Astrological Research

This is a Study of Astrology which uses Elbert Benjamine’s Theory of Astrodynes that was developed in the 1940’s. It also assumes that the material in Benjamine’s book “How to Select a Vocation” where his presentation of the Astro-Physical interaction Diagram is first presented has validity. The Astro Physical idea is not in the B of L lesson This part of the astrological theory is not presented in the B of L lessons. We also take the position of Benjamine’s Theory of the Astral Body and how it is connected to the physical body. As our assumption of how the planets affect the physical in attracting events with all of the factors in Astro-Physical diagram.

July 2004:

Our latest work on two research subjects Asthma and Dentists shows that Astrodynes is not suitable for finding constants for disease or vocations. Our Asthma charts are a private compilation of 100 charts from a Doctor that diagnosed these patients and birth data that is Rodden Rated B¹ or better. There is a system of power calculations in the Astrodynes that causes an internal bias for the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Ascendant, and Midheaven. These Planets always have the highest number of the most powerful Planets in a majority of charts. In both Random selections as well as in the two case studies we ran: the power ranking only showed the bias of these planets, about 25% in each case as the most powerful. The issue of Prominence as opposed to power by Astrodynes is under discussion at this time to see if this method used by Elbert Benjamine and Lenora Conwell can be used to tally constants. We are trying to define what Benjamine was saying when he said “reasonably close aspects to”. Benjamine gives a good definition of Prominence in Course 10-1 Delineating the Horoscope on page 121 OS. Benjamine states that” a planet is prominent when it is in an angle… When it receives very powerful aspects, especially if a heavy aspect is not more than one degree from perfect… irrespective of not being in an angle and aspecting the Sun Moon or Mercury. Any planet which aspects the Sun, Moon or Mercury with reasonable degree of closeness are to be considered Prominent. “But he still uses “reasonably close” with no clear Guide lines. This preliminary study makes the point that “the strength of planets as shown by Astrodynes and Benjamine’s definition of Prominence are not the same” as some of us thought before seeing the data.

Update October 2004:

There were 100 Asthma and 78 dentist charts. We have run the charts for 4177 (Halloran’s Data) in a Random Power ranking and the Sun Moon Mercury, MC and Asc show the largest numbers of most powerful, Dominant, planets. This shows it is consistent for the theory of Astrodynes but cannot be used for picking constants. In a study of 172 athletes of the Halloran data base the Dominant Mars were only 4 in the first rank 8 in the second and 9 in the third rank of power for Dominant planets by Astrodynes. This clearly shows that the 99% Mars Prominent in the “Vocational Selection” book by Benjamine is not the same as Dominant in Astrodynes. After much discussion we have defined the Prominent issue as A planet is Prominent when 1. It is in an angle. 2. When a planet is in 2 degrees of orb of the Heavy aspects to the Sun, Moon, Mercury.3. When a Planet is within 1-degree aspect to, Heavy aspect, to any planet not including the Sun, Moon, or Mercury. Heavy aspects are Conjunction, Trine, Square, Opposition. 4. When a planet is within 12 minutes of a parallel. We started to work on this by observation and hand Talley. We stopped because of the difficulty of errors and other priorities. This avoids the problem of low power in Astrodynes and assumes the concept of potential for development.

Update October 28, 2004:

We have found that Benjamine states in course 8 Horary Astrology Page 95 (OS) last paragraph of Prominence of a Planet. “…for precision, the only sure method of determining the Prominence of a planet in relation to a particular chart is to calculate its Astrodynes.” This indicates that Prominence and Dominance are the same according to Benjamine. As stated above this is not the case. This shows the fact that conditioning from birth is very important. An analogy given by one of us is: A dog with a gentle nature can be turned mean and aggressive by a harsh environment. Mr. Benjamine makes this clear in the alchemy courses that we can change our chart. We also refer the student to the section in The Research and Reference Cyclopedia Vol 2 in the section on Vocational Selection, where the influence of Conditioning and Environment are detailed. The Astro-Physical environment is completely defined in this book which is not taught in the B of L lessons. The factors are A. Character mapped by the Birth chart. B. Special conditioning since birth. C. Volume and trend of particular progressed aspect. D. Volume and trend of All other progressed aspects, including transits. E. Resistance offered by physical environment. F. Effort at control based on knowledge of progressed aspects. G. Evolutionary level. Benjamine also states that “In all problems relating to the events which come into the life – and the practice of a given vocation is no exception – each of the above seven factors should receive attention as playing a significant part. However, in the selection of a vocation G is of no significance, and F is equally significant in all vocations.”

