Simplified Scientific Astrology
A Complete Textbook
If we divide this series by 10 we get 1 for the distance of the earth from the Sun and the other numbers then represent the distances of the other planets in terms of the earth's distance. The closeness with which this simple law gives the distance is shown as follows, the column headed "Bode" being the distances according to this law, while the column headed "Distance" gives the correct values in terms of the earth's distances.
It is thus seen that, with the exception of the values for Neptune, the numbers represent very nearly the relative proportional distances from the Sun, of the seven planets and the Asteroids which are within our solar system, but fail very decidedly when applied to Neptune, who is the embodiment of a Great Spirit from the Creative Hierarchies which normally influence us from the Zodiac. This planetary genius works specifically with those who are preparing for initiation and partially with those who study astrology and put it into practice in their daily lives, for then they are also preparing for the path of attainment. The twinklings of the fixed stars from without our solar system are the pulsations of spiritual impulses sent forth by the guardians of the Greater Mysteries; and the Mercurians, the Gods of Wisdom, send out similar impulses pertaining to the lesser mysteries, hence Mercury twinkles like a fixed star.
Planets revolve around the Sun at varying rates of speed, the smaller planets, which are the closest to the Sun, moving much more rapidly than the larger ones which, in addition, describe wider circles.
|Mercury makes orbital revolution in:||88||days|
|Venus makes orbital revolution in:||224.5||days|
|Earth makes orbital revolution in:||365.25||days|
|Mars makes orbital revolution in:||1 yr. 322||days|
|Jupiter makes orbital revolution in:||12||years|
|Saturn makes orbital revolution in:||29.5||years|
|Uranus makes orbital revolution in:||84||years|
|Neptune makes orbital revolution in:||165||years|
|Pluto makes orbital revolution in:||248||years|
Besides revolving in their orbits around the Sun, the planets also revolve upon their axes in the same direction as they revolve in their orbits; that is, from west to east. This movement is called the diurnal rotation.
The above inclinations of the axes do not in all cases coincide with the figures given by physical science, neither do we endorse their view that these inclinations remain practically unchanged, save for a slight vibratory movement called nutation. There is an exceedingly slow third movement of the planets whereby that which is now the North Pole of the earth will in the future, as it has in the past, point directly towards the Sun. Later it will be in the position where now the South Pole is, and in due time it will reach again its present place. Thus tropical climate and glacial epochs succeed each other on all points of each planet.
In addition to this gradual movement of about 50 seconds of space per century, whereby a whole revolution of the earth's axis is completed in about two and one-half million years, there have also been sudden changes at a time when that which is now the North Pole pointed directly towards the Sun. The southern hemisphere was then continually in darkness and cold.
Resulting conditions caused a sudden overtopping of our globe the last time. Since that time, however, the Spirit which previously guided the earth from without has drawn into the sphere and such a happening will be impossible in the future.
Mr. Pierre Bezian, a French mechanic, has constructed an apparatus demonstrating this third movement. He is said to have received his idea from a study of the teachings promulgated among various ancient people by priests possessed of mystic learning, particularly from the Egyptians. He shows how such a third movement will account for the tropical flora and fauna found in the frozen North, which can be accounted for in no other way. He also shows that when in the course of this third movement in the inclination of a planet's axis becomes greater than 90 degrees and its North Pole commences to point toward the south, the satellites of that planet will seem to turn in the opposite direction from the satellites of the other planets, as is the case with Uranus and Neptune's satellites; a fact which astronomers are puzzled to explain.
As a last difference between the teachings of modern science and the Western Wisdom Teaching of the Rosicrucians, we may note that astronomers of today speak of Venus and Mercury as inferior planets because they always appear close to the Sun; Venus is seen only as a morning or an evening star; Mercury is rarely seen because it keeps so close to the Sun.
This appellation, inferior and superior, the mystic would reverse, for him it is clear that the Sun is the embodiment of the highest spiritual intelligence in our system. At the beginning of our present phase of evolution all that is now outside the Sun was inside, but not all beings could continue to vibrate at the immense rate which obtained there; some fell behind, crystallized and, in time, became a clog on other classes. They started to crystallize at the pole, where motion is slow, but gradually their increased weight brought them to the equator, where motion is most rapid, and they were thrown off from the Sun by centrifugal force.
Later, other beings failed to keep up the vibratory movement, lagged behind, and were thrown off at a proper distance so that the solar vibrations may give them the rapidity necessary to their development.
In order to avoid all misunderstanding, it may be well to state that Jupiter was thrown off and given its enormous bulk of fiery substance because the Jupiterians had arrived at a very high state of development, where they needed both high vibrations and independent motion. Jupiter is therefore in some aspects an exception to the rule; a case where a higher law supersedes a lower.
In conclusion we reiterate that the planets in our solar system are the visible embodiments of the Seven Spirits before the Throne of God, the Sun, and that just as it is possible to us to transmit by wireless telegraphy the force which moves the telegraph key, lights a lamp, pulls a lever, etc., so may these Great Spirits exercise an influence upon human beings in proportion to our stage of individuality. If we aim to act in harmony with the laws of Good, we rise above all other laws and become a law unto ourselves; co-workers with God and helpers in nature. Ours is the privilege, ours the loss, if we fail to live up to our highest possibilities.
Let us therefore, strive to know, that we may do, and, above all let us beware of prostituting the science of the stars to the gutter of fortune-telling. Gold of Mammon may be ours if we do, but the "peace of God which passeth all understanding" will bring us lasting joy if we use our knowledge in unselfish service to others.
A horoscope is simply a chart of the heavens showing a certain position of the planets and zodiacal signs relative to each other and the earth. The constellations remain in the same position one to another, and are therefore called "fixed stars," but the earth and other planets constantly change. They do not return to the same relative position until after about twenty-six thousand years. Thus every scientifically calculated horoscope is absolutely individual and shows a stellar influence different from That exerted in any other life commenced at a different time. Because of the revolution of the earth upon its axis a new degree of the zodiac rises every four minutes and thus even the horoscopes of twins may differ considerably. The student will therefore realize the importance of time as a factor in casting a horoscope. There are, however, various methods of approximating the time and erecting a correct horoscope for those who do not know the hour of their birth, but That subject belongs to an advanced grade of this study.
