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The
Sabian Symbols
in the Solar Arc Directed
5th Anniversary
chart of
the Harmonic Concordance
Johnny Mirehiel
Many of you are familiar with the
Sabian Symbols. Certainly
most astrologers are, but in brief review, this is their story, the
introductory paragraphs of which I have lifted from an earlier article on mine that was first published on
the original Harmonic Concordance site.
Some
History
The
Sabian Symbols were largely the work of the late Marc Edmund Jones.
Jones took his cue from the work on the symbolic meaning of the degrees of
the Welsh seer, John Thomas (AKA Charubel). While Jones appreciated
Thomas’ work and felt that it was remarkably suggestive, he also thought
it to be too moralistic in tone. Seeking to "soften"
Thomas’ symbolism, he proceeded to create his own set of symbols, which
might be more relevant to contemporary students of astrology.
To this end he enlisted Elsise Wheeler, one of his students who, because of
her innate talent, he had encouraged to become a professional medium.
Jones had Elsie describe the "picture" that came to her as
he held a randomly selected index card, upon which he had penciled one of
the 360 degrees of the Zodiac. In this way, the original
impressionistic images, each symbolically suggesting a characteristic of
one specific degree, were compiled in a day’s effort. Jones' Symbolic
Astrology was first published in 1931 and it is
upon that seminal work that all subsequent commentary on the Sabians has
been based.
During
the course of the years, others have added to the depth of meaning found
in the original images. Chief among these annotators was Dane
Rudhyar who had found that the Sabians were "…in the main,
amazingly significant and accurate." In agreement with Jones,
Rudhyar carefully analyzed each of the original images, adding a
"keynote" phrase and an explanatory comment, which fleshed out
Jones’ original terse, symbolic aphorisms. Rudhyar’s explication of
the Sabians first appeared in his monumental classic, The
Astrology of Personality. Some
17 years later his updated work on the symbols was published in An
Astrological Mandala. By then, he had come to consider them to be a contemporary
American embodiment of the I Ching,
and suggested that they had oracular properties. It is from that
latter work that the Rudhyar excerpts below are drawn.
Perhaps
the best-known contemporary interpreter of the Sabians is Lynda Hill.
Her work draws on Jones’ text as well as on his original mimeographed
lessons and Rudhyar’s two volumes. Her own text, The
Sabian Symbols As An Oracle is widely known and respected among contemporary
astrologers.
Lynda's astrological and intuitive reading of the Sabians can be found on her
website, which provides a quick scan of background information, degree interpretations,
a random Sabian “Oracle” and a host of other features. It is her
interpretations that we employ as part of our own daily “conversation with
Spirit."Another web site dedicated to the Sabians, which might also be of interest, can be found at the
The Sabian Assembly web site. It also has a wealth of information on the history of the Sabians, an
excellent short bio of Jones, and its own oracular link to the symbols, among other features.
Why the symbols seem to work and fit appropriately into the scheme of an astrological chart is, perhaps, a mystery. The fact is,
though, that they do work in practice, and I regularly apply them in the
interpretations that I do as a professional astrologer. The
insights that they provide often give me a quick read on the general
proclivity of a client’s life, and in so doing allow me to arrive
at an overall "feeling tone" for a client. More
importantly, they can be very helpful in guiding clients to the expression
of the best qualities of their planets through their Sabian degree
associations.
The
Sabians of the Solar Arc Directed 5th Anniversary Chart
As explained in the
Newsletter, the
original "birth" pattern is maintained in any chart that is Solar
Arc Directed. Consequently, the Grand Sextile
pattern, complete with an exact opposition between the Sun and Moon found
in the original Harmonic Concordance chart is repeated here. Only
the degrees have changed.
Without
any additional comments from me, I present the interpretations of the
significant degrees as seen by both Rudhyar and Lynda Hill. In
the passages taken from Rudhyar (in blue), I have used his "Keynotes" and selected passages from
his commentaries. Other than that, his impressions are presented basically
unchanged. The passages I have taken from Lynda Hill (in
black italics)
come from the "Keywords" and "Oracle" selections found
her excellent and very highly recommended book.
Please remember that in Jones' notations of
the Sabians, he began each sign at 1°. This is a different usage
than standard astrological notation, which begins with 00°.
Therefore, when looking at any planetary degree placement in a
chart, one must use the next higher degree to obtain the correct
symbol. (e.g., 21° Taurus 14" would be read as 22° Taurus.)
Solar Arc Directed Concordance Chart
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The Moon: Taurus 22°
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The
Image:
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White dove flying over troubled waters.
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Keynote:
Keywords:
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The
spiritual inspiration that comes to the individual in the overcoming
of crisis.
Transcending worries through spiritual awareness. Prophetic missions. Fearlessness.
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Commentary:
Oracle:
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Here...we are confronted with a symbol of guidance, and the dove
flying over troubled waters reminds one of the story of Noah and the
Ark...It is a message from the Holy Spirit announcing a new
Dispensation.
This
Symbol implies a need to see how hope and help can be delivered to
those who need it...Bringing reassurance, sustenance and comfort to
others is a blessing to all involved... The "Dove" of this
symbol, by 'Flying Straight and Fearlessly' brings the message to
stay on course, go straight ahead and don't worry about what's
happening around you.
