I’ve moved the weekly forecast to a new site, Examiner.com.
(Astrology Explored) Our Christmas traditions, the Christmas Tree and Mistletoe go back our ancient roots as a species. Wikipedia reports the Christmas Tree was a tradition tied to the Winter Solistice as far back as the Chaldean culture.
From Wikipedia:
“In the Chaldean custom, Tammuz, son of the sun god Nimrod and the virgin mother Semiramus, was known as Zero-Ashta, “The seed of the woman,” and also Ignigena, or “born of the fire”. At the time of the winter solstice, the past sun god would die, his branches stripped from him – and one piece, the seed, would enter the fire on “Mother-night” as a log. The next morning, the new triumphant sun god was born from the fire as a tree, the “Branch of God”, who was celebrated for bringing divine gifts to men.
In the Bible, Jeremiah the prophet admonishes those who dare to erect such a pagan artifact: “Thus saith the Lord, learn not the way of the heathen…For the customs of the people are vain; for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.” (Jeremiah 10:2-6)”
Egyptians carried through the same tradition by bringing in fronds of palm trees into their homes and the Romans set up fir trees and decorated them with pieces of metal.
Ancient Celts would decorate with greenery from evergreen trees and burn a log on the solstice, celebrating the perpetual cycle of life, the death of the old Sun god and the birth of the new on the Solstice.
From Wikipedia
“The fir tree has a long association with Christianity, it began in Germany almost 1,000 years ago when St Boniface, who converted the German people to Christianity, was said to have come across a group of pagans worshipping an oak tree. In anger, St Boniface is said to have cut down the oak tree and to his amazement a young fir tree sprung up from the roots of the oak tree. St Boniface took this as a sign of the Christian faith.”
While we might be amazed that a fir tree sprang up from the destruction of an oak tree, Celtic “pagans” would not. They observed a similar thing in nature. Mistletoe is a partly parasitical plant that would spring up on woodland trees, sprouting from the seeds consumed and excreted by the bird called the mistle who found the berries of the mistletoe especially tasty. While the Celts didn’t understand the full mechanics of the parasite, they considered it to be “the soul of the tree”. Druids especially revered the Mistletoe gathered from their sacred oaks. Most likely, because Druids were prone to do this with all manner of herbs, barks and berries, they made a wine from the berries for use during Solstice rituals. Though we do not know the particulars of these rituals it isn’t a stretch to imagine why the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe became a holiday favorite.
Happy Holidays!
Other posts on Christmas Traditions:
Astrology, History and Bad Uses of Prophecy
The Astrology of Christmas: Dickens and Scrooge
Hint: Play Video as you read
Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky
Are like shooting stars
I could really use a wish right now (wish right now, wish right now)
Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky
Are like shooting stars
I could really use a wish right now (wish right now, wish right now)We don’t need airplanes to make a wish on a shooting star with the annual Geminids meteor shower playing through the skies from December 7 through the 21th with the December 13th and 14th being the crescendo of the display.
This year is favorable for the Geminids, the year’s grand finale for meteor-watchers. As a general rule, it’s either the Geminids or the August Perseids that give us the most prolific meteor display of the year. Unlike many meteor showers, you can start watching for the Geminids around 9 to 10 p.m. – in years when the moon is out of the sky. The waxing gibbous moon interferes during the evening hours this year, and doesn’t set till around midnight. However, this shower tends to gain strength after midnight and to climax at roughly 2 o’clock in the morning, when the shower’s radiant point is highest in the sky. So look for the Geminids to be at their best after moonset. Geminid meteor maximums commonly rearch 50 or more meteors per hour.
The Geminids are so named because the meteors seem to radiate from the constellation of Gemini. However, they are in fact caused by the Earth crossing the dusty debris trail of an asteroid (or possibly an extinct comet) called 3200 Phaethon, which then enters and incinerates in the Earth’s atmosphere producing the spectacular Geminids Meteor Shower.
