Horary Astrology Reading: Is the Talking Fish Story True?
May 25, 2009 by Nina Gryphon
There was a talking fish in a New York market a few years ago, issuing warnings in Hebrew to repent because the end is near. Many people interpreted it as an ill omen for the then-impending Iraq war. I find omens fascinating, but most of them verge on the ridiculous (yes, I speak of the grilled cheese Virgin Mary). This seemed just odd enough to warrant an astrological inquiry. After reading about the talking carp, I immediately wondered whether the story was true; the Guardian article mentions that it could have been a practical joke, but I had my doubts. So, I cast a horary chart, asking “Is the talking fish story true?“
Is the Horoscope Valid?
First, I checked the horoscope for radicality, the indication that the question was asked properly and not out of idle curiosity. Because this is not a story which involves me personally, I wanted to make sure that the chart was solid, and that the heavens were on board with this question, as it were.
The ruler of the hour is Mars, which is of the same nature as the rising sign, Leo. Both are hot and dry, and therefore the chart is radical. Moreover, Mars is in its own domicile in Aries, placed in the ninth house of religion and God. As is often the case with Mars, the lesser malefic, the story does not end well for either the butcher, who, in attempting to kill the fish, sliced into his own thumb and had to be hospitalized, nor for the carp, which was eventually chopped up into gefilte fish. If it was an omen presaging a war in distant lands, then Mars in the ninth house would take on another layer of significance.
Find the Fish
The carp is symbolized by the Moon, which rules all fish; Al-Biruni says that the Sun rules all large fish, and carp definitely counts as a large fish. Moreover, the Moon is in the terms of Mercury, so it is a large fish endowed with the gift of speech. Note that the Moon and the Sun are in mutual reception by major dignity; it is as though the fish had been suddenly enlightened, the heavens parted, and it spoke. The Sun, of course, represents divine inspiration.
But Did the Fish Really Speak?
William Lilly, in his Christian Astrology (p.192-194), has a few pointers on determining whether a rumor is true. Our horoscope, amazingly, hits all of the points mentioned by Lilly:
- Lilly says that the Moon in the Ascendant means the rumor is true; here, we have the Moon in Leo on the Ascendant.
- If Lord one is angular, the rumor is true; this chart has the Sun in the 10th house.
- If the angles are fixed, the tale is true; all the angles in our chart have fixed signs.
- The Moon angular makes the story true; we have already established that this is the case in our horoscope.
- If the dispositor of the Moon is angular and in a fixed sign, the story is true. The Moon’s dispositor is the Sun, and it is in Taurus in the 10th house.
- If the Moon is separating from a malefic and applying to a benefic that is angular, the tale is true. Here, the Moon separates from a trine to Mars and applies to a square with angular Sun.
One cannot help but draw the conclusion that the story is indeed true. If the heavens speak to us in signs we do not understand, we must try to unfold their meaning.
Astrology Book Review: America Is Born (Regulus Astrology LLC/Dr. H.)
May 16, 2009 by Nina Gryphon
The full title of this book is America Is Born: Introducing the Regulus USA National Horoscope. In it, the pseudonymous author, Dr. H., brings his horoscope rectification skills to bear on the U.S. national horoscope. He uses medieval astrological techniques and a great deal of historical data to arrive at a rectified version of the well-known Sibly horoscope for July 4, 1776.
Along the way, he demonstrates his primary direction sequence as a means of predicting events from the horoscope, as well as Abu Ma’shar’s method of directing planets via primary motion through the bounds (aka the planetary terms). As was the case with Dr. H.’s previous book on rectification, much of the really juicy material resides in the book’s appendixes. For example, Appendix C contains the rectified horoscopes of several individuals who strongly influenced the U.S. national consciousness, and the links between their horoscopes and that of the USA.
Briefly…
Another excellent, substantive book from Regulus Astrology, America Is Born is primarily suited to intermediate and advanced astrologers. Dr. H. really works the medieval techniques, and assumes his readers will have some familiarity with such methods. This is a book for enthusiasts of mundane astrology; the art of predicting political and public events, but many methods are presented that could also be used for natal horoscopes, such as directing planets through the planetary bounds. America Is Born is best read in conjunction with, or after, A Rectification Manual, which goes through the building blocks of astrology in greater detail.
Structure & Contents
America Is Born has perhaps the most fascinating preface I have ever read – in an astrology book or elsewhere. In it, the author discusses the symbolism of afflicted Mercury in the USA natal chart, suggesting that astrologers, being Mercury-ruled, are in particular danger should they make public their predictions of US events. This is interesting, but begs the question whether other Mercury-ruled professions in the US are in similar danger with going public (writers, finance people, accountants, lawyers, etc.).
Chapter One discusses the role of national horoscopes in mundane astrology, showing that the widespread adoption of the national horoscope really arose with Charles Carter in the 1950s. Dr. H’s book makes a compelling case for the use of such horoscopes, but one should note that such usage is not traditional; the medieval astrologers used planetary conjunctions and ingresses to make mundane predictions.
Chapter Two jumps right in, using primary directions to test the broad-brush positions of the Sibly chart; the chart’s sect and the position of the Moon. Chapter Three is an interesting meta-analysis of the “astrological moment,” the time that is most propitious for an astrologer to actually perform a rectification.
Chapter Four details Abu Ma’shar’s system of distributors and participators. This is essentially the method of moving a planetary significator by primary motion through the planetary terms. This method is a time Lord system, so for example, the distributor for 27 Aquarius 51 (the position of the Moon in the Sibley chart) is Saturn/Aquarius. Saturn refers to the Egyptian term ruler for that position. The author’s point is that we do not simply look at the nature of the planet ruling the bound, but also the sign, and we interpret them as a whole. The participator is a planet which has most recently contacted the point under examination (27 Aquarius 51 in our example), and which must be analyzed as a time Lord of the same influence as the distributor.
