Category Archives: astrology history

Judge Freschi and Evangeline Adams

Judge John J. Freschi famously tried Evangeline Adams for fortune telling in New York City in 1914, concluding that “The defendant raises astrology to the dignity of an exact science.” He exonerated her of all charges. It always seemed to me he was unusually sympathetic to Adams, and both his experiences with women and his horoscope give us some clues why.

The son of Italian immigrants, Freschi was born in Manhattan on March 9, 1876 according to New York City birth records. He graduated from NYU Law in 1898 and continued in private practice before being appointed a Magistrate by the Mayor in 1910 at the age of 34. He was married with two sons and they lived in an apartment in the West Village.

Freschi had been a member of the press club at school, regularly gave interviews to the press, and wrote for publication himself. Around the time of Evangeline’s trial, the judge advocated women’s suffrage in the Scarsdale Inquirer, saying, “Women have a right to be represented… The spirit of 1776 still lives! Why should any class have to live and be governed and taxed without just representation? Is it any wonder that there lurks in the hearts of some of the women of civilized nations, a spirit akin to rebellion?”

Judge Freschi had also presided over the Court of Domestic Relations where he heard many divorce cases and became known as “the judge who understands.” He had found that mediation and communication were key and was able to resolve many of the cases presented to him, saying, “The secret of a happy marriage can be told in three words: compromise, compromise, compromise.”

Evangeline Adams was born on a lunar eclipse, and John J. Freschi was a Pisces born right before a lunar eclipse. This may explain his ability to address complicated human issues, his compassion and pragmatism (since his Moon was in Virgo). His Mercury in Aquarius opposed Uranus, making him open to new ideas, and he realistically considered astrology in court, without jumping to conclusions. Jupiter in Sagittarius must have attracted him to the law and encouraged him to voice his opinions. But Jupiter squared Saturn in Pisces, once again tempering idealism with practicality and understanding.

Freschi played a short but significant role in Evangeline’s life. We don’t have his time of birth, but his Sun fell right on Adams’ Ascendant and Venus, so he was able to support her. His Mercury also conjoined her Sun, so he must have genuinely understood what she was all about. Since Adams was single and self-supporting at the time, he may have even admired her independence.

The judge’s Jupiter also conjoined Evangeline’s Saturn in her 9th house, clearly showing his legal boost to her reputation. I often feel that this combination can show a karmic influence, giving a sense of paying back something owed. Adams’ Nodes also fell right on Freschi’s own Jupiter-Saturn square, adding another note of destiny to their encounter.

Judge Freschi’s Saturn also conjoined Adams’ Mercury and South Node in her 12th house, so that his authority had an impact. Some have suggested that the judge was bribed with an astrological stock market tip, and the 12th house connection might show that possibility. But we’ll probably never know exactly what happened.

The often random relationship with a judge can have a huge impact on a person’s life. Evangeline gained much from Judge Freschi’s thoughtful decision, and talked about it for the rest of her life. It may actually be the main reason she’s remembered today. These two eclipse charts had an impact when they combined their energies!

Read about Evangeline Adams’ Court battle in my books Foreseeing the Future: Evangeline Adams and Astrology in America and What Evangeline Adams Knew: A Book of Astrological Charts and Techniques.

The Master Class

I recently found my notes from a class with Robert Zoller on his length of life method. I was interested in the ancient techniques he had recovered from Guido Bonatti, which were something of a holy grail to him. The longevity class was eye-opening. But the Medieval techniques? Let’s just say I leave them to others!

In the 1990s, I was part of Bob’s study group on Plato and later Neoplatonic thinkers, and I attended a number of his astrology classes and lectures. We had both studied with Zoltan Mason and had an interest in forecasting and the history of astrology.

I also enjoyed several of Zoller’s books, especially Tools & Techniques of the Medieval Astrologers (1981), an exploration of the late 13^th century astrologer Guido Bonatti’s Liber Astronomiae and Medieval and ancient methods. Bonatti’s work was published in 1491 and included opinions from other astrological sources, notably the 9^th century Muslim astrologer Abu Ma’shar.

The determination of length of life presumes the astrologer is studying a chart shortly after a child’s birth. We first astrologically eliminate those who would die before the age of 3 or 4. If the child is judged to survive, the astrologer proceeds to further analyze the chart. The technique includes delineating planetary rulers, the Hyleg (the “giver of life,” indicating times of illness and danger), the Alcocoden (showing the years of life), the anaretic (or “killing”) planet, and various Arabic Parts. Planetary aspects and connections with the Nodes may add or subtract years, providing a range. A full analysis would also need the confirmation of Primary Directions. There are numerous variations and methods to direct to the key points, and the calculations become rather involved (as they should be for such an important topic).

Zoller actually offered the longevity analysis to clients. My notes from the time show that he charged $200 (his fees were always reasonable), provided no guarantee, and could give a 5 to 7-year range.

