Skyscript newsletter #5: Capricorn 2022 by Skyscript / STA

#5 (Jan 23) Capricorn Ingress 2022

Newsletter Edited by Deborah Houlding

The Sun is in Capricorn www.skyscript.co.uk/capricorn.html

– Contents – • Skyscript news, developments & announcements • Firmicus II.X: The Planetary Rulerships • Astrology & social media • Planetary themes for January • “Pluck yew” – the historical origin of the V-Sign • Where is my engagement ring? • Finish my ditty!

Contributors: Dr Valerie Roebuck • Dru Ish • Jason Burns • Dylan Warren-Davis • Danielle Ashley

WELCOME TO ISSUE 5 and Seasons Greetings !! Thank you to everyone who found the time to gather round for yesterday’s ‘solstice social’ at this busy time of year. This was an informal, Capricorn-themed, meetup for all Patreons, which started with me elaborating on projects in hand and progress being made on the front and back end of Skyscript. The meeting was recorded and is available to view in the onsite members’ area. Unfortunately, our Leena Chauhan (usually so reliable) was very unprofessional and quite delayed in pointing out I forgot to record from the start. So some of the initial progress report is missing from the recording [don’t feel too bad about this Leena, I’ll recap the main points here].

SITE NEWS & SKYSCRIPT DEVELOPMENTS

Glossary & homepage Although not yet visible, the whole of the onsite Glossary section (over 130 pages) has been remodelled into the new design and integrated into a document management system that allows for easy maintenance/development. The bulk of the coding work is done, but the DMS is still undergoing testing to ensure its integration doesn’t break the internet. The initial target deadline for completion was yesterday, but I am extending this with hopes of it going live around the New Year period (I am also keeping my definition of the ‘New Year period’ vague, to cover all bases). Once the new Glossary section is safely in place my next big milestone is to upload a homepage that coordinates with the new design. I am really excited, and keen to get this achieved in time for the New Year itself (new year, new start, new look, etc.), so will strive to do this for midnight New Years’ Eve even if the Glossary-testing is still ongoing. You know, it hasn’t helped me or anyone that Mars has been so powerful in phase and taking its sweet, retrograde-time in Gemini. What a curious mix of backwards-flowing chaos, with everything moving slowly with great impatience. Like everyone else, I’ve had many computer and communication issues, with a car that keeps rebounding back to the garage to fix an elusive problem that might depend on parts that are unavailable due to the strikes of postal workers, railway workers, etc., (basically, Mars being retrograde in Gemini). And you think – with all this going on – I can remember to press ‘record’ too?? Members area A new ‘Member area’ has been set up since the last newsletter was distributed. As the homepage and more of the site moves to the new design it will become increasingly easy to access all past newsletters, recordings and member-only resources, since the link to the Member area is embedded in the footer of the new design (see image, next page). Until then, be sure to bookmark or save this link as your gateway to the member resources: https://www.skyscript.co.uk/patron/news.php Your username for access is your email address, and a reminder of the password for Patreons is given in the post pinned to the top of the Patreon member-posts page (click here for the direct link). Associate members have their own password – if anyone needs a reminder at any time, just email me and I’ll quickly respond: deb@skyscript.co.uk. Whilst I am reminding, remember that details of upcoming talks are also on display in the Members area, together with the link for you to check your local time, and the Skyscript Zoom link to join the meeting – this is always the same link, with the password embedded within it. So don’t forget: the Members area is your quick, one-stop shop for everything on offer to members.

Click this link in the footer from any of the updated pages to access the log-in for the Member area

Associate membership Another reminder: the ‘associate membership’ offer ends on 31st December 2022. It may repeat in December 2023, but not before. So if you have an astrologer friend you want to send a present and greeting to over the festive period (even Amazon-Prime is probably too late now!) there’s still time to gift a year of Skyscript membership privileges (which will delight them and add benefit to the development coffers for Skyscript!). Costs are £13 for a 12-month subscription to level 1 perks (monthly newsletters, general assests and occasional meetings for all patrons) or £50 for subscription to level 2 perks (all newsletters and invites to all talks). Full details, and an illustration of the beautifully designed email message that will be delivered to your friend can be found here: For level 1 members - www.skyscript.co.uk/am2.php For level 2 & 3 patreons - www.skyscript.co.uk/am2.php

It is only possible to gift a level 2 associate membership if you are a level 2+ member

Forum and chart calculation Two other projects developing in the background are the creation of an onsite chart-calculation feature and the forum update. Paul Kiernan is making steady progress on the chart calculator, and major research is undergoing by our server tech, Martin Kirk, to identify the best forum upgrade. If we take the long-route, it is because we want to find a solution that retains all the valuable legacy posts since the forum began – this will be more time-consuming and costly, but the Patreon fund (thank you!) gives us scope to invest what is needed. Dru’s social media survey findings (presented in this issue) drove home to me the importance of safeguarding a purely “community” discussion space – free of Silicon Valley commercial angles and all the other social media “market” concerns about followercounts or attracting/losing clients. For a long time, I was under the illusion that the predominance of Facebook, Twitter, etc., made the Skyscript forum less essential. I have completely reversed my view on that – read her feature to understand why it is now more vital than ever that astrologers have a neutral discussion space dedicated to thoughtful discussion of details that are beyond the interest of the semi-interested or mildly curious layperson. Incidentally, our server tech Martin is currently sourcing his time of birth from his mum so I can draw up his horoscope and introduce him to you more fully in our next issue (after knowing him for 25 years I can imagine his chart details, but best to aim for precision). Martin is as much about Skyscript

as I am: he has hosted it since its birth and cared for all sorts of technicalities without payment. But more on that later (I think he has already figured my reason for introducing him is ostensibly to build a better sense of community between everyone invested in Skyscript, secretly underlined by desire to name and blame him in future editions if promised tech developments get delayed beyond deadline!). NEWLY ADDED/ RECENTLY REDEVELOPED PAGES

Full feature on eclipses www.skyscript.co.uk/eclipse.html & several associated links You may not care about this right now, but it is only a matter of time before you will benefit from the completely overhauled section on eclipses. This has a handy table of full eclipse information (through to 2030) which includes charts for the most recent/upcoming eclipses so you can see the details at a glance.

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Tables of eclipse info (& charts)

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Traditional aphorisms for eclipses

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Eclipse astronomy for astrologers

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Carter’s rules for timing effects

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Dennis Elwell articles about eclipses

The URL above links to various related pages which detail traditional aphorisms and principles of judgment, and feature several eclipse-themed articles. Check it out to be aware of what’s available (6 months comes around fast!). Capricorn the Goatfish - www.skyscript.co.uk/capricorn.html It will be clear that Capricorn is one of my favourite zodiac signs – the symbolism is so rich and intriguing! The Skyscript page on this sign has to be one of the internet’s most useful and comprehensive gateways to exploring this sign’s symbolism (without dumbing the content down to popular-media-celebrity-mush). Besides the detailed symbolism exploration, there is tabulated info on sign definitions, characteristics and rulerships, accompanied by a flipbook presentation and a beautifully produced audio of the page content provided by our talented CapricornSun Abigail Smith (visit her website at https://www.seebystarlight.com). The page gives a hefty selection of famous Capricorn charts to explore, some featuring full biographies. Speaking of charts: I’m constantly weaving over old chart illustrations like a spider, replacing them with higher-resolution images that do justice to modern browsers. I keep pins of chart images on Pinterest, so astrologers understand they can freely reuse the images if they want to – here is the link if you want to scroll through the 70+ charts currently available: www.pinterest.co.uk/houlding1/skyscript/charts/

