The Astrology of Local Space - Matrix Software

The Astrology of Local SpaceLocal SpaceRelocation AstrologyByMichael Erlewine2

The Astrology of Local SpaceAn ebook fromStartypes.com315 Marion AvenueBig Rapids, Michigan 49307First published 2007© 2006 Michael Erlewine / StarTypes.comISBN 978-0-9798328-3-3All rights reserved. No part of the publication may bereproduced, stored in a retrieval system, ortransmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic,mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise,without the prior permission of the publisher.Graphic designs by Michael ErlewineSome image elements © 2007JupiterImages Corp.Some image elements © IStockPhoto.com.3

The Astrology of Local SpaceThis book is dedicated toRussell GregoryWho lives in the lineage ofthe Transcendentalists4

The Astrology of Local SpaceLocal Space ............................................... 11"There! Where Power Hovers" ............................ 12The Pull of a Force Drawing us Closer ............... 13A Day or Part of a Day ........................................ 14Where Should I Live? .......................................... 15Saving Time with Relocation ............................... 16Progression in Space .......................................... 18The Various Types of Relocation Techniques .... 20Local Space Astrology ........................................ 22Stars on Earth ..................................................... 23Heavens on Earth ............................................... 24Article I: Local Space Astrology .............. 26Local Space Astrology ........................................ 27Astrological House Systems ............................... 28House Systems Drawn Out ................................. 30Local Space at Birthplace ................................... 32Radiant House System ....................................... 33The Merry-Go-Round .......................................... 34The 360-Degrees of the Horizon ......................... 35Cygnus the Swan ................................................ 36Vela, the Sails ..................................................... 38The Power of the Horizon ................................... 39Exploring the Heavens ........................................ 41What about Geographic Maps? .......................... 42Ann Arbor is My Jupiter ....................................... 43Local Space Lines ............................................... 45Triple Conjunction ............................................... 46Voyage of Discovery ........................................... 485

The Astrology of Local SpaceHeaven on Earth ................................................. 49Almost Psychedelic .................................. 50Celestial and Mundane ....................................... 50The World of Don Juan ....................................... 51A Checkerboard World ........................................ 53The Basics .......................................................... 54The Plane of the Horizon .................................... 55Locality Shifts ...................................................... 56Map of Local Space ............................................ 57Moving into the Direction of a Planet .................. 58Individuals and Places ........................................ 59Relocated Local Space Charts ........................... 60Planet on an Angle .............................................. 61A Progression in Space ...................................... 63Sun Conjunct Venus ........................................... 64Fine Tuning ......................................................... 65Article II: Discovering Local Space ......... 67The Zodiac or Ecliptic System............................. 68The Horizon System of Local Space ................... 69As Above, So Below ........................................... 71“Yet After Another Manner “ ................................ 72Expanded Consciousness .................................. 74Change in Attitude or Approach .......................... 75Inclinations and Attitudes .................................... 76Local Space Astrology ........................................ 78Local Space Chart .............................................. 79The Magic Circle ................................................. 80Topocentric View ................................................ 82Heaven and Earth as Interchangeable ................ 836

The Astrology of Local SpaceLocal Space Techniques .......................... 85Local Space Positions ......................................... 86Relocation in Local Space .................................. 87Radix Local Space Charts .................................. 89Cities and Lines .................................................. 90What To Look For ............................................... 91Mapping the Birth Moment .................................. 93Out There ............................................................ 94I Had a Dream..................................................... 95Mother Universe.................................................. 97We Are the Spaceman ........................................ 98The Symbol is Real ............................................. 99Discovering Your Self ....................................... 101Horizon Coordinates ............................... 103The Horizon System ......................................... 103Looking at Local Space Charts .............. 106Relocation Example .......................................... 106Moon Sign ......................................................... 108Natal Local Space Chart ................................... 109Southerly Neptune ............................................ 110The Stellium ...................................................... 111Planets at Low Altitude ..................................... 113Bodies on an Angle ........................................... 114Aspect Patterns in the LS Chart ........................ 116The Direction of Cities ....................................... 117Planet Lines are City Lines ............................... 118Relocated Local Space Charts ......................... 120City Directions from Relocated Charts .............. 1217

