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This concept was first published in 1976 in the book "Astrophysical Directions" from research I had done in earlier years. At the time the only astrologers I was aware of interested in this topic were my two friends Charles A. Jayne and Theodore Landscheidt. Of the two, Landscheidt was more up on what was happening in modern astrophysics. I consider Landscheidt’s book “Cosmic Cybernetic” perhaps the only astrology book I would take with me to the desert island. It is that important. I hope we can have some discussion on the this approach.
The sky above us has not changed much in millions of years, but how we see that sky and how much of it we see has changed forever in our lifetimes. A revolution in astronomy has taken place, as astronomers and physicists venture beyond the visual spectrum and began to see the actual shape and form of the universe. The pinpoint stars that we have been staring at for centuries are literally just the tip of the iceberg, like the eyes in the human body. The shape of the body of the universe itself has now been partially revealed and it is beautiful indeed.
Astrologers have always followed astronomical research (such as the discovery of Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, etc.) with open ears and with a mind to interpret what this or that astronomical discovery might mean astrologically. We now have astrological interpretations for the outer planets, the asteroids, and so on. But this has not been as true for the landmark discoveries of deep space objects like pulsars, quasars, radio and X-Ray sources, black holes and the like. What do they mean?
Perhaps it is because so much was discovered in a such a relatively short time that astrologers have just not had time to catch up. Some 35 years have passed since I did the research for some of the material in this book, which was first published in 1976 under the title “Astrophysical Directions.” Nothing of similar scope astrologically has appeared since that time. Aside from the interest of a few astrologers in one or two of the deep-space concepts, there has been almost no mention of this material. No echo has returned.
With that in mind, I feel it is important to once again make these astronomical discoveries available to astrologers in an easy-to-use and illustrated format. In addition, all of the more important fixed stars and deep space objects like black holes, quasars, etc. are included here along with their familiar zodiac positions, rather than the equatorial coordinates used by astronomers. That way, as you read about a particular celestial object, you can look that point up in your own natal chart.
Astrophysics for Astrologers
To begin, I would like to share a few experiences and thoughts concerning the structure in space beyond our solar system and how it might be of value astrologically for learning more about who you are and what on earth you might be here for.
I first became interested in deep-space astrology through exploring heliocentric astrology, the astrology of our entire solar system. Early on, I was amazed at difference between my standard geocentric natal chart and some of the other astrological coordinate systems such as the heliocentric and Local Space charts. IAt that time my interest in the space beyond and surrounding our solar system was minimal. I was put off by the billions of stellar objects out there and, on a more basic level, by the ideas of coldness and blackness I had been programmed to associate with outer space. I sure didn’t want to go out there.
Distant space somehow represented the epitome of 'otherness' and 'foreign' to me. I was embarrassed (in terms of astrological usage) by all of the books I had read on the fixed stars, with the possible exception of L. E. Johndro's book, “The Stars.” How was I to determine the significance of these billions of stars and use them in my practice, when I had enough difficulty just using the nine planets?
And then the unexpected happened. I had a dream, a very special dream. It was not an ordinary dream, but one of those dreams that are more real than waking consciousness and that take months to understand and absorb. It was placed deep in my consciousness. In fact, it was a kind of vision.
In my dream the astrologer L. E. Johndro appeared to me and his eyes were filled with light. There were rays or stalks of light coming out of his eyes. This strange being said but one word, "LOOK!," and with his arm, he turned and pointed up to the night sky. I looked up and out there.
As I opened my eyes, the sky was filled with brilliant points of light. The stars and all of this starry material were clustered together to form the great glowing arch of the Milky Way or galactic plane. It was wondrous beyond description and in that instant my heart went out from me and filled this bright hall of space. Never again have I had the feeling of being here on earth, warm and trembling before the cold and black of space. I became the space and light and reversed my polarity or changed my attitude. I understood in that instant that I was a living representative of this mother galaxy, its child. I was the being from outer space I had always wondered about. Furthermore, I had always been so!
