the complete book of
chart rectification
about the author Carol A. Tebbs, M.A., C.A.P. (La Quinta, CA), a practicing astrologer since 1971, is well recognized in the astrological community for over 35 years of community service: 3 terms as ISAR president and 23 years on the ISAR board 1979–2002; UAC co-founder and Board member 1984–1999; UAC board chair 1997–1999 and; UAC ’95 conference coordinator. Ms. Tebbs specializes in natal chart and current patterns interpretation, as well as relationship synastry and electional timing for important events. Her publications include two E-books published in 2003 by Online College of Astrology (OCA) entitled Beyond Basics: Moving the Chart in Time and Beyond Basics: Tools for the Consulting Astrologer, along with regular articles in the ISAR journal, The International Astrologer. Carol Tebbs attended Whittier College, earning both B.A. and M.A. degrees in English, and shortly after, an M.Ed. in education. Ms. Tebbs’ 38 years of teaching and extensive leadership experience in a large urban school district served as foundation for her service as President of Kepler College from July 2003–June 2006. Currently she serves Kepler College as vice president and instructor of literature while continuing her work with the college board as a national “Writing Assessment Reader” and Advanced Placement teacher trainer. Recognized as 1999 Wal-Mart “Teacher of the Year” and 2000 District Teacher of the Year, Ms. Tebbs is annually noted in Who’s Who in Education and Who’s Who in the World.
the complete book of
chart
rectification carol a. tebbs, m.a., c.a.p.
Llewellyn Publications Woodbury, Minnesota
The Complete Book of Chart Rectification © 2008 by Carol A. Tebbs, M.A., C.A.P. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever, including Internet usage, without written permission from Llewellyn Publications except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. First Edition First Printing, 2008 Cover celestial map images ©Visual Language/PunchStock Cover design by Lisa Novak Editing by Andrea Neff Llewellyn is a registered trademark of Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Tebbs, Carol. The complete book of chart rectification / by Carol Tebbs.—1st ed. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-7387-1308-3 1. Birth charts. I. Title. BF1719.T43 2008 133.5'42—dc22
2007047339
Llewellyn Worldwide does not participate in, endorse, or have any authority or responsibility concerning private business transactions between our authors and the public. All mail addressed to the author is forwarded but the publisher cannot, unless specifically instructed by the author, give out an address or phone number. Any Internet references contained in this work are current at publication time, but the publisher cannot guarantee that a specific location will continue to be maintained. Please refer to the publisher’s website for links to authors’ websites and other sources. Llewellyn Publications A Division of Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd. 2143 Wooddale Drive, Dept. 978-0-7387-1308-3 Woodbury, Minnesota 55125-2989, U.S.A. www.llewellyn.com Printed in the United States of America
e-books by carol a . tebbs Beyond Basics: Moving the Chart in Time, Textbook for Astro-201, OCA, 2003, http://www.astrocollege.com Beyond Basics: Tools for the Consulting Astrologer, Textbook for Astro-202, OCA, 2003, http://www.astrocollege.com
contents List of Tables . . . xi List of Figures . . . xiii Introduction . . . xv It Is Important to Understand the Complexity of the Rectification Task . . . xviii
CHAPTER ONE:
Doing the Groundwork to Verify Birth Times . . . 1 Begin by Compiling a List of a Dozen or More Major Life Events with Dates . . . 3 Limit Early Searches for Aspect Hooks . . . 5 Astrology Software Is Best for Rectification Searches . . . 6 An Overview of Modern Astrological Techniques and Their Usefulness . . . 6
CHAPTER TWO:
Setting a Procedure for the Rectification Search . . . 11 Establish a Working Chart Set for Noon or the Midpoint of the Known Time Range . . . 11 Study Known Natal Chart Elements to Find a 1-Degree-Orb Hard Aspect Hook . . . 12 What If the Chart Contains No 1-Degree Natal Aspects? . . . 12 A Procedure for the Rectification Search . . . 13 Work from the Hard Aspect and Event Hooks to Search for the Angles and the Moon . . . 13 Time to Tally Some Preliminary Results . . . 14 Now Go Out on a Limb: Experiment with the Short List of Times . . . 15