The Astrology of Local SpaceSummary of Ideas ................................... 123Relocation Analysis ........................................... 125Relocation: Berkeley, California ........................ 126Relocation: Ann Arbor, Michigan....................... 127Relocation: Big Rapids ...................................... 129Local Space Relocation Astrology .................... 130Formulated in the Early 1970s .......................... 131Earth Meets Heaven ......................................... 132Celestial = Geographic ..................................... 133Earth Mirrors Heaven ........................................ 134Go west Young Man ......................................... 135360-Degrees ..................................................... 136World Local Space Map .................................... 138State and Local Maps ....................................... 139Ways to See Altitude ......................................... 140Relocation ......................................................... 141City Directions ................................................... 142The Prime Vertical ............................................ 142Cycles, Circles, Centers, Circulation ................. 144Center as Self ................................................... 146The Ecliptic or Zodiac System........................... 147Heliocentric or Sun-Centered System ............... 148Galactic and Supergalactic Systems ................. 149Large Cosmic Systems ..................................... 151Identification IS Circulation ............................... 152The Ends Already Meet .................................... 153We Are Out There ............................................. 155Local Attraction ................................................. 156Centers Serve to Mirror or Reflect .................... 157Gravity is a Local Phenomenon ........................ 1588

The Astrology of Local SpaceEnlightenment ................................................... 159Personal Power................................................. 160Higher Centers Embrace Us ................... 162Higher Centers .................................................. 164Buddha = Awareness ........................................ 166So Inclined ........................................................ 168A Matter of Inclination ....................................... 169Rites of Passage ............................................... 170Event Horizons.................................................. 172Centers and Orientation .................................... 174Astrological Coordinate Systems ...................... 176Cosmic Systems and Centers ........................... 177The Horizon System ......................................... 179The Pole Star (North Star) ................................ 181The Obliquity of the Ecliptic .............................. 183Relocated Angles and Houses ............... 185Relocation to Ann Arbor, Michigan.................... 187Relocation to Berkeley, CA ............................... 189Relocation to Big Rapids, MI ............................. 190Astro-Geography .................................... 191What Are A*C*G lines? ..................................... 192Planet Uranus in A*C*G .................................... 193Pros and Cons .................................................. 194Michael Erlewine ..................................... 196A Brief Bio of Michael Erlewine ......................... 197Example Astro*Image Card .............................. 198Personal Astrology Readings ............................ 1999

The Astrology of Local SpaceThe Heart Center House ................................... 199Heart Center Library ......................................... 200The All-Music Guide / All-Movie Guide ............. 201Heart Center Meditation Room ......................... 204Heart Center Symbol ........................................ 205Music Career .................................................... 207Email: ................................................................ 20910

The Astrology of Local SpaceLocal SpaceI discovered Local Space astrology in the early 1970sand popularized it through a series of articles over thenext few years. More than anything else, Iprogrammed this technique and made Local Spaceavailable to astrologers all over the world. Today it ispart of most major astrological software packages andis considered one of the main relocation techniques inmodern astrology. Indeed it is a wonderful technique.I have included two of my original articles on LocalSpace later in this text. You may want to read that firstarticle, “The Astrology of Local Space,” to catch mywords when they were brand new.11

The Astrology of Local Space"There! Where Power Hovers"Here is a brief quote from that original article:“Here is no 'subtle plane,' but a personal landscapepainted in bold and clear strokes and tailor made to fitthe psyche of each individual. Here is a world wherethe modern man is learning to move across the faceof this earth in an endless dance of adjustment andtuning of his radix – of his self. Individuals driven inparticular directions on a checkerboard world, unableto resist travelling toward a goal that is no particularplace on earth so much as it is a direction imprintedwithin them, the direction of a force or planet, 'There!Where Power hovers,' to use Don Juan's expression.12

The Astrology of Local SpaceIn a word, here is perhaps the must vulgarastrological system, where the obvious is enthronedand the subtle unnecessary.”The Pull of a Force Drawing us CloserAs the above quote suggests, relocation and theendless day-to-day adjustments of our living quartersthat go with it may not just be the obvious move toanother house or another city as much as it is a needto fulfill something deep within us, the pull of a planet,the pull of a force drawing us closer, an inner needand desire to know that force better and to experienceit.13