From that night forward, I began to venture beyond the zodiac in an inquiry as to the nature and structure of this universe. Here, in brief form, is what I found:
Most important is the fact that we are an integral part of the cosmos, not some lonely outpost. In fact, each of us is a node or information aggregate and the universe is in intimate contact with itself only through us – through our eyes. We are part of the cosmic information conduit, the eyes of the universe. The cosmos sees through our eyes, itself.
The manifold nature of distant cosmic events happening out there in space is represented through our very self and lives down here on earth. It lives through us. There is not only a correlation between these seeming remote cosmic events and our person, but an identity as well. Information coming from the galactic center (and elsewhere), carried by electromagnetic and gravitational radiation from every last star and cosmic plane and event, passes through us at all times. We are in some way a node or information complex embedded in the matrix or web of manifestation. We look at ourself!
While all that may sound pretty heady, the overpowering idea that occurred when I made some acquaintance with the universe and its structure is that there is no difference between out there and in here. We are already out there! We ARE in deep space and have been there from eternity until now.
Our world, our self and relationships, are a perfect reflection of what IS and what is happening out there. Not an analogy, but an identity. Black holes, supernovae, quasars, and the like are not just remote cosmic events, but this identical story is represented, reflected, lived, and acted out each day in our lives, by those of us living here on Earth.
It seems that information circulates through the universe and our Identity or sense of our self is this very process of circulation. What we call "Identity" or knowing our self is not only a personal experience, but a relationship, in fact, a circulation, and a process of communion or communication – identification! Not only is there a connection between our life and that of our galaxy and universe, but: WE ARE that connection.
A study of the structure of the universe, at any level (large or small) is a study of our self, and the guidelines of cosmic structure help to illustrate the specific structure of our self. In summary, the idea that I am unfolding here is: astrology is not only a symbolic system of psychological discussion. The symbol is also, in fact, real. If we say it is an analogy, then the analogy is complete down to the limits of any specific example we might chose.
We are all time and space travelers. There are no better words that I know of than these of Emerson:
"All inquiry into antiquity is the desire to do away with this wild, savage, and preposterous There or Then, and introduce in its place, the Here and the Now. Belzoni (an archeologist) digs and measures in the mummy-pits and pyramids of Thebes until he can see the end of the difference between the monstrous work and himself. When he has satisfied himself, in general and in detail, that it was made by such a person as he, so armed and so motivated, and to ends to which he, himself, should also have worked, the problem is solved; his thought lives along the whole line of temples and sphinxes and catacombs, passes through them all with satisfaction, and they live again to the mind, or are NOW." -- Emerson, Essay on History.
A process of self-discovery awaits those who would inquire into the nature and structure of this universe. We may read and study the history and record of astrology through all of the books we have. We may return again and again to our favorite passages to make sure of what we have found there. But, sooner or later, each of us must turn away from the book and just LIVE our life. That is why we study astrology in the first place. As my dharma teaching once said to me: “Michael, someday you must become the book!”
We each must become the book and only that lives which we have known for ourselves to have life, which we have personally lived. As Shakespeare said in one of his early sonnets: "You are no more yourself than you now here live." The philosopher Hegel said the same thing in another way: "We go behind the curtain of the Self to see what is there, but mainly for there to be something to be seen."
There is great value in a reading of the ancient wisdom and documents. What the ancients saw or discovered about themselves, that truth, is still true today. All of the laws of the universe still exist to be known today. We are always free to leave off at reading about our life and cast off into an inquiry, our inquiry, and to live that life we read about. We can learn to know or experience what we are talking or reading about. And now let’s get more back to earth.
Astrophysics
What It All Means - With the rise of space travel and new more powerful telescopes, man has himself stepped out into space. He has gone beyond himself in a fresh inquiry into the nature of his existence. What does this mean for astrologers?
As astrologers, we have a habit of associating or reflecting outward celestial events with a simultaneous change within ourselves. The array of recent astrophysical events and discoveries over the last 40 years may tax even our imagination. In fact, man's understanding of the nature of his universe (and thus himself) has changed in recent years beyond any memory of change that history can offer as guidance. We are in new territory here.
