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One might rightfully ask why should only
one house (or domification) system be used by astrologers. A unified
method is required in order to obtain just one spiritual horoscope
for each person selected by that person's soul. A single spiritual
horoscope is a worthwhile-nay an imperative-astrological objective.
Anything less is an approximation that offers all kinds of
opportunities for misinterpretations. The numerous variations
presently allowed confuse matters, leading to a wild assortment of
opinions that corrupt. Planets can be in wrong houses, and
interceptions can occur in the wrong house pairs. Those matters are
far too important for any soul to accept prior to being born.
The only acceptable house system is one that can be proven correct.
Since the main differences among house systems pertain to the
locations of inner house cusps (not those of the major angles),
proofs must differentiate among these inner boundaries. When a
progressed or transiting planet crosses over a cusp into another
house, either in longitude or declination, the effects should be
noticeable and make an intelligent connection. An effort may be
required to consider these differences. But then, one must learn how
to understand and interpret, because otherwise the usefulness of
astrology is impaired.
6. For the entity may in its study of the scripture, in its
application of its tenets in its relationships to others, bring a
great deal of confidence; yea, even faith; in those things, not
altogether which would be called supernatural, but supernormal
interpretation or understanding of the laws of nature and the
relationships of same to the activity of individuals.
7. Study all of the systems of astrological aspects. There are two
definite principles: Those which are the result of study in the
Indian land, or paint that phase of same, including the
theosophical; not theological-but the purposefulness of life. These
will be of real interest to the entity, will enable the entity to
answer much for the faith which lies latently and manifestedly in
the entity.
8. In the activities in these directions may bring to the body
periods of anxiety, but the greater study of man, and man's
relationship to the Maker, is through self. Analyze thyself as to
what is thy ideal.
9. Then, not merely by expression in words but the expression of the
ideal (for the credence of that in self, as well as that asked for
in others) found in the activities of its life experience, for these
will bring much more harmonious experiences than otherwise.
10. In its study though, of such, its attunement may be so that such
philosophical studies and the study of self will unite in the
awakening to the possibilities within self.
11. As to the astrological or astronomical urges latent and
manifested, all are a part of the entity. All that have appeared,
all that may appear, may be known of the entity; but without making
practical application of same in thy dealings with thy fellow man,
of what use is same? Understand and interpret all in all, or forget
it altogether; but let's see you try and forget it!
2872-003
To the individual being addressed, as well as others who have
experienced these urges latent and manifested, practical
astrological applications simply have to be pursued. Theosophical
enlightenment can go only so far. Reasons persist for realistic
understanding and interpreting-they cannot be forgotten.
Regarding houses, historical information will be briefly described
first, contending systems will be discussed next, and then logic
will be applied together with strong empirical evidence supporting
the one house system for spiritual horoscopes that forms an integral
part of the verification standard.
Technically, seven principal methodologies have been developed, with
variations of each general approach and a number of hybrids. It
would seem that house systems are mathematical play things that are
fun for the astronomically inclined to invent. However, because of
all these alternatives, astrologers have frequently developed strong
differing opinions about which one they like. Of course, likings and
opinions by their nature are not necessarily manna from heaven.
The descriptions of each house system that follow are not intended
to convey total comprehension or to teach competency in their use.
Rather, they are given only in sufficient detail to show their
backgrounds and differences, because the whole subject would be
amusing and whimsical if it were not so important. Readers need to
know why all but one house system needs to be archived as we exit
the Piscean Age. Understanding should be only sufficient to know
which ones should go, and why. A very wise professor once said that
you could lump all opinions in the world together and throw them
into a bonfire, because they weren't worth very much and none could
compete with carefully drawn rational proofs.
The houses in astrology compartmentalize all departments of life. In
modern Western astrology there are twelve houses, although
originally among the Chaldeans and Greeks there were just eight. One
should not forget that the Mayans used thirteen. An English Viscount
of the seventeenth century by the name of William Brouncker, who
studied mathematics at Oxford University, cast horoscopes in a
sixteen-house system. Evidently he did not have many followers,
although he was held in sufficient esteem to become the first
president of the Royal Society. Some fixed zodiac systems refer to
the 28 lunar mansions while partially or wholly ignoring the month
or sign-based divisions. From these accounts one can see that there
has been little historical or geographical agreement as to the
number of houses in a horoscope. However, the twelve-house system
predominates today, and this predominance has survived for about two
millennia. There is a philosophical balance to twelve houses that
appears to fit the mold required by spiritual horoscopes.