I asked Bob for a class on this method since it wasn’t clear to me. One of my grandmothers was German, and we had the official family book with birth times (to the quarter hour) of her and her 12 siblings from the turn of the century. I thought this was great data to explore the technique.

We began with my grandmother, who had a strong constitution and lived to her late seventies. We spent at least an hour in lengthy calculations, only to find that Bonatti would have eliminated her to the “dies in infancy” pile! This was disappointing. Based on the recorded birth time, she had 1° Virgo rising, with a 25° Leo Moon. Undaunted, Bob insisted that, “I think she must have had Leo rising.” I shared with him that Ida had kept a spotless house and had worked as a domestic for years. While she always took good care of her appearance, my father had succinctly described her as “a little mouse.” And this is how I remember her – definitely not Leo rising. (I wrote about her chart here.)

Still, Zoller, remained adamant about the Leo Ascendant; the technique simply wouldn’t work without it! Well, we’ve all done it. And certainly with Mercury in Aquarius opposite Saturn and Pluto, he could be opinionated. (And what I believe Jung had actually found with his married couples data is that, quantum-like, the person considering it will affect the result).

But the lesson was over, and with it my interest in Medieval astrology as a practical tool. It was too involved, too tedious, too annoying. As Zoltan Mason used to remind us, “Life is short, art is long, opportunity fleeting, experiment treacherous, judgment difficult” (after Hippocrates). Bob had once waxed poetic about Medieval monks sitting up late into the night with calculations, as I imagine he must have done, too. Not for me. And, I felt, it was no more accurate than the 17^th century techniques I was brought up with, and the 19^th century methods I was already becoming attached to.

The astrological experience, though, had definitely stretched my mind. I still have tremendous respect for Robert Zoller’s scholarship, research and results. But I ultimately feel there is no one-size-fits-all, definitive, hardline technique in astrology. What we can all do, though, is use what resonates with us, and get to know the values and limitations of our methods. That will always give us much to think about.

See my post about Robert Zoller.

Zoltan Mason taught the 17^th century astrologer Morin’s techniques. More on Morin here.

Dematerialized

A glance at the cover of the recent Marcia Moore biography and crime story tells us much about the publisher and authors’ bias. The astrologer and yoga teacher is presented as a disturbed, evil child, looking like Madonna playing Baby Jane. Apparently it’s still difficult to overcome the centuries-old feeling that occult and metaphysical practices are inherently immoral, and that practitioners are often unscrupulous con-artists or unstable drifters.

In Dematerialized: the Mysterious Disappearance of Marcia Moore, spouses Joseph and Marina DiSomma have capitalized on the current vogue for astrology and interest in the therapeutic use of psychedelic drugs. While they do not overtly disparage Moore’s practice of astrology, yoga or past-life regression, they nevertheless seem to present a morality tale about the dangers of involvement in the metaphysical sphere. Marcia’s disappearance and death in Washington state in 1979 at the age of 50 drives the book, which skews our understanding of Moore, her life and work.

Marcia Moore had natal Neptune squaring her Sun and Venus, and Neptune was closely trine her 10^th house Jupiter. So it’s not surprising that Neptune would figure prominently in both her life story and the mystery of her death. When she disappeared, her progressed Midheaven was sextile her Ascendant and square natal Neptune, while transiting Neptune conjoined her singleton Saturn and opposed natal Mercury, ruler of her 3^rd and 12^th houses. It must have been a challenging and confusing time. Moore suffered from arthritis in a hip for several months before her death, and the previous year brought her experiential work with her husband on the dissociative drug ketamine, which has some hallucinogenic effects. (More on her chart here.)

The DiSommas did an enormous amount of research, had the full cooperation of the investigating detective and access to sheriff’s case files, a close friend’s diary and Moore’s letters. Marcia’s daughter, second husband Louis S. Acker and many other friends and family members also assisted the amateur sleuths with documents and information.

However the authors remain outsiders to the world of astrology, and, perhaps also due to their inexperience as writers, do not convey much empathy for their subject or understanding of her studies and expertise. While they acknowledge Marcia’s generosity and idealism, she’s often portrayed as a willful New Age zealot without a center. The true crime genre is dependent on its villains, and sometimes black-and-white judgments are also made on others in Moore’s life. While her horoscope shows she might expect notable relationship issues, her first husband is depicted as an alcoholic failure; her third as a sycophantic sponge, abuser and embezzler; and her fourth as a sexual abuse survivor turned drug addict who manipulated his wife and others for his own ends. As an M.D. he probably should have taken more responsibility for Marcia’s health while injecting her with the anesthetic ketamine regularly for six months while they worked on their book about it together.

