The Importance of Mundane Astrology

by
EDNA B. CLARK, Ph.B., M.A., PMAFA
Past President, Friends of Astrology, Inc.

Mundane Astrology has always been a very important branch of the astrological science because it concerns the influence of the Zodiac and Planets upon Nations, countries, cities and groups of people. It is the art of forecasting the chief events which will come to pass.

Manly P. Hall says that the history of the world is revealed through the precession of the equinoxes, and there is a perfect sequence of relationships between zodiacal force and the world motion which is called civilization.

With the progress of transportation on land, sea and in the air, people of all cultures are coming together – intermingling, beginning to understand each other. They are finding that all mankind’s needs are the same.

As in Natal Astrology, different influences are ascribed to the planets and the twelve divisions of the heavens, but in Mundane Astrology there are five Mundane Maps to be calculated. These Mundane Maps are:

1) QUARTERLY FIGURES.
These are called Ingresses, and are maps erected for the time of the entry of the Sun into the four Cardinal signs of the Zodiac – Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn. Each of these figures rules for a certain specific period according to the sign which is rising at the moment of the Sun’s ingress into each of these signs. If a Cardinal sign rises, it has rule for 3 months only. If a Fixed sign rises, then it influences the whohle of the entire 12 months following. If a Common sign rises, then it has influence for the ensuing 6 months.

2) LUNATIONS.
These are figures of the heavens erected for each New and Full Moon during the year. They are judged in a twofold way: first, according to the planetary positions and aspects in the figure for each New and Full Moon, and secondly by referring to the planetary positions at the moment of each New and Full Moon to the previous Ingress figure. The chart for the Ingress acts, as it were, as the hour hand of the clock, while the Lunations work as the minute hand.

3) SOLAR ECLIPSES.
These figures are erected for the time of the New Moon at any particular Solar Eclipse, for the exact moment of the New Moon. These figures are very important; they have a specific influence of their own lasting for as many years as the eclipse is hours in length. Their effects are most powerful in those countries where the eclipse is actually visible, and also in those countries and cities ruled over by the sign in which the eclipse falls. Certain specific effects are attributed to the action of Solar Eclipses in the 36 decanates of the Zodiac.

4) LUNAR ECLIPSES.
These are figures erected for the time of the Lunar Eclipse, which is in reality a Full Moon. The exact moment of the Full Moon is taken, not that of the middle of the eclipse. These figures are important, but less so than Solar Eclipses. They have a time period of action extending over as many months as the eclipse is hours in duration.

5) CONJUNCTIONS AND OPPOSITIONS.
Conjunctions and Oppositions of the major planets -- Mars, Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. These are figures erected for the time of the conjunction or opposition of these planets, and the house and sign positions of such conjunctions and oppositions are noted. They are extremely important as their effects are very pronounced and lasting.

Comets are regarded as invariably malefic. They bring trouble upon countries ruled by the sign of the zodiac in which they are first visible to the unaided sight, and to those countries ruled by the signs through which any comet passes while it remains visible.

In modern times a comet is discovered by a watcher with a telescope long before it is seen by the naked eye. It is possible to photograph it through a telescope long before the eye can detect it through the same instrument. At the return of Halley’s comet in 1909 it was first photographed on September 12, when its position corresponded to the fifth degree of the sign of Cancer. It was seen by the naked eye on April 25th of 1910, when it had retrograded to the 28th degree of Pisces within three degrees of the first point of Aries, the ruling sign of England. King Edward VII died on May 6th, eleven days following.

There area many known comets that are permanent members of the solar system, but these have not been examined astrologically or their influence determined.

Earthquakes – The prediction of earthquakes in different parts of the world is one of the most interesting subjects in Mundane Astrology. It has been ascertained that earthquakes are caused by the action of eclipses, and through the position of planets in the four Fixed signs of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius – more especially Taurus and Scorpio.

Cycle Charts of the major planets and for the Sun are erected for the time the planet crosses the Celestial Equator of the earth in its northward journey. This is indicated in the ephemeris by the declination of the planets.

Because athe planet for which a Cycle Chart is erected determines the things which exert influence, the effects of which are shown by the positions of the various planets in the chart, the aspects made by this ruler of the Cycle are unusually important.

For a complete study of the Cycles, read the chapters on Cycles in Mundane Astrology by C. C. Zain (Elbert Benjamin – Church of Light). Cycles of the various planets will prove fascinating.

