Alan Leo - How to Judge a Nativity

How to Judge
a Nativity

by

ALAN LEO

(Formerly issued as How to Judge a Nativity, Part I.)

The Reading of the Horoscope

Price 15/- nett.

Sixth Edition

1935

IN Astrology for All, the first book of this Series, a considerable amount of information regarding the zodiac and the planets has been given, while in the succeeding volume the method of casting the horoscope was thoroughly gone into with full minuteness in every detail. The present work will consist of the methods used in judging the horoscope when it has been accurately cast.

The books comprising this Series have been so arranged that the student may have a special book dealing with each stage of his study, and thus avoid confusing the mind with that which does not directly belong to the department under consideration. In all former books on Astrology too much has been attempted in one volume, and no branch of the subject has ever received the full elucidation it deserves; though in fact no book ever will or can contain all that is to be known concerning this science. For Astrology is the most comprehensive study conceivable, a science which no mortal mind could invent, being the direct work of immortals who came from other worlds to instruct our infant humanity.

Astrology is one of seven keys required to unlock the door of the inner temple, but it is not the Astrology that is universally practised, for although this is a wonderful and useful study, it is only a key to the outer temple through which the aspirant must pass and the lessons of which he must learn ere he can prepare for the wisdom that is to be his when he shall pass into that inner temple to which the many may be called but only the few are chosen. Our world has never been without teachers ready and willing to instruct those who make the necessary conditions by fitting themselves to receive that knowledge, which is carefully guarded until humanity has grown strong enough to receive it. The divine mysteries are only for those who are ready to renounce the material world and claim their divine right to be heirs to the knowledge the Teachers have to impart.

In dealing with the general rules for judgment in the following pages, an attempt is made to strike a higher note than has hitherto been struck, and although it is not the highest, it is quite high enough for the present. What is here written has not been copied from other books, a practice which seems to have been adopted by the majority of writers on Astrology, but is the result of deep thought and practical experience, which I am anxious to share with my fellow students; and to those who like myself have become absorbed in its study this fragment of learning is offered in the hope that it will help them to judge a. horoscope more correctly than would otherwise be the case. For it strikes the note of the New Astrology, the foundation of which has been already laid by the establishment of Modern Astrology, the desire of which is to purify and re-establish the ancient science of Astrology, which, through planetary symbology, seeks to explain the One Universal Spirit in its varied manifestations.

ALAN LEO.

SINCE the issue of this series of Astrological text books, many students have expressed their desire to have a Short History of Astrology, with a list of the famous names of those who are known to have been its sincere students. This, not merely to satisfy idle curiosity, but to add more weight and dignity to the science and to meet the sceptical minds of those who in this present day of uncertainty and doubt require evidence of this kind; and also, where necessary, to relieve the anxiety of those who have more faith in traditions and historical data than belief in original and first hand thought. For such as these the following remarks are made in this edition.

Astrology has undoubtedly been known to all nations throughout the world from time immemorial and its history appears to be coeval with that of the earth, since it can be traced through every existing nation and through them again to the great nations of the past whose glory and splendour we are only just beginning to realise.

Through Egypt and ancient Chaldea; through Japan and ancient China, and from Thibet to early Hindustan we find Astrology has passed round the globe always retaining the same symbology, the same zodiac, and also the same ancient traditions. Who invented it? NO ONE KNOWS.

Egyptian history is full of Astrological lore, and there is now very little doubt that it was the religion of the Chaldeans. From Clemens Alexandrinus we learn that: The Egyptians follow a certain peculiar philosophy of their own, which may be best declared by setting down the order of their religious processions. First therefore goes the Precentor, carrying two of Hermes his books along with him; the one which contains the Hymns of the gods, the other Direction for the kingly office. After him follows the Horoscopus, who is particularly instructed in Hermes his Astrological books, which are four. Then succeeds the Hierogrammateus, or sacred scribe, with feathers upon his head, and a book and rule in his hands, to whom it belongeth to be thoroughly acquainted with the Hieroglyphics, as with Cosmography, geography, the order of the Sun, and Moon, and five planets, the chorography of Egypt and description of the Nile, etc.

The whole of the Egyptian philosophy was evidently based upon Astrology. The existence of Egyptian Astrologers in the time of Joseph is beyond question, and in those days there is no doubt that Pharaoh had faith in his wise men, or astrologers, to interpret his dreams.

In our own Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, we find abundant evidence of the knowledge of the Science of Astrology. Knowing as we do that the Chaldeans were the great teachers of historical times, and that their religion, science and art was Astrology, we can readily understand that Abram living in Ur of the Chaldees, Isaac married to a Chaldean wife, Jacob, who lived 21 years in Padam Aram, and his sons brought up by Chaldean mothers, were all thoroughly acquainted with the ideas and terms of Astrology. In those times, the twelve signs of the Zodiac were the twelve typical things, and so we find Joseph in his dream likening himself and his family to the Sun, Moon and twelve Stars (or Zodiac.) Likewise, Jacob blesses his twelve sons, and in those blessings we find a very striking analogy to the characteristics of the twelve signs of the Zodiac.

If we take the account written by Moses, an Initiate, of the Creation, Fall,. Flood, etc., we find that it sets down for the people the traditions of the faith as received from Mesopotamian sources and couched in Astrological terms. For example: And God said Let there be lights in the firmament of heaven... and let them be for signs, and for seasons and for days and for years. (Gen i.). Again `And God made two great lights, the greater light to rule by day, and the lesser light to rule by night. (Gen. i.)

Later we find the Israelites soon after leaving Egypt being met by Balsam, a Chaldean of Pethor, an Astrologer and prophet in communication with the angel of the Lord who had been engaged by Balak the enemy of Israel to curse Israel. (Numbers xxii.) The Chaldean custom on such ceremonial occasions, was to build altars and sacrifice to the seven planefs. Thus we find that Baalam three times built seven altars, on each of which he offered sacrifices and then prophesied of the