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360 New Symbols
forward by: Steven Forrest Weiser Books 2004 ISBN #1-57863-304-4 I first became interested in astrology in my early twenties. In my mid-twenties I took classes in astrology for a short time - long enough to plot charts and interpret them, then I had to let it go - there were no computer programs at that time, and I wasn't interested in memorizing all of the necessary information! One of the aspects of astrology that I was really not even aware of was the use of symbols for the degrees (symbols for the signs is another thing!). In his foreward, Steven Forrest talks about how to recognize astrological trends, and how to separate them from the nitty gritty of astrology - the signs, planets, houses and (five) major aspects. Forrest gives two examples of trends that have withstood the test of time and become an integral part of astrology - the planet Chiron, and its symbolic reality, and the Sabian symbols. I was quite intrigued to find out that there are several different systems out there that deal with the symbology of the zodiac by degree, and that the history of astrological symbology in general goes back to ancient times. Forrest goes on to talk about how the degree symbols can be used in interpreting a chart. Using himself as an example, he says that whenever there is a question about birth time and what a specific degree should be, look to the symbols. Round the degree up, then look at the symbols a few degrees before and a few degrees after the one listed for your birth time. There will be a symbol there that resonates to who you are, without a question. (Note: A big factor in working with symbols, according to Forrest, is looking for their personal relevance.) One of the first things that Martin Goldsmith says about the use of symbols is that they give more specific information than any other aspect of astrology. Goldsmith traces the history of symbols in astrology back to ancient Greece, where Metrodorus of Scepsis used t ham as a memory system. At the Ramasseum of Egyptian Thebes, there was a circular ring of stone in which a symbol was carved for each day of the year. The Sabian symbols came into being in 1925 when a psychic by the name of Elsie WHeeler, working with astrologer Marc Edmund Jones, channeled a whole new set of symbols, reflecting a world more modern than that of the older symbolic systems - symbols that could be easily related to. In The Zodiac By Degrees, we see the culmination of over 30 years of study into Sabian and other symbolic systems . In the end, Goldsmith came up with his own system, combining Sabian symbolism, some symbols from other systems and some symbols that he developed himself. The key to using tis system, or any other system of symbols, is that they should be reflected in the life of the person whose chart is being interpreted. They should recognize something about themselves in the symbols being presented. As a spur of the moment test of this system, I decided to take my own chart out and see how well the system reflected by the degrees from my birth chart. I also wanted to see if there would be a difference anywhere, as the major astrological marjers in my chart appear within the first 10 degrees of the sign they are in. I choose to work with my Sun, Moon, North Node and Rising Sign. I do have my chart on hand, but I wanted to test one of the sites that Goldsmith had mentioned in his book (www.alabe.com). Yes, the chart obtained from this site reflects charts that I have previously had drawn up. The following information is excerpted from the book. Please note that I included only the first half of the information that Goldsmith presents for each degree. The second half is a listing of celebrities, and what they are known for. There is a big reason for the second half of the presentation, and that is so that people studying the symbols have a "real life" person to use for review purposes. We can look at the lives of the celebrities and see how the symbols have manifested in their lives. From the book:
(symbol) A Chinese gentleman holds a birdcage within a beam of light. Inside, a canary sing cheerfully oblivious to the cage's open door.
Circumspection; choosing one's options carefully; joy that accompanies freedom from guilt and worry; assessing one's talents carefully before boldly pushing oneself forward (lack of resolve); finding an appreciative audience (parlor acts, songbirds with beautiful voices); being self defined vrs worrying about others opinions; cleverly evading society's attempts to confine one to a single role, while sucessfully performing one's duties to family and society (hemmed in by self-imposed responsibilities); making oneself comfortable in one's environment, including one's body; expressing one's spiritual identity within everyday situations; spreading one's wings vrs finding a comfortable landing spot; attenging to one's spiritual well being.
(symbol) Seeking refuge from the raging war outside, citizens are gathered within a Gothic cathedral. The mass continues even as one of the church's two rose windows isdestroyed by a blast.
Surviving the blows of fate by spiritually fortifting ones self; feeling embattled vrs putting one;s problems in a higher perspective; seeing the big picture vrs getting lost in fragmentary truths (the rose window); abiding by values that wil survive the rise and fall of nations; seizing worldly power in order to preserve social institutions (selfishness causes blind spots that may undermine their efforts, can overestimate their understanding and resolve); seeing historical events as moral parables (preachy); seeing eternal archetypes shining through ordinary events; emotional roots that spiral down through time to feed on the immortal truths of an embattled spiritual tradition; standing firm in one's belief (propogandists).
(symbol) A satyr capering int he midst of an electrical storm.
Stirring things up; generating some electricity; charging up a boring or lifeless scene (seperating the living from the dead by seeing who responds to a vital new element); getting a rise out of people (sexual arousal - commotion caused by aggressive sexual moves); sexual adventures (lecherous, slyly irresponsible approach); impish mischief; shenanigans; seizing the potential of the moment (guerilla theater); emotional "venting" that clears the air of tension (temper tantrums); seizing natural forces and putting them to use (sexual or political power trips); turning things upside down; general excitability and desire for actioin (experience inertia and depression, rely on alcohol or drugs for excitement); preferring a stormy life to a boring one; vitalization.
(symbol) A stage magician in a white tuxedo takes off on a magic carpet, to the amazement of the audience.
Confronting a mystery; suspended judgment; puzzeling out an intricate problem; following a line of evidence to get behind false appearances ("Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain); explaining puzzeling phenomenon through science, occult powers, psychology or hidden strings; constant revision of beliefs in light of new evidence; being open to al possibilities (flights of fantasy, ungrounded); seing the magic behind the structure of life and the universe; being into a fantastic world by the power of love (folies a deux); playfullness; real life hat tricks - creatively combining the elements or people in a situation into a beautiful and surprising new whole; finding a way to be supported by the public (fall out of favor) All of the symbols rang true with the exception of the North Node at 2 degrees Taurus. Taking it back to 1 degree Taurus fits me well, though.
Symbols are archetypal energies. As such, they tell us a lot about ourselves, and allow us to come to a good understanding of who we are, what motivates us, what in our environment will help us and what in our environment will hinder us. Literally any level of student of astrology would be able to use this book. If you want a better understanding of yourself, or if you want a way to better connect with your clients,
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