Filename: RC4015.TXT

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                  ROSICRUCIAN CHRISTIANITY ASTROLOGY COURSE:

                           ASTROLOGY LESSON NO. 15:

                              THE COMMON SIGNS:

                                   PART I:

   Gemini, Sagittarius, Virgo, and Pisces are called the common signs; their
intrinsic nature is best expressed by the keyword, Flexibility.

   The forces working through the CARDINAL signs impinge upon the DENSE BODY
and stir it into action.

   The influences of the FIXED signs rouse the DESIRE nature, giving stamina
and persistence in action.

   The power of the COMMON signs is MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL;  it gives  purpose
to action and incentive to nobility of life.

   Therefore people influenced by stellar forces focused principally through
CARDINAL  signs  are  the workers of the world;  not the  toilers,  but  EX-
ECUTIVES, who accomplish things industrially. and who ring into concrete ex-
istence great schemes, or small, of value in the world's work.

   People  ruled by the forces of FIXED signs have the insight to  plan  im-
provements,  also the patience and persistence to work them out  in  detail.
They  are therefore INVENTORS who originate the ideas later practically  ap-
plied by people of cardinal signs.

   People  of the fixed class lack ability to make their inventions  commer-
cially  usable,  a task for which the cardinal class  is  eminently  fitted.
Thus these two classes work hand in hand,  and between them they have trans-
formed  the wilderness of the world to a condition of  comparative  comfort.
Their efforts toward improvement are continually carried on, and in time the
primitive desert will be made to bloom like a rose.

   As material success depends on ability to cope with material  conditions,
the cardinal class is particularly fortunate, for it is the chief  executive
factor  in  the world's work and reaps a ready reward  thereby.   The  fixed
class  is not so prominently before the public.   It labors in  laboratories
and  works experimentally to complete the processes and perfect  the  models
which are later used in manufacture.  Therefore its members also are  potent
factors in life,  and share the material and financial success of the cardi-
nal class.

   The common class is a sharp contrast Forces focused through COMMON  signs
are MENTAL;  therefore people ruled by them are averse to strenuous physical
action  which  is the forte of the cardinal class.   They  labor  only  when
lashed by the whip of necessity.   They are also incapable of the slow,  but
sustained effort put forth by the fixed class and are easily discouraged  by
obstacles.   Thus they are leaners and not lifters.  TOILERS who do the bid-
ding of the inventive and executive classes are recruited from people  ruled
by COMMON signs.  There is one sphere, however, where they shine,  according
to their ability to think.  Being averse to work they have created a vantage
ground where they may reap the benefits of the toil of others,  and of their
inventive faculties and executive skill.   To do this they become  PROMOTERS
who  bring inventor and manufacturer together,  AGENTS who  mediate  between
buyer and seller,  PEDDLERS, venders and all other MIDDLEMENT who go between
producer and consumer and LIVE ON A COMMISSION; also LITERARY men who devote
their  talent  to purposeless FICTION belong to the class  actuated  by  the
lower phases of the force in the common signs.

   The cardinal class is active, the common is restless;  the fixed class is
rigid,  the common is flexible.  Unstable as reeds those of the common class
are swayed hither and thither; nothing appeals to them permanently; they de-
sire nothing as much as change.  No matter how well placed,  they can seldom
resist the lure of an opening in another city,  the farther away the better.
Therefore  the old maxim,  "A rolling stone gathers no moss,"  applies  par-
ticularly  to  this  class,  for their roving habits usually keep them poor.

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They  spend as fast as they earn, or faster.   Thus these people drift  upon
the sea of life, propelled by the currents of circumstances.  Outside condi-
tions dominate them, as they lack stamina to assert their own individuality.

   The  foregoing is true of the great majority who are under the  rule  and
influence of common signs.   They respond to the LOWER PHASE simply  because
the  higher side is too high for all but a very few at our present stage  of
development.   those who make a success in the world because prodded by  the
cardinal and fixed influences often sneer at these unfortunates,  call  them
indolent and good-for-nothing; but were they bereft of the cardinal or fixed
energy  which  goads them to action and placed under the  common  ray,  they
would soon realize its lack of power and learn compassion for those who must
so  live all their lives.   What,  then, is the lesson these people have  to
learn?

   Zodiac means "a circle of animals."  The symbols of three of the cardinal
signs are animalistic:  ARIES, the Ram; CANCER, the Crab; and CAPRICORN, the
Goat.  The fourth represents the ideal towards which this class must strive,
namely LIBRA, the Scales.  None need poise so much as those under the impul-
sive influence of the cardinal ray;  therefore the BALANCE was set in heaven
to direct their aspirations.

   Three symbols of the fixed signs are also bestial, violent, and virulent:
TAURUS,  the Bull; LEO, the Lion, and SCORPIO, the Scorpion.  The human fig-
ure  of AQUARIUS,  the Waterbearer,  shows us the ideal towards  which  this
class must strive.   Instead of fighting, preying upon,  or poisoning others
in  the  struggle  for existence they must learn to  become  HUMANE,  to  be
friends instead of foes to all.

   In contradistinction to the cardinal or fixed signs, THE COMMON SIGNS ARE
ALL DOUBLE.  Two of them are human:  GEMINI, the Twins, and VIRGO,  the Vir-
gin;  the third,  SAGITTARIUS,  the Centaur, is partly human;  and only  the
fourth symbol,  PISCES,  the Fishes, is taken from the lower kingdom.   None
are violent,  however, but intensely moral, intellectual, and spiritual sym-
bols.

   SAGITTARIUS, the CENTAUR, shows us man rising above the animal stage, au-
daciously aiming at the stars, and the opposite symbol of the heavenly TWINS
tells its story of universal brotherhood.

   The band between the Fishes shows us the unity of life in even the lowest
species;  and the celestial VIRGIN, clasping the immaculately conceived babe
to her breast is a type of purity, love, and service equaled nowhere else.

   The principle fault of the common signs is RESTLESSNESS.   The double na-
ture revealed in their symbols impels them hither and thither; therefore the
third and ninth signs,  Gemini and SAGITTARIUS,  are correlated to that most
unstable  and restless element of the human constitution,  the  mind,  which
also wants to travel.  The symbol of the twelfth sign, the Fishes,  is like-
wise an apt type of aimless wandering, and as this is contrary to the law of
life,  it brings the penalty of sorrow and suffering ascribed in the twelfth
house.

   The ideal towards which the class ruled by the common ray must strive is,
therefore,  expressed by the sixth sign,  DIVINE PARENTHOOD,  and the  sixth
house, SERVICE.  Greater love hath no man than that he lay down his life for
his friends, said Christ.  He also felt that yearning, parental love when He
stretched out His arms over Jerusalem and said:   Oh,  how oft would I  have
gathered you to my bossom as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings!  Love
grows by voluntary service,  and the more we aim to serve others,  the  more
readily we shall cultivate the highest of all human qualities.

   Upon observation it will be found that there are two distinct  subclasses
ruled by the common ray.  One, composed of younger souls,  has not yet found
its bearing in the world;  they drift about upon the sea of life without en-
ergy or ambition, and are buffeted by the waves of adversity for the purpose
of awakening them to a sense of responsibility and forcing them to take part
in the world's work.  In time they will graduate into the cardinal and fixed
classes, driven by inner ambition instead of by outside coercion.

   The  other subclass has graduated from the industrial school of  material
life,  and is preparing itself for spiritual work.   It is thus in a transi-
tion stage,  out of tune with the finite and not yet in tune with the  Infi-
nite.  We may realize their plight in a measure when we observe youth in the
years  between boyhood and manhood;  awkward, a laughing stock for boys  and
men alike,  every word he utters provokes a sneer or a patronizing smile be-
cause of the changing voice.   His ideas are too great for the acceptance of
younger companions, too visionary for older heads; he is an anomaly, and his
nature  becomes  hypersensitive on account of the attitude of  those  around
him.   Likewise  the child-man who is about to graduate  from  the  material
world  to work in the spiritual realms is out of place under the  policy  of
our  common  life.   He aims the bow of SAGITTARIUS at  the  stars,  but  is
weighted down to earth by the animal nature.   The might of mind is great if
we use it practically.  Edison earned a crown of spiritual glory by lighting
our  streets  and  thus  preventing  crime.   Morse  and  Marconi  and  Bell

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have soothed the sorrowing souls  of  thousands suffering thousands of miles
away.  Once they dreamed of these things, but they did not stop at dreaming;
they worked to realize their dreams.

   The  class ruled by the common signs is too prone to talk of "luck";  but
as Lucifer says to Faust:

   "How closely 'luck' is linked to merit.
   Does never to the fool occur;
   Had he the wise man's Stone, I swear it,
   The stone had no philosopher!"

   Astrology ought to impress the older subclass with the fact that merit is
the  basis of success in any line,  material or spiritual;  that  study  and
dreams alone condition; but that when by service we lift others, we also el-
evate  our  own  will never raise us above the present status  in  life  and
evolution.

1. What do the forces working through the fixed signs accomplish.  Through
   the cardinal signs?  Through the common signs?
2. What are the vocations most suitable for the common sign natives?
3. What do you think are the individual keywords of the common signs?  by
   bringing good news of a loved one.