Time is not the same world over, however. When the Sun rises where we live, it sets in another place, and That makes another difference in the horoscopes even if cast for children born at the same moment of time but in opposite parts of the world, for if it were noon in the birthplace of one, the Sun would be high in the heavens above the earth, and in the birthplace of the other child it would be midnight with the Sun directly below the earth. We know That the chemical effect of the solar ray varies with its position, and when the change is physically noticeable, the spiritual effect must also differ. It is therefore evident that time and place are basic factors in calculation of the horoscope. We shall first show how to locate the place of birth, then we take up the matter of time.
Geographically, the earth is divided by two imaginary sets of circles. One circle runs east and west, halfway between the North and South Poles as shown in the accompanying charts: it is called the Equator. Other circles called Parallels of Latitude, are imagined running parallel to the Equator, and their use is to measure the distance of any place North or South of the Equator. Now get an atlas and look at the map of North America. Along the right and left hand borders you will see certain numbers. Note That a curved line runs from No. 50 on the right to No. 50 on the left. That is the fiftieth parallel of latitude. All cities along That line, in America, Europe or Asia are equidistant from the Equator, and said to be located in "Latitude 50 North."
Another line runs from number 40 on the left border to number 40 on the right. Let us note some of the principal cities on or near this line. San Francisco is a little further south, Denver right on the line, Chicago and New York a trifle north. Now turn to the map of Europe. There the right and left hand numbers with their connecting circles are also latitudes, and at the number 40 you will see Lisbon and Madrid. Proceeding eastwards Rome and Constantinople appear a little to the north of our line.
These places may be said, for the purposes of elementary instruction, to be in the same degree of latitude, and therefore another determinator must be used to differentiate the location of each place from all others.
This is accomplished by dividing the earth longitudinally from pole to pole by another set of imaginary circles called Meridians of Longitude, and shown in our chart. All places along such circles have noon at the same instant, regardless of how far they are from the Equator, or whether near the North or South Pole.
Now look again at your map of Europe. There you will see numbered lines running from the top of the map to the bottom. These are the lines of longitude. One is numbered 0. If you follow that line you will find London,
and close thereto a place called Greenwich. That is the location of the world's greatest observatory, and for purposes of astronomical calculation all places on earth are considered as being so and so many degrees west or east of Greenwich.
When the location of a place is stated in terms of latitude and longitude it marks a certain spot beyond all possibility of confusion with any other place, and gives the astrologer one of the primal factors necessary to calculate a scientific horoscope--place.
Latitude is the principal factor in locating the signs of the zodiac by means of "Tables of Houses," which apply to all places in a certain degree of latitude. These tables are as nearly unchangeable as the fixed stars to which they apply; they remain the same from year to year, at least the change is so small as to be unappreciable in a lifetime.
Longitude is the prime factor in all calculations connected with the movable planets. To calculate their places at the time of a person's birth it is necessary to have an astronomical almanac for the year of birth. This is called an ephemeris because it records the ephemeral or momentary position of the planets as seen from the observatory at Greenwich each day at noon.
A solar Day is the period of time it takes the Sun to move from any certain meridian of longitude till it returns to the same meridian the next day. Owing to the variable motion of the earth in its orbit, and the obliquity of the ecliptic, the Sun's path, the solar days are not all of equal length, but as the purposes of social and civil life require a uniform division an average is struck of all solar days in a year, and this is called a Mean Solar Day. It commences at midnight when the Sun is at the nadir. Clocks are regulated to show its beginning and end, also its equal divisions into twenty-four hours. There is thus a difference between sun-time and clock-time.
From the time when the Sun is nearest to the earth (perihelion) December 24th, to the time when it is farthest from the earth (aphelion) June 21st, clock-time is in advance of sun-time. From June 21st to December 24th, the Sun is in advance of the clock, the greatest difference being 16 minutes in the beginning of November.
When the unequal motion of the earth in its orbit and the obliquity of the ecliptic act together, the difference between sun-time and clock-time is greatest; but four times a year, April 15th, June 15th, September 1st and December 24th, they agree.
A Sidereal Day is the time which elapses between a fixed star's leaving a certain degree of longitude until it returns to it the following day. This is the exact time of one complete revolution of the earth upon its axis; it is the only absolutely uniform motion observed in the heavens, having undergone no change since the earliest observations on record.
Owing to the motion of the earth in its orbit about the Sun a Solar Day is longer than a Sidereal Day, for as the Sun moves farther to the east during the time of the earth's daily rotation on its axis, the earth must turn further upon its axis before a certain meridian comes in line with the Sun. The solar day is therefore about four minutes longer than the sidereal day, but owing to the variable motion of the earth in its orbit and the obliquity of the ecliptic previously mentioned, this difference also varies each day.
In bygone days clocks in each city or hamlet differed from the timepieces of every other place because all were set to local time, but this caused much confusion to the traveling public; therefore America adopted what is called Standard Time on November 18, 1883. For persons born subsequent to That date a correction is necessary to convert the time shown by clocks to True Local Time, for That is the time used to calculate the horoscope. The diagram will aid students to understand what Standard Time is, how it overcame confusion, and how the before-mentioned correction is made.
It was suggested, That if the country be divided into time-zones each about fifteen degrees of longitude in width (this being the distance the Sun travels in one hour), and all the clocks in each division set to one uniform time, gauged by a meridian located in the middle of the resulting time-zone, confusion of travelers would be avoided.
