Sidereal.zip

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In a previous post I was suggesting the reading of sidereal.zip to

provide an insight into sidereal thinking. I figured an exerpt might

be food for the soul?

 

 

 

[4SPHERES] Notes for Astrologers on the 4 Systems in Spherical

Astronomy (Ecliptic, Equatorial, Horizon, Galactic), by Kay Cavender.

One should be at least generally aware there are several systems

superimposed in a chart. Important!!! for interpretation to

understand and distinguish between the coordinates of the three

systems

used in astrology. What is the first (and second) step in

establishing

our orientation in the universe astronomically? Find the Fiducials:

the North-Prime Meridian, and the Apex of the Sun's Way.

See also final Editor's Note appending Fagan's " Cosmic Division? "

essay of 8/56 from [APEX] file. Plus Fagan's " Origin of the Horoscope

Form " of 12/61. Plus Garth Allen's " Planes, Not Points! " of 11/58.

One book on astronomy for the astrologer is Jeff Mayo's The

Astrologer's Astronomical Handbook, L.N. Fowler & Co. Ltd, Stuart

House, London, 1965.

* * *

 

 

Astrology Notes Regarding

THE FOUR SYSTEMS IN SPHERICAL ASTRONOMY

Kay Cavender

 

A simplification: To put up an astrological chart: when you find

the longitude (zodiacal) placements of planets and lights (and their

aspects)--that's the Ecliptic System. When you calculate the angles

(ASC-DSC and MC-IC), and the planetary positions in relation to the

angles, that involves a combination of the Equatorial and Horizon

Systems in relation to the Ecliptic.

The Ecliptic (longitudinal) degrees of a planet alone will not

necessarily indicate if it is really " ON " the horizon (ASC-DSC)

or " ON "

the meridian (MC-IC) - BECAUSE the Ecliptic longitude positions also

have latitude, and BECAUSE the Earth (and its Equatorial plane) is

tipped 23.5 degrees to the Ecliptic plane, and BECAUSE we live on

different latitudes (Horizon System). These three systems (Ecliptic,

Equatorial, Horizon) have to be coordinated.

 

 

ECLIPTIC SYSTEM (Ecliptic=Celestial Longitude & Latitude): Generally

on any map, one needs two coordinates longituge & latitude (E-W

rotation, and N-S midway to pole) to locate an object in space (here a

rotating sphere is the conceptual framework). However, on the " plane "

of the ecliptic, aspects recorded in only Ecliptic Longitude are

generally significant because of the immensity of distance involved

(Earth's orbit/rotation around Sun). Such longitude aspects are not

in

direct relation to a specific place on Earth (which would involve the

Horizon System), but only reference the whole Earth as a center from

which aspects are calculated. Of course, there are exceptions: for

instance, this is NOT the case with an ecliptic conjunction of

Sun & Pluto, when up to 17 degrees of distance in latitude can exist in

between, clearly destroying the concept of " conjunct. " (see eclipse/

occultation) Obviously, Ecliptic Latitude indicates the exactness of

an Ecliptic Longitude aspect, particularly with conjunctions.

However,

Ecliptic Latitude aspects by themselves, without reference to

longitude, are NOT important, i.e., they do not show in one's physical

structure or psychology, as do Ecliptic Longitude aspects with the

Sun.

 

Note: Do consider Ecliptic Latitude in reference to star aspects

to the lights (Sun & Moon) & planets: stars near the ecliptic plane,

when closely conjunct especially the Lights of our solar system, are

thought to INTENSIFY their qualities. Latitudes WITHIN 2 1/2 DEGREES

ORB N & S LAT, ( & same E & W LONG) are significant for the Sun. These

orbs derived from astronomical measurement of blockage of radio stars'

frequencies as our Sun passed in front of same; hence conjunctions

most

particularly & also oppositions (IF within 2-1/2 degress orb N or S

latitude) are the functional aspect/s. Because the Moon has about 5

degrees N & S latitude off the ecliptic (the plane between Earth &

Sun), one should consider the Moon's extra latitude in relation also

to

higher stars. For stars, I use only those aspects which are in direct

" alignment " i.e., conjunction & also opposition, in terms of the

Ecliptic System. Stars behind planets strongly aspecting the lights

may be considered if both are within 2-1/2 degrees orb N & S latitude

and E & W longitude.