Chapter Five introduces the calculation of primary directions, with the author taking us through some of the key steps of calculating primaries. This is a very useful chucker for those who want to learn how to calculate primary directions, as well as those who want to understand the astronomical justification behind this method. Chapter Six gets to delineation and comparison of important events and periods in the United States history compared with some of the distributors of the time. For example, the period between May 27, 1960 and September 28, 1966 was ruled by Venus/Leo. The author’s attributions to this influence include Camelot, cocktail culture, and the Rat Pack, all indicative of pleasure, partying, and celebrity.
Chapter Seven introduces all of the planet-ascendant primary directions of the Regulus USA horoscope. This is the participator portion of Abu Ma’shar’s method introduced in Chapter Five. Chapter Eight starts with the Moon and its directions to the Regulus USA horoscope. The subsequent chapters all discuss each of the planet’s primary directions; the Sun through Jupiter, in Chapter 15.
Appendix A provides a list of events used for the chart’s initial rectification, comprising about five small-type pages. Appendix B gives a list of all ascendant directions by primary motion, direct and converse, that had been presented in previous chapters. For example, approximately the first three years after 1776, the distributor was Mars/Sagittarius sextile the Moon. Given that, per Dr. H.’ s analysis, this Moon has as one of its significations the political philosophy of human equality, it is fitting that the Revolutionary war (Mars) should be connected to these ideals. Appendix C shows the influence of directing through the balance on individuals, specifically those who particularly exemplified an era in American history. For example, the rectified horoscope of John Marshall, with his Capricorn Saturn in the 12th house, is associated with the Saturn/Capricorn distribution in the United States horoscope.
Appendix D details the author’s test of the efficacy of Egyptian versus Ptolemaic bounds, concluding that the Egyptian bounds are more accurate. Appendix E shows the author’s results from test of solar arc directions as compared to primary directions. He concludes that solar arc directions show more public events, where his primary directions show events more directly tied to the individual.
Observations
In some ways, America Is Born is a more specialized book than the author’s prior manual of rectification. This is because many of the techniques introduced in the previous book are taken for granted here, but for astrologers interested in the political prediction or interpretation, America Is Born is a gold mine of historical and astrological information. For starters, there are few horoscopes purporting to show the beginning of the United States of America that are as well supported as the one presented by the author in his book. There are certainly few horoscopes supported by as much test data, and additional information (much of it at the author’s website, Regulus Astrology). For those who use national inception horoscopes, the author makes a very compelling case that his rectification should be used. Highly recommended.
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America Is Born: Introducing the Regulus USA National Horoscope
Dr. H. (pseudonymous) via Regulus Astrology LLC
Regulus Astrology LLC, 2008, 407 pages, paperback.
USD 39.95
Available from astroamerica.com, amazon.com and astrologers.com
Astrology Book Review: The Judgments of Nativities (Abu ‘Ali Al-Khayyat, trans. James Holden)
May 10, 2009 by Nina Gryphon
This essential work has been re-released by the AFA more than 20 years after the first edition appeared in print. The Judgments of Nativities is a classic of natal astrology, and a remarkably lucid and systematic exposition of traditional astrological principles. Many astrologers keep their copy of The Judgments of Nativities close to hand, and most copies from the 1988 edition are disintegrating at this stage from frequent use. Thus, the re-release is a most welcome step by the AFA, who obviously took great care in the presentation of their new edition. The new edition font is clear and easy to read, while the cover is a handsome glossy red abstract design. Inexpensive printing options have clearly advanced a great deal in the last 20 years!
Briefly…
The content in the 2nd edition is unchanged, as far as I could tell. The translator’s 1988 preface is still there, providing a good, beginner-friendly introduction to this 1000-year-old astrology text. In the introduction, Holden actually gives a summary of the history of astrology, placing Al-Khayyat’s book in proper historical context. The book is suitable for intermediate astrology students, since some previous knowledge of concepts like triplicity rulers, for instance, is assumed. An excellent text on natal astrology according to the Arabs.
Contents & Structure
The Judgments of Nativities starts with material on rearing of children and the length of life; the traditional astrologers, including Al-Khayyat, always started their analysis by determining whether the native will survive infancy, and if so, the length of his life. There is also material on the native’s quality of mind (what we might call personality today), and several example charts apparently taken from Greek sources. The examples illustrate the triplicity lord method, indicating the success of the native by looking at the condition of the sect ruler’s triplicity lords.
Al-Khayyat then goes house by house to determine the quality of the different areas of the life. There are many aphorisms sprinkled throughout this portion of the text with a distinct Hellenistic provenance, such as “if any one of the fortunes is in the 11th sign from the Part of Fortune, it signifies the acquisition of money and of assets from good things.” There is also some interesting material on determining the parents’ length of life.
Chapters 39-50 are cookbook style materials on the placement of the planets in the houses and signs, with some material on the placement of the Part of Fortune. The latter materials appear to be specific to profection of the Part of Fortune, rather than just natal placements.
There are some excellent appendixes in this text. Appendix I goes through the many example horoscopes provided in the text, figuring out their approximate dates (they are from the 1st and 5th/6th centuries AD. Appendix II is from Masha’allah’s Book of Nativities, giving additional techniques for calculating the native’s length of life, so the reader can compare Al-Khayyat and Masha’allah’s methods, which are very similar, but not identical.
Observations
As always, James Holden’s translation is clear and easy to read, bringing this old text closer to modern readers. Because of Al-Khayyat’s thorough and succinct approach, this text is highly recommended for astrologers who want to get started with traditional natal astrology. An extremely accessible and cohesive text.
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The Judgments of Nativities
Abu ‘Ali Al-Khayyat, translated by James H. Holden, M.A.