And indeed, in August of 2022, a Moore family member said in an Amazon review that “descriptions of some individuals borders on libel,” and that the writers “filled their knowledge gaps with unfounded assumptions.” The fact that all of the principals are now dead may have added to the impulse to judge or fictionalize. As first-time authors, their prose is not the slickest. Much testimony is quoted verbatim, and the decision to leave misspellings “as is” often makes for an annoying read. The book is excessively annotated but there is unfortunately no index.

Astrologers and psychics who offered tips to the sheriff’s office are shown as complicating their efforts. Someone suggested Moore’s death was an assisted suicide, another that she simply dematerialized into another plane (hence the title). Some may have come close to indicating where the astrologer’s remains would later be found, but we still don’t know exactly what happened. The book suggests a solution to the crime and the authors make a somewhat plausible case for it, but their final witness and certain details are not the most compelling.

However the DiSommas fill in the background on Marcia’s family in Concord, Massachusetts, and their long-standing interest in Theosophy, astrology and meditation. They share the alleged perpetrator’s chart and provide some information on the horary asked of Seattle astrologer Dorothy B. Hughes as to Marcia’s disappearance (though the exact time is only given on Astrodatabank). There are lots of photos and we get a look at the New Age wave of the 1960s and 1970s. So if you can swallow the undercurrent of disapproval of Marcia Moore’s ideas and lifestyle, Dematerialized has something to offer.

Buy Dematerialized on Amazon.

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Marcia Moore, Mars and Uranus

Sometimes a planetary pattern is so prominent that it dominates the chart and has an enormous influence on a person’s life. Yoga teacher and astrologer Marcia Moore’s horoscope is a good example. Her Mars closely conjunct Uranus on the Midheaven explains her celebrity, attraction to New Age topics, multiple marriages and even her tragic death. A new biography, Dematerialized, reveals much about her life and claims to have solved the mystery behind her sudden disappearance in 1979.

The 10^th house relates to reputation and position in life, our status or standing. This may indicate career, fame or notoriety, parents and even marriage (I’ve often seen significant life developments like the birth of children, marriage or divorce when the 10^th house is activated). Marcia Moore had her Mars, Uranus and MC in the sign of Aries, a dynamic and powerful combination that brings out the forcefulness of the planets and also suggests changing fortunes and the potential for controversy.

As second husband Louis S. Acker later said of Mars conjunct Uranus in The Astrologer’s Handbook, the combination can be challenging and may include:

“… impulsiveness and precipitate action… The natives cannot bear a dull life and constantly seek excitement through danger and unusual action. Courage and decisiveness are prominent, but unless factors in the horoscope indicate otherwise, prudence is lacking.”

Many of these statements could be said about Marcia Moore. She also had a charismatic personality, attracted attention, and brought innovative ideas to many lives as she rode the New Age wave of the ‘60s and ‘70s. Since the 4^th-10^th house axis also represents the home and parents, she came from an unusually prominent family. Her father was a successful hotel magnate, and Marcia was supported by trust funds, giving her great independence. Moore’s father was also keenly interested in Theosophy and astrology and donated millions to support the work of Alice Bailey and others.

With the Sun in Gemini sextile Mars and Uranus, Moore had quite an eventful life. She was led by intellectual and inspirational, rather than practical or realistic goals. Each of her four husbands shared her interest in astrology or metaphysical subjects, and she married again each time shortly after her divorces were final. Marcia moved to India for a year with her family in 1955 and studied languages and yoga, never staying in one place for very long. After they returned to the U.S. she studied yoga intensively with Swami Vishnudevananda in the summer of 1960 near Montreal and returned to Concord, Massachusetts to teach yoga.

Marcia became somewhat famous after she was featured in Jess Stearn’s best-selling 1965 book, Yoga, Youth and Reincarnation. Stearn recounted his experiences studying yoga with Moore, and featured photos of her perfectly executing many difficult yoga poses.

Marcia learned more about astrology after her short-lived marriage to Louis S. Acker, who was 12 years younger and still in college when they married. Moore went on to write several basic yoga and astrology books with third husband Mark Douglas. (Most are out of print as they were self-published, but some can be found second-hand or online as PDFs.)

When she left Douglas, Moore landed in Ojai, California. She continued teaching yoga and began lecturing on astrology and past-life regression, which she’d been practicing. Youthful and communicative, she traveled widely to speak with local groups and appeared in television interviews. Her 1976 book Hypersentience recounted her experiences regressing herself and others.

Marcia married for the fourth time at 50 after meeting Dr. Howard Alltounian, an anesthesiologist, at one of her lectures in Washington state. The couple quickly began collaborating on a book about Moore’s transcendental experiences using the anesthetic drug ketamine, a controlled substance that the doctor could obtain. Marcia’s letters from the time express her attraction to the Uranian controversy that the project might generate, but the regularly injected doses of ketamine seemed to undermine her physical and emotional health.

A little over a year after their marriage, Howard returned from the movies one night to find Marcia missing. Her life had ended with typical Mars-Uranus suddenness and perhaps even violence as well. Two years later, a portion of her skull was found on overgrown private property and later identified from dental records.

