Anthony Louis's Blog, page 26

Mother or Father in the 4th House?

Astrologers often disagree about parental assignments related to the 4th House. Some insist that the mother belongs in the 4th, others that the father belongs there. Many of the classical texts refer to the 4th as the house of the native’s “fathers” or progenitors, meaning both parents.

Recently I noticed a passage in Abu Ma’Shar that may shed some light on this dilemma. In Ben Dykes’ translation of Ma’Shar’s 10th century text On the Revolutions of the Years of Nativities (2019) the following comment appears on page 429 regarding the “lord of the orb,” a concept I’ve been using for a few years since reading about it in a 15th century text by Diego de Torres:

“And if the ‘lord of the hour of the house of fathers’ was made fortunate in a male sign, the condition of the father will be bad; and if it was in a female sign, the condition of the mother will be bad.” — Abu Ma’Shar

Clearly, Abu Ma’Shar assigns both parents to the 4th “house of fathers” and interprets their fate in a given year by whether the lord of the orb of the 4th house is made fortunate in the Solar Return for that year. Which of the two parents will be affected by the afflicted status depends on whether the lord of the orb of the 4th in a particular year falls in a masculine or feminine sign. An afflicted lord of the orb of the 4th house falling in a masculine sign means that the native’s father will suffer ill fortune but if in a feminine sign, the mother is the one who will be affected.

It appears that at its most fundamental level the 4th house has been traditionally assigned to both parents. Later developments in astrology led to giving only one of the two parents to the 4th house and placing the partner of that parent elsewhere.

ABU MASHAR (787-886). Known as Albumazar: woodcut from his ‘Introductorium in Astronomiam’, Venice, 1506.

Transits for the year 2021 — being your own astrologer

What can we expect in the year ahead? The aspects that transiting planets make to our birth chart can highlight areas that are likely to take on significance. Recently astrologer Peter Burns posted a planet tracks graphic as a service to the astrological community, which gives a visual guide to the transits of 2021. Here is a copy of Peter’s graphic.

Peter Burns

Planet Tracks for 2021
Peter’s 5th annual Planet Tracks graphic, free to the astrological community.

One way to work with the graphic is to start with the slowest celestial body Pluto and to work one’s way in toward Mars, which often acts as a trigger to other transits and also indicates areas of life where we expend a lot of energy.

As you can see in Peter’s diagram, Pluto spends the year 2021 moving back and forth within a few late degrees (24 – 26 degrees) of Capricorn, a cardinal sign. Since Pluto symbolizes dramatic change and transformation, any planets in these same late degrees of cardinal signs will be conjunct or in hard aspect to Pluto and therefore subject to the metaphorical “death and rebirth” symbolized by this dwarf planet. The exact degrees can be seen in the ephemeris for 2021:

2021 Ephemeris from Mars out.

For example, Donald Trump has his natal 10th ruler Venus at 25 Cancer 44, and it will be receiving an opposition from transiting Pluto throughout 2021, which will perfect in February and again in July. This opposition from Pluto to his 10th house ruler can symbolize a radical change in career maters, a chapter closing on one phase of development and the beginning of a new one.

In terms of Sun sign astrology, anyone whose Sun lies close to the range of 24 to 26 degrees of a cardinal sign (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) will acutely experience the transformative symbolism of Pluto in their lives in 2021. The same would hold true for any personal planet near these degrees of cardinal signs.

A similar analysis can be done for each of the planets listed above. Mars is faster moving and will traverse several signs and several houses of the horoscope, highlighting those areas of life and directing our energies and attention to the themes of those houses.

William Lilly’s “True” Birth Chart

The previous post about Lilly’s view of eclipses got me thinking about his birth chart. There has been controversy in the literature about the true natal chart of the famous 17th century astrologer William Lilly. A widely accepted birth chart for Lilly is the one published in London by Gadbury in his Collectio Genitorum of 1662 and apparently verified by several primary directions. Here is a photocopy of Gadbury’s version of Lilly’s birth chart:

Gadbury’s version of Lilly’s nativity is set for latitude 52n38 at 14h 8m of 30 April 1602 (OS), which converts to roughly 2:08 AM on 11 May 1692 in Diseworth, UK. The MC of this chart has a R.A. of 259d 37m. Regiomontanus Houses. The Ascendant has O.A. of 349:37.