Early Chaldean and Greek astrologers assigned one house each to the
Sun, Moon and six visible planets (including Earth). The
twelve-house system matches the twelve zodiacal signs in the
ecliptic. It is balanced and readily divisible by two, three, four
and six. Thus, many esoteric combinations can be formed. The
thirteen-house system of the Mayans relates to a sacred number that
also is a component of their long period counting scheme. Mayans
seem to have been far more interested in the ages of mankind, and
fatalistic periods, than in understanding the psyches of individuals
(with the probable exception of their rulers). The sixteen-house
system had an abstract mathematical basis. The 28 lunar mansions are
related to days in the lunar cycle and not to the motion of the Sun
or to zodiacal signs. They do, however, have icons.
Obviously, there are many ways to segment the heavens. A number of
concepts were derived and recorded by early Arabian astrologers and
by Ptolomy, the authority who had great credence in Europe for
hundreds of years. During the Renaissance, a number of investigators
interpreted these earlier methods and copied them into tables that
became a boon to those astrologers who did not have strong
mathematical backgrounds. It did not matter that a table might have
been drawn for Alexandria, Egypt, while the individual whose
horoscope was being cast was born in Rome. The tables were used
anyway, and virtually none were adjusted for the true latitude and
longitude. But soon variations emerged according to the beliefs and
special biases of the copiers. Many of these alterations were
attempts to simplify and make calculations easier (not necessarily
to obtain better results). Furthermore, the rationale for each
method, if given at all, was subjective. Authors writing about
particular house systems were more likely to select from the
assortment of methods given by earlier investigators, and express
personal agreements with imagined intentions of the originators,
than they were to offer substantive proofs.
The general concept accepted in the West has been that houses are
related to the signs of the zodiac, because there are twelve of
each. The signs fall on a belt surrounding the Sun, and this belt,
centered on the ecliptic, is broad enough to encompass all
perturbations of the planets. Also, the zodiac is centered on the
ecliptic plane, and all house systems ultimately translate angles
derived for each cusp to the ecliptic. Hence, the coupling is rather
loose, but the advantage has been a single sign per house (on
average).
However, anomalies to this pattern arise at far Northern latitudes
above the equator (or far Southern latitudes below the equator) and
at certain times of the day in most temperate zones. Under these
conditions, one sign may span several houses, while several other
signs may bunch together at right angles. Those signs that fall
completely between house cusps are said to be intercepted. Since the
diurnal and nocturnal house cusps are 180° apart, the houses filled
with one or more signs are mirror images of each other. Thus, an
intercepted house is paired with its opposite on the other side of
the sphere.
One house system has been favored over another in about the same way
that one jockey is favored over another in a horse race. The color
of the silks could just as well be the overriding reason for the
choice. Placing one's bet also becomes easy, since many astrological
computer programs provide a variety of options. These options are
nice window dressing, they were comparatively easy to program, and
inclusion probably enhances sales. But a solid reason for making a
choice does not appear in their manuals, and most users are lost in
a quandary. One option or another is picked because someone else
did, or because it sounded nice, or because an earlier horoscope
using the method might have looked alright on the surface, or for
just about any other reason that came to mind. Clearly, the most
popular horses do not always win their races.
This high level of uncertainty represents a very important problem
that has actually been abetted by computer technology because
choices are so easily made. A related problem is not understanding
the meanings of all twelve houses. The majority know associated
words for each house learned by rote, but not necessarily the
guiding principles. Therefore, errors have been observed in
delineations when the wrong meanings were assigned. Furthermore, the
remembered words, handed down from ancient times, do not always
correspond with modern terminology. For example, danger from large
animals no longer has a high priority, as it once did. Situations
that cannot be readily compared with one of the remembered words are
occasionally given dubious house assignments. This situation calls
for a return to basics, learning the principles, and use of
intelligence. Being critical of each planet's location is a step in
comprehending the correctness that is warranted for every spiritual
horoscope.
Several real examples might clarify the points being made about
misinterpretations. An assignment to the first house of a
scientist's reputation was recently noted in print. That is only
about 90° away from the truth. Reputation for scientists and
students alike is a tenth house matter. The scientist's first house
applied to daily exercises that kept his mind and body in shape for
activity in the laboratory.
