Chapter XV. The Eighth House—DeEatuH, AND THE DREAM CONSCIOUSNESS

Tue Eicaras House—DeEatuH, AND THE DREAM CONSCIOUSNESS

Tuis house belongs to the triangle of fourth, eighth, and twelfth; which have as their correspondences Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces, ruled by the Moon, Mars and Jupiter. These form the watery, psychic, or astral subdivision of the zodiac and indicate channels through which influences (good or bad) may flow down upon the man from the next interior plane of being, as well as ways by which he may himself contact that plane.

Of these three, the eighth house is generally considered to have a direct bearing upon death and all matters connected therewith, such as the goods of the dead, legacies, occupations connected with death, executorships, coroners, surgeons, medical officers of health, sanitary officers or inspectors, slaughter-houses, butchers. It also has relation to some forms of mediumship and occultism, generally of a practical executive kind.

The sign on the cusp of the eighth house, planets in the house, or failing these, the lord of the house, usually indicate the kind of death the native will die. But it is necessary to exercise the greatest caution in judging this point because it is seldom that any one indication can be trusted if taken alone. ‘lhe influences of the eighth house must be considered in connection with those of the ascendant, the hyleg, and the health generally ; and the principles laid down in the chapter on health must be carefully borne in mind when considering the probable duration of life and date of death. Death is usually led up to by a train of evil directions, but before deciding that those will be fatal it is necessary to ascertain whether the positions at birth promised short, medium, or long life. Ifthe health indications at birth were good and promised long life, no evil directions in youth or early life will kill; but on the other hand if the hyleg was weak at birth a comparatively minor direction may

prove fatal. When it has been decided that death will not occur until

middle or old age, directions involving the eighth house and falling out in early life may act in various ways.

(1) The native’s health may be temporarily upset, but not to the point of proving fatal; and even this may not be serious unless at least two or three hylegiacal points (Sun, Moon, and Ascendant) are afflicted together.

(2) A death may occur among the relatives or associates of the native. This is a very common result of these directions, but it should be remembered that the death will not always be in the native’s own family. A relative by marriage, an associate by employment, a friend, anyone whose death will decidedly affect the native, emotionally or otherwise—any of these may fulfil the direction according to the planets, signs and houses involved.

(3) Or the disturbing events may occur among those affairs, other than death, which are governed by the eighth house.

The following cases will prove instructive in connection with this point :— )

A gentleman born under Scorpio, with Virgo on the cusp of the eleventh house and Mercury in the eighth house afflicted in Gemini, was greatly disturbed by the death of a college companion, and was suddenly called upon to take a short journey to attend the deathbed.

A gentleman whose Moon was progressing through the eighth house, lost a parent, and at the same time passed through some strange spiritualistic experiences.

A lady, while the Sun was progressing through the eighth house and forming bad aspects there, was involved in long continued trouble and anxiety arising out of a will, and her own health was seriously upset. | A gentleman who had the Moon in the eighth house at birth, in his twenty-eighth year (when the progressed Moon returned to this position), lost by death his mother and a female friend, both very suddenly, and within a few days of each other.

The death maty be judged to be by natural means unless there are very marked indications to the contrary. When Sun and Moon are both afflicted by malefics and the latter elevated, there is a probability of violent death, although it will need no little skill to distinguish between this and a sudden but natural death, such as heart disease.

Speaking generally, the malefics are more prominent and thie afflictions are heavier in cases of violent death. The malefics mixing their rays, especially Mars, with either Uranus or Saturn, increase the likelihood of suddenness or violence. Taurus and Scorpio are signs that act suddenly and violently when afflicted, and to a less extent Aries and Capricorn. When the ascendant is involved the native may be, intentionally or unintentionally, the cause of his own death; when the twelfth house, there may be treachery or assassination (if a violent death is indicated), or death may occur in a hospital, asylum, etc.; if the eleventh, it may happen at the residence of a friend, or through a love affair (especially if fifth and seventh are also involved); if the tenth, it may be a public death; if the ninth house, a. death while travelling, or when at a distance from home; and so on, according to the nature of the houses involved in the affliction.

NEPTUNE in the eighth house gives liability to a very strange and peculiar death, possibly through trance, with some danger of being buried alive; or death after a long period of unconsciousness or from overdose of soporific drugs, etc. In some cases it denotes cremation after death, and when very well aspected the probability of carrying the consciousness through from the physical brain to the astral while in waking consciousness. This is not a good position for gain by marriage, although in some cases it denotes gain by a legacy or in some peculiar manner through others. When afflicted it denotes chaotic dreams and weird fancies, nightmares, ete.

Uranus in the eighth house denotes danger of paralysis, or death through epileptic fits and uncommon nervous disorders. It denotes a death quite out of the ordinary, which is often sudden and quite unexpected. Unless Uranus is well aspected at birth it is likely to cause much worry and annoyance in connection with money that may be left, and usually causes the unexpected to happen with regard to deaths. If well aspected it may bring sudden benefits and gain through the marriage partner. This position arouses a keen interest in occultism and mystical subjects, and the native is generally absorbed in some of the problems concerning the after-death state. It often causes the native to have uncommon dreams. Uranus has a natural sympathy with Scorpio, and hence is not so badly placed in this house.

SATURN in the eighth house denotes a slow and often a lingering death from some chronic, or long-standing ailment. When much

afflicted fatal accidents occur and sometimes there is danger of drowning when Saturn occupies a watery sign in this house. If well aspected this position indicates a long life, and denotes death in old age from natural causes. This is not a good position for gain by marriage or through partners, neither does it promise gain by will or legacy, but generally disappointment with regard to any money that may be left by others. In some cases this position gives a deep interest in occult subjects. It is not good for the remembrance of dreams.

JUPITER in the eighth house denotes a very peaceful and a perfectly natural death. It denotes, when afflicted, heart trouble and danger of death through blood poisoning, also through tumours, cancer and consumption. When not afflicted this is a very good position for finance after marriage, and generally denotes gain through a wealthy partner. It also gives gain by legacy, and through the deaths of others. It generally causes the native to take a deep interest in occult subjects, especially those dealing with aftcr-death states. In some cases the native is able to remember remarkable dreams and can often relate the details of impressions made upon the brain during sleep.

Mars in the eighth house indicates a liability to a violent or sudden death. If much afflicted this is a very evil position, but Mars alone in this house will not kill the native, although the end whenever it comes will be sudden and after an illness of short duration or by shock or accident. It will be necessary to note the sign Mars occupies at birth: ifa watery sign there is danger of death by drowning, if a fiery sign death by fire or violence, if an airy sign mental affliction; when in an earthy sign Mars is not so evil. This position causes much trouble in connection with finance after marriage, either the partner is extravagant or wastes money foolishly.