                           ASTROLOGY LESSON NO. 16:

                              THE COMMON SIGNS:

                         GEMINI AND THE THIRD HOUSE:

   Gemini,  the third sign, is the sign of the Twins,  brothers.   The third
house  is similarly concerned with our brothers and sisters.   According  to
the position of Mercury,  the ruler of Gemini, the aspects he receives,  the
house occupied by Gemini,  the planets in that sign,  and the planets in the
third house,  will be our attitude toward our bothers and sisters and  their
attitude toward us.   Thus,  if Mars is in the third house,  he will give  a
tendency to quarrel with sisters and brothers,  but if in the same horoscope
Gemini,  occupies the 11th house, signifying friendship, and Venus is there,
the effect of Mars in the third house would be counterbalanced,  and friend-
ship would prevail.   Please bear this in mind that whatever department of a
horoscope  you may be studying,  no single testimony will give a safe  basis
for judgment.   To be sure of our ground it is absolutely necessary to exam-
ine all factors and see if the first configuration noted is corroborated  or
contradicted.   Conflicting testimonies must then be balanced  against  each
other.   Thus only can we form a correct judgment which will be sustained by
events.

   If Saturn is in the third house, we would judge that the person  involved
is  unpopular with his brothers or sisters.  He may be a chronic scold  whom
all  will  shun,  that  is,  if an aggressive sign like Aries,  Scorpio,  or
Cancer  is on the cusp of the third house at the same time.   If a  negative
sign like Pisces or even Libra or Cancer is on the third house,  Saturn will
signify that the person is the butt and scapegoat for his brothers and  sis-
ters.   The  sun or Jupiter in Gemini and elevated would  modify  either  of
these augurs.  The subduing influence of Saturn would then be exercised in a
benevolent manner for the good of all involved.   But if the sun or  Jupiter
is in the third house with Saturn elevated in Gemini,  let the brothers  and
sisters beware, for Saturn's influence is sinister.

   Gemini rising gives a tall, slender body with long arms and fingers.  The
sun  and Jupiter make the figure more portly if they are on  the  Ascendant:
Uranus and Mercury make it taller.   The moon and Venus shorten and also add
plumpness but Mars rising in Gemini makes one muscular without adding flesh.
This position,  therefore,  makes a certain athletic type,  such as that  of
spiriters  for short distances,  but they cannot endure the strain long,  as
Gemini is a common and airy sign.

   Mercury  was  chosen messenger of the gods because of  his  winged  feet,
which made him swift as thought.  Gemini, one of the two signs he rules,  is
Therefore the focus of the mind as we express it through the brain.  We well
know  the  instability of the lower mind, and as that is  an  expression  of
Gemini, the third house also expresses this characteristic.

   In  the Saturn Period those exalted beings whom we know as Lords of  Mind
were human.   The world globe on which they lived was formed of mind  stuff,
and they learned to shape it and build thought forms of that subtle material
as we are now learning to build houses, bridges, machinery,  and a multitude
of  other objects with the solid physical matter of which our earth is  com-
posed.  Thus they became experts in handling the subtle mind stuff.  As Sat-
urn among our present day planets expresses in a measure the characteristics
of  that ancient period which we speak of as the Saturn Period,  his ray  is
conducive  to  one-pointedness  and control of mind when he  is  posited  in
Gemini or the third house, both of which focus the lower mind;  also when he
is  in SAGITTARIUS or the ninth house, for these deal with the higher  mind.
We shall study them in another lesson.  In the third house, Saturn makes the
mind methodical and orderly,  because he OBSTRUCTS ITS FLIGHTINESS,  but  it
will of course depend upon the nature of his aspects whether this faculty is
exercised for a beneficent purpose  or  the reverse.  Aries trine or sextile

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to  Mercury will give a splendid mind which may be used to good  purpose  in
the world's work;  but if these planets are in square or opposition,  we may
have  a schemer of the dangerous type,  one whom it is well to watch.   This
applies  no matter where in the horoscope Saturn and Mercury are found,  but
if one of the others is in Gemini or the third house, the potency of the as-
pect for good or ill is much intensified.  In fact, as Mercury rules Gemini,
his  aspects to any planet affect the mind most potently,  according to  the
inherent  nature of that planet as expressed in its keyword.   Mars for  in-
stance,  is  dynamic energy;  therefore he will lend force to  the  mind  if
aspecting  Mercury,  and the direction in which this is used depends on  the
aspect.   A good configuration will make a keen, penetrative mind, quick and
correct in its conclusions.   An adverse aspect will make a man  impulsively
jump at conclusions, foolhardy, headstrong, and not amenable to reason.  Ve-
nus  or  Jupiter in good aspect to Mercury makes people  philanthropic,  be-
nevolent,  and therefore beloved of all who are fortunate enough to come  in
contact with them.   The adverse aspects make them self-indulgent to a  high
degree;  they use a winning, ingratiating way to gain their despicable ends,
but they are treacherous and ready to sell out their benefactors for a favor
from another.   They have no scruples whatever, and are always ready to cast
aside, "the old love for the new" whenever it suits their convenience.

   Mercury is never so far removed from the sun as seen from our planet that
it can form an aspect of importance with this Great Light.   Also,  its  as-
pects with the moon are of no significance,  for our satellite has no  basic
nature of its own,  but, as signified by its keyword "fecundation,"  it only
fertilizes  that which it is configurated so that that may be  brought  into
manifestation.   As said before,  when speaking of Saturn's aspects to  Mer-
cury,  if Mercury or the planet it aspects is in Gemini or the third  house,
the effect on the mind is much intensified.

   The  keyword of Gemini is "changeability,"  and Mercury,  its ruler,  the
fleet-footed  messenger  of the gods,  is the patron of travelers  (who  are
changing  their environment),  also of merchants (who are  professional  ex-
changers of goods or money,  and who were wont to travel from place to place
in  ancient times.)  Therefore Gemini and the third house  denote  traveling
salesmen,  agents,  messengers,  letters and writings.   Again,  the planets
aspecting  Mercury and the planets in Gemini and the third house tell  if  a
person has ability to write, if he is fitted to be an agent or salesman, and
whether  he  will meet with pleasant experiences or be liable  to  accidents
while on short journeys.  (The ninth house deals with extended travel.)

   Saturn in aspect to Mercury,  or in Gemini or the third house,  does  not
favor  writing,  but if the aspect is good,  it may nevertheless  produce  a
philosophical  writer  of great depth and penetration on a  most  exact  and
painstaking  scientific investigator.   The writings of such a  person  will
never be many, nor will his investigations cover a wide range.  He will how-
ever,  be very thorough in covering a limited field,;  but though by dint of
the  hardest  and most painstaking work such people may be able  to  express
themselves lucidly on paper, they will have difficulty in public speaking.

   The sun, Venus, or Jupiter in good aspect to Mercury, or in Gemini or the
third house, facilitate vocal expression writing, art and music.  the philo-
sophical discourses engendered by the ray of Jupiter can never compare  with
those  of saturnine origin in depth and erudition but they are sure to  take
the soul to lofty heights of sublimity altogether undreamed of by those  un-
der the sinister Saturn.   The oratory of the Jupiterian is the VOICE of the
soul  speaking directly to the soul.  It carries conviction and  rouses  its
hearers as the cold,  clear argument of a saturnine speaker never can.   the
unfavorable Mars-Mercury aspects may inspire an agitator to incite to rebel-
lion,  bloodshed,  and destruction of homes in what he considers a righteous
cause;  but  the Mercurial air modulated i the Venus voice of  a  Patti  may
breathe the sentiment of "Home, Sweet Home," with the effect of touching the
heartstrings,  drawing a person close to the hearth and promoting "On  earth
peace, good will toward men."

   In respect to travel,  Saturn delays and hinders when aspected to Mercury
and  when he is in Gemini or the third house,  for it is his nature  to  ob-
struct  wherever he is;  but the moon and Mercury in aspect or in Gemini  or
the  third  house have the reverse effect, for they are of  a  restless  and
changeable nature,  and will cause a person in whose horoscope they are pos-
ited  as  above to wander from place to place all through life.   Saturn  in
Gemini  or the third house and adversely aspected gives liability  to  acci-
dents while the person is traveling.  So do Mars and Uranus,  but there is a
different  in the nature of the hurt sustained.   Saturn causes bruises  and
crushing.   Mars causes cuts,  burns, and scaldings, and lays the person li-
able  to  attacks from robbers or to be taken prisoner by the  military  au-
thorities if in a country where there is war.   Under such conditions Saturn
in  Gemini or the third house would make the person a secret agent,  a  spy,
and  adverse aspects would cause capture or even death by hanging.   Jupiter
or  Venus in the third house or Gemini would of course make travel  pleasant
for the person fortunate enough to have them well-aspected, but if afflicted
it would be best for the person not to travel.