Update April 2005:

Benjamine States in chapter one of “How to Select a Vocation” page 5. “Our interest in astrology is not to try to prove that every incident of life is predetermined by the positions of the stars. Instead, it is to find out to what extent and in what manner, astrological forces influence life-be it much or be it little- to the end of learning how these forces can best be utilized, diverted, or otherwise handled to attain the ends just set forth. … help people develop the highest possibilities of their own souls, enable them to contribute their utmost to universal welfare, and thus aid in the furtherance of God’s Great Evolutionary Plan.” We are making a list that needs to be prioritized… Of our projects in order of importance. Below is a quote from Course 18 lesson page 184 first written in 1932. It is the seeds of the Astro-physical Interaction Diagram and gives an influence of astrological forces as 25%. This is not how most people in the astrological world use Astrology.

Relative Importance of Imponderable Forces –This means, in its practical application, that the person with a limited amount of energy to devote to such things should use about one-half of it learning intelligently to direct his own thoughts. If he neglects this, the aid he gets from other imponderable forces will be correspondingly small; but if he gives time in full measure to cultivating proper mental attitudes, the aid he gets from other imponderable forces will be very great. Of the energy at his command to devote to occult pursuits, he will do well to devote about one-fourth of the total to learning about himself astrologically. One-eighth of the total can advantageously be devoted to a consideration of other people’s thoughts as influencing agents. Ordinarily he is warranted in devoting perhaps but one-sixteenth of the energy set aside for occult pursuits in reference to selecting suitable objects, or situations, for his environment. And there is then left to him, of the total devoted to occult pursuits, another one-sixteenth which he can use in the study of, and adjustments to, all other imponderable forces, including the spirits of the dead, and various denizens of the astral world. Now I am well aware that this ratio of 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, and 1/16 is quite arbitrary, and certainly would not be applicable in all instances. But it seems to me better to have even such an arbitrary scale, open as it is to controversy, than to have no gauge at all. New thought enthusiasts and metaphysicians will deem that 1/2 is far too small a portion to allow for the development of proper thinking. The astrological fan will be sure that astrology should receive even more attention than thought. And the spiritualist will feel slighted to note that the influences from the next life are allocated an importance in our everyday affairs that warrants only 1/16 of our energy spent in occult pursuits being devoted to understanding and using them.

I have two additional topics for consideration from one of us.

These are two thoughts: 1) pertains to planetary influences in a given house and 2) To evaluating vocational constants:

1. Each house has many different planetary influences in a given chart. Besides the planets in the house, there are co-rulers (rulers of the sign on the cusp, and intercepted signs). Then also to be considered are planets aspecting one of these rulers. These may very well involve nearly every planet in the chart. So, an Astrodynes-type system could be used to determine the relative strength of each planet as influencing the given house. The results then can be used to analyze the house in detail.
2. A vocation usually requires more than one planet/house to consider as constants. If an individual has all these constants with the exception of perhaps one or two of them, he can still be encouraged to follow that occupation by finding a niche in it which utilizes those constants he possesses, and avoiding that part of the work ruled by his weak constants. E.G. if one has all the constants for electronics work except mars, avoid the mechanical side of the work.

We are collecting funds for the Lois Rodden Data base of 28,000 to do larger studies of the key categories Athletes, Asthma, Dentists etc.  As of June 2005, we have the Astro-database program. Thanks to the generous donations of several individuals.