No one has ever solved the mystery, but over 40 years after Moore’s death, the authors of Dematerialized piece together a theory. Their focus is on the “true crime” angle, but they have also collected a wealth of information that illuminates Marcia Moore’s horoscope.

I hope to write a review of Dematerialized in a future post.

Marcia Moore’ birth data is rated A on Astrodatabank, Lois Rodden quoted Moore, who was her birthday twin.

Yoga, Youth and Reincarnation has gone through numerous printings in the 50 years since it was published, and is still available.

Moore’s Hypersentience is also available second-hand.

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P.L. Travers Consults Johndro

Mary Poppins’ creator P.L. Travers had been successful in her career, but at age 40, when she was offered a set of twins to adopt, she felt she could only take one. Should she do it? And which child to take? Who could answer this kind of question but an astrologer? She consulted L. Edward Johndro half a world away and listened to his advice.

The Poppins books contain many magical elements, and these grew out of Travers’ world view. She had worked as a Shakespearean actress and newspaper columnist in her native Australia before moving to London in 1924 at the age of 25. There she met George William Russell (also known as AE), the editor of the Irish Statesman. Through him, Travers explored Celtic mythology and Eastern religions, and met Yeats and other metaphysical thinkers. She became interested in Theosophy and followed Krishnamurti, studied with Jung in Switzerland and was even a disciple of Gurdjieff, whose consciousness-raising program included fasting, labor and dances. Travers loved Romantic poet William Blake, another original thinker who was also interested in astrology.

Uranus conjoined her Ascendant in Sagittarius, and Pamela was a seeker who identified with esoteric subjects. Uranus trining her Venus in Leo in the 9^th shows her love of writing and study, as well as her phenomenal worldwide success. The Sun in Leo conjunct the Midheaven and Mercury in Virgo in the 10^th house, both dignified, clearly signify her many achievements. She had a formidable horoscope with an equally notable life and personality.

Despite her prominent Leo planets, Ascendant-ruler Jupiter is placed in the 12^th house in Scorpio, turning her inward and attracting her to imaginative work and occult studies. Her biographer, Valerie Lawson, shared that she had a reserved personality and “valued anonymity.”

Her early life had been difficult. Saturn was rising and part of a tight T-square with her Moon in Virgo conjunct the 11^th house cusp and Pluto in the 7^th, showing a notable disruption and maybe even questions of survival. Saturn traditionally rules the 4^th house relating to home and family, and its modern ruler Uranus also comes to her 1^st and squares Mercury. Travers’ father died when she was seven and she was raised by an older aunt. While her mother had some family money, her uncle lost much of it through mismanagement.

Travers was concerned with finances as an adult, and Saturn-Pluto is quite security-oriented, especially with the T-square involving the Moon in Virgo. She must have had anxieties but was probably a disciplined writer. Her son’s oldest brother Joseph Hone, writing critically, said that she was “steely, self-centered and very controlling,” and added that she was “a contrary, divided, hypochondriac of ambiguous sexuality.” The Moon in Virgo also shows her attraction to the discipline of Gurdjieff’s “work,” and Hone added that Guardjieff advised her to take an enema a day!

A friend was the grandfather of six children abandoned by their parents. Pamela travelled to Ireland to visit the twins and consider adoption in October of 1939. Camillus was better-looking but crying, and she wasn’t sure.

Travers’ mentor AE was later an adviser to Franklin D. Roosevelt, whose one-term Vice President Henry Agard Wallace also worked with L. Edward Johndro. So AE may have recommended Johndro. Pamela wrote to the astrologer, who did both charts to help her decide. (She must have had their times of birth, which we do not.) Johndro soon wrote back to recommend Camillus, saying that “All in all it would be a rare thing to find better cross rays between a child and its OWN mother. So I would say, by all means, ADOPT HIM.”

Camillus was also a Leo, with his Sun conjunct Travers’ own. Not only that, his Sun, Mercury, Venus and Pluto all in Leo fell at the top of his adoptive mother’s chart. His Moon, whether in Leo or Virgo, did the same, so there was much common ground. And they unfortunately also shared hard Saturn-Pluto aspects. Camillus’ Saturn was almost exactly square Pluto, and Saturn also conjoined his South Node. He had learned the lessons of survival in infancy, and was underweight, underdeveloped and in and out of hospitals for a few months after Travers brought him home.

Pamela was born on a first quarter Moon, and Camillus on a new Moon. While they had issues (particularly the fact that she hadn’t told him the truth about his birth), they remained on “more or less friendly terms” throughout their lives. But according to biographer Lawson, Travers gave Mary Poppins a dramatic full Moon at birth!

And while Camillus was fortunate in his adoption, he had drinking problems throughout his life as did his twin Anthony, who he didn’t meet until he was 17. Anthony died an alcoholic at the age of 65 while Camillus lived six years longer.