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   Gemini is an airy sign.  It rules the lungs, which to a great extent sup-
ply the body with the important element air.  Mercury,  the ruler of Gemini,
governs  the air which passes through the trachea and bronchial tubes.   The
ebblike  and floodlike inflation and deflation of the lungs are another  ex-
ample  of the duality and CHANGEABILITY of Gemini.   Saturn hardens and  en-
crusts,  and  when he has evil aspects and is in Gemini,  he is one  of  the
causes of tuberculosis.   Mars in Gemini gives a tendency to hemorrhages  of
the lungs,  and Uranus, being spasmodic in its action, produces the involun-
tary movements of the lungs which we call cough.

   It should be constantly remembered by pupils,  however,  that though  the
horoscope at birth shows the lines of least resistance,  and though we  find
it  easy to drift along those lines,  we as spirits are in life's school  to
assert  our own individuality and thereby overcome obstacles placed  in  our
path.   Every time we conquer an aspect we have lived up to our  divine  na-
ture.   As the Good Book says,  "Be not overcome of Evil,  but overcome evil
with good."

   Please answer the following question:  What effect would Saturn in Gemini
on the Ascendant, square the Moon, in Virgo, have on the health of a person?

                           ASTROLOGY LESSON NO. 17:

                              THE COMMON SIGNS:

                       SAGITTARIUS AND THE NINTH HOUSE:

   This  is  the ninth sign,  and it embodies what we might call  the  ninth
house influences.  Sagittarius is depicted as an archer, a centaur; and when
man  reaches the stage pictured in this symbol,  he may be conceived  of  as
coming  out  of  the lower nature and aiming his bow of  aspiration  at  the
stars.   Therefore, Sagittarius is the sign of the idealist, the sign of our
noblest  impulses.   But as the Sagittarius aims so high,  it is not  wonder
that  he falls short of the ideal which he sets for himself.   Nevertheless,
in spite of failure except in ceasing to aspire,  and he should endeavor  to
do better.

   Like the other common signs,  Sagittarius is dual.   Gemini,  the  Twins,
represents two;  Virgo, has the mother and the babe; the sign of the fishes,
Pisces, has two figures; and Sagittarius has both man and animal.  The chief
characteristic of these signs is vacillation,  of which Sagittarius has less
than any of other others,  for it is a fiery sign.  It is endued with a cer-
tain unquenchable ardor.   Aided by good aspects the Sagittarian shows  con-
siderable zeal for the uplift of humanity, but when afflicted the other side
of  the picture is seen.   Then he is apt to indulge the lower  nature,  the
animal side,  to an almost unbelievable degree.   This is particularly true,
strange as it may seem,  if the affliction comes from Venus;  then indolence
and  self-indulgence may almost submerge the soul in the slough of  sensual-
ity.

   As Sagittarius is the ninth sign,  the sign of the dreamer and the ideal-
ist, so the ninth house is the house of dreams and idealism according to the
planets  which  are  posted in this house.   The moon  in  conjunction  with
Neptune in the ninth house is the particular signature of a fruitful and vi-
sionary imagination.  The horse, which forms part of Sagittarius, is a beast
of travel, and the ninth house is also the house of travel.   The configura-
tion of Neptune conjunction moon will make a person very restless,  not only
in mind but in body, always imagining things are better somewhere else,  al-
ways  searching for something which is never found.   The  Sagittarian  must
learn to realize his ideals WITHIN instead of seeking them WITHOUT.   We are
in this school of experience for the purpose of overcoming, and it is not by
running  from one place to another that we gain experience.   By staying  in
one place, by doing our very best to attain our ideals where we are, we make
our dreams come true.

   Saturn  in  the  ninth house,  particularly if in  Sagittarius  and  well
aspected,  is in about the best place possible to have him, for Saturn lends
depth and penetration to the mind, reduces the roving tendency, and help one
most wonderfully.  There can be no favorable augur for the attainment of the
higher life,  even if Sagittarius is not in the ninth house.  The ideal con-
figuration for a philanthropist or a high spiritual teacher would be  Saturn
in  the ninth house in Sagittarius with trine from Jupiter,  the  planet  of
idealism,  in Leo.   That would overcome all the lower tendencies of  Sagit-
tarius and give a wonderful zest and persistence to the will of the man thus
fortunately endowed.   It would give him the insight to use his means to the
very  best advantage.   He would never be led by false  sentimentality,  but
would have the necessary foresight to know where his charities would be best
placed.  He would also have the necessary fortitude of mind to deny applica-
tion from the unworthy,  for we should always realize that not  infrequently
we do people a great deal of harm by giving aims.

   Jupiter in the ninth house makes the mind cheerful and optimistic; it in-
clines  a person to benevolence if well aspected.  On the contrary, if there

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happens  to  be  a  square to Saturn, that will  throw  away  all  the  good
qualities and render the evil qualities more apparent, for Saturn obstructs,
and  will give a gloomier view of life than any other planet.   Then we  may
have  a  person  who will be a scoffer at religion,  and who  will  use  his
oratorical  powers (for such the Jupiterian has) for the purpose of  turning
people against religion.  Ingersoll was a good example of the malefic influ-
ence  of Saturn.   Although he was by nature a kindly and well meaning  man,
the very thought of religion turned him into a sarcastic destructionist  for
the time being.

   The  sun in Sagittarius and in the ninth house makes the mind lively  and
active,  and gives a brightness and a sunny temperament which are  uplifting
to  those with whom the person comes in contact.   This is particularly  the
case  if Mercury,  which is usually very close to the sun,  goes BEFORE  the
Heavenly Light.   Such persons are versatile in the extreme, and readily ob-
tain a superficial knowledge of everything.   They seem to grasp a point the
moment it is presented.

   Mars in Sagittarius or in the ninth house is really the most dangerous of
all the planets in these positions.   There is perhaps no place where he may
do as much harm as in this house, particularly, of course, if he has an evil
aspect,  for the dynamic energy of Mars seeks expression in whatever  sphere
he  is located.   He is impulsive,  and as Sagittarius is also  fiery,  they
agree in this aspect of their nature.  Mars in Sagittarius, therefore,  adds
fire to fire,  and should there be a bad aspect, this energy will be used in
a manner very destructive.   From such a configuration we might expect a la-
bor agitator,  an anarchist--anyone who would seek to right a wrong by  com-
mitting violence,  anyone who would avenge fancied or real wrongs to himself
or  his  fellow creatures by using dynamite or other violent  agencies  upon
those  whom he believes have perpetrated an outrage.   Mars  square  Mercury
from Sagittarius or the ninth house would be particularly dangerous in  this
respect.   The man would undoubtedly be a criminal,  although,  of course we
must always remember that one aspect like this may be offset by another  as-
pect which modifies it.

   Venus in Sagittarius or the ninth house would render a person  devotional
in nature,  if well aspected.   The aspects of Jupiter in Sagittarius or the
ninth house would make one inclined to follow along philosophical and intel-
lectual lines rather than along the purely devotional.   In this respect Ve-
nus differs,  for the person with Venus there might have very little  intel-
lect  as that is conceived of today,  but would have that lovely  devotional
phase  of character which we find in the very noblest souls.   On the  other
hand,  if Venus were in Sagittarius or the ninth house and square  to  Mars,
then we should have a person who would be anything but moral,  provided,  of
course, that there were no redeeming aspects to offset this.

   Uranus or Neptune in Sagittarius or the ninth house renders the mind what
is usually called eccentric.  A person with either of these positions, if it
is  well aspected,  will take up some work along the line of the  Mysteries.
He will probably study astrology, psychology, and kindred subjects.

   In  accordance with the symbology of the sign Sagittarians are very  fond
of animals,  particularly horses and dogs,  and a good aspect of Jupiter  in
Sagittarius to Mars will usually make a horse racing man or one fond of fol-
lowing games of chance or gambling of any nature.

   Thus from configurations with the different planets, good or bad, in Sag-
ittarius or the ninth house we obtain all the varied shades of mind  imagin-
able.   In this matter the aspects and configurations of planets in  Gemini,
which governs what is called the lower mind, have a great significance.  But
as  planets in the ninth house are elevated,  they are naturally  much  more
powerful  in  this  respect than the planets under the earth  in  the  third
house.   The aspirations of the soul,  the ideals which make man man,  which
are  bringing him onward on the path to the superhuman stage,  are found  in
this house and sign.

   The  moon  in Sagittarius,  no matter whether that sign is on  the  ninth
house or not, has the same effect as if it were there, for it brings a rest-
lessness into the nature which always causes a person to wander.   He  often
becomes what we may call a globe trotter.  Saturn,  on the other hand,  pre-
vents  and  delays traveling,  for it is his nature to obstruct,  no  matter
where in the figure he is placed.  Jupiter and Venus have the effect of mak-
ing travel pleasant when placed in Sagittarius or the ninth house.

   Mars,  conversely, renders one liable to all sorts of inconveniences when
traveling, and may cause accidents to the thighs.  It is a notable fact that
Sagittarians  are  very  liable to broken bones  under  circumstances  where
people with other signs seldom meet injury.