The Geminids are unique in the Solar System in that most annual meteor showers are identified with active comets, where as the Geminids are thought to be caused by the Palladian asteroid known as 3200 Phaethon. It has been speculated that when Phaeton was young it got caught in Saturn’s orbit and now passes by the Earth every year leaving behind its debris trail.
In mythology the story of Phaeton is a story of young man driven to prove himself regardless of the consequences. Phaeton was the son of Helios, the god of the sun, who drove his shiny chariot drawn by four fiery and powerful steeds across the sky each day to light and warm the earth. Phaeton’s mother was a mortal woman who raised Phaeton alone. An apparently fatherless boy, Phaeton was given quite a hard time by the other boys. Phaeton begged his mother to give him his father’s name. Reluctantly, his mother agreed. Not quite believing his mother he undertook the journey to his father’s palace, where his father greeted him and acknowledged him as his son.
Phaethon was exuberant. He father was an important and influential god, and the boy was no doubt awed by the power that Helios wielded. So Phaethon did something rash – he asked his father for a favor. Helios, thrilled at meeting his young son, immediately agreed, without even knowing what the boy would ask. However, this fatherly attempt at affection was to have unfortunate consequences. For Phaethon wanted to drive the Sun-god’s chariot across the sky. Knowing the folly of the request, but unable to take back his gift, Helios was forced to comply.
In the folly of youth, Phaeton leaped upon the chariot and grabbed hold of the reins. The horses sensing the inexperienced hand as they rose up over the earth ran out of control and dipped too close scorching the wide swatch of area we know now as the Sahara. Zeus, seeing the danger, sent a thunderbolt to stop the chariot and Phaeton was struck down. HIs broken body fell into the Eridanus river, were he was mourned by his sisters. Their grief was so intense, Zeus transformed them into trees, Weeping Willows.
This two week period is a bridge between now and the winter solstice. During this time Mercury, which represents young people, moves in retrograde motion past Pluto, Mars and the Sun. In Celtic astrology, the solstice represents the death of the old sun and the birth of the new sun of the year, a very potent myth that I’ll reprint shortly. Astrologically we see the journey of Phaeton to his father’s palace and in the granting of his wish Phaeton’s violent transformation. This tranformation effects not only his life by that his community, that of his sisters, as well. The Geminid meteor shower falls against this astrological backdrop highlighting a need to be careful what you wish for.
Christmas Carol Frontispiece First Edition
An enduring classic is Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol in Prose, Being a Ghost Story of Christmas”. It has been made and remade cinematically many times. My first exposure to the story was as a child the Mr. Magoo cartoon of this story that played year after year at Christmas time. It scared the bejeezus out of me, especially when Scrooge’s doorknocker morphed into the twisted grimace of his former partner, Marley. Maybe is takes an Aquarian, like Dickens, to associate ghosts and Christmas, but perhaps its timeless quality can be attributed, in part to themes that resonates with the planets.
Dickens’ popular novels were written against the backdrop of Victorian England and the Industrial Revolution. As a child, his father’s profligate spending of the family financial resources sent his father to debtor’s prison, and Dickens himself into a shoe polish factory as a young child to support himself and also to provide some support to his family. It was these experiences that shaped a not inaccurate worldview that the working class bore a disproportionate share of the burdens of his society. In “A Christmas Carol’ Dickens’ touched on this theme briefly. However, the main theme is the one we remember well, that the vain pursuit of money does not bring happiness.
So what metaphors did Dickens use to bring his themes to life? If one looks even as a passing glance, you will find the themes of the Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto.
As you remember, Marley, Scrooge’s long deceased business partner visits him on the night of the anniversary of his death, Christmas Eve.
Because Marley lived only for the pursuit of money, having done nothing of worth for his fellow man, he was doomed to walk the earth, alone, until the end of time wearing the heavy chains of sin that he forged during his lifetime. Marley warns Scrooge that his fate would be the same if he didn’t mend his ways. To drive the point home, Marley arranged for a spiritual intervention. Three ghosts would visit Scrooge during the night. Scrooge believes none of it, thinking he is hallucinating from bad food.