In all cities located on these Standard Meridians (see diagram on the opposite page), such as Philadelphia and Denver, standard time is also true local time, and no correction is required in calculation of horoscopes. But Detroit, which you will see located on the dividing line between the Eastern and Central Time Zones, is 7 degrees east of the 90th meridian, and its
clocks are therefore 28 minutes slow in actual fact, for when they show noon, according to the 90th meridian standard, the true local time is 28 minutes past twelve. Chicago you will see a little east of the 90th meridian (2 degrees). When the clocks there are twelve noon it is really 12:08. San Francisco clocks show noon when the true local time is only 11:50, because That city is 2 1/2 degrees west of the Standard Meridian. Correction is therefore necessary. The rule for obtaining the true local time is:
The reason for taking the time of the first inspiration, usually accompanied by a cry, as the moment of birth, is That the chemical condition of the atmosphere changes at each moment as the vibrations from the stars change. We note such a change in the atmosphere according to the position of the Sun in the sky at different hours of the day or night. The night air is different from the atmosphere at noon. These are not sudden changes, but are brought about by, to us imperceptible degrees. We who are more callous from continued changes, do not feel them, but the little sensitive form of a new-born child is eminently susceptible to the inrush of That fist charge of its lungs, and as the oxygen contained therein surges through the body, by mixture with the blood every single atom receives a peculiar stamp which is retained all through life, although atoms change, in the same way That a scar perpetuates itself on the body despite the change of atoms. That first stamping is the physical basis of the idiosyncrasies and temperamental characteristics which cause each of us to act differently under the same stellar conditions; it is the basis of the tendencies of our physical nature and in harmony with our stage of attainment as required by the law of causation, which gives us in each life the faculties evolved during all our previous existences. Thus we do not have a certain fate because we are born at a certain moment, but we have been brought to birth at the time when the stellar rays will give us the tendency to work out the fate generated in past lives.
In March 1918, the U. S. Government passed the Daylight Saving Act, by which all clocks were set ahead one hour at midnight preceding the last Sunday in March and then set back one hour at midnight preceding the last Sunday in October. This Act was in force in 1918 and 1919 only. All recorded dates in the periods affected should have one hour subtracted in order to obtain Standard Time.
Although we are many millions of miles nearer the Sun in winter, its rays transmit less heat than in summer when we are farthest from it, and it is therefore evident that distance has no effect on transmission of heat-rays, but as the Sun rises towards the zenith, be it summer or winter, the heat increases, the greatest heat being experienced in mid-summer when sun-rays are nearest the perpendicular; it is therefore evident that the angle of the ray is the sole determinator of its influence.
Astrology deals with planetary angles and their observed effect upon mankind; in order to determine these angles and tabulate observations, the fixed stars along the Sun's path have been divided into groups or constellations, and the heavens, as viewed from the birthplace of a child have been divided into houses. most beginners find it very confusing to differentiate between these signs and houses, but if it is kept in mind that the signs are divisions of the heavens relative to the vernal equinox, and houses are divisions of the heavens relative to the birthplace, there should be no difficulty. The signs influence certain parts of the body; houses govern conditions of life.
Like any other circle, the zodiac is divided into 360 degrees, each of the twelve signs is therefore 30 degrees. Their names and symbols are given in the affixed diagram. The parts of the body ruled by those signs are as follows:
|Taurus:||Cerebellum and Neck|
|Gemini:||Arms and Lungs|
|Leo:||Heart and Spinal Cord|
|Scorpio:||Sex Organs and Rectum|
|Sagittarius:||Hips and Thighs|
These twelve constellations are the natural zodiac and ever in the same relative positions, but on account of a motion of the pole of the earth the Sun crosses the equator at the slightly different point each spring at the vernal equinox, and this shifting point is considered in Astrology as being the first degree of Aries, the beginning of what is called the intellectual zodiac, which thus changes from year to year at the rate of about 50.1 seconds per annum, 1 degree in 7 years, 1 sign in 2156 years, completing the circle of 12 signs in about 25,868 years. This backward movement is called "precession of the equinox."
From the materialistic viewpoint there seems to be no reason for this shifting of the zodiac, but from the position of the mystic it is not at all arbitrary, but necessary and in harmony with the spiral path of evolution adhered to in both star and starfish, observable everywhere in nature. After completion of each cycle, the intellectual and the natural zodiacs agree (the last time A. D. 498), then a new world period commences, a new phase of evolution, a higher loop of the spiral whereon we are ever traveling towards God. Even from the material standpoint it is evident that the spiral path of the solar system observed by astronomers must change the angle of incidence of the light rays from the fixed stars, and as the angle of incidence of the Sun's rays upon our earth has the effect of producing the climatic changes of summer and winter, it is reasonable that a similar change must follow from our altered position relative to the fixed stars, which may account for gradual changes of conditions such as that the winters grow less cold and the summers less warm in certain parts of the world.
Furthermore, it has been observed that climatic conditions have a distant effect on our temperament--we feel differently in summer than we do in winter--and may not this slow change relative to the fixed stars account for the change in humanity, which is called evolution? The mystic affirms that it does. As rays of the Sun, by change of the angle of incidence, call forth leaves and flowers from the plant at one time, and at another cause them to wither, so do rays from the fixed stars call forth and produce greater changes in flora and fauna; they are responsible for the rise and fall of nations and the temperamental change which we call civilization.
Bringing the analogy a step further, the natural zodiac is composed of the constellations as they are and remain in the heavens, and the intellectual zodiac commences at the changing point where the Sun crosses the equator at the vernal equinox. That is the time when Nature brings to birth that which has germinated in her womb during the preceding winter. Thus the horoscope of the world changes from year to year. "As above, so below," is the law of analogy and the same salient points are observable in the evolution of man and microbe, star and starfish.
In the human map we have also what may be called a natural horoscope, that is the figure as cast by the rules of Astrology, where any sign may be on the Ascendant, or First House. The changing vernal equinox corresponds to the first degree of Aries, in the intellectual zodiac, so the Ascendant in any human horoscope also has an influence corresponding to that degree. The Second House corresponds to Taurus, the Third to Gemini, and so on, forming the counterpart of the intellectual zodiac in the human horoscope.
Cancer, the first of the watery signs was pictured among the ancient Egyptians as a scarab (beetle), which was their emblem of the soul, and occultists know that the seed-atom of the body is planted when the Sun of Life, (the Ego,) is in Cancer, the sphere of the Moon, the planet of fecundation.
Four months later, when the Sun of Life passes through the second of the watery signs, Scorpio, which is under the rulership of Mars, the planet of passion and emotion, the Silver Cord is tied which binds the desire body to the lower vehicles, and we have the 'quickening' when the fetus first beings to show sentient life. By that time the Ego has dissolved the nucleated blood corpuscles through which the mother's life manifested in the growing organism, and it can then begin to work in the vital fluid and manifest sins of separate life in the body until the Sun of Life has completed its circle and again reaches the mystic Eighth House.