This astrologer can remember when cosmic food for thought was still kind of rare and the use of the astrological imagination had to be encouraged! However, the deluge of fascinating astrophysical information in the last few decades has had the effect of curbing our imagination and even limiting our inquiry to the simple available facts. At least at this time in history, the facts are more inspiring than any flight of the imagination or as it has been repeatedly said: the facts are indeed "stranger than fiction."
In recent years, astrologers have turned from an age-old, very-active state of receiving astronomical information (essentially passive in nature) to a bold, active inquiry into the nature of outer space, and thus into ourselves and our "god" or awareness. It is happening out there in space through astrophysical discovery; it is happening down here within ourselves, through depth psychology, the spread of many spiritual "new age" disciplines, and what-have-you?
An astrological approach to the discoveries of modern astrophysics is actually quite simple. In fact, it can be reduced simply to a study of the life and death struggle of stars and the various kinds of light they produce. In fact it would seem that we can gaze on life and death of star’s more candidly than we dare to examine our own!
With this in mind, let us examine here some of these facts and the ideas or interpretations they seem to generate or suggest. None of this interpretive speculation is intended to be dogmatic. It is simply a first attempt to arrange or order some of this new material and get at least some sense of what it means for the astrology of the future and the present time. In fact, I will not offer too much by way of interpretation. The facts speak for themselves. Let them guide your imagination and interpretation.
Interpreting Deep Space Points
With the advent of deep-space astrology, a question that comes up often is how do we interpret all of these many new objects, like black holes, pulsars, quasars, and the like?
Putting these new objects aside for a moment, we might ask how have astrologers dealt with all of the myriad of stellar points that we have known about for many hundreds (or thousands) of years, points like the named stars, novae, globular clusters, and so on.
The simple truth is that as astrologers we have pretty much ignored all celestial objects beyond our solar system. There are some few books on the fixed stars, I agree, but for the most part these are little more than an attempt to carry forward ancient (Arabic, Greek, Chinese, etc.) notations on a relatively few number of stars.
For example, we might read that the red-giant star Antares pertains to eyesight, and so forth. All together, these (at least the ones that are commonly used in Western astrology) amount to only a handful of stars, no more than would fit in a very small book, if not a pamphlet. My point is that we not only need to find interpretations for some of the exotic new deep-space objects, but all of the well-known stars and other visual stellar objects that have been around for thousands of years also beg for clarity.
In fact, any attempt to notate (and interpret) these long-known visual objects in a linear fashion (one-by-one) is probably doomed to failure. Another way to put this might be that over the centuries we have already done a linear count, and the sum total of what we have to say interpretively about the various visual stars and objects would not even fill a small booklet. That in itself says a lot. Perhaps it is time to take another approach.
The approach I suggest is nothing new for astronomers, but it might just be what we astrologers are looking for. In fact, it is exactly that approach that astronomers have used for hundreds of years: group individual objects of a similar nature together. Instead of trying to find what is unique about a particular object (i.e. Antares affects eyesight, etc.), look instead for what stellar objects share in common, and go from there.
For example, all novae are exploding stars. All novae share this attribute and we can speculate how that might relate to a natal chart, and so on. If we come up with an interpretation for exploding stars, then that would also work for all known and yet-to-be-discovered novae. You get the idea: to what group does the star belong?
As astrologers, we can agree that what is happening out there, whether with the planets or objects much farther away, is also being acted out now, down here on earth. Another way of phrasing this concept is that we are in the middle of all that; we live in the solar system, which lives in the Local System, which lives in the Galaxy, and so forth. We are in there now, and have always been there.
"As above, so below," is the key phrase here. What is writ large across the heavens is acted out (albeit small) here on earth. This is what most astrology is all about. If we can't agree on this, I suggest you read no farther.
If you are still with me, then, not only the planets, aspects, and houses have meaning in our lives, but all of the many myriads of stellar objects also have meaning in our lives. By finding what group an object belongs to will tell us something about how to go about interpreting that object. The only real difference between the old set of visual astronomical objects and the newer astrophysical or deep-space objects is that many of the new objects don't appear to our eyes. They do not shine in the visual spectrum, but rather they shine in some other part of the electromagnetic spectrum, be it through radio emissions on the low end (beneath the visual portion of the spectrum) or X-ray emissions on the high end (above the visual spectrum). But shine they do.