Tycho Brahe: A king among astrologers www.skyscript.co.uk/brahe.html This month is a great time to get re-acquainted with two outstanding Capricorn astrologers whose influence dominated the Renaissance. Brahe and Kepler were a match made in heaven and hell – the former a flamboyant, egotistical aristocrat with the financial means to create a fantastical observatory, the latter a quiet, studious scholar with a brilliant mind. Both were devoted astrologers whose passion for the subject led to them becoming the leading astronomers of their day. Brahe redefined the existing cosmological model, then Kepler refined it, introducing planetary laws (still standing today) based on his mystical perception of Pythagorean philosophy. No well-trained astrologer today should be unaware of their impact and consequence: their relationship with each other was tense – but out of this tension celestial harmony played. David Plant narrates both biographies exquisitely, laying out the difficult backgrounds and upbringings of both, then walking us through their stumbles and achievements and illustrating the workings of their minds. I tried to do justice to his articles by surrounding the text with new diagrams, valuable links and followup resources, including an embedded clip of Carl Sagan explaining Kepler’s Law of Plan etary Motion (not too hard for anyone with understanding of how synodic phase affects motion), a flip-book of Kepler’s ‘Harmony of the World’ and lots of other great resources too. Don’t dally further – just click the links and check them out. Johannes Kepler: Music of the Spheres www.skyscript.co.uk/kepler.html

Available as download

RECOMMENDS

https://astroconnexions.com

(iPad/iPhone only) £19.99, approx US$27.00

We have some amazing talent among our members. Our Roger Pearce is the developer of an incredible software app that is easy to use and loaded with powerful features – it does anything you can imagine, and some things you probably can’t imagine. Catering to just about every modern and traditional astrology need, this app is bursting with ‘pros’ and sells for a ridiculously low price considering it matches up, and in some ways betters, astrology software selling for hundreds of pounds. However, it suffers from one massive ‘con’ – it is for iPad or iPhone users only. If you are a Windows user, forget it (normally, you get all the astrosoftware advantages, but not this time buddy). Being a Skyscript supporter, Roger has offered three licenses to be used as some kind of prize for Patreon events. I decided these should go to the first three Patreon members who want this app and can prove they are actually reading this newsletter – not pretending to read it like I suspect some of you do. Just copy this phase and post it as a response to my Patreon announcement that this latest newsletter is released: “I am attentively reading the newsletter”. When the three licences have gone, they are gone – so nip in quickly!

Wade Caves has recently started a digital newsletter: the ‘Brooklyn Messenger’ which is issued periodically to feature news about world events and pop-culture, with occasional bits on astrotheory. If you are interested, click the link below for a free subscription which will deliver new issues to your email inbox.

Theodora Vasilopoulou has brought my attention to a wonderful Greek language website with a remarkable library section, including texts from astrologers such as Vettius Valens, (both in ancient Greek and English) and Dorotheus’ Carmen Astrologicum (as a free PDF download in both ancient and modern Greek).

Do you want to recommend a link to an outstanding website, or pass on news about a new astro-feature or helpful resource that you are involved in or feel other astrologers will benefit to know about? Send the info to me and I will circulate what I can through Skyscript – info of about 50 words is perfect!

www.astrologicon.org

deb@skyscript.co.uk.

IN THIS ISSUE

Not to blow one’s own trumpet, but thanks to the great contributions from various contributors, this issue of the newsletter is a bit of a Christmas cracker! The serialised translation of Al-Qabisi Book I (‘On the Planets’) continues, but since we have a double-whammy of Saturn-disposed signs as the Sun passes through Capricorn and Aquarius, I have interrupted that broadcast, and Al-Qabisi’s exposition of the Nature of Saturn will be held over until next month. This issue, instead, features the full chapter on the rulership of the planets by Firmicus Maternus, a passage of text that was presumed lost by previous translators, so has never been made available in English before. I hope you enjoy seeing the materialisation of this text as much as I do, and that you pause a moment to thank yourself – it is here because you are here: the Skyscript Patreon support funds this sort of valuable translation work. I hope to have the full text of Firmicus Book II completed and beautifully typeset soon. When it is, it will be made freely available on Skyscript for all members of the astrological community to enjoy. As you should know, Book I is already completed and available for you to download from the member’s area (see page 2). Following that historical feature, Dru then changes the landscape completely, bringing us right up to date with her pertinent, thought-provoking summary of the responses to the survey into astrologers’ experience with social media. It is difficult to analyse the full implications for the future of astrology at this stage, but the results are worrying in how they show market forces having a dominant promotional effect on what is essentially an esoteric and creative field. Jason, again, gives a great introductory overview of the emerging mundane themes – I probably benefit from his contributions more than anyone, since I get them well in advance of publication and am able to witness how world politics and events shape around those signatures as we go to press. Thankfully, by the time of our next issue, Uranus, Mars and all the planets will be direct again, and we will have three months of thoroughly direct motion – check the diagram on p.19 which gives a useful year-ahead snapshot of retrograde passes at a glance. This issue also features a contribution from an old Skyscript favourite – Dylan WarrenDavis, whose little piece on the history of the V-sign presents a curio of facts about history, archery, Saturn, cheiromancy and the yew tree. And where would horary astrology be without some distressed lady losing a ring? I love the detail in Danielle Ashley’s judgement that builds up the description of the ring – how perfect that the significator of the green gemstone ring is characterised by the Northern Claw, the only noticeably green star in the sky! And finally, I leave you with a challenge on the final page. Is there anyone out there able to continue the inane ramblings of the two old ladies that live in the dusty recessesses of my brain?(Truth be told, I probably would have finished this, but the deadline came again … the Sun moves on, starting something new and bringing endings as it does). So now I must close down and walk away from my desk (and find out what my husband has been wanting to say to me for the last three days). I will distribute these offerings, and pass on my greetings and thanks for your companionship, support and shared interest as we come to the end of 2022 and prepare for 2023. Jupiter is in Aries now (conjunct the fixed star Scheat, which is a bit of a tricky one); hang in there and remember: 3 months of direct motion coming up soon – the future is looking bright !! PS – as you study this textbook, browse this newsletter, be aware that the test I warned you about is coming up soon – Deb Scheat – see www.skyscript.co.uk/pegasus.html Northern Claw – see www.skyscript.co.uk/libra_myth.html

NEXT SKYSCRIPT MEMBER TALK

THE CALIPH’S DREAM & THE ELECTED CHART OF BAGHDAD FOR BODY & SOUL LEVEL MEMBERS

Start: 11 pm UTC – Sunday, 8th January 2023 | duration: 90 mins (approx) San Francisco: 3 pm | New York: 6 pm | Sydney: 10 am [check other local times on this link]

This is the city that I am to found, where I am to live, and where my descendants will reign. Its name will be Madinat as-Salam, the City of Peace! For it is truly Bag-dad, a “gift of God”. – Al-Mansur, founder of Baghdad

The transmission of astrological treasures (and the ideals they represented) impacted not only the timing but also the location and design of Baghdad – a city purposefully constructed to act as a centre of wisdom in the Arabian world. The horoscope for Baghdad is often viewed as an enigma by modern astrologers, but with historical understanding and the aid of various Arabic texts and architectural reports, we can correct some transmission errors to discover just how deep and meaningful the symbolic and astronomical significance was between the elected foundation chart and the city that emerged. This talk will explore some fundamental electional astrology techniques as well as the transmission of astrological knowledge from Alexandria to Baghdad. It will add a new dimension to our understanding of this famous chart, opening our eyes to the extent that astrological symbolism defined the scientific outlook and the architectural design of medieval Arabia. Presented by Deborah Houlding

JULIUS FIRMICUS MATERNUS

MATHESIS II.X PLANETARY RULERSHIPS Translated from Latin, Dec 2022 by

Dr Valerie J. Roebuck

The eight-part Mathesis (or De nativitatibus) of Julius Firmicus Maternus, written around the mid4th century, is antiquity’s most comprehensive astrological textbook. Firmicus wrote for his patron, Lollianus Mavortius, governor of Campania. Because his book is aimed at a beginner, it is also the most useful and instructive textbook of ancient astrological practice, and certainly one of the most influential astrology texts ever written. Modern scholarship has tended to overlook it, despite its great historical importance. There has not been a critical edition of the work since that produced in two volumes by Franz Boll, Skutsch and Ziegler between 1897-1913.1 This gives a tidy and reliable presentation of the Latin text in a modern, easy-toread format, so was naturally used as the source for the two English translations currently available: the first by Jean Rhys Bram in 1975,2 and the later, more literal translation by James Holden in 2011.

