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Mundane Astrology (also known as political astrology) is the application of astrology to world affairs and world events, taking its name from the Roman word Mundus, meaning "the World". Mundane astrology is a branch of Judicial astrology and is widely believed by astrological historians to be the most ancient branch of astrology. In the Middle Ages mundane astrology was more commonly known as the study of Revolutions - meaning the study of the revolutions of the planets in their apparent orbits around the Earth, as they were then believed to do.
Many modern and ancient mundane astrologers also find that correlations exist between geological phenomena (such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, etc.) and astronomical phenomena (the movement of celestial bodies in the Solar System).
Overview
Mundane Astrology had two purposes: one was to look back and explain history, looking for patterns and a sense of some greater purpose in apparently chaotic events such as the rise and fall of empires or religions. The other was to predict the future. Some philosophers believed that the world could be saved from disaster if future troubles could be predicted – and subsequently averted.
Although it was originally developed in ancient Babylon there have been three subsequent major periods of developments. In 120 AD the Greek astrologer Claudius Ptolemy set down the fundamentals of mundane astrology in his famous treatise on astrology, the Tetrabiblos. In the ninth and tenth centuries the astrologers of the Islamic world added many more techniques, particularly the use of the cycles of Jupiter and Saturn to identify the rise and fall of states and religions. The twentieth century saw a major proliferation of techniques mainly based on the use of planetary cycles rather than, as had always been the case the interpretation of planetary positions in horoscopes or natal charts.
Planets and areas of life
The noted British astrologer Charles Carter proposed that specific areas of life and politics can be correlated to each of the planets. Carter's scheme is as follows:
- Sun : Supreme authority in the State. Eclipses often signify the death or displacement of the head of state.
- Moon : The population, the popular mood; also agriculture.
- Mercury : The Press, literature, education; the post office and means of communication; political speeches.
- Venus : Art, high society, fashion; contributes to national happiness. Victory in war.
- Mars : The armed forces; violent crime; when associated with Uranus may cause explosions; with Neptune, treachery. Divisive elements in society.
- Jupiter : Clergy and churches, judges, law; banking, insurance; the 'upper classes'; philanthropic institutions (especially in association with Neptune).
- Saturn : Property
- Uranus : Administration; power in its physical sense - electrical and nuclear.
- Neptune : Hospitals, charitable institutions; the navy. Under affiction associated with muddle, crime, scandal; brewing and alcohol; chemicals, oils, footwear; the arts.
- Pluto : Mines; criminal detection, but under affliction the criminal underworld.
Houses and Signs
Carter also associated each of the houses and signs with different aspects of politics and the state as follows:
- 1st House-Aries : The nation as a whole, its self image and how it projects itself to the world.
- 2nd House-Taurus : The economy
- 3rd House-Gemini : Education; periodical publications; the post office, radio and transport; communications in general; science.
- 4th House-Cancer : Land and housing; agriculture; the opposition in parliament
- 5th House-Leo : All forms of national pleasure and entertainment; sports, general amusements; Society, children
- 6th House-Virgo : The 'working classes'; left wing organisations; public health. The armed forces and civil service.
- 7th House-Libra : Foreign affairs generally; war as well as treaties.
- 8th House-Scorpio : Financial relations with foreign countries; public safety and crime.
- 9th House-Sagittarius : The law; religion; philosophy; and science.
- 10th House-Capricorn : Heads of state; government; national prestige.
- 11th House-Aquarius : Parliament, especially the lower house. Local government.
- 12th House-Pisces : Prisons, hospitals, homes for the aged; philanthropic societies; secret societies; monasteries and institutional religion.
Mundane Horoscopes
Just as a person has a horoscope cast for the moment of their birth, so too can states and nations have horoscopes cast for the moment of their beginning. Sometimes the choice of date is obvious - for example the United States of America first came into being on 4th July 1776 with the Declaration of Independence. In other cases the correct date is not so clear, and in most cases a nation or country has multiple birth charts.
For example, many astrologers take the date of England's horoscope as Christmas Day 1066 - the day when that William the Conqueror had the crown set upon his head. There is also a chart set for midnight on 1st May 1707 (Old Style), the time of the Union of England and Wales with Scotland creating Great Britain. The Union then grew again on 1st January 1801 with the Union of Great Britain and Ireland. A further change took place as the Republic of Ireland left the Union, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was created.
Another example of a country/state that has multiple 'birthdays' is France, which regained its independence after the occupation of the Second World War as the Fourth Republic on 10th October 1946, while the present French system came into being as the Fifth Republic after a referendum held on 28th September 1958. Similarly in Germany the present state system came into effect with the enactment of the Basic Law in August 1949, yet it is also considered by most astrologers that a new state has come into being with German re-unification in October 1990.
In principle, any organisation or object can have a chart cast for the moment of its 'birth'. For example, the ship Titanic's horoscope is generally cast for noon on 10th April 1910 when the ocean liner first set sail. The ship's chart showed its ascendant in opposition to Uranus, and Neptune (ruler of the sea) was squared to the Sun, both aspects indicating the potential for danger.
Some historical predictions
Before reading this section it should be noted that in modern Mundane Astrology it is a matter of considerable debate whether the purpose of astrology is elucidation of meaning, or a tool to make predictions about events. These 'noted' predictions are not particularly 'noted' at all; many astrologers will not recognise them.
