading up to the birth of the Jesus, the pagan religions perceived the world as being at the mercy of the Gods whims. The planets were representatives or symbols of these Gods, and so could be relied upon to display their will or intentions. Astrology could forewarn man of the Gods intentions; man could then proceed to make decisions that were in accordance with them, thereby avoiding the displeasure and wrath of their Deities.

    In the early centuries CE, as pagan polytheist beliefs were overshadowed by the monotheist beliefs of the Judaic/Christian and later Islamic religions; the planets lost their positions as representatives of myriad Gods, but retained their role as emissaries or signs from the singular Divinity, at least for a period of time.

    As Christians challenged the dominance of pagan beliefs in the 3rd and 4th centuries CE, the role and influence of astrology changed. Astrology reached a height of sorts, during the dying days of the Roman Empire. The Roman emperors used astrology as a tool to give them political advantage; though this was not always to the advantage of their astrologers2.

    With the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, schools and libraries closed as financial support dried up, the knowledge of the Greek language died out, and the people became less literate. It is with gratitude that we should view the Arabic and Persian astrologers of the early Middle Ages; for while Europe descended into the period we now know as “the dark ages”, the intellectual light was transferred to the Middle East and there the wisdom of the ancient world including astrology was preserved, refined and expanded.

    Astrology in the Arabic World

    In the 5th and 6th centuries Hellenistic astrology travelled to the East and was intermixed with the astrology of the Persians3. Many of the Greek astrological texts were translated into Pahlavi (the language of the Persians) and we can surmise that some additions would have been made. It is unfortunate that no manuscripts from this period have survived, having been destroyed when later the Arabic Muslim armies overthrew the Persians and established their own empire.

    Finding themselves in need of help to administer their empire the Arabs invited experts and intellectual giants of the world to assist them in building and maintaining their empire. They established a cultural, commercial and intellectual center emanating from their capital Baghdad; a city whose foundation date and time was elected by a group of astrologers4. For the next few centuries Baghdad and the Arab world attracted philosophers, artist and intellectuals of all sorts including astrologers.

    Medieval or Arabic astrology flourished from the mid-8th century and lasted for about 200 years. A new translation project began as surviving Greek and Pahlavi texts were translated into Arabic. While the so called Arabic astrologers of the 8th and 9th centuries (many of whom were actually either Persian or Jewish), did refine some technical and mathematical points, the astrology they practiced remained for the most part, Hellenistic. It is from this period that we begin to encounter the concept of planetary orbs, quadrant house systems and the beginning of horary astrology proper.

    By the 11th century Europe began to reawaken from its 600-year hiatus. As the Christians began to repulse the Muslim from the Hibernian peninsula and reclaim their territory; they discovered the libraries left in their wake. Europe’s intellectual fire was reignited. By the mid-12th century one of the most feverish translation projects began. Arabic texts on all subjects including many on astrology were being translated into Latin. Classical Hellenistic works were made available for the first time in over six centuries to a very intellectually hungry Europe.

    Return of Astrology into Europe

    After astrology was reintroduced into Europe in the 12th century, it took its place at the centre of theological, scientific, mathematical and philosophical debate. It was an accepted subject of serious study that invited much debate, criticism and controversy5. It was one of the principle subjects taught in the newly founded Universities. The basic curriculum consisting of the foundational trivium: grammar, logic and rhetoric; and the more advance quadivium: geometry, music, astronomy and arithmetic.

    It is important to remember that during the middle age and renaissance, science and theology were more closely aligned; in fact, religious dogma aside, they had the same goal, to understand and come to know the nature of life and the universe. Within the study of nature, God was a given and needed to be reconciled with science as well as astrology.

    In the west astrology reached the apex of its popularity and influence around the mid 1600’s; a time in which the political and social structures of Europe were irreparably changed by the English civil war, which culminated in the execution of Charles I.6 At the end of the 17th century astrology experienced a sharp decline in influence. The reasons for this decline are multi-faceted and complex.7 Astrology did not die so much as it was split into various factions that were unable to survive the tumultuous paradigm shift of the time.

    The Splintering of Astrology

    After the restoration (circa 1660 – 1685) there was a backlash against astrology, more specifically judicial astrology8, which had been used as a propaganda tool during the volatile and insecure period of the civil war. Astrology had become associated with seditious radicalism which was perceived to be the cause of so much destruction and unrest. The natural desire for calm and peace made many suspicious of anything that reminded them of that dangerous and dark period in their recent history; therefore astrology and astrologers were no longer trusted.

    At the same time the new intellectual climate favouring a more Baconian9 science based on observation and experiment, began to view judicial astrology as being irrational and overly steeped in magical thought and superstition. Publicly astrology lost favour with the intellectual world. Though many of the great minds of the late 17th, early 18th century privately acknowledged the validity of astrology, especially natural astrology10, they believed that judicial astrology had been corrupted and needed to be purged of irrational beliefs, popular magical connotations and political rhetoric. Many hoped to restore astrology, bringing it more in line with “natural philosophy”.11

    There was another branch of thinking which believed that astrology had strayed from the purity of its classic Ptolemaic roots, and needed to be purified by eliminating the ‘false Arabic inventions’, the magical thinking and the new rational scientific thinking that had polluted astrology. Though many wanted astrology to be restored or purified in order to takes its rightful place in the world of the educated elite, its negative reputation and fragmentation weakened it so that it could not defend itself against its critics.

