Astrologi - Bethlehemsstjernen, solformørkelser

In November of 1984 I was visiting New York and looked up Al H. Morrison (1916-1995), editor of the CAO TIMES. Walter Mondale had just lost the US election to Ronald Reagan, and Michael Lutin had taken me along to a 'losers party' consisting largely of a clan reputable NY astrologers. Morrison took me on a tour to show off some of the sites of the city and this would have been on November 8th, because I recall the lunar eclipse of the day. From the top of the World Trade Centre Morrison filled me in with all the history and facts of the building. He said: "This building is fire-proof, earthquake-proof and plane-proof." And then he turned round to me and said: "But I reckon someone will try and fly a Boeing through it some day." Morrison had studied the founding charts. Some 16 years later his prophecy came true.

I never saw an office apartment so crammed and disordered with literature. Robert Hand once said to me: "The trouble with Al H. Morrison is that he has forgotten more astrology than any other of us ever knew all put together." One of the items that Al H. Morrison did produce on November 8th, 1984 was an old catalogue of eclipse paths. He directed my attention to a particular eclipse, or probably two, some 60 years BC and their relationship to Bethlehem. With reference to the triple conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in 6 BC, he said to me: "Andrew, we don't quite know how the ancient astrologers or holy priests actually worked things out.

It took some years for me recover a relevant eclipse map for the epoch in question. These invaluable charts are now available thanks to the calculations of Fred Espenak, Nasa. Click here to view the Total and Annular Solar Eclipse paths calculated for the years -0079 to -0060 ( 80BC - 61 BC) as calculated by Fred Espenak in full size. The total phase of the 61 BC total solar eclipse begins in the region of Jerusalem and Bethlehem. But a few words regarding the technicalities of the eclipse calculations: The year zero does not exist. The computer program performing the eclipse path calculations is based on other considerations, therefore year -0060, as indicated on the map, refers to the year 61 BC, and so on. ( Explained by Espenak, 'here'.) Other considerations cause a slight variation in calendar date, so that the Total Solar Eclipse of 18. September 61 BC is on the Espenak maps listed as -0060 Sep 20. [In acknowledgement: Mr. Espenak is an expert mathematician but does not do research into or neccesarily agree with those theories behind the study of astrology].

The total phase of the 61 BC eclipse begins directly above Bethlehem

The eclipse of primary interest is the Total Solar Eclipse of 18. September 61 BC (Espenak: -0060 Sep 20). The eclipse may be found on the map as the total phase of the eclipse commences directly above the region of Israel. The technical details of the eclipse are provided by Espenak on his page Solar Eclipses -0099 to 0000 (100BC to 1 BC). The eclipse is a member of the Saros series 72. The Saros Cycle is a progressive repetition of eclipses discovered by the Chaldeans that made it possible to accurately predict eclipses either centuries in advance or in retrospect. In astrology, the first and initial eclipse of a Saros series bears a founding meaning or promise that is carried on throughout the eclipse series. The Saros series 72 was born with the Partial Solar Eclipse of 9. July 728 BC. At this time the Sun and Moon paths intersect with maximum orb and closeness to the Moons nodes, which in this case is the South node, as such that an eclipse of the Sun may occur. Saros series' always commence as a sequence of partial eclipses at either of the Earths polar regions, but as the series develops the conjunction of the Sun and Moon occur closer to the Moons node, which is the point in which its path intersects the ecliptic and apparent path of the Sun. The partial eclipses develop into total and annular eclipses, and the point of maximum eclipse will move closer to the equator. After the eclipse series has culminated and performed its eclipse of highest altitude the conjunction of the Sun and the Moon will move away from the Moons nodes, the eclipse paths will draw away from the equator and the series will eventually end in a sequence of partial eclipses in the Polar Regions.

The chart below shows how the Solar Eclipse of 18. September 61 BC occurs within minutes of the Moons south node. Thus it becomes obvious that at this point the Saros series 72 is at its highest altitude. On the eclipse map of Fred Espenak it is also possible to trace the eclipse path and there is a * that indicates the point where the eclipse is at its greatest, and which lies 1 degree North of the equator and slightly West of Indonesia. The promise of the initial eclipse of the Saros series 72 occurring on 9. July 728 BC, culminates with the eclipse of 18. September 61 BC. The Holy Priests of antiquity followed the eclipse to the place its phase of totality first struck the Earth. This was the location in which the promise of the initial eclipse would strike.

According to Espenak, the eclipse is a member of Saros series 72. Espenak refers to 175 different Saros cycles, while Jansky only refers to 19 Saros series of the north node and 19 Saros series of the south node. At this stage of my research it is convenient to follow Espenak. The eclipse 18. September 61 BC shows the series is at its height or highest altitude or peak as the eclipse occurs within minutes of the Moons South node. Lets keep it simple. This is undoubtedly what the ancient astrologers were looking for and the prime consideration of the chart. Of secondary consideration one might investigate the details of the chart and note that the eclipse is contained by Jupiter and Mercury, which causes a situation termed by ancient astrologers as an 'Opening of Gates'. Coincidentally, Jupiter and Mercury are dispositors of the Moons nodes and Jupiter, who is dispositor of the North node, is culminating.

To understand the meaning of a given eclipse, however, it is essential to go back and study the eclipse that originated that Saros series. The Saros series 72 commenced with the annual eclipse of 9. July 728 BC. (Espenak -0727 Aug 15th) A Saros Cycle commences with a partial eclipse that does not strike the Earth with a path of total shadow in the same manner as a total eclipse. As a matter of detail, the first total eclipse of Saros cycle 72 occurs on 6. April 331 BC, 13.30 GMT (Espenak: -0330, Apr 11).

The outstanding feature of the inauguration chart of 728 BC is the fact that the eclipse occurs conjunct to the exaltation degree of Jupiter. In ancient terms, there could be no greater fortitude or promise of an oncoming blessing or offspring from God. In this chart do also note how Jupiter who represents Zeus or Jehovah, is in conjunction with the degree of exaltation given the Dragons Head, or Moons North node. Whatever was indicated in the chart of 9. July 728 BC was at its height as the Saros cycle reached its highest altitude as is observed in the -0061BC chart.