Divining For Gold: Astrology,Investment and Speculation

#1
This is an article that I wrote for another investment list, Gold Is Money.

When the modern person thinks of astrology, they think of alluring tidbits in the horoscope section of Cosmopolitan. Most think astrology is utter hogwash.

However,in our ancient past astrology was highly revered and used for extremely practical and specific purposes.

The ancient citizen didn't have access to psycho-analysis, let alone his birth chart, so he wasn't as preoccupied with the astrology of "me", or plumbing the depths of the freudian/jungian underpinnings of his own birth chart. He was more interested in getting good advice on important issues that specifically affected his well being.

As this list is dedicated to Precious Metals and Investment,let us imagine that this ancient citizen, a prospector, comes to the astrologer with, instead of his birthtime, a question: "I'm going prospecting in the Sierra Nevada's,will there be any gold in the place I have chosen?"

Using an astrological technique called "horary" (from the latin hora, meaning hour), the astrologer would draw up a chart for the moment and answer the question based on the chart he had drawn up. Indeed,horary,and the other practical branch of astrology, electional (the art of using astrology to choose an auspicious time)were the techniques primarily used by astrologers for the general populace prior to the 19th century. Only royalty or nobility usually kept birth records,and most issues could be addressed using horary.

The use of horary and electional techniques were so prevalent in 17th century England,that the majority of the english language astrology books century were horary or electional textbooks.

I will be referencing four astrological textbooks from this time period:

Christian Astrology by William Lilly 1647 - The Horary Bible
Genethlialogia by John Gadbury 1653
Astrologia Restaurata by William Ramesey
Mikropanastrom by J. Partridge 1679


I'll spare you too much technical jargon,just know that each of the seven classical planets rule a metal.

Sun Gold
Moon Silver
Mercury Mercury
Venus Copper
Mars Iron
Jupiter Tin
Saturn Lead


Know also that the four cardinal directions mean something,and have Titles. They are called the angles.

Eastern Angle Ascendant(for rising of the Sun)
Western Angle Descendant(for Setting)
Northern Angle Subterranean(below the earth)
Southern Angle Midheaven (highest point)

The North/Subterranean angle,representing things found under the ground, would be very important in the above question, "I'm going prospecting in the Sierra Nevadas,will there be gold in the spot I have chosen?"

The astrologer could then reference chapter 37 of Christian Astrology, "Of Treasure Lying Hid In The Ground,or to be digged out of the earth."


"The resolution of this Question is various, according to the nature of its propasall, or according to the nature and quality of the thing enquired after, viz. whether Money, Plate or Jewels, or things easily movable, or for Treasure long since obscured or hid, the Querent not knowing what it is: or if it be, whether there be any Mine of Gold, Silver or Iron, or any other minerals in the Ground, Mannor or Lordship now questioned; then it is requisite to know whether the Querent did hide or obscure this Treasure now enquired after, or whose it was, or what relation the party that did so had unto him, or whether that he aske in a generall way of Treasure hid, not being able to discover either when, where, or whose, or what it is?"
After going through an exegesis of the rules for reading this kind of chart, Lilly proceeds to another important aspect of how he will approach this question, "If The Querent Shall Obtain the Treasure Hid?" A very important consideration.

If I choose another reference, I can go to Chapter 11 of the Mikropanastrom for more info, "Of the Native's success in digging for Mine and Metals and Treasures in the Earth." For someone wanting to know whether or not to buy or sell some stock, the astrologer could use Gadbury's rules "On Gaming and Play" to give advice.

Those of you who use almanacs or coordinate planting cycles with the phases of the Moon, are practicing a rudimentary form of electional astrology. Agnut's "Bartering and Horse Trading" thread(a thread on Gold is Money) is really inspiring, and there is a lot of astrological material on buying and selling. Chapter 3 of the Electional Section of Ramesey's Astrologia Restaurata is called "Of buying to profit again by the sale thereof." Chapter 4 is called, "Of selling to advantage".

Does horary,or astrology for that matter,work? I can enthusiastically answer yes with a very important qualifier: The weakest link in astrology is the astrologer. I have written an analysis of a horary regarding a trip I was taking to a place that had recently been bombed. I wanted to know if I was safe and what kind of time I would have. The link is below.

http://ancientsky.com/basis/index.ph...=120&Itemid=49
 

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