American Federation of Astrologers, 2008, 146 pages, paperback.
USD 23.95
Available from astrologers.com, astroamerica.com, and amazon.com
Book Review: Horary Astrology Re-Examined (Barbara Dunn)
May 3, 2009 by Nina Gryphon
Reading Horary Astrology Re-Examined brought me back to the days when I was just beginning to learn horary, with Olivia Barclay’s book, Horary Astrology Rediscovered, at my side. Dunn is a student of traditional astrologer Olivia Barclay, and Horary Astrology Re-Examined is similar to Barclay’s book, in that it is a compendium of traditional quotations on various topics from many authors. Essentially, Dunn appears to have updated Barclay’s book with the new translations that had been obscure or unavailable when Barclay published her book in 1997. Dunn has taken over Barclay’s horary course a few years ago, and it appears that in writing Horary Astrology Re-Examined, she has updated the course book as well.
Briefly…
This is perhaps the most thorough survey of traditional thought on horary astrology. However, precisely because of its depth and breadth, I would not recommend this for a beginning horary astrologer. The book is not written especially didactically, “soup to nuts,” but rather gives the reader absolutely everything, and more, right from the start. Horary Astrology Re-Examined is more like a compendium of horary. For the intermediate to advanced practitioner, Dunn’s book is a treasure trove of information, with seemingly everything traditional ever written about horary in one book. It is best used as an encyclopedia when one wants to understand a specific topic in depth, with footnotes and references to primary sources galore.
Contents & Structure
Horary Astrology Re-Examined is organized into two major parts; Part I is methodology and doctrine, and Part II contains house-specific questions and judgments.
The Introduction sets out the author’s argument for traditional astrology, which is portrayed as losing ground to the new age facsimile of the art. I am not convinced this is the case, as traditional astrology has come a long way just in the last decade, but Dunn’s basic hypothesis is sound, in that she views traditional astrology as a valuable, internally cohesive system that can be used for accurate methods of prediction. The introduction is followed by a dozen or so pages of Terms of Art, which the student should understand as they learn horary.
Part I starts with a chapter about the planets; their nature, joys, friendships, associations (Morin, Lilly, and Abu Ma’shar), and rulership of the days and hours. Chapter 2 describes the houses, the house systems, the nature of the quadrants and directions, and the nature of the angles/succedent/cadent houses. There is a good-sized listing of the meaning of each house, drawn from the traditional authors (Lilly, Al Biruni, Morin, and Ptolemy). This is not a substitute for a good book on the houses, such as Deb Houlding’s text, but is a very good start. Included is a good discussion of the triplicity rulers of the houses, a natal technique.
Chapter 3 discusses the signs of the zodiac, their divisions, and associations with parts of the body, the seasons, colors, directions, fertility, places (for lost objects), and geographical locations. Chapter 4 covers planetary sect, hayyiz, and the way these concepts are used in natal horoscopes, including the notions of oriental and occidental planets. Chapter 5 explains planetary movement and aspects, antiscia, beholding, and orbs. Oddly, not much time is spent on the nature of the major aspects, the heart and soul of horary, specifically the ways in which they can bring about perfection (square brings perfection with difficulty, for example, while the trine does so with ease). The material on planetary movements is quite valuable, and unique, in the sense that no one has brought together this material as comprehensively as the author. Concepts discussed include committing disposition – though we are never told what disposition is, exactly – pushing nature, pushing power, pushing two natures, pushing counsel, and the uses of a separating aspect. There is also some discussion of void of course and feral Moon.
Chapter 6 deals with essential dignities, discussing domicile, exaltation, triplicity, term, and face, according to each of the ancient sources. The author then gives information on the debilities of detriment, fall, and peregrination. In the interest of comprehensiveness, it would have been most useful to include Ibn Ezra’s description of the dignities, both here and in the following chapter.
Chapter 7 continues this theme with a discussion of accidental dignities and debilities, with a heavy emphasis on William Lilly’s point scoring tables, which apparently continue to exert fascination over astrologers despite their limited utility in practice. There is also a table detailing the nature of the planets when occidental and oriental. The table dates from the 1930s edition of Al Biruni’s treatise on astrology, and, in my humble opinion, should have been reset for easier reading. A section on accidental dignity and debility follows, discussing each of the factors that strengthens or weakens a planet, depending on its position in the horoscope and relative to other planets. Chapter 7 closes with a wealth horary by Lilly, demonstrating Lilly’s checklist of essential and accidental conditions of each planet.
Chapters 8 and 9 address reception and almutens, respectively. Both are very well presented, in that they summarize and quote the traditional authors on these multi-faceted topics. Almutens are not as important in horary as in other branches of astrology, but they are important to know and understand. A thirty-page chapter on signification follows, dedicated to the method for selecting the correct significator(s) in a horary chart. There is a good discussion of natural significators, which tend to be under-utilized in today’s practice of horary. Another good portion of the chapter is the section on planets and their role in appearance, another forgotten but highly effective horary technique.
A chapter on Considerations before Judgment is a good summary of the various pre-judgment cautions given in traditional texts. Chapter 12, on The Question, is a particularly welcome and unique addition to this book. Most books gloss over the importance of asking the question properly, but the author does not skip this rather unglamorous part of the proceedings. An added bonus is a rather amusing deconstruction of a psychological horary analysis. Chapter 13 gives a big picture view of how to judge a chart, including a section on timing.
Chapters 14 and 15 are titled “The Possibility of the Matter Propounded,” and “The Impossibility of the Matter Propounded,” respectively, and since they match the subtitle of the book, we can assume they form the center of the author’s work. The chapters essentially summarize the ways that outcomes can perfect or fail to perfect; the assiduous student could create a checklist for each chapter and refer to it when judging a chart. The more experienced astrologer may not find these chapters as useful, but they are essential to learning to read horoscopes.
