Alan Oken - Houses of the Horoscope: An Introduction

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INTRODUCTION

A strology is an amazingly accurate tool for better understanding yourself, your friends, your planet, and the nature of Life itself. The natal horoscope is a blueprint and guide that creates a clear map to personal awareness out of the huge mass of astrological data. Calculated for a person's date, time, and place of birth, the natal chart reveals a detailed portrait of an individual's relationship to the world. Its various components reveal who we are, what we have to offer, how we offer it, with whom we are most likely to share our talents, abilities, and love, and so much more.

Astrology is a very complex system of interweaving energies. It takes time and dedication for the student of this ancient science to be able to unravel astrology's symbolic codes and to comprehend its very special language. As the life around us consistently presents us with new challenges to resolve, an increasing number of people have been turning to astrology for the clues, insights, and answers that this special field of study has to offer. I have been a student and practitioner of this cosmic science for more than thirty years, and astrology still amazes and astounds me, surprises and enlightens me, delights and uplifts me. And moreastrology gives me the opportunity to be of service to others.

People who have not studied this subject always approach the astrologer with the same two questions: How does astrology work? and How can the movement of the planets possibly affect our life here on earth? These queries can be answered in two responses of four simple words each: The Law of Correspondences, and As Above, So Below. When we contemplate these two short statements (actually they express the same concept), and open up our minds to their implications, we will have truly expanded our consciousness.

As Above, So Below is a famous saying of an ancient legendary sage known historically as Hermes Trismagistus. This simple statement expresses a metaphysical Law which states that there exists a pattern of Correspondences and relationships in the universe, one that is repeated and reflected in all forms of creation. The distances between the sub-atomic particles contained within the body of an atom, for example, have a similar ratio as the distances between the planets in the solar system, or even the vast spaces between the stars within our own Milky Way galaxy. These sub-atomic particles whirl about their atomic nucleus in the same way as the planets revolve around our Sun and the stars in the Milky Way slowly orbit the galactic center. Astrology is valid because there is no real separation in the universe. Everything and everyone is connected and interconnected. We are One.

The underlying philosophy of astrology accepts this unity of all life. Astrologers are able to apply the meaning of that unity through our awareness of planetary patterns and their reflections of the events of life here on Earth. It is this application of astrology to the more practical side of things that concerns this book. Briefly stated in the astrological vocabulary, the planets answer the question What?What is the nature and type of energy expressing itself in your natal chart? The signs refer to How? -How do these energies reveal themselves? The Houses of the Horoscope respond to Where?Where in your life will this combination of What and How take place? Example: Mars in Gemini in the 7th House. What type of energy is Mars? (Mars is assertive, aggressive, stimulating, and projective.) How is Mars making itself known in the person's life? (Gemini deals with communication and mental activity.) Where is this taking place for that individual? (The 7th House has to do with partnerships in general and marriage in particular). Thus my interpretation for Mars in Gemini in the 7th House could be summarized as follows: This individual will tend to be assertive in his communications with his partners. He will tend to stimulate conversations and mental activities in relationships.

Astrology is an ancient science that concerns itself primarily with bringing the heavens above down to our doorstep below. It is by peering through the windows of the Houses of the Horoscope of the natal chart, that we come to see ourselves as men and women living out our normal lives within the body of a very supernormal universe. It is hoped that this book will help the reader to deepen his or her knowledge of astrology, so that this relationship between heaven and earth may become a more tangible reality.

Alan Oken

Lisbon, Portugal

March 2009

WHAT ARE THE ASTROLOGICAL HOUSES?

E verything in the universe is energy, expressing itself in many qualities, shapes, and forms. The natal horoscope may only be a two-dimensional diagram printed on a three-dimensional piece of paper, but it brings us to understand the multidimensional universe in which we live, and puts us in touch with the life energy of which we (and the cosmos) are composed. The horoscope is an illustration of the what, how, and where of our life. We can say that the what is represented by the planets in our chart. The planets tell us what particular type of energy is at work. In studying the planets in our natal map, what part or parts of ourselves are we examining? Is it our aggressive and assertive energy (Mars), our instinctual and subconscious energy (Moon), or the vital energy of the life principle itself (Sun)? The signs of the zodiac tell us how the energies of the planets are being expressed. Is the assertive part of our nature coming forth into our immediate environment boldly (Mars in Aries), timidly (Mars in Cancer), expansively (Mars in Sagittarius), or unpredictably (Mars in Aquarius)? We could also say that a sign is to a planet what an adverb is to a verb: It describes or modifies the action taking place.