Both English translations lack important sections that were not included in Boll’s critical edition. Book II fails to provide the planetary rulerships, the arrangement of the triplicities, and most of the information on the zodiac signs. Holden noted that these sections ought to be available but declared them lost. However, they are present in Latin editions dating from the late 15th century,3 and the addresses made within them to Firmicus’s patron, Mavortius, add weight to their authenticity. Book II of the Mathesis offers an extremely thorough tour of classical astrology’s principles and predictive techniques. A full English translation will be available early next year for download on Skyscript, alongside a feature article on Firmicus. The following extract is translated by Dr Valerie Roebock (honorary research fellow of the University of Manchester and author of The Circle of Stars: An Introduction to Indian Astrology) to offer the first English language presentation of the section on planetary rulerships, as drawn from those late 15th-century manuscripts.

The 1553 manuscript used in this translation; online at

https://archive.org/details/iuliifirmicimate00firm/

II.X: THE PLANETARY RULERSHIPS We will now explain to you, Mavortius, our jewel, the planetary rulerships, so that nothing of this divine astrological study is held back through neglect. Beginning with Saturn, our discourse shall briefly explain what, through its own lot, each of the planets decrees.

is by nature cold and dry (though sometimes by accident moist), and dark, harsh, heavy, foulsmelling, devouring, stubborn, of much thought and long memory; and he signifies cultivation of the land and waters; the abode, measurement and weight of things; and whatever pertains to rural matters. Likewise, whatever things are completed through manual skill, such as masonry, ditch-digging, carpentry, that kind of thing. Moreover, extreme poverty, and long, hard life, exile, risks of deceit, villainies, betrayals, solitude. But in deliberation, a very shrewd intellect, sure speech, long-lasting friendship, long foresight, and royal counsel. Also, violence, captivity, condemnation, persistence, treachery, anger; hatred of all that is good; fear, trouble, grief, repentance, funeral rites, mourning, and bereavement. He also signifies ancient inheritances, deformed and old people and the like, and also servants, slaves, mercenaries, eunuchs, low and notorious men, criminals, thieves, men of disreputable trades, and undertakers. He signifies also the magic arts; protracted considerations in a man; rare speech but deep intellect, and profound knowledge of things. And, also, of the parts of the body, the right ear, the spleen, and black bile.

is warm and moist by nature, temperate to the extent that its own virtue has been adapted, through the settled decree of the fates, to nourishing the bodies of mortals and reproducing them through multiple generations of descendants. He signifies health, dignity of form, nobility of soul, sound wisdom and intellect, and the interpretation of dreams. Moreover, rights, laws, states, religion, piety, modesty, grace, faith, and whatever the just soul of a well-educated man can conceive of. But sometimes, by accident, perhaps on account of excessive self-confidence, he signifies a rash undertaking of business, and sometimes, from such a cause, a difficult outcome of one’s works. He signifies, too, a patient soul, though one eager for vengeance, and therefore victorious for the most part in every dispute. He also signifies high priests, princes, leaders, tribunes, and holders of very high office. Moreover, hope, joy, self-control, generosity, reconciliation between people, the public good, mature counsel, speech that is serious, joyful and lively, and always conducive to public benefit. And of the parts of the body, he owns the left ear and the liver.

is by nature hot and dry, irascible, violent, and quite often impetuous when spurred on by anger. He signifies betrayal, conflict, bloodshed, daring, recklessness, pride, sedition, controversy, booty, treacheries, and banditry. Moreover, wounds, captivities, and difficulty in fleeing. Furthermore, faithlessness, obscenity, ill-advised love; readiness to take offence, changeable opinion, lack of a plan. He also signifies violent rulers, savage, uncivilised people ever-eager for the next bloodshed, perjurers, deceivers, inconstant, slanderous, disorganised folk, spoiling everything, defiling everything, making no distinction between divine and human matters; resourceful, however, in all their undertakings and somewhat marvellously cunning and zealous. He signifies also that which is ill-formed, shameless, ungrateful, fatal to unborn offspring, and, because of this, perhaps hostile to women. However, of the arts, he signifies surgery, and whatever involves the stain of bloodshed (accomplished somewhat with pleasure); and of the parts of the body he owns the liver, with h, and the nose, with `. But with i=or _ he marks a cruel, sudden death.

is by nature fiery, hot and dry, yet wonderfully tempered, whence he owns the middle of the habitable zone; and he signifies the reconciliation of people, which brings the greatest honour; ambitious reputation; craving for gold and honours; desired vindication on enemies; courage of soul and body; honesty; grandeur, victory, perspicuous elegance, and incredible prospects amongst all that seems to belong to the height of royalty. He also signifies kings and rulers, those who are not savage, nor stubborn, nor unfair, but just, approachable, easy to deal with, gentle, honourable with every kind of virtue, though with a little spirit of pride, and sometimes puffed up. He signifies also grave eloquence, mature counsel, strict judgment, and splendid and noble action in anything; likewise, all splendour, brightness, and royal pomp. But of the parts of the body, he owns the head of every living being, the spirit, and the right eye.

is by nature cool and moist, but nonetheless temperate so that by her rising she infuses generative dew into mortals, by which not only are living beings fitted for reproduction in their different ways, but vegetation too is disposed into its various kinds. She signifies all beauty, attractiveness, elegant clothing, adornment with a covering of worked gold or silver, or the Tyrian purple dye that denotes high office. Moreover, baths, dyes, perfumed balsam, grace, fun, poetry, performance at dance, and plentiful applause. Also, beautiful maidens, the beloved, betrothals, loves, elegies, lovers’ outbursts, infidelities, quarrels; and peace restored and reconciliation in love. She furthermore signifies feasts, breakfasts, and sweets; sweet desserts or confectionery, and whatever is sweet and pleasant to taste; moreover, lawful or unlawful sexual intercourse, rapes, incests, adultery and other such things. She also signifies the mutual liking of people for one another, piety, faith, credulity, and the greatest of humanity in all. But in regard to the body, generally, she signifies a certain plumpness, though it is attractively adorned; weak, however, and often worn out by ill health. Among the arts, she signifies painting, perfumed merchandise, and everything that is created by marvellous and subtle craft. But of the parts of the body, together with c, she owns the nose.

is of a mixed nature, combining alike to the one it is with, or to which it is joined by some aspect. But by [its own] nature it is rather cold and dry. It signifies childhood, ingenuity, reason, eloquence, playful deception, joking, theft, enthymemes, syllogisms, sophisms,4 poetics, music, astronomy, and the complete study of astrology. It also signifies devoted men, prophets, fortune-tellers, augurs and those adorned with the divine interpretation of the fates, traders and also legates, speakers – but quite often those who deceive through fraudulent cunning. It also signifies someone who illuminates the most difficult art, the discovery of hidden things and secrets, gentle speech, sound advice, delicacies, pleasures, ambitions, profits, taxes in money, and whatever can be sought for the sake of more glory and usefulness. Moreover, feigned reconciliation, doubt, and concealed emotion; but also gentle sympathy of the soul, unwelcome modulation of the voice, but, in every difficult work of art, a skilful hand and an extremely well-adapted intellect. Furthermore, in relation to occult matters, wonderful invention and very swift perfection in it. Also, of the parts of the body, it owns the mouth and tongue, and the hands, which are the helpers of human speech.

is by nature cool and moist, but sometimes by accident growing hot with the rays of the Sun and so inclining towards a certain heat. She signifies the appearance, happiness, the want of glory; a weak sense, poor memory, lies, denunciations, flatteries; much gluttony but little lecherousness in sexual matters. She also signifies trivial matters, and especially ones concerning water; business people, the beginnings of businesses, and profits earned from them, of differing capabilities; seekers of honours, and diligent cultivators of laws and good arts, and most worthy seekers out of all the most excellent things. She signifies mothers, grandmothers and elder sisters. Furthermore, all works of water, the cultivation of the earth, and the businesses of rulers and primates; and (especially in first youth) the height of religious zeal, though not at all constant and stable in persevering in it. And of the parts of the body of a rational living creature, she owns the left eye.