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Saturn: Cancer
19°
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The Image:
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A
priest performing
a marriage ceremony.
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Keynote:
Keywords:
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The ritualization of productive interpersonal relationships.
Sanctified Unity. Making levels of commitment to a person or a
project. Vows of allegiance.
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Commentary:
Oracle:
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This scene symbolizes the profound need for referring the interplay and the
relatively permanent and productive union of all polarities to some third factor which either includes, or transcends and gives spiritual meaning to, the relationship.
There comes a time when old ways, ideas or behaviors need to be
renewed. But the old ways should not be replaced by updated
methods but rather blended together to attain the best of both
worlds.
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Jupiter:
Virgo 20°
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The Image:
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A
caravan of cars headed to the West Coast.
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Keynote:
Keywords:
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The need of cooperative effort in reaching any "New World"
experience.
Venturing into life with like-minded companions. Having the
support of others in a quest for the future. Seeking new
territory.
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Commentary:
Oracle:
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...what
seems to be clearly implied is a process in which a group of persons
are journeying together - thus linking their consciousnesses
and energies (the car symbol) - in order to safely reach the goal of
destiny. Here there is no longer any sense of competition, but
an ordered and structured endeavor.
In the situation facing you, there is a feeling of needing to
move on to a new way of life, but you are unlikely to be
alone...there's the need to seek these new areas, new things and
fresh energies for the potential they may hold...Heading for the
future with a keen sense of excitement and anticipation can open you
up to all sorts of possibilities and hope.
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The Sun:
Scorpio 22°
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The Image:
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Hunters shooting wild ducks.
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Keynote:
Keywords:
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The socially accepted release of an individual's or group's
aggressive instincts.
Satiating one's aggressive desires. Being able to hit the
mark. War. Terrorism in its many forms.
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Commentary:
Oracle:
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What this symbol clearly stresses is the socialization of man's
primitive instincts according to a cultural ritual...
There is sometimes a need for an outlet for aggressive emotions.
Doing so in groups gives the outlet some sense of acceptability.
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Chiron:
Capricorn 20°
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The Image:
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A hidden choir is singing during a religious service.
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Keynote:
Keywords:
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The fulfillment of the individual's creative function through his
participation in a group performance consecrated to a transcendent
realization of unity.
Background messages. Voices not heard or noticed before.
Sensitivity to messages of spirituality. Channeled voices.
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Commentary:
Oracle:
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In great cathedrals and other religious edifices the choir is
normally hidden behind the altar or above the nave. It
symbolizes thus more perfectly the supernal harmony of "heaven" - or
the music of the spheres. The ideal of social participation is
exalted to its highest manifestation, for the choir also represents
the multifaceted and polyphonic unity of the community in its
transcendent state of perfect harmony...
This symbol shows that in celebration and acknowledgement of
spiritual unity we are never isolated, separate or alone...The
'Hidden Choir' can be "voices" that remind of us of our history, our
genetic background, even our past lives...The faces of the people,
the "Hidden Choir," may not necessarily be recognized, but their
songs, words, opinions or voices can be heard.
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Mars:
Pisces 16° *
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The Image:
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In the quiet of his study a creative individual experiences a flow
of inspiration.
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Keynote:
Keywords:
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Reliance upon one's inner source of inspiration or guidance.
Creativity inspired from above.
Openness to higher forces and ideals. Messages from one's
higher self. Moments of calm leading to resolutions of
problems.
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Commentary:
Oracle:
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In this last scene in the great ritual of cyclic existence we are
dealing with various aspects of the process that enables man to
"con-firm," formulate and perpetuate the original creative impulse
which has become self-actualized in a myriad of ways throughout the
cycle, short or long as the cycle may be. This first symbol
strikes the keynote of truly significant creative processes: their
source is above, beyond, but also around the individual creator...
The 'Flow of Inspiration' will come if you allow it through and
the more creative you allow yourself to be, the more inspiration
there will be in the message...This is a great time to relax and go
with the flow...Closed minds and fixed attitudes will not help in
this situation.
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* It is of interest to note here that Rudhyar denotes
this "first level" degree as "Actional." It is, therefore, most
appropriate that it marks the position of Mars in the chart, as it is
the action planet.
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And finally, The
Part of Fortune: Pisces 19°
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The Image:
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A Master instructing his disciple.
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Keynote:
Keywords:
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The transfer of power and
knowledge which keeps the original spiritual and creative Impulse of
the cycle active and undeviated.
To give and receive.
Lessons that need to be well learned. The transfer of
knowledge. Instruction that is easy to learn.
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Commentary:
Oracle:
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The Power and archetypal knowledge released "in the beginning" of
any cycle must be perpetuated until the very Last Day...This power
is the "self" of the cyclic manifestation, the
unchanging tone (AUM) of all existences within this cycle.
You may find that you are the teacher, the 'Master' or the pupil,
the 'Disciple.' Remember that it is often the teacher who
learns
and the pupil that teaches. The teacher
can inspire others to great personal achievements through teaching
the wisdom that the 'Disciple' is ready to learn...The lessons can
be on many levels...Someone having something worthwhile to say will
find someone who will listen to it. |
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