What we have then is a multitude of stellar objects all shining, but shining throughout the entire electromagnetic spectrum, all the way from dim radio emissions on the low end, through infrared, visual, and on to X-ray and Gamma ray emissions on the high end. It is this complete set of objects that we seek to examine for meaning in our astrological charts, the ones that figure prominently in our nativity.
Putting aside the visual stars and objects for the moment, what is so different about these new deep-space objects? As mentioned above, perhaps the main difference is that they have been literally unseen until now. They were always there, but we were not aware of them because they shine at frequencies at which our eyes cannot see. There are objects that shine below the visual part of the spectrum, like infrared stars and the like, and even lower yet are the radio and infrared objects that just kind of sit out there and dimly glow.
Then there are objects that are faster and shine at higher frequencies than the visual spectrum, objects like X-ray sources and Gamma-ray emissions. It is this factor that I feel we should look to for our interpretations. I can only tell you my experience with these deep-space points over the last 30 years or so.
Emissions below the visual spectrum (what we can see with our eyes) seem to measure the general shape of the cosmos, the basic form of the surrounding universe. These low emissions (radio and infrared) paint a picture of the general cosmic structure in which the visual stars that we have known for so long are embedded or fixed. As for how to interpret this structure, I find that it is similar to what we would call psychic or subconscious areas of our mind and life, areas beneath our visual conscious mind.
Whole areas of the sky, such as the galactic center (26-degrees of Sagittarius) have very much more structure, shape, and emissions than do other areas, such as the area opposite the galaxy center (26-degrees of Gemini). But even the anti-center of the galaxy has a lot of material, because our Sun is not all the way to the edge of our galaxy. The direction that has about the least material is zero degrees of Aries. That direction is relatively very empty.
It is the subconscious that we learn to feel our way around in and individuals with psychic talent and skills make it much easier for us to do this. When some of these major radio stars figure prominently in the natal chart, this is a sure sign of some sort of synergy with reaching into the subconscious -- psychic ability. Light shining beneath the visual spectrum is more like feeling the structure of our life, much like the proverbial blind man feeling an elephant's leg. We learn to feel our way around, in areas where we can't see.
At the other end of the visual spectrum (above the visual spectrum) are fast, high-energy sources shining at ultraviolet and X-ray frequencies. This is a very different kind of light, not evoking the shape of the universe, but just the reverse. This high-energy emission cuts right through the radio (and the visual!) pictures, exposing only the very essential point sources of energy. Some high-energy emissions look right through matter itself, just like X-rays do in the dentist chair.
If you have high-energy point sources like black holes, quasars, and X-ray sources prominently configured in your chart, then you have the ability to see right to the heart of things, cutting through any obscurations or shadows and getting right down to it. This X-ray vision is a perfect complement to the more feeling psychic talents, so you can take your pick.
As for practical uses for these two parts of the spectrum, when life gets too cold and theoretical, get together with someone with strong radio (psychic) points in their chart. They will help to ground you and help you feel more like yourself again. They are great for dinner parties and having a good time.
On the other hand, when life gets too much and you have more on your plate than you can handle, get close to someone with high-energy points (X-ray, etc.) in their chart. They will make it easier for you to cut through the crap and see clearly what is important and what needs to be done.
I hope these general interpretive comments are helpful in approaching these new deep-space objects. I have only given you a very brief overview. It can be be fascinating to read about each kind of object, noting their specific qualities, especially if they figure in your natral chart. For example: black holes are super high-energy sources with incredible power at the high end of the electromagnetic spectrum. Their life story is incredible to read about. Have one conjunct your natal sun or other key part of your chart? I would read with great care everything I could about such objects.
I have not forgotten the visual objects that we have observed for centuries, such as the fixed stars. By this point, you should pretty much know what I am going to say. These visual points point are no different as regards interpretation. In fact, they have been around for hundreds of years in full sight - visually. We all have seen them for centuries. They are right out there in the open. Treat them the same as you would any deep-space point. By that I mean that, instead of trying to come up with personal idiosyncrasies for each fixed star, find out what group they belong in and think about what that might mean.