Another observation was a ninth house assignment for the pragmatic
benefits of computer software written by a young programmer. The
ninth house is where the software might have been demonstrated, but
not where its benefits would have been realized. Information was
transferred in the ninth house, but benefits to the public would be
realized in the twelfth. Perhaps it is easy to understand that the
twelfth house was not considered as the place where this software
would serve others, because general comprehension of that domain is
deficient. According to remembered words, the twelfth house is the
place for hidden enemies, dangerous large animals, hospital
confinements and prisons. Such ideas are highly restrictive and
generally abhorred, if not misleading in overall content. The
negative connotations "smack" of possible attacks from
dinosaurs rather than anything so modern as computer software. The
idea of service to others gets lost in the mire. So against the
background of remembered words, how could the twelfth house apply to
services rendered by software? But it does, because the twelfth
house is the house of service to others. Astrology is an extremely
complex subject, and there is so much to comprehend. Yet, every
planet in its house location must have a distinctive meaning. That
is why this chapter on houses has been deemed necessary.
In entering the present experience we find the entity is indeed
one that may be said to be in the influence of-in the astrological
understanding-the cusps. While such influences are different,
according to the information concerning same that has been given by
many, we find that those who are near to the rising of one influence
and the submerging-as it were-of another-are oft in those
experiences where, from the mental abilities or mental developments,
they are in a strait, as it were, as to what should be the activity.
For there are the tendencies for such individuals to reason through
the influence of those urges that arise from Leo or of the head, or
Pisces as of the spiritual import. Hence to such individuals we find
those influences of virtue, morality, activities of individuals as
related to these mean much more-or their import are of a great deal
more influence in the experience of such an entity than much said by
this, that or the other person. Such individuals, then, have within
themselves that innate ability to become really a judge of human
nature; and such individuals in such capacities in any activity or
experience in the earth may make for themselves and for others a
teacher, instructor, detective, or one of such natures or such
fields of activity that are beyond most individuals. 0801-001
To become a judge of human nature, and understand frequently
encountered misinterpretations, requires a somewhat broader
perspective than what is frequently being exhibited in astrological
literature. A little insight might be acquired by considering a
profound idea of the early Chinese. In contemplating the human
psyche, the Chinese conceived a principle of duality they called yin
and yang. The philosophers of other societies arrived at similar
conclusions, although not always accompanied by such distinctive
labels or symbols. These two categories separate male from female,
day from night, the coming in and going out, the external world from
the internal, and the twofold nature of matter. Chinese astrology
actually uses 26 lunar mansions, but in a twelve-division horoscope
yang constitutes the six houses above the horizon; yin constitutes
the six houses below. Thus, the division of twelve houses by the
number two has a profound esoteric basis. Also, as mentioned
earlier, the Northern and Southern declination aspects have similar
connotations. Since the early days of Christian-Islamic astrology,
every house has been assigned to unique areas of a person's life,
although any direct assimilation of this two-part division from the
Chinese has not been established. As Marc Edmond Jones pointed out,
dividing the twelve compartments by three results in the number four
that has a temporal association. Thus, the first, fourth, seventh
and tenth houses are related to the present. The second, fifth,
eighth and eleventh are related to the future. The third, sixth,
ninth and twelfth are related to the past. The categories of life in
the present fit the cardinal houses, and they are considered the
strongest. Those in the future are the fixed houses, and they are
considered medium strong, as their contents are held in reserve for
later use. Those in the past are the mutable houses, and they are
considered the weakest in the sense that an effort is required on
the part of the individual to make use of the information and
knowledge stored therein. However, the mutable houses are where work
is performed or services rendered.
Another view of the number four is the quadrants (or groups of three
houses). Esoteric
meanings are applied to alternate quadrants in such a way that they
cover existences, or states of being, and influences, or acts of
accomplishment. However, again these deeper meanings are not always
understood. Generally, these philosophical associations are not in
mind when the planet's locations are being interpreted. Yet, a
general understanding does exist that every possible element of life
is encompassed within these twelve sectors. The problem is getting
modern incidents of life into the right sectors. Simple-minded
events tend to take care of themselves-the others do not always.
Copyright © 2000-2002 John Willner
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