Gryphon Astrology Blog

Below is the third part of Gryphon Astrology’s three-part interview with Dr. H. of Regulus Astrology, a traditional astrologer and author.  Read Part 1 and Part 2 of the interview here.

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NG:  Can you discuss your use of the Arabian parts in natal delineation and rectification?  On a theoretical level, why do you think they are so accurate, even though they are abstract points, rather than bodies?

DH: Arabic Parts (or more properly Hellenistic Lots) are essentially customized Ascendants for specific life activities. Take the 7^th house. Its significations include the marriage partner, business partners, and open enemies. Now this is a real handful! How does one sort out one topic from the other? If someone ends up with a lousy mate, will they also be similarly doomed with business partners and open enemies? Or is there some differentiation between the three house topics? The first way these topics can be sorted out is a delineation technique attributed to Al-Andarzagar based on triplicity rulers of the sign on the house cusp. For whatever element falls on the 7^th cusp, take the relevant diurnal, nocturnal, and participating triplicity rulers and assign them respectively to women, controversies, and entering into covenants.(footnote 3) Or in modern terms: marriage partners, legal conflicts with open enemies, and business partnerships.

The second way to differentiate these three topics is with Arabic Parts. There are specialized parts for marriage and lawsuits. There are no parts specified to open enemies I am aware of; apparently since they are ‘open’ enemies their actions are sufficiently obvious to void the need to fine tune with specialized parts. Returning to marriage, should the Part of Marriage be placed in a favorable house and by aspected by a ruler which is in good condition, this mitigates affairs for marriage.

This is not to say that a favorable Arabic Part configuration can nullify effects of a malefic on a house topic; yet a favorably positioned Part of Marriage adds some bounty to the marriage topic which might appear relatively bleak if a malefic otherwise rules or falls in the 7^th house.

NG:  You’ve tackled rectification. What’s next?

DH: As I have stated on my site, by the end of 2008 I plan on releasing my own rectification of the July 4, 1776 United States Declaration of Independence figure. It features a Sagittarius Ascendant, like the well known Sibly figure, but is a bit later. At this point the book is about finished.

Besides documentation of a few hundred solar arc and primary directions what makes this rectification unique is Abu Mashar’s System of Distributors and Participators which I also refer to as Directing through the Bounds in my book. What I found was directing the Ascendant through the Egyptian bounds yielded most major American social movements. I guarantee people’s jaws will drop to the floor when they read it.

Another project on my plate is physiognomy. It turns out that decans are in fact related to physical appearance as most texts indicate, but the Chaldean decan rulers do not work. One has to use the set of decan rulers based on triplicity (e.g., for the sign of Aries, the three decans are Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius). It’s an important technique to master because if the Chaldean decan rulers do not work, we need to replace them in al-mubtazz scoring.

And if the decan rulers based on triplicity have an influence on physical appearance, then by default the ruler of the rising decan needs to be included in temperament computations. Nobody is looking at this issue at the moment. Because of the additional publishing expense for photographs, the web may be the best vehicle to present this kind of research.

Via the web, one can also keep adding entries to a physiognomy database as time permits. It would take a subscription service of something like $20/month for a subscriber base of 300+ individuals to make this a viable business model. I mention this not because I think such a market exists today, but with the power of these written words, such a market might exist in a few years. There is nothing I would rather do than pure astrological research: to create a rectified database of several hundred charts which would be fodder for testing of the complete range of medieval delineation and predictive techniques: everything from temperament to religious faith to friends and enemies. It’s a project which needs to be done and I am more than willing.

Footnote 3: Al-Qabisi: The Introduction to Astrology. London: The Warburg Institute, 2004. p. 53.

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Read Part 1 of the interview with Dr. H. of Regulus Astrology here.

Read Part 2 of the interview with Dr. H. of Regulus Astrology here.

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This is Part 2 of Gryphon Astrology’s three-part interview with Dr. H. of Regulus Astrology.  Read Part 1 of the interview here.

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NG:  What is another technique you worked with that did not prove accurate?

DH: A more general delineation technique I have had problems with is the hierarchical style of evaluating planetary condition by both quality and quantity. Much of this can be traced to Bonatti (if not earlier) with his demands that planets be ‘fortunate and strong’ to deliver effects. In my early student days, I was led to believe that should one of the Ascendant rulers be in detriment/fall and located a cadent house (usually 6^th or 12^th) that surely the person would reject significations of that planet as a life outlet for something better signified by a planet with some essential dignity in some other succedent or angular house. But this doesn’t hold water.

In the example I gave – an afflicted malefic in the 6^th house with some claim to the Ascendant - whenever the malefic in the 6^th was activated dynamically the individual suffered tremendous pain, illness, or took on a position of servitude. The individual appeared incapable of choosing a better life outlet. While this is a natal example, this kind of behavior has important implications for mundane astrology.

Bonatti, for instance, rejects a planet conjunct the Midheaven in an Ingress figure as Significator of the King should it have no essential dignity. So he would discard Saturn/Aries on the 10^th cusp in favor of some other planet to delineate the actions of the King. Maybe Bonatti is wrong. Perhaps the planet most closely aspecting the MC signifies the King whether or not it has any essential dignity.

NG:  I think you’re right about Bonatti’s rejection of potential significators of the King if they had no essential dignity, or other afflictions. Do you think this is more an issue of bad astrology, or more of self-protection or buttering up the boss by the astrologer? If we use Bonatti’s method, as in your example, it would mean nothing bad could ever happen to the King.

DH: First off, even if the significator of the King is itself benefic, an aspect from a malefic can still harm the King so I have to disagree with your last comment. The March 2008 Aries Ingress is a good example with Sun/Aries a logical significator for the King in many geographical locations yet the Sun is square Mars/Cancer. This does not bode well for the King.

In any case, I don’t think it’s self-protection because the only way an astrologer can truly protect himself is to quit his job if he sees bad events for the King on the horizon, especially if a fall from power is forecast. I don’t think it’s buttering up the boss either because the only way the King would know the astrologer is buttering him up is for the King to have a sufficient understanding of the methodology that the King would know the astrologer was intentionally biasing his predictions. Since most Kings probably did not have that level of expertise this is really a moot question.

