I’ve just removed several posts from the archives. They were analyses of event charts, set for occurrences such as an earthquake, plane crashes, etc. I have come to believe that analyzing such charts in isolation is invalid.
Let’s look at why this is. Take an earthquake, for example. The planetary positions in the sky for the date and time of an earthquake are the same all around the globe. The only difference is house placement, which is determined by the latitude and longitude of the location. For the chart to mean “earthquake” in one location, it would have to mean “earthquake” everywhere else in the world. Cleary, this isn't the case.
Events of magnitude are an obvious focus of interest for astrologers; we wish to understand how the alignment of planetary bodies relates to what is happening on Earth. However, the analysis of an event chart by itself is essentially the astrologer reading meanings into the chart. As my teacher recently explained, "No one could look at such a chart and deduce what happened, because it simply isn't there. If it were, we would also be able to look at someone's birth chart, which is the chart for an event, and deduce that the obstetrician was making eyes at the midwife, while the nurse had stepped outside for a cigarette."
The correct approach for analyzing events is to see them as a part of much larger cycles. The branch of astrology that examines these cycles is called mundane astrology. I know very little about mundane work at present. As far as I understand, we begin with a starting point, such as the most recent Grand Conjunction and work from there. One can also begin with the birth chart of a nation, casting directed charts just as we do for a person. However, I’m sure that obtaining correct birth data for nations is a tricky business, if the chart for the USA is any indication!
As fascinating as I'm sure mundane work is, I have to leave it alone for now. But you can count on more posts about horary charts, sports events, and natal work in 2012.
First published Dec 27, 2011 on silvestreastrology.blogspot.com
PHOTO CREDIT: Pixabay (CC0)