Eight months after the seed atom was sown the Sun of Life, the Spirit, enters Pisces, the last of the watery signs in the mystic zodiac, which is under the expansive, benefic ray of Jupiter. Under this benevolent influence the waters of parturition swell and burst the restraining walls of the womb, when the nine months of gestation have been completed, launching the new-born soul upon the Ocean of Life at the first point of Aries, where it is warmed and cheered by the combined rays of Mars and the Sun, which are house and exaltation rulers. Thus it is prepared or the battle of existence by the energetic war-god, and its fountain of life, be it large or small, is filled to capacity by the Sun, from the great cosmic reservoir of vital energy.
In a horoscope the birthplace is always supposed to be the highest point on the earth. It is designated by an arrow on the diagram herewith and the point right above it is in the sky is called the midheaven. As an observer in the northern hemisphere must always look south to see the noonday Sun, it follows that east is to the left and west on his right. Astrologers call the eastern horizon the ascendant, because at that point the stars rise or ascend towards the Midheaven, and for the reverse reason they call the western horizon the descendant. Rays from stars located at these extreme points would strike the birthplace at different angles, hence their influence would vary an there would also be a noticeable difference of effect at intermediate points between the Horizon and Midheaven, besides, the planets that have descended below the earth have also power, though not to the same extent as when above the birthplace. The influence of planets on various departments of life has been observed to be as follows:
To illustrate how a horoscope is cast, we will first cast four horoscopes for persons born in Chicago, August 2, 1909, at 2:15 A.M., 8:15 A.M., 2:15 P.M., and 8:15 P.M., as far as the placing of the signs upon the cusps of the houses. The cusps are the dividing lines between the houses.
Our first concern is to find the True Local Time of Birth. We first turn to the rule on page 22 which says "to the nearest Standard Meridian Time, add four minutes for each degree the birth place is east of the Meridian corresponding to that Time.
The nearest Standard Meridian Time is Central Time gauged by the 90th meridian. Chicago, being 88 degrees West Longitude, is two degrees East of the 90th meridian. We therefore add two times four, or eight minutes, to the time shown by the clock, in order to find true local time. In the case
of the first birth hour, when the clock showed 2:15 A.M. on August 2nd., the true local time is thus found to be 2:23 A.M. This True Local Time of Birth will be used in all subsequent calculation of the horoscope. Note, however, that this correction of Standard to Local Time applies only to the United States, and is required only for dates subsequent to Nov. 18th, 1883, when standard time was adopted. (See footnote, page 32.)
We will now proceed to find the sidereal time (abbreviated to S.T.) at the birth place at the moment of birth. As a starting point for our calculations we have the S.T. (sidereal time) for Greenwich at noon. From that we may calculate the sidereal time at the birth-place and hour by the following rule:
Following the above rule we turn to the page of ephemeris in the back of this book and find the column marked Sidereal Time. As our first birth hour is August 2nd, 2:23 A.M., true local time, we note that the previous noon is August 1st. Opposite that date we note the sidereal time as being 8 hours 37 minutes, which we put down thus:
|H. M. S.|
|S.T. at Greenwich for noon previous to birth:||08 37 00|
|Correction for 10 seconds for each
15 deg. W. Long. of birthplace:
|00 00 59|
|Internal between the previous noon (Aug. 1st)
and the time of birth (Aug. 2nd, 2:23 A.M.):
|14 23 00|
|Correction of 10 seconds per hour of interval
between previous noon and birth (14 h. 23 m.)
equals 14 seconds or 2 min., 24 sec.:
|00 02 24|
|S.T. at the birthplace on the birth-hour:||23 03 23|
When the birthplace is located in east longitude, correction for longitude is subtracted. In case standard time is not used in the country of birth (see footnote page 32), the given time of birth is assumed to be True Local Time, and no correction for standard time is made. Had the child been born August 2nd at 2:15 A.M., in latitude 42 north, but in longitude 88 East, the S.T. would be figured as follows:
|H. M. S.|
|S.T. Greenwich for noon (Aug. 1st):||08 37 00|
|Correction of 10 seconds for each
15 degrees east Longitude (subtracted):
|00 00 59|
|08 36 01|
|H. M. S.|
|Interval from previous noon (Aug. 1st) to birth,
Aug. 2nd, 2:15 A.M.:
|14 15 00|
|Correction of 10 seconds each hour of interval|
from previous noon to birth:
|00 02 22|
|S.T. at birthplace, at birth-hour:||22 53 23|
With this S.T. we turn to the table of Houses for the latitude of the birthplace, 42 degrees. There we search the various columns marked Sidereal Time for our S.T. at birth: 23-3-23. The one nearest to that is 23-4-46. In line with that sidereal time will be found the various degrees of the signs to be placed in our horoscope.
In the first column under latitude 42N. opposite the sidereal time 23-4-46, we observe the figure 15; at the top of the column we find the sign Pisces, and above that the figure 10, which means that the 15th degree of
In the third column, in line with our sidereal time, is the figure 1. Taurus and 12 are at the head of the column but beneath that is Gemini signifying that 1 degree of Gemini is to be placed on the 12th cusp.
The wide column marked Ascendant comes next. There we find the figures 8:10 in line with our sidereal time, and the sign Gemini at the top, but we disregard that sign because the sign Cancer is placed between our line and the top and we always take the first sign above our line. Therefore we place Cancer 8:10 on the Ascendant.
Proceeding along the figures in our line we note the figure 27 in the first column to the right of the wide column. At the top is the sign Cancer again and the figure 2. Accordingly we place the 27th degree of Cancer on the cusp of the Second House.
Now all the cusps are filled, but on account of the inclination of the earth's axis some of the signs may be intercepted between two cusps, therefore it is necessary to see if all the twelve signs are in our horoscope before proceeding further. Counting from Aries, we note the presence of Gemini. Taurus is missing, and we therefore place it in its proper position between Aries and Gemini.