Part II focuses on the specific horary types for some of the more popular houses; the 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 10th houses are detailed. It is unclear why, with her obvious penchant for thoroughness and completeness, the author did not address the less riveting but still essential 1st, 3rd, 8th, 9th, 11th, and 12th houses, especially given that the traditional authors usually described them all. The houses that are not addressed are the ones that have subtle meanings, and that give students the greatest trouble, so one would think that a comprehensive approach would be worthwhile. The houses that are covered are done very well, with a detailed description of some of the criteria of the ancients, and supplemented with the author’s own examples.
The book wraps up with an excellent bibliography and index.
Observations
An excellent book to round out one’s horary collection. This is not the book to start with, due to its sheer comprehensiveness, and one would be better off starting with something a bit pithier. Olivia Barclay’s book is useful, and, of course, John Frawley’s Horary Textbook is a great introductory text. The attraction of Horary Astrology Re-Examined is that it encourages the reader to peruse the primary sources for himself, rather than rely on restatements by modern authors. The frequent footnotes and rich bibliography make it easy to discover the sources for oneself. Highly recommended.
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Horary Astrology Re-Examined: The Possibility or Impossibility of the Matter Propounded
By Barbara Dunn
The Wessex Astrologer, 2009, 536 pages, paperback.
28.00 GBP (44.00 USD), amazon.com, astroamerica.com, wessexastrologer.com
Book Review: The Art and Practice of Geomancy (John Michael Greer)
April 26, 2009 by Nina Gryphon
Geomancy is a divinatory practice heavily influenced by astrology, and I wanted to shine a spotlight on a topic with which few astrologers are familiar. Like astrology, geomancy came to Europe from the Arab world, where it was called khatt al-raml, “cutting the sand.” Geomancy uses the random generation of marks or dots to create a four-line figure, one line for each of the four elements. The divinatory meaning of the figure depends on the number and arrangement of the dots. The most common way to perform a geomantic reading is to generate fifteen such figures, the first twelve of which are assigned to houses, just as in an astrological chart. The remaining three figures summarize the situation asked about.
Briefly…
The Art and Practice of Geomancy is perhaps the most comprehensive book on the subject available today. With a basic understanding of astrological principles, one can use geomancy with ease, though I am of the opinion that astrology proper provides a richer, more nuanced symbolism than the somewhat abbreviated version used in geomancy. The author provides numerous ways to interpret the geomantic chart to extract the maximum information possible, so whatever information a geomantic reading provides, the reader can make the most of it using this book. There is also some information on geomantic magic and invoking spirits, which is not necessary to the practice of geomancy, but presented as a way of enhancing the divinatory experience. Personally, I would not go to those lengths to get an answer, but the reader’s mileage may well vary.
Contents & Structure
The Art and Practice of Geomancy consists of three parts: I) The Art of Geomancy, II) Geomantic Divination, and III) Geomantic Meditation and Magic.
Part I introduces the reader to the various way of practicing geomancy, giving real-life examples of the way the art had been used in the past. There is a good section on the history of geomancy, which discusses a possible link between the geomantic systems of equatorial Africa and their later adaptation by the Arabs. One conjectures that the astrological symbolism had been superimposed on geomancy by the Arabs once they had picked up astrology from the Greeks.
Chapters Two and Three contain information about the geomantic figures, followed by a list of the sixteen geomantic figures, with a detailed list of associations for each. For instance, the figure Acquisitio (Gain) contains information about its other names, a pictorial representation, keyword, quality (stable or mobile), planet, astrological sign, astrological house relationships (where Acquisitio is strengthened and where weakened), its outer and inner elements, its associated parts of the anatomy, body type, character type, colors, commentary, and divinatory meaning. This richness of meaning provides a useful divinatory alphabet for most questions.
Part II starts with the step-by-step instructions for conducting a geomantic reading. Because of the emphasis on magic in this book, one of the possible methods involves invoking planetary spirits relating to the topic of one’s question. Chapter Five shows the method of interpreting the fifteen figures, but the real fun for astrologers begins in Chapter Six, where the first twelve geomantic figures generated in a reading are arranged in a square astrological chart, one per house, and we are off to the races. The general themes of the houses are described in detail, though the astrologically-minded reader can get additional information in Deb Houlding’s Houses: Temples of the Sky. I don’t agree with every single house attribution in The Art and Practice of Geomancy, but the author’s method is generally traditionalist in nature, and I was delighted to see that that Greer does not assign either transformation or sex to the eighth house.
Chapter Six also contains some geomancy-specific techniques, which involve relating houses in the chart to one another for additional layers of divinatory meaning. Chapter Seven discusses advanced interpretive methods, such as geomantic readings used daily, weekly, monthly, or annually; life readings; finding locations and directions; timing; the geomantic/planetary hours (including a handy method of calculating the planetary hours in the day); determining names, and dealing with deceptive questions.
Part III, Geomantic Meditation and Magic, contains information not found in most astrological texts, so one gets the sense that this book is a rather different kettle of fish. Chapter Eight contains instructions for geomantic meditation and scrying, which of course are ancient practices that can be applied to methods other than geomancy. The author does give the reader the warning to test the spirits, which is sensible. Chapter Nine gets into magic proper, and provides instructions for creating geomantic talismans and gamahes. Chapter Ten gets into the ritual elements of geomantic magic, giving names of the planetary gods, intelligences, and spirits, and methods for invocation of one’s guardian genius.
The book closes with an appendix of the Orphic hymns, a classical collection of invocations of the Greek gods translated in the 18th century by Thomas Taylor. Included are also conjurations of the planetary intelligences.