Years ago Sue Ward published in the Astrological Association’s Journal a copy of the chart which Lilly had apparently rectified and used for himself. She had come across a reference to it in the autobiographical notes of Elias Ashmole and looked it up in the Ashmole’s Collection at the Bodleian Library. Here is a copy of Lilly’s personally rectified chart for himself from the Ashmole Collection:

Lilly’s Natal Chart, apparently used and rectified by Lilly himself, from the Ashmole Collection at the Bodleian Library. The MC of this chart is at R.A. 259d 36m, just one minute of arc different from that of the Gadbury chart above. It is cast for a latitude of 53n as opposed to 52n38 in the Gadbury chart. Regiomontanus Houses. The Ascendant has O.A. of 349:36.

The above two charts (Gadbury vs Lilly) are strikingly similar, so the reason for controversy is a bit hard to understand. It may have to do with the animosity between the two astrologers during their lifetimes. If we study these two natal charts for Lilly objectively, using modern planetary observations and computer calculations, we find that Gadbury was far more accurate than Lilly in the technical matter of drawing up the chart.

Because both charts were verified by several primary directions, we can assume that the R.A. of the MC is reasonably accurate. Lilly gives the MC a R.A. of 259:36 and Gadbury gives 259:37. For our purposes let’s work with an R.A. of 259:36:30 for the MC, the midpoint of the value in the two charts, and assume that this is a correct MC for the moment of Lilly’s birth.

Next we need to establish the coordinates of his birth place. Historical sources report that Lilly was born at what is now called Lilly’s Cottage at 54 Hall Gate in Diseworth, Leicestershire, UK. Checking in Google Maps, we find the coordinates of his birth to be 52n49 and 001w20, rounded to the nearest minute of arc:

Lilly was born at 54 Hall Gate in Diseworth. Google Maps gives the coordinates as 52.81663 and -1.33189, which are 52n49, 001w20 rounded to the nearest minute of arc.

Now we calculate a chart for May 11, 1602 (NS) at location 52n49, 001w20 with the MC at R.A. 259:36:30, and Regiomontanus Houses. Such a chart looks like this:

A very close modern approximation to William Lilly’s “true” birth chart, as verified by primary directions done by James Blackwel and by Lilly himself. Calculated with Solar Fire Deluxe.

In studying the above chart we can see that Gadbury was far more accurate than William Lilly in casting Lilly’s own birth chart in a manner consistent with modern scientific observations of planetary motions and the calculation of Regiomontanus Houses.

Here is another view of Lilly’s “true” natal chart for the midpoint between the Gadbury and Lilly/Ashmole charts, calculated with the program Regulus Platinum:

The above chart is an alternate view of Lilly’s “true” birth chart with MC at R.A. 259:36:38 and the Asc at O.A. 349:36:38, calculated in the program Regulus Platinum. This chart is at the midpoint of the one used by Lilly himself and the one published by Gadbury. Houses are Regiomontanus.

14 Dec 2020 NM Solar Eclipse and the U.S. Elections

On 14 December 2020 the U.S. Electoral College met and confirmed Joe Biden as the President Elect of the United States. A Solar Eclipse occurred on the same day. Here is the New Moon Solar Eclipse chart for Washington, DC.

The solar eclipse took place in Sagittarius, ruled by Jupiter, in the 10th Placidus and Whole Sign House, which has to do with governments and their rulers. Jupiter, which is dispositor of the eclipse, lies in and conjoins the cusp of the 12th house of dissolution and letting go. Jupiter in Capricorn is in the sign of its fall, a traditional disability. William Lilly in his treatise about eclipses noted that a solar eclipse falling in the third decan of Sagittarius indicates that “all things and matters go hardly on with the Nobility, who willingly and foolishly undo themselves to no purpose.” Nowadays the “Nobility” would refer to those in command at the top of society who, according to Lilly, would be foolishly undoing themselves to no purpose at this time.

Here is the eclipse chart with the loser of the presidential election Donald Trump’s natal chart superimposed.

14 Dec 2020 Solar Eclipse in DC with Trump’s birth chart superimposed.

For those unfamiliar with Lilly’s writings on eclipses, let me quote verbatim a section of his 1652 text An easie and familiar method whereby to judge the effects depending on eclipses, either of the sun or moon by William Lilly student in astrologie.
By William Lilly, 1602-1681, printed in London for the Company of Stationers, and H. Blunden, at the Castle in Corn-Hill, 1652.

I have slightly modernized the spelling to make it more readable for modern eyes. Here is what Lilly had to say about solar eclipses in the various decanates:

Of the Sun Eclipsed in any one Decanate of the 12 Signes.