It will now be found that all the twelve signs are placed in our horoscope, Cancer and Capricorn each occupying two cusps. It is finished as far as placing the signs in their proper positions relative to the houses, and that is as far as we will proceed at the present time, so we will leave this horoscope and calculate one for a person born six hours later in the same place: Chicago, August 2, 8.15 A.M.
|H. M. S.|
|S.T. at Greenwich on the noon previous to birth
(Aug. 1st), as given in the Ephemeris:
|08 37 00|
|Correction of 10 seconds for each|
15 degrees W. Long. birthplace (Chicago, 88 W.):
|00 00 59|
|Interval from previous noon (Aug. 1st) to the
time of birth (Aug. 2nd, 8:23 A.M.):
|20 23 00|
|Correction of 10 seconds for each hour
of interval (20:23) equals 204 seconds:
|00 03 24|
|Sidereal Time at birthplace at the birth hour:||29 04 23|
|Subtract the circle of 24 hours:||24 00 00|
|05 04 23|
As there can be only twenty-four hours in a day, we subtract 24 where necessary, and work with the remainder, in this case 5-4-23 which was the true Sidereal Time in Chicago at the birth. This time, or the nearest thereto, we accordingly seek in the Table of Houses for the latitude of Chicago, 42 degrees N.
The nearest time is 5-3-29, and in line with that we find the degrees for the various cusps of our houses. In the column next to the right of the Sidereal Time is the figure 17. At the top of the column the sign Gemini and the figure 10. We therefore place the 17th degree of Gemini on the Tenth Cusp.
In the first column to the right of the wide column we note the figure 14. We not also that the sign Libra is above our line before we come to the top of the column, and we therefore disregard the sign found there, but note that figure 2, which indicates that the Second Cusp is occupied by the 14th degree of Libra.
Now we have placed signs on the six houses, and we proceed to put in the six opposite signs on the opposite houses as before: Opposite Gemini 17 on the Tenth House we place Sagittarius 17 on the Fourth House. Opposite Cancer 21 on the Eleventh we place Capricorn 21 on the Fifth. Opposite Leo 22 on the Twelfth we place Aquarius 22 on the Sixth. Opposite Virgo 18:56 on the Ascendant we place Pisces 18:56 on the Seventh. Opposite Libra 14 on the Second place Aries 14 on the Eighth, and opposite Scorpio 13 on the Third, place Taurus 13 on the Ninth House.
|H. M. S.|
|S.T. at Greenwich on the noon previous to birth
|08 41 00|
|Correction of 10 seconds for each 15 degrees
W. Long. birthplace (88 degrees):
|00 00 59|
|Interval from previous noon to the time of birth
(noon to 2:23 P.M.):
|02 23 00|
|Correction of 10 sec's for each hour of interval:||00 00 24|
|S.T. at birthplace on birth hour:||11 05 23|
Now our six cusps are filled, and we proceed to place the opposite signs and degrees on the other six cusps as described in detail in connection with the first two horoscopes. When that has been done we count our signs from Aries to see if all are represented. That brings out the fact that Gemini and Sagittarius are missing., so we insert them in their proper places--Gemini between Taurus and Cancer, Sagittarius between Scorpio and Capricorn. Our horoscope has been completed as far as the signs and houses are concerned, therefore we leave it for the present to cast the last of our four experimental maps for a person born in Chicago, August 2, 1909, at 8:15 P.M. True Local Time of Birth is 8 minutes later or 8:23 P.M.
|H. M. S.|
|S.T. at Greenwich on the noon previous to birth
|08 41 00|
|Correction of 10 seconds for every 15 degrees the
birthplace is West of Greenwich:
|00 00 59|
|Interval between the previous noon and birth:||08 23 00|
|Correction of 10 seconds for every hour of
interval between previous noon and birth:
|00 01 24|
|Sidereal Time at birthplace at the birth hour:||17 06 23|
Gemini 18 on the Fourth in opposition to Sagittarius 18 on the Tenth. Cancer 9 on the Fifth in opposition to Capricorn 9 on the Eleventh, and so on. When all the cusps have been filled we count the signs an find that all twelve are present, hence our horoscope has reached the same stage of completion as the ones previously cast.
These horoscopes of four children born in the same city (Chicago) on the same day and year (Aug. 2, 1909) but at different hours, show graphically that people may be, and are, born under all the twelve signs anywhere on any day of the year.
When we compare the four horoscopes we have cast we may learn several important lessons. In the first place, we may see the worthlessness of the statements so often heard; "I was born under Taurus," or "I was born under Scorpio," which simply means that the person was born in May or November
when the Sun was in the signs mentioned. Such a statement at once exposes the one who so expresses himself as being ignorant of the science of Astrology and reveals the fact that if he has had a horoscope east, it has been done by an incompetent astrologer. These sometimes advertise to cast a horoscope "telling your fortune from the cradle to the grave" for a very small sum. But a conscientious astrologer cannot give a simple delineation of character without spending at least an hour in calculation and close concentration and to make predictions covering a whole life would require days of arduous work. The scientific astrologer may speak of a person as having Taurus or Scorpio rising, and that statement at once shows that a calculation has been made taking into consideration year, month, day, hour, and place, making the horoscope cast absolutely individual; while the other type of horoscope (?) is determined solely from the month when a person was born, without regard to day, hour or even year.
If a horoscope could be cast by such a method or, rather, lack of method, there would be only twelve kinds of people on earth and all persons born in the same month would have the same fate. Such is manifestly not the case; in fact, there are no two people whose experiences are exactly alike, and an Astrology which does not make such a distinction cannot be a true science.
The scientific astrologer asks first the year of birth because he knows that the planets do not come into the same relative positions more than once in a Great Sidereal Year; thus a child's horoscope cast for 1909 cannot be duplicated for 25,868 years. Next he asks the month, for upon that will depend the position of the Sun, which is in a different sign every month in the year.
The day determines particularly the position of the Moon, which changes from one sign to another every two and one-half days; and the hour is also needful to fix its position, as it moves about 12 degrees each day.
Yet even with these data the horoscope would lack individuality, for if a child is born every second that would mean that 3,600 people are born within the same hour. If we can bring the data to within ten minutes of the actual time of birth we should have the wherewithal to calculate a relative position of the planets such as would fit only 600 of the people on earth. If we add the last datum, place, which enables us to calculate the rising sign and degree, we shall have an absolutely individual horoscope, for it is seldom indeed that two persons are born in the same place, at the same hour and minute. Event twins are born at an interval of from twenty minutes to several hours apart, and we can readily see that a different degree would then be rising for each of the two. When the last of a sign is rising for one of the twins, the other will usually be born under the next sign. As the rising sign is one of the principal significators in molding the body, the appearance of the second twin might be totally different from the first.