But more to the point: why would Bonatti go to such lengths in creating a checklist of over 50 questions for determining the significator of the King if instead he could just lie and make something up! Instead I think what’s going on here is Bonatti’s hierarchical style of delineation reflects his own personal philosophy which is extremely class conscious. That’s my instinct based on my read of Bonatti.

Besides Kings, another example is his discussion of sexual proclivities when delineating marriage. When he starts delineating conditions for ‘foul and filthy coitus’ we should ask ourselves: foul and filthy for whom? Heads of state wouldn’t want to get caught up with this. But suppose one is dealing with a professional hooker whose life is enhanced by ‘foul and filthy coitus.’ Is this such a bad condition for a hooker assuming she uses condoms for protection? Maybe not.

Regarding other techniques I tested, I also have problems with the notion of quantity: that angular, succedent, and cadent planets respectively deliver 100%, 50%, and 25% percent of their power. Consider the delineation of children. In Bonatti’s approach, children are promised if any significator of children (Jupiter, Venus, Moon, Mercury, Lord 5^th, P.Fortune, P.Children & their lords) are located in houses favorable for children (1^st, 11^th, 10^th, 7^th). Significators must also be in the fruitful water signs or the rather fruitful signs of Taurus, Sagittarius, and Aquarius. As an example, both Mercury and Venus in the sign of Taurus are correct planets in the correct sign; but if placed in the 12^th house children would not be predicted.

A second approach is to use all life events to date as the sample used to build the model. Then treat new events which occur in real time as out-of-sample events. Test these events against the model in real time. The second approach is what I have taken with Obama.

For Obama, I published a rectified time of 7:54:28 PM, Ascendant = 27AQ09’17”, on November 20, 2007 and have been watching the chart unfold ever since. Any predictive method used to create the rectification model can be employed in a real time test. Some techniques, like monthly profections, can help confirm the Ascendant sign. Other methods, like directions and dynamic activity to Arabic Parts, can confirm the exact degree and minute of the rectified Ascendant. So let’s get our hands dirty.

Consider this solar arc direction:

July 24, 2008. direct solar arc Ascendant trine Sun.

This is actually the only solar arc direction of a planet to either the Ascendant or Midheaven for the entire calendar year of 2008. So for using solar arc directions as a tool for out-of-sample tests, this is it.

Sun is the universal significator of fame and power. In the sign he rules, Sun/Leo is flamboyant and should produce an event conducive to projecting fame and power which is long lasting. What happened? This is the exact date Obama spoke at the Victory Column in Berlin, the most high profile campaign event of the year prior to the Democratic National Convention. The following day he met with French President Nicolas Sarkozy. In mundane astrology, France is assigned to Leo. Obama met with the French (Leo) President and discussed what amounted to a partnership with France for defeating the Taliban in Afghanistan. Business partners and open enemies are assigned to the 7^th house, the location of Obama’s Sun.

This event appears a match to the solar arc direction. It is evidence in favor of the rectification, but more events need to be tested. Arguably, one could make the case that this solar arc Ascendant trine Sun should really time his August 28 acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention, meaning the rectified time is in error by four minutes of degree, the amount needed to change the birth time to push the recomputed solar arc Ascendant trine Sun measurement to August 28 instead of July 24. One can go crazy with this, making adjustments for every new event. I prefer to wait at least six months and preferably a year before making an assessment.

One also has to realize that making these micro adjustments not only changes the Ascendant trine Sun direction but literally every other direction measurement used to build the initial model.

Dynamic activity to Arabic Parts is also helpful for out-of-sample tests. I first started to look at the Part of Servants 25AR54 and its antiscion 4VI06 after Obama’s foreign policy advisor Samantha Power was fired after making some ill-mannered comments about Hillary Clinton. It turns out that Power’s March 7, 2008 resignation was timed by the transit of Saturn located at 4VI08, only two minutes of degree from the antiscion of the Part of Servants. Continuing the saga was Jim Johnson’s forced resignation from the Vice President vetting committee on June 11, 2008 timed by the converse transit of the South Node located at 4VI05. Finally, after Saturn went direct and passed over the part’s antiscion again, Wes Clark stuck his foot in his mouth on June 29, 2008 when he made the following comment on John McCain: “I don’t think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president.” Saturn was positioned at 4VI25 on that date, a bit wide of the part’s antiscion, but still close.

While Clark was not officially employed by the Obama campaign as far as I know, he was up until this time a contender for the VP slot. Shortly after his June 29 gaffe he disassociated himself from the Obama campaign. Maybe the Wes Clark gaffe is irrelevant. But there is no doubt that Samantha Power and Jim Johnson were employees and were terminated from the Obama campaign.

Identifying Saturn and the South Node as significators for the termination of employees is crucial to the logic of this out-of-sample test. Employees are assigned to the 6^th house. While some might assign employee termination to the 9^th house (4^th of the end-of-the-matter from the 6^th by derived houses), I have found the 1^st house (8^th from the 6^th) more reliable for employee termination. For Obama, Saturn rules the 1^st; South Node is positioned in the 1^st. Both Saturn and the South Node are significators for the death and/or termination of employees based on rulership and position.

There are some other events I have looked at, such as the transit of Pluto to the Part of Faith as a timer of Obama’s earlier Reverend Wright fracas. Overall I remain happy with the rectified model despite the official birth certificate time of 7:24 PM posted on June 12 by the Daily Kos blog. At the end of the day it is the horoscope which consistently works on an out-of-sample basis that I will always choose as a professional astrologer.

This is hard work; real roll up your sleeves kind of stuff. After doing it awhile one gets a better appreciation of why dedicated medieval predictive astrologers can take on only a handful of clients. I doubt I could ever service more than two or three clients if I use all the tools at my disposal.

Footnote 2: b. May 28, 1944, Brooklyn, NY, 6:02:37 AM EWT, Ascendant - 14GE454; Dr. H’s rectification.