Pamela became wealthy in the 1960s from the Mary Poppins Disney film. Beginning in 1976, she was a consulting editor and contributor to the magazine Parabola, which addressed mythology. She left over ₤2 million in trust for her son and grandchildren when she died in 1996 at the age of 96.

Mercury was one of her most notable planets and her fame came through her writing. In 2018, a crater on Mercury was named for her!

Frances McEvoy obtained Travers’ birth data from her according to Astrodatabank. Though it may be rounded-off to noon, her life does seem to resonate with this time.

Emma Thompson convincingly portrayed a curmudgeonly Saturn-rising Travers in Saving Mr. Banks.

Valerie Lawson did excellent research for her biography of Travers, Mary Poppins, She Wrote.

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Cornerstones of Astrology

Cornerstones of Astrology is an unusual book with a curious history that was inspired by the work of Jean-Baptiste Morin de Villefranche (1583-1656).

Morin’s magnum opus, Astrologia Gallica was published in Latin in 1661, five years after his death, and not many took notice. The book was rescued from obscurity by French astrologer Henri Selva (b. 1861), who translated its most important section (Book 21) on synthesizing the horoscope in 1897, and wrote a commentary a few years later, making turn of the century French readers aware of the depth of Morin’s thinking.

Viennese astrologers Friedrich “Sinbad” Schwickert (1837-1930 – a frigate captain) and Adolf Weiss, M.D. (1888-1956) digested Selva’s books and together wrote a 5-volume work, Bausteine der Astrologie (Leipzig 1925-1927) based on Morin’s techniques. Weiss later relocated to Argentina (a wise move since at least one of Sinbad’s other astrology students was killed by the Nazis), and published a Spanish version of the work in 1945.

Cornerstones of Astrology is a 1972 English translation by an unidentified astrologer based on the Schwickert and Weiss Spanish translation. It seems to me that it covers only the first two original German volumes, on the elements and synthesis (the latter once again following Morin’s crucial Book 21).

Quotes from Selva’s work are some of the most compelling parts of the text, along with those from Morin himself. The authors nevertheless state that Selva was “not very successful on his enterprise.” Were they more familiar with Morin’s original work? Only somewhat, it appears, as they admit it was written in “an almost incomprehensible Latin.” Nevertheless, Cornerstones effectively communicates Morin’s techniques and shows how charts can be judged using it.

The first half of the book describes the Primary Characteristics (hot, cold, wet, dry and fire, earth, air and water) and Essential Nature of the planets, signs and houses. These include lists with more modern esoteric discussions that reference Ptolemy and 19^th to early 20^th texts as sources, with much having little to do with traditional astrology. Uranus and Neptune are addressed, and Pluto mentioned but not included, due to a lack of research. I don’t feel the first part of the book works particularly well.

With the chapter on Cosmic State and Local Determination, we finally begin to get into Morin’s techniques. Cosmic State relates to each planet’s strength from its sign, malefic or benefic nature and aspects. Local (or Accidental) Determination or Terrestrial State takes a planet’s house placement and rulerships into consideration; in other words, where the planets fall, come from and lead to at a particular time and place. Do they have analogous meanings with the houses they’re in and planets they combine with? Do they facilitate or hinder the affairs of the houses they’re involved with, and how? All of these considerations will inform our judgment.

The book goes on to describe how the techniques work in example horoscopes. While at times the astrologers digress, their analysis is thorough and focused ( I sensed a Virgo approach and indeed, both were Virgo). Schwickert and Weiss communicate Morin’s ideas and show how the facets of the horoscope are inter-related in charts. I don’t know of another text that goes into such great depth of systematic analysis. (Patti Tobin Brittain’s Planetary Powers presents isolated elements of similar considerations without real chart examples.)

The criteria used range in importance from planetary position and essential dignity to house associations and rulerships, then finally aspects. General significators (the Moon for the mother, Saturn for the father) are too general, but may be helpful when they coincide with more specific determinations found in the birth chart (like Saturn in the 4^th or the Sun ruling the 10^th house).

The steps are challenging enough in themselves, but there are additional hurdles. Schwickert and Weiss use abbreviations: “M” represents malefics and “m” accidental malefics, for example, and houses are given in Roman numerals, both of which I found unwieldly. In addition, aspect symbols are used but sometimes the characters aren’t printed completely. (The authors share Saturn in detriment in the 7^th house – perhaps creating a barrier to access?) There are typos in some of the charts (one has no date listed and there are other errors and omissions). The three charts from Morin don’t include the modern planets, while the others do, and most of the authors’ collection of charts give times to the second, with no indication of how they were rectified. The 1972 English translation is not the best overall, and has made no attempt to update original comments on sexuality and lifestyle, which some today may find objectionable.