For example, is it a young bright blue star or is it an old dying red star? That much is easy to figure out, just by looking at the spectral type (which we have included). And read about the life progression of stars, because all deep-space astrology is nothing more nor less than the life and death story of stars. Every last object is a star in some part of their life span, much as we are in ours. What more of a hint do you need?
If you will approach all stellar objects in this way, you can learn a lot about them. If they configure strongly in your natal chart, you can read about the whole class of objects and something about yourself.
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The Radio Sky
The above (upper part) picture represents a panoramic view of how the entire sky would appear if our eyes were sensitive to radio waves rather than to light. The lower diagram is the same 360degrees of sky as it might appear visually to our eyes. If we could walk out at night and see in radio frequencies, such a sight would go a long ways toward persuading astrologers as to the existence of preferential directions in space. Some areas of the sky have more things happening in them than do others.
While 'bright' discrete radio sources (like our visual stars) do stand out, the overpowering sense received from such a view is of the overall shape or body of our Milky Way galaxy. At radio frequencies, there is no mistaking the galactic plane and the very heart and center of the galaxy. It abounds with light. Even at visual frequencies, we can renew our sense of cosmic direction almost any night of the year by just walking outside and looking.
Why we cannot see at visual frequencies the great mass of light of the galactic center (GC) is very simple. At visual wavelengths, great clouds of relatively near dust intervene and block our view of the GC and of much of the galactic plane. In general, these dark clouds prevent us from seeing more than a few kilo parsecs in any direction along the galactic plane. If we could see our galaxy from the vantage point of a neighboring galaxy, such as Andromeda, the center would appear filled with light.
Radio and infrared waves are able to bend around the particles of dust and reach us. Only in recent years has it been possible to really "see" the actual center and structure of our galaxy, through non-visual windows in the electromagnetic spectrum. The radio maps of the heavens shown on these pages bring out the basic shape, body, and "aura" of our galaxy. Our dependence upon the physical eye and optical frequencies results in an idea of the heavens as filled with an infinite number of points of light or stars, but otherwise relatively empty of shape and form. It is similar to the human form, if we were only able to see the eyes of a person, but not their shape. The fixed stars are 'set' in space staring at us, but most of us do not have much sense or feel for the fabric or matrix (the body) in which these stars are set. This shape becomes clear in radio maps and it is obvious that the great galaxy is the mother (matrix) and home of the countless stars embedded within it. Radio maps reveal that whole areas of the sky are filled with more light than others and that this light is graded, with a concentration toward the galactic plane and, of course, there is the brilliant galactic nucleus or center.
Until about 40 years ago, our knowledge of the cosmos outside the sphere of the earth came almost entirely only from the light we could collect with large mirrors and lenses via telescopes. In fact "light" meant to us the eye and only the visual part of the electromagnetic spectrum. The atmosphere surrounding the earth is largely opaque (blocks) to most parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, although there are several transparent regions through which we may receive light and thus "look" out into deep space.
These have been termed "windows," and the two most important windows are the optical and radio bands of the light spectrum. If we compare these two windows to the sound spectrum, the radio window represents a ten-octave span, while the optical (visual) window represents a little less than a single octave! There are several other bands of relative transparency in the Infrared range through which appear an almost entirely different set of stars and constellations. In fact, the range of energy between the extremes of the electromagnetic spectrum is so great that very different techniques have evolved for their study.
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The Earth's Aura
The atmosphere of the earth serves to shield the earth from much of the radiation reaching it from outer space, with the exception (as mentioned) of the two windows in the visual and radio frequencies. In recent years research has removed the entire concept of windows, bypassing the atmosphere, through the means of balloons, rockets, and other space vehicles. Beyond our immediate atmosphere, the entire range of the "light" spectrum is wide open to our reception.
In our lifetimes, we have experienced not only a fantastic increase in the receptivity of light, but we have made active outreach beyond the atmosphere and the earth itself. We have stepped away from ourselves into the space beyond and into ideas outside our imagination but a few short years ago.