When the Sun is Eclipsed in the first ten degrees of Aries, it portends the frequent Motions of Armies, and rumours of Wars, continual expeditions, assaults, and batteries, yea, and Wars, with much noise and tumult; Seditions, Controversies, an intemperancy of the air verging principally unto dryness.

When in the second Decanate, or from 10 to 20 degrees [of Aries], it brings some King, Prince, or eminent officer to Prison or restraint of Liberty, it adds sorrow and danger of Death unto him, destruction of the bearing fruit-trees, and it portends the rottenness or putrifaction of such things as the earth produces, whereby both man and beast are afflicted.

When in the last 10 degrees of Aries, it’s the forerunner of lamentation, woes, and mourning, unto mortal men, or most sorts of men, and the death of some Noble woman; unto these I may add, that it designs destruction unto the lesser Cattle, as Sheep, Conies, Goats, Hares, &c.

An Eclipse of either of the Lights in the first ten degrees of Taurus, afflicts such as are Negotiators, Solicitors, Agents, or are generally employed in men’s affaires, or in the public; it compels men to undertake unnecessary businesses, it brings to naught, and confounds all factions undertaken by the former sort of men, and is sufficiently hurtful to Corn.

In the second Decanate [of Taurus], it shows innumerable difficulties, and many discommodities to Travelers, and to such as bear Children many abortions, and births not natural, or Monsters are produced.

In the third Face or Decanate [of Taurus], it signifies both Plague and Famine: mortality in and amongst Oxen, Cows and Horses.

Eclipses in the ten first degrees of Gemini, stir up dissensions, strifes, seditions amongst those we call Priests, and all manner of Merchants and Mechanics of every Order, or any quality that is amongst them; Deadly hatred, contempt of Lawes, neglect of piety and holy duties doth also follow, so also breach of Covenants.

In the second Decanate or Face [of Gemini], much Piracy at Sea, and Murders, many fruitless treaties, many turbulent Petitions presented by the people to their Superiours.

In the last Face of Gemini, when any Eclipse happens, the Death of some King or great Person follows; various and sundry losses unto the State public, much action to no purpose in the Managing of the Civil affairs of the Commonwealth; Many simple Consultations and no Conclusions; Superiour men grant Commissions, which inferiour Officers never regard; much pratling, no action.

In the first ten degrees of Cancer, it disturbs the air, and stirs up strange weather, and variety of it, inclines men to Arms, and to violate National Leagues, deceitfully under the species of Religion.

In the second Decanate [of Cancer], it dries up Rivers and Fountains, and intends much incontinency in men and women, and petulancy, or ill offices amongst mortal men, viz. one cunningly thrusting an other out of his place.

In the last Decanate [of Cancer], it emits the Pox (I conceive the French Pox) amongst the men of that Country subject unto Cancer, many diseases, and seditions or risings of the people, the vulgar man afflicted generally with the Dropsie, or such malevolent matter in his stomac as brings him to a Consumption.

In the first Face or Decanate of Leo, it premonstrates the Death of some certain famous Prince as also great scarcity of Corn and grain; if the Prince miss death, he avoids not the occasion of many misfortunes and consumption of Treasure.

In the second Decanate [of Leo] it threatens great tribulation, and many damages unto Kings, Peers, and Prime of the Nobility; what is meant of persons of quality, must have relation to all Magistrates.

In the third Decanate [of Leo], it presages Captivities, besieging of Towns, Plunderings, Profanation of holy places, a scarcity of Horses, or a destructive Murrain amongst them.

In the first Decanate of Virgo, it argues the lamentable death, or pitiful end of some certain Prince or Nobleman, and a general ruin or slaughter of men, scarcity of corn and all manner of sustenance fit for man.

In the second Decanate [of Virgo], it designs Famine Plague, and seditions, of mortal men, great drought, and thereby no plentiful crops of Summer corn.

In the third Decanate [of Virgo], it powres down vengeance on poor Poets, Painters, or Limners, and men Mercurial, who flourish with excellent understandings, nothing thrives with them, nor are their Purses full, it produces Murders, Banishment, &c. it imposeth on the vulgar Writers of those times, harsh conceptions, and no esteem of their rude Poems.

In the first Decanate of Libra, it corrupts the air, begets the Plague, inclines youth to much wantonness, yet straitens provisions, and makes them dear.

In the second Decanate [of Libra], it portends the Death of some eminent Prince or King, or Nobleman, and for breach of Customs, stirs up Seditions, and designs a Famine.

In the third Decanate [of Libra], it premonishes of high Controversies amongst the Nobility, and great Detriment in their estates, much prodigality amongst them, and the extirpation of some one family.