Throughout history many astrologers have made predictions about the future course of world events, and these are often remarkable either for their fulfilment, or for the ruin and confusion they brought upon their authors.
A favourite topic of a minority of astrologers around the world has been the immediate end of the world. As early as 1186 the Earth had escaped one threatened cataclysm of the astrologers.
This did not prevent Stöffler from predicting a universal deluge for the year 1524 - a year, as it turned out, distinguished for drought. His aspect of the heavens told him that in that year three planets would meet in the aqueous sign of Pisces. The prediction was believed far and wide, and President Aurial, at Toulouse, built himself a Noah's ark - a curious realization, in fact, of Chaucer's merry invention in the Miller's Tale.
The most famous predictions about European and world affairs were made by the French astrologer Nostradamus (1503 - 66), however many astrologers dispute whether many of his prophecies were based on astrology. Nostradamus became famous after the publication in 1555 of his work Centuries , which was a series of prophecies in cryptic verse. So obscure are the predictions that they have been interpreted as relating to a great variety of events since, including the French and English Revolutions, and the Second World War. In 1556 Nostradamus was summoned to the French court by Catherine de Medici and commissioned to draw up the horoscope of the royal children.
According to Francis Bacon in his essay Of Prophesies Nostradamus foretold the death of King Henry II of France: "When I was in France, I heard from one Dr Pena, that the queen mother, who was given to curious arts, caused the king, her husband's, nativity to be calculated, under a false name; and the astrologer (i.e. Nostradamus) gave a judgment, that he should be killed in a duel; at which the queene laughed, thinking her husband to be above challenges and duels; but he was slaine, upon a course at tilt, the splinters of the staffe of Montgomery going in at his beaver." Although Nostradamus later fell out of favour with many in the court and was accused of witchcraft, Catherine continued to support him and patronized him until his death.
Tycho Brahe was from his fifteenth year devoted to astrology, and adjoining his observatory at Uranienburg the astronomer-royal of Denmark had a laboratory built. We may here notice one very remarkable prediction of this master of Kepler from the appearance of a comet in 1577 . It announced, he tells us, that in the north, in Finland, there should be born a prince who should lay waste Germany and vanish in 1632. Gustavus Adolphus, it is well known, was born in Stockholm, Sweden, overran Germany, and died in 1632.
Brahe's prophecy did not accurately predict Gustavus Adolphus' birthplace - Brahe predicted this would be Finland, not Sweden. But the partial fulfillment of the details of this prophecy - namely, that a prince born in the north would lay waste to Germany and vanish in 1632 - suggests that Brahe possibly had some basis of reason for his prediction.
Born in Denmark of a noble Swedish family, a politician, as were all his contemporaries of distinction, Tycho, though no conjuror, appeared to foresee the advent of some great northern hero. Moreover, he was doubtless well acquainted with a very ancient tradition, that heroes generally came from the northern frontiers of their native land, where they are hardened and tempered by the threefold struggle they wage with soil, climate and barbarian neighbours.
The astronomer Kepler , who in his youth made almanacs, and once prophesied a hard winter which came to pass, made an astrological interpretation of the disappearance of the brilliant star of 1572, which Tycho had observed.
Theodore Beza thought that this star, which in December 1573 equalled Jupiter in brilliancy, predicted the second coming of Christ. Astronomers were only then beginning to study variable and periodic stars, and disturbances in that part of the heavens, which had till then, on the authority of Aristotle, been regarded as incorruptible, combined with the troubles of the times, must have given a new stimulus to belief in the signs in heaven.
Montaigne (Essais, lib. i. chap, x.) relates a singular episode in the history of astrology. Charles V and Francis I, who both bid for the friendship of the infamous Pietro Aretino, surnamed the divine, both likewise engaged astrologers to fight their battles.
In Italy those who prophesied the ruin of France were sure to be listened to. These prophecies affected the public funds much as telegrams used to in 1911. "At Rome," Montaigne tells us, "a large sum of money was lost on the Change by this prognostication of our ruin."
The marquis of Saluces, notwithstanding his gratitude to Francis I for the many favours he had received, including his marquisate, of which the brother was despoiled for his benefit, was led in 1536 to betray his country, being scared by the glorious prophecies of the ultimate success of Charles V which were then rife.
References
- Charles E. O. Carter, An Introduction of Political Astrology, L. N. Fowler, 1951
- Derek and Julia Parker, The New Compleat Astrologer, pp184-5, Crescent Books, New York, 1990
- Derek and Julia Parker, Ibid, p184
- Derek and Julia Parker, Ibid, pp201-2, Crescent Books, New York, 1990
Further reading
Michael Baigent, Nicholas Campion & Charles Harvey, Mundane Astrology , The Aquarian Press, London, 1984
Nicholas Campion, The Book of World Horoscopes, The Aquarian Press, London, 1988
External links
- Mundane Astrology - A very cogent introduction to Mundane Astrology, the most ancient branch of astrology.
- Weekly NewsScope - A weekly column which, since 1998, has applied Mundane Astrology to interpreting news events from around the world.
- [http://www.quakestar.org - A Forum to discuss scientific astrology as a cause of earthquakes and other natural events
- mundaneastrology.net - Comprehensive information covering mundane astrology ranging from 4500BCE through 2384. Also covers history, politics and social studies past present and future.