At the Lodge - 7th November 2005

Lodge Lecture | Class | Charts Discussion

Lodge Lecture

In her lecture with the title Flirting with the Zodiac, Kim Farnell took us on a journey through the history of Sun-sign astrology that led us to Babylon and back. Yes, you got that right, Babylon. Well, that is where zodiac signs were first mentioned in 419 B.C.

Anyway, this fact contradicts the popular notion that Sun-sign astrology is a modern invention and a corruption of our ancient art.

Basically, there are two kinds of Sun-sign astrology: character readings and forecasts based on the Sun-sign. In one of the Dead Sea Scrolls, dated around 68 B.C., we find a character description of the “period of Taurus”, meaning the period during which the Sun is in that sign.

In ancient Rome, technical astrology lost its place to “Babylonian Numbers”, or Sun-sign astrology, and Sun-signs were constant companions, for example in the shape of coins bearing the current emperor’s Sun-sign on the back.

After that, astrology almost vanished from sight, except in architecture, where astrological symbolism was in constant use.

In the 11th and 12th centuries, most major astrological texts became available in Latin and were widely read. Knowledge of Sun-signs was regarded as ancient superstition.

In the 15th century, it was quite common for people to know the planet ruling the day of the week and the hour at which they were born, even though they might not even know their date of birth. In 1497 the ‘Shepherd’s Calendar’ was published, a hugely successful book containing, among other things, Sun-sign characteristics, that was translated into several languages and kept being re-published. Here in England, the 16th edition was published in 1618.

In the meantime, there were other popular books, which based forecasts on lunar astrology, called lunaries, as well as Sun-sign based books called destinaries. Then there were almanacs, which contained information about moon phases, tides and astrological predictions, as well as, occasionally, Sun-sign delineations. In fact, during the 17th century the word ‘almanac’ became synonymous with ‘prediction calendar’.

At the end of the 17th century, astrology in England went underground, but was kept alive by "conjurors", "healers" and "cunning folk" particularly in Wales during the 18th century.

In the 19th century natural scientists, calling themselves "lunarists", concentrated on Moon lore and weather forecasts, while Raphael produced predictions for every day of the year, such as “buy no garments” or "engage in wedlock".

In 1887, Hiram Erasmus Butler coined the term "solar biology", which was taken to refer to Sun-sign astrology, and described ‘solar fluids’, "ethers", "rays" AND the "nature of people".

Booklets and articles with titles like "Were you born in November?" appeared, referring to Sun-signs and by 1903 the first ‘on the cusp - delineation was produced.

By that time, Alan Leo had manufactured his penny horoscopes, using Butler's and Sepharial's texts along with his own. The first edition of "Everybody's Astrology" concentrated on Sun-signs only, while later editions included moon-signs and other factors as well.

Almost simultaneously, William Warner, better known under the name of Cheiro, worked on his mission to push popular astrology to the fore, while Evangeine Adams sold her Sun-sign booklets through Woolworth's. Referring to Sun-signs, she used the term "solar biology", while Cheiro spoke of "astrological periods". Cheiro was the teacher of R.H. Naylor, who is credited with publishing the first article containing Sun-sign predictions in the Daily Express on August 24th, 1930. It took until 1936 before the first twelve paragraph Sun-sign column started being published in the UK.

As usual, Kim had far more material than could be covered within the hour and this is only a short summary of her lecture. She is planning to publish a book on the subject, hopefully by next year. I for one can't wait!

Helene Schnitzer

Class

This was the second week of four classes from Richard Swatton looking at the Horary aspect of Astrology. He recommended a book by Derek Appleby 'Horary Astrology', Aquarian Press. This week he looked at finding the signification, one of the essential keys. So we learned of the primary significator, the Ascendant sign (generally of the situation and the Querent) and the ruler of the Ascendant. The Moon is considered the secondary significator. It co rules any action in the matter. Previous aspects (what went on before), forward motion suggest action. The Angles equal manifestation. Then there is Perfection and denial of perfection. Conclusions, frustration or prohibition. Regiomentas was the house method used. He then showed us two charts which we all worked through , one of a question of a job interview and the other questioned the purchase of a business.

The next class will continue this series on Monday 21st November as we have our AGM next week.

Carole West

Charts Discussion

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Lodge Lecture | Class | Charts Discussion