The Astrology of Local SpaceA Day or Part of a DayGetting away on a vacation and having thatunexpected rush of freedom and delight as we movefor a day or part of a day into almost another world, aworld we feel free to experience, as we soak in anundefined quality that we just can’t seem to getenough of. Later, heading home almost in a swoon,some little part of our heart is just too tender to touch,as we reluctantly leave the place.Places do have power and Local Space is a study ofthe power of places over us and how to chooseplaces that will fulfill us. I hope you enjoy exploringLocal Space astrology.14

The Astrology of Local SpaceWhere Should I Live?As a counseling astrologer with some 40 years ofexperience, perhaps the most frequent question thisastrologer is asked (aside from relationship andmarriage analysis) in a counseling session is: “Whereis a good place for me to live?”Of course the answer to that question depends on anumber factors, and it often involves one of severalastrological relocation techniques.That there are better and worse locations for each ofus there can be little doubt. Most of us know this fromour own life experience. We feel differently in differentlocations. Our winter vacation in Acapulco may have15

The Astrology of Local Spacebeen glorious or an experience we hope to neverrepeat. That is the power of places.Saving Time with RelocationAnd relocation, moving yourself and your family to anew home, perhaps even in a new city or a differentpart of the world, is familiar to many of us. But there isanother aspect of relocation astrology that is perhapsnot so well understood, and that is that we canachieve instantly by relocation what otherwise mightonly be achieved over a long period of time. Let meexplain.Those of us who have studied astrology know thatthere are events waiting out there in our future that16

The Astrology of Local Spacewill affect us for better or for worse. Professionalastrologers use astrological techniques like transitsand progressions to pinpoint future events that willimpact each of us personally. An example of thismight perhaps be a major Saturn transit or bringingthe progressed Sun to a conjunction with our natalVenus. These are coming events that areastrologically significant and that even now cast theirshadows on our present life. They are out therewaiting until their time. Let’s take a hypotheticalexample:17

The Astrology of Local SpaceProgression in SpaceSuppose we are looking forward to a Venus event,something that will activate our sense of love,compassion, or our ability to feel and appraise things.Perhaps these qualities are absent in our life or ofsuch minor magnitude that we know we need more ofwhatever they represent. Astrologically, we can lookat our transits and/or progressions, scanning thefuture with astrological techniques for Venus eventsthat in time will impact us.However, using relocation techniques, we can seethat by moving to a particular city we can bring abouta Venus experience at once, just by relocating to that18

The Astrology of Local Spacelocation. And if we aren’t able to relocate, we can atleast travel there on vacation and bathe in whateverexperience that location may provide.In other words, we can achieve by a relocation inspace what otherwise we might have to wait in timefor to have the same experience. It is this ability tomore-or-less instantly gratify a deep inner need thatmakes relocation astrology so popular today. Wedon’t have to wait five or fifty years for an auspicioustransit or progressed aspect. Instead, we canexamine our relocation possibilities and act on themwhenever we like.Perhaps best of all we can take a one-day trip or alonger vacation at various auspicious locations andget some sense of whether we like it there. We cansee what happens to us in that locale, whether it isfun and an enhancement or no-fun, disappointing.19

The Astrology of Local SpaceThe Various Types of Relocation TechniquesWhile there are many relocation techniques that havebeen used in astrology, but three stand out as themost popular today. They are:(1) Relocated Angles and Houses(2) Astro-Geography(3) Local Space AstrologyPerhaps the oldest of the three methods (RelocatedAngles and Houses) involves relocating the natalchart angles and houses, which is as simple ascasting a chart for your birth day and time, but foranother locality – a different place. Once this is done,20

The Astrology of Local Spaceyou compare house placement in the relocation chartwith the natal chart.The second relocation type, “Astro-Geography” is amethod (using a standard geographic map) to drawlines where the various heavenly bodies are on one ofthe four angles, Ascendant, Descendant, Midheaven,and Imum Coeli (IC). Both of these methods areexplained in more detail at the end of this book.And last but not least, there is Local Space astrology,which is the main topic of this book. I must admit I ampartial to Local Space astrology, having invented thetechnique myself back in the early 1970s. Today it isincluded in most major astrological software, althoughI am no longer always cited as its founder. Ah well.21