   In the eighth degree of Sagittarius we have the fixed star ANTARES, which
has a very evil effect upon the sight.   Two other nebulous spots in the zo-
diac have  a  similar influence.  One is the ASCELLI in Leo 6, the other the

[PAGE 267]

PLEIADES in Taurus 29.  The sun or moon in one of these places and adversely
configurated   with   one  of  the  malefics--Saturn,   Mars,   Uranus,   or
Neptune--gives trouble with the eyes according to the nature of the  aspect.
Vice versa,  if Saturn,  Mars,  Uranus or Neptune is in one of the  nebulous
spots adversely configurated with the sun or moon, a similar trouble will be
experienced.   Should a planet like one of the last named be  in  RETROGRADE
motion,  the aspect is much worse,  for when the planet has ceased to retro-
grade  and goes DIRECT in the zodiac again,  it will pass over the  nebulous
spot  which it is close to a second time,  and thereby cause  added  damage.
There may be, however, a compensating side to this aspect,  for it sometimes
happens  that while an evil configuration with one of these  nebulous  spots
(ANTARES  IS THE WORST) deprives a person of his sight,  a  benevolent  con-
figuration develops in him a second sight which will compensate for the loss
to a degree which only those who have that sight can appreciate.

   The keyword of Sagittarius may be conceived of as ASPIRATION.

   QUESTION:  What will be the influence of Uranus in Sagittarius, square to
the moon in the sixth house, and trine to the sun in the first house?

[PAGE 268]

                           ASTROLOGY LESSON NO. 18:

                              THE COMMON SIGNS:

                          VIRGO AND THE SIXTH HOUSE:

   Virgo  is one of the Mercurial signs.   Mercury was the messenger of  the
gods,  and it is therefore little wonder that Virgo is the House of Service.
It is also Mercury's exaltation sign where his influence is most pronounced.

   On the longest and darkest night of the year, at the winter solstice, the
Celestial Virgin stands upon the eastern horizon at midnight.   At that time
the  Sun commences its new circuit and begins to mount upwards  towards  the
vernal equinox,  giving its life for the purpose of saving humanity from the
hunger,  darkness,  and cold that would inevitably ensue were it to stay  in
southern latitude all the time.  The Sun is said to be born of the Celestial
Virgin,  and the sign Virgo stands as the most sublime symbol of service  as
well as of divine motherhood,  for THE GREATEST SERVICE that can be rendered
to  humanity is the giving of birth to a new Sun each year to be the  savior
of the world.

   Mercury in Virgo or in the sixth house well aspected always shows one who
is faithful unto the end.  No matter what responsibility may be put upon him
he will always acquit himself well.   And even when Mercury is in the  sixth
house and unaspected, there is always a desire to serve, to help somebody.

   You  will remember that the Christ said,  "He that would be the  greatest
among you,  let him be the servant of all."   Therefore Mercury in Virgo  or
the  sixth house is really one of the most beneficial positions that  anyone
can have; not perhaps so far as earthly treasure is concerned, but for those
who  love  to lay up treasure in heaven where moth and rust do  not  corrupt
this is a splendid position.   Jupiter and Venus in the sixth house or Virgo
also  have the benevolent tendency to serve others regardless of self.   The
Sun  stimulates growth and it is fortunate for the growth of  the  character
and the soul if he is in Virgo or the sixth house, always provided of course
that he is well aspected, for in the final analysis there is no greater luck
or better fortune that could happen to anyone in the world than to be A REAL
SERVANT.  Compared with this privilege, riches or even comfort are dross.

   Saturn is the planet of obstruction, and naturally he has the tendency in
Virgo  or the sixth house,  as elsewhere,  to obstruct in whatever  line  he
works.   Therefore when in these positions he suppresses all the energy that
otherwise might be expressed in service;  he makes the person selfish in the
very highest degree.  Mercury in his exaltation sign, Virgo,  expresses ser-
vice.  This is the only place in the zodiac where an unaspected Mercury sig-
nifies something definite.  The cold hand of Saturn by conjunction or square
is  the  only power that can squelch it here.   Saturn's influence  is  par-
ticularly pronounced of course if Mercury is otherwise evilly aspected.

   The keyword of Mars is Dynamic Energy.   Therefore when he is posited  in
Virgo  or  the sixth house he will naturally make the native  DO  something.
Virgo people are rather active in youth, but there comes with age a tendency
to  take things easy.   This of course would be effectually counteracted  by
the  presence  of  a well aspected Mars in Virgo or in the sixth house.  The

[PAGE 269]

unaspected  influence of Jupiter or Venus in Virgo or the sixth house  might
result  in the native only dreaming about what he wanted to do to serve  hu-
manity if conditions were favorable, or what he intended to do at some later
day.   But Mars would always bring ACTION: he never dreams; he DOES.   If he
is evilly aspected in these positions,  of course it may not be service that
will be rendered for the good of others, but it may result in evil agitation
as demagoguery, visionary gossip, talebearing, or stirring up strife.

   It  is  a well known fact that a machine wears out  and  gradually  dete-
riorates by use and service.  How soon it does this depends upon how well it
was built in the first place,  and how much service OR ABUSE it has had dur-
ing the time it has been in use.  The body is like a machine,  and naturally
when it has been in service for a number of years or for a certain time, the
defects in it show forth.  Therefore the house of service,  the sixth house,
is  also the house of health or ill health.   And as the Sun of Life  passes
the  meridian and begins to throw its shadows towards the east,  we find  in
the Virgo people a tendency toward corpulence of body,  particularly of that
part ruled by Virgo,  namely,  the abdomen.   They neglect to take exercise,
and naturally on this account a sluggish condition of the intestines may set
in which retains the poisons in the body,  robs life of its joys,  and makes
them  indifferent.   In  this fact lies the greatest  danger  to  the  Virgo
people.   Once  they get into the rut of sickness they actually  enjoy  poor
health;  they love to talk over their symptoms with other people,  and  they
resent  any  thought or suggestion given to them that they are not  sick  or
that they can get well.

   The presence of Saturn in Virgo or the sixth house accentuates this  ten-
dency in the very highest degree,  and therefore it is an almost  infallible
sign that the native will have or be subject to illness,  the nature of this
disease being denoted by the aspect and the afflicting planets.

   The  Sun brings light and life wherever it is except in the  sixth  house
and to some extent in the twelfth.   The sixth house seems to rob the Sun of
every ray of light and to make the native subject to disease with a  resist-
lessness that is almost like the effect of Saturn,  unless other  configura-
tions in the horoscope enable the native to shake off this influence.   When
this is the case, the Sun in Virgo or the sixth house gives great ability in
chemistry  and the preparation of health foods,  and makes the person a  ca-
pable nurse or healer.

   Mars in Virgo or the sixth house renders the person liable to  operations
where sharp instruments are used; also to fevers.  As the Moon is an indica-
tor of health for a woman, it is worse in a female nativity to have the Moon
in the sixth house than the Sun.   Conversely in a male nativity it is worse
to have the Sun there than the Moon.

   In  order to deal successfully with Virgo people when they have once  be-
come subject to disease and to get them out of it at all, it is necessary to
be  firm almost to the verge of cruelty.   But though one may seem cruel  in
enforcing  upon  them the regime that is necessary to bring them  away  from
themselves this is really the greatest kindness that can be shown,  for once
these people are in the grip of sickness,  they stubbornly refuse to let go;
they will resort to the most cunning, even childish schemes to excite sympa-
thy,  particularly from strangers,  and they will resent any effort to  show
them that they are not helpless invalids.   At the very slightest suggestion
of a hopeful nature they sometimes lose their temper in the most unwarranted
manner.   But  when at last they are given the deaf ear by  everybody,  when
people who are in their immediate environment can be persuaded to show  them
no sympathy,  then they may come to themselves.   They need a shock to bring
them  out and away from their condition; and until they get that they  never
can be cured.

   Virgo  people who have the mental balance to resist the tendency  towards
being  sick and enjoying being sick make the most excellent nurses  one  can
imagine.   They are also splendid housekeepers, although they are rather pe-
culiar in their tastes.

   It  is really wonderful how the symbology of the signs is brought out  in
the different kinds of people born under them.   Take for instance the  sign
Leo:  the people who are born under this sign always want to be noted;  they
are aggressive and want to attract attention everywhere they go.   They  aim
to  be  leaders,  never  followers.  Virgo,  on the other hand, has the very

[PAGE 270]

opposite character; for while the lion is naturally bold and masterful,  the
virgin is naturally timid and shrinking.  Similarly, the people who are born
under  Virgo are always afraid to be noticed;  they shrink from  the  public
eye; they are timid and afraid.  But the lion is bloodthirsty and cruel, and
there are no more cruel people than the Leos.  On the other hand a maiden is
tender and sympathetic.   So are the people who are born under Virgo.   That
is why they make such splendid nurses,  if they can keep from taking on  the
conditions  of the patient.   the Virgo people never can bear to  see  blood
shed or to touch dead things.   They feel bodily injury to others more  than
harm  done  to  themselves,  and are in fact  well  described  by  the  word
"chicken-hearted."

   If  the  Moon and Neptune were in Virgo square to Mercury,  what  do  you
think would be the result?

                          ASTROLOGY LESSON NO. 19:

                              THE COMMON SIGNS:

                                   PISCES:

   Pisces is the last of the twelve signs,  and the twelfth house is  corre-
spondent with it in the horoscope.  The twelfth house is the house of sorrow
and  self-undoing,  also the house denoting prisons,  asylums  hospitals  or
other places where man may be confined either in the course of his  ordinary
vocation in life or else against his will.  The planets in the twelfth house
will indicate such relation,  and their aspects will show whether he is suc-
cessful or the reverse in vocations through things denoted by this house.