Note: Different rules apply to the Earth's ANGLES/DIRECTIONS

because these are in a different measurement system [see Horizon &

Equatorial Systems]: consider stars CULMINATING (MC-IC) with the

lights and planets in reference to specifically " only " longitude at

MC/South-IC/North but in terms of R.A.M.C. Such vertical " alignment "

of any above (stars, planets, lights) in RAMC on the Meridian circle

has honorable mention from ancient times. Likewise, bodies in

horizontal alignment (parallel altitude) in reference to the horizon,

along with rising and/or setting stars are significant. (See below

Horizon System)

 

PARANATELLONTA: " to rise alongside of. " (12/54 " Solunars, " Cyril

Fagan) " For example, Sirius will rise at different times at different

mundane latitudes because of excessive ecliptic latitude. If 2

planets

have the same ecliptic longitudes (as in ephemerides), these are

conjunct in " eclipto. " If 2 planets are the same Meridian longitude,

these are conjunct in Right Ascension, i.e. in " mundo. " And when 2

planets rise together or set together, i.e., have the same oblique

ascension or descension, these are also conjunct in " mundo. " In the

case of oblique conjunction, the planets may have widely differing

ecliptic longitudes. "

 

What PARANATELLONTA Means: (9/58 " Solunars, " Cyril Fagan)

" If two or more planets or fixed stars bodily rise or set

simultaneously, or come to the Midheaven or Nadir together, or if one

crosses any of the angular cusps while another is also crossing an

angle, then each is said to be the parantellonta of the other. These

paranatellontas constitute the most powerful configurations in

prognostic astronomy, and even a beginner should be able to see why

this should be so. Paranatellonta is a Greek word signifying " acting

simultaneously, " but it is such a long and difficult-to-pronounce

word,

let us hereafter abbreviate it to PARAN, say " per-ran " for

convenience. "

* * *

 

EQUATORIAL SYSTEM (RAMC & Declination): Declination is the projection

of Earth's terrestrial " latitude " onto the celestial sphere using

Earth's equator as 0 degrees. If a planet, light (and/or star) is in

the same Declination (latitude) as natal or residence, then such is on

zenith(overhead) at that latitude (and hence on nadir in opposite

latitude) when culminating and is then a significant mundane aspect

all

by itself - BECAUSE the earth turns under that Declination/latitude

and

all bodies over that latitude affect that latitude. Bear in mind,

however, the limits of the 23 1/2 degree tip of the ecliptic plane " as

viewed/conceived " in reference to declination.

 

Note: Applying this to location: for those with favorable planets

at 20-21 deg N Declination, which is Honolulu's latitude, declination

is a BIG DEAL even with nothing angular, or without any " crossings " as

indicated in AstroCartoGraphy maps. One's planets as measured in

declination/latitude may partially explain why many love (or do not

love) Hawaii & Mexico as vacation spots. Because of the tilt of the

Earth's pole of 23.5 degrees in relation to the belt of the zodiac,

the

planets fall within certain limited N & S latitudes. ACG Mapping

introductory literature on natals does not specifically mention this

(probably because most folk in U.S. live above those latitudes) -

although ACG does show the Declination of planets in reference to

Earth

with a " 0 " on the lines (and J. Lewis does make mention of the latter

in reference to President's maps & policy).

 

IMPORTANT TO NOTE: Even though the oscillating Earth's-pole- & -

equator is tipped some 23-1/2 deg to the plane of the ecliptic, the

Equatorial longitude & latitude projections onto the " sphere " of the

heavens are shown as upright in most astronomical maps, and the

ecliptic is shown as tipped to equator even though the ecliptic plane

is constant. Thus the measurement, itself a remnant of the pre-

Copernican worldview, encapsulates that worldview of the Earth as

central/upright although astronomers now know the difference. Thus

the

Equatorial projection makes it easier to assume that the fixed stars

move in reference to the equator which is assumed to be constant

because it is the basic, upright, longitudinal/latitudinal framework

through which the sky is viewed. This is an longstanding example of

projecting an image on the universe and expecting the universe to

conform to our view of it.

 

Note: Garth Allen & others say RAMC (see Equatorial System) is the

astronomers' delusion because it is measured from the precessing

spring

equinox & has no relation to anything for true space age astronomy.