The Astrology of Local SpaceLocal Space AstrologyThe beauty of Local Space astrology is its simplicity.Just imagine that at your birth, your mother pickedyou up in her arms and walked outside. As she sat inthe soft evening light of summer with you in her arms,she could see the Moon rising in the East, the verylast rays of the Sun setting in the West, and Jupiterand Venus shining brightly in the twilight. This is whatLocal Space is all about, the directions of planets andthe directions of cities as they appear from yourbirthplace.22

The Astrology of Local SpaceStars on EarthThe Sun, Moon, Venus, and Jupiter (and all the othernon-visible) planets are not only directions in the sky,but they are directions also here on Earth. In otherwords, a planet like Venus hovering low on thehorizon, let’s say in the southeast, passes not onlythrough whatever zodiac constellation it happens tobe in, but also through any number of cities on thesurface of the earth. A line or direction in heaven issimultaneously a line and direction down here onearth.23

The Astrology of Local SpaceHeavens on EarthThis is what Local Space is all about, noting that thelines that the planets trace in the heavens are alsolines traced down here on earth, lines that run acrossthe earth, passing through any number of cities andplaces. In Local Space, we want to know which citiescan be found along the line for each planet.For example, we each have a Venus line that runs allaround the earth, the line and direction Venus was inat our birth. Whatever we might agree that Venusrepresents in astrology (things like love, care,appraisal, compassion, etc.) are accented for us24

The Astrology of Local Spacealong our particular Venus line as it appeared at ourbirth.Traveling, relocating, or even receiving a letter, phonecall, or email from that direction, will activate Venusfor us to some degree. Whether that will be a good orbad experience for us is something we each must findout for ourselves.25

The Astrology of Local SpaceArticle I: Local Space Astrology[Editor’s Note: The following article was first published in 1977 inthe 6th number of the “Cosmecology Bulletin” as published byCharles A. Jayne. Although astrologers had worked with theHorizon system before, Erlewine was the first to define theconcept of local space as presented here. In particular, thecombining of Celestial positions (stars, planets, etc.) withdirections on the globe (cities, places, etc.) and the concept ofrelocating toward a planet first appeared in this publication. Thiswas before the advent of the home computer and Erlewine hadworked out the tedious mathematics of local space first on asimple calculator and later on one of the programmables.]26

The Astrology of Local SpaceLocal Space AstrologyI want to relate to you a powerful new way (new tome) of coming to know yourself through astrology. Itinvolves another kind of map or chart of our birthmoment, a map of the actual space surrounding thebirthplace, and this form of topocentric astrology I callthe astrology of “Local Space.” First I should tell youhow I happened on to this fascinating approach.I was involved in an attempt at understanding themany different house systems that astrologers use,trying to decide which of all of them might be the bestfor my own purposes. For several years I had notused any house system at all, using instead only the27

The Astrology of Local Spacefour angles of the chart in a kind of protest or disgustat the lack of agreement among astrologersconcerning systems of house division. It seemedrather strange to me that there were so manycompeting house systems.Astrological House SystemsFor many of the years in my astrological practice Ilacked the necessary mathematical background todecide for myself which of the many house systemsmade sense to me. I could only read about the meritsof each house system and take the word of those whosupposedly knew. I came to use the Campanussystem of houses because some of those astrologers28

The Astrology of Local Spacethat I respected most (Charles A. Jayne, for example)used this system. In recent years, I had been learningenough spherical trigonometry on my pocketcalculator to be able to make my first attempt atsolving the mystery of house division for myself.I have always been a slow learner when it comes tomathematics, so I had to sit down with an equatorialstar-map of the constellations and attempt to draw outgraphically the various ways of dividing space andtime, in hope of being enlightened as to which housesystem had the most going for it. Of course, I wantedto draw out the house systems using my own natalchart. This was kind of complex, for I had to calculate(using spherical trigonometry) the 360 degrees of mynatal horizon and plot this curving line on the starmap.29