Notes: 1) Boll’s critical edition is available online at: https://archive.org/details/matheseoslibrivi01firmuoft. 2) Bram’s translation is available at: https://www.astrologiahumana.com/firmicusmaternustheoryandpractice.pdf. In the 1990s I was permitted to reproduce this text, along with corrections and additional notes by David McCann. Unfortunately, the Ascella publication had limited circulation and went out of print within a few years, its digital files now lost. The Skyscript edition of Book II will be mainly based on this text, with the inclusion of McCann’s corrections and further improvements made through cross-reference to new sources and extra Latin manuscripts. 3) Worldcat reports 98 print editions of the Mathesis by 2011 in six different languages. The first, published at Venice on 13 June 1497 by Earhart Ratdolt (see last issue) was bought by the Aldus Press of Venice in 1499 and reprinted as part of a compendium of astrological texts, edited by Ratdolt’s colleague, the Venetian scholar Francesco Negri. This included the Astronomica of Manilius (upon which Firmicus drew heavily) the Phenomena of Aratus (upon which Manilius drew heavily), and the Phenomena of Geminos, which was wrongly identified as the Sphaera of Proclus (the 1499 Latin edition can be viewed at http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.rbc/ Incunables.33439v1.1). Later editions published in Basel in 1533 and 1553 reproduce the text of the Aldus edition exactly. The 1553 manuscript used in this translation can be found online at https://archive.org/details/iuliifirmicimate00firm/. 4) A syllogism is a form of deductive reasoning; enthymeme is a particular rhetorical syllogism in which one of the statements is hinted at rather than supplied; a sophism is a clever but spurious argument.

ASTROLOGY & SOCIAL MEDIA Analysis of community feedback

by DRU ISH Dru blogs, consults & does all sorts of weird & wonderful stuff at druish.com

ocial media is a modern-day means for connection and news distribution, and also a shop front for business. Its saturation in our lives since 2004 has changed social etiquette, impacted mental health, and significantly altered the course of politics – and the workforce – for better and worse. For astrologers, it has extended collaborative interaction and opened up previously unavailable online learning techniques, while transforming the astrologer’s role from spiritual counsellor/advisor to one that considers the potential and impact of celebrity status too. With over 100 platforms to choose from, astrology is now massively exposed. For the public, the increase in accessibility to astrological principles has transformed the user experience from one of passively reading a horoscope to now feeling some ownership of astro-logic and perhaps using catchphrases like “Mercury retrograde” to justify anything going wrong. While it might sound innocuous, it is quite a leap. Today, #astrology hosts 11.8 million posts on Instagram alone. These rapid changes pose questions about whether social media is changing astrology and how it is being practised and perceived in modern society. This may not be the first corner astrology has turned in history, but it is a significant shift as a largely esoteric tradition now becomes explicitly disclosed through modern media for the first time. It was while researching the astrological signatures of the Depp v. Heard defamation trial earlier this year that the propaganda potential of social media became worryingly evident to me, as I witnessed it being so obviously used as a tool of influence on public perception. When Deborah Holding then invited me to join her in a live discussion about social media with her Patreon subscribers, I was concerned it might end up feeling like herding cats, with so many directions the conversation could take. I decided to create a small survey to test the waters of our community and establish a focus for the discussion. The survey was open for a few days only (October 4th-12th, 2022). An almost overwhelming 212 participant astrologers completed the 10-question survey, which, somewhat ironically, demonstrates the power of social media, as it was used to gather information about social media use and its impact on members of the astrological community.

SURVEY FINDINGS Who are we? The ages of the participants ranged between 20-89, with the predominance aged 40-59 years, born between 1982-1963. These ‘latchkey kids’ are the last generation to be born with one foot in the analog world and one in the digital. Due to lowered birth rates in these years, there are fewer people on the planet in this age range, yet this demographic showed up more than any other. While astrology is weaved into every fleeting moment, and experience cannot be downloaded in an app, it is still scarcely present in tertiary-level education. Astrologers are, however, clearly present in tertiary institutions, with 66% of participants graduated at an Under or Post Graduate level – the majority aged 40-49. Today, social media has become an avenue of education for many young people who are impacted by escalating tuition fees and high-interest rates. With everyone converging in one ‘online town square’ it is expected that there will be clashes in class as a result of education disparity. With the rate that technology is changing, and social inequity increasing, it will be interesting to see what changes in these demographics over the next 5-10-20 years. Most contributing astrologers on social media are of mature age and very well educated

What are we doing? Astrology is a broad umbrella. There are multiple ways to be an astrologer and ‘do’ astrology. With technology dominant in our day-to-day lives, being a practising astrologer today (seeing clients or teaching, etc.) requires some level of technology use for practice, and social media use for business or networking. The survey results illustrate that while people call themselves astrologers, not all offer chart readings. Of the 212 participants, 45% are practising astrologers, 36% are armchair astrologers, with 25% not practising professionally. Armchair astrologers are those with other means of income or who have been studying astrology for many years but are more likely to use social media for group or community involvement. The advent of technology poses questions about the necessity of a teacher, especially with traditional texts becoming available digitally, and transmission conducted through the use of modern media. With 26% of participants in teaching or mentorship roles, results indicate that teaching astrology is a viable career option in 2022 and ease of access to astrological material actually stimulates the urge to learn. Simultaneously, a high percentage of participants consider themselves ‘students’ of astrology (something that can run parallel to one’s practice indefinitely!). Within the current shape of social media, being a content creator, or influencer, is becoming an increasingly enticing addition to the astrologer’s tool kit. Whichever platform is being used, some level of content creation seems to be required across the visual, text, video, or sound spectrums. Posts generally entail some level of education, be it announcing the next Full Moon or explaining a technique.

When asked to describe one’s astrology practice, the lowest numbers aligned with affiliations to accredited organisations and conferences, illustrating how powerful social media has become in harnessing personal power and autonomy. Where it was once necessary to be affiliated with an organisation to secure a speaking position at a conference, social media has created platforms for individuals to host their own version of conferences and educational material. Invitation to speak at a conference once suggested a level of trust from the astrological community; now, social media has changed who has sway and influence over who speaks and who is silenced, while popularity, or follower count, dictates what is and is not a currently popular technique or practice.

A high percentage of astrologers are involved in research and teaching – less than half define themselves as ‘practicing’

Where can you find us? Astrology didn’t peak in popularity purely because of advancements in technology, but the survey results show that has been a substantial influence. Technology – specifically social media – has gathered us all in a digital town square where our personal qualities are simultaneously diminished and publicised. Of the estimated 133 social media platforms available today, the big three – Instagram (56%), Facebook (54%), and Twitter (38%) – clearly dominate, although astrology is being used across 26 different platforms, with only 16% of participants not making active use of any social media. When Facebook launched in 2004, 26% of participants (predominantly over the age of 50) were already practising astrology. The same number of participants (predominantly under the age of 50) began practising astrology between 2016 and 2022. The digital town square amalgamates people from different backgrounds, ages, and levels of astrological understanding. A large proportion of astrologers practising long before these platforms existed are now meeting online with a new generation which has information available at lightning speed. Social media acts as an intersection where innumerable differences merge – and sometimes collide.