A comparison of the rising signs shows an apparent lack of uniformity in the diurnal motion of the earth. At 2:15 A.M. Cancer 8:10 is rising, while twelve hours later Scorpio 29-16 is on the Ascendant, showing that the birth place has traveled only about 141 degrees in the twelve hours involved. To complete the circle, it must travel 219 degrees in the remaining twelve hours. But as the diurnal rotation of the earth on its axis is uniform, the lack of uniformity in the motion noted above is due to its not being true diurnal motion. This condition is caused by the obliquity of the Ecliptic and the consequent unequal division of the latter by the planes separating the houses, these planes being those of the horizon and the meridian and four intermediate ones at 30 degree intervals. For this reason certain signs rise more slowly than others and are therefore called signs of long Ascension, while their opposites are called signs of Short Ascension. It will be evident from the foregoing that most people are born under the signs of long ascension,--Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio and Sagittarius in the Northern Hemisphere, and their opposites in the Southern Hemisphere.
As the Ephemeris is calculated for Greenwich at the time when the Observatory clock strikes twelve, it is necessary to make corrections for other hours and for places East or West from that point when it is desired to calculate a horoscope.
By adding four minutes for each degree of longitude the birthplace is West of Greenwich to the TRUE LOCAL time of birth we obtain the Greenwich Mean Time as recorded by the Observatory clock. This is written G.M.T.
|True Local Time of Birth (see page 38):||8 23||A.M. Aug. 2|
|4 min. times 88 degrees equals 353 min.:||5 52|
|Greenwich Mean Time (G.M.T.):||2 15||P.M. Aug. 2|
minutes in each hour. Thus we obtain 5 hours 52 minutes, which we add to the true local time of birth, 23 minutes after 8 in the morning, and the sum is 15 minutes past 2 o'clock in the afternoon, which is the G.M.T.
That is to say, at the identical time when the child was born and the Chicago clocks pointed to 15 minutes after 8 o'clock in the morning, the Observatory clock at Greenwich showed 15 minutes past 2 o'clock in the afternoon.
This latter is the time we must use to make our calculations of the planets' places, and in order to have as few factors in mind as possible the beginner is advised to forget the local time of birth when once he has found the G.M.T.
In Western longitudes the G.M.T. may advance into the day following birth on account of the addition of 4 minutes for each degree of longitude. In the cases where the longitude of the birthplace is East of Greenwich a subtraction of 4 minutes is made for each degree; hence the G.M.T. may recede into the day preceding birth. Therefore we speak neither of birthday nor birth hour, but of the G.M.T. day and hour.
As our G.M.T. is Aug. 2, 1909, at 2:15 P.M., if we desire to calculate the daily motion of the Sun we note its longitudes on the noon of Aug. 2nd (the noon before G.M.T.) and Aug. 3rd (the noon after G.M.T.). As we are to subtract we place the longitude of the planet on the last day above, for that facilitates the operation.
|The Sun's longitude at noon on Aug. 3rd, 1909,|
(as given in the ephemeris):
|The Sun's longitude at noon Aug. 2nd:||09 31|
|The motion of the Sun on the G.M.T. day:||00 57|
The next step is to find the interval between the G.M.T. and the nearest noon, for that is also a basis of our correction. In the present horoscope the G.M.T. is Aug. 2, 2:15 P.M. The nearest moon is obviously 12 o'clock August 2nd, and the interval between 12 o'clock noon and 2:15 P.M. is therefore 2 hours and 15 minutes.
This method of working the corrections by simple proportion may be used with advantage where the motion of a planet is less than one degree; with Venus, Mercury, and particularly in the case of the Moon, it is much quicker safer and more exact to perform the correction by means of logarithms. A table of logarithms is found on the last pages of our Ephemeris for any year, also a partial table in the back of this book, and its use is exceedingly simple.
At the top of the table is a line of figures: 0 to 23. They are for the Hours or Degrees ( both being divisible into 60 minutes); on the left hand side is another column having the minute figures: 0 to 59.
When we wish to find the logarithm of a certain number of hours and minutes we simply place our index finger upon the figure corresponding to the number of hours or degrees wanted, run it down the column till we reach the line corresponding to the minutes wanted. At that point where the line of minutes intersects the column of hours or degrees will be found the desired logarithm.
For instance, the daily motion of the Sun in the horoscope under calculation is 0 degrees 57 minutes. We place our index finger upon the column marked 0 at the top. We run the finger down the page till we come in line with the figure 57 in the minute column. Where this line intersects the column 0 is the figure 1.4025, which is the logarithm of the Sun's motion on the G.M.T. day from noon Aug. 2, to noon Aug. 3.
In like manner we find the logarithm of interval between G.M.T. and the nearest noon. In this case the interval is 2 hours 15 minus. Running our index finger down the column marked 2 we find the figure 1.0280 in line with the figure 15 in the minute column. That logarithm (1.0280) is the logarithm of interval.
The daily motion of each planet differs from the daily motion of all other planets. Therefore the travel of each must be separately calculated and the logarithm of its motion found, but the interval between the G.M.T. and the nearest moon applies equally in the calculation of all the planets, so that, once the interval has been ascertained, its logarithm may be used in the calculation of all the planets' places.
Continuing our calculation, we place the-
|Logarithm of the Sun's motion from noon Aug. 2nd|
to noon Aug. 3rd (57 minutes):
|Plus Logarithm of interval:||1.0280|
|Logarithm of distance traveled by the Sun during
The value of that logarithm in degrees and minutes we ascertain by finding it or the logarithm nearest thereto in the table. In the present example the nearest logarithm is 2.4594. This figure is in the column marked 0 degrees at the top, and in line with the figure 5 in the extreme left-hand column which contains minutes. Therefore the value of the logarithm is 0 degrees 5 minutes. Thus we have obtained the same answer to our problem (When the Sun moves 57 minutes in 24 hours, how much does it move in 2 hours and 15 min.?) by using logarithms as we did working by proportion. The latter method may seem easier to the beginner, but once the logarithm of interval has been found the logarithmic method will be found to be easier, quicker and more exact, for the answers obtained by the two methods are not always quite identical, and particularly in the case of the Moon logarithms should be used.