The Astrology of Local SpaceHouse Systems Drawn OutAll house systems agree on the validity of the horizon,so I felt this was the place to start. This proved to be amost worthwhile exercise. I soon became aware thatregardless of which house system was used, whatwas of interest to most astrologers was not the entire360-degrees of the horizon, but just those few placeswhere it crossed or intersected the familiar zodiac orecliptic, places like the Ascendant and Midheaven, forexample.In other words, house systems in general areconcerned with different ways of sending meaningfullines to intersect the zodiac, and these intersecting30

The Astrology of Local Spacepoints are then the cusps or sensitive points for thatindividual, a kind of astrologer's acupuncture points.Laying these different house systems out graphicallyon a map helped a great deal to understand what infact the various house systems were, but I yearnedfor some simpler way to deal with it all. I reached apoint where I took the problem into my own handsand said, "O.K. Michael, let's suspend judgment onwhich of all these house systems is best for you anddo something very simple, that although perhapsunsophisticated, will make sense to you."31

The Astrology of Local SpaceLocal Space at BirthplaceI started off by making the center of the house systemthe place where one is born and I put the pole of thesystem overhead the pole of the birthplace, a pointthat is called the Zenith. Instead of using morecomplex methods of division, I just divided the spacesurround my birth into a simple pie of twelve equaldivisions radiating out from the birthplace. Thisrepresented on the earth (geographically) and throughspace (astronomically). This, then, would be my veryown house system! The points where the twelveradiating lines intersected the zodiac plane would bethe house cusps or sensitive points in this system.32

The Astrology of Local SpaceRadiant House SystemI was at this point no different from the otherastrologers who had developed their own housesystems. I did find that, although this method of housedivision was quite radical compared to the morefamiliar systems, the particular cusp degrees of thezodiac had already proved significant and werealready “favorite” and previously noted points alongmy zodiac. I had, in my own way, stumbled upon whatI found out was already known as the HorizontalHouse system, which, along with the Campanussystem, represents one of two obvious andcomplementary ways to divide the space surroundinga birth into equal parts. I named my version the33

The Astrology of Local Space“Radiant House System,” because it consisted ofradiating lines from the birth place, and I like the playon the word “radiance.”The Merry-Go-RoundThe astrologer L. Edward Johndro calls theCampanus System "the ferris wheel," and the Radiantor Horizontal System "the merry-go-round." AstrologerCharles A. Jayne had been pointing out the need toinvestigate this Horizontal system of houses for manyyears. At that point, I was still interested in thosetwelve little points where the radiating house linesintersected the old familiar zodiac, the so-called“cusps.”34

The Astrology of Local SpaceThe 360-Degrees of the HorizonThen something very important began to occur to me.I began to see that the horizon itself was more thanjust 12 house cusps. It was a complete circle in itself,just as the zodiac is, stretching a full 360 degreesaround the heavens. Instead of considering thehorizon as a necessary means to get at and definethese zodiacal pressure points, the cusps, I began tofollow on the star-map the line of my radix horizonthrough the heavens to the point where it intersectedthe plane or line of the zodiac on this map. This pointwas, of course, my ascendant at about 8-degrees ofSagittarius. But my eyes kept going past theascendant, following my natal horizon until it35

The Astrology of Local Spaceintersected another line: that of the plane of ourgalaxy, at which point the first shock rolled in. Myhorizon intersected the galactic plane in theconstellation Cygnus (the swan).Cygnus the SwanAt this point, I have to relate a somewhat morepersonal story to make clear what was happening.Over the past years, I had been assembling a bookcalled “Astrophysical Directions” containing stellarpoints and planes, and in the process I had tocalculate and plot quite a few maps of the heavens. Inthis way, I came to know and develop a sense of the36

The Astrology of Local Spacemajor constellations in a much more intimate waythan I had before.Throughout this work, I noted a "fixation" on a coupleof constellations in particular. Above them all, I had aspecial reverence for the constellation Cygnus. Whoknows why? On repeated occasions (for no reason Icould determine) I had felt such deep identificationwith this constellation and what it seemed to signifythat tears came to my eyes.37