Twitter’s launch in 2006 was followed by that of Instagram in 2010. Results show mild trend increases as these platforms expanded, but it was not until Facebook bought Instagram in 2012 that astrology’s popularity took a sharp upturn (the period also coincides with YouTube introducing live streaming, YouTube analytics, and a merge with Google video). TikTok’s release in 2016 correlates with the greatest surge in practising astrologers however, attracting more than double the quantity of any other platform release. This total can be viewed as a cumulative amount of all social media platforms working together, as well as the pandemic forcing many people to find alternate means of occupation. The concept of TikTok fits awkwardly into astrology’s conventional expectation of years of study and practice. Allowing only short video footage, with an average lifespan of 25 seconds, it highlights the juxtaposition of depth learning reduced to quick sound bites. The ability to change a tyre does not a mechanic make, yet social media’s increasing impact on discourse and thought means good marketing and a curated presentation can garner a large following and bolster the influence of those with more pizzazz than experience. As rates of plagiarism continue to rise in our digital age, both astrologers and the public will have to better their skills at identifying if the glamour of the shop front truly reflects the quality of the products within.

Social circles Technology may not be shaping astrology per se, but it is shaping how it is experienced and consumed. Survey responses illustrate the pressure that algorithms put on the kind of content astrologers deliver, highlighting the influence big tech yields and raising concerns about whether social media has changed what it is to be an astrologer, or what astrologers not using new technology face in the future. A third of respondents indicate daily use of social media, though there are multiple ways this data can be interpreted – is this how often people post? Or how often they log in and scroll? (For those running a business account, simply ‘liking’ or commenting on someone else’s post is considered advertising.) For those not engaging on a daily basis, most (18%) engage with social media about once a week; but 15% of participants actively take regular breaks, suggesting that for many of us social media engagement is not sustainable and calls for self-regulation.

The majority of respondents are checking in to social media at least once a day but many are also taking regular breaks away from it

SM widens social circles and is good for business. Prospects of going viral or being cancelled are remote but many respondents have experienced problems of plagiarism, bullying or burn-out

Although some responses depict social media as anti-social, its intention of ‘connecting us’ appears to be working. Having a ‘widened social circle’ ranks highest in the experience of social media use, followed by ‘business has improved’ – underlining the career viability of astrology relying on social media as a marketing tool. The 27% of participants indicating ‘none of the above’ accounts for the many people who rarely engage. It seems that with devices attached to the end of our arms (designed for us to be addicted) correlation can be drawn between the high number of daily users and a quarter of participants reporting burnout. Remember that technology has also changed the nature of our workday: there is no longer a 9-5 norm; self-employment is far more common; and tech use has infiltrated every aspect of life, resulting in us checking emails at 11 pm and normalising unpaid labour. Worryingly, with the popularity of astrology on the rise, the internet has inadequate safety barriers for protecting one’s work or identity. Plagiarism, fraud and scammer accounts are presented in equal numbers, experienced by 20% of participants each. Through this deception, many are discovering that social media platforms are devised to make you believe you own the space (your wall, your profile etc.); it is not until there is a problem that the faceless nature of these corporations is revealed. The message reinforced by social media is that going viral, or being famous, is the goal, while the thing most feared is being cancelled. Both have an element of exposure, but for opposing reasons: one bolstering the ego, the other underlined with shame. The results suggest that neither outcomes are likely. Going viral and being cancelled show up with equal numbers, ranking lowest of all possibilities with social media use. Chasing the dangled viral carrot is like a lottery gamble with a 2% chance of winning against an ever-changing algorithm. To actually achieve celebrity status as an astrologer requires intentional curation with upfront cash for paid publicity. Subsequently, the quality of astrology has no benchmark balance against the number of clicks, likes and views.

It takes a village Since the premise of social media is enhanced interface, let’s consider how astrologers view each other. While there can be a crossover between ‘community members’ and ‘colleagues’, how we interact with each group does differ (community suggests engagement at a social-survival level, while the professional nature of colleague calls for different social etiquette). Before technology defined how and with whom we connect, ‘community’ was defined by different needs: as hunter-gatherers, our dependence on each other was based on survival; as we evolved, the community benefited from resource sharing, which birthed wealth monopoly, and class. More recently, the overpopulation of cities created subcommunities within the larger group, and people gathered together based on common location, class and specialisation in certain fields. Today’s social media encourages us to connect based on likeness, sameness and common ground. From this, it is easier to draw lines to define who does and doesn’t belong. What community is, and who occupies that space, is currently under meaningful change. Equal numbers of survey participants said they viewed other astrologers as community members and colleagues, while 15% said they did not view other astrologers as either community members or colleagues. Combining this with the results above, indicating a decline in conference and accredited organisation participation, social media may be changing more than how we learn and practice, seeping also into how we co-operative and intermingle with each other.

If other astrologers are neither colleagues nor community members, they may be perceived as clients

Working professionally in any field today calls for some sort of digital touchstone where you can be found. Given the popularity of social media and the fact it is ‘free’, I was curious to see if the use of personal websites had been affected, with social media replacing that need: 42% of participants do not offer a website; 57% do. With an average of 16% not using social media at all, that’s a significant

number of astrologers without a website. In contrasting the pros, the main difference between a website and a social media platform is that websites allow autonomy, whereas social media offers exposure and reach. The issue of social media being free obviously affects its popularity. In this context, free means not having to pay to use the platform. As our understanding of social media develops, it becomes increasingly clear that when the product is free, you are the product; therefore, profit is being made from your usage. Conflicting comments show that, on the one hand, social media is compromising the quality of astrological content, creating an expectation of a free service, while others note that the influx has made astrological education accessible. Currently, in 2022, a diploma from NCGR, for example, is $4885 for members / $5325 for non-members, while the average cost of one-off online webinars ranges between $15-$25. Ultimately, astrologers are split down the middle concerning social media, with 50% preferring to continue use and 50% preferring to opt-out. Perhaps answering that question is as complex as answering ‘would you prefer to live without electricity?’ Similarly, there was no option to opt-out when electricity was introduced across the planet, and we have subsequently lost connection with the natural world. Social media has become such a significant tool of ‘connection’, that the art of making in-person connections might be suffering in the same way. The main reasons given for preferring not to use social media are that it is time-consuming and there is a lack of control, i.e., it’s governed by big tech, algorithms, and lacks privacy, etc., whereas the strongest reason for ongoing use is that it is beneficial in its reach, and free. Interestingly, the only overlap was its necessity as a marketing tool. Participants on both sides saw this as a positive and negative, or a reason to continue using, and a reason to discontinue use.

Where do we go from here? With Pluto soon to enter Aquarius, it’s clear there is no going back with technology. Standing at this precipice of change, we are planting the seeds of the new Air era. Astrologers today are responsible to future generations for how we utilise and develop technology now. The nature of tech is front facing (we see the product but not the inner, behind-the-scenes workings); its long-term impact is hard to comprehend, but we know enough to realise its effects are major. Since astrologers no longer need brick-and-mortar organisation affiliation to gain professional leverage, we are freely offering social media corporations the agency to dictate how our community, practice and tradition are shaped. When answers are not forthcoming, it is important to keep probing questions. Because anyone can now call themselves an astrologer, there is potential for those who advance the tradition with a positive impact to be lost in the wash. Yet social media also has a wonderful way of levelling the playing field and creating opportunity. The complex intersection we stand in now poses important questions about how to control tech’s influence on our tradition. While there are definite gains, sadly, there will be things that we won’t know we have lost until they are gone. Like Mars currently rising after Sunset, the visual component is beautiful and breathtaking, but it also portends maleficence in plain sight.

