President Emeritus:
Christine Arens
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Contact Christine Arens at 630-654-4742 for more information
email carens@comcast.net
Currently teaching courses at Kepler College Spring 2016 Semester
beginning April 4th
Chart Calculation M101 Level 1
This course is designed to give you guided practice in learning how to calculate a natal chart from any time zone
Meeting Times: Sundays at 4:00 pm Pacific / 7:00 pm Eastern time
Chart Calculation M102 Level 2
This course is designed for students intending to take the organizational exams. It adds additional calculation techniques, including adjusted calculation date, progressions, directions and solar returns.
Meeting time: Sunday 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time / 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time
An update from Christine Arens !
I was fortunate enough to attend all 3 days of this conference.
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
Conference: Characterizing Astrology in the Medieval Islamic World
https://divinity.uchicago.edu/characterizing-astrology-medieval-islamic-world
The above link will take you to the University of Chicago Media website.
The major presenters were videotaped, and those videos are now available for viewing.
It is recommended you download the pdf of the abstracts, and choose which subject(s) would interest you most. However, ALL of the presentations were excellent, and considered Astrology as a legitimate field of study, and worthy of (further) research.
While it is regrettable the quality of the sound on some of the videos leaves ‘something to be desired’, it would be recommended you try using earphones or a headset to help clarify what the speaker is presenting. Overall, the conference gave a remarkable overview of how traditional astrology was practiced and used, and ‘then’ was really not much different from ‘now’.
Christine
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
Conference: Characterizing Astrology in the Medieval Islamic World
https://divinity.uchicago.edu/characterizing-astrology-medieval-islamic-world
The above link will take you to the University of Chicago Media website.
The major presenters were videotaped, and those videos are now available for viewing.
It is recommended you download the pdf of the abstracts, and choose which subject(s) would interest you most. However, ALL of the presentations were excellent, and considered Astrology as a legitimate field of study, and worthy of (further) research.
While it is regrettable the quality of the sound on some of the videos leaves ‘something to be desired’, it would be recommended you try using earphones or a headset to help clarify what the speaker is presenting. Overall, the conference gave a remarkable overview of how traditional astrology was practiced and used, and ‘then’ was really not much different from ‘now’.
Christine
Summary
University of Chicago Conference – May 12-14, 2015
Hosted by the UofC School of Divinity
Characterizing Astrology in the Medieval Islamic World
This past May, the University of Chicago hosted an extraordinary conference to discuss the perceptions and use of Astrology in medieval Islamic cultures. The presenters represented a broad base of major universities and disciplines from across the United States, Canada, Europe and the Middle East. The focus of the conference was the metaphysical use of astrology, and truly represented the perception of “as above, so below”. Astrology was considered in the context of its power, and as a means of helping people to live a good religious life by the use of judicial astrology knowing when to choose, and how to choose “right” actions.
The variety of subjects was meant to bring together various studies and present how Astrology was a tie uniting them. One presenter discussed how the power of the heavens could be interpreted and used to create magical instruments such as Talismans through the careful placements of symbols, letters and numbers. Of course these Talismans would need to be created at “auspicious” times, based on proper Astrology (such as the Moon and Jupiter in Cancer – Moon in domicile, and Jupiter in exaltation!), and proper astrological materials (copper ruled by Venus, and tin ruled by Jupiter!).
Another presenter discussed the development and use of astrolabes, including a picture of a woodcut showing a curious astrolabe ring. While an astrolabe so small would really not be very accurate, it could of course advertise that its wearer WAS an astrologer! Astrology and astronomy were linked together as the “study of the stars”, two sister studies with the intention of measuring the stars and planets and their movements, and then using that information for the more significant purpose of understanding God’s cosmic universe and order. Yes, Astrology was indeed the “superior” sister – without Astrology, astronomy has no purpose!
One presenter pointed out that Astrology does not intervene with free will and free choice, that it is a tool to help one live a better life. It is not to be used to evade God’s will or your personal responsibilities. However, choices are often limited – we cannot choose “not to die”. Interspersed amongst all the presentations were references to the works of al-Kindi, al-Biruni and Abu Ma’shar. Particularly noted was Abu Ma’shar’s significant defense of Astrology.
The opening of the conference referred to Astrology as the “Mistress of all the sciences”. The conference itself did indeed uphold this description! To live without Astrology is to go through life with our eyes closed. There IS a place for Astrology in God’s cosmic order!
Hosted by the UofC School of Divinity
Characterizing Astrology in the Medieval Islamic World
This past May, the University of Chicago hosted an extraordinary conference to discuss the perceptions and use of Astrology in medieval Islamic cultures. The presenters represented a broad base of major universities and disciplines from across the United States, Canada, Europe and the Middle East. The focus of the conference was the metaphysical use of astrology, and truly represented the perception of “as above, so below”. Astrology was considered in the context of its power, and as a means of helping people to live a good religious life by the use of judicial astrology knowing when to choose, and how to choose “right” actions.
The variety of subjects was meant to bring together various studies and present how Astrology was a tie uniting them. One presenter discussed how the power of the heavens could be interpreted and used to create magical instruments such as Talismans through the careful placements of symbols, letters and numbers. Of course these Talismans would need to be created at “auspicious” times, based on proper Astrology (such as the Moon and Jupiter in Cancer – Moon in domicile, and Jupiter in exaltation!), and proper astrological materials (copper ruled by Venus, and tin ruled by Jupiter!).
Another presenter discussed the development and use of astrolabes, including a picture of a woodcut showing a curious astrolabe ring. While an astrolabe so small would really not be very accurate, it could of course advertise that its wearer WAS an astrologer! Astrology and astronomy were linked together as the “study of the stars”, two sister studies with the intention of measuring the stars and planets and their movements, and then using that information for the more significant purpose of understanding God’s cosmic universe and order. Yes, Astrology was indeed the “superior” sister – without Astrology, astronomy has no purpose!
One presenter pointed out that Astrology does not intervene with free will and free choice, that it is a tool to help one live a better life. It is not to be used to evade God’s will or your personal responsibilities. However, choices are often limited – we cannot choose “not to die”. Interspersed amongst all the presentations were references to the works of al-Kindi, al-Biruni and Abu Ma’shar. Particularly noted was Abu Ma’shar’s significant defense of Astrology.
The opening of the conference referred to Astrology as the “Mistress of all the sciences”. The conference itself did indeed uphold this description! To live without Astrology is to go through life with our eyes closed. There IS a place for Astrology in God’s cosmic order!