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Read Part 1 of the interview with Dr. H. of Regulus Astrology.

Read Part 3 of the interview with Dr. H. of Regulus Astrology.

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I am very pleased to present an interview with a rising star on the astrological scene, Dr. H., the anonymous author of two recent books on predictive traditional astrological techniques.  The first is A Rectification Manual: The American Presidency, first published in 2007, where the author uses medieval methods to find the birth times of all U.S. Presidents and their spouses, and then applies various predictive methods to determine the usefulness of such methods.  Primary directions, for instance, are found to be more reliable than solar arc methods.  The most recent edition of the Manual also includes rectified times for the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election candidates.

Dr. H.’s latest book is America is Born: Introducing the Regulus U.S.A. National Horoscope, where the author uses mundane events to rectify the birth horoscope of the United States, and while he is at it, conducts a test of the efficacy of Egyptian vs. Ptolemaic bounds.  He also introduces Abu Ma’shar’s method of participators and distributors (the mingled effect of the rulers of bounds through which directed planets are passing as they make aspects), and applies it to the U.S. horoscope.

His books have reawakened my own dormant interest in primary directions, and I suspect this is the beginning of a new resurgence of this topic, as serious astrologers rediscover its efficacy.

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NG:  Tell us about your preferred astrological techniques.  You are a traditional astrologer; what methods do you use for natal delineation and prediction?

DH: Unlike many astrologers who seem to gravitate towards a particular favorite technique, such as transits or progressions, I do my best to use all the tools all the time. That said, the nature of my current practice has focused my attention on some specific delineation topics and specialized tools. Delineation techniques which allow me to profile an individual I may never interview, meet, or know is my current focus. Techniques including the Al-mubtazz Figurae (“ruler of the chart”) and character profiling based on analysis of the Moon, Mercury, and their rulers are the two most helpful methods for this purpose.

In profiling, I am interested in how benefics and malefics impact an individual. Is the person fundamentally good or evil? And do they stay that way? Do crimes signify a person who has been irrevocably lost to the dark side? or do crimes signify a temporary lapse of an otherwise good person? Are malefics a sign of an evil person or do they signify malefic events an otherwise good soul must suffer? And if people suffer, how do the malefics impact job performance? Does a physically impaired individual have the ability to focus his mind and achieve brilliance like Stephen Hawking or do physical limitations create obstacles too large to navigate? These kind of questions really cut to the core of the horoscope.

After reviewing the Al-mubtazz Figurae and analysis of the Moon and Mercury, I might examine how the Al-mubtazz Figurae interacts with the good spirit of the 11^th house and the evil spirit of the 12^th. By ‘interacts’ I mean examining how relevant aspects apply and separate (by zodiacal degree or antiscia) and which planet ultimately wins out through rulership and reception.

I also like to see how the Moon separates and applies. If the Moon applies to the 12^th house ruler or a planet in the 12^th, there will be some kind of problem. Usually the person becomes evil or suffers some other type of 12^th house effect. If benefics are properly configured, some good may result of a 12^th house confinement. Frida Kahlo comes to mind with her artistic career triggered by a crippling automobile accident which required multiple surgeries and a lengthy period of physical confinement.

As for prediction, because directions rank at the top of the predictive hierarchy for their ability to time discrete events within 24 hours, they rank among my most frequently used tool. Besides primary directions which are the mainstay of the medieval toolbox, I am an ardent supporter of the more recently discovered symbolic directions known as solar arcs.

NG:  Your recent work, A Rectification Manual, is the fruit of many years’ astrological research and testing.  What were some of your goals in your research and writing the book?

DH: There seems to be a consensus one needs to work through 200 charts before reading a chart professionally for a client. In attacking that goal as a student, I faced a problem common to all astrologers: how can one be sure the chart under study is accurate? Because the last thing anybody wants to do is waste time studying an incorrect horoscope. The answer today is to rely on third party databases for accurate birth data; North American astrologers primarily use Astrodatabank. As much as reference databases like Astrodatabank are helpful, I consider their data as starting points for investigation.

Even accurate horoscopes backed up by birth certificates timed to the minute usually need slight adjustments before one can attack the figure with directions. And these are the best cases. I have found many Astrodatabank A-rated figures presented with times rounded off to the nearest half hour to be inaccurate. So much so that in a small sample I recently looked at, I determined that 15-20% of A-rated figures did not appear to have the correct Ascendant!

So the choice to tackle rectification was made in order to develop a set of accurately timed horoscopes as fodder for further educational study.

NG: Can you give a big picture overview of the method/order of operations you advocate in the Manual?

DH: I have outlined a three-stage rectification process:

1. Determine the Ascendant Sign

2. Determine the Ascendant’s Range within 1-4 degrees

3. Determine the exact Degree and Minute of the Ascendant

Stage 1 starts by confirming the Moon’s sign and proceeds to eliminate large sections of irrelevant time periods through planetary period techniques like Firdaria. The sequence of Firdaria rulers is different for diurnal or nocturnal figures. Usually the native’s life events can be easily matched to either the diurnal or nocturnal Firdaria sequence even without knowing the Ascending sign. Right away this knocks out about half the day’s 24 hours from consideration. There are some other techniques like the Moon’s separation and application which can also be used to cull large blocks of time from consideration. Using robust predictive techniques like Firdaria is quite effective in honing in on the correct Ascendant with very little effort.

Stage 2 begins with physiognomy in order to select the rising decan and proceeds to Arabic Parts which further narrow the Ascendant’s possible range. Arabic Parts are the bread and butter of Stage 2 rectification. I would go so far to say that no rectification can be declared successful unless event timing with Arabic Parts passes muster. Directions are used in Stage 3 to finish the job. They are the diamond drills of rectification.

NG: One of the topics you address in the Manual is the length of life and the potential cutting off of the predicted lifespan due to uncontrollable external influences, such as natural disasters.  I am referring to the doctrine of subsumption (articulated by C.E.O. Carter); the natal chart is subject to bigger picture mundane horoscopes that can overrule it and produce death earlier than the individual horoscope shows.  I am somewhat uncomfortable with this concept: shouldn’t major life events, especially death, be shown in the natal chart?  How has this played out in your research?