PLANETARY THEMES FOR JANUARY By Jason Burns

à Ingress: general considerations for the 4th astrological quarter Mars stations and turns direct on the 12th of January but expect this slow-motion shift to make its mark felt the whole month. The Moon and Mars are only a few degrees shy of their mutually applying opposition at the Capricorn ingress, and Mars spends January pivoting around those degrees, continually unleashing the volatile potentials of that aspect’s themes of heated clashes, conflicts and threats to the status quo. Although this aspect will show itself most overtly in regions where it falls across the angles at the ingress, we can expect disruption in whichever houses of an ingress chart it occurs. Where such disturbances have already been an ongoing concern, things are likely to take a significant turn. Generally, accidents involving explosions, fire, or mobs are highly probable. Mars also has significance for military fleets, while the Moon has associations with vessels and the sea – note that this aspect features prominently near the ASC/DSC in the ingress charts of countries along the coast of East Asia (see ACG map, next page); I cannot help but recall prior tensions in those parts of the Pacific. Also featured strongly in the ingress is the Sun’s partile square to Jupiter, which makes its own ingress into Aries on the day of the solstice. This configuration will heighten tensions between influential individuals (scenarios including leaders butting heads with one another and commotion within their ranks), as well as augmenting border disputes and the attendant political problems of immigration issues, since the Sun in Capricorn highlights hard-won, established power, while Jupiter in Aries eyes fresh expansion of frontiers. High-profile losses and lawsuits can also mark the period, and philanthropic movements may come under strain. With Jupiter in the sign of the Sun’s exaltation, while the Sun pushes from the sign of Jupiter’s fall, circumstances in which one party presses another to deliver what it is unable or unwilling to give will result in impasses. Generally, the mix of these two planets doesn’t produce especially harmful results, but here Jupiter’s ability to temper and apply goodwill is undoubtedly squandered or subdued. Context is key; look to the house positions. One to watch

January Full & New Moon:

The Full Moon(6th Jan) opposes retrograde, combust, and peregrine Mercury, as Venus applies by trine to stationing, slow-moving Mars. Both the Moon and Mercury are known for bringing fluctuations and rapid change and have connections to travel, transport, communications, and commerce. With Mars still afflicting typically Gemini issues, service interruptions in any of these sectors are likely to increase. Mercury’s proximity to the Sun suggests that revelations around hidden plans or concealed information may begin to surface. From Aquarius, Venus offers “good for the group” solutions to Mars in clever, dualistic Gemini. Settlements, compromises, and mediation come up for discussion. Also, with a dignified Moon as Venus contacts Mars, expect to see recent movements involving women’s rights given further attention and momentum. As Venus applies to a conjunction with Saturn on the 21st, the New Moon in early Aquarius sextiles Jupiter while trining Mars. Disposited by Saturn, who at the time receives Venus, this New Moon has a concentrated focus on formal agreements. The value of alliances is highlighted. Treaties, contracts, and mergers come into focus. Keeping in mind that Venus enters Pisces, the sign of its exaltation, just before the month’s end, it is possible there’s a glimmer of some hope, stabilization, and concessions promised here.

ACG map showing European & Asian locations where 4a7 and 3K8 are angular at the ingress. Other troublesome world areas include the western nations of South and Central America. Jupiter’s conjunction with the martial fixed star Scheat at the ingress means that sea or floodrelated problems may be accentuated in places like Buenos Aires, where 7 rises (asc: 13°T48), opposed by the 4 on the descendant, with 8F Scheat on the MC (28°W54). Scheat is notably associated with floods, shipwrecks, accidents at sea or troubles caused through water. For more info see www.skyscript.co.uk/pegasus.html.

Planetary visibility:

Mercury remains mostly hidden through January, changing from occidental to oriental on the 7th January when it makes its inferior conjunction with the Sun. It can be seen in the morning near the end of the month and reaches its greatest elongation west on the 30th January. Venus is occidental, increasing in brightness throughout the month, and can be observed during the early evening hours following sunset. The three superior planets are now all occidental, with Mars still bright throughout the night, Jupiter remaining prominent through the late evening, and Saturn becoming increasingly less visible, setting sooner after sunset each day as the month progresses. AT A GLANCE: retrograde periods for 2023

HIGHLIGHTS (UT) 6 F ; - 1st: 05:25 6 → Q - 3rd: 02:10 3 L - - 5th: 16:43 Full Moon - 6th: 23:08 3 F 5 - 7th: 12:57 5 L - - 8th: 23:23 6 L 7 - 9th: 15:22 7 St. Dir. - 12th: 20:57 6 K - - 15th: 01:22 5 St. Dir. - 18th: 13:12 3 F ; - 18th: 14:45 3 → Q - 20th: 08:30 New Moon - 21st: 20:54 6 F 0 - 22nd: 22:13 - St. Dir. - 22nd: 22:59 6 → W - 27th: 02:33 3 L 7 - 30th: 01:46 5 L - - 30th: 02:17 5 GEW - 30th: 05:54

JANUARY 2023 Monday 30 4 K 0

3L7 5L4L;

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

31 4 F 7

Friday

Saturday 1

Ring, happy bells, across the snow: The year is going, let him go; Ring out the old, ring in the new, Ring out the false, ring in the true.

4L3

Sunday 6F; 4L3 4F-

—Alfred Lord Tennyson ‘In Memoriam’

5J= 4K0 4L5 4J= 4L;

6"Q 4"T 4L6 4J8 4F7

6J8 4L0

5 4K=

6 4J-

7 4a5

8 4"U

13 4 " O

14 4 L 6

15 4 L 0

4"Y 3L4K8

4aM

4L= 3F5 4a;

4L8 4a6 4J7 5L-

9 4K-

10 4 a 0

11 4 K 7

16 4 J 5

17 4 L =

18 4 a 7

19 4 J 6

20 4 K 8

21 4 J =

22 4 J 8

23 4 F 0

24 4 K 7

25 3 J 8

26 4 F 8

27 6 " W

28 4 J 6

29 4 L 5

6L7

4a4K6

4F6 4"W

4"I

4K0 4J3 4J; 4"M 4L8

4J5 4J-

4L5 4L-

5 St. Dir. 3F;

4F= 4J; 4"E

4L3 4a= 7 St. Dir. 4L;

4K= 4J0 4"}

4J3 4J7 4K5

4a8 3J= 4L7 4K5

3"Q 4F5 4Le 4L-

4J0 4K; 4"R

4F; 4"Q 4F3

4K3

6K4K3 4K; 4"P

4L7 4K6F0 - St. Dir.

4F4J=

COMING UP

February 2023 q

5 3 w 6

FM " " NM "

16É40 00â00 00ä00 01ä22 00~00

5th 11th 18th 20th

20th

UT 18.28 11:23 22:35 07.06 07:56

March 2023 5 " q FM 0 " 6 " 5 " 3 " w NM ; " 7 "