The Astrology of Local SpaceVela, the SailsNow I find that Cygnus was one of the twoconstellations where my own particular horizoncrossed the great plane of our galaxy – a kind ofgalactic descendant and ascendant, the other beingthe constellation Vela, the sails – also a constellationto which I have always been very sensitive.Well, at this point I had to laugh. "What?," I said tomyself, "If the entire 360 degrees of the horizon of mybirth is as sensitive as the node where it crosses thezodiac (Ascendant), did I have a galactic andsupergalactic ascendant and new sets ofconstellations or 'signs' to come to know?"38

The Astrology of Local SpaceHere, I will shrink a long and (to me of course)beautiful story and just say that this discovery was thefirst of a great many such mini-enlightenments I wasto have as my awareness grew beyond the limits oftraditional zodiac. Over the next few months, I tracedmyself through these star fields in some kind ofpersonal odyssey and came to understand muchmore concerning my particular orientation or “attitude”toward the cosmos: first and not least, that I had oneat all!The Power of the HorizonAnd I searched through my collection of horoscopesto see how my friends and acquaintances were39

The Astrology of Local Spaceoriented. I was discovering the strength and power ofthe local horizon. I had accepted and used theAscendant, Vertex, and other sensitive ecliptic pointsin my work, but always with the accent on the zodiac.It had never occurred to me that in each case it tookanother plane to bring these nodes or points ofintersection into existence – in this case, it was theplane of the horizon.And yet I had, in a subconscious way, used thehorizon in all my work. I could now see that eachindividual has a kind of unique orientation or attitudeto the whole cosmos and that in the horizon we havea power plane capable of revealing much more aboutour self than just those twelve sensitive points whichrelate to the familiar zodiac.40

The Astrology of Local SpaceExploring the HeavensAt any rate, I began to explore the whole of theheavens from my personal point of view. And, for atime, I forgot the zodiac and instead began to inquireinto these other planes and thus came to learn a greatdeal that was new about my own attitude andorientation to my birth event, to my life.41

The Astrology of Local SpaceWhat about Geographic Maps?Somewhere during this time, another idea occurred tome that proved to be most compelling: of course thehorizon also traced a path on maps of the earth aswell as the heavens. I had calculated, by this time, acomplete chart of the planets' positions in the horizonsystem using the system's equivalent to zodiaclongitude and latitude, which astronomers callazimuth and altitude. How, I wondered, would thedirections of the planets in my horizon chart relate todirections and cities on this earth? A door opened.I soon developed the trigonometry needed to answerthese questions – quite a prodigious undertaking for42

The Astrology of Local Spaceme – and thus began a real magical mystery tourthrough my life history. Although I have lived inseveral different places, the one major move in mylifetime up to that point had been from Lancaster,Pennsylvania (my birthplace) to Ann Arbor, Michigan.Of course what I wanted to know was: in whatdirection was Ann Arbor from Lancaster? That is,what degree and direction did Ann Arbor occupy onmy radix or birth horizon?Ann Arbor is My JupiterAnd here rolled in the second great shock wave. Itturns out that Ann Arbor is right in the direction of mynatal Jupiter position on the local space chart – within43

The Astrology of Local Space2 degrees. In other words, a move to Ann Arbor was amove in the direction of my natal Jupiter. Jupiter rulesmy Ascendant and its position above the 7th housecusp had made it very prominent in any analysis ofmy chart.I wondered at such a coincidence and set out toanswer some of the other questions that now beganpopping up in my mind. What about the other places Ihad lived or to which I had traveled or thought oftravelling to? The history of my travel came before mymind...some places of joy and learning, others ofsorrow and pain. I plotted the directions andcalculated the charts for all of these places and what Ifound through reading these charts wasoverwhelming. It marked my initial surrender to whatnow appears to be, for me, a major discovery in mypersonal astrological life, that of an astrology of localspace.44

The Astrology of Local SpaceLocal Space LinesI erected different local space charts. Theseamounted to maps of the space surrounding eachplace as if I had been born there, rather than atLancaster. The story of my life and "self" interpretedand confirmed through my reading of these localspace charts was, in a word, moving.Let me cite an example of the sort of thing I found. Iam well known to my friends as being a homebody. Itis very difficult for anything to induce me to leave myhome. Yet, at one point in my life, however, I soldeverything I owned. My wife and I moved north to gointo the green plant business, to manage our own45