Having found the distance traveled by the planet during the interval between the G.M.T. and the nearest noon, to find the place of the planet at the G.M.T. (which is the end and aim of our calculations), we must add this increment of correction to the planet's longitude on the noon nearest to the G.M.T. day if the G.M.T. is P.M., for in that case the planet has traveled farther than shown by the ephemeris.
If, on the other hand, the G.M.T. is in the forenoon (A.M.) the planet has not yet reached the position indicated for noon in the ephemeris, hence it will necessary to subtract the distance of travel for the interval-the increment of correction-from the planet's longitude given in the ephemeris for the noon nearest to the G.M.T.
|Longitude of the Sun on the noon nearest the
G.M.T., Aug. 2nd, as per ephemeris:
|Leo 09 31|
|Increment of correction:||00 05|
|Longitude of the Sun at G.M.T.:||Leo 09 36|
Sixth--(a) When the G.M.T. is before noon (A.M.) subtract the increment of correction from the planet's position on the noon nearest to the G.M.T. (b) When the G.M.T. is after noon (P.M.) add the increment of correction to the planet's longitude on the noon nearest the G.M.T.
These rules have ALL been applied in calculating the position of one planet-the Sun-but as the G.M.T. (August 2, 2:15 P.M.) and the logarithm of interval (1.0280) are the same for all the planets we need not calculate them again as directed by Sections First and Second but commence our calculations of the Moon and planets according to Section Three:
|Longitude of the Moon on the noon after G.M.T.|
as per the ephemeris (Aug. 3):
|Pisces 02 39|
|Longitude of the Moon on the noon before G.M.T.
as per the ephemeris (Aug.2):
|Aquarius 17 55|
|The Moon's motion on the G.M.T. day:||14 44|
The student will remember that there are 30 degrees in each sign and 60 minutes in one degree. In the foregoing subtraction it was necessary to borrow 1 degree and add its 60 minutes to 39, for only then could we subtract from the total of 99 minutes the 55 minutes required, leaving a remainder of 44 minutes. Similarly, we borrow on e sign (30 degrees), adding it to the one degree of Pisces left after we borrowed the one degree to work our subtraction of the minutes. Thus we subtract 17 from 31 degrees, which leaves a remainder of 14 degrees.
According to Section Four of our rule we add--
|Logarithm of the Moon's motion on G.M.T. day:||.2119|
|Logarithm of interval:||1.0280|
|Logarithm of Moon's travel in interval:||1.2399|
Section Five directs us to find the value of this logarithm, and in our table of logarithms we note as the nearest thereto the figure 1.2393. Above that, we see at the head of the column the figure 1; to the extreme left is the figure 23, indicating that the Moon has traveled 1 degree 23 minutes during the interval (between G.M.T. and the nearest noon). This is therefore the increment of correction.
|Longitude of the Moon on the noon
nearest G.M.T. (Aug.2):
|Aquarius 17 55|
|Increment of correction:||01 23|
|The longitude of the Moon in the horoscope:||Aquarius 19 18|
The motion of Neptune, Uranus, Saturn and Jupiter on the G.M.T. day from noon August 2nd to noon August 3rd is seen by a glance at the ephemeris to have been only a few minutes. Consequently the distance they have traveled in the interval is negligible and they may be entered in the horoscope as having the longitude of the nearest moon to the G.M.T., August 2nd. Mars has moved 15 minutes on the G.M.T. day, and we may therefore add 1 minute for his travel during the interval to his longitude August 2nd as given in the ephemeris; so that we enter him in the horoscope as being in Aries 3:58.
|Longitude of Venus on the noon after G.M.T.
|Virgo 06 21|
|Longitude of Venus on the noon before G.M.T.
|Virgo 05 09|
|Venus' motion on the G.M.T. day:||01 12|
|Logarithm of Venus' motion on G.M.T. day:||1.3010|
|Logarithm of interval:||1.0280|
|Logarithm of Venus' travel during interval:||2.3290|
|Increment of correction (value of log. 2.3290
or the nearest thereto, in this case 2.3133)
equal 0 degrees 7 min.
|Venus' longitude on the noon nearest G.M.T.
|Virgo 05 09|
|Increment of correction:||00 07|
|Venus' long. to be entered in horoscope:||Virgo 05 16|
|Longitude of Mercury on the noon after G.M.T.:||Leo 09 22|
|Longitude of Mercury on noon before G.M.T.:||Leo 07 17|
|Mercury's motion on the G.M.T. day:||02 05|
|Logarithm of Mercury's motion on G.M.T. day:||1.0614|
|Logarithm of interval:||1.0280|
|Logarithm of Mercury's travel during interval:||2.0894|
|Value of log. 2.0894, or increment of correction,
0 degrees, 12 minutes.
|Longitude of Mercury on noon nearest G.M.T.:||Leo 07 17|
|Increment of correction:||00 12|
|Mercury's long. to be entered in horoscope:||Leo 07 29|
The position of the Dragon's Head, or Moon's Node, and the Dragon's Tail, have now to be found. The longitude of the Dragon's Head for Aug. 2nd, the noon nearest to the G.M.T., is found in the ephemeris to be 13.47 Gemini. The Dragon's Tail occupies the opposite point, namely 13,4 7 Sagittarius. These points are to be entered in the horoscope.