CHAPTER THREE:
Rectification Example One: Actress Elizabeth Taylor . . . 17 Next, Search the Natal Chart for 1-Degree Hard Aspect Hooks . . . 19 Time to List the Important Life Events for Elizabeth Taylor . . . 21 Once the Background Work Is Complete, Begin the Rectification Search . . . 23 Now Select the Most Dramatic Events in Close Time Proximity for the Initial Search . . . 26 Four Important Events or Event Clusters for Taylor’s Rectification Search . . . 26 Now Run Secondary Progressions for Smaller Increments of the Narrowed Time Range . . . 37 Now Use Outer Planet Transits to Narrow to One or Two Promising Times . . . 39
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Retrograde and Stationary Periods Greatly Extend the Effect of Any Transit . . . 44 Extenuating Circumstances That Extend the Impact of Outer Planet Transits . . . 47 Retrograde and Stationary Periods Mark Outer Planet Transit Shadows for Elizabeth Taylor . . . 47 If You Are Still Undecided on the Best Birth Time, Run Solar Eclipses for the Events . . . 49
CHAPTER FOUR:
Rectification Example Two: Singer Johnny Cash . . . 53 Set the Working Birth Time for Johnny Cash and Find the Hard Aspect Hooks . . . 54 Create a List of Notable Life Events for Johnny Cash . . . 56 Find the Dwad Placement of Cash’s Natal Moon . . . 60 Begin the Search to Derive the Birth Chart Angles from Life Events . . . 61 Tally the Preliminary Search Results to Narrow the Possible Birth Time Range . . . 65 Search the Secondary Progressions to Confirm Early Results . . . 66 Search the Outer Planet Transits to Confirm Early Results . . . 69 Search Solar Eclipses for Key Events for Final Birth Time Confirmation . . . 73
CHAPTER FIVE:
Chart Comparison of Time Twins: Elizabeth Taylor and Johnny Cash . . . 75 Recognize How Location and Date Can Affect the Angles . . . 76 Compare the Dwad Placements of Angles for Cash and Taylor . . . 78 Outer Planet Transits Activate Cash’s and Taylor’s Close Natal Aspect Patterns Simultaneously . . . 79 Solar Eclipses Activate Cash’s and Taylor’s Close Natal Aspect Patterns Simultaneously . . . 80
CHAPTER SIX:
Rectification Example Three: Female . . . 83 Examine the Significant Natal Close Aspect Networks . . . 88 Derive a Working Midheaven from the “Hook” Aspect Network . . . 90 A Reminder for Those Hand-Calculating . . . 91 Remember the Basics of Time . . . 92 Narrow the Field for Ascendant Candidates . . . 95 The Progressed Moon Gives “Secondhand” Timing Accuracy . . . 97
contents
The Adjusted Calculation Date—Obsolete in the Computer Age . . . 98 The Progressed Sun and Inner Planets Can Mark Key Life Events . . . 101 Progressed to Progressed Aspects Can Confirm Birth Time . . . 104 Outer Planet Transits Can Mark Potential Moon and Angle Positions . . . 105
CHAPTER SEVEN:
Rectification Example Four: Televangelist Jimmy Swaggart . . . 109 The Swaggart Marriage . . . 121 Death of Two Key Women and Mentors—Mother and Grandmother . . . 122 Swaggart Is Arrested with Prostitute . . . 124 Public Confession on television/Swaggart Defrocked as Minister . . . 127 Swaggart Is Arrested Again with Prostitute . . . 129
CHAPTER EIGHT:
Summary of Procedures for Rectifying Birth Times . . . 137 Frequently Asked Questions . . . 141
APPENDIX A:
Finding the Adjusted Calculation Date . . . 145 Another Method for Calculating the ACD . . . 147
APPENDIX B:
Calculating Secondary Progressions and Assessing the Year . . . 149 Calculation of Progressions . . . 149 Understand the Natal Patterns as Well as Planetary Motion . . . 150 Prioritize What’s Really Important in the Progression . . . 151 Long-Term Cycles Sometimes Move Together to Extend Their Effects . . . 153
APPENDIX C:
Calculating Solar Arc Directions and Assessing the Year . . . 155 Calculating the Solar Arc . . . 155 Forecasting with Solar Arc Directions . . . 156
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APPENDIX D:
Timing Months and Years with Outer Planet Transits . . . 161 How to Do a Transit Search on Solar Fire 5.0 or 6.0 . . . 167 How to Do a Transit Search on Kepler 7.0 . . . 168 General Duration of Outer Planet Transits . . . 168 Approximate Calendar Time for Moving Planetary Factors to Activate 1 Degree in the Natal Chart . . . 170 Retrograde Periods Extend the Effect of Any Transit . . . 171 In Conclusion . . . 178 Frequently Asked Questions . . . 179