   When  the Ascendant of a person is in doubt and the place in  the  zodiac
which seems to fit nearest brings the Sun into the twelfth house, the writer
has  often found that the exact Ascendant may be ascertained by  asking  the
person  if  his childhood's life was clouded by poverty of the  parents  and
consequent limitation for a number of years just after birth.   This is  all
cases where it has been found that all other events fitted in the horoscope,
proved  a successful method of determining the true Ascendant,  so that  the
number of degrees from the Ascendant to the Sun,  the latter located in  the
twelfth house,  would indicate the years of poverty,  for the twelfth  house
makes  for limitation in that respect,  especially when the Sun is there  at
birth.  When the Sun by progression has passed through the twelfth house and
comes  into the Ascendant,  things begin to brighten up for the  person  in-
volved,  and when in time it passes through the second house he will have  a
period of financial success;  but as stated,  the Sun in the twelfth  house,
just above the Ascendant,  usually makes a very poor home for the child dur-
ing the early days of life.  If Pisces is there, the cause will generally be
found  in  slothfulness and a desire for drink on the part  of  the  parents
which makes them thus neglect their offspring.   If Pisces is on the twelfth
house and the Moon is there at birth, this will also give a liability on the
part of the parents to drink,  and thus neglect their children;  but it will
not make for success in later life as the Sun does.

   When  many planets are in Pisces,  the person will have a hard life,  be-
cause he will not want to take up his life's burden, but will love to dream.
Such  become recluses;  they seek to master the hidden arts,  occultism  and
mysticism; they are not guided by reason, but rather by their likes and dis-
likes, and unless they can find an occupation in a hospital or some institu-
tion that is otherwise isolated from the ordinary business and trend of life
they will feel out of place.   They are prone to incur the enmity of  people
with  whom they come in contact intimately;  nobody seems to get along  with
them, and everybody, whether they show it or not, will take a dislike.

   Pisces is a watery sign, and people who have that sign invested with many
planets,  particularly if Pisces is also in the twelfth house and on the As-
cendant,  will  be found unstable as water,  lacking firmness  of  character
which is deplorable to say the very least.  Even the hardest knocks of life,
the fact that they are shunned by everybody and have no friends will  seldom
make them see that they are to blame and try to mend their ways.

   This delineation,  of course, supposes that the planets in Pisces and the
twelfth  house are unaspected or afflicted.  If they are well aspected,  and
especially if the beneficent aspect comes from the Midheaven or ninth house,
the  person will gain success in the line of work indicated by  the  twelfth
house prisons,  hospitals,  asylums,  and other institutions where those who
are unfortunate are dealt with.   But he will be then in authority over them
or as a worker for humanity on a large scale, one who is actuated by philan-
thropy  rather than a desire for gain.   Capricorn,  the sign of the  subtle
Saturn,  on the twelfth house,  when that is invested by a number of planets
gives unusual abilities as a detective or in secret diplomatic work.

   The  symbol of the sign Pisces, the two fishes, points to the Great Deep,

[PAGE 271]

that place of mystery.   The sign Pisces as well as its replica in the horo-
scope, the twelfth house, are therefore houses and signs of mystery, and any
number of planets there, in either the twelfth house or in Pisces,  will in-
variably give a love of mystery as already stated;  but whether that love of
mystery expresses itself on the higher or lower plane depends entirely  upon
the aspect.  Neptune and Uranus in the twelfth house are particularly favor-
able  to  those who want to study or come into contact  with  the  invisible
world;  but the square aspect naturally has the tendency to attract undesir-
able  entities and to lead the native into dangerous channels.   If  Neptune
and Uranus are square,  or in Pisces or the twelfth house squared by  Saturn
or  Mars,  we  have  at once a condition which  is  extremely  favorable  to
mediumship.   We should remember,  however, that spirits are not good merely
because they have passed out of this world into a realm where they cannot be
seen by physical eyes.   There they have so much greater scope for deception
than here,  if such be their inclination, and they certainly dupe their vic-
tims in a most outrageous manner, sometimes ruining the victim's whole life.
Therefore,  any person having the square aspect of these planets  should  be
more than ordinarily careful,  bearing in mind that when it comes to  Pisces
or  the twelfth house this danger is particularly strong and should be  very
carefully  guarded against.   Such a one should never go to seances or  come
into private circles where people play with fire,  for he will certainly  be
burned and perhaps beyond recovery for man lives.

   If  Jupiter or Venus is found in the twelfth house,  it also will give  a
love of occult investigation,  and so will the Sun; but they will have a be-
neficent effect,  particularly if they are well aspected, and there will not
be as much danger with a well aspected Jupiter,  Venus or Sun in the twelfth
house as with Uranus or Neptune, Saturn or Mars there.  Venus in the twelfth
house  gives  a tendency to secret love affairs and if in  conjunction  with
Neptune or Saturn, there is a great tendency to go wrong on the part of that
person.  However, this aspect makes the native almost immune from discovery.
Uranus and Mars in the twelfth house bring injury and persecution.   that of
course will be because he will provoke such action from others,  for Mars is
not  an angel by any means.   Saturn in the twelfth house makes  secret  en-
emies,  who strike from ambush and are difficult if not impossible to reach.
Those  who have the latter degrees of Capricorn rising or the first  degrees
of Aquarius--which brings Capricorn in the twelfth house--even though  there
is no planet in Capricorn or in the twelfth house will also find  themselves
subject  to  this malicious slander,  and find it difficult to  get  at  the
source, for Capricorn is a saturnine sign and Saturn never gives his victims
a chance to refute.   Saturn in the twelfth house or in Pisces makes  people
worry and fear something that never happens.  So do Uranus and Neptune--they
are  even more weird in their imaginings and drive a person  into  insanity.
The  hallucinations they produce when afflicted very often lead to that  as-
pect of insanity where the subjects imagine themselves being pursued by cer-
tain inimical forces, visible or invisible according to the aspect.

   Even in their greatest joys they always harbor a fear that something  un-
foreseen may happen, that some evil force is pursuing.

   When  Mercury is in the twelfth house or in Pisces,  especially  if  well
aspected,  the person then born will know without having need of  study;  he
will  be versatile in the extreme,  always having a fund of  information  on
whatever subject may be brought up.   This is especially the case if Mercury
is  between the Sun and Midheaven:   that is to say WHEN HE GOES BEFORE  THE
SUN, rises earlier than this luminary, for then all the light that is in the
spirit  seems to shine out and the person is intellectually  bright.   Under
favorable  aspects,  as said,  this will help to make him valuable  in  many
lines of work; he is liable to be at the head of some research work,  for he
will be ingenious.   Chemists of great ability have been produced under this
aspect,  for such persons have a faculty for going into the most minute  de-
tails  and things which are microscopic and unimportant to others.   Mercury
in  Pisces or the twelfth house hampered by bad aspects,  particularly  from
Saturn and from Mars,  also when combust in the twelfth house and BEHIND THE
SUN  (that is to say when it rises after the Sun),  will cloud the mind  and
may result in insanity.  This affliction of the mind will differ, of course,
according  to the way Mercury is aspected.   If it is by Mars or Uranus  the
native will be violent in the extreme; if by Saturn it will be more a melan-
cholia  or some such form of dementia.  It is certain that whatever the  na-
ture,  some form of limitation will hamper the spirit, for the twelfth house
is the house of limitation, of confinement, and so is Pisces also.  Deafness
is also the result of these configurations:  of Mercury specially,  combust,
in Pisces, in the twelfth house and afflicted by Saturn, for by deafness the
spirit is in a great measure confined and hampered in its communication with
the outside world,  hence the affinity of deafness with twelfth house condi-
tions.

   It is  very noteworthy that the Common signs, Gemini, Sagittarius, Virgo,

[PAGE 272]

and Pisces are particularly the channels through which mankind is  afflicted
by  insanity,  for as said in previous lessons,  the keyword of  the  Common
signs  is FLEXIBILITY;  the Cardinal signs have so much more virility,  they
give  such an infusion of life that the native who is born normal  does  not
easily  become subject to dementia.   The Fixed signs also have a  tenacious
hold  upon  all the faculties to the very last,  but those who  have  Common
signs,  invested with many planets,  also when the common signs are  on  the
Angles, are vacillating and prone to be capsized by the gales upon the ocean
of life.

   There is, however, a higher side to Pisces.  The person who finds himself
with  Pisces on the Ascendant is at the end of one cycle of progress and  at
the  beginning of a new.   He stands as it were upon the threshold of  some-
thing higher.   therefore,  he is usually not able to live up to the  possi-
bilities of this sign which requires self-sacrifice and nonresistance in ab-
solutely Christ-like fashion.   The tendency is therefore to drift upon  the
sea  of life and dream dreams of future greatness.   This tendency  must  be
counteracted by every effort of the will, for otherwise life will be a fail-
ure,  and later the stern whip of necessity will be applied to goad him into
action.

   Question:   If Neptune is in Pisces in the twelfth house and trine to the
Sun in the ninth, what will be the effect?