The ghost of Christmas Past wakes Scrooge from his sleep and takes him on a tour of childhood, including sad experiences from his life that turned Scrooge’s once bright and cheery nature to that of a crotchety miser. The planet Saturn represents these experiences of want, deprivation and frustrated desire. Saturn is a stern taskmaster though the experiences wrought by this planet are meant to mature the soul not sour it.
“Spirit!” said Scrooge in a broken voice, “remove me from this place.”
“I told you these were shadows of the things that have been,” said the Ghost. “That they are what they are, do not blame me!”
“Remove me!” Scrooge exclaimed, “I cannot bear it!”
The second ghost, that of Christmas Present, is an incarnation of the planet Jupiter, which brings bounty and gifts of the spirit. The things that this spirit showed Scrooge were of hope for better things despite the difficulties of earthly living. But underneath the robes of this generous spirit are two piteous looking children.
“Spirit, are they yours?” Scrooge could say no more.
“They are Man’s,” said the Spirit, looking down upon them. “And they cling to me, appealing from their fathers. This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both, and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased.
The last ghost, showing Scrooge his own death and his final resting place, is a metaphor for the planet Pluto. Pluto represents transformations, including the earthly transformation of physical death. Astrologically, Plutonian experience strips away everything except our essential selves, forcing us to look at who we really are. Scrooge is given the benefit of seeing the ultimate result of his earthly life, that of pity from his poorer relations and the scorn of the community. In this last profound experience he entreats the spirit:
“Spirit!” he cried, tight clutching at its robe, “hear me. I am not the man I was. I will not be the man I must have been but for this intercourse. Why show me this, if I am past all hope?”
He attempts to make this bargain as the spirit brings him to his grave topped with a single unadorned stone:
“I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach. Oh, tell me I may sponge away the writing on this stone!”
Dickens wrote this piece as transiting Saturn sat on top of Dicken’s planet of communications, Mercury, transiting Jupiter sat on his Sun, his essential essence, and transiting Pluto was in friendly energetic connection with his Sun, and in challenge aspect to his natal Mercury. These planets were lighting up his chart like a Christmas tree, so he was especially in tune with their energies.
The processes of the planets Saturn, Jupiter and Pluto are meant to uplift the spirit. Many of us have been experiencing difficult times, or we know of people who, sadly, are living through such difficulties. As Scrooge learned, all we have are each other. Our lives are only enriched by sharing it with others.
Publishing Date of the Christmas Carol
"The First Thanksgiving at Plymouth" By Jennie A. Brownscombe.
The folks who landed and settled Plymouth, MA, and who we call pilgrims in actuality were religious rebels who outwardly criticized Queen Elizabeth the First for trying to unite England under one religion. For Elizabeth, this uniformity was a political necessity as fractious civil wars between Catholics and Protestants (in our terminology) nearly tore apart the country prior to her reign. Though the Puritan’s religious beliefs were an offshoot of Protestantism, the Puritan’s civil disobedience was a wound to Elizabeth’s attempt to restore order in a country bleeding from the disputes of the past. As a result of the censure of their actions many members fled to Holland and eventually settled in Leyden, Netherlands which was much more religiously tolerant than England. However, though they lived there for a little over a decade, they became increasingly uncomfortable with the local culture, considering the Dutch “libertine” and with their children’s assimilation of Dutch culture. The Puritans decided it was time to leave the Netherlands, but where to go was the question.
On July 29, 1619 an English government patent was issued to John Wincob for a colony to be established at the northern borders Virginia colony but negotiations with the London Company over the territory to be settled stalled. In February of 1620 a London merchant, Tom Weston, approached the Leyden refugees with offers of funding the new settlement with the backing of seventy other merchants with assurances he could resolve the difficulties with the London Company. One John Pierce got involved and all of sudden the new colony was to be settled at the mouth of the Hudson River.