In the first Decanate of Scorpio, it moves and raises warlike tumults, murders, dissentions, captivities, and cherishes underhand practices, or plots of Treasons.

In the second Decanate [of Scorpio], it argues Destruction to some certain King, or person of worth, and declares his mind averse to Armies or wars.

In the third Decanate [of Scorpio], it portends the coming in of some stranger Tyrant, and the drowsie dullness and slothfulness of the former King odious unto all men; sometimes it portends a deposing of the then present Governor or King or great dislike with him.

An Eclipse in the first ten degrees, or first Decanate of Sagittarius, doth manifest most dangerous seditions amongst men, and renders men’s minds averse to all manner of accommodations, or Treaties; each man fearing deceit in the man he deals with, or one Prince fearing another will delude him.

In the second Decanate [of Sagittarius], it portends the Death, or much destruction unto such Cattle as naturally bray, and of the bigger sort of any such beasts as are useful for man.

In the last Decanate [of Sagittarius], it afflicts several manner of ways Horses, and prejudices such Armies as then are on foot, all things and matters go hardly on with the Nobility, who willingly and foolishly undo themselves to no purpose.

In the first Decanate, or ten degrees of Capricorn, it imports the unhappy chances attending Great men, and strange casualties unto such; the transmigration, or oft shifting of places of some King, Prince, or Person of eminent Rank and quality, and it implies the Revolt or Rebellion of Nobles, and others of meaner quality, viz. of the common people; it imports a covetous Prince or Magistrate, by reason of his oppression, shall cause insurrections.

In the second Decanate [of Capricorn], it stirs up the fury or spirits of  sworn Soldiers against their Commanders in Chief, or against their  Emperor, King or Prince, it renders all their endeavors fruitless, and the events thereof unprosperous; it is the forerunner of scarcity of Corn, and that many will die for want thereof.

In the third Decanate [of Capricorn], it implies the tumultuary motion of a King, and induces famine, and shows great poverty unto the Husbandman, bad crops, little hay or grass.

In the first Decanate of Aquarius, it affords matter of publike sorrow and mourning unto Gentlemen, but comfort to the Country-man.

In the second Decanate [of Aquarius], Thefts publicly countenanced, Robberies, Rapines, Earthquakes, Famine, Monopolies, pilling and poling the people.

In the third Decanate, it tells of the death of field Cattell, and such like creatures, it shows great inundations to succeed the Eclipse.

In the first Decanate of Pisces, it drains the Rivers of their waters, infortunates the Sea coasts, and drives fishes far from shore.

In the second Decanate [of Pisces], it designs the death of a famous and excellent man, destruction and waste of fish near the Sea Towns, it imports an Earthquake, some great Church-man questioned, and he called to account for his Knavery.

In the third Decanate [of Pisces], it presages sedition, cruelty, bitterness of spirits, and the inhumanity of soldiers, as also much Controversy amongst Divines, and Lawyers.

An “Amazon’s Choice” selection

Recently a Spanish friend let me know that Amazon.com has listed the Spanish translation of my book Tarot Plain and Simple as an “Amazon’s Choice” selection at amazon.es in Spain. Of course, this came as good news and I feel honored. The Spanish title of the book is Aprende a Leer el Tarot. Here is an image of the amazon.es site:

Announcement: Pronóstico 2021

On December 19, 2020, I’ll be participating as a speaker in the online conference Pronóstico 2021 sponsored by PsicoCymática and Revista Stellium.

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Alexander Marr’s Gemini Rising Chart for the USA

Alexander Marr (12 April 1919 — 9 February 2000) was a Swiss-born astrologer whose family moved to Germany when he was one year old. He was a pioneer in working on astrological charts with computer programs, using the topocentric system, and he was allegedly quite expert in rectification. In his book Astrologers, Kings, Politicians and Others Marr wrote that the hospital record for his birth states that he was born at 13.30 MET, which he rectified to 13.11.14 MET in Zurich with an Asc of 16Leo33 and Saturn rising. Marr published 6 books and over 150 articles on astrology.

One chart that Marr spent time and care in rectifying was the Gemini-rising chart of the USA, of which there are many versions in the literature. After much study and verification, Marr believed that the best fit for a Gemini rising USA chart was one calculated for about 2:43:11 AM LMT in Philadelphia on 4 July 1776 with the Ascendant at 15 Gemini 24. This is what the chart looks like with Topocentric houses, which Marr advocated.

