Primary Directions

This comprehensive study explains the principles of primary directions in an accessible form, illustrating them by practical examples. The source draws on many original texts to outline the historical origins and development of the technique.

After seven years of investigation, Alan Leo abandoned the various methods advocated by the different schools of exoteric astrology and began adopting a system, based on his own study and experience, which was centered on what is known as the progressed horoscope. The progressed horoscope is based on the "Day For A Year" system of progressing the nativity, a system first employed by the ancient Arabian astrologers. If not the ideal system of prediction, claimed Leo, it is certainly the most simple and on the whole the most satisfactory astrology system ever put forward. This Cosimo Classic is a reprint of the First Edition, originally published in 1905. ALAN LEO (1860-1917) is often called "the father of modern astrology." He was born a Leo Sun with Virgo Rising, in Westminster, London and given the name William Frederick Allan. He taught himself astrology at the age of 28 and within a decade he was sole proprietor of the enormously successful Modern Astrology Publishing Company and its magazine, which eventually became known as Modern Astrology. His thirty books on the subject fostered a revival in legitimate astrology in the twentieth century.

An unprecedented package that gives readers the content of three important references by one of today's most influential design writers. This is a master class in the principles and practical fundamentals of design that will appeal to a broad audience of graphic artists and designers.

The definitive text on Primary Directions, written by a 20th century master. Sepharial (1864-1929) was one of the leading astrologers in the early 20th century English astrological revival. Primaries were his favorite means of forecasting. Primaries, unlike simple transits or secondary directions, are not immediately obvious to the average student. So in this book, the author starts with the basic definitions. He then explains how to calculate directions in mundo, directions in the zodiac, as well as parallel directions. He suggests methods of organization and describes what effects primary directions may produce. In the process he gives an overview of the three main schools of forecasting: The Fatalists, the Casuists, and the Idealists, and gives the pros and cons of each. Sepharial then discusses the two major individuals behind primaries. These are Claudius Ptolemy, who invented the semi-arc (primary) method in the second century AD, and the 17th century Italian monk, Placidus de Titis, who devised the complex house system that enabled primaries to be calculated easily and rapidly. Sepharial next tackles directions under Poles, which were a favorite of R.C. Smith, the first of several men known as "Raphael". Then, the resolution of problems unique to Primaries: The proper method to calculate the Part of Fortune (Oblique Ascension/ Descension, rather than simple zodiacal longitudes), various unique challenges with primary directions and the moon, and the true way to calculate directions to house cusps, along with some novel shortcuts. This book, originally entitled Directional Astrology, was the revised and expanded successor to the author's earlier Prognostic Astrology. It is also superior to his better known Primary Directions Made Easy. Using this system, Sepharial made many notable forecasts, most famously that of the end of World War I and the abdication of the Kaiser. Interest in this fascinating system has increased since the mid-1990's. This is the finest book ever published on the subject, one that will repay study.

First published in 1898, this is a very different astrology book from what we have now. There are extensive delineations for the signs of the zodiac, especially when found on the ascendant. There are delineations of planets in signs when they are in the first house or are the chart ruler, in both cases, describing the physical appearance. There are delineations of planets in the various houses, which will also serve for the planetary rulerships of the houses. There are only sketchy notes on aspects. So far as the "pure astrology" of planets in signs, in houses, in aspect, there is almost nothing at all. The reason is found in the second part of the book. We are not reading the chart as a psychological abstraction. We are, instead, looking for specific traits, attempting to answer specific questions. Will we have a profession? What kind of marriage? What kind of children? Will we vanquish our enemies, or submit to them? What kind of illness? We then find the house(s) of the horoscope which rule the question, and then delineate the signs & planets we find there. These are, by the way, the sort of questions that clients would ask, if they only knew we could give answers! The sort of things that astrologers themselves want to know. In the process we learn how to read a chart & get real meaning from it. We get ideas from one section and then apply them to other sections. There are hundreds and hundreds of useful aphorisms, except that Sepharial doesn't label them as such. Get this book, study it, underline key passages, scribble in the margins. You will learn more from this book than most all others put together.