Even with stories of the difficulties of the previously established Virginia colony, and the native population the members of the Leyden community decided that the colony could make fishing a commercial venture. They even secured a boat for that purpose. A number of refugees boarded their purchased ship, The Speedwell and made for the meeting with the famous Mayflower . . .except the boat leaked. Here is the story:
“ . . .the Pilgrims sailed from Delfthaven in the “Speedwell” for Southampton. At Southampton the “Mayflower” had been receiving her stores and outfit for a week when the “Speedwell” arrived. The two vessels left Southampton August 15, 1620, but put back to Dartmouth about August 23rd, on account of the alleged leakage of the “Speedwell.” The voyage was resumed about September 2d. When about three hundred miles off Land’s End, the Captain of the “Speedwell” again reported his craft leaking. After consultation they put back to Plymouth (England). Here the “Speedwell” was returned to the Adventurers (the London merchants), and eighteen of her passengers went back in her. The remainder of the Pilgrims, one hundred and two in numbers, sailed from Plymouth for the New World in the “Mayflower” September 16, 1620.”
The sailing however did not proceed smoothly. Halfway to their destination during a violent sea storm, a main beam cracked and there was discussions about turning back. The ship was repaired enough with a “great iron screw” most likely a piece of construction equipment brought by the colonists. Even then, when they first spotted land they encountered difficulties in trying to sail around Cape Cod, encountering shoals, so they turned back and landed in what came to be called Provincetown Harbor.
So what is with all the delays and travel problems and the eventual voiding of the charter? The patent granted to John Wincob was made on a day Mercury was retrograde, that legendary period where it is not wise to sign legal documents since they will not hold up. Not only is Mercury retrograde it is in stress aspect (inconjunct) to the Moon in Aquarius, and conjunct the Sun in Gemini.
But even in Mercury Retrograde state, the June 19 date was a seed of the New Republic to come some 150 years down the road. The Gemini Sun of the Charter date touches the inner rim of the stellium of planets that runs from the Mars position 21 degrees of Gemini to the North Node in Gemini in the chart of the United States. The Libra Moon of the charter date is most likely conjunct the U.S, Saturn in Libra, the planet of our traditions. This is why the story of the Pilgrims is told and celebrated as part of our national identity in the national feast of Thanksgiving.
(Astrology Explored) Aries—The stars favors discussions with significant others. This may be what you need to help you get over the hump with relationship issues.
Taurus—The full moon in your sign this weekend hits a part of fortune spot, a lucky break if you will. Relationship issues are the impetus you need to define your true heart’s desire.
Gemini—The health issue of a significant other causes concern on your part, but also highlights the strength of your bond.
Cancer—Clinging to outworn methods or ideas prevents the implementation of needed changes. Sometimes, dear Crab, you have to go with the flow.
Leo—This holiday the action and the attention swirls around you. You enjoy the company of friends and family.
Virgo—When it is time for company to come over you swing into full Virgo let’s clean until its perfect mode. Truth is no one’s home is perfect and sweating the details only wears you out.
Libra—You may be sweating the intentions of that on again, off again sweetie. Trying to take a few swings using their bat, however, will backfire on you. Chill.
Scorpio—All work and no play makes for one weak immune system. Give yourself a little down time to restore energy.
Sagittarius—Your good looks and natural charms help you catch the interest of a real hottie. Now that you’ve caught ‘em do you want to keep ‘em?
Capricorn—The hours before the full moon gives you some powerful emotional support from an important person in your life.
Aquarius—Get as much rest as possible to stave off a possible health problems. Sometimes you do drive yourself too hard.
Pisces—This weekend features some powerful insights on the behavior of others as you comtemplate the upcoming holidays. However, it is best to keep these to yourself.