APPENDIX E:
Seeing the Big Picture with Life Declination Graphics . . . 183 Graphing Declinations Using Astrolabe’s Solar Fire 5.0 or 6.0 . . . 185 Graphing Declinations Using Matrix’s Win*Star 2.0 . . . 185 Graphing the Lifetime Declination by Hand . . . 186 Interpreting the Progressed Declination Graphic Using the Moon . . . 186 Interpreting Planets in Progressed Declination . . . 189 Interpreting Natal Out-of-Bounds Planets . . . 189 Interpreting Progressed Planets and Angles at Maximum North or South . . . 190 Interpreting Progressed Planets and Angles at Crossover . . . 191 Practice . . . 193 Frequently Asked Questions . . . 195
Bibliography . . . 197
tables 1: Rodden Rating System . . . xvii 2: Clock Time to Calendar Time Comparisons . . . xviii 3: Jigsaw 2.0 Suggested Chart Birth Times and Angles for Elizabeth Taylor . . . 18 4: Notable Life Events for Elizabeth Taylor . . . 21–23 5: Signs, Decanates, and Dwadasamsas—Fine-tuning of Degrees . . . 24 6: Possible Natal Moon 1-Degree Aspects for 24 Hours, A.M. and P.M. . . . 25–26 7: Directed Midheaven Times Conjunct Aspect Network at Four Losses . . . 28 8: Directed Ascendant Times Conjunct Aspect Network at Four Losses . . . 29 9: Times Directed Opposite the Apex Planets at Four Losses . . . 30–31 10: Tally of the Results of Midheaven, Ascendant, and Apex Searches from Several Important Events . . . 31–32 11: Jigsaw 2.0 Rectification Search (Repeated) . . . 32 12: Progressed Sun Positions at Life Events for Elizabeth Taylor . . . 33–35 13: Secondary Progression of Angles, Planets, and Nodes for Two Birth Times . . . 38 14: Outer Planet Transits at Selected Events Narrow the Possible Birth Time Range . . . 40–41 15: Solar Eclipse Contacts at Key Life Events for Elizabeth Taylor 2:00 A.M. Birth . . . 50–51 16: Jigsaw 2.0 Suggested Chart Birth Times and Angles for Johnny Cash . . . 54 17: Notable Life Events for Johnny Cash . . . 56–60 18: Johnny Cash’s Natal Moon Dwad and 1-Degree Aspects for 7:00–8:00 A.M. . . . 61 19: Directed Midheaven Times Conjunct Aspect Network at Four Major Events . . . 62–63 20: Directed Ascendant Times Conjunct Aspect Network at Four Major Events . . . 63 21: Times Directed Opposite the Apex Planets at Four Major Events . . . 64 22: Tally of the Results of Midheaven, Ascendant, and Apex Searches for Four Johnny Cash Events . . . 65 23: Lifetime Progressed Inner Planet and Angle Positions for Johnny Cash . . . 66–69 24: Directed Inner Planet and Angle Positions at Key Life Events for Johnny Cash . . . 69 25: Outer Planet Transits at Selected Events Narrow the Possible Birth Time Range . . . 72 26: Solar Eclipse Contacts at Key Life Events for Johnny Cash 7:30 A.M. Birth . . . 74 27: Chart Comparison of Close Aspects to the Angles and Moon of the Time Twins . . . 79
xi
xii
tables
28: Notable Life Events for Female in Example Three . . . 84–85 29: Possible Midheaven Placements Conjuncting the Natal Aspect Hooks at Age 18 . . . 91 30: Estimating the Sun Position in Example Three (Midnight Ephemeris) . . . 91 31: Conversion of Degrees to Clock Time and Calendar Time to Clock Time . . . 93–94 32: Potential Ascendant Times for Major Event at Age 18 in Example Three . . . 95 33: Example Three Possible Natal Moon 1-Degree Aspects for 24 Hours . . . 96 34: Tracking the Progressed Moon for Life Events in Example Three . . . 99–100 35: Progressed Sun Positions at Life Events for Example Three . . . 102–103 36: Angles for 8:22 A.M. Birth . . . 105–106 37: Angles for 11:22 A.M. Birth . . . 105–106 38: Solar Eclipse Contacts at Key Life Events for 8:22 A.M. Birth . . . 107 39: Swaggart Possible Natal Moon 1-Degree Aspects for 24 Hours . . . 111 40: Important Life Events for Jimmy Swaggart . . . 114–115 41: Directed Midheaven Times Conjunct Aspect Network at Age 25 . . . 117 42: Directed Ascendant Times Conjunct Aspect Network at Age 25 . . . 118 43: Birth Times Directed Opposite the T-Square Apex Planets at Age 25 . . . 119 44: Finding the Most Likely Times to Search in Detail . . . 119–120 45: Directed Midheaven Times Conjunct Aspect Network at Age 52 . . . 127–128 46: Directed Ascendant Times Conjunct Aspect Network at Age 52 . . . 128 47: Birth Times Directed Opposite the T-Square Apex Planets at Age 52 . . . 129 48: Confirming Swaggart’s Birth Time from Several Important Events . . . 130–131 49: Jigsaw 2.0 Swaggart Birth Time Rectification Search . . . 131 50: Transits to Angles and Planets for Two Possible Birth Times . . . 133 51: Solar Eclipses at Important Life Events for Jimmy Swaggart . . . 135–136 52: Converting Calendar Time to Clock Time . . . 146 53: Transiting Pluto Square Natal Pluto by Decade . . . 162 54: Approximate Calendar Time for Moving Planetary Factors to Move 1 Degree (without Orbs) . . . 170