Finally, Schwickert and Weiss only present the steps of their judgment that are necessary to see how the combinations of planets, houses and aspects work together. But all charts are in the appendix, so the reader must continually flip back and forth between charts and text, often with little reminder of who the people are. No charts are completely delineated in one place.

Despite its limitations, Cornerstones of Astrology is written by expert astrologers, covers an amazing amount of ground and provides worked examples of how Morin may have looked at horoscopes. As a result, this book is unique and valuable.

Check out my blog post on Morin and his Astrologia Gallica, which has additional links.

Buy Cornerstones of Astrology on Amazon.com.

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Morin’s Book

Jean Baptiste Morin de Villefranche (1583-1656) was a leading astrologer in 17th century France, with patrons like Cardinal Richelieu, Pope Urban VIII, France’s Queen Marie de Medici and Queen Kristina of Sweden, but he never received quite the acclaim he felt entitled to. He fumed over contemporaries who used what he considered deficient methods but who nevertheless enjoyed greater success. For 30 years he toiled over his masterwork, The Astrologia Gallica, yet he was never able to publish it. Finally, five years after his death, his patron Queen Marie Louise Gonzaga of Poland brought it into print.

With Jupiter ruling the 9th of higher learning and publishing placed in its own sign of Pisces, Morin retained a college professorship for over 25 years. Jupiter trined his Mars and conjoined 3rd house ruler Mercury in Aquarius, and he could certainly write – Astrologia Gallica runs over 26 books and 800 pages! So what was the problem? Saturn.

By the time Morin practiced in the mid-17th century, his Latin was going out of style and the work of Copernicus and Newton attracted more attention as the west drew closer to the scientific reductionism of the “Enlightenment.” Morin was a man who suffered for an expertise that no longer seemed relevant to many.

Jupiter conjoined his Sun at about a half a degree, with both in orb of conjoining Saturn in Pisces in the 12th house. Morin’s Moon, also in Pisces, conjoins Saturn more closely. If Jupiter lacked dignity, we might describe the situation as “too little, too late.” Instead, we have a seminal work that is still being read and translated over 400 years after publication, but only in parts and with a limited audience.

All of the 12th house planets increased Morin’s sense of isolation and seclusion, but gave him the opportunity and motivation to capture his thoughts. With Aries rising, Mars in cranky Cancer conjoined the low-point 4th house, quintiled the Ascendant and trined the Sun, Jupiter and Saturn in the 12th. His attacks on Descartes, Galileo, Cardan and others didn’t help his popularity. Today we can also see that Mars squares Pluto in the 12th, heightening his anger and frustration. But the 4th house placement goaded him toward a solid foundation, and with Mars’ trine to Saturn, ruler of the 10th, he succeeded in transmitting an astrological tradition over several centuries. Unfortunately, though, in keeping with Jupiter, the Astrologia Gallica is also just a little too big, complex and comprehensive.

With Jupiter conjunct Saturn ruling Morin’s 8th through 12 houses, this notable combination also activated events after his life. Jupiter and Saturn at 1 Taurus 36, conjoined his Ascendant on April 18, 1881, and 20 years later, on November 28, 1901, the conjunction in Capricorn closely conjoined his Midheaven.

At the turn of the century, French astrologer Henri Selva translated an abridged version of Morin’s 21st book on determinations, and included a commentary. The next Jupiter conjunct Saturn in 1921 fell at 26 Virgo 36 in Morin’s 6th house of helpmates and squared his 3rd-9th house Nodes. Austrian astrologers Captain Frederich “Sinbad” Schwickert (1837-1930) and Adolf Weiss, M.D. (1888-1956) together wrote their own explanation of Morin’s methods, a 5-volume work based on Astrologia Gallica’s Books 21 and 22 (synthesis and directions) called Bausteine der Astrologie (Liepzig 1925-27). Weiss fled the Nazis in the 1930s, moving to Brazil and finally Argentina, where he published a Spanish version of their work in 1938.

The Jupiter-Saturn conjunction of 1961 at 25 Capricorn fell in Morin’s 10th house and squared his Ascendant, again setting the stage for what would follow. Hungarian immigrant Zoltan Mason (1906-2002) opened his astrology bookshop in New York City in 1950. As he was fluent in both French and German, he may have initially encountered Morin in Europe through the earlier 20th century works.

Mason’s Ascendant was opposite Morin’s, and his Moon at 28 Libra closely conjoined Morin’s 7th house cusp, making him a partner. In 1974, Mason published an English translation of Morin’s Book 21, Astrosynthesis, by his student Lucy Little (a pseudonym as the woman’s family disapproved of astrology). The same year, a translation by Richard S. Baldwin was released by the AFA.

Another teacher of Morin’s technique was Gerhard Angel Houwing (1923-2009). According to Dave Roell, he was from Argentina though he may have been Dutch. Houwing began studying astrology before he turned 20, and was introduced to Morin in the 1950s through the German Bausteine. He resettled in Dallas in 1963, and his students included James Herschel Holden and Patti Tobin Brittain. Brittain wrote the Morin primer, Planetary Powers (1980). (See my review of Planetary Powers.)