DH: Considering American Presidents, there is only one individual I found whose natal horoscope did not indicate death: William McKinley. His assassination was timed by a Saturn direction in the Regulus USA National Horoscope of my own computation; to be released by year end 2008.

In making a more general answer, I will give you my thoughts but disclose they are not more than that; I have not undertaken any original research on this topic. I suggest that the larger the disaster, the less likely it will be promised in horoscopes of the dead purely on statistical grounds. Probably the best way to test this is to start with a small sample and then work larger.

Ken Gillman’s “Who Will Survive?” analysis of the Dunblane School shooting of March 13, 1996 is an excellent example of a small sample approach (footnote 1). Among his findings are angular benefics are helpful to survival and the presence of the Moon on the Ascendant-Descendant axis is not. It appears that angular luminaries make one stand out from the crowd. This is good for raising one’s status in society, à la Ptolemy’s Rank of Fame model, but not so great if one is trying to avoid an assassin’s gunfire. Also a reason why individuals with the Sun in 12^th are able to fade into crowds without detection.

Now suppose instead of gunfire, Dunblane School was attacked with a nuclear bomb. I don’t see how having an angular Jupiter would be of much help in survival. So the larger the catastrophe, the less likely an individual with a ‘favorable’ delineation or ‘protective’ dynamic activity will be able to withstand the event.

NG:  In researching the various traditional methods, you must have run into more than a few dead ends – methods that are esteemed but proved ineffective.  Can you name a few such techniques?

DH: Treatment of latitude in primary direction calculations has been botched by most everybody. This business of reducing the latitude by one-half for sextile or trine aspects advocated by Morin and others is bogus. Probably the greatest technical discovery I made while preparing A Rectification Manual is the solution to the latitude problem. I call it the ‘primary direction sequence.’ I leapfrog the question of optimal latitude by computing a pair of directions for planet-angle directions; one with the full planet’s latitude and a second with a zero latitude planet assumption. This yields two dates. What happens are two events on each respective date, often linked, as is the time period between the two dates which tends to be marked by additional events whose nature conforms to the delineation of the planet involved in the direction.

If readers take away a single topic from this interview, it should be the primary direction sequence. I name it the Holy Grail of Rectification because the odds of computing a pair of directions corresponding to a pair of life events - often separated by a year or more - is so low that the statistical odds of a correct rectification solution quickly approach 100%.

NG:  Can you give an example of this method in a horoscope?

DH: Let’s turn to Barack Obama. As his campaign got underway in the spring of 2007 there were questions raised concerning stock market and real estate transactions. The real estate deal with Tony Rezko had been covered earlier in the local Chicago press but the stock market transactions were new charges. On March 5, 2007, thestreet.com broke a story that questioned the ethics of Obama’s purchase of two small cap stocks whose activities benefited from Obama’s legislative actions. Obama was forced to make a press conference on 7 March regarding his activities.

This event opened up a series of events which forced the Obama campaign to scrutinize its campaign donations. Financial dealings with Rezko and his associates resurfaced during this review process. Concluding this episode was the decision by the Obama campaign to make dollar-for-dollar donations to charities with the amount equaling the total campaign contributions received from associates of Tony Rezko. These donations were made on June 2 and June 8, 2007.

Now that the life event is outlined, let’s look at how this might be shown in the natal figure. Who is Tony Rezko to Barack Obama? He is (was) a friend, a valuable political alliance for his fundraising expertise, and a real estate developer. As of 2008, Rezko is also a convicted felon and has been a source of embarrassment to the Obama campaign for Obama’s prior financial dealings with Rezko. Because Mars cuts and Virgo is an earth sign, Mars/Virgo signifies the real estate developer Tony Rezko. Mars is the exalted ruler (and al-mubtazz) of the 11^th of friends and political alliances and the 12^th of enemies, using Alchabitius quadrant house cusps. Mars falls in the 8^th house of investments. So by position and rulership, the houses Mars are involved in are consistent with Mars’ signification as Tony Rezko. Financial dealings can be sought from the Part of Fortune, especially with Obama’s criticized real estate transaction with Rezko because the Part of Fortune falls in the 4^th house of real estate (whole sign houses).

Using primary directions software built by Janus 4.0 and choosing the Placidus under the Pole method of directing, compute the following direction:

Dexter square of Mars d. => Part of Fortune (POF).

Hold the POF constant and direct the square aspect of Mars until it meets the POF. So far so good. There are a few assumptions made here, but nothing out of the ordinary. It is at this point where the primary direction sequence comes into play. To handle the latitude of Mars [00n43’22”] compute two directions. First compute the direction using the full latitude of Mars. Second assume Mars has zero latitude.

The two dates are March 9, 2007 and June 2, 2007. This pair of dates essentially forms a set of bookends which match the events cited above. Considering the difficulty of computing a pair of dates using primary directions which matches a pair of life events, it is virtually impossible to make these kinds of calculations unless the rectified birth time is highly accurate.

Now it turns out this particular example is a bit more complicated because if one also includes solar arc directions (for which the latitude concept employed in the primary direction sequence does NOT apply), one finds converse solar arc POF opposed Mars computed for March 5, 2007. This is the exact date of the investigative report by thestreet.com. Sometimes it happens that with all permutations of directions (e.g., latitude assumptions, solar arc and primary directions, direct and converse motion) that this kind of overlap occurs. The trick here, and this is my own finding, is that solar arc directions tend to time events which have a distinctly public character to them. Press releases, promotions, this kind of thing. So often when I see a major life event which makes waves in the public sphere, I will look to the solar arc direction more than the primary direction when rectifying the event. Vice versa for events which are important but whose effects are felt within the normal realm of an individual’s sphere of influence.