figures 1: Elizabeth Taylor’s Chart Set for Mother’s Memory of 2:00 A.M. . . . 20 2: Secondary Progression Graphic for Elizabeth Taylor, 1958–1968 . . . 36 3: Secondary Progression Graphic for Elizabeth Taylor, 1983–1994 . . . 37 4: Transit Graphic Ephemeris for 3-23-68 Surgery and 11-22-68 Father’s Death . . . 42 5: Transit Graphic Ephemeris for 12-5-83 Rehab and 8-5-84 Burton’s Death . . . 43 6: Transit Graphic Ephemeris for 3-24-94 Surgery and 9-11-94 Mother’s Death . . . 44 7: Five-Year Outer Planet Transit Graphic for Elizabeth Taylor—2:00 A.M. Birth Time ( January 1, 1990–December 31, 1994) . . . 48 8: Five-Year Outer Planet Transit Graphic for Elizabeth Taylor—2:07 A.M. Birth Time ( January 1, 1990–December 31, 1994) . . . 49 9: Johnny Cash’s Chart Set for Mother’s Memory of 7:30 A.M. . . . 55 10: Secondary Progressions of Inner Planets and Angles for Johnny Cash, 1932–1967 . . . 70 11: Secondary Progressions of Inner Planets and Angles for Johnny Cash, 1968–2004 . . . 71 12: Example Three Chart Set for Noon . . . 87 13: Jimmy Swaggart’s Chart Set for Noon . . . 113 14: Swaggart Outer Planet Transits for Age 25 Using the Noon Time . . . 120 15: Life Declination Graphic for Jimmy Swaggart Using the Noon Birth Time . . . 122 16: Swaggart Progressions at Age 13 . . . 123 17: Swaggart Progressions at Age 17 . . . 123 18: Swaggart Progressions at Age 25 . . . 123 19: Swaggart Progressions at Age 26 . . . 123 20: Swaggart Progressions at Age 52 . . . 124 21: Swaggart Progressions at Age 53 . . . 124 22: Six Months of Transits from Swaggart’s First Arrest to Public Confession . . . 126 23: Swaggart Transits at First Arrest (October 17, 1987) . . . 126 24: Swaggart Transits at Public Confession (February 21, 1988) . . . 126 25: Swaggart Progressions at Second Arrest (October 11, 1991) . . . 130 26: Swaggart Transits at Second Arrest (October 11, 1991) . . . 130 27: Sample of a Jupiter Transit with Its Shadow Range . . . 172
xiii
xiv
figures
28: Sample of a Saturn Transit with Its Shadow Range . . . 173 29: Sample of a Uranus Transit with Its Shadow Range . . . 174 30: Sample of a Neptune Transit with Its Shadow Range . . . 175 31: Sample of a Neptune Transit Making 5 Hits to a Point in Its Shadow Range . . . 176 32: Sample of a Pluto Transit with Its Shadow Range . . . 177 33: Example Chart from Chapter 6, 3-Year 45-Degree Transit Graphic . . . 178 34: Female from Example Three: Life Declination Graphic, Natal Lines, Progressed Declination Moon and Planets . . . 193
introduction The astrologer faces a very challenging range of problems when a birth time is not known. The degree of difficulty in deriving an accurate birth time, assuming that the date of birth and the geographical location are known, depends on whether the client is able to narrow the birth time range to only a part of the 24-hour day. Working from the astrological premise that the birth chart, when activated by various timing factors, should symbolically reflect actual life events as they occur, the astrologer seeks to find a consistent pattern in which astrological indicators correspond with life events. As defined by Nicholas De Vore in The Encyclopedia of Astrology, rectification is “the process of verification or correction of the birth moment or ascendant degree of the map, by reference to known events or characteristics pertaining to the native.” Therefore, the most reliable way to approach this complex puzzle is to set a birth chart for noon, or the most reliable reported time, and search for 1-degreeorb hard aspects or aspect networks to establish “aspect hook(s).” Then, from the list of important life events, select a few of the most dramatic or painful events to establish “important event hook(s).” Once the background information has been gathered and tabulated, proceed to compare the aspect hooks with the event hooks to derive the most reliable birth time.
