Chapter I

Tue earth revolving upon its own axis once in twenty-four hours causes the sun to be viewed from the earth in various positions from sunrise ta sunset; and in order to obtain a clear conception of the twelve houses it will be convenient to treat the matter, for the moment, as though the earth were the centre instead of the sun, although we know very well that the Sun is really the centre of our planetary system.

Adopting this course of regarding the earth as the centre for our present purpose, we will imagine the sun at daybreak rising on the eastern horizon, or, as we say, upon the Ascendant; with the earth’s revolution, as the day wears on, at noon the sun willarrive at the zenith or what is called the Mid-heaven; and as the earth continues to revolve the sun will be carried to the western horizon at sunset. These three important positions in apparent time and space are produced by thie sun’s rising, culminating, and setting, and they mark the three cardinal points through which pass the cusps of the first, tenth and seventh houses. (See fuller explanation given in pp. 5 to 10 of What is a Horoscope ?)

At midnight the sun will be directly under the earth at the furthest or lowest cardinal point, the whole making the four cardinal points or ‘angles,’ as they are termed. These four successive positions of the Sun, making the four quarters of the day, are shownin Diagram 1 ; they are ready due,

of course, to the rotation of the earth on its axis in the direction indicated by the arrow. Out of these angles all the other divisions are obtained.

When the sun rises, the chord of the solar arc will pass through the earth to what is known as the ‘cusp’ of the seventh house or western angle. The solarrays will also form a triangulum, and each side of this triangle will measure 120° of the circle, which is a third of the whole 360°. The Divine Archer takes his bow and shoots: what we have termed the ‘chord’ may be called His arrow of light and the ‘triangulum’ the bent string of His bow, quivering with the impulse. The rays ofthis triangle will pass over and under the earth, the lower ray marking off the cusp of the fifth division or the Fifth House, and the upper the ninth division or Ninth House, as illustrated in Diagram No. 2, in which roman numerals indicate the house cusps.

Each of the cardinal points will, in a similar way, be connected with the other divisions, the two ‘chords’ together forming the Mundane

Cross which squares the circle, forming an aspect of opposition and discord, whereas each triangle forms the trine, an aspect of peace and harmony.

The divisions formed from the First House or AScENDANT are of the nature of the Fiery triplicity, the first house being of the nature of the vital heat, the fifth the generative fire, the ninth the mental or spiritual fire. The whole key to the nature of the twelve houses and indeed to the twelve signs as well, is beautifully expressed in this symbology.

At noon the solar chord passes directly to the northern angle, the cusp of the fourth house, and the triangle is formed in the second and sixth houses. This triangle is related to the Earthy triplicity, denoting hereditary honour, fame, worldly position, finance and service (Diagram 4).

The chord from the western angle unites with the chord from the ascendant and the triangle is formed in the third and eleventh houses.

South Point or Mip-Heaven, Cusp of ‘Tenth House

- ) tHE PWELVE (HOUSES OF (THE HOROSCOPE 5

This angle is of the nature of the airy triplicity, the seventh house denoting relation, such as marriage and partnership, brethren and kindred, friends and acquaintances. (See Diagram 3, facing Diagram 2.)

The fourth angle returns the chord to the mid-heaven, and the triangles are formed in the eighth and twelfth houses. This triangle is of the nature of the Watery triplicity, the fourth house denoting the psychic conditions, and that which has to do with the end of life, also death and the withdrawal from the material world. (See Diagram 5.)

It will be seen by the foregoing that the whole of the twelve houses have a symbolical basis, the succedent and cadent houses having their root in the cross of the four angles, representing what are known in the East as the three ‘Gunas’—Tamas, Rajas, and Sattva—interpreted as Stability, Activity and Rhythm respectively. If these four diagrams are

North Point or Navir, Cusp of Fourth House

carefully traced or copied out on thin tracing paper and then superposed, the manner in which this cross is formed, and the inter-relationship of the Twelve Houses, will be shown ina very striking manner.

Every nation in the past has held the cross in the highest reverence. It is the geometrical basis of religious symbolism in connection with all the great world saviours. On the cross of matter spirit is crucified.* The cross in motion forms a wheel, or circle, called the Svastika; from the centre of the cross the sacred fire or Fohat crosses the circle horizontally and vertically, like two lines of flame. The Sun at the centre of the solar system represents the spiritual point in the universe to which all humanity is being drawn, the denser matter, or the physical, being farthest removed as it circles round the Sun. But regarding the earth as the centre for astrological purposes, humanity is shown as chained to the cross of matter until the spirit of the Christ is born within, which entirely reverses the spheres.

To understand the mysteries hidden behind astrological symbology, not only purity of life but great depth of thought is required, for in it is concealed the history of the races of this globe, and in fact the whole history of our earth as a planet; but for the purpose of more clearly understanding the nature of the twelve houses we may see in its geometrical symbology three great activities connected with human destiny, aS we wiil now explain.

Kama, Kama-Manas, and Manas are three Sanskrit words which denote the character of the three angles connected with the first, tenth and sever.th houses.

Kama presides over the first house or ascendant, being concerned with the birth of the animal man, his desire nature, love of life and physical conditions.

Kama-Manas, presiding over the tenth house or meridian, denotes the blending of the mind with the desire nature, the animal with the god, thus representing the animal-human soul.

* In mystic writings, Enoch, the representative of the spiritual and physical or dual nature in man, is the centre of the astronomical cross: at the upper point or apex of the triangle is the Eagle, at the base of the lower angle on the left stands the Lion and on the right the Bull, these being the four fixed signs <>, M_, , U-

Manas, ruling over the seventh house, denotes the pure mind or reason and the clear intellect of the human soul. The first angle, corresponding to sunrise, suggests spirit, life and force made subject to matter, the circle under the cross; consciousness blinded by matter. The second angle, corresponding to the culmination of the Sun upon the meridian, suggests the native balanced half way between spirit and matter, neither wholly one or the other, the cross over the ha/f circle; self-consciousness. The third angle, corresponding to the setting of the Sun, denotes the triumph of the spirit over matter, the union of the life of the separated one with the consciousness of the spirit, the circle over the cross ; super-consciousness. The fourth angle is the great mystery, the occult centre in which all the forces are gathered together for work in the unseen worlds.

From each of these angles the other houses receive their value, the cardinal points denoting the root of the life to be expressed. .

The AscenpantT or First House shows the quality of the life forces, the material brought to the front, so to speak. The personality with the desires are shown by this house. The Fifth House will find its expression through the stream of natural fire coming from the first, and so governs offspring, enterprise and emotional impulses. The Ninth House shows the life forces running upward toward the highest thought of which the nature is capable, and signifies all matters connected with science, philosophy and religion. From the idea of the mind being able to transmit itself away from the brain limitation this has come to be the house of travel, dreams, and metaphysics, also of thoughttransference, etc.