How are these different kinds of light generated? The answer to this question is the key to understanding how modern astrologers can interpret astrophysics.
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The Kinds of Celestial Light
A key concept is to understand here is that there is light beneath (slower than) visual light and also light above (faster) than the eye can see.
Light beneath the visual, slower light, is that of radio waves and infrared. Radio waves, the longest waves, are generated by oscillating electric currents. The short wave radio waves or microwaves have a wavelength similar to that of sound through air.
Infrared radiation (a hot stove for instance) is produced by rearrangements of the outer electrons in atoms. As mentioned earlier, the human eye is sensitive to a very narrow range of wavelengths corresponding in musical terminology to slightly less than a single octave and this is to be compared to the enormous frequency range to which the human ear is sensitive.
On the other (higher) side of the visual, there is light that is faster or higher than we can see. Ultra-violet light immediately joins the visual spectrum, at the high end. X-rays, higher yet, have wavelengths of the approximate size of atoms and originate in the rearrangement of the innermost electrons in atoms.
The Gamma rays are the electromagnetic waves of highest frequency (and therefore the shortest wavelength) and they originate in the rearrangement of the particles within the atomic nucleus itself. How does our universe appear at these different frequencies?
The Types of Light
Starting with the longer radio waves of several meters, the reading or picture we get is of a universe alive with a radiant haze or constant glow of radiation in all directions. As we move to receivers of higher radio frequencies, certain forms begin to emerge out of the general fog. The haze appears to be brighter or thicker in the direction of the galactic plane and particularly around the galactic nucleus, which is alive with light. The plane of our galaxy is a glowing arch reaching across the heavens. As we further increase the frequency, we penetrate or see more sharply through the radiant fog and real discrete features begin to appear. Extended sources of radiation and at still higher frequencies, point sources or "radio stars" show up, shining at these frequencies more brightly than any other objects in the heavens, yet they have never been seen with the human eye. At yet still higher frequencies, we reach the visual level of radiation, where point sources are the main objects resolved -- the stars. At the yet higher frequencies of the x-ray and gamma ray wavelengths, the energy is so intense that it "looks" or passes right through most materials.
Until recently, our knowledge of the physical universe is a result largely of what we have been able to see in the visible or conscious-mind window. Thanks to the astrophysical discoveries of the 20th Century, we have augmented our visual information, both below the visual (radio frequencies) and above it (X-Ray frequencies).
The rational or conscious mind (visual eye) is no longer required to exclusively carry the burden of leadership in our life, as it has in the past. In other words: our dependence upon the organ of sight and its ideas is to some extent breaking down, and the load it carried is being redistributed among other senses, in addition to the eye. It has been enhanced.
The conscious mind has a long history of discrimination and a particular way of looking at the world. In summary, we are discovering that we can "see" through other senses as well and the future looks brighter as we learn to tolerate and use these new ways of seeing. The results of all of these different portions of the light spectrum do form a unified whole, although we should expect to find astrological specialists working in areas outside of the visual spectrum of the eye or rational mind.
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Radio Frequencies
The universe at radio frequencies, with textures and forms never seen with the eye, is literally a map of our subconscious and the psychic realm. We can expect to find radio astrologers measuring and discovering individuals who personify or represent some of the great radio sources. In other words, by noting and monitoring the astrological positions of great radio and infrared sources, we should be able to better pinpoint and track individuals who personify these sources -- psychics and psychic healers. We can now begin to chart the psychic potential in ourselves. And keep in mind that the entire region around late Sagittarius and early to middle Capricorn is filled with radiant energy. This is the area surrounding the very heart center of the galaxy, the galactic nucleus itself. If that area of your chart is very active, this in itself is a very strong indicator.
At yet higher frequencies, we reach the visual level of radiation, where bright point sources or stars are the main objects resolved. Beyond the visual window are the ultra-high frequencies of the x-ray and gamma ray wavelengths. These waves shine right through much of what we would call matter and indicate the sites of cataclysmic events and massive outpourings of energy beyond our comprehension.