Cornerstones of Astrology is an English version of the Spanish translation of Schwickert and Weiss’ Bausteine, published by the Sangreal Foundation, Inc. from Dallas in 1972. There is no indication of who translated the book, but Brittain tells us that Houwing was “instrumental” to the work. The short preface is attributed to Jan Meursing, which Roell believed was a pseudonym for Houwing.

In the early 21st century, after the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction at about 23 Taurus on 5/28/00 in Morin’s first house, Holden translated several parts of the book into English. Morin’s Moon and Saturn closely straddled Holden’s Ascendant, so he was able to connect with and express the long-obscured work. The AFA published a number of English translations of Astrologia Gallica’s books, many by Holden.

I will write more about Cornerstones of Astrology in a later post.

Morin’s chart is based on his own statements, with research by Tony Louis and Zoltan Mason.

Robert Corre has much on Morin on his Forum on Astrology.

More on Morin from the late Dave Roell at Astroamerica.com.

Philip Graves appears to have a rather complete list of works by or about Morin at Astrolearn.com (scroll down).

Wise Men

Worldly leaders work their way up to positions of authority, are elected, inherit their jobs or sometimes seize power. Spiritual masters are different, since their authority reflects their inner lives and not the material plane. They, too, may work their way up in an organized group, or they may simply be found. Their stories of recognition, sometimes at an early age, may be recorded for history.

Much has been written about the Christmas star, with astronomers, astrologers and historians weighing-in on what, exactly, it was. It’s been seen as a comet, a Jupiter-Saturn conjunction and a supernova. Astrologer Courtney Roberts believes that the Magi (wise men or even astrologers in some New Testament translations) who visited Jesus from the east were in fact Persian Zoroastrian priests, known for both astrology and dream interpretation. This seems to be a more important point.

Mathew in Chapter 2 tells us that the star was a sign leading the Magi to the baby Jesus. When they inquired where the child could be found, the Roman ruler Herod hoped to enlist them to locate the baby for him (learning of the prophecy in Micah 5:2 stating that the child would come from Bethlehem). But the Magi were warned in a dream and went straight home after recognizing and presenting gifts to Jesus, who may have been two years old.

Micah also says that the promised Israeli ruler’s “goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting,” which might also suggest reincarnation. The Magi’s gifts of gold – for royalty but also representing alchemical perfection; frankincense – an incense used in temple rituals that represents spirituality; and myrrh – used in burial rituals, which might allude to the reappearance of the spirit on earth.

We have more detailed information on the discovery and recognition of the 14th Dalai Lama, the great guru of compassion, believed to be the reincarnation of his predecessor. Once again, prophecy and signs led wise men to find him. The head of the 13th Dalai Lama, after his death in 1935, was found facing east. It was the Tibetan Regent’s role to find the successor, and he saw a clear vision in the sacred Tibetan lake of a monastery and house. Following these and other signs, search parties of high lamas and dignitaries looked for the place described.

When found, the party disguised their roles, but the two-year-old boy of the household recognized the rosary worn by the group’s leader and named him. Other recognition tests followed; various items were presented to the boy, and he was able to identify the ones he had owned in his previous incarnation. His identity was confirmed and the 14th Dalai Lama was officially enthroned in 1940.

Though these stories are separated by over 2,000 years and 3,000 miles, they describe similar spiritual practices of discovery and verification. Both appear to reflect trust in traditional practices that include omens and prophecies, and were considered important enough to be captured for posterity.

This brief biography of the Dalai Lama includes the story of his identification.

Austrian mountaineer Heinrich Harrer also wrote about the discovery of the Dalai Lama in his book, Seven Years in Tibet.

How to be Compassionate is a wonderful and accessible book from the Dalai Lama.

Ian Stevenson Was a well-known reincarnation researcher; he wrote about young children who remembered previous lifetimes in 20 Cases Suggestive of Reincarnation and Children who Remember Previous Lives.

About my links.

The Light Ages

Since the Enlightenment, the word medieval has had negative connotations, as does the even more derogatory phrase Dark Ages. Seb Falk dispels this negativity with a deep look at the life of John Westwyk, a medieval scholar, monk, astronomer, astrologer and author. Westwyk’s anonymous text sparks our journey into this fascinating period of time in The Light Ages.

Medieval philosophy and religion went hand-in-hand with earthly research, since belief provoked an exploration of the natural world. The planets and cosmos were an awe-inspiring expression of God’s grandeur. Long before the word science existed, this time gave us important investigations into our relationship with the Universe. Vast translation efforts of Islamic, Greek and Hebrew texts resurrected understanding in the west, part of which was our astrological tradition.