Footnote 1: http://www.considerations-mag.com/articles/whoWillSurvive.htm

Read Part 2 of Gryphon Astrology’s interview with Dr. H. of Regulus Astrology

Read Part 3 of Gryphon Astrology’s interview with Dr. H. of Regulus Astrology

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Another fascinating translation from James Herschel Holden, M.A., this time of a key horary and electional work by Sahl Ibn Bishr. The Introduction was written in the ninth century by the Court astrologer to the rulers of Baghdad during its heyday. It is a sourcebook for later Western horary astrologers, specifically Bonatti and William Lilly, both of whom borrowed liberally from the text. Holden translated this text from the 12th century Latin version, presumably the same version drawn upon by Bonatti when he wrote his Book of Astronomy 100 years later.

Briefly…

The Introduction is for intermediate astrologers, who are comfortable with the basic concepts of traditional horary and electional astrology. The beginner may easily be overwhelmed by the complex terminology Sahl uses to describe the various relationships between planets, such as deterioration, return, giving virtue, and other now-uncommon terms. However, a more skilled horary astrologer may also have difficulty with these terms, because they represent many subtle gradations of planetary strength and differences in relationship, which we are unaccustomed to making today. Reading this book will require an open mind, unencumbered by more modern variations on horary techniques and a willingness to think through the author’s reasoning. The time and effort invested will bear rich dividends of knowledge for the careful reader.

Contents & Structure

One feature of Sahl’s astrology that bears mention. As Holden notes in his thorough introduction, the whole sign method of house division is used. This means that the entire rising sign is the first house, though with special attention paid to the rising degree; that is, there is no distinction between the fourth house and the fourth sign of the chart.

The text is composed of five books. Book 1 is the introduction, common in many ancient astrological texts, which reiterates the basic building blocks of traditional astrology. The usual impulse of more practiced astrologers may be to skip these introductions, but they can be quite useful in familiarizing the reader with terms that the author later takes for granted, that may be unique to that author. For example, today we consider the signs Gemini, Leo, and Virgo barren; Sahl lists Aries, Leo, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Capricorn as the sterile signs. We can see here that the tradition, while unchanging in its broad strokes, was also changeable, and the details were not identical from place to place and throughout history. The introduction also lists the meaning of each house,the aspects, and the relationships among the planets, such as translation of light, separation, reception, and others.

Book 2 is called “The 50 Precepts,” and contains a list of the meanings of planetary behavior and relationships. As we see often in older astrological texts, the behavior of the planets takes on almost anthropomorphic qualities with a high level of specificity about the situation. For example, Precept 48 says that a planet in its first station about to go retrograde signifies the destruction, tardiness, and dissolution of the matter, while the second station “signifies the renewal of things and their suitability and strength or directness.” Today, astrologers might take note of the planet being in station, but may fail to tease out the specific nature of the situation with the kind of detail we see in Sahl.

Book 3 is called “Questions or the Book of Judgments of the Arabs,” which contains methods of answering specific horary questions arranged by houses. There is a heavy emphasis on seventh house matters; women, commerce, theft, and wars, and a lengthy series of questions on letters, their senders and recipients, their contents, and rumors. The 21st-century reader will get a strong sense that we are in a different place and time, when we get to the section entitled “If a Slain Person Will Be Avenged or Not.”

Book 4 is entitled “The Book of Elections,” and contains some good information on the natures of the signs (cardinal, fixed, and mutable), and their influence on elected events. There is also a good section on the impediments of the Moon to watch out for when calculating elections. The usual topics are covered, such as travel, war, medicine, and the buying and manumission of slaves - the latter may not seem very appropriate today, but we could likely use similar electional rules for purchasing animals, whether as pets or working beasts.

Book 5, entitled “The Book of Times,” provides additional guidance on horary and electional astrology, mixed together. It is kind of a grab bag of useful astrological knowledge that did not fit readily into the other books. There is also an appendix on questions about visions or dreams, which helps the astrologer identify and interpret a questioner’s dream.

Observations

Holden’s translation is very lucid and accessible, as always, in easily understandable language. It is no small task to make a 1200-year-old text reader friendly, but the translator does so with aplomb and copious but straight-to-the-point footnotes. He frequently refers to parallel passages in Bonatti, and points out where the two differ. A highly recommended source text for fans of traditional astrology, and those curious about the source of more recent horary writers’ material.

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The Introduction to the Science of the Judgments of the Stars

By: Sahl Ibn Bishr (author), and James Herschel Holden, M.A., trans.

American Federation of Astrologers, 2008

24.95 USD

Available at astrologers.com and astroamerica.com.

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Astrology isn’t just about the planets. We use the fixed stars frequently in our work, and this handy sourcebook collects the ancient writings on the myths associated with various constellations. This translation of primary sources, including The Constellations by pseudo-Eratosthenes (1^st/2^nd century A.D.), and Poetic Astronomy by Hyginus (1^st century B.C.), is very helpful in interpreting the deeper meaning of the fixed stars, without relying on modern sources who conveniently digest but also distort the information. It is said that only the fixed stars elevate from the depths of poverty to the heights of fame, but the planets do not do so. To achieve mastery in astrological interpretation, it behooves us to know the fixed stars well, an excellent reason to read Star Myths.

Briefly…

A historical compendium of astronomical myths, straight from the Greek and Roman sources. The ancient sources give interesting shadings to the Star myths, helping the astrologer understand the more subtle nuances of the stars’ symbolism. Because fixed stars have a strong say in a person’s character and destiny, understanding the stories behind the stars is very helpful in natal, electional, and mundane astrology. This book summarizes the stories clearly and with substantial detail. The author often adds useful astronomical tidbits about the behavior of each constellation, and its ancient use, such as the rise of the Pleiades indicating the beginning of the ancient sailing season.

Contents & Structure

For practical study purposes, one will want to read Star Myths with a star atlas or a book on the fixed stars, such as that by Vivian Robson. The reason is that Condos does not always identify each star, inserting a question mark where the original sources are vague as to the specific identity of the star.

The book begins with a preface identifying the tactics used in this compendium, including the translations that condos used to get a consensus of interpretation. The introduction places the two source texts, The Constellations and Poetic Astronomy, in their historical context, though unfortunately Condos takes the modern view that the star myths were somehow superimposed on the celestial canopy as a way of honoring ancient heroes, gods, et cetera. A more traditional approach would view the stars and the myths as existing interdependently, one reflecting the existence of the other, in accordance with the Hermetic maxim “as above, so below.”