Higher Frequencies
As mentioned, on the other end of the visible spectrum, the higher frequency X-rays and gamma rays, we find a measurement of what we can only call the super conscious, where we do not find so much broad strokes and texture, as powerful point sources clearly seeing right through the form and structure so visible at radio frequencies. We can expect to see X-ray astrologers whose chief interest is not form, but light as never before measured. We should be able to chart and measure X-ray sources and those who have the gift of clairvoyance or clear seeing -- seeing right to the heart of the matter.
Above all, these new techniques will mean a discovery and appreciation of a variety of types of genius besides the familiar fixed stars that have captivated our attention for so long. We will be able to find and know radio and x-ray light and genius, alongside of the familiar visual stars and astrology.
Perhaps we will learn to go to those among us who can feel at radio frequencies, the psychics and "sensors," and learn better how to "feel" and explore the feeling and texture of our life. When we have trouble appreciating or feeling our lives, we can learn to do this through those with very strong radio sources in their charts. They will help to put us in touch with ourselves once again.
On the other hand, we will go to the X-ray genius when we hurt or "feel" too much, and benefit from their vision that sees through our feeling and clears us up. Persons with prominent X-ray stars or black holes in their chart will have the gift to cut through our fog and resolve our problems, clearing them up – instant cauterization. We will seek them out when we are lost in our confusions.
Again: the vision that occurs to me is a new appreciation and tolerance for all of the different kinds of light and their human representatives. The psychic or radio genius can accurately see or feel and tell us truths about ourselves that we personally may have never known how to feel for ourselves, and the X-ray or reflective genius cuts through our feelings and mirrors our self to us, that we may accept this self as it is.
An initial fear of this author when first I considered all of the very many new radio and x-ray points was that I would not be able to make sense of so many points and would somehow spread myself too thin. In fact, this never happened. In fact the opposite is true. Understanding how all objects can be grouped brought relief and made dealing with all these objects much more manageable.
My investigations show that each of us will be drawn to study those kinds of points that we in fact are and act out in life. I was drawn inexorably to just those points that figure most clearly in my horoscope, and discovered in these remote cosmic events my innermost feeling and self. I greatly feared being "lost out there in the stars" and my faith in life has increased very much as I experience a great return from my inquiry and a coming to better know my self. I have no longer any sense of there being any "Other" out there but, no, just my self, and my life out there as in here. No other: One.
Astrophysical Directions
In this section, I would like to introduce you to several of the more advanced considerations and techniques involving cosmic structure. I would also like to share with you some of my own questions that have occurred over the years. Let me make it clear that it has often been very difficult for me to come to feel I understand much of the information presented here. This is due (in the beginning) to an almost complete ignorance on my part of astronomy and mathematics, as well as a deep feeling of insecurity about technical issues in general, and this required me to go over and over simple facts until I felt that I understood what they signified. This learning experience has been, for me, a personal odyssey of immense value and also high adventure.
As for the astronomy, do not expect to absorb what astrologers have made a point of avoiding for centuries in a few days. Take your time and develop a feel for this material. Don’t worry about "what it all means” for the present. The outer space surrounding our birth is filled with countless stars and objects. These objects, whose sheer numbers may 'boggle' the mind can all be ordered according to the fabric or system to which they belong or are members. An understanding of the basic matrix or fabric in which they objects are nested or embedded will bypass the need to try to interpret them one-by-one in an attempt to somehow count and interpret all the stars.
Astrologers have lost much of the grasp they once had on the astronomy and mathematics of their field. In past centuries, as any history book will demonstrate, astrologers were both astronomers and mathematicians. They held a very responsible place in society, a position that was respected, and one that provided a reasonable living.
Astrology in our times is generally held in low esteem, and the individuals practicing it are made to feel shame for charging money for their skills. In my mind, there may well be a direct connection between the state of our art and the loss of the more physical or “scientific” part of our art, the astronomy and math. I have spent many years investigating the heliocentric system of event expression, by itself, and in relation to our traditional geocentric concepts. This has involved not only the doing of many tens of thousands of charts, but also a great many individual readings in which both geo and helio charts were consulted. What follows is not pure speculation, but has emerged to my attention through many years of study. Let me recount to you, in brief, how I got into investigating the larger life of our solar system – heliocentric.