Nicholas De Vore, Encyclopedia of Astrology (New York: Philosophical Library, 1947), p. 329.
xv
xvi
introduction
A properly timed birth chart should correspond astrologically with actual life events; however, it is not unusual for the astrologer to encounter a client for whom the astrological symbolism does not appropriately align with events. Sometimes the astrologer may notice a consistently early or late activation of the natal chart patterns and may adjust the chart by a minute or two to align them. Other times, clients may present birth times that do not so obviously align with events, or they may only generally know their birth time. For any of these instances, the process of rectification of the birth time to correspond with actual life events is useful for the astrologer’s accuracy in continued forecasting for the client. Indeed, the process provides a valuable confirmation of birth data for the continuing client. Before charging into a discussion of technique, an awareness of the importance of birth time and the many variables to consider is important. It is the combination of birth time, geographical location, and birth date that determines the angles and house cusps of the natal chart, as well as positions of the planets. The key to rectification is to determine the most “time-sensitive” chart factors—the angles—which change 1 degree every 4 minutes, and to a lesser extent the Moon, which changes 1 degree every 2 hours. House cusps, though fastchanging like the angles, are rarely useful in rectification work. Since nearly a dozen house systems and methods for their calculation are in use, and since they are minor players compared to the angles in forecasting events, house cusps are less reliable indicators of birth time. The most common variances in birth time come from earlier eras, or states and countries, when time was recorded only to a close approximation. In births prior to the midtwentieth century, the birth time may have been rounded off to sunrise, sunset, midnight, or noon (a 6-hour span), or to the nearest hour, half hour, or quarter hour. Fortunately, most hospitals in the United States recorded exact birth times from the 1950s onward— that is, assuming that the clock in the hospital was correct. However, some countries of the world, such as Japan, do not record birth time at all. So even though most clients will have accurate or near-accurate birth times, every astrologer should know rectification technique to serve the clients who do not provide a birth-certificate-verified birth time that is Rodden rated as “AA” data. An explanation of the Rodden Rating system is in order (table 1). This system provides the astrologer with specific guidelines for evaluating the quality, or reliability, of birth data, whether for consulting with clients or for research. The point is, accuracy of birth time to the minute provides more accurate forecasting and research results, and every astrologer should aspire to work with only “AA” quality data that is supported by an official birth record. Other less reliable data categories in the Rodden Rating system are described in greater detail on the AstroDatabank website, at www.AstroDatabank.com.
introduction
xvii
Table 1: Rodden Rating System AA A B C DD X XX
Accurate data as recorded by the family or state. Accurate data as quoted by the person, kin, friend, or associate. Biography or autobiography. Caution: no source, or original source not known. Dirty Data—two or more conflicting quotes that are unqualified. Data with no time of birth. Data without a known or confirmed date.
The AA, A, and B data are fairly stable. C and DD data tend to change when AstroDatabank data are upgraded. Since data are always volatile, no rating system is infallible and data are often updated when new information comes to light. Additionally, Ms. Rodden provides a well-founded comment on some of the problems with rectified charts in general and explains why rectified charts certainly are inappropriate for research, an opinion with which this author heartily agrees: All rectified data are also rated “C”. Some astrologers consider rectified times more accurate than birth times. Unfortunately, there is no consensus on how to rectify birth times. Thus, one astrologer’s ultra-accurate rectified time may contradict another astrologer’s ultra-accurate rectified time. Until there is a standard and proven rectification method, you should treat all rectified data with caution.”
L ois Rodden, “Rodden Rating System,” Lois Rodden’s AstroDatabank, http://www.astrodatabank.com/ RoddenRatings.htm (accessed December 2007). Ibid.
xviii
introduction
it is important to understand the complexity of the rectification task To give some understanding of the complexity of finding an unknown, or only generally known, birth time, the search for position of the angles at birth on a quarter day can span up to 90 degrees, on a half day up to 180 degrees, and on a whole day 360 degrees. To find the average amount of clock time it takes for an angle to move 1 degree, divide 360 degrees by 24 hours. First, convert the 24 hours to minutes. Since an hour is 60 minutes, multiply 24 hours by 60 minutes to arrive at 1,440 minutes of clock time in a day. Then divide the 1,440 minutes by the 360 degrees in the wheel to arrive at the desired result: 4 minutes of clock time equals 1 degree of movement in the 360-degree chart wheel. Therefore, rectification on such wide time ranges as 24 hours is quite difficult. Table 2 of time comparisons may be helpful to remember. Table 2: Clock Time to Calendar Time Comparisons Degrees to Clock Time 360 degrees 180 degrees 150 degrees 135 degrees 120 degrees 90 degrees 60 degrees 45 degrees 30 degrees 15 degrees 1 degree 30 minutes, or ½ degree 15 minutes, or Ÿ degree
= = = = = = = = = = = = =
24 hours 12 hours 10 hours 9 hours 8 hours 6 hours 4 hours 3 hours 2 hours 1 hour 4 minutes 2 minutes 1 minute
Calendar Time to Clock Time 1 year (12 months) = 1 day (24 hours) 1 month (30 days) = 2 hours ½ month (15 days) = 1 hour (60 minutes) 1 day = 4 minutes
Rectification is much easier with birth times narrowed to a half hour or less, making the search range for the angles no more than 8 degrees. Remember that the angles are consistent in most systems of chart calculation, which makes them the best candidates to search
introduction
xix
for and match with events. The solar arc method of movement is preferred because of its regularity. Narrow birth-time parameters are unquestionably easier for the astrologer to “rectify” or “align” known dates of life events with appropriate astrological indicators. The astrologer aims for consistency of match-up between the two. Noted astrologer and researcher Dr. Zip Dobyns describes the process thus: Rather than using the character of the natal chart to deduce the destiny which will follow, it is possible [through rectification] to deduce the natal chart from the destiny. Nonetheless, it is in the best interests of all to first exhaust every resource to find some documentation of the birth time to narrow the search to as small a range as possible. British astrologer Ronald C. Davison concludes: The prime importance of the angles of the birth chart has been repeatedly stressed. It is absolutely necessary that the birth chart should be as accurate in this respect as the most careful rectification can make it. It is useless to expect satisfactory results from Secondary Directions unless the angles of the horoscope under consideration have been carefully checked with reference to past events. Even a “stop-watch timed” birth must not be regarded as above suspicion until one or two major events in the life have occurred either to corroborate or to confound the prevailing angular directions.