Weather Predicting is an important phase of Mundane Astrology. We do not undervalue the work of the world’s weather bureaus, nor that of our own country. But we do claim that their present equipment reinforced by the ability to apply astrological rules and principles to the study and observation of general and specific weather conditions would produce a most happy result for those who are, to a large measdure, dependent upon such reports for the ability to continue their every-day activities.

Venus causes rains. Mars increases temperatures. Jupiter is said to produce Northerly Winds. Saturn causes a lowering of temperature. Uranus sometimes produces great cold. Cloudy weather with rain go with Uranus, and frost and snow in winter. The influence of Neptune is similar to that of Venus – usually a damp fog, mist, light rain with a high degree of humidity.

The Strongest Planet is of importance in any map, because such a planet will impress itself strongly upon the nation or district during the rle of the map. Strength may be due to zodiacal or to mundane position. Any planet is strong when in a sign that is its own house or exaltation, such as the Sun in Leo or Aries, or Mars in Aries, Scorpio or Capricorn; and such strength as this is fortunate and tends to avert or lessen the evil results of malefic aspects.

Prominence. A distinction should be drawn between Strength (described previously) and what may be called prominence. Zodiacally, any heavenly body, any New Moon, Conjunction, or Eclipse that falls in or very close to the first degree of Aries, Capricorn, Libra or Cancer has prominence, and gains in importance regardless of whether it has any special dignity of house or exaltation. It also possesses prominence in the mundane sense if it is on the cusp of the 1st, 10th, 7th or 4th house, the Ascendant being the most important of these positions. Any heavenly body in one of these positions is likely to play an important part in the events that follow the date of the map. But its prominence taken alone is neither specially fortunate or unfortunate, for this depends upon aspects and again its Strength. The Moon on the cusp of the 10th House afflicted will be prominent but unfortunate.

A New Moon that falls in or very near the 1st degree of Aries is considered by some writers to be as important as the map for the Sun’s entrance into Aries – or more so. A combination of Strength and Prominence, such as Mars in Aries in the mid-heaven, will make a planet very important.

The Strongest Aspect. In any map there are sure to be a large number of aspects to take into account, but they are not all of equal importance. Generally speaking, Major aspects are more important than Minor ones, but this is subject to the important qualification that the strongest aspect is that which is most nearly exact; the further apart the aspect, the weaker it is. Any aspect that is exact is of importance, and prediction may be based upon it.

Co-operation of Influences. When important and striking events happen, it is generally found that, in the current maps, more than one kind of influence co-operates to produce the effect. When war breaks out, it is not merely that the 7th House is afflicted in some way, but Mars, the planet of war, is always involved. When a banking crash occurs, it will usually be found that not only is the 2nd House afflicted, either directly or by ruler, but there are also evil aspects in the map that indicate financial trouble, independently of the House, such as Jupiter in bad aspect to Saturn. The difficulty of framing a prediction increases with the number of factors involved.

The Coming Universal Reformation. Man cannot live unto himself alone; neither can a country remain isolated. If in the past mankind has not been devoid of ignorance, it is now also afflicted with the cancer of decadence. The decadent charter of modern life with its chronic wars, economical clashes, class, national and religious antagonisms is very apparent. A regime which tolerates crime and sexd literature, movies, etc. polluting the thoughts of millions is not a healthy system; and so are systems built on class and race hatred.

The tone of international politics is that of tension. Everywhere there is fear that another flare-up would lead to an atomic war. At a time when we are about to discover and explore America in space, the masses live in an illusory world of the Dark Ages, still believing that the earth is the center of the universe and the only inhabited planet in the cosmic scheme of things.
Until the planet is considered as one indivisible whole with all its assets, natural resources and manpower, and the distribution of such vested in an impartial World Government, we shall have more wars, more misery, more injustice, and more ignorance. Until all borders are broken and all the peoples of the Earth embrace each other, and share all in the name of Brotherhood, this planet will ever be under a constant threat of destruction. Do we need a universal language to bridge the nations and to promote international understanding? The introduction of one uniform currency throughout the globe will rid the world of its present absurd currency restrictions and tariff walls. The planning of world economy could eradicate poverty in undeveloped countries.

Can Mundane Astrology, through its study of the heavens, bring about a better condition on the planet Terra? Should we put up the Emerald Tablet of Hermes which teaches “As above, so below”? Mundane Astrology is able to point out the Sky or Star Patterns which could lead to better world understanding. Wendle Wilke predicted that in time there would be ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT – Are we planning for it?