In the beginning, I was propelled in this direction by an increasing dissatisfaction with the results of existing astrological techniques and by the thrill of the unknown. After I got over the "newness" of helio charts and the extreme discomfort of not having familiar landmarks such as the Moon, the houses, and chart angles to guide me, it dawned on me that the helio planetary patterns (in particular what I have come to call whole-chart configurations, where several major aspects combine to form a whole gestalt or 360° picture) represented our zodiac in a purity or at a level of significance not before encountered by me.
After several years of this work, during which much of my geocentric astrological activity was suspended, I attempted to return to Earth (so to speak) and to begin to combine the helio with the traditional geocentric techniques. I then encountered a singular and life-changing problem. It became quite clear to me that the zodiac or ecliptic, whether expressed through helio or geocentric planetary positions, was heliocentric or Sun centered in essence, a much less "mundane" plane of reference than I could remember it. Let me restate this:
When first venturing into helio research, I had assumed that I was moving from the very practical and specific methods of geocentric astrology to a more "spiritual," generic, and higher level or order of information (heliocentric). This was, in fact, the case.
An unexpected side result, however, was my growing awareness that our traditional geocentric sphere (all of our zodiac concerns) was also of a very high or spiritual (psychological, if you prefer) nature and much less the "nitty gritty," down-to-earth exact affair that I assumed and/or remembered. A different and stark understanding of myself and my fellow astrologers began to occur, one in which I could see that I was much less practical and much more of a dreamer than I could ever before have admitted.
As a part of this experience I began to see that astrologers (as a group) had let lapse or somehow lost almost all their means to specify or communicate their vision to the general public. In particular, they no longer understood the equatorial and horizon systems of coordinates and planes, even though without them, a standard astrological chart could not be constructed. Modern astrologers have little idea what these auxiliary coordinate systems are, much less how they might be interpreted. This is particularly true for the helio chart.
Well, everything began to "flip-flop" in this learning experience, which by that point for me was a waking vision. As an astrologer, I had a built-in thirst and love for such powerful or sensitive zodiac points as the Ascendant the MC, Vertex, and the house cusps. In fact, like many astrologers, I longed to find and extract even more such meaningful points from my well-worn zodiac.
The Sacred Zodiac
Until that time, it had never occurred to me that the 'specificity' or 'individuality' of these sensitive points were provided by the horizon and equatorial planes, as much as by the zodiac. In other words, it is the plane of the horizon that marks out the specific degree of my Ascendant from the other 360 possible degrees. I had unconsciously given all credit for this ability or "power" to the zodiac alone and none to the horizon. In truth, I hardly even knew what the horizon was, other than (perhaps) as a diagram in an astronomy book.
I began to see that astrologers have let lapse their conscious use and awareness of these other coordinate planes, although all three systems must be used to calculate every last natal chart! I found that I had been trying to induce and extract all meaning from the familiar zodiac alone, which is similar to trying to climb up out of the middle of a deep lake when we feel the need for dry land. And I was not alone in this.
Astrologers have for some centuries now lost the ability to deliver the kind of very specific information that is available through mastery and conscious use of the equator and horizon system of coordinates. Instead, they have clung to the vestiges of such specificity as found in the Ascendant, house cusps, etc. The public's demand for such specifics has been satisfied (in our times) more by the "psychic" or intuitive gifts of modern astrologers, than by the use of any comprehensive astrological technique.
If astrologers live in 'specific' poverty, it is because they refuse to master the means to get the attention of this very result-oriented world and this means is available to them through the reacquisition of the lost branches of their art/science: astronomy and mathematics. If astrologers do have a holistic and "spiritual" message to deliver to these times, they will have to get public attention, not through their intuition alone, but also through dependable and predictable results. We must deliver. This book is intended to re-introduce astrologers to their own astronomical heritage.
For those interested in a complete exposition of this material, including all the actual points, see my book "The Astrology of Space," which is available on Amazon.com as a paperback.
or you-tube. Everyone wants to be a star. Once we were all happy to orbit round a few bright shiny ones but now we have facebook.