Observations
The Art and Practice of Geomancy is a unique book on the topic that will undoubtedly become a classic in the field. It takes a common-sense approach to a long-forgotten subject, and covers all of the bases very thoroughly. The astrologer might find geomancy an easy adjunct to the astrological practice, as there is considerable overlap between the two systems. For beginning astrology students, Greer’s book can provide an excellent introduction to astrological basics from a traditional perspective, presented in a simple but substantive manner.
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The Art and Practice of Geomancy: Divination, Magic, and Earth Wisdom of the Renaissance
By John Michael Greer
Weiser Books, 2009, 252 pages, paperback.
$18.95, available on amazon.com
Astrology Book Review: Astrologia Gallica, Book 25 – Universal Constitutions of the Caelum (Jean-Baptiste Morin, trans. James Holden)
April 25, 2009 by Nina Gryphon
Book 25 of Morin’s Astrologia Gallica, a text on mundane astrology, is available for the first time in English, thanks to James Holden’s recent translation. Mundane astrology, which focuses on predicting events of political and national/international magnitude, is a complex area of the art, one that few people have completely mastered. The Universal Constitutions of the Caelum is a very coherent and practical treatise on the subject, and English-speaking astrologers everywhere should rejoice that it is finally available to them. An abbreviated version of Book 25 was translated into French by astrologer Jean Hieroz in 1946, and until now, Hieroz’s was the only non-Latin version available. In contrast to modern astrologers of the time, who were blindsided by WWII, Hieroz used Morin’s methods to correctly predict the war, and his 1939 article for an astrological journal is included in Holden’s translation as an Appendix.
Briefly…
The Universal Constitutions of the Caelum is not necessarily an introductory text, in that it assumes the reader’s familiarity with numerous astrological terms and concepts. However, the “how-to” methods of mundane analysis presented by Morin are straightforward and easy to apply. This book is best read with a pen in hand, because Morin gives step-by-step instructions on interpreting a mundane horoscope. As is typical for him, Morin gives many examples of his method; in conjunction with Jean Hieroz’s article on WWII, the reader can see for himself the application of Morin’s principles. Similar to other Morin books, The Universal Constitutions of the Caelum deserves careful study.
Contents & Structure
Book 25 is separated into two parts; the first is the more theoretical one, while the second focuses on practical application of mundane methods. However, there is a significant amount of overlap, which means that one should read the entire book, not just skip ahead to the “good parts”!
Part I begins with chapters setting forth the basic concepts of mundane astrology, starting with a discussion of its validity. Morin’s key concepts include the doctrine of subordination of horoscopes; the notion that mundane horoscopes do not act alone, but like nesting dolls, they are a manifestation of a larger cycle. Therefore, the reader is directed to examine the lunations preceding an Aries Ingress, for example, and look for repeating themes among the horoscopes.
In Part I, Chapters 7 and 8, Morin discusses the specific characteristics of eclipses and planetary conjunction horoscopes. In Chapter 9 and subsequent chapters in Part I, he gives guidance on interpretation of mundane horoscopes.
The first step is to select ruler(s) of the horoscope, which are those planets that are especially powerful, and whose reemergence in subordinate horoscopes provide timing of the potentials promised earlier. Here, Morin gives an interesting technique of ruler selection; focusing on the angle subsequent to the Primary Point of a horoscope. For instance, an Aries Ingress with the Sun in the 12th house would have the Ascendant as the angle, and its rulers, occupants, and aspects would all be essential to determining the ruler – and thus the main theme — of the Ingress.
Chapters 11 and 12 provide details on the places where a mundane horoscope’s promise would most likely manifest, and the specific times in which the events will occur. In his prediction of WWII, Jean Hieroz utilized the latter methods with consummate skill, and comparing Morin’s instructions with Hieroz’s application is most instructive. Chapters 14 and 15 focus on the kinds of events one might expect with certain rulers (e.g.: Saturn and Mars ruling the mundane horoscope are bad, but fixed stars make them even worse).
Part II begins with a discussion of the elemental composition of mundane charts, and the planets’ behavior in signs of various elements. This is especially important for weather prediction, a subset of mundane astrology. Morin then goes on to emphasize the importance of the Aries Ingress as a description of a year’s events, with special attention to the rulers of the Ingress. Chapter 4 is an excellent summary of the qualities of the planets when they are rulers of the year, with discussion of the fact that the luminaries can also be rulers of the horoscope, something the ancient astrologers did not address.
Chapters 5 -7 focus on the planetary qualities primarily for weather prediction, providing handy lists of planets in aspect and in various signs. For example, Venus in Aries, as in the 2009 Aries Ingress, “under the sun beams produces humidity; when oriental, thunder and rains; when occidental, winds; when static, humidity.”
Chapter 8 gives an interesting list of aphorisms for determining events from the rulers’ motion; Morin considers all planets to bring rain when they are retrograde, for instance, though this tendency is emphasized when the planet is in a moist sign, a humid Lunar mansion, and in aspect with Venus or Mercury. Chapters 10 and 11 are chock-full of aphorisms for further weather indications contained in the Aries Ingress and lunation horoscopes. Chapter 13 provides guidance on comparing subordinate charts; such as that of an Ingress and a subsequent lunation. Chapter 14 explores the intersection of place and horoscopes. Chapter 15 gives guidelines for interpreting the appearance of comets. First, one is to determine the planetary nature of a planet (mainly by its color), and then look at its position in the zodiac, interpreting the comet similarly to a planet in that sign. Chapter 16 provides details on daily weather predictions, and some additional factors that go into such a specific prediction.
The Appendixes are particularly useful, giving a method for determining planetary strength, the WWII prediction of Jean Hieroz, WWI horoscopes, tables for the year 1625, and a list of the elemental qualities of the lunar mansions (and the mansions’ location).