The main body of the book consists of an alphabetical collection of some 40 plus constellations. Each constellation is described in the two ancient texts, followed by the translator’s commentary. For example, the chapter on Canis Major (The Great Dog) goes through the several associations of the dog in Greek and Roman mythology - because the symbol of the dog has appeared in various myths, the classical sources may reference more than one as a possible origin of the star myth. Canis Major has several characteristics salient to astrological interpretation; it was appointed by Jupiter to guard Europa, and later was used as a hunting dog because it “had the power to outrun any wild beast.” This constellation contains the brightest star, Sirius, which will indicate jealous guardianship but also great athleticism. We may think back to the horoscope of tennis ace Roger Federer, who has his Mars on Sirius.

The main body of the book is followed by an appendix listing the Greek and Latin names of mythological/astronomical characters, a list of the constellation names and abbreviations, followed by a couple of star charts. There are extensive endnotes here, most of which refer to classical sources for mythology. Because this is an academic book (it began as a doctoral dissertation), there is an extensive biography for those interested in additional information.

Observations

A useful book for the astrologer who wants to go back to the source for astronomical myths. The author often makes references to myths and mythological characters that are not developed, so it would be useful to have a mythological dictionary handy, particularly for the minor characters, to fully understand the import of each story. A great resource to keep on the shelf and commit to memory. The old engravings of each constellation and its image are a delightful touch.

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Star Myths of the Greeks and Romans: A Sourcebook

By: Theony Condos

Phanes Press (rights: Red Wheel/Weiser), 1997

288 pages, paperback

18.95 USD

Available at amazon.com and weiserbooks.com

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The Picatrix (also known as “The Goal of the Wise”) is a renowned book of astrological magic, translated for the first time into English by a practicing astrologer (Chris Warnock) and a magician (John Michael Greer). It was written in Arabic around the 10^th century, and translated into Latin in the 13^th century. The original author is anonymous, but it is quite possible that the book was written in the Arab world of al-Andaluz, which was fascinated with astrology, magic, and philosophy. The fact that al-Andaluz was relatively lax in its observance of Islamic law, which strictly prohibits dealings with magic, points to a fertile ground for a text such as this.

Briefly…

The Picatrix is for advanced astrologers only, specifically those comfortable with electing horoscopes. This is only half of the work, as the reader is then expected to fashion talismans during the elected moment. Not being a seasoned talisman maker, I cannot attest to the efficacy of the Picatrix talismans, but there is something here for everyone: Charms for love, the founding of cities, business and trade, the safe escape of convicts, and stopping gossip. It is important to note that this is a “limited review edition” of a finalized version that will come out in the next year or so. This means that the cover and layout of the preview is very basic, but serviceable. The most important point is that the translation was done by a knowledgeable astrologer for an astrological audience, and is therefore very clear and easy to read. The same is not true of other English translations of the Picatrix.

Contents & Structure

This edition of the Picatrix contains the first two books of the entire four-book text. First, there is a prologue by the translator, appended to that of the author. The prologue describes the author’s purpose in writing the book, stating that the wisdom of the past has at last been revealed in this book “to reveal the highways and byways of this science.”

Book I, On “the nature of the heavens and the effects caused by the images [talismans] in them.”:

The first book of the Picatrix starts with theoretical and philosophical chapters. These contain a fascinating discussion on the nature of magic, and its connection to astrology, which is seen as a kind of bridge through which one must pass to create magical effects in the physical world. Then, we are introduced to the 28 Lunar mansions, and other conditions of the Moon to be learned before electing horoscopes. In Chapter 5, the author gives a list of talismans and their electional “recipes,” which is the heart of Book I. The final two chapters of Book I continue the explanatory and theoretical theme from the earlier chapters.

Book II, On “the figures of heaven and the motion of the eighth sphere [of the stars], and their effects on this world:”

The first chapter exhorts the would-be astrological magician to learn the classical Pythagorean sciences before approaching magic: arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy. The author means the esoteric aspects of these disciplines, rather than assuming that one’s mastery of 1+1=2 qualifies one as a classical arithmetician.

Then, we get two chapters devoted to basic astrological concepts, such as the nature of the Moon, and some electional precepts. This section presents the basics of electional astrology in a practical, succinct manner, and it would be useful to all astrologers interested in this field, not just magicians.

The following few chapters expand on the “why and how” of astrological magic and the universe, including the relative strength of the planets and the fixed stars, the relationship of the four elements and similar topics.

There follows a short chapter with some talismanic glyphs, evidently based on magic squares (the ones where the numbers are arranged to add up to the same number horizontally, vertically, and diagonally). The next chapter lists the planetary affinities of stones and metals, and the talismanic images associated with the planets and their seals. For instance, one image of Mars “is the form of a crowned man with an inscribed sword in his right hand.”

The last two chapters discuss the images associated with the astrological decans, and the kinds of talismans best for each. So, if you wish to increase the milk given by your goats, make a talisman in the second face of Capricorn. These recipes are nothing if not down-to-earth.

Observations

The Picatrix is a classic in the magico-astrological field, and, most likely, in the Top Ten Banned Books of All Time list. The Greer/Warnock translation is excellent; clear and non-intrusive, their easy prose does a complex, very niche topic justice at last. The cost is steep for a 140-page paperback, but presumably this is because of the small number of printed copies. Yet, a would-be astrological mage might consider this a low price to pay for lessons in controlling the very fabric of space-time (cue dramatic music). Let us join the anonymous author in hoping that the book “might come only into the hands of the wise…and that whatever will be done by its means be performed for good and in the service of God.”

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The Latin Picatrix, Books I and II

By: Anonymous (author), and John Michael Greer and Christopher Warnock, trans.