Hindu-Arabic numerals were introduced in this period, as were glass lenses and the university system of liberal arts education. Books had great value; studious monks would share their thoughts on manuscript margins and worked hard to transcribe and improve on notable works.

The later Middle Ages gave us mechanical clocks, including one of the most advanced at John Westwyk’s own abbey, a remarkable invention reminiscent of the Greek antikythera mechanism. The medieval history of calculating and calendrics is equally absorbing (quite different from our own) and remnants of them still exist. The astrolabe and similar mechanical instruments were developed in part to aid astrologers’ calculations. The stars were used to time prayers after dark, and the poet Chaucer actually wrote a well-known treatise on the astrolabe. Falk conveys the dedication and care necessary to create astrological tables before the age of printing, as Westwyk did in a remote outpost in northern England.

There’s a nice overview of astrology, unusually accurate for a non-practitioner. Sketches of Ptolemy, Plato, al-Kindi, Mash’allah, Abu Mashar, Regiomontanus and many other familiar names show how Greek and Islamic astronomers eventually paved the way for Copernicus’ heliocentric view.

The Light Ages is a rich feast of history, science and culture. While the non-mechanically or mathematically inclined may find some parts dense or a bit dry, those interested in the history of ideas, medieval astrology, ancient instruments or simply a more holistic world view are sure to find something to surprise and delight them. Seb Falk has gifted us with a top-notch piece of research that brings an oft-dismissed period of time to vibrant life: comfort food for the mind and spirit in a time of uncertainty.

An Astrological Life

My mom, Renée Randolph, was my first astrology teacher. She began studying astrology in the late ‘60s and was immersed in the New Age movement as many metaphysical topics became more easily accessible.

Renée was born in upstate New York and came to the City on her own. With four planets in the 9th house, she worked as a bilingual secretary and later married and raised a family on Long Island. (The photo shows her in Bryant Park when she first came to New York City in 1951.)

By 1968, she had become somewhat restless and bored, and eagerly accompanied a friend to a local Edgar Cayce “Search for God” study group run by Burt Davis, the brother of the famous psychic’s stenographer. She was delighted to meet so many like-minded people for the first time in her life. As Uranus through her 11th house exactly sextiled her 9th house Sun, and Neptune in the Scorpio closely trined it, she felt her world had opened up.

A few friends from the group became interested in astrology and Renée joined them. They were mothers with young children who found it hard to get away to the City, the only place an astrology teacher could be found. So they devised a plan: one would attend the weekly classes, take copious notes, and later meet with the others to share the lesson. The friends were fortunate to study with Zoltan Mason, who focused on Jean Baptiste Morin’s 17th century technique of astrosynthesis.

Although her chart held a challenging pattern with the notable 1931 Saturn-Uranus-Pluto T-square, Renée’s Sun conjunct Jupiter in the 9th house brightened her life and gave her lucky breaks on many occasions. Her early life had been difficult, but she was a true believer in the transcendent world, and astrology only strengthened her convictions. She was strong minded and pragmatic, with an ironic sense of humor.

Renée was a prodigious reader, who collected many popular astrology books and regularly picked up copies of American Astrology and Dell Horoscope. She read about the afterlife, reincarnation, dreams, ESP and psychic phenomenon, learned meditation, practiced yoga and had some amazing personal experiences with regressions.

While I was initially a skeptic, it wasn’t too long before I became interested in astrology too. I had access to an entire library of books and learned mainly by studying charts and talking about them. Whenever we met someone interesting, we’d get their time or at least their birth date. We’d see what was happening during major life events and speculate on the rising signs of our favorite TV and movie stars.

Renée found it easy to begin doing readings professionally as there was great awareness and interest in the 1970s, though not that many who practiced in our area. She often advised people to wait for stressful aspects to pass before making major decisions.

Renée Randolph wrote a Sun sign column for a Westchester entertainment magazine called 911 for a time, and co-wrote Star Success: An Astrological Guide to Your Career with me in 1991. She also helped me with quite a bit of research for my other Sun sign book, Your Wedding Astrologer.

With Jupiter in Leo, Renée was attracted to celebrities and had a few prominent clients. One was Peter Savage, who co-wrote boxer Jake LaMotta’s memoir, Raging Bull, on which the Oscar-winning de Niro/Scorsese film was based. (Upon being introduced to the bull himself, she jauntily quipped, “Hiya Rocky!” to which he sulkily replied, “I’m Jake.”) She read Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.’s chart and developed an acquaintanceship with the old-time film star in the 1980s. And she coerced talk show host Dick Cavett to get his birth certificate and time after I worked with him in summer stock one year. (The photo shows Renée backstage with Fairbanks in 1978.)

Renée Randolph lived a long and full life and passed peacefully in her sleep in April of 2020 at nearly 89 years old. When she discovered astrology, she felt she had truly found her niche. It enriched her own life and also uplifted and inspired the many who she connected with for decades.