Aries—Wild things run fast, or that’s at least what Joni Mitchell sings. Truth is, Aries, it’s your mouth that runneth over this week, so don’t look surprised when your friends’ eyes glaze over.
Taurus—A bit of luck falls in your lap, though it won’t seem that way at first. You have to polish that bit of coal to get a diamond.
Gemini—Recipe for the week. Open mouth, insert foot. Repeat. This is usually an Aries recipe but this week you have the honors.
Cancer—Relationships provide a special opportunity for growth. That’s a nice way of saying suck it up!
Leo—The family has lots of plans for your paycheck. None of it includes what you want. Surprise!
Virgo—Young people are out and about and wander away from your watchful eye. Pay special attention to their movements as they aren’t about to tell you where they are really going.
Libra—While you have the urge to merge, emotional issues tend to get in the way. Provide some sympathy with that tea.
Scorpio—Take care of nagging minor health issue before it blows up into a serious matter.
Sagittarius—After all these years, Archer, you should understand that when a woman says “go ahead, do it” she means “go ahead, do it and see what happens.” This is your only heads up.
Capricorn—Past loves occupy your thoughts when new opportunities should dominate. Rethink your priorities.
Aquarius—Though opportunities exist to improve your financial situation, you let self doubt hold you back. Don’t!
Pisces—People in authority support your goals, so don’t be waylaid by the derisive comments of jealous people.
“(Astrology Explored)
People were waiting in line and nobody was telling them what was happening,”
State Rep. Chris Caruso said he saw people leaving one polling place without voting.
“This was a major violation of their rights,” he said. “Most of them were African-Americans.”
As the gubernatorial race in Connecticut hung in the balance on November 2, the City of Bridgeport, the most populous city in the state, came to center stage because of a ballot snafu. The voting registrars, in a misguided attempt to save money ordered only 21,000 ballots despite the fact that 69,000 voters were registered in the city and that 38,000 of them voted in 2006 presidential election.
Mundane astrology is the branch of the science of the stars that attempts answers the questions of the fate of nations and cities. Could have astrology predicted such a grand mistake?
The first step when trying to answer any mundane question is determining a date to use as a “birthdate.” For this we look for official documents that establish the nation, state, or city as a sovereign entity. Bridgeport has a long history being established as part of the colonial settlement of Stratford in 1639. Bridgeport was charted as a city by the State Legislature on May 4, 1836 and its city charter was signed a month later on June 4, 1836. In the book, Horoscopes of US States and Cities by Carol Hobson, she lists the June 4th date since it was a legal document that was signed. Multiple inception dates are not unusual for nations, states or cities since there are often multiple events which signal a significant change in the status of a such an entity. The question often becomes which “birth date” best predicts the likely outcome of an event.
Which date then holds up?
The May 4th date gives us a Taurus Sun and Mercury. While economy conscious, Taurus always makes sure there are enough resources to go around. If need be, Taurus will save for a “rainy” day and then as if by magic comes up with the needed resource at the proper time. So clue one here seems to nix the idea of the May 4 date from the beginning. Another indication is a very fortunate grand trine from the planet of money, Venus in Gemini to Saturn 1 degree of Scorpio to Uranus 4 degrees of Pisces. Ups and downs in the financial front would be weathered by reasoning (Gemini), conservation (Saturn) and cutting edge thinking (Uranus). No, this is not the chart of a city that would be caught short.
The June 6 date gives us a Sun in Gemini sitting along side the planet of deep wounds, Chiron. This Sun is in challenge aspect (square) Uranus. That Uranus is trine Mercury and Jupiter in Cancer. Cancer likes to hold on to resources, to save rather than spend, so meshed with Mercury the thinking processes runs along those line. The planet of money, Venus, is in stress aspect to the natal Moon in Aquarius. Aquarius is the sign of the people, the collective. So here is city that despite being in one of the richest states of the nation, shorts the people in the quest to save that penny! This indeed sound likes the scenario we saw with the shortage of ballots in Bridgeport. Using this chart we see Neptune as in the sky right now sitting on top of the Moon in Aquarius kicking off a sense of confusion regarding the needs of the people.