For space travel it is not a meaningful measurement as it does not

exist as a referential position in space (ie., the seasons of the

earth

refer only to the Earth). RAMC is the measure of Earth's 24 hour day

(longitudinal rotation) along the Earth's equator projected skyward,

and RAMC does not coincide with the Ecliptic Constellations except at

the equator's & ecliptic's crossing (the equinoxes). The equinoxes

occur at the points when the Sun rises due East & sets due West; in

other words, in spherical geometry the equinoxes mark the crossing of

the Earth's projected equator with the ecliptic (ecliptic = " apparent "

path of the Sun, which is actually the path of the Earth yearly around

the Sun).

However, the Right Ascension of the lights and/or planets, when

compared to the RAMC of the culminating angles & when calculated with

Horizon coordinates, does indicate when a celestial body is angular on

MC or IC. Most critical to measure is Pluto, which because of its

extreme ecliptic latitude (up to 17degrees) is usually never anywhere

near its ecliptic longitude. Measuring Pluto especially in terms of

spherical astronomy is complex mathematically because it involves

these

overlapping astronomical systems of measurement.

* * *

 

HORIZON SYSTEM (Azimuth & Altitude): Because planets have Declination

(see Equatorial System) and Altitude, they are not necessarily

literally (i.e., " mundanely " ) on the Horizontal angles (ASC-DSC) even

though their ecliptic longitude is. Altitude (up or down from

horizon)

is key to rising & setting planets. What's on the horizon is 0

degrees

Altitude, therefore actually " mundanely " angular rather than just

ecliptically the same degree on the horizon (ASC-DSC). ASC = ecliptic

degree crossing the eastern horizon. [***ALL DIRECTIONS ARE DERIVED

FROM NORTH, found by dropping a line straight down to horizon from

North (pole) Star. The point here is that directions come from

Earth's

rotation in relation to the universe.]

Another significant corollary point: the distinction between what

is

measured in the Ecliptic and Horizon Systems shows the absurdity and

impossibility of having aspects " to " the angles (aspects are measured

planet-to-planet on the Ecliptic). Planets must be bodily " on " the

angles to have a relationship to the angles.

Note: " Rapt Parallels " are measured in elevation from the horizon.

They are parallels created through the diurnal motion of the earth on

its axis which is called " Rapt " motion. These are called RAPT

PARALLELS

to distinguish them from altitudes usually measured in Declination,

the

distance north or south from the Celestial Equator. Planets which are

significantly up or down from the horizon in Rapt Parallel " Altitude "

of within about a degree have the effect of a very strong conjunction.

If either of the Lights are in Rapt Parallel with a planet, this is to

be considered along with aspects.

Also, bodies having the highest ELEVATION (altitude up from the

horizon), even though not near the MC, have been considered important

from ancient times and are worth watching, particularly if they should

aspect the lights.

* * *

 

GALACTIC SYSTEM: This system is not a factor in astrological measure-

ment. It is the Plane of the Milky Way with Galactic Longitude &

Latitude. See Shapley. The CENTER ( & thickest mass of stars) of our

Milky Way Galaxy is currently thought about 2SAG06 ecliptic longitude,

5S35' ecliptic latitude. (See Neil Michelson, American Sidereal

Ephemeris) The spout in Sagittarius' " teapot " points to Galactic

Center, about 5 degrees west of spout. About December 18 marks the

day

when the " apparent " path of Sun in our solar system crosses closest to

Galactic Center (i.e., where the ecliptic plane intersects the

thickest

area of its home Milky Way Galaxy).

 

MOST IMPORTANT TO NOTE: APEX of the Sun's Way (the direction in

the

heavens in which Sun is traveling): Garth Allen used the Apex

coordinates (as he knew them in about 1970) as a constant against

which

to substantiate CAPricorn INGRESS charts. Allen's attempt to find a

conceptual astronomical ( " sidereal " ) framework for the meaning of the

30 degree divisions of constellations needs yet and ever to be

pursued.

It may well be that he truly envisioned and researched the connection

between our Solar System and the rest of the universe through the Apex

of the Sun's Way.

Consider this analogy: the pole of the Earth's spin, the North-

South

Pole, points to the North Star, from which point a line can be drawn

vertically straight down to the horizon. Now see that vertical

wrapping all the way around the earth. This vertical from the north

pole star provides the first direction, the Prime Meridian Circle

(and/or plane) in astronomy, or the primary direction North-South.