Observations
A highly recommended text on mundane astrology. The number of concrete guidelines and tips in this book justifies careful reading and re-reading. James Holden’s translation, as always, is careful and thoughtful, with plenty of footnotes. His preface is informative and places the book in appropriate context for the reader new to Morin. A worthwhile addition to any astrologer’s library.
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Astrologia Gallica Book Twenty-Five: The Universal Constitutions of the Caelum
By Jean-Baptiste Morin (trans. from the Latin by James Herschel Holden, M.A., Fellow of the American Federation of Astrologers)
American Federation of Astrologers, 2008, 241 pages, paperback.
$24.95 on astrologers.com and astroamerica.com
Astrology Book Review: A Rectification Manual – The American Presidency (Regulus Astrology/Dr. H.)
April 18, 2009 by Nina Gryphon
A Rectification Manual, 2nd ed., is an ambitious, no-holds-barred traditional astrology book on this often difficult subject. Rectification is the process whereby an astrologer uses known facts about an individual (appearance, past life events, personality traits) to determine their birth time or even birthdate. The pseudonymous author, Dr. H., rectified the horoscopes of all U.S. Presidents through George W. Bush, using traditional techniques and comprehensive life event databases.
His goal is twofold; first, he wishes to have birth times rectified “within 30 seconds of accuracy for 90%” of the included horoscopes, so that the reader can rigorously test astrological techniques on reliable charts of well-documented individuals. Second, his goal is to restore the rigorous methods of pre-20th century rectification to their rightful place. He succeeds most impressively in both aims, producing perhaps the most rigorous and detailed book on traditional horoscope delineation, prediction, and rectification available today. Gryphon Astrology has interviewed Dr. H., where he gave more information about his methods and projects.
Briefly…
Make no mistake about it; A Rectification Manual is an intermediate-to-advanced text. Intermediate astrologers, especially those unfamiliar with traditional astrological techniques, will likely find plenty here that is new, but the author gives sufficient detail and examples that with a little effort and patience, one can follow along with ease. The best way to approach A Rectification Manual is a a workbook, not only for rectification, but also for delineation and prediction once accurate birth data has been calculated.
The author writes in the Preface how to use the book: “Choose a single President. Read at least two biographies – one for the subject directly and another for a family member or other significant professional colleague. Create an event database and work sequentially through delineation and prediction techniques outlined in Parts One and Two. After recreating measurements presented in the rectification database, test additional events against the full battery of predictive techniques…There is no better way to learn astrology than to study actual people and past events.” Yes, it sounds like work, but the more one puts into this book, the more one will get out of it, with rich dividends.
Contents & Structure
A Rectification Manual is composed of two main sections; the first is delineation, predictive methods, and rectification methods, while the second contains empirical tests of hotly-contested astrological methods, and rectification details for each American president, a longevity prediction and significator table for each president, and trial rectification data for all of the First Ladies.
Part I deals with Delineation, that is, the process by which one assesses the potentials in the natal horoscope. Chapter 1, Planets in Signs, uses case studies to show the effects of planetary sign placement, with a special section devoted to the minor dignities of bounds/terms and dwads (2.5˚ divisions). Chapter 2, Modern Planets, discusses the role of the outer planets in natal delineation (hint: it’s more of a bit part than a role), utilizing primary directions of the outers to show the ways in which they can be integrated into delineation.
Chapter 3, Planets in Houses, discusses house systems and why they matter, concluding with a case study of Thomas Jefferson. The author uses both quadrant houses, such as Alcabitius, and whole signs, similar to Robert Zoller’s approach. Chapter 4, Arcus Vitae (“Arc of Life”), explores the method of determining an individual’s longevity using the hyleg/alcochoden method, and then finding the candidates for the anareta, or killing planet. In traditional astrology, the primary direction of key points in the horoscope to the killing planet, or vice versa, determines the most likely time of death.
Part II describes various predictive methods available to the astrologer once the natal delineation is complete. Chapter 5 deals with “The Problem of Under-specification.” The author describes this as the problem of life events “improperly attributed to various predictive techniques because the modern predictive toolbox [consisting of transits, progressions, and solar arc directions] is incomplete.” Here, the author explores the massive 1834 fire that destroyed a large portion of Andrew Jackson’s Nashville estate. Dr. H. first uses modern techniques, then traditional methods to delineate the fire in Jackson’s horoscope. Chapter 6, Temporal Indicators, uses several traditional methods, including differentiating between New Moon and Full Moon births, to describe the ways in which one’s characteristic traits or luck changes throughout one’s life.
Chapter 7, Planetary Period Methods, explores the very old, accurate methods of dividing the life into several periods, each ruled by a planet. The strength or weakness of the planet gives a broad-brush description of the given life period. The author uses the triplicity ruler method, Firdaria, and planetary days and hours. Chapter 8, Directions and Progressions, introduces Dr. H’s Primary Direction Sequence, generating a set of dates by computing the same primary direction with zero and full latitude for both the natal and the directed planets. The dates correlate with key events corresponding with the natal promise of the planets in question.
Chapter 9, Solar Returns: Profections and Time Lords, explores the technique of profections (assigning each year of life a whole-sign or equal-sign house, starting with the Ascendant), and the interlocking relationship between annual profections and the solar return. Chapter 10, Solar Returns: Delineation and Prediction, describes the author’s findings on some popular variants of this predictive technique; precession and relocation. He then goes on to show the steps of delineating the solar return and using it for timed predictions for the following year. Chapter 11, Solar Returns: Arabic Parts describes the Parts’ use in prediction in the solar return, and also their role in rectification. Because the Parts change very quickly, they are invaluable in determining the position of the Ascendant/Descendant axis. There are 23 presidential nativities given in this chapter, including the Part of Fortune calculation for Richard Nixon. Nixon’s Fortuna fell in the 12th natal house, showing “money from secret and illegal dealings.” (205) The Part of Fortune was activated in the solar return for 1952, when Nixon was accused of conflicts of interest relating to an unreported campaign fund.