The second chart then, the one proposed by Ms. Hobson would seem to be one the use in Mundane matters. Unless, of course, you like the first one. in which case manipulative transiting Pluto conjuncts the natal Moon in Capricorn. This would tell us the ballot shortage was a deliberate act to control the vote. But we don’t believe that, do we?
Date Bridgeport Charted by State
Bridgeport City Charter Signed
(Astrology Explored) Mark your calendar! The Astrological Society of Connecticut is holding its quarterly New Age Fair.
WHEN: November 21, 2010
10 AM to 4 PM
WHERE: The Keeney Memorial Center
200 Main Street
Old Wethersfield, CT
The most popular feature of the fair is the metaphysical readings given by a wide range of practitioners: Tarot readers, astrologers and intuitives. Get here early to sign up for a slot. They go fast!
In addition there is a variety of vendors as well as body workers practicing reflexology, massage and reiki.
Lecture Schedule
11:00 a.m. Myth and Astrology – Beth Turnage
We’ll look at the grand ancient myths and use them to enhance our understanding of how the planets work in our lives.
Beth is a professional astrologer with over twenty four years experience counseling clients in career and relationship issues. She writes a weekly astrology column for the Shore Line Times and the popular astrology blog, Astrology Explored.
Vendor at New Age Fair
1:00 p.m.The Oracle Glass: A Centuries Old Tale of the Tarot
– Lisa Morrison
Are you fascinated by the esoteric imagery of the Tarot cards? Do you like Tarot readings? Are you a follower of secret traditions? Egyptians, Greeks, Gypsies, Moors, Templars and magicians have each been mystically creditted with the Tarot’s invention. Whoever the creators were, the legacy of the Tarot today is rich in meaning and hidden history. Come explore one thread of the Tarot’s evolution through the lens of Medieval and Renaissance Europe. Learn about the masters who painted decks, their intentional blending of different mystical traditions and the specific cards they created at that time. After that how will you look into the Oracle Glass? Will you be amazed by the beauty of the reflective image or view through the Tarot a mysterious mirror of Fate?
Lisa Morrison is Tarot and Rune reader who offers Goddess healings and Past Life facilitation. She frequently teaches classes on Renaissance art, Medieval history, Mediterranean goddesses, female Shamanism and the Grail. Lisa studied and taught these subjects in Italy where she lead tours to sacred sites in Tuscany and Veneto. She has traveled throughout the Mediterranean Sea. You can contact Lisa Morrison at 203-248-8767 or email CelticHorseWoman@live.com to request workshops, presentations, parties and Goddess healing sessions.
2:00 p.m. Enlightenment Made Simple – Dave Bognar
Author and researcher David Bognar talks about his new book “Enlightenment’, a revealing synthesis of psychology, science, and spiritual masters on the topic of spiritual enlightenment. It summarizes the answers to the “big questions of life” and explores the “secret” of enlightenment, and why, ultimately, there is nothing to fear.
“Enlightenment” is an intriguing and practical understanding of our true nature and the worlds we live in. It combines meta-physics and quantum mechanics with a fundamental missing ingredient — the psychology of spirituality. The talk will also explore the role of emotions, and the practical psychology behind making popular spiritual techniques work. “Enlightenment” is a field guide to emotional well-being and spiritual enlightenment.
Author info David Bognar is a researcher/writer who researched, wrote and produced the award winning documentary Cancer: Increasing Your Odds for Survival hosted by Walter Cronkite where he first presented leading edge research on mind/body medicine and spirituality. Enlightenment reports on the culmination of his life long quest and 40 years of research into the big questions of life, death and the nature of reality.