                          ASTROLOGY LESSON NO. 19A:

               THE ASPECTS AND PROPERTIES OF PLANETS AND SIGNS:

   In lesson No. 12 you completed the setting up of the horoscope for August
10, 1912, 4:00 P.M., N.Y. City.  We will now consider the subject of the as-
pects between the planets in this horoscope.

   When two planets are a certain number of degrees apart,  they are said to
be  in  aspect to each other.   Planets which are in aspect  are  very  much
stronger than otherwise, and the influences of the two planets blend so that
each has an effect upon the affairs ruled by the other.

                              TABLE OF ASPECTS:

   Planets are in aspect to each other provided--

   1ST.  That their distance apart in signs falls within any one of the
classifications in the following table.
   0 signs apart--Conjunction
   2 or 10 signs apart--Sextile
   3 or 9 signs apart--Square
   4 or 8 signs apart--Trine
   6 signs apart--Opposition
Same degree of declination, either North or South,--Parallel (P).

   2ND.  That they are also within orb of each other.
   The nature of an orb is as follows:   Each planet has invisible vehicles,
which  constitute  an aura about it so that its influence is felt  for  some
distance beyond its circumference.  This distance  is  spoken of as its orb.

       BIRTH CHART--AUG. 10, 1912--4 PM--LAT. 41 N.--LONG. 74 W.

MIDHEAVEN: Libra 22       SUN: Leo 17:48         SATURN: Gemini 2:55
11TH HOUSE: Scorpio 18    MOON: Cancer 19:55     URANUS: Aquarius 0:49R
12TH HOUSE: Sagitt. 9     MERCURY: Virgo 6:20R   NEPTUNE: Cencer 24:25
ASCENDANT: Sagitt. 28:20  VENUS: Leo 27:43       DRAGON'S HEAD: Aries 15:19
2ND HOUSE: Aquarius 6     MARS: Virgo 15:27      DRAGON'S TAIL: Libra 15:19
3RD HOUSE: Pisces 18      JUPITER: Sagitt. 5:38  PART OF FORTUNE:
                                                                Sagitt. 0:27

The size of the orb which is usually allowed in the case of the seven  plan-
ets in aspects between themselves is 6 degrees.   In aspects between the Sun
and Moon 8 degrees are allowed,  and the same for aspects between the Sun or
Moon and any one of the seven planets.

   Now to apply the above information,  we will examine several of the plan-
ets  in the above mentioned horoscope to find whether they are in aspect  to
one  another or not.   You will notice in the accompanying cut of the  horo-
scope  that in the outer circle we have placed figures which  correspond  to
the numbers of the signs:  that is, Aries is sign No. 1;  Taurus is sign No.
2;  Gemini is sign No.  3,  etc.  In order to apply the first rule mentioned
above, namely, to find whether the distance in signs between any two planets
falls in one of the classifications in the Table of Aspects, we subtract the
numbers  of the two signs containing the two planets in question.   For  in-
stance,  Jupiter is in Sagittarius, the 9th sign, and Uranus is in Aquarius,
the 11th sign.   Subtracting 9 from 11 gives us 2,  and looking at our Table
of Aspects we find that two signs apart constitutes the sextile aspect.  Now
we still have to apply the second rule to ascertain whether these two  plan-
ets are within orb in order to finally determine whether or not there is  an
actual sextile aspect between them.  The degrees and minutes of the position
of Uranus are 0-49, and those of Jupiter are 5-38.

[PAGE 273]

Subtracting these two set of figures we find the difference to be 4  degrees
and 49 minutes.   As this is less than the 6 degrees noted above as the per-
missible orb, we see that both conditions noted in the above rules have been
compiled with, and therefore Jupiter is sextile aspect to Uranus.

   We will also examine Saturn and Uranus in the above horoscope to find out
whether  they  are in aspect to each other.   Saturn is in Gemini,  the  3rd
sign,  and Uranus is in Aquarius,  the 11th sign.   Subtracting 3 from 11 we
obtain 8 as the distance in signs between these two planets.  Looking at our
Table  of Aspects we note that this corresponds to the  trine.   Subtracting
0-49, the number of the degrees and minutes of the position of Uranus,  from
2-55,  that of Saturn,  we obtain 2 degrees and 6 minutes as the  difference
between  the two.   As this is less than 6 degrees,  these two  planets  are
within orb, and therefore Saturn is trine to Uranus.

   To make sure that the principle of aspecting is understood,  we will take
another example,  namely, that of the Moon and Mars.  The Moon is in Cancer,
the  4th sign,  and Mars is in Virgo,  the 6th sign.   Subtracting 4 from  6
gives  us two signs apart,  and by referring to the Table of Aspects we  see
that  this  is a sextile aspect provided that these two planets  are  within
orb.   The degrees and minutes of Mars are 15-27,  and those of the Moon are
19-55.   Subtracting these gives us 4-28, which being less than  8  degrees,
the allowable orb of the Moon,  shows that Mars and the Moon are within  orb
and therefore sextile to each other.

   In  determining  the aspects between planets it will be  noted  that  the
houses  have nothing to do with the matter whatever.   Neither does it  make
any  difference whether one or both of the two planets is in an  intercepted
sign,  such as Cancer and Capricorn in the above horoscope.   All we have to
do  is to subtract the sign numbers and then determine whether  the  planets
are within orb.

   If  we should wish to ascertain whether Neptune is in aspect to  Jupiter,
we subtract 4, the number of Cancer in which Neptune is placed, from 9,  the
number of Sagittarius in which Jupiter is located, and obtain 5 as a result.
Looking in our Table of Aspects we find that 5 signs apart do not constitute
an aspect.  Therefore there is no aspect between Neptune and Jupiter.

   Following  the above method we find the following aspects in addition  to
the ones noted above:  Mercury square Jupiter; Mercury square Saturn.

   The  square is an aspect of 90 degrees,  but as we allow an orb of 6  de-
grees (8 degrees for Sun or Moon) on either side of the 90 degrees,  planets
could  be in square aspect to each other anywhere from 84 degrees to 96  de-
grees apart.  In a like manner, the sextile could occur anywhere from 54 de-
grees to 66 degrees apart; or likewise, the trine aspect from 114 degrees to
126 degrees apart.

   In addition,  planets in the last 6 degrees of any sign must be  compared
with all planets in the first 6 degrees of other signs,  because they may be
in  aspect to each other without coming directly under the preceding  rules.
For instance, consider Venus and Saturn in the above horoscope.  Venus is in
the last 6 degrees of Leo,  and Saturn is in the first 6 degrees of  Gemini.
The method is as follows:  Add 6 degrees to the position of the planet which
is  in the last 6 degrees of its sign.   Adding 6 degrees to 27-43 Leo,  the
position of Venus,  gives us 3-43 Virgo.   Now if the resulting degrees  and
minutes  of Venus equal or exceed those of Saturn and also if the number  of
signs  between  Gemini  and the new position of Venus.  viz.   virgo,  falls
within one of the classifications in the Table of Aspects,  the two  planets
are  in  aspect to each other.   Applying these test we find that  Venus  is
square  to  Saturn.   We find also that Uranus is nearly  in  opposition  to
Neptune (6 degrees 24').   When one of the planets under consideration is in
the Sun or Moon, use 8 degrees instead of 6 wherever 6 occurs above,  on ac-
count of the orb of the Sun and Moon being 8 degrees.   Other examples  (not
in  this horoscope) of cases like the above are as follows:   Mars in  24-30
Aries is in conjunction with Venus in 0-30 Taurus; Mercury in 26-0 Taurus is
sextile Jupiter in 2-0 Leo;  Saturn in 27-0 Gemini is square the Moon in 5-0
Libra;  Neptune in 28-0 Cancer is trine the Sun in 6-0 Sagittarius; Venus in
28-30 Leo is in opposition to Mercury in 4-30 Pisces.

   There yet remain the parallels.   Two planets are parallel to each  other
when they are in the same degree of declination, either north or south; that
is, they may both be north declination, both south declination, or one north
and one south.   The orb of a parallel is 1 1/2 degrees.   The method of ob-
taining the parallels will be given farther on in this lesson.