00ä00 16Ñ40 00ä00 00Ä00 00~00 00~00 00~49 00â00 00Ç00

2nd 7th 7th 16th 19th 20th 21st 23rd 25th

20:52 12:41 13:35 22:34 04:24 21:25 17:23 12:15 11:45

April 2023 5 q 6

" FM " 5 GEE w S Ec 5 SR

00Ä00 16Ö07 00Å00 11Ä06 29~50 15Ä37

3rd 6th 11th 11th 20th 21st

16:22 04:35 04:47 22:11 04:12 08:35

May 2023 ; q 6 5 8 w 7 3

5 EPHEMERIS

JANUARY 2023

SR L Ec " SD " NM " " GEW

00â21 14Ü58 00Ç00 05Ä50 00Ä00 28Ä25 00É00 00Å00 13Ä27

1st 5th 7th 15th 16th 19th 20th 21st 29th

17:09 17:34 14:25 03:17 17:20 15:54 15:32 07:09 05:34

“Pluck Yew!” Historical Origin of the V-sign by Dylan Warren-Davis

The origin of the V-sign as an offensive gesture is older than most people realise. It dates to the 14th century and the so-called ‘Hundred Years War’ between England and France (1337–1453). In particular, the gesture was linked to the use of the English Longbow by English and Welsh archers, who comprised nearly 80% of the English army. The longbow proved particularly effective in a number of early English victories but it was at the Battle of Agincourt (1415) that the archers achieved their most successful triumph – despite being massively outnumbered, they totally devastated the French forces. After Agincourt, the French changed tactics so the archers were less successful. The French realised that archers were less effective when they had not prepared their defences before battle commenced, so they were more vulnerable to a cavalry charge. The lines of archers were first broken at the Battle of Verneuil (1424); although the English still won a decisive victory, it revealed their vulnerability. This was then fully exploited by the French at the Battle of Patay (1429) when the English were utterly routed. The English longbow was made from a 6 ft (1.8 m) piece of yew wood. The length and springiness of the yew conferred exceptional power to the bow, firing arrows capable of penetrating metal armour. This, combined with their range, made the English and Welsh archers a formidable fighting force, which changed the rules of chivalry on the battlefield. The string of the bow was drawn by the middle and index fingers of their right hand, an act known as “plucking the yew”. Later in the war, when the French managed to break the lines, a number of archers were captured. The French immediately chopped off these two fingers from their prisoners, so they could never draw a bow against them again. When news of their fate reached the main phalanx of archers, they responded by taunting the French soldiers, raising their right hand, making the V-sign and shouting, “Pluck yew!”. Over time, the offensive chant morphed into “Fuck you!”, leaving many bemused as to why the gesture is so offensive. Perhaps the most significant reason the “pluck yew” gesture was so offensive, is that it inverts the Christian blessing that priests perform when making the Sign of the Cross. Since the Church had immense authority in medieval times, this gesture was quite literally two fingers up to their authority as well. Cheiromantically, the V-sign gesture is even more fascinating, As can be seen from ‘The Planetary Associations of the Fingers’ diagram facing – the index and middle fingers receive the energy flowing from the Jupiter and Saturn lines, respectively (in palmistry, the index and middle fingers are called the Jupiter and Saturn fingers). Jupiter is the ruler of both the Zodiac sign ‘Sagittarius the Archer’ and the Air element generally. Saturn is linked to the ‘ Grim Reaper’, the Lord of Death, as well as ruling the yew tree, which is why yew trees are traditionally used to define the perimeters of churchyards, to honour and protect the dead. Hence in the Hundred Years War, the archers caused death on a large scale, via the Air element. Left: The English Longbow made from yew wood (source: Wikimedia commons).

15th-century image from Jean Froissart’s Chronicles (source: wikimedia Commons)

“England would be but a fling - if not for the yew and the grey goose wing” Scottish saying of the High Middle Ages (referring to England’s reliance upon its archers)

As to be expected from Saturnine rulership, the yew tree is very poisonous. All parts (wood, leaves, seeds) contain a deadly poison called taxol. In the last few decades, the pharmaceutical industry has been extracting taxol for use as a chemotherapy agent, to quite literally ‘kill’ tumours in cancer patients. Saturn rules time, and yew trees are amongst the oldest living organisms. The yew in the churchyard at Defynog, Wales, is one of the oldest in Britain – in its original location two trees now stand, essentially formed from suckers of an original mother tree long since gone. Most interestingly, for our story, is the strand of yew at Kingley Vale, a natural horseshoeshaped amphitheatre near to Chichester. The vale, now a nature reserve, encradles a yew forest, in which all trees are known to be genetically identical. The entire forest has vegetatively evolved from a single tree over a 10,000-20,000year period, making this the oldest and largest living organism in Britain. A line of yew trees extends northeastwards along the top of a small valley. It is called ‘Bow Hill’ because it is from these younger trees that the longbows were crafted for use by the Welsh and English archers in the Hundred Years War. Dylan-Warren Davis has authored a number of valuable articles on Skyscript, themed on decumbiture, herbalism and cheiromancy – you can read his 11-part series on decumbiture at: www.skyscript.co.uk/decumbiture1.html Dylan also offers consultaions and teahces courses on the Alchemy of Herbs – for details see his website at: healthdimensions.co/courses/alchemyofherbs

Above: the Defynog yew, considered the oldest yew in Wales and Britain. Right: One of the yews at Kingley Vale, West Sussex. In my teens I once walked through the vale and found both a flint arrowhead and a 303 bullet on the same day. The yews during the First World War were used for target practice in the training of soldiers before leaving to fight in the trenches of Flanders. It was extraordinary to have found two different weapons separated by 4,000 years just lying on the ground.

WHERE IS MY ENGAGEMENT RING? A horary chart [12:54pm AEDT(-11) Murwullumbah / Australia | Regio]

DANIELLE ASHLEY (consulting at Queen of Hearts: www.queenofheartsastrology.com)

The querent, a 34-year-old woman who lives with her fiancé, contacted me distraught that she had lost her engagement ring. She and her partner had turned the house upside down searching for it, and both felt exasperated! The house was undergoing renovations – there was paint and equipment everywhere, hampering the search – but the querent remembered wearing the ring a couple of days before and had not left home since, so knew it had to be somewhere in the house. She wondered if she had taken it off the previous day to put aloe vera on her partner’s back, but couldn’t remember any of the details clearly.

The querent, represented by the 1st house, is signified by Pisces rising and its ruler Jupiter. She is a sensitive, spiritual person, who studies homoeopathy and works as a volunteer for a homeless charity. Her appearance fits the key Jupiterian descriptors suggested by William Lilly (CA, p.63): tall, with brown hair, and fleshy face. The ascendant and Moon are both mutable – her moods fluctuate, and she enjoys ‘going with the flow’. Jupiter is placed in Aquarius, in the 12th house ‘of anguish’, which describes the early formative years (CA, p.134), being the place where a planet first appears after rising over the ascendant – it has an ominous, dark quality, often connected with the fear that results from early life trauma. Aquarius is in a wintry sign, Image of the querent governed by Saturn, which also disposes Jupiter and rules the 12th house. This (shared with permission) all seemed relevant as the querent explained how the loss of the ring had stirred up traumatic childhood memories about being irresponsible and unworthy: “I am so upset; I feel like I am being punished for something”. Neptune in the first house adds to the theme of the querent feeling overcome by confusion. Mars, ruler of the 2nd house of moveable possessions, represents the ring, assisted by the Moon, which acts as a general significator for any missing item. Moon in Virgo is descriptive of the delicately ornate nature of this ring but Mars in the term of Venus, and the Moon applying to the trine of Venus, show the predominant features of Venus (the natural significator of rings: CA, p.75). Venus is in Capricorn, adding a fitting Saturnian element to a ring that is antique. The trine of Mars to Neptune in Pisces adds a softening touch and increases translucency, and the conjunction of Mars with the fixed star Zuben Eschamali ‘The Northern Scale’ (19°41Ü) is particularly descriptive: this star is notable for its unusual appearance, being the only star to appear green to the naked eye (the ring is adorned with three blue/green topaz gemstones).

Prospect of recovery The peregrine Moon on the 7th cusp suggests the involvement of another person, raising the prospect of theft. But the querent had not left home or had visitors since the loss, and since the 7th house also signifies the partner, I wondered if her fiancé was involved. With both luminaries angular above the horizon, and the Sun shining bright on the MC to illuminate the mystery, I was confident the ring would be found. The querent was clearly overwhelmed and anxious, shown by asc-ruler in the 12th, Neptune in the 1st, and Mercury (Moon’s dispositor) cadent, combust and in detriment. Since the Moon’s next aspect is a trine to Venus in the fortunate 11th house, I reassured her that prospects looked hopeful and suggested she take a long walk to relax her mind. Given the poor state of Mercury, which rules both the 4th house of the home and the 7th of the partner, it seemed likely that chaos at the property was concealing the ring somehow, combined with some connection to her fiancé. Interestingly, when I first spoke to the querent, she said she had taken the ring off to put aloe vera on his sunburnt back. Her fiancé is Mercury in the chart, combust!

