THEMA MUNDI W O R L D T H E M E O F T H E C O S M O S By Ashely Owens for Santa Monica Astrology Meetup 04-10-16
THEMA MUNDI What is Thema Mundi? Latin term Originates from Hellenistic Astrology A chart which depicts an alternative to the commonly accepted Aries ascendant as the traditional chart ordering Cancer rising
THE NATURAL CHART Cancer rising chart is the natural chart A Moon chart: Cancer is ruled by the Moon, which colors the essence of the chart Used as a teaching tool to more accurately understand the psychological and psycho-social development of an individual
OVERVIEW What will be covered in this presentation? History of Hellenistic Astrology Basic Principles of Hellenistic Astrology The World Theme chart Other Moon chart systems
HISTORY OF HELLENISTIC ASTROLOGY Classical system of Hellenistic Astrology developed from the Greeks during the Hellenistic period, which began around 336 BC with the leadership of Alexander the Great, up until the Roman Empire took over in 31 CE. Prior to this, the Greeks adopted their astrological philosophies from Egyptian Astrology systems. Alexander the Great s conquests to Mesopotamia brought concepts of Astrology from Babylonian priests who were star watchers. They observed patterns of stars (constellations) symbolized in a 12 sign zodiac.
HELLENISTIC ORIGINS Blending this with the former Greek Astrology transformed into what is known as Hellenistic Astrology, or Horoscopic Astrology. Horoscopic Astrology (use of horoscopes) were written in Greek and Latin. Astrology is a Greek word, meaning, science of the stars. From Hellenistic Astrology, we get Natal Astrology, Predictive Astrology, Electional Astrology and the houses where the signs inhabit.
HELLENISTIC ORIGINS After the Romans took over, they adopted Hellenistic Astrology and developed laws and regulations of how it was to be used. Hellenistic Astrology was a sidereal, star based, primarily lunar-oriented system that disappeared with the Mother Goddess during the rise of the West Roman Empire. Hindu Astrology (Vedic) preserves the core Hellenistic principles.
BASICS OF HELLENISTIC ASTROLOGY THE SEVEN CLASSICAL PLANETS : In Greek, planet means wanderer These 7 wanderers could be seen without a telescope Moon Sun Mercury Venus Mars Jupiter Saturn
ASTROLOGICAL ETYMOLOGY The 7 days of the week were translated from the 7 classical planets. Origins from Hellenistic period during the Roman Empire. The Romans transposed their Gods & Goddesses onto the Gods & Goddesses of Greek Mythologies which describe and represent the planetary energies.
GOD/DESSES OF THE WEEK Monday: Artemis Diana (Moon Goddess) Tuesday: Ares Mars (War God) Wednesday: Hermes Mercury (Messenger God) Thursday: Zeus Jupiter; (King of the Gods) Friday: Aphrodite Venus; (Goddess of Love) Saturday: Chronos Saturn; (God of Agriculture) Sunday: Helios Apollo; (Sun God of the Heavens) Septagram ( or Heptagram ) 7-pointed star of the astrological week
RELIGION & SCIENCE Sun-day: Christian solar deity -day of worship Planetary Metals Saturn-day: Jewish Sabbath -day of rest (observe laws & customs) Secular society weekends off from the 9-5 work schedule
TRADITIONAL RULERSHIPS Traditional Rulerships exclude the Modern Rulerships of the outer planets in Western Astrology: Uranus, Neptune, Pluto Moon: Cancer Sun: Leo Mercury: Virgo (and Gemini) Venus: Libra (and Taurus) Mars: Scorpio (and Aries) Jupiter: Sagittarius (and Pisces) Saturn: Capricorn (and Aquarius) Q: Why dual rulerships except the Sun & Moon? This can be seen in the thema mundi chart
THEMA MUNDI Cancer Rising Chart Chart is turned 90 degrees NOT a formula of Mars=Aries=1 st house Signs and houses not the same thing Signs in houses: Cardinal in Angular Fixed in Succedent Mutable in Cadent
CLASSICAL MOON CHART Hellenistic Planets in Dignity: 7 classical planets respective rulerships Moon-Saturn: Cancer-Capricorn The 1 st & 7 th houses straddle both hemispheres (gives significance to potency of mid-house degrees)
HELLENISTIC PLANETS IN DIGNITY Aquarius-Gemini: Dual rulership Mirrors creational offspring of the Sun (father) & Moon (mother) Each dual ruler is of masculine & feminine signs
DIURNAL VS. NOCTURNAL SUN Diurnal or Nocturnal charts determined by the Sun - Above = Diurnal - Below = Nocturnal Thema Mundi is a Nocturnal chart: -Subjective -Explains psychological and psycho-social development of SELF in world.