    As the world and life came to be understood from the perspective of mechanical, material and intellectual rationale, rather than from the perspective of divine creation and immaterial soul; the perceived connection of astrology to divination and magic led to its diminishing importance in science and philosophy, and its eventual banishment from intellectual discourse. By the early-18th century much of what had previously been the domain of astrology, became redefined as astronomy or medicine; while astrology was dismissed as trivial and irrelevant or worse, misguided superstition. By the end of that century astrology had been relegated to the fringes and was of no consequence in academic or intellectual circles.

    A third arm of astrology did survive and remained popular with the majority of the rural and uneducated public; this was the simplified astrology of the popular almanacs which the intellectual elite rejected and mocked as being only fit for the “vulgar” commoners. The common rural folks held on to evident truth of idealism (mind before matter) for longer.

    Eventually even this more popular astrology was attacked when the vested interest of the industrial power fought to eliminate these almanacs because they were rooted to a past that was subject to the natural rhythms of time, which did not accord with the more mechanical “clock” time of the industrial age.

    1. For a full and detailed history of astrology’s beginnings see Nicholas Campion, the Dawn of Astrology, (Continuum Books, the Tower Building, 11 York Road, London) ↩︎
    2. See Ben Bobrick, The Fated Sky: Astrology in History (Simon & Schuster, Rockefeller Center,  New York)p. 27-60 ↩︎
    3. Sassanian Persian empire flourished between 220 to 650 CE ↩︎
    4. The chart was elected by the Caliph Al-Mansur’s court astrologer Nawbakht the Persian, Umar al-Tabire and the young Masha’Allah. The chart was set for July 31, 762 around 2:40 PM in Bagdad, Iraq. ↩︎
    5. Benson Bobrick, The Fated Sky: Astrology in History, (Simon & Schuster, Rockefeller Center, New York) p. 91-92 ↩︎
    6. The execution of the King was a momentous event which destroyed the long held notion of the “divine right” of the King to rule.  I believe this created a split between us and the divine, which has led to the fragmentation of our world. ↩︎
    7. For more information about this see Patrick Curry, Prophecy and Power (Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey  1989) ↩︎
    8. Judicial astrology refers to specific chart analysis and judgment leading to individual prediction or advice, as different from natural astrology which looks at the natural phenomenon such as weather, health and mundane events, associated with celestial movement and cycles. ↩︎
    9. Roger Bacon (1214-1294) whose ideas were later developed by Francis ↩︎
    10. See note 6. ↩︎
    11. Natural sciences ↩︎

  • Traditional and Modern Astrology: a philosophical exploration (part 1)

    Once we enter the world of traditional astrology our view of life and the world changes. 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. We live in a 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 and death giving rise to the illusion of a forward movement of time, it is but that; an illusion.

    Traditional 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 get caught in its apparent but deceptive forward momentum. But 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 than our present day. Astrologers are far from immune to this notion and so they take up each “new” discovery in our skies as a sign that we, the collective, have evolved in our consciousness. This implies that in the past, the consciousness of the people was not as evolved and therefore was lower than that of people alive today.

    Even a cursory knowledge of political, philosophical or even astrological history would disprove this notion. The wisdom of the past is awe inspiring when one makes friends with Saturn and takes the time and effort to explore it.

    Traditional and Modern Astrology

    The word traditional means to follow a tradition, which is defined as: “a) Passing of beliefs or customs from one generation to the next. b) Any long held method, practice…etc.…” 1 All forms of astrology practiced today fall into the definition of tradition, as all derive from the ideas and work of others who have come before.  The term “traditional astrology” has over the past 20 years or so, come to mean the astrology as it was practiced prior to the late 17th century, but this is not to say that modern astrology does not have its own tradition. However it is important to remember that there was a major break in the transmission of astrological knowledge which has resulted in the development of a very different type of astrology in the 20th century; this is the astrology we call modern.

    Many modern ideas that have been incorporated into astrology are recent additions to a very ancient subject that have little connection to its past tradition. With the recent availability of modern translations of the older texts, we are experiencing a resurgence of interest in traditional astrology, which has reinvigorated the field but also highlighted some divisions within the rarefied world of astrology today.

    Horoscopic astrology as it was practiced prior to 1700 encompasses roughly 2000 years of tradition2: and it includes the astrology as practiced by Vettius Valens, Ptolemy, Masha’Allah, Guido Bonatti through to William Lilly and his contemporaries. Over this time astrology was refined; certain techniques were developed, the application and emphasis on astrological doctrines shifted and changed to reflect the cultural, philosophical, religious and political developments of the times and location.

    There are differences between the astrology that William Lilly practiced and that of Vettius Valens, however they are founded on the same basic fundamentals and are more similar than is the astrology of William Lilly to that practiced by the majority of 21st century western astrologers. The historical circumstances that led to this situation is one that needs to be understood if astrologers are to reconcile the rich legacy they have inherited to the art that they practice today.

    Part 2

     

    1. Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, fourth edition (Oxford University Press, Walton Street, Oxford 1989) ↩︎
    2. There was a long tradition prior to circa 400 BCE of omen based astrology, but astrology that uses a horoscope or chart with a calculated Ascendant did not appear until about 400 BCE ↩︎

  • Links to interesting astrological sites and blogs

    These are some astrological sites and blogs that may be of interest to you. I will endeavor to add anything I find of interest.

    One of the best websites about astrology in general, filled with great stuff is Deborah Houlding’s Skyscript

    http://www.skyscript.co.uk/

    Ben Dykes site is a must for anyone interested in traditional astrology.

    http://www.bendykes.com/

    Chris Brennan has a great site with very interesting blog on mundane astrology.

    http://www.chrisbrennanastrologer.com/

    The CIA site full of goodies

    http://www.cosmicintelligenceagency.com/

    The astrological dictionary, compiled by Chris Brennan. A wonderful work in progress.

    http://theastrologydictionary.com/