3:00 p.m. Meeting Your Guides – Jennifer Page
Today Jennifer will speak about cleaning and claiming our own energy field, our guides, and differentiating between our own emotions and fears vs. our intuitive insights. She will then guide us on a meditation to one of her favorite journeys, to our own “Temple in the Clouds.”
Jennifer Page has over 20 years experience working in the metaphysical arena, her spiritual awareness began when she was a child. Between the guidance of the Masters and the playfulness of the fairies; Jennifer is aware of how important it is to remain balanced between the spiritual world and our daily lives. Growing up in this manner Jennifer has learned to overcome challenges that sensitive people often experience. It is her goal to assist others in their learning process so they can harness their abilities and become the powerful, unique person they are meant to be. Jennifer utilizes her experiences, Reiki, hypnosis, NLP and intuition in this process.
Admission is free. Free parking behind the building, on the street, and across the street behind the fire station. Proceeds go towards promoting the work of this 501(c)3 non-profit organization. For information, call the ASC InfoLine at (860) 568-8617 or email NAF@myASC.org.
Directions: Take I-91 to exit 26. Follow signs to Old Wethersfield Historical district. At the intersection of Main Street (flag pole), turn left. The hall is the third building down on left. Plenty of free parking in rear of building, on the street, and across the street behind the fire station. The fair is on the second floor.
(Astrology Explored) Have you ever had the experience of having certain aspects of your life change significantly when you moved to a radically different location? Did you find your once so-so love life perk up? Your normally quiet personality open up to be more friendly and inviting? Do you ever hear someone say “I was a different person living there?” Prominent astrologer and astrology researcher, Kenneth Irving will lecture at the Astrological Society of Connecticut explaining why this happens with a presentation about Astro*Carto*
Graphy, popularly known as location astrology, on November 18, 2010 at 7:00 PM.
According to traditional astrology and verified by the empirical studies of Michel Gauquelin, if a person is born when a planet was “angular”, that is hitting one of the four major angles of the astrology chart, that planet is prominent and influential in the birth chart. Jim Lewis, the developer of Astro*Carto*Graphy, took this basic astrological idea one step further. He studied the effect that moving to a different location changes the position of the planets within the birth chart. He postulated that if a person travels or visits a place where one of their natal planets hits an angle, that planet would have a prominent role in the person’s experience of that location.
Jim Lewis was unfortunately unable to complete a comprehensive book on the subject because of a terminal illness. Kenneth Irving agreed to work with Jim in the months before Lewis’ death and finished the work titled “The Psychology of Astro*Carto*Graphy”.
Kenneth Irving
Ken Irving is current editor of the monthly magazine Horoscope Guide and previously served as co-editor of American Astrology. Ken is on the editorial board of Correlation, served as Board President for UAC (United Astrology Conference) and has authored or co-authored articles, columns, and book reviews in a variety of publications. He has lectured at many national and international conferences since 1978 and is co-author of two books currently being reprinted: The Psychology of Astro*Carto*Graphy with the late Jim Lewis and The Tenacious Mars Effect with Suitbert Ertel. Ken’s websites are planetos.info and planetlines.com.
The ASC is one of the largest and most active local astrological organizations in the United States. A non-profit organization, the ASC is dedicated to educating people interested in astrology, sponsoring lectures, workshops, fund-raising fairs, and social activities.
The lecture will be held at the Keeney Memorial Center, 200 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT. Thursday evening lectures are free for ASC members, $10 for non-members; half price for students with valid There is a pre-lecture prior to the event presenting the concepts and terms that will discussed. The pre-lecture is free for ASC members, $5 for non-members; half price for students with valid ID . For more information go to http://www.myasc.org.
The ASC is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Contributions are tax-deductible.
NEW AGE FAIR—NOVEMBER 15, 2026
ASC’s popular New Age Fairs moved to a new location! We are now at the Pitkin Community Center, 30 Greenfield St., Wethersfield.
Admission is free. Free parking is available behind the building, the street, and the fire station.
Clink on this link for more information.
Astrology Blogger.