Where/when? With good prospects, I turned to where the couple should search, first considering the angular Moon. Lilly uses the Moon’s location to show the direction of a missing item, with the descendant pointing to the west (CA, p.323). Virgo, a mutable, common sign, shows it is likely to be inside a house, rather than the garden, while all earth signs indicate the southerly direction; Virgo particularly suggests southwest (CA, p.204). The sign on the 4th house cusp aids the description of the environment where a lost item lies. Gemini suggests a shelf, in a box, or high off the ground, with various authors associating this sign with locations “in a partition or wall of the house”. Because both the Moon and 4th cusp are disposed by Mercury, I told her to search through office supplies, baskets, drawers, and bookshelves. Lilly adds that “if

Further analysis convinced me that the ring would be found: the Moon’s previous aspect was a trine to Uranus (now separated by 1°, correlating to the loss of the ring one day before the horary); it is now applying to that trine with Venus, then immediately perfects a sextile with the 2nd-ruler, Mars. Mars itself applies by square to 1st-ruler, Jupiter, demonstrating an energy flow that returns the ring to the querent. Having both the Moon and the 1st-ruler connecting to the 2nd-ruler is a strong sign of recovery, which overcomes the cadency of Mars (a testimony of weakness which might otherwise deny recovery). Since Mars is essentially strong in Scorpio and suffers no serious afflictions, the ring appears to be somewhere near to where it should be, undamaged. I noted the placement of Mars and Mercury (Moon’s dispositor) in the 9th house, which signifies remote or obscure places. I asked if the property had any areas away from the main part of the house and was told it was surrounded by a garden with a bungalow at the back, which is also undergoing renovation.

CA, p.325: “Common signs, as T , I , M or W , do signify within the house, if it be dead things, as rings, &c”.

the lord of the fourth is in a common (mutable) sign, the goods are in a chamber within another chamber“ (p.63) which seemed to describe the bungalow aptly. I suggested the couple go to the bungalow, find the wall facing southwest, then follow my instructions and conduct a search of all the nooks and crannies. With the Sun high on the MC yet Mars cadent, I expected the ring to be visible but in a less-than-obvious place, which would require some effort to locate. I noticed the Moon’s applying trine to Venus perfected in 6°, and its subsequent sextile to Mars in a little over 6°, while the square of Mars to Jupiter perfected in just under 6°. I took this and the angular luminaries into account (to add speed) and told the querent the ring was likely to be found in about 6 hours.

Outcome After our consultation, the querent went for a long walk to calm down and take her mind off things. About five hours later, the couple went to the bungalow to search amongst the paint tins, renovation debris, and miscellaneous objects, including stationary supplies and books. Unable to find the ring, they used a compass on their phone to find the southwest wall of the bungalow, which they then realised wasn’t really a wall anymore! The wall panels had been removed, so only horizontal wall joists remained. They inspected the wall cavity more closely and discovered the ring, subtly glimmering about neck height, just visible from eye level. The wall joists had created a makeshift panel, which served as a shelf and housed the ring. “I was confused when I’d taken the ring off, I thought it was in the evening when I was putting lotion on his sunburn. But when I found it in the bungalow, I remembered I’d taken it off in the afternoon to do some renovations, so I didn’t scratch it.” Her partner was with her when she found the ring, about 6 hours after our session. The querent was very relieved to be reunited with the ring again in time for the wedding!

FINISH MY DITTY!!!

astrologer

Weeks ago, working long hours on intense/mindless coding, Bertha and Betty messed with my brain and implanted an earworm. I spent the rest of the night coding, while they turned the lyrics of an old music hall song upside down. When I finally stalled for the night, I jotted down the words before I forgot … then forgot all about it. I recently found the file again: the lyrics end abruptly at the point I went to sleep, and I am not revisiting this. Anyone want to finish off those last few verses? Maybe I can pass this earworm on (like a curse), and some other poor soul will take up the mantle?

[To appreciate the full torment of Gilbert & Sullivan’s patter song (from The Pirates of Penzance) revisit the performance of the original (and mess your brain up) by going here: https://youtu.be/hlTisI_HSgw]

Here is where I’m at: I am the very model of a modern-day astrologer I’ve information cosmical, mystical and logical I know the ancient sources, and I quote the texts historical From Manilius to Raphael, in order chronological I’m very well acquainted, too, with matters astronomical I understand the aspects, like the trine and the quadratical About the stellar transits I am teeming with a lot o' news I even know enough to know what house system you ought to use … even knows enough to know what house system you ought to use … even knows enough to know what house system you ought to use … even knows enough to know what house system you ought to use

I’m very good at primary and secondary directions At prohibitions, refranations, translations and collections In time zones and conversions I’m as good as an horologer I am the very model of a modern-day astrologer … this is the very model of a modern-day astrologer …

I know the mythic history of all constellations and their stars And which ones have a nature that’s like _ when mixed with c For Centiloquiums I quote from Bethem, Hermes, Ptolemy Then mix it up with Liz Greene ‘cos I also like psychology I study Hellenistic and I don’t care if it’s out of date I’ll prophecise your future: I know you want to know your fate I’ll rectify your chart because I tend to get pernickety On using animodars when I’m casting a nativity … on using animodars when casting a nativity … on using animodars when casting a nativity … on using animodars when casting a nativity

I sometimes read the ancient texts in Babylonic cuneiform But Greek and Latin with Arabic lately has become the norm I will write a book on sun-signs to ensure I will be popular For I am the very model of a modern-day astrologer … will write a book of sunsigns which is bound to prove quite popular …this is the very model of a modern day astrologer

… … In fact … [the end – seasons greetings!]

ORIGINAL LYRICS I am the very model of a modern Major-General I've information vegetable, animal, and mineral I know the kings of England, and I quote the fights historical From Marathon to Waterloo, in order categorical I'm very well acquainted, too, with matters mathematical I understand equations, both the simple and quadratical About binomial theorem I’m teeming with a lot o’ news With many cheerful facts about the square of the hypotenuse With many cheerful facts about the square of the hypotenuse With many cheerful facts about the square of the hypotenuse With many cheerful facts about the square of the hypotenuse

I’m very good at integral and differential calculus I know the scientific names of beings animalculous In short, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral I am the very model of a modern Major-General He is the very model of a modern Major-General

I know our mythic history, King Arthur’s and Sir Caradoc’s I answer hard acrostics, I’ve a pretty taste for Paradox I quote in elegiacs all the crimes of Heliogabalus In conics I can floor peculiarities parabolous I can tell undoubted Raphaels from Gerard Dows and Zoffanies I know the croaking from the Frogs of Aristophanes Then I can hum a fugue of which I've heard the music’s din afore And whistle all the airs from that infernal nonsense Pinafore And whistle all the airs from that infernal nonsense Pinafore And whistle all the airs from that infernal nonsense Pinafore And whistle all the airs from that infernal nonsense Pinafore

Then I can write a washing bill in Babylonic cuneiform And tell you ev’ry detail of Caractacus’s uniform In short, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral I am the very model of a modern Major-General In short, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral He is the very model of a modern Major-General ----------In fact, when I know what is meant by “mamelon” and “Ravelin” When I can tell at sight a Mauser rifle from a javelin When such affairs as sorties and surprises I’m more wary at And when I know precisely what is meant by “Commissariat” When I’ve learnt what progress has been made in modern gunnery When I know more of tactics than a novice in a nunnery In short, when I’ve a smattering of elemental strategy You'll say a better Major-General had never sat a gee You'll say a better Major-General had never sat a gee You'll say a better Major-General had never sat a gee You'll say a better Major-General had never sat a sat a gee

For my military knowledge, though I’m plucky and adventury Has only been brought down to the beginning of the century But still, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral I am the very model of a modern Major-General But still, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral He is the very model of a modern Major-General