Tag Archives: judgment

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 19th to early 20th 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 4th or the Sun ruling the 10th 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 7th 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.

(About my Amazon links.)

Election 2016: Afterthoughts

The election is over and most of us astrologers forecast an incorrect outcome.  At least we weren’t alone!  Most in the news thought Hillary had an easier path to the presidency.

While the polls showed a very close race, commentators suggested that Trump’s ability to forge a lead in electoral votes was difficult.  We are all still under a long-standing influence from Saturn square Neptune, with Neptune stationary at the time of the election.  This not only undermines confidence in authority figures, like politicians and police, for example, but it also inhibits our ability to project (Neptune) accurately into the future (Saturn).  And the public appears to have become tired (Neptune) of doing things the same old way (Saturn).

I’m leaving all of my Election posts up so readers can follow my thought processes.  Some things I may have misjudged include the following:

The birth charts themselves:  Trump’s chart promises more possibilities and a better reputation than Hillary’s, who with many squares had to fight harder for her successes in life.  And of course we’re not certain of Hillary’s birth time, which could change many things.  (We also lacked birth times for Mike Pence and Melania.)

Trump’s progressed Moon Out-of-Bounds:  This is a powerful progression, but I limited its interpretation in Trump’s chart in response to Hillary’s inability to gain the presidential nomination in 2008, when she had her own Moon beginning to progress OOB.

The transit of Uranus in Trump’s 9th house exactly trining his Moon less than two weeks after the election should have been emphasized over Saturn – it characterized what many called a stunning victory.  I also may have over-emphasized the negativity of Saturn’s oppositions in December and January.  There is always the question of whether taking on a major position is the result of a flowing or challenging aspect from Saturn, making the outcome difficult to call.  But the next few months will no doubt be tough on Trump.

I’m curious to see what becomes of Tim Kaine.  With his Saturn return in 2017 and Pluto transiting his 10th house Mars in Capricorn, it seemed obvious to me that he would take a big step forward in his career.  The Pluto aspect is exact for the final time in December.  Something about this election has fundamentally changed things for him and they will continue to develop next year.

I may not have followed my own advice to avoid bias and the influence of the polls as much as I should have.  Over the weeks I studied the charts, the evidence seemed to be piling up for Hillary.  But Bill Clinton’s transit Saturn chasing his progressed Moon didn’t promise a big victory.  I thought this reflected a back-seat role in the White House.  But once again we return to the question of whether Saturn brings responsibilities or a lack of opportunity.

I misinterpreted the past Saturn cycle for both of the Clinton’s – when Saturn was in the same place Bill was Governor of Arkansas and declined to run again.  While Hillary had independent appointments at that time, the decision limited both of their movement forward toward their ultimate goals – which parallels 2016.

The delineation of progressions was challenging.  For example, Trump’s progressed Ascendant conjoined the US progressed Midheaven, but it was nearly 2 degrees past.  The US progressed MC also conjoined Trump’s progressed Jupiter, but it, too, was moving away.  And I felt Hillary’s progressed MC trining US progressed Jupiter more significant.  While the outcome may support my use of a Gemini rising chart for the US, we can never rely on public birth times to be exact.

Hillary Clinton had a new Solar Return two weeks before the election, and I overlooked it – considering her Solar for the campaign year instead.  The correct Solar Return is not great. hillary-solar-return-10-26-16

In writing posts every week or so, I also addressed the charts of the candidates in more of a linear fashion than I usually do, which perhaps also detracted from my judgment.

In the final analysis, we need to remember that astrology is not an exact science.  I feel that after forecasting six presidential elections correctly (two for Clinton, two for Bush, two for Obama), I may have become overconfident.  Still, 6 out of 7 correct is pretty good – over 85%  –  and many astrologers have the same record of accuracy.