Z ipporah Pottenger Dobyns, Progressions, Directions and Rectification (Los Angeles: T.I.A. Publications, 1975), p. 7. Ronald C. Davison, The Technique of Prediction (London: L. N. Fowler, 1971), p. 137.
Chapter One
doing the groundwork to verify birth times Even though births in the United States have been reliably recorded since the mid-twentieth century, one cannot assume the same accuracy in birth records from other countries. At the dawn of the twenty-first century, many countries still do not record birth times precisely, if at all, so the astrologer’s work still can be quite difficult. Many states and countries that do record specific birth times also have laws regulating to whom access is granted—most often restricted to immediate family members. Therefore, in the absence of a timed birth certificate, it is much more efficient if the client does the initial groundwork by searching though family records such as letters, baby books, or the family bible. Other complications can impede the search for birth records. Early in the twentieth century some states did not record birth times, but later legislation required them to do so. Knowing the local recording procedures and dates of any changes is quite important. The Doris Chase Doane reference works Time Changes in the U.S.A. and Time Changes in the World, published by the American Federation of Astrologers in Tempe, Arizona, are important books to own for astrologers still doing hand calculations. Fortunately for computer users,
chapter one
U.S. and world time variances have been incorporated into all of the major chart calculation programs, saving a huge amount of search time and greatly reducing the possibility of error. Of course, accurate clock time is dependent on a reasonably good timepiece being accurately set in the first place—a huge assumption. We all know of the infinite variations of consistent time from communities refusing to observe daylight saving time, to clocks and watches running too slow or too fast. Just experiment by asking the time in a group of people and you will likely get as many variances. Of course, atomic clocks commonly in use at the turn of the twenty-first century may narrow the time variables for future generations. Even the cell phone, which most everyone carries, is set to atomic time and changes itself automatically as one travels across time zones or time changes from “standard” to “daylight” or “war time.” Accurate birth time is a major concern for all astrology forecasting work whether researching, consulting with clients, or writing for the astrology market. Even though rectified charts are not proper to use for research, or publication without appropriate disclaimers, knowing the principles of rectification may make the difference in accurate forecasting for the client—especially for clients returning each year for an update, as is usually the case. People must be aware of the variety of resources for locating a birth time, or at least an approximate birth time, to make the rectification task easier and more affordable. Assuming that the client does not know his or her birth time, others who were present or notified of the birth may remember or may have made record of the birth in some way. It is important to make contact with relatives, friends, and community connections to determine if some sort of record exists to narrow the search. The following list provides some suggestions for good resources to check: 1. Relatives and friends who were present at the birth may remember the time, or if they received an announcement, they may have saved it. 2. The family bible often has birth times listed. 3. Family correspondence at the time frequently mentions the birth details. 4. Local newspapers list all hospital births from the previous day, and some even list the birth time. 5. Baptism records may be found at the family’s church. 6. Baby book entries by the mother very often reveal birth details.
doing the groundwork to verify birth times
7. Even saved hospital ID bracelets may have the birth time recorded. 8. An official birth certificate from the state or country of birth usually will have the time. Having completed the survey of family members for the birth data (month, day, year, city, state, country, and birth time), one must be advised not to proceed unless all variables are known except the time. “If more than one factor in the needed data is missing, the variations become staggering, and the task [of rectification] is almost impossible.” Dr. Dobyns recognizes the importance of birth time in setting a chart, but implies that if one has the birth time but is missing the birth date or the birth location, then either of those may be inferred by working from the other two. That is not the case. The birth time provides the angles at any given location in the world, but even with the birth time the angles cannot be determined without knowing the location and the date. Dobyns is correct that the birth time is critical, but with any other factor missing the rectification task is impossible.
