Zoom link will be sent out on Saturday 6 September
Appendix 7: Stella with Simão Cortês
The Moment of Astrology is not only a very profound philosophical reframing of astrology, it is also a book of magnificent practical horoscopy. In many ways this is the most distinctive trait of the book, every single argument is backed by a moving example of divination. In Appendix 7, “Stella”, Geoffrey shows us that the best astrology has something to say not only about the querent’s dilemma but also about astrology itself. In this short appendix we are presented with a pregnant woman who is undecided about carrying the pregnancy to term. By an ingenious technical adjustment, Geoffrey is able to deepen his argument about the specific type of knowledge that astrology and divination convey.
Please read Appendix 7 in advance.
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The Fourfold Symbol I: Divination and Allegory (Chapter 14) with Jane Farrer
In this chapter, Astrology is reorientated as Divination, but since Academia has never developed a description of Divination nor has it been observed by Science, what does this reorientation mean? Geoffrey writes that Divinatory Astrology is not a thing or fact which is afterward interpreted, it is an interpretative act. A legacy of the Western Mystical tradition, the Fourfold method of interpreting Scripture was developed by the Church Fathers in early and medieval Christianity and inspired Dante in his creation of The Divine Comedy. After a summary of these four levels: the literal, the allegoric, the trope and the anagoge, Chapter 14 locates the levels in the four cadent houses of the horoscope taken in the order, 3rd, 6th,12th, 9th, together with their affinity with the traditional sign rulerships of Mercury and Jupiter. Lastly, Horary astrology well distinguishes between the Astrology of Causes and the Astrology of Signs, and in the horary “My Aunt’s House” Jane will apply the Fourfold method to the delineation of the chart.
Please read Chapter 14, and Chapter 8 “My Aunt’s House” pages 153-160 in advance.
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Appearances: The Symbol in Context (Ch.11) with Graeme Tobyn
What may happen when an astrologer negotiates with a client the symbols of a horoscope drawn up for them? And how do you teach that to other astrologers? Geoffrey Cornelius remarked at the beginning of this chapter of his book The Moment of Astrology “one of my concerns has been to question the taken-for-granted bits of astrology’s theory by showing their inadequacy to describe the phenomena we experience”. What Geoffrey wished to explore here was the Company’s concept of ‘takes’, an essentially creative act of interpretation which when established for a particular horoscope becomes a ‘signature’. What constitutes a take and what do its parameters relate to? The astrologer themselves may be implicated in the truth-speaking of symbols in any kind of horoscope as a secret mutual connivance plays out in context.
Please read Chapter 11 in advance.
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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.
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Since the adoption of the 20th 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 2nd 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 9th house Mercury in Capricorn as social and moral conscience. The Moon is separating from Mercury and moves to the opposition to the 12th house Chiron. Her words will have no lasting effect on the President.
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).
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
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.
COA Zoom Seminar on the Israel-Hamas war: Monday 20th November 7:00-8:15pm GMT. Now fully booked Link for pdf used in Seminar (v1) >>>
Following the fall of the Ottoman Empire in 1918, the League of Nations defined the boundaries of Palestine, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan (chart for this decision below). Provision was made for a Jewish homeland in Palestine (Research by Michael Baigent cited by Nick Campion in appx. 6 of his ‘Book of World Horoscopes’ 1996.)