[image error] The Gemini rising USA chart by Alexander Marr is cast for about 2:43 AM LMT. A popular chart used by Elbert Benjamine has 7 Gem 35 rising at about 2:14:15 AM LMT. The chart used by Evangeline Adams is cast for 3:03 AM LMT and has 20 Gem 26 rising.

The Gemini rising chart is a symbolic chart rather than one cast for an exact historical moment of an event. Astrologers who use these Gemini-rising charts have reported good success in their ability to predict happenings in U.S. history. For example, if we superimpose the Solar Return for the year of the 9-11 terrorist attack on the USA over the Marr USA chart, we get the following:

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A striking feature of this figure is that the midpoint of Mars/Pluto in the Solar Return for 2001 lies at 14 Sag 55′ 30″ and is opposite the midpoint of natal Mars/Uranus, which lies at 14 Sag 55′ across the horizon axis. At the same time SR Saturn conjoins natal Uranus, and SR Mercury (the natal chart Asc ruler) conjoins natal Mars, with the SR Mercury/Saturn midpoint at 16 Sag 09′.

The natal Mars/Uranus midpoint on the natal ASC horizon axis opposing the SR Mar/Pluto midpoint on the DSC makes this opposition of dangerous and explosive planets especially prominent and powerful in 2001.

Shameless self-promotion

Llewellyn Publishers is set to release my most recent book on finding lost objects with horary astrology early in 2021. Here is an image from amazon.com:

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An Amazing Discovery of an Asteroid that hit the Earth in 3123 BCE

I saw this online* and am reposting it here. Researches believe that this clay tablet tracks the trajectory of the asteroid which collided with the Austrian Alps in Kovels in June of 3123 BCE, causing a catastrophic impact that killed anyone in its path.

As an aside, it is interesting to note that Abu Ma’Shar dated the Great Flood to the year 3102 BCE. This is also the year in Hindu astrology ascribed to the start of the Kali Yuga. According to the Surya Siddhanta, Kali Yuga began at midnight (00:00) on 18 February 3102 BCE, which is also considered the date on which Krishna left the earth to return to Vaikuntha. In addition, Bruce Scofield let me know that the Maya Long Count start date was in 3114 BCE.

Of astrological interest is that there was a Jupiter-Saturn conjunction in sidereal Gemini (3 degrees) in April of 3124 BCE and a Jupiter-Saturn conjunction in sidereal Capricorn (22 degrees) in December of 3105 BCE, using the Lahiri ayanamsa. In the tropical zodiac these conjunctions occurred in Aries (16 degrees) and Sagittarius (5 degrees), respectively.

[image error] An ancient Sumerian astronomer recorded the events that he observed in 3123 BC. Computer analysis compared the inscription on the tablet to the sky over Mesopotamia showing the date of the event as June 29, 3123 BC.

“An ancient Sumerian astronomer recorded the events that he observed in 3123 BC. The age of this cuneiform wall is more than 5100 years.

This cuneiform stone is found in the British Museum and has puzzled experts for more than 150 years. This plate recorded the collision of a (Aten) asteroid, which is a group of asteroids close to Earth with a diameter of more than a kilometer

Researchers now believe that the size and trajectory of the asteroid that was tracked by this unit correspond to the asteroid that collided with the Austrian Alps in Kovels, causing a catastrophic impact that killed anyone in its path, and this impact led to a landslide.

According to the researchers, this clay tablet is believed to be an astrolabe or best said to be one of the oldest astronomical instruments discovered in Mesopotamia.

Computer analysis compared the inscription on the tablet to the sky over Mesopotamia showing the date of the event as June 29, 3123 BC.

Mark Hempsell, one of the researchers from the University of Bristol who decoded the tablet, said: ‘It’s a wonderful piece of observation, a perfectly fine piece of science.’

In 2008, two authors, Alan Bond and Mark Himsell, published a book on the tablet titled ‘A Sumerian Observation of a Covels Effect’.”

Sources:

Bristol University by Mark Hempsell

Trustees of the British Museu

* in a Facebook posting by Mohammed Aljawad Alawi at https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=2499223447036905&set=gm.1026879434481628

The Great Jupiter and Saturn Conjunction

On Thursday 19 November 2020 I will be speaking via Zoom at the Astrological Society of Connecticut about the upcoming Jupiter-Saturn conjunction of 21 December 2020.

Here is a link to their site if you are interested in attending:

https://myasc.org/2020-2021-program/

NOVEMBER

Lecture: Thursday, November 19, 2020, 7:00 PM
Anthony Louis
The Great Jupiter and Saturn Conjunction

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