There remains yet another factor to complete the horoscope: the Part of Fortune. This is an imaginary point calculated from the longitude of the Sun, Moon, and Ascendant. The philosophy is, that the human body is produced by the lunar forces. At the time of conception the Moon may be mathematically demonstrated to have been in the degree which is the Ascendant at birth-at birth it has a different longitude. In one of these positions the Moon may be said to have magnetized the positive pole, in the other the negative pole of the seed atom which as a magnet draws to itself the chemical substance that builds the dense body. The solar forces vitalize the body and, as it is constantly decaying, a pabulum is necessary to repair waste. That nutriment and all material possessions, are therefore, astrologically speaking, derived through the combined influences of the Sum and the before-mentioned two positions of the Moon. When the planetary aspects to this Part of Fortune are favorable material success and prosperity follow. When adverse influences center upon it, reverses are met. The nature of the aspecting planet, the sign and house it is in tell the sources whence we may expect one or the other, and thus show us where to direct our energies or what to avoid.
|Longitude of the Ascendant:||Virgo (6th sign) 18 56|
|Longitude of the Sun:||Leo (5th sign) 09 36|
|Longitude of the Moon:||Aquarius (11th sign) 19 18|
|Sign Deg. Min.|
|Longitude of the Moon:||11 19 18|
|Longitude of the Ascendant:||06 18 56|
|18 08 14|
|Longitude of the Sun:||05 09 36|
|Longitude of the Part of Fortune:||12 28 38|
In the above example the student will notice that when adding the degrees of the Moon and Ascendant: 19+18+the 1 degree carried in the addition of the minutes equals 38, but there are only 30 degrees in a sign, so one sign was carried forward and added to the other signs, the same as we add 60 minutes to degrees or hours.
|Sign Deg. Min.|
|Longitude of Ascendant:||Aries 01 25 55|
|Longitude of the Moon:||Aries 01 25 50|
|03 21 45|
If the Sun is in Capricorn, the 10th sign, we cannot subtract 10 from 3 so we
|Add the circle of 12 signs:||12 00 00|
|15 21 45|
|Then we may subtract--|
|Longitude of the Sun:||10 29 55|
|04 21 50|
|Longitude of Part of Fortune:||Cancer 00 21 50|
To subtract 29 degrees from 20 left after borrowing 1 degree for subtracting the minutes, is impossible, so we borrow one sign from the 15. That 30 degrees we add to the 20, which makes 50. From that 50 degrees we subtract 29, leaving 21 degrees. Of the 15 signs, we have borrowed 1, leaving 14, and 10 from 14 leaves 4. The fourth sign is Cancer 21:50.
|Longitude of the Sun:||Leo 09 36|
|Longitude of the Moon:||Aquarius 19 18|
|Long. of Neptune (noon Aug. 2):||Cancer 17 42|
|Long. of Uranus (noon Aug. 2):||Capricorn 18 15R|
|Long. of Saturn (noon Aug. 2):||Aries 23 13|
|Long. of Jupiter (noon Aug. 2):||Virgo 15 10|
|Longitude of Mars:||Aries 03 58|
|Longitude of Venus:||Virgo 05 16|
|Longitude of Mercury:||Leo 07 29|
|Longitude of Part of Fortune:||Pisces 28 38|
|Longitude of Dragon's Head:||Gemini 13 47|
|Longitude of Dragon's Tail:||Sagittarius 13 47|
First--That the planets are placed in their proper houses and order. The signs and degrees of the zodiac go in the direction shown by the arrows; consequently, starting from Aries 0 (which must be in the Seventh House, as Aries 14 is on the cusp of the Eighth House) we note that Mars is is Aries 3:58; consequently we place him in the Seventh House close to the cusp of the Eighth. As Aries 14 is on the cusp of line which marks the entrance of to the Eighth House, and Saturn is Aries 23:13, we place him in the Eighth House just above the cusp. Thus both planets are in their proper relation to one another and to the houses, and they are so placed that in reading we can make mistake as to the sign they are in. If Mars had been placed lower down in the Seventh House, at a cursory glance he might even seem to be in Pisces, and Saturn, placed further up in the Eighth, might appear to be in
Taurus. That would cause an error in reading which a little care will obviate. If the student observes carefully the method used in placing the planets in this horoscope there will never be any doubt as to the signs the planets are occupying.
Second--The positions of the planets should be readable without the necessity of turning and twisting the horoscope, which is subversive of proper concentration. If planets in the Third, Fourth, Ninth and Tenth Houses are written as we have inscribed Neptune and Uranus, this inconvenience will be overcome.
The horoscope has now been cast and is complete. Most astrologers now start to read, but to do this work thoroughly it is necessary to make an index such as will be found in a later chapter. In order to make the student thoroughly conversant with the manner of casting a horoscope we will first complete the figure cast in part for Aug. 2, 8:15 P.M., for that horoscope offers certain peculiarities worthy of illustration.
|To find the G.M.T. we add to the True Local
Time of Birth, Aug. 2:
|08 23 P.M.|
|4 min. for each of the 88 degrees longitude,
birthplace is west of Greenwich:
|G.M.T., August 3rd:||02 15 A.M.|
Here is an important point. When we add 5 hours and 52 minutes to 8 P.M., we bring the G.M.T. into the following day; at the identical time when the child was born and the Chicago clocks pointed to 15 minutes past 8 on the evening of August 2nd, the Observatory clock at Greenwich showed 15 minutes past 2 on the morning of August 3rd. Thus the noon of August 3rd is nearest the G.M.T.. and the interval between G.M.T. (2:15 A.M.) and nearest noon is therefore 9 hours, 45 minutes, the logarithm of interval being .3912.
|Long. of Sun on noon after G.M.T.
|Leo 10 28|
|Long. of Sun on noon before G.M.T.
|Leo 09 31|
|Sun's motion on the G.M.T. day:||00 57|
|Log. of Sun's motion on G.M.T. day||1.4025|
|Logarithm of interval:||.3912|
|Log. of Sun's travel during interval:||1.7937|
|Value of logarithm 1,7937 (increment
of correction) 0 degrees, 23 minutes
|Long. of Sun on noon nearest G.M.T:||Leo 10 28|
|Minus increment of correction:||00 23|
|Long. of Sun at G.M.T:||Leo 10 05|
In he last horoscope we added the increment of correction to the longitude of each planet because the G.M.T. was after noon. Here the G.M.T. is before noon hence we subtract the increment of correction from the longitude of each planet on the nearest noon to G.M.T. as directed by the rule Section Six (b).
|Long. of Moon on noon after G.M.T:||Pisces 02 39|
|Long. of Moon on noon before G.M.T.:||Aquarius 17 55|
|Motion of Moon on G.M.T. day:||14 44|
Fellowship - International Headquarters