Chapter 12, Lunar Nodes and Eclipses, are shown by the author to portend beginnings and endings, and so are some of the best predictive tools in astrology. Their transits and those of the lunar nodes are useful for rectifying the angles of the horoscope. Chapter 13, Transits, tests out the most useful transit aspects, orbs, and transiting planets’ contacts to planets, cusps, and parts.
Part III gets to the titular subject of Rectification. Chapter 14, Preparing the Event Database, walks the reader through the steps necessary to prepare a good list of life events by means of which rectification can occur. Chapter 15, The Three Stages of Rectification, explains each of the key three steps of any rectification endeavor: Determining the Ascendant sign; calculating the ascending degree within 1-4 degrees; determining the exact degree and minute of the Ascendant. Chapter 16, Rectification Case Studies, demonstrates the three rectification steps on five presidential nativities. The Afterword shows the way in which nativities continue to work after death, for example through publications, or dramatic posthumous revelations, such as those about Thomas Jefferson’s relationship and children with his slave Sally Hemings.
The Appendixes comprise about one half of the Rectification Manual’s page count, to give you a sense of their importance. Appendix A details the author’s study of directing planets through Egyptian and Ptolemaic bounds. The Egyptian bounds come out the more accurate system. Appendix B tests competing systems of calculating the Part of Fortune and Firdaria. Appendix C, The Presidential Database, contains the rectified birth data of all of the U.S. Presidents through George W. Bush, and the 2008 Presidential nominees and their vice-presidents, while Appendix D details the rectified birth data of the Presidential spouses. Finally, the author supplies a ten-page bibliography and handy biographical index.
Observations
This is an excellent study text for astrologers wishing to learn traditional techniques and see them in practice. The ancient texts don’t give very detailed examples of the methods they describe, but this book fills much of that void, experimentally verifying the efficacy of competing methods. A Rectification Manual works well as a drop-in reference book, too, for the more advanced reader. For example, if one wishes to learn more about the interaction of solar returns and profections, one can turn to the apposite chapter and read up on that method and its application. The author writes such that the chapters are largely self-contained – to the extent possible – making the book very useful for such mini-lessons. Highly recommended.
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A Rectification Manual – The American Presidency
By: Regulus Astrology LLC (Dr. H.)
Regulus Astrology (publisher), October 2008, 2nd edition, 791 pages
$59.95
Available through regulus-astrology.com
(more information on the data presented in the book, including errata, is available on the Regulus Astrology website)
Astrology Book Review: Introduction to Medical Astrology (Wanda Sellar)
April 18, 2009 by Nina Gryphon
Medicine is one of the earliest applications of astrology, and one of the most neglected branches of the art today. Granted, going to see a doctor is less often the life-and-death affair that it once was; in the face of such odds, astrology was yet another tool of the physician to cheat death. Today, because much of the medico-astrological knowledge has been lost, and because of laws that prohibit the practice of medicine without a license, medical astrology is a relatively uneventful backwater on the oft-tumultuous ocean of astrology. The result is that there are few good books on medical astrology today.
Briefly:
Wanda Sellar’s Introduction to Medical Astrology is a solid beginner’s text in this vast and complicated field. It has obviously been carefully researched and supported with many references to important primary sources. However, the reader seeking a true traditional medical astrology primer will read Introduction to Medical Astrology somewhat selectively. There are enough 20th-century concepts and ideas, some not based on traditional astrological thought, that the purist must tread with care. Yet Introduction to Medical Astrology covers important subjects in sufficient detail and with copious footnotes, so that one can move on to more advanced texts, if one so wishes.
Contents & Structure
Introduction to Medical Astrology is essentially a primer, which examines each piece of the be horoscope individually, putting them all together at the end. What makes this book stand above the rest are the very accessible chapters on non-natal astrology; decumbiture and electing the times for medical treatment. Neither topic is covered in great depth in most modern texts, and their inclusion was particularly welcome in Sellar’s book.
Chapters 1 and 2 introduce the reader to the basics of medical astrology, and describe in detail its role in mankind’s history, starting in ancient Mesopotamia, up to today.
Chapter 3 starts on the building blocks in earnest, detailing the connections between the zodiac and health, first describing the nature of each of the elemental triplicities, and then going into detail for each sign. Chapter 4 builds on this to describe the basic life processes occurring in the body, again by elemental triplicity, and then describing each sign in terms of its masculine or feminine nature, and the organs which are rules. Chapter 5 then goes on to describe the quadruplicities and their effect on health, specifically the types of illnesses associated with each modality. For example, mutable signs are described as susceptible to “fluctuation in vitality and unpredictability and illness.” These guidelines are particularly useful when judging non-natal horoscopes, and derived directly from traditional medical thought. Chapter 6 explores the relationship (or non-relationship) between inconjunct signs, and the application of the concept to medical astrology.
Chapter 7 describes the planets from a medical standpoint, and though the author uses the outer planets and Chiron, she describes the rulerships of the traditional visible planets very accurately and succinctly. By the time the reader reaches this chapter, she will have been exposed to a number of excellent example charts, for example Vivien Leigh’s horoscope, notable for indications of bipolar disorder. The afflictions to Leigh’s Mercury and Moon, significators of the mind, are, sadly, quite apparent.
Chapter 8 explores the houses and their use in medical astrology, an important topic that is deftly handled by the author, though we would point out that the eighth house does not rule the organs of reproduction, a role reserved for the seventh house. Chapter 9 lists the important aspects in medical astrology, with reference made to William Lilly’s use of orbs; the traditional notion being that orbs are given to planets, not aspects. Chapter 10 is interesting, as it describes uninspected planets and missing elements in the chart. The latter is the concept that one may have an overabundance of fire, for example, but with insufficient water. This necessarily reflects a corresponding imbalance in the body. This chapter is very useful for locating problem areas in the horoscope, and it would have been helpful to get an introduction to basic humoral horoscope analysis earlier on in the text for those unfamiliar with the concept.
