It is as if we are moving inside a gigantic mono wheel, our own circular treadmill, though it is in fact a three dimensional sphere. As we move away from our place of birth, then according to the direction of motion, the outer wheel of the sky turns in real time and our inner zodiac wheel fixed for the time and place of our birth turns in harmony with it but it is a complex wheel because the house cusps of our inner wheel change their degree according to both latitude and longitude. The outer rim containing the planets’ positions moves with us like a shifting dial so that when one of the inner spokes of the wheel, the house cusps are contacted by one of the planets in our shifted zodiac, we feel its influence in a new way, and a more powerful way if it contacts one of the angles.
Universal time does not change so the planets remain in the same zodiacal positions with the same aspects to one another but as longitude changes so does local time at a rate of one hour for every fifteen degrees of longitudinal shift, additive easterly and subtractive westerly and this governs the apparent motion of zodiac wheel both external and internal. A further complication is caused by the curvature of the earth such that while the MC/IC axis only changes according to longitude and local time, the ASC /DEC axis and the other house cusps will also vary in degree according to a change in latitude such that at high latitudes the houses in both Placidus and Koch charts become distorted, either very wide or very narrow, a defect that Astro-carto-graphy overcomes by not using houses at all. The Astro-carto-graphy map is more accurate as it also allows for differences in declination, ie the angular distance of a planet north or south of the celestial equator which the relocated chart cannot show as it assumes all planets like the Sun are on the ecliptic. This gives rise to the curved planetary lines for both ascendant and descendant in astro-carto-graphy.
To make matters more interesting we are still moving around independently inside our own local space horoscope, which is identical to our birth chart but imprinted into the earth’s static field. It was originally thought that local space was limited to an area around the birthplace but not global. However, influence has been detected at quite large distances away, more than 1000miles and it is also a matter of note that the lines follow great circle paths, surely not possible for concepts of purely psychological origin. So now it appears that we are under the influence of three different horoscopes, all ours. The nativity, the local space of the nativity and the relocated nativity. However from experience it is known that if the relocated angles are contacted by one of the individual’s planets as per astro-carto-graphy, then it will have a transforming effect and will be felt intensely. One thinks here of John F Kennedy who had moved close to one of his Pluto lines that fateful day at Dallas in 1963. The same applies to local space planetary lines. If one moves to or lives on or close to one of these lines then the full effect of that planet will start to dominate the life both by sign and aspects to it. Sometimes even just a visit can be noticeable.
All of these are known effects that can be shown experientially and much has been written about them. However, there is one conclusion that has been consistently avoided in modern astrology and it is this. The mere fact that these techniques are known to work and can be shown to work can only mean that there is a detectable
influence coming from heavenly bodies, in all probability of magnetic origin. The techniques involved in producing these shifts either local or global are so precise and the results so pronounced that we surely cannot be dealing with anything else nor could the mathematical procedures involved have any relevance in a realm governed purely by psychology or symbolism. In other words the idea that astrology is merely part of one’s internal psychology or just a system of divination in the same vein as Tarot or the Runes simply cannot be correct. Academic astrology at this time is engaged in a struggle to maintain a fragile acceptability under the constant scrutiny of sceptics. We all want it to succeed but it no longer appears to have a solid foundation. Rejecting the idea of direct or indirect influence from the heavens to concentrate on psychology and divination might be a more comfortable position to take but I believe it chooses to ignore a fundamental truth, a scientific truth which until recent times was more or less generally accepted as the basis of astrology.
Before the advent of GPS, the science of celestial navigation corresponded with astrology in many ways. Both undertakings use the same astronomical data, and both use the apparent motions of heavenly bodies precisely calculated to obtain results on earth.
When I first wrote this paper I confess I had no idea about the work of Dr Percy Seymour on more or less the same subject and came to these conclusions purely on my own observations both from inside astrology and from my own navigational background. In both these respects I understand, Dr Seymour and I have something in common. So in conclusion I would say that if independent observers arrive at similar hypotheses, then perhaps there is something in them that is worthy of further research and investigation.
