Theos-Talk Archives (August 2003 Message tt00099)

Mars controls fires, explosions, etc. Cardan said that Mars 
completes its cycle in 19 years if I remember correctly and it was 19 
years between the first space disaster in which astronauts were fried 
and the explosion of the space shuttle in 1985. The second space 
shuttle disaster would have been a bit premature by that standard, 
coming 18 years after the first one (or maybe I remember the length 
of the cycle incorrectly. and it is really 18 years.) 19 years 
elapsed between the advent of the first World War in 1914 and the 
beginning of Hitler's tenure as chancellor of Germany in 1933.  
Anyway, Cardan thought this was an excellent and simple way of using 
the planetary cycles without getting into the confusing rubbish or 
horoscopes. Venus operates on a seven year cycle, and rules matters 
of "love" - thus we hear of the "seven year itch" etc. I am amaed 
when I think back over my own life and note the seven year cycle. If 
you note some major events in your life you will possibly notice that 
events of similar type recur at regular intervals.

Or maybe not.

Anyway, it is something to amuse yourself with. If I am not 
mistaken, the text of Eliphas Levi's DOGMA AND RITUAL OF 
TRANSCENDENTAL MAGIC (Waite's translation) can be found on the 
Internet, and he is the one who quotes Cardan's ideas.

Here is the text from a pdf file I have:

"Jerome Cardan, one of the boldest students, and beyond contradiction 
the most skilful astrologer of his time – Jerome Cardan, who was a 
martyr to his faith in astrology, if we accept the legend of his 
death, has left a calculation by means of which anyone can foresee 
the good or evil fortune attached to all years of his life. His 
theory was based upon his own experiences, and he assures us that the 
calculation never deceived him. To ascertain the fortune of a given 
year, he sums up the events of those which have preceded it by 4, 8, 
12, 19 and 30; the number 4 is that of realization; 8 is the number 
of Venus or natural things; 12 belongs to the cycle of Jupiter and 
corresponds to successes; 19 has reference to the cycles of the Moon
and of Mars; the number 30 is that of Saturn or Fatality. Thus, for 
example, I desire to ascertain what will befall me in this present 
year, 1855. I pass therefore in
review those decisive events in the order of life and progress which 
occurred four years ago; the natural felicity or misfortune of eight 
years back; the successes or failures belonging to twelve years 
since; the vicissitudes and miseries or diseases which overtook me 
nineteen years from now, and my tragic or fatal experiences of
thirty years back. Then, taking into account irrevocably accomplished 
facts and the advance of time, I calculate the chances analogous to 
those which I owe already to the influence of the same planets, and I 
conclude that in 1851 I had employment which was moderately but 
sufficiently remunerative, with some embarrassment of position; in 
1847 I was separated violently from my family, with
great attendant sufferings for mine and me; in 1843 I travelled as an 
apostle, addressing the people, and suffering the persecution of 
illmeaning persons: briefly, I was at once honoured and proscribed. 
Finally, in 1825 family life came to an end for me, and I entered 
definitely on that fatal path which led me to science
and misfortune. I may suppose therefore that this year I shall 
experience toil, pov-erty, vexation, heart exile, change of place, 
publicity and contradictions, with some eventuality which will be 
decisive for the rest of my life: every indication in the present 
leads me to endorse this forecast. Hence I conclude that, for myself
and for this year, experience confirms fully the precision of 
Cardan's astrological calculus, which connects furthermore with the 
climacteric years of ancient astrologers."

Levi refers to Cardan as "a martyr to his own faith in astrology" 
because, as I remembver, he predicted the date of his own death, then 
when he survived his own prediction, he died by his own hand. So 
there is a bit of gallows humor there.

--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "adelasie" <adelasie@s...> wrote:
> Dear List Members,
> 
> I wonder if anyone would care to comment on the near passage of the 
> planet Mars to the earth this month. It is said to be the nearest 
in 
> possibly 60,000 years. What was happening on earth 60,000 years 
ago, 
> according to esoteric study (not necessarily archaeology)? Mars 
being 
> the planet of war and aggression, but particularly beautiful in the 
> night sky right now, does anyone have any thoughts about what this 
> heavenly event could mean to humanity at this time?
> 
> Thanks for any comments,
> Adelasie