Chapter 11 briefly describes the use of midpoints, with which I do not have much experience, so cannot comment. Chapter 12 lays out the various way of dividing the life by planetary stages. We are first given a list of the phases of gestation, each associated with a given planet, and then ways of dividing up the actual life, according to 20th-century astrologers, but also Shakespeare! There are a handful of fascinating example charts in this chapter, and the author makes a usually abstract concept of planetary life phase assignments come to life.
In Chapter 13, all of what we have learned about natal horoscope analysis from a medical perspective is brought together, and the author takes us through a detailed chart analysis to demonstrate her working methods.
Chapter 14 describes the forgotten but ever-so-useful art of decumbiture horoscopes, defined simply as the chart for the time that a sick person first takes to bed when they are feeling unwell. Also, the time of consultation can be a become richer horoscope. These horoscopes are very useful for learning about the cause of the disease, its course, as well as the appropriate remedy. Heavy reference here is made to Culpeper, whose book on medical astrology and decumbiture in particular is very much worth reading as a more advanced source on the topic.
Chapter 15 gives a few electional rules for surgery, noting that the importance of finding the right time is still key today. A fascinating study is cited, noting that “in 1000 cases of postoperative hemorrhaging, 82% occurred between the first and last quarters of the Moon peaking at the full Moon.” If we learn nothing else about electional astrology, surely this tidbit is worth it. Chapter 16 teaches principles of finding fertility and pregnancy in the natal horoscope.
A generous anatomical glossary and disease glossary are provided, along with a substantial of reference section for those who wish to pursue this fascinating topic further.
Observations
Introduction to Medical Astrology is an excellent book for those just getting started in the art of medical astrology. More advanced students will find it useful for the liberal use of example horoscopes and their detailed explanations. There are few comprehensive yet balanced beginner texts for medical astrology available today, and for interested students, it is helpful to learn the basics from an easy-to-understand guide such as Sellar’s before they move on to more advanced texts. Recommended.
Astrologer Interview: Dr. H. (Regulus Astrology), Part 3 of 3
January 3, 2009 by Nina Gryphon
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 7th 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 7th 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 7th 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.
Astrologer Interview: Dr. H. (Regulus Astrology), Part 2 of 3
January 3, 2009 by Nina Gryphon
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 6th or 12th) 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 6th house with some claim to the Ascendant – whenever the malefic in the 6th 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 10th 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 5th, P.Fortune, P.Children & their lords) are located in houses favorable for children (1st, 11th, 10th, 7th). 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 12th house children would not be predicted.
Rudy Giuliani’s natal figure (footnote 2) features this condition, yet he has a son and a daughter. Mercury signifies the son; Venus, the daughter. In the 1985 solar return prior to Andrew Giuliani’s birth on January 30, 1986, Taurus rises, with Mercury making its return to Taurus and joined by the North Node. Mercury rules the 5th of children in the return. In effect an incorrect house placement for the significator of children in the natal was modified by an angular house placement in the return. So the idea that Mercury in the 12th house delivers only 25% of its power is flat out wrong. Andrew Giuliani was born with more than an arm and a leg. He was fully-formed.
NG: Does that mean that dynamic triggers (such as progressions, Solar Returns, etc.) can compensate for faulty natal placements? Up to what point can the dynamic compensate for the faulty natal?
DH: So far the only technique capable of compensating for faulty natal placements I have found is the solar return. And if that is true, then the natal placement is modified for as long as the solar return is active and not a day longer. Keep in mind that these modifications can cut both ways.
George W. Bush’s 2005 solar return is an excellent example of how the hidden affairs of the 12th house in the natal chart are made manifest when the 12th house of Cancer is moved to the 10th house in the solar return. Just two days into his solar return he fell off his bicycle in London the same day London was racked with a multiple bombing of the transportation system (July 7, 2005). Later in the year was the Hurricane Katrina disaster and negative publicity for the rendition of enemy combatants. So the hidden 12th natal house was revealed in 2005 for everyone to see.
At this point some astrologers will start jumping up and down on mitigating natal chart placements by relocation. I mention this because in my early days it seemed such a logical notion that I made trips to physically relocate for my solar return for three or four years running. My testing shows birthday relocation does not work and I outline some concrete steps for those wishing to test the validity of relocation in Chapter 10. As it turns out I was quite fortunate that the relocated charts failed to work; had they done so I think I would have been maimed or killed several times over.
NG: In your working papers on Barack Obama’s birth time, you mention the need for out of sample tests to determine the accuracy of the given time. What exactly is an out of sample test, and how is it performed?
DH: A rectified chart can be likened to an econometric model whose independent variable is time and whose dependent variable is life. Models are based on a data sample; for rectification the sample consists of life events. Out-of-sample data is simply life events which occur during a time period not used to build the model.
For a nativity like Obama, there are two ways to do this. Now 47 years old, one might restrict life events through the age of 41 for rectification testing. Build the rectification model with life events through September 2002 and stop. All life events occurring from September 2002 to the present are considered out-of-sample. Now test these out-of-sample life events against the rectified model to see if the rectified horoscope based on life events through September 2002 could properly forecast events following September 2002 to the present. If the results are favorable, the model passes muster.
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 7th 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 6th house. While some might assign employee termination to the 9th house (4th of the end-of-the-matter from the 6th by derived houses), I have found the 1st house (8th from the 6th) more reliable for employee termination. For Obama, Saturn rules the 1st; South Node is positioned in the 1st. 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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