3.00 pm – 4.15 pm GMT

Zoom link will be sent out on Saturday 3 May

Science & the Symbol I: Humpty-Dumpty (Ch.3) with Garry Phillipson

Is astrology a manifestation of materialist science? In chapter 3 of The Moment of Astrology, Geoffrey Cornelius argued that ‘like Humpty-Dumpty, astrology has had a big fall’, and attributed the fall to the view of astrology as science and the consequences this brings. In this talk Garry will focus on that chapter and tease out two competing views: 1) that astrology is (potentially) a science; 2) that astrology is a symbolic art that forever eludes science’s apparatus of understanding. There will be discussion of what has changed since Geoffrey’s book was published, and whether this makes any difference; of precedents for the competing views and what we might learn from each; and, of how we can best approach horoscopic work in the light that emerges. It may also be necessary to discuss Humpty-Dumpty a bit.

Please read Chapter 3 in advance.

TO BOOK: Fee: £10, £7 unwaged.

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NATO

NATO is a military alliance of 32 member states:  Aries stellium in the 7th, Mars dignified dispositor.

Its motto is ‘Animus in consulendo liber’. (‘A mind unfettered in deliberation’). Aries stellium trine Pluto?

Some key contacts with UK 1066, USA Sibly and Trump are:

1. Asc-North Node conjunctions: NATO and UK 1066 

NATO’s Asc 20 Virgo 34 conjunct North Node at 20 Virgo 22 in UK 1066.

UK 1066 Asc at 25 Aries 14 conjunct NATO’s North Node at 26 Aries 28.

2. NATO’s Sun – Neptune opposition: 

NATO’s Sun at 14 Aries 46 with Neptune at 13 Libra 47. The opposition falls on the USA Sibly Saturn at 14 Libra 48. 

3.  NATO’s Saturn at 29 Leo 55 partile conjunct Trump’s Ascendant 29 Leo 55. (Zelenskyy’s Saturn 28 Leo 48).

4. Gemini-Sagittarian contacts from 19-24 degrees between NATO, USA Sibly and Trump.

Since the adoption of the 20^th amendment to the US Constitution in 1933, the Sun is always in Aquarius for our Presidential inauguration.  The Sun in the sign of its detriment perfectly symbolizes the ultimate sovereignty or source of supreme authority for that office (indeed for the entire government), which resides in the Constitution’s opening phrase “We the people…”.  This year, the Sun’s applying conjunction to Pluto symbolically suggests Trump’s naked grab for power and desire to dominate his opponents. Pluto in Aquarius aptly symbolizes a deeply divided public, the splitting of the body politic in a process that is rapidly accelerating.  This transformation of Presidential power also reveals the American Id, another Plutonian concept:  ugly urges to annihilate or eliminate the Other, those people or institutions which are perceived as a threat to national unity.  This is seen in the demonizing of immigrants, gay and trans people and anyone opposing Trump’s extreme agenda.  

It is hard not to see the rising Uranus in Taurus as the tech bros: Musk, Zuckerberg, Sam Altman (Chat GPT) Bezos, Cook, et al, as using this moment to further enrich themselves:  Mercury trine Uranus with Gemini on the 2nd.  Within one day, Trump announced the US government would be investing $100 Billion in AI, specifically to build large data centers.  Jupiter in Gemini on the cusp of the 2^nd house is the perfect symbol for this undertaking. Among the tech giants, there is an implicit understanding that tech can be used to remake social norms and erase the line between public and private.  The Venus/Saturn conjunction seems key, since Saturn disposes the Sun (also Mercury) and Venus disposes Uranus. Tech and the Executive Branch merge; Tech has become socially conservative with Venus/Saturn in the 11th.   

Mars in Cancer on the IC symbolizes both nativism and isolationism.

Mars sextile Uranus suggests the opportunity to employ AI to fashion a Cancerian shell to protect the US, like the “Iron Dome” of Isreal.  The ultimate Cancer fantasy is the notion that we can be shielded from all of our enemies.

Lastly, the cardinal T square with the Moon/Chiron opposition squaring Mercury suggests a re-wounding of women in the social sphere, but intercepted Aries/Libra in 6th/12th means it is kept out of sight, denied.  The female Bishop who asked Trump to reconsider the effect his actions are having on marginalized groups embodies the 9^th house Mercury in Capricorn as social and moral conscience.  The Moon is separating from Mercury and moves to the opposition to the 12^th house Chiron.  Her words will have no lasting effect on the President.