The Renaissance Astrology Press, 2008

54.95 USD, with 9.95 USD shipping (paperback), 74.95 + 10.95 for the hardcover.

Available at RenaissanceAstrology.com

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I am delighted that there is now a book about Solar Returns written – mostly - from a traditional perspective, but for a modern audience. Anthony Louis’s book is grounded in tradition, specifically in Jean-Baptiste Morin’s book on Solar Returns (readers interested in going straight to the source can purchase an English translation of Morin’s book from the AFA), but there is plenty of space given to modern techniques, including minor aspects, outer planets, and secondary progressions.

Briefly…

The Art of Forecasting Using Solar Returns is chock-full of techniques for astrologers to try, summarized handily along the way. Morin alone has 31 aphorisms for judging the Solar Returns, so a less organized book would be overwhelming. The bedrock of the traditional approach is to use the natal horoscope in conjunction with the Solar Return, and Louis does this throughout the book. Louis also summarizes some of the modern approaches to Solar Returns, so there is a great deal of diverse information packed into this 300-page book. As mentioned above, Louis embraces modern elements like outer planets, but his method is nearly always grounded in the tradition. Highly recommended to all but the newest astrological beginners.

Contents & Structure

Louis introduces the Solar Returns with a chapter on basic concepts, including planetary characteristics, the nature of fixed stars, and essential terminology. The following chapter summarizes some basic elements of the Solar Return, as demonstrated through the work of 20^th century astrologer, Alexandre Volguine. Some of Volguine’s techniques are traditional (“Never interpret the Solar Return in isolation”), others are more modern, originating with Morin (“…cast the Solar Return chart for the actual location of the individual at the moment the Sun returns to its natal position.”), but the chapter gives a good summary of the technical knobs that the astrologer can twiddle when experimenting with Solar Returns.

The third chapter provides a top-notch explanation of the meaning of the Solar Return houses superimposed on the natal houses. For instance, the Return Ascendant in the natal 10^th house shows a year focused on the mother, career, reputation, and other 10^th house matters. The chapter includes a summary of house meanings from traditional and modern sources, including the author’s own experience. The author also discusses the planets’ annual strength based on essential dignity.

The fourth chapter uses the Pope and Salvador Dali’s horoscopes to contrast the technique of non-precessed Return charts with precessed Return charts (a modern technique favored by some astrologers). The fifth chapter discusses the technique in detail, and discusses Marc Penfield’s use of this method, along with other techniquest favored by Penfield.

Chapter six discusses the meaning of the Return Ascendant, and the author shows a personal example of his solar return for the year his mother died prematurely. This tragic incident was also prefigured by several eclipses, and the author discusses their role in indicating his mother’s death. The following chapter discusses Emerson’s Point of Death, and its use in timing of the native’s demise. Louis uses several example charts and a method of progressing the Solar Return to show the timing of events during the year.

Chapter eight delineates Morin’s contributions, and it is here that the reader can find true gems of technique. Chapter nine discusses Morin’s techniques with his returns at the time of his death, which he had correctly predicted. This chapter includes Morin’s 12 Steps for Judging a Revolution – the old term for a Return chart. Today’s astrologers only use a few of his techniques, but they are all useful and give the astrologer additional information about the upcoming year or month.

The next chapter summarizes Morin’s 31 aphorisms for judging Revolutions. Judging a solar return using all of Morin’s methods will thus take a few hours, especially when one is just familiarizing oneself with Morin’s methods. However, the resulting predictions are especially rich and descriptive, and in my view, worth the effort. Chapter eleven compares and contrasts the Solar Returns of John Lennon and Bob Dylan, for the years of their death and major motorcycle accident, respectively.

Chapter twelve discusses some recent books on Solar Returns, which are interesting, but to me, as a traditional astrologer, not quite as compelling as the older material presented in the book. A fascinating tidbit is Mary Fortier Shea’s observation of the cyclical nature of Solar Return sign placement, and her consequent focus on house placements in the Return chart. Louis uses an example of the Progressed Annual Meridian technique, which shows the method of timing events using the progressed MC of the Solar Return chart.

Chapter thirteen shows the method of casting solar returns for people with an unknown birth time. Louis uses a sunrise natal chart and generates a Solar Return from it. Chapter fourteen gives a cookbook of aspects in the Solar Return, divided into positive and negative aspects for each pairing, and including the outer planets. Chapter fifteen, “Pulling It All Together” does just that, summarizing all of the key factors you might consider when analyzing a Solar Return. There is enough here to keep you busy for half a day with a single Solar Return, but that speaks to the depth and richness of this book.

Observations

The Art of Forecasting Using Solar Returns is a highly recommended modern work leaning heavily on traditional predictive methods. Louis is a very organized, methodical writer, and it shows in his agile handling of a complex topic. He all but takes the reader by the hand and walks her through the thicket of techniques. As a traditional astrologer, I tended to gloss over the modern astrology parts of the book, and went straight to the hairy bits, like Morin’s 31 Aphorisms. I am sure this condition is treatable, however. Regardless of one’s area of interest and expertise level, there is enough in this information-packed volume to keep one exploring and experimenting for years.

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The Art of Forecasting Using Solar Returns

By: Anthony Louis

The Wessex Astrologer, 2008

20 GBP (about 37 USD at the time of writing)

Available at amazon.com, wessexastrologer.com, and astroamerica.com

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Having examined the astrological indications for war in Iran in the late 1970s and 1980s, we will now look at what the next 12 years hold for Iran. The same sensitive points that presaged the 1979 revolution and the Iran-Iraq war should be activated again in the event of another war.

The Khomeini Foundation Horoscope

The horoscope for the moment of Khomeini’s Landing in Iran on February 1, 1979 is still valid for our purposes, because it begins the era of the Islamic Republic in Iran. We saw that the Mercury-Mars-Sun conjunction in Aquarius and Jupiter’s opposition thereto were activated prior to the Iran-Iraq war. We will keep a keen eye on this configuration going forward.