One of us Linden Leisge has been reading the book by John Anthony West “The Case for Astrology” published in 1992 by Arkana at the request of another of us Lloyd Matthiessen. In reading the book it was not very shocking to read about the deception and fraud by CISCOP as this was the method encountered in the 1930 and 40’s by Benjamine and the Astrological community then as well. The materialist camp in the area of science and academia have always used these tools to discredit the Idealist school of philosophy. One of the details that struck the editor was the fact that of 55 Olympic Gold Medalists only 15 showed the Mars Effect the other 40 did not show the Mars Effect. This issue was addressed by West in this manner. Roughly 25% of champion athletes have Mars rising or culminating (35% of superstar athletes), statistically and overwhelmingly significant result. But practically, this still means that 75% of athletes no less eminent do not have Mars rising or culminating. Thus, the proven Mars Effect tells astrologers nothing they did not know before, while doubts have been cast upon much, they thought they knew. Page 315.

This suggests to the editor that it may be that 50% being our thoughts and conditioning may have some validity. As is indicated by the Astro-Physical diagram and the percentages of influence set out by Benjamine in Imponderable Forces. The fact that Benjamine defines Prominence and Dominance as potential and thoughts being 50% it is possible for astrology only to be a map of that potential and not a fixed guide to a life and the events it attracts., ” Don’t blame it on the Planets” is a saying the editor often heard from Hermetic teachers.

Update August 2005:

We are continuing to work with the Rodden Database. We tabulated 285 athletes from the Rodden AA and A Data. The results were the same in that the Sun, Moon, Mercury, MC, ASC where the dominate pattern of the data. The data is displayed below. We continue to work on our Priorities. We are working on an Internet meeting forum with Skype Internet meeting. As an update on the Prominence issue given the problems with Astrodynes. One of us has looked at the Chart of Hank Aaron who is a chart in the Rodden Data. Aaron has Mars Trine the Moon by 1 degree and 2 minutes from the 6th house to the moon in the second and Mars conjunction Mercury under 4 degrees. By the Rule of Prominence given by Benjamine Mars would be Prominent but by Astrodynes Mars is only the second weakest planet in the power rankings. If an astrologer looked at Astrodynes only they would not have told Aaron that he had the potential to be an athlete.

Planet Power Rankings 285 Total ATHLETES Charts Analyzed

Power Ranking 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

SUN 56 30 30 19 20 18 20 14 18 17 21 21

MON 42 27 31 30 20 17 22 22 14 22 14 22

MER 34 15 22 27 23 18 18 22 17 24 34 29

VEN 8 19 17 22 23 28 16 28 25 34 26 39

MAR 13 21 13 28 21 24 19 27 38 21 31 29

JUP 8 24 19 18 35 18 24 23 23 28 30 34

SAT 12 18 18 15 26 21 27 32 23 33 20 39

URA 13 19 24 20 25 27 26 28 24 21 31 24

NEP 8 19 15 15 22 27 29 22 29 38 36 24

PLU 17 18 29 28 26 25 39 23 31 21 17 9

MID 45 35 32 22 23 29 23 20 20 10 15 9

ASC 29 38 33 39 19 32 20 22 21 14 8 4

November 2005 Update:

We are working on getting projects prioritized and discussing the problems to be worked on first. Also we are getting the Rodden Database to give us a large control group of 10,000 or more charts to work with to see if the Astrodynes bias works at this level of charts. Our discussion is working on what the general astrology community has come to grips with in the qualitative and quantitative issues. Is astrology a personal tool of development or a cause effect tool.

June 2006 Update:

We are learning about the ADB program and its ability to Filter data using criteria like athletes, Movie stars, and astrological criteria etc. The Astrosignature program in ADB can be used to give percentages on astrological criteria and other information about the charts provided by the data base. Our goal is to replicate the studies of Elbert Benjamine in the book “How to Select a Vocation” published by Aries Press in the 1940 and republished in 1972 by Ken Stone by the Church of Light headquarters.  The category of Athletes was the first one we choose to test. We are using the ADB to filter a list of professional baseball players who have played in the Majors leagues with a Rodden Rating of A or better which is birth data of the best quality. We got 155 charts with this filter. We ran an Astrosignature Report on the 155 baseball players. It consisted of our groups agreed upon definition of “prominence” rule as outlined by Elbert Benjamine. Benjamine states “relatively close aspect “are Prominent. This was agreed upon before we had gotten the ADB program. Thus, with our orbs we said that Any planet or Luminary in an angle is “prominent”. Any planet aspecting the Sun, Moon, Mercury within 2 degrees Conjunction, opposition, trine, square is “prominent”. Any planet in aspect (Conjunction, Trine, Square, Opposition) to any other planet with an orb of less than 1 degree is “prominent”. Any planet or luminary parallel to any other planet with an orb of less than .3(20′) degrees is “prominent”. Any one of these conditions will make a planet or luminary “Prominent” according to Elbert Benjamine.