This is the first step and most basic orientation for us on Earth in

establishing our orientation in space. Just so, then, the APEX or the

direction the Sun is seen to travel in the heavens ( & hence the Earth

&

other planets all with the Sun) can be conceived as a kind of " pole. "

Similar to the line from north pole star to Earth's horizon, WHEN A

LINE IS DRAWN FROM THE APEX DOWN TO THE ECLIPTIC PLANE (between Sun &

Earth), IT CONNECTS WITH 0 DEGREES OF THE STAR CONSTELLATION CAPRICORN

and to the opposite degree, 0 degrees Cancer. The APEX as " Sidereal

Fiducial " was Allen's ultimate astronomical explanation for the

validity of the star constellation zodiac. See also file called

[APEX].

Garth Allen's early statistical studies reported in his Profession

And Birth Data validate such 30 degree divisions of the star

constellations into 12 sections, as opposed to any other divisions.

See below appended essay by Fagan on Allen's statistical studies from

file [APEX].

* * *

 

 

NOTE: It is helpful to visualize the Earth as divided into 12 orange

sections (cut longitudinally) or " lunes " as these sections would have

an appearance similar to a crescent lunar phase. And further, to

visualize the Earth's projection of longitude and latitude onto the

apparent sphere of the heavens-in-lunes. The orange core would be the

pole of the Earth's axis about which it turns, and would point now to

Polaris, the North Pole Star, the still place in the sky about which

all stars turn.

Each 30 degree " lune " section was historically named for a star

constellation near the ecliptic; i.e., the whole lune section of the

heavens from north to south pole is named for the 'zodiacal'

constellation, or the constellation nearest the ecliptic. That is, it

is not merely the plane of the ecliptic that is being divided, but the

entire celestial sphere in terms of the Earth's rotational

relationship

to the heavens. Keep in mind Allen's " Radial movement in space

defines

the zodiac. " The primary historical and astronomical issue is how to

divide up those lunes in the first place - WHERE ARE THE BEGINNINGS

AND

ENDS OF THE HISTORICAL CONSTELLATION DIVISIONS?

It is well to understand at the outset that it is the Earth's

angles, i.e., the ecliptic plane's crossing of the horizon and North-

South Prime Meridian, which provides the focus/scope or framework for

what impinges on our consciousness here. The angles are defined as

the

foreground of consciousness, a kind of relativistic notion that

everything is relative to the observer, or the experiencer. This is

distinct from using the equinoctial measure 'as' the tropical zodiac.

And it does not answer the question of where the beginning and end of

the ecliptic/zodiacal constellations are.

Cyril Fagan rediscovered the in ancient Egyptian astrology the

historical roots of the constellations. Garth Allen attempted to find

in the APEX of the Sun's Way - an astronomical explanation for the

division within the physics of the universe itself. Consider that the

first step in observational astronomy is to establish the north pole

and the resultant north-south Meridian division of the celestial

sphere. By analogy, finding the APEX (the direction the Sun is

traveling in the universe) gives a kind of pole/pointer, from which a

meridian can be drawn down to the ecliptic to divide it at 0 degrees

Capricorn and Cancer.

Our personal and immediate perspective in the universe is FROM THE

DAILY ANGLES of the Earth in relation to our Sun; our Earth life, our

seasons, are dependent on the orientation of the Earth and its pole.

Earth is our position of perception to which the heavens are relative.

We are here the perceivers. But also astronomically, the direction in

the heavens that the Sun is traveling (APEX) is also the direction its

planets are traveling. And that is also a major factor of our

relationship to the rest of the heavens. The APEX, which divides the

ecliptic plane through the heavens analogously to the way the Earth's

tilt and pole divides our day and year, would offer the best

explanation I've yet seen of an astronomical basis for the

constellations.

Cyril Fagan's Astrological Origins refers to the research of

Professors A. N. Vyssotsky and Peter van de Kamp investigations of the

solar Apex with its position as follows: R.A. 19h 00m 00s plus or

minus a miximum error of 6m, and Declination N. 36 degrees 00' plus or

minus a maximum error of 1 degree 30'. 1950.0 = mean obliquity of the

ecliptic 23d 26'45 " . Reducing these to their ecliptical coordinates

gives the Mean sidereal longitude as 29 degrees Sagittarius 32' -

" less

than half a degree from the sidereal Tropic of Capricorn....In this

respect it should be noticed that the Sun's ingress into the

constellation Capricorn, termed by Garth Allen the Capsolar, and the

Moon's ingress therein, the Caplunar, constitute the most important

ingresses during the year. "

* * * * *