Kirk Little

Sun conjunct Pluto Aquarius.  “The Golden Age of America has begun”. Has it? Sun, planet of gold, detrimented in Aquarius, heading to Pluto’s underworld.

Venus conjunct Saturn Pisces.  “I was saved by God to make America great again”. Venus exalted, chart ruler, possible significator of Trump, conjunct Saturn, lord of deity 9th and authority 10th, in Pisces, sign of Christ and salvation. Lilly suggests an exalted significator can “present a person of haughty condition, arrogant, affirming more unto him then his due.”

Mars Cancer on IC, southern point. Emergency on southern border – send troops. Mars retrograde and in fall. Mars at 24 Cancer falls between Trump’s Saturn-Venus conjunction at 23/25 Cancer. Note also: Mars transits Mercury at 24 Cancer 11 in the Sibly America chart. This Sibly Mercury is opposite Sibly Pluto at 27 Capricorn 31. The Sibly Pluto is conjunct the Inauguration MC (26 Capricorn 31). 

Maggie Hyde

First Sunday of the month

3.00 pm – 4-15 pm

Fee: £10 per session, £7 unwaged) 

(pay-as-you-go monthly)

Each month an astrologer will present and discuss a chapter or extract from Geoffrey Cornelius’ book, The Moment of Astrology. Published in 1994, Rob Hand thought it to be “one of the most important astrological books of our time”. Historian Patrick Curry recognised it as “an extraordinary book … within the astrological tradition it is the most important since the great flowering of European astrology more than three hundred years ago.”

Throughout the text, Geoffrey asks the question “What is the moment of astrology?” When astrology comes to life for its practitioners, when it works, they are obliged to confront anew the problems of time, objectivity and the interpretation of symbol. The Company of Astrologers welcomes experienced astrologers and astrological historians to lead discussion on these themes.

SCHEDULE

12 Jan    Astrology as a Gift of the Soul (Ch.16)   Maggie Hyde

2 Feb     The Question of Horary (Ch.6) & Appendix 3   Pat Blackett

2 Mar    An Anti-Astrology Signature (Ch.2)   Kirk Little

6 Apr    Some Genius or Spirit (Ch.9)   Patrick Curry & Jodey Collorick

4 May   Science and the Symbol 1: Humpty-Dumpty (Ch.3)   Garry Phillipson

1 Jun     The Fourfold Symbol II: Water into Wine (Ch.15)   Jan Seward

              No meetings July and August

7 Sep     The Fourfold Symbol l:  Divination and Allegory (Ch.14)   Jane Farrer

5 Oct    Case Study: Stella (Appendix 7)   Simao Cortes 
Plus Mark Flaherty (Ch. tbc)      

2 Nov   Appearances: The Symbol in Context (Ch.11)   Graeme Tobyn 

7 Dec    Katarche: The Line of Descent from Augury (Ch.7) Dorian Gieseler Greenbaum   

Geoffrey Cornelius (1945-2024) was a founding member of the Company of Astrologers and a past president of the Astrological Lodge of London. He helped develop MA programmes in divination at both the University of Kent and Christ Church University, Canterbury. His major work, The Moment of Astrology, seeks to establish astrology as a form of divination.

TO BOOK:  £10 per month (£7 unwaged), online at coa.org.uk after 1 January 2025.

From teaching you how to spot the major and minor constellations, to revealing the fascinating starlore from around the world, this stunningly illustrated reissued hardback will bring star-gazing vividly to life. 

Originally published as The Starlore Handbook but recently lovingly repackaged by the late Geoffrey Cornelius for a new generation of budding and experienced stargazers, discover the mysteries of celestial mythology with this comprehensive introduction to the constellations and the stars that comprise them. This fascinating practical guide unveils the myths, legends and symbolic significance that the stars have assumed in many cultures and ancient civilizations across the world. No craft horoscopy, readable by non-astrologers.

Find out more: www.amazon.co.uk/Ultimate-Guide-Constellations-Planets-Astronomy/dp/1786789248