The Astrology of Local Spacegreenhouses. I actually left Ann Arbor and movedaway! As it so happened, we were a couple of yearsahead of our time in offering fine, green-house plantsto people; the demand for these plants and the plantstore craze did not appear until later in time. We losteverything in this venture. On the material orinvestment plane, it was a complete disaster.Triple ConjunctionNow, in my local space chart I have triple conjunctionof the Moon, Uranus, and Saturn and to the samedegree, all three bodies conjunct within less than halfa degree. In anybody's astrology, this would beaccounted quite a strong focus. The move into the46

The Astrology of Local Spacegreenhouse business was a move precisely – to thedegree – into (or toward) this triple conjunction! I hadactually moved into my Moon/Uranus/Saturnconjunction! It was as if we had gone there to wrestleand come to terms with my Saturn (or with Satan, youmight say) – and we came out the wiser for it.For this experience, as hard as it was, ended manymore superficial fears on my part concerning loss. Welost what to us at that time was everything, and stillour life went on. And so I could go on, telling the storyof my life as confirmed through local space charts. Iwon't though, but will pass from a personal account toa summary of what I have found through research intolocal space charts since my initial discovery.47

The Astrology of Local SpaceVoyage of DiscoveryWhat had impressed me through this voyage ofdiscovery was the potency of the entire horizon asopposed to just a couple of its points (ascendant,vertex), and that somehow the orientation of anindividual to the cosmos made a difference – or wasreflected in behavior and activity at the supermundanelevel. It took me quite a while to develop thefaith or let myself believe that "God" or the spirit in uswas so thorough in influence as to be all-pervadingdown to the finest details. Yet my spiritual teacher hadsome years before endlessly told me, “Michael, myGod is no beggar. I don’t have to make the endsmeet. The ends already meet!”48

The Astrology of Local SpaceHeaven on EarthIt was a while more before I could entertain with gracethe idea that this same orientation or attitude wasreflected as much upon the map of the Earth as uponthe map of the Heavens. Another way of putting this(and this is, to me, the beauty of local spaceastrology), is that Heaven and Earth areinterchangeable – or are in the last analysis, oneliving entity, a single whole. As my teacher would say,“This is it!”49

The Astrology of Local SpaceAlmost PsychedelicCelestial and MundaneWith the local space chart, this was made ever soclear, a chart where every object in the universe,celestial and mundane, has an equal and validposition. Not only the planets and the stars, but on anequal basis cities, countries, and even the local watertower or friends' houses can be represented. All thatconcerns us is the direction in space, the orientation,not the distance. In local space the Heavens andEarth, the celestial and mundane (or geographic)spheres, exist side by side and are interchangeable.A star is a city is a neighbor. We can walk towards,50

The Astrology of Local Spacewrite letters to, or get up and travel into, for instance,our seventh house: and what is perhaps moreimportant, we do all the time!The World of Don JuanMore startling yet, we can travel into our natal planetssince they also represent a direction on the globe inthe chart of local space. Here, in a hopelessintermingling of the various planes of reference and ofobjects, a strange and, I must confess, somewhatmagical view of our world begins to unfold andemerge: one in which every city and friend becomes aradiating center of influence.51

The Astrology of Local SpaceIn this sphere, the long tradition of witchcraft andmagic begins to become understandable; here localdeities and preferred directions become the rule andthe world seems a tangle of significance. Thepsychedelic character in local space charts isunmistakable and appears to be intrinsic to thesystem. The world appears as kind of a grandtalisman or vast ritual ground, and the closest popularimage of a similar nature in modern consciousness isthe remarkable world of Don Juan as generated bythe author Carlos Castaneda.52

The Astrology of Local SpaceA Checkerboard WorldHere is no "subtle plane" but a personal landscapepainted in bold and clear strokes and tailor made to fitthe psyche of each individual. Here is a world wherethe modern man is learning to move across the faceof this earth in an endless dance of adjustment andtuning of his radix – of his self. Individuals driven inparticular directions on a checkerboard world, unableto resist travelling toward a goal that is no particularplace on earth so much as it is a direction imprintedwithin them, the direction of a force or planet, "There!Where Power hovers," to use Don Juan's expression.In a word, here is perhaps the must vulgarastrological system, where the obvious is enthronedand the subtle unnecessary.53