The results of the “Small orbs” with the Astro signature search program was that the planet Mars as the planet tested on the baseball players was 89 of 155 or 57% qualified as having Mars prominent. Our test showed the same for the constants for Athletes by Benjamine of Jupiter, Neptune, Mercury. We have tried adding the Ascendant and MC and gotten better results which we will report on later. Benjamine did not use these points in his criteria for Constants. This means our orbs were too small if we are to get the 99% Benjamine got in his study. We widened our orbs until we reached 5 degrees for the luminaries, 4 degrees for the planets and 1 degree for the parallels. This brought us up to 144 of 155 baseball players charts or 92.90%. This is closer but not 99%. We ran all the other constants Benjamine states he found and came up with the approximately 90% figure for Jupiter (144) Neptune (136) Mercury (139). The approximately 9% to 10% difference could be a sample error (incorrect time or data errors) in the charts Benjamine had for the original study. It also gave us a definition of “relatively close aspect” given by Benjamine. This also leaves the question how did the 8% without Mars or some other constant that had a successful career in baseball. This brings us back to the Astro-Physical Diagram with conditioning and environment as factors. This also raises the question of power in Astrodynes being a constant for a vocation. Does the power alone make the individual have a “Potential” or is it just aspects that are “relatively close”? The idea of “orbs” also comes into question here as to how “wide” an orb can be and still be meaningful? This is reinforced by the chart of Hank Aaron with a weak Mars by Astrodynes and the “prominence” factor in his chart for Mars.

Once we failed to get 99% on the Mars for athletes, we thought to check the entire data base for ADB with an A or better Birth data and see how many had a prominent planet. We started with Mars using the 5 degrees for luminaries and 4 degrees for planets and 1 degree for parallels. Our sample of 21,277 charts when run on the filter for our criteria of prominence was 19,226 for Mars. About 90% of the sample of the 21,277. We did the same with this criterion on all the other planets and the same numbers showed up for all planets and luminaries at the 90% level. The two exceptions were Venus and Neptune at 88%. The 88% of Venus and Neptune needs more research as to what is the cause of this artifact. These percentages where replicated by two different people in our group and are under review by the others. The percentages of the large studies seem to support the observations of Benjamine (using his Prominence Rule when he compiled his figures) in the percentages he states he observed in his Vocational Selection book. It is not a statistical report of a scientific nature as Benjamine states in his preface to what kind of study he is conducting. It is his observation on the Prominent Planets that is summarized.

1/ Lois Rodden was an early researcher who pioneered the use of Data Verified source of Birth information. The ideas and work done by her are documented on the internet and her programs from Astro-Data Bank. Below are the Data rating criteria. Lois was a teacher and worked in the Research Department at the Church of Light Headquarters in Los Angeles. This is why her break down of data is much like that used by Benjamine in the studies in Vocational Selection etc.

Data Rating.  AA Accurate data from birth-certificate, civic record or written family source

A Accurate as quoted by the person, kin, intimate friend or associate

B Biography or autobiography

C Caution, no source. Undocumented data, an ambiguous quote or a source that has not proven credible

DD Dirty data: two or more unsubstantiated quotes

2/ Picture of Astro-Physical Diagram

3/ We did not use the Prominent Rule that a Planet was prominent when it was in an Angle. House 1,4,7,10. Because the Astrodynes rule only count planet strength by aspects and their total.

4/ OS means that the page number and lessons are in the old style Black bound books editions.