begin by compiling a list of a dozen or more major life events with dates Once other resources have been exhausted and rectification of the birth time becomes necessary, the next step is to gather a list of specific life events with dates and times, as many as possible. To begin a rectification search of any range, one must ideally start with a dozen or more dates of major life events to make the search reasonably reliable and worthwhile. Major challenging events provide the most prominent indicators for a search because many personal planets and angles are activated for the major events. It is much easier to detect a high peak of several long- and short-term moving factors to natal chart planetary positions when they simultaneously activate the chart by “stacking up,” rather than wading through the more ordinary life events described by fewer activated chart factors. Some astrological software is designed specifically for research and rectification searches. Bernadette Brady and Graham Dawson’s Jigsaw 2.0 program, marketed by Astrolabe in Massachusetts, is one very good rectification search program,
Dobyns, Zipporah, Progressions, Directions and Rectification, T.I.A. Publications, California, 1975, p 2.
chapter one
though the Kepler 7.0 program, Solar Fire Deluxe, and Win*Star 2.0 programs include good search features as well. The major life events most useful in the rectification search are the most painful and dramatic losses in life and may include the following: 1. Death of a young child 2. Separation from a loved one through divorce or break-up 3. Death of a parent or older child 4. Surgery or major illness 5. Loss of a job or job change 6. Accident with serious injury 7. Abuse of any sort 8. Victim of serious crime 9. Perpetrator of crime with arrest and/or incarceration 10. Bankruptcy or sudden financial loss 11. Extreme stress from any source (parents, marriage, job, children, etc.) Here are some events that are important to note but generally are less useful in the rectification search: 12. Moving to a new location 13. Job promotion or sudden financial gain 14. Marriage 15. Birth of a child or grandchild 16. Honors or recognition 17. Retirement 18. Spiritual milestones marked by intense preparation 19. Travel 20. Purchase of a home or vehicle
doing the groundwork to verify birth times
The more painful events rate a much higher priority than the generally pleasant or joyful events. How much more? It may differ, but events from the first list may be four or five times as helpful in the rectification search, as a reasonable estimate. In the case of an unusually dramatic loss at a young age, the impact may be more than ten times more prominent than a pleasant event. For instance, the loss of a parent is a very powerful loss for anyone, but the individual is affected differently by the loss at various times of life. If the parent dies at age ninety-five and the client accepts the natural transition, the loss will not be nearly as powerful as the loss of a parent for a young child who is scared and confused, even traumatized, by the event. Ideally, the list the client provides for the birth rectification search will have many combinations of these events to provide a dozen or more with specific dates and, where possible, specific times. Certainly, the search may be attempted with fewer than a dozen events, but the result may not be as reliable. Also, rectification is an extremely difficult task to attempt for young people without several challenging and/ or life-changing events to use as time markers.
limit early searches for aspect hooks In modern astrology, the techniques commonly used for the process of rectification provide varying degrees of success. Indeed, the process is so complex that few astrologers attempt the task because the time involved is extensive and few clients want to pay the fee for an extended search. As a practical result, very little has been written on the topic, and therefore few astrologers feel well-enough schooled in the art to offer birth time rectification as a service. Now that the groundwork of listing the dates of important life events is done, the next step is to search the natal planetary placements for close hard aspect connections within 1 degree. The premise is that when planets or the Moon’s nodes are in close natal aspect, or when one of them is activated by direction, progression, or transit, so are the other planets or points in the configuration. Therefore, one should list all of the 1-degree close aspect networks of the chart in order of closeness of orb. Orbs beyond 2 degrees are less helpful as the “hook� upon which to begin the rectification search. Of course, it is possible that the natal Moon or an angle may also be involved in the close hard aspect network, but that cannot be determined with reasonable certainty until later in the rectification process.
chapter one
astrology software is best for rectification searches For the purpose of instruction, we will assume that the client is unable to provide a birth time, and is certain only of the birth date and place. Therefore, a search must be done for the full 24 hours of the day. Let us also assume that we have been provided with a list of a dozen or more important life events to begin the rectification search. From this point there are several ways to proceed, depending on the available technology and astrology software containing the appropriate search features. More serious searchers of unknown birth times may prefer to invest in one of the many good astrological software programs, which greatly reduce calculation times for the various techniques. Some of the betterknown research software programs are Solar Fire 6.0 by Gary Christen or Jigsaw 2.0 by Bernadette Brady and Graham Dawson, produced by Astrolabe (www.astrolabe.com); Kepler 7.0 by David Cochrane, produced by Cosmic Patterns (www.astrosoftware.com); and Win*Star Plus by Stephen Erlewine, produced by Matrix Software (www.astrology software.com). Always be on the alert for newer versions of software that provide even more bells and whistles. These, and many other astrological software pioneers, have made rectification a reasonable undertaking, rather than the nearly impossible task of only a few years ago.