The 2000 Grand Conjunction

The Grand Conjunction occurs every 20 years, and foretells the fate of nations for the upcoming 20-year period. The Jupiter-Saturn conjunction in Taurus was uncomfortably close to the malefic fixed star Algol, associated with the mythological monster, Medusa. Algol is a violent star of the first order. While the Jupiter-Saturn-Algol contact occurred around the world, in Tehran the Jupiter-Saturn-Algol conjunction fell in the seventh house of open enemies. It also squared the Midheaven of the conjunction chart, afflicting the King, or the government and Supreme Leader.

At least some portion of the years 2000-2020 will not be good for Iran’s government. We also note that Mars is just inside the 8^th house of death, and that the malefic (but royal!) fixed star, the South Scale, is on the Ascendant. Vivian Robson writes that Lucida Lancis is of the nature of Saturn and Mars, the two malefics, and is called The Insufficient Price. It causes “malevolence, obstruction, an unforgiving character, violence, disease, lying, crime, disgrace, and danger of poison.” Bad times for Iran, compounded by Scorpio rising, a malefic sign in mundane astrology.

Connections between the Khomeini and the GC 2000 Horoscopes

The afflicted Ascendant of the conjunction conjoins the Sun of the Khomeini chart by antiscion. This portends malevolent afflictions to the country, perhaps due to disease or generally harmful happenings (the Sun rules the Khomeini 6^th house).

The Jupiter-Saturn conjunction afflicts the Khomeini Mercury-Mars-Sun-Jupiter configuration by antiscion. This is a further indication of violence and mayhem.

However, the financial state of Iran during this 20-year period looks positive, at least for a while, due to – wait for it – Iran’s oil riches. Venus rules the Khomeini 2^nd house of the nation’s money, and the Moon rules the 4^th house of riches in the earth. In the GC 2000 chart, Venus and Moon are sextile in benefic houses, indicating oil wealth indeed. However, Venus is combust, indicating that the money will be hidden, perhaps by the government (the Sun’s light hides Venus) and in the 7^th house, may be spent on covert pleasures, as Venus conjoins the Khomeini 5^th cusp by antiscion. The fact that Venus is in the 7^th house indicates that Iran may not have control over its money at some point during this 20-year period, or it may spend it on 7^th house matters, such as war.

Next week, we will look at primary directions to the Khomeini chart to determine what will happen in Iran, during this 20-year period, and when.

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Read Part I of the Iran Series - The seeds of the revolution in the Shah’s Coronation and 1961 Great Conjunction charts.

Part II of the Iran Series - The revolution draws near: Eclipse hits to the coronation and 1961 Great Conjunction.

Part III of the Iran Series - The revolution is here and the Shah is deposed.  Aries Ingress charts for 1977 and 1978.

Part IV of the Iran Series - War comes again: the charts for the Islamic Republic and the 1980 Great Conjunction.

Part V of the Iran Series - War is Inevitable, but when will it happen? Using Aries Ingress charts to narrow down the year.

Part VI of the Iran Series - Narrowing down the time of the Iran-Iraq war and Khomeini’s demise.

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The indefatigable James Holden has translated another volume of Jean-Baptiste Morin’s astrological opus. Book Sixteen, a relatively slim volume relative to others in the series, discusses “The Rays and Aspects of the Planets.” The book is mostly theoretical, unlike some of Morin’s more hands-on volumes, and all but the most hardened Morinistes will value the book as an exposition of the theory behind astrological aspects. The reason for this is that Morin takes some unorthodox positions, most of which are not implemented today.

Briefly…

A fascinating theoretical book about astrological aspects for the advanced astrologer or hard-core Morin fan. If you are still learning about astrology basics, or even grappling with more intermediate topics, Book 16 will be hard going. However, if you are interested in the complexities of astronomical arguments so beloved by Morin, get this book.

Contents and Structure

The book consists of three sections, each composed of several chapters. The first three chapters of Section I define aspects and planetary rays, and their effects on this world. Morin defines an aspect as the relationship between the rays of two planets. In Chapter 4, Morin enumerates the Ptolemaic aspects, and adds a few of his own, besides, such as semi-sextiles, semi-squares, sesquiquadrates, and others. Chapters 5-9 discuss and refute other astrologers’ views on the planets’ maximum latitudes. Finally, Morin presents his own method, which the translator writes out in simpler terms following Chapter 9.

In Chapter 10-12, we learn about the natures of the aspects, which are benefic and which malefic, and why. For example, trines are benefic, because they are sides of an equilateral triangle, and always fall in the signs of the same element and sex, and is “the greatest and particular symbol of love.” Morin makes the point in this chapter that “every Planet that is malefic…badly afflicted…and determined to evil in the figure…harms that to which it is determined with all of its aspects.” The implication is that a bad planet can cause trouble to another planet regardless of the nature of the aspect between them.

Chapter 13 discusses Morin’s “new and improved” orbs, based on the visibility of the planets outside of the Sun’s rays. Chapter 14 is about applying and separating aspects, as well as dexter and sinister aspects, which are determined by the direction of the aspects with or against the direction of the signs.

Chapters 15-17 talk about antiscia (or antiscions), which are the planets’ shadow positions. Morin reworks this doctrine as well, adding in the concept of declination.

Chapter 18-20 refute arguments against aspects by other astrologers, including the currently fashionable Marsilio Ficino. Chapter 21 talks about whether fixed stars can cast aspects (recall that a conjunction is not, properly speaking, an aspect) – the conclusion is that the stars cannot aspect planets, but planets can aspect stars.

Section II of Book 16 starts off by discussing applications and separations of the planetary aspects, and the strength of applying versus separating aspects. Chapter 4 touches on the concept of doryphory, or planets attending the luminaries, which helps determine the worldly fame and distinction of the native.

Section III analyzes the three modes a planet has when near to the Sun; cazimi, combustion, or being under the sunbeams. Morin analyzes the opinions of the ancient astrologers and (unsurprisingly) finds them mistaken. For instance, he differs with them on the weakness of intellect as indicated by Mercury combust, instead interpreting this position as hidden knowledge: “And so, those persons for whom Mercury is combust, and the significator of intelligence, do not disclose to all either their own intelligence, or what they have in mind, but something is always researved, or revealed in the smallest things they keep back for themselves.”

Observations

A clear translat