DIURNAL & NOCTURNAL PLANETS Diurnal = Day (warm) Day planets: Sun, Jupiter & Saturn (malefic moderated by heating) - Sun rules diurnal chart (exaltation in Aries/10 th ) Nocturnal = Night (cool) Night planets: Moon, Venus & Mars (malefic moderated by cooling) Neutral: Mercury - If it rises before the Sun it is Nocturnal - If it rises after the Sun it is Diurnal Thema Mundi chart= Nocturnal (Sun) & ruled by Moon
THE NATURAL CHART - CARDINALITY Congruent w/ Cardinality, Cancer in the 1 st Cardinal = initiate Initiation of life from the ascendant. Entry into the world from mother. (Cancer archetype) Moon = home and the womb. Feminine sign (inward)
THE NATURAL CHART - CARDINALITY Cardinal Aries in 10 th MC = recognition, Fame & success Aries = Self, & fiery initiative. - Leadership qualities 10 th House = gov t and military (Mars) Aries vs. Capricorn MC: -Fire vs. Earth -Masculine vs. Feminine
THE NATURAL CHART - CARDINALITY Capricorn & Saturn in 7 th 7 th house = marriage & partnerships -social responsibility & commitment. Saturn s exaltation in Libra = 4 th (not 7 th ) -4 th : Earth/Agriculture -Saturn: Satu, sowing -Time/Chronos -Death -Gravity Saturn s fall Aries in 10 th (not 1 st )
THE NATURAL CHART - CARDINALITY Libra & Venus in 4 th Libra: social etiquette & customs from family 4 th house of Death (water houses) -Sun fallen in Libra, schism of personality -Dying into another, compromise Venus: love & relationships -conditioning of formative years
NOCTURNAL - FIXITY Leo & Sun in 2 nd Leo= self-expression -creative play Sun: Personality traits -Autonomy (mother) 2 nd house = fixed, solidifies traits -house domain Leo vs. Taurus: -fire vs. earth -masculine vs. feminine -royalty, kingdom (resources)
NOCTURNAL - FIXITY Scorpio & Mars in 5 th Mars: sex; male planet in female sign Scorpio = water -fluids, merging -Intimacy & sharing -act of conceiving 5 th House = children play, fun & romance -deeper consequences of a shared person.
NOCTURNAL - MUTABILITY Virgo & Mercury in 3 rd Mercury = cognition (Mercury is still ruler of 3rd) 3 rd house: school -social peer group, or siblings -neighborhood Virgo = student -refining skills -writing & language -learning rules
NOCTURNAL - MUTABILITY Sagittarius & Jupiter in 6 th Jupiter: teacher of life s lessons (not the student of Mercury/Virgo) -gains of wisdom 6 th: house of service (12 th serve/suffer axis) -house of loss (lessons of Jupiter) -Health or disease Sagittarius: Religion/Spirituality Practice is daily in the 6 th
DIURNAL - FIXITY Aquarius & Saturn in 8 th 8 th house: death & sex - le petite mort Saturn = death Aquarius: community -In the 8 Th of intimacy? Sex is communal/public: -STDs -Technology/internet -Aqu/Leo axis: royal court public consummation -Secondary house for marriage (contracts) -Weddings congregate groups
DIURNAL - MUTABILITY Pisces & Jupiter in 9 th Jupiter: expansion -world bigger than local env. (3 rd axis) (Jupiter is still ruler of the 9 th ) Pisces: dreams -beliefs, spirituality -other worlds 9 th house: overseas -water sign Pisces -foreign lands
DIURNAL FIXITY Taurus & Venus in 11 th Venus = wealth -satiation from hard work (Taurus) Taurus: Bull -plows the fields -harvest 11 th house: gains -achievement of goals -resources -business network
DIURNAL MUTABILITY Mercury & Gemini in 12 th Mercury: twins -gender-neutral -spirit bodies 12 th house: death -mutability to change form Gemini: (glyph) -doorway/gateway to the other side -communication w/ spiritual realms & dreams
PSYCHOLOGICAL & PSYCHO-SOCIAL CONTINUUM Thema Mundi wheel of life: -born, identify w/ mother -play & personality -school & conditioning -relationships & dating -sex & intimacy -belief of experiences -marriage -community -dreams & visions -aspiration of dreams -achievement & success -communion with death