an overview of modern astrological techniques and their usefulness The more commonly used rectification techniques are solar arc directions, secondary progressions, and transits of outer planets. To a lesser extent, eclipses, decanates, and dwads are useful. Solar arc directions provide a distinct advantage for the initial search because the angles and the planets move consistently at the rate of the Sun, varying from 57 minutes per day in the summer to 61 minutes per day in the winter. Noel Tyl states: “Direct Solar Arc aspects from and to the Midheaven and Ascendant are extremely important in preparing and testing rectification, as well as for analysis of developments in the past and projections into the future.� To quickly estimate the solar arc movement for ease of hand calculation, one may reasonably use the rounded average of 1 degree per day of solar movement and apply it to all planets and speculative angles for the various ages at life
N oel Tyl, Prediction in Astrology: A Master Volume of Technique and Practice (St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 1991), p. 96.
doing the groundwork to verify birth times
events. This is called the radix method, less in favor now that astrology software is so far advanced from the earlier “shortcuts” to calculation. For most others, the computer readily calculates the solar arc for any date of birth to any event date, and moves each planet and chart point the exact solar arc distance. According to Dr. Dobyns, “the most effective [of the directed systems] in my experience is to move the whole chart the same distance which the Sun has moved in the Day-for-a-Year system; that is, the distance called the solar arc.” The technique of secondary progressions of planetary motion, or “day for a year” in the ephemeris, moves each planet at its own speed, rather than the uniform motion of the solar arc. “In this system, each day after birth is equated with a day actually lived, so that to understand the developments in the life of a person who is twenty years old, one looks in the ephemeris at the date twenty days after birth.” This system works well for planet-to-planet aspect connections at the various ages of events, but is much less effective for determining the time of sensitive angles. The Ascendant is particularly variable in the secondary progressed method, moving from 47 minutes per day while passing through Virgo and Libra, to nearly 2 degrees per day while passing through Pisces and Aries—and locations of high latitude can produce even wider variances. However, if one wishes to use the secondary progressed method for movement of the planets, and the solar arc method for movement of the angles, the search may produce more reliable results with fewer variables. Once the initial search is completed and the possible birth times narrowed to just a few, transits of the slow-moving outer planets serve well as timing indicators when in aspect to natal planets. It is relatively easy to search an ephemeris for the positions of Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto for the dates of important life events to see what natal planets or configurations are activated, and is even easier in a computer search. Once the solar arc directions to planets appropriate to life events are determined and the search is narrowed, outer planet transits are useful to fine-tune the birth time and determine the “good candidate” angles. Less reliable methods for rectification include eclipses, planetary returns, prenatal epoch, physical appearance, character traits, and degree meanings, though the Hindu
3 Zipporah Pottenger Dobyns, Progressions, Directions and Rectification, p. 13. Dobyns, Progressions, Directions and Rectification, p. 13.
chapter one
2½-degree subdivisions of each sign called dwadasamsas are sometimes helpful in determining the Ascendant once other techniques have been used to narrow the birth time search to less than 15 minutes. An important caveat of Dr. Dobyns: “One crucial rule to remember is that there must be an appropriate aspect for each event in each system of current patterns [if the birth time is correct]. That is, the event must show in Secondary Progressions, Solar Arc Directions and in Transits.” If systems are selectively mixed and matched, then it is possible to make a case for most any birth time. Those also wanting to search local house cusps will find Davison’s comments helpful: “If the person has moved from the birth location at the time of the event, it may be helpful to also search contacts to the local angles and house cusps, once the search is narrowed to only a very few ‘working Angle’ placements.” Davison also suggests that “in progressing or directing the chart, the new locality should only be used beginning with the year equivalent to the person’s age when the move was made.” In order to verify the principles of rectification technique, all four rectification examples provided in this text have a Rodden rating of “AA,” denoting birth certificate in hand, or “A” data verification, denoting some conflict of times within a narrow range, or one time from a firsthand reliable source, such as the mother, and others from secondary sources. The searches in examples one and two (chapters 3 and 4) are from a range of nineteen and a half hours to one hour to aid the student or astrologer in practice of technique before tackling larger searches of 24 hours, as in examples three and four (chapters 6 and 7). Rodden “AA” birth time verifications are given for each example at the end of the chapter. Examples one and two are celebrity “time twins,” famed actress Elizabeth Taylor and music icon Johnny Cash, whose birth dates are within a day (or within 18½ hours) and Rodden rated as “A” data. Each has more than one reported birth time, without birth certificate record for verification. Rectification technique can determine the best birth time that most closely corresponds with life events. Examples three and four, a female educator and noted televangelist Jimmy Swaggart, do have verified birth certificate times Rodden rated as “AA” data; however, their searches are set for 24 hours to challenge the student and astrologer’s Ibid., p. 15. Dobyns, Progressions, Directions and Rectification, p. 19. Davison, The Technique of Prediction, p. 131.
doing the groundwork to verify birth times
skill at deriving the correct birth times. Example three is particularly explanatory for those who may still be doing rectification by hand calculation, since its search was developed from that model. Again, the recorded birth information is provided for both examples three and four to confirm the search results.