   We will not examine the nature of the various aspects.   The sextile  and
the  trine are regarded as a benefic or favorable aspects.   They  represent
faculties  which we have built up in past lives,  and which enable us to  do
things  easily in this life.   Therefore they bring us a certain measure  of
success.   They  also represent destiny of a favorable character  which  has
been  created  by us in past lives and which is now ready for  our  reaping.
The  square and the opposition represents lessons which we have not  learned
in previous lives for some reason or other, and faculties which are still in

[PAGE 274]

a  partially developed state.   Therefore the chief lesson which we have  to
learn  in  the  present life comes through the square  and  the  opposition.
These  aspects also represent destiny of an adverse character which we  have
created for ourselves in past lives by ill-advised or destructive action  of
some  sort,  and  therefore this destiny is ready for  our  reaping  in  the
present life.  The conjunction sometimes falls in one class and sometimes in
the  other,  depending upon the nature of the planets which are in  conjunc-
tion.  If the natures of the two planets harmonize with each other, the con-
junction  is  benefic,  but  if  the  natures  of  the  two  planets  do not

                   TABLE OF CONJUNCTIONS AND THEIR NATURES:

BENEFIC:
Sun conjunct Venus, Jupiter
Venus conjunct Mercury, Moon, Jupiter
Mercury conjunct Moon, Jupiter, Neptune
Moon conjunct Jupiter, Neptune

ADVERSE:
Sun conjunct Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
Venus conjunct Saturn
Saturn conjunct Mars
Mars conjunct Uranus, Neptune

VARIABLE:
Sun conjunct Mercury, Moon, Mars
Venus conjunct Mars, Uranus, Neptune
Mercury conjunct Saturn, Mars, Uranus
Moon conjunct Saturn, Mars, Uranus
Saturn conjunct Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune
Jupiter conjunct Mars, Uranus, Neptune
Uranus conjunct Neptune

harmonize,  the conjunction is adverse in character.  However, the detrimen-
tal  effects  of an adverse conjunction are much mitigated and may  be  very
largely  removed provided good aspects are brought to it from other  planets
in the chart.

   Conjunctions in the "variable" column are sometimes benefic and sometimes
adverse.   For further information regarding them SEE SIMPLIFIED  SCIENTIFIC
ASTROLOGY.

   The parallel do not have so pronounced an effect as the other aspects ex-
cept  in the matter of health, upon which they have considerable  influence.
In some cases the parallel is considered to have the same effect as the con-
junction, in others the same as the opposition, and in still others the same
as the trine.

   It  should be carefully noted at this point that there is no evil in  any
planetary vibrations.   The only bad effects that can come from then is  the
result of our misuse of them or our inability to control them.   Any  planet
emits the same vibrations at all times.   The square and the opposition  be-
tween two planets, however, tend to incite to excess in the use of their vi-
brations,  and therefore to carry activities that come under their influence
to such an extreme that they become evil.   When one resists this  tendency,
however,  he  rules his stars and therefore avoids the  evil  effects.   The
planets  do nothing at all except to energize that which we have within  our
own auras.   The planets of themselves bring us neither good fortune or  bad
fortune.   They merely stimulate us to create for ourselves good or bad for-
tune in accordance with the character which we have created for ourselves in
the  past.   Adverse aspects bring temptations which will persist  until  we
have learned to overcome them.  Adverse aspects,  however,  bring us a great
deal  of valuable experience and enable us to develop spiritual  muscle.   A
horoscope which contains only benefic aspects makes the life insipid because
everything  comes so easily that one is deprived of incentive to action  and
therefore  fails  to get zest out of life.   A most hopeful  factor  in  the
situation is that adverse aspects may be transmuted into good ones by  over-
coming the evil tendencies which they produce.  If we succeed in doing this,
we will have a better horoscope in our next life because we have earned  it.
Thus do we progress in Evolution.

                      DIGNITIES, EXALTATIONS AND ANGLES:

   Planets are said to be "dignified"  in or to "rule"  certain signs  where
the nature of the planet and that of the sign agree.  When placed in the op-
posite sign, however, they are in their "detriment", because somewhat out of
harmony with their surroundings and therefore weaker than in other signs.

   Planets are said to be "exalted" in certain signs because they are power-
ful there.   When occupying the opposite signs,  however,  they are in their
"fall," hence not as strong.

   Students  should not get the idea from the above that the detriments  and
falls of the planets invalidate or destroy their influence.   A planet is  a
driving force no matter in what sign it is located,  and that force will op-
erate regardless of all other considerations.  Planets that are in the signs
of  their detriment and fall are a little handicapped in  their  activities,
and  therefore cannot get quite as good results as in more favorable  signs,
but  they  will always assert themselves to some degree  wherever  they  are
placed.  The following table shows the rulerships, exaltations,  detriments,
and falls of all the planets.

                          TABLE OF PLANETARY POWERS:

PLANET          RULES          DETRIMENT          EXALTATION       FALL


Sun        Leo                Aquarius             Aries           Libra
Venus      Taurus, Libra      Scorpio, Aries       Pisces          Virgo
Mercury    Gemini, Virgo      Sagitt., Pisces      Virgo           Pisces
Moon       Cancer             Capricorn            Taurus          Scorpio
Saturn     Capricorn, Aquar.  Cancer, Leo          Libra           Aries
Jupiter    Pisces, Sagitt.    Virgo, Gemini        Cancer          Capricorn  
Mars       Aries, Scorpio     Libra, Taurus        Capricorn       Cancer
Uranus     Aquarius           Leo                  Scorpio         Taurus
Neptune    Pisces             Virgo                Cancer          Capricorn

[PAGE 275]

                                   ANGLES:

   Planets in the angles of the horoscope, namely, the 1st,  4th,  7th,  and
10th houses, are said to be angular, and there exert a greater influence for
either good or ill than when located in the other houses.  The 1st house and
the 10th are the most powerful.   Planets in the 1st house,  particularly if
they are in the sign on the Ascendant, have a very strong influence upon the
personality  and  therefore a corresponding effect upon the  activities  and
destiny of the life.   A planet in the Midheaven,  that is,  the 10th house,
has  a strong influence upon one's position in life and general standing  in
the community.   This is also true if it is in the 9th house rather close to
the cusp of the 10th.

                       RULERS AND SIGN CLASSIFICATIONS:

                           RULER OF THE HOROSCOPE:

   The nominal ruler of the horoscope as a whole is the ruler of the sign on
the  Ascendant.   In the present horoscope Sagittarius is on the  Ascendant,
and therefore Jupiter is the nominal ruler.  In cases where the ruler of the
Ascendant is weak by position and aspect,  some other planet which is strong
in  these respects may be the real ruler and exert a greater influence  than
the nominal ruler.

                                HOUSE RULERS:

   The  ruler of the house is the planet which rules the sign on  its  cusp.
When  a house contains one or more planets,  the affairs of that  house  are
largely judged by those planets,  and the ruler of the house has only a sec-
ondary influence.  When a house has no planets in it, its affairs are judged
by the ruler of the house together with its positions and aspects.

                       QUADRUPLICITIES AND TRIPLICATES:

   The   signs   are   divided  into  two  general   groups,   namely,   the
quadruplicities and the triplicities.  The general qualities of the signs in
these groups are as follows:

QUADRUPLICITIES:

Cardinal Signs: Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn--Initiative, activity
Fixed Signs: Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius--Stability
Common Signs: Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces--Flexibility

TRIPLICITIES:

Fiery Signs: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius--Impulse, spiritual power
Earthy Signs: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn--Materialism
Airy Signs: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius--Intellectuality
Watery Signs: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces--Emotion, psychic qualities.

   Planets in Cardinal Signs form the following aspects:  conjunction,  when
in same sign; square, when 90 degrees (3 signs) apart; opposition,  when 180
degrees  (6 signs) apart.   Likewise,  planets in remaining  QUADRUPLICITIES
(Fixed and Common) form similar aspects when within orb.

   Planets in TRIPLICITIES (fire, earth, air and water signs) form trine as-
pects when within orbs allowed.  Sextile aspects are formed when planets are
in alternate signs (60 degrees or two signs apart) and in orb.

   Planets in first 6 or last 6 degrees of any signs must always be consider
separately as well as by classifications.

                               MINOR ELEMENTS:

                       DRAGON'S HEAD AND DRAGON'S TAIL:

   The  Dragon's Head has an influence similar to that of the Sun in  Aries,
and in Jupiterian in effect.   The Dragon's Tail has an influence similar to
that  of Saturn though weaker.   The only aspect which is considered in  the
case of the Dragon's Head and Tail is the conjunction,  and an orb of only 3
degrees  is allowed.   The position of the Dragon's Head is coped  from  the
Ehpemeris without calculation, the Dragon's Tail being directly opposite.

                                INTERCEPTION:

   Planets  in  intercepted  signs  (such  as  Cancer  or Capricorn  in  our
horoscope) do not exert their full influence in the early part of life as  a
rule.   Their possibilities are latent.   But when by progression they  have
moved out of the intercepted area their influence becomes fully active.

                               RETROGRADATION:

   Retrograde planets, that is, planets which are apparently moving backward
in the signs (this movement is only apparent, not real) are not as clear-cut
in their action as planets which are direct, that is, those which are moving
forward in the signs.

                     ASPECTS TO ASCENDANT AND MIDHEAVEN:

   Aspects to the Ascendant,  which represents the body,  have an  influence
upon  the health.   Aspects to the Midheaven (M.C.) indicate the  nature  of
one's opportunities for spiritual advancement.   But since the exact time of
birth is rarely known, and since a small error in this makes several degrees
difference in the Ascendant or Midheaven,  predictions made from aspects  to
these points are likely to be unreliable.

                          TABLE OF CRITICAL DEGREES:

Cardinal Signs--Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn; 1st, 13th and 26th degrees.
Fixed Signs--Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius; 9th and 21st degrees.
Common Signs--Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces; 4th and 17th degrees.

   When  a planet is within an orb of 3 degrees of any of these  points,  it
will  be  found  to  exercise  a  much  stronger  influence in the life that

[PAGE 276]

otherwise.