THEMA MUNDI An idealized, figurative chart of the human experience. Moon chart of Self Basis for planetary dignities Patterns of geometry: origin of Ptolemaic Aspects
ASPECTS OF THE THEMA MUNDI Ptolemaic aspects: Venus-ruled signs Sextile luminaries Mars-ruled signs Square luminaries Jupiter-ruled signs Trine luminaries Saturn-ruled signs Opposite luminaries
PTOLEMAIC ASPECTS Venus is the lesser benefic -Sextiles are seen as a lesser beneficial aspect Mars is the lesser malefic -Squares are seen as a lesser malefic aspect Jupiter is the greater benefic -Trines are seen as a greater beneficial aspect Saturn is the greater malefic -Oppositions are seen as a greater malefic aspect
AXIAL RELATIONSHIPS Luminaries with Saturn: Sun selects Saturn rejects Moon includes Saturn excludes Mercury with Jupiter: Mercury questions Jupiter confirms Venus with Mars: Venus unifies Mars severs
WHERE CREDIT IS DUE The Thema Mundi is not a new concept, it is a technique over 2,000 years old Modern Astrologers are interpreting this ancient system: -Robert Schmidt, Ellen Black and Project Hindsight, who have done significant research and translation of ancient Hellenistic work in their Conclave 2006 and 2007 presentations (projecthindsight.com) -Astrologer, Eric Francis has an artistic bent on interpreting this system on his website planetwaves.com -Astrologer, Douglas Noblehorse s articles from quincunxastrology.com -Online forums & courses from Astrologers: Bill Johnston, Curt Manwaring, Alan White, Chris Brennan, Patrick Watson & Nick Dagan Best.
OTHER MOON CHART SYSTEMS Astrologer, Jade Luna, has done significant work in interpreting ancient Hellenistic Astrological work from the Yavanajataka. The Yavanajataka, meaning, from the Greeks, is a translation from Greek to Sanskrit, which is the oldest text of Indian Astrology found. -Yavanas = Greeks - jataka = nativity Jade has reconstructed the Yavanajataka into a working system of Asterian Astrology, which is a lunar-oriented system, alike the Hellenistic Thema Mundi. (jadesolluna.com)
OTHER MOON CHART SYSTEMS Hindu (Vedic) Astrology: Eastern Astrology preserves the core sidereal, moonbased, Hellenistic principles. Alexander the Great s conquests to Northern India brought Hellenistic Astrology, influencing the formation and evolution of Hindu (Vedic) Astrology. Greek Astrology was modified to Indian culture to fit astral religion. Vedic Astrology uses 27 Lunar Mansions: Nakshatras 360 degrees segmented into 27 parts = 13deg 20min The moon spends 1 day transiting each lunar mansion
ASTERIAN ASTROLOGY Moon chart system: Uses Hellenistic & Vedic God & Goddess archetypes 27 star divisions (lunar mansions) 27 star clusters in and around the constellations Orbit of the moon is 27.3 days (a moonth) Appx. 1 day for moon to transit a sign Sign is 13deg 20min, not 30.
MOON CHARTS Sidereal & Tropical zodiacs were developed and aligned appx 1900BC. -These systems are no longer in sync Sidereal zodiac includes the procession of the equinoxes, which indicate what is observed in the sky at real time. Tropical zodiac is static, which symbolize the constellations - no direct relationship with the ecliptic. Hellenistic, Hindu & Asterian Astrology systems are based upon the Greco-Roman, sidereal, lunar-based Astrology
SUN AND MOON Western Astrology uses Sun signs Sun vs. Moon: -Sun defines the power of a person -Moon defines the nature & primary personality of a person in horoscopic astrology. Need to re-connect to our natural selves in relationships to ourselves & others: -Natural rhythms (Moon), of our bodies (1 st house) is the ultimate act of self-care and self-love (Cancer).
-FIN- Thema Mundi = (old) NEW World Order chart Represented by the Moon Mother Honoring of our true natures Thank you