   NOTE:--The  Minor  Elements described above are all of  secondary  impor-
tance.

                                    INDEX:

   All the information which we have worked out above regarding the aspects,
dignities,   exaltations,   angles,   triplicities,   quadruplicities,   and
rulerships  is  now to be collected and placed in a diagram or  index.   One
page seventeen is cut which shows this index made out for the horoscope  un-
der consideration.  From it we see that Neptune and the Moon are in cardinal
signs; the Sun, Venus and Uranus are in fixed signs; Saturn, Mars,  Mercury,
and Jupiter are in common signs.  Also, the Sun,  Venus,  and Jupiter are in
fiery signs;  Mars and Mercury are in earthy signs; Saturn and Uranus are in
airy signs; Neptune and the Moon are in watery signs.

   We also note that Jupiter,  Uranus,  the Moon,  the Sun,  and Mercury are
dignified;  Neptune and Mercury are exalted; Uranus,  Neptune,  and the Moon
are angular; and Jupiter is the ruler of the horoscope.

   It  now remains to determine the parallels and insert them in the  index.
In order to do this, we take our Ephemeries for Aug. 10, 1912, and copy out
 
                                  INDEX:

ELEMENTS:

Cardinal:         Moon, Neptune, Dragon's Head, Dragon's Tail, MC.
Fixed:            Uranus, Sun, Venus
Common:           Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, Mars, Part of Fortune, ASC.
Fiery:            Jupiter, Sun, Venus, Part of Fortune, Dragon's Head, ASC.
Earthy:           Mercury, Mars
Airy:             Uranus, Saturn, Dragon's Tail, MC.
Watery:           Moon, Neptune
Dignified:        Jupiter, Uranus, Moon, Sun, Mercury
Exalted:          Neptune, Mercury
Angular:          Uranus, Moon, Neptune
Critical Degree:  Jupiter, Mercury, Neptune, Saturn, Mars
Ruler:            Jupiter

DECL.:          ASPECTS:

Sun: 15:37
Venus: 13:47    square Saturn
Mercury: 5:17   square Jupiter, square Saturn, parallel Mars
Moon: 26:45     conjunct Neptune, sextile Mars
Saturn: 18:46   trine Uranus, square venus, square Mercury, 
                opposition Jupiter
Jupiter: 20:42  sextile Uranus, opposition Saturn, square Mercury,
                conjunct Part of Fortune, parallel Uranus, Neptune
Mars: 6:40      sextile Moon, parallel Mercury
Uranus: 20:34   trine Saturn, sextile Jupiter, parallel Jupiter, Neptune
Neptune: 20:45  conjunct Moon, parallel Jupiter, Uranus
Dragons's Head:
Dragon's Tail:
Asc.: 23:26     trine Venus
MC.: 8:29       sextile Sun, sextile venus, square Moon, square Neptune
Part of
Fortune: 20:20  conjunct Jupiter, sextile Uranus, square Venus, 
                square Mercury

the  declinations for the noon positions placing them in the  column  marked
"Decl,"  as shown in the Index.   No calculation is required for the planets
except in the case of the fast-moving Moon.   Its declination should be cal-
culated by the logarithmic method as follows:

Moon's Decl. at noon Aug. 10          27 degrees 45 minutes  
Moon's Decl. at noon Aug. 11          25 degrees 05 minutes
                                      -------------
Moon's travel on G.M.T. Day            2 degrees 40 minutes
Logarithm of travel  .9542
Permanent Logarithm  .4260
Sum of logarithms  1.3802
Equivalent of logarithm... 1 degree 0 minutes

Moon's Decl. at noon Aug. 10 .........27 degrees 45 minutes
Equivalent of logarithm................1 degrees 00 minutes
                                      -------------
Declination of Moon at birth..........26 degrees 45 minutes

   To find the declination of the Part of Fortune, Ascendant,  or Midheaven,
first  take the longitude as shown in the chart.   Then find the date  (same
year preferred) that the Sun was in the same degree (or nearest that degree)
and  sign.   Note the date and see the declination of the Sun on that  date.
That represents the declination of the point in question.   For example,  in
the chart we are considering, we find the Ascendant in Sagittarius 28-20 de-
grees.   We take our ephemeries for 1912 and find that the Sun was in  28-16
of Sagittarius on December 20th.   Now in the column of declination of plan-
ets,  on  December  20th,  we see the  Sun's  declination  is  23-26.   This
represents the declination of the Ascendant.

   The orb allowed for the parallels is 1 1/2 degrees.   In order to  deter-
mine whether a certain planet is parallel to any other planet we first  sub-
tract  the two declinations;  if the result is 1 1/2 degrees or less,  these
two  planets are parallel to each other.  In the present case we  note  that
the Sun's declination is 15-37.  Comparing this with all of the other decli-
nations,  we find that there is no case in which the difference is less than
1 1/2 degrees;  therefore the Sun has no parallels.  In the case of Mercury,
whose declination is 6-40,  the difference is 1-23, which is less than 1 1/2
degrees; therefore Mercury is parallel to Mars.  Similarly, we find the fol-
lowing parallels:   Jupiter parallel (P) Uranus;  Jupiter parallel  Neptune;
Uranus parallel Neptune.

   These parallels have been inserted in the index under the heading of "As-
pects," on the right hand side of the diagram.

                            WORK FOR THE STUDENT:

   We  would  like you to take the horoscope for September  15,  1912,  2:00
A.M.,  New York City, begun in lesson 5, and complete it.  Then work out the
aspects  and other properties and make a complete index for  that  horoscope
exactly  after the pattern which has been illustrated in the cut  above  for
the horoscope of August 10,  1912.

[PAGE 277]

                          ASTROLOGY LESSON NO. 19B:

                            READING THE HOROSCOPE:

   This lesson will be devoted to reading the chart for August 10,  1912,  4
P.M.  which was indexed in Lesson 19A.  We will number the various steps  of
the delineation so that they may be referred to as required.   The page ref-
erences below are to "The Message of the Stars."

                      NO. 1 THE RULER OF THE HOROSCOPE:

   The ruler of this chart is Jupiter, because Jupiter is the ruler of  Sag-
ittarius, the sign on the Ascendant.  Jupiter being dignified in Sagittarius
is an additional reason why it is the ruler of the chart.  For the effect of
Jupiter  as ruler we turn to page 424,  from which we obtain the  following:
People with the "jovial,  genial, and generous well aspected Jupiter as life
ruler are ensouled by a great desire for honor, respect, and esteem in their
community.  They are cordial, genial people with a jovial smile and a hearty
handshake.   They are law abiding but inclined to temper their justice  with
mercy;  and while they themselves live lives beyond reproach they are  kind,
forgiving,  and lenient to those of a weaker mortality.   They  are  philan-
thropic and always ready to give to charity and benevolent work."  The above
gives us a little picture of this personality.

   On  page 447 we find the influence on the life work when Jupiter  is  the
life ruler:  "Jupiter as life ruler signifies success in the professions, as
a lawyer,  judge,  clergyman, ambassador, congressman, or in their positions
of public trust;  also as a banker,  financial agent,  physician,  or social
worker."

                 NO. 2  ASCENDANT AND TYPE OF PHYSICAL BODY:

   To ascertain the type of body given by Sagittarius rising we turn to page
104,  where we find the following:  "People born with Sagittarius rising are
tall, the men in particular have large hands and feet.  The face is long and
well formed,  the nose well proportioned, dark kindly eyes,  and dark  hair.
The body is very active but requires must rest,  as the recuperative  powers
are below the average."

                          NO. 3 SIGNS ON THE ANGLES:

   We  find common signs on the first and seventh angles and cardinal  signs
on the fourth and tenth angles.  This indicates a mixture of flexibility and
initiative in the personality,  the common signs being of a flexible nature,
and the cardinal signs giving enterprise and initiative.

                           NO. 4 THE INDIVIDUALITY:

   For this we look to the Sun, the sign in which it is placed,  and its as-
pects.   Here we find the Sun in Leo.  The characteristics given by this po-
sition may be found on page 152,  as follows:   "The Sun in Leo gives a mas-
terful  nature with a large measure of self-control,  a keen sense of  honor
and a never-failing integrity.  The person aspires to rule others, but would
scorn to take a mean advantage.  The affections are deep and lasting.  These
people are staunch defenders of those whom they love,  but equally strong in
their aversions.   Whatever they do is done with a concentration of  purpose
which compels success."   Additional information in regard to the character-
istics of the Sun in Leo is given on page 126,  as follows:   "The sign  Leo
confers a noble,  ambitious,  and aspiring nature.  Leo people are loyal and
true  friends  through thick and thin.   Leo is a fixed sign and  gives  its
children considerable will power so that they are usually able to win  their
way to the top despite all handicaps and obstacles."

   We have to note particularly, however, that the Sun is unaspected in this
chart,  and therefore it is very weak.  The above characteristics of the Sun
in  Leo  will still be evidence to a certain extent,  but they will  not  be
strong and forceful.  They will be rather negative in character.

                            NO. 5 THE PERSONALITY:

   The  personality  is quite largely indicated by the Ascendant,  the  life
ruler, and the Moon with its sign and aspects.

Continued with file "RC4016.TXT"

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