The Astrology of Local SpaceThe BasicsLet me go over some of the basics again. In simpleterms the local space chart is a map of the 360degrees of the horizon surrounding an event such asbirth, with the various planets' positions plotted on it.The map represents the full circle or plane of thehorizon, rather than only the two points at which itintersects the ecliptic (known to astrologers as theascendant & descendant). The wheel of this chartthen describes the horizon of a place, much asturning around on one spot we might look toward theEast, South, West, and North – full circle.54

The Astrology of Local SpaceThe Plane of the HorizonIn this coordinate system, the fundamental plane towhich all else is referred, is then the horizon of theobserver, and the positions of the various planets asthey appear from this location are projected onto thehorizon using the coordinates, azimuth and altitude.Azimuth is this system's equivalent of the zodiaclongitude and is measured, for our purposes, from theEast direction, through the North and on around in acounter-clockwise direction – in the same way that wemeasure the traditional signs and houses. Altitude,analogous to ecliptic latitude, is measured above andbelow the horizon to the poles from 0 to 90 degrees.55

The Astrology of Local SpaceLocality ShiftsThe single most important use of local space in theastrologer/client relationship, in my experience, hasbeen in locality shifts. "Where would be a good placefor me to live?" is one of the more frequent questionsasked this astrologer during a reading. In the past Ihave made use of the quite valid and useful traditionaltechnique of adjusting the RAMC of the radix to thenew locality and coming up with a new Ascendant,and so forth. The radix positions then are read interms of these new angles. Local space is by naturesuited to express both celestial and geographicpositions on one map or chart. Its special nature56

The Astrology of Local Spaceintroduces several concepts not encountered in othertechniques. Let us take a look at some of these.Map of Local SpaceAs I mentioned before, one can also plot the positionsof cities and places on the earth on the map of thelocal space, so our next project then will be totranslate all the important cities in our lives into theirequivalent positions on the radix local space chart.We should be sure to include not only the places weourselves have lived or visited, but also the cities thatwe have always thought we might like to visit – thatbring a warm feeling to mind, and so forth. Thepositions of cities where friends and not-so-friendlies57

The Astrology of Local Spacelive, where there are business relationships, etc.,should also be included. We then examine theseplaces in terms of their positions (or directions) on thelocal space chart with these thoughts in mind: Arethese cities in aspect, in particular by conjunction oropposition? Are they in alignment with planets in thechart? In what quadrants and houses do these citiesfall, and are any on the angles?Moving into the Direction of a PlanetI have found that individuals tend to move towardcities that are also in the direction of planets thatrepresent the particular kind of energy they mayrequire at that time. An individual, for instance,58

The Astrology of Local Spaceneeding to invoke the key to success, often obtainedthrough Jupiter, may make one or several moves inthat direction. Although this concept is so simple as toalmost be embarrassing, this technique has shownitself to be of great value. In any case, its valueseems to be substantial rather than hypothetical.Individuals and PlacesThe local space chart can show a concrete,measurable relationship for the individual to any place– a relationship which can vary from individual toindividual (even in the same locality) as much as theirlocal space charts vary from one another.59

The Astrology of Local SpaceWhatever may be the intrinsic character of a place(and places undoubtedly have this), a selection ofpeople could react very differently to it from the pointof view of each one's own make-up. Moreover, eachcould react differently at different times, underdifferent astrological directions, and coming to it fromdifferent places or geographical directions. Althoughthe mathematics involved in this system may seem abit complex, the application of its technique is simpleand direct, and this does much to recommend it.Relocated Local Space ChartsAfter the basic information in the radix local spacechart has been taken in, we may want to construct60

The Astrology of Local Spacesecondary charts for the various localities where theindividual has lived or travelled. These charts areequivalent to ones cast for this locality at the time ofbirth, as if one were born there. This involves atransformation of the radix positions as well as themore familiar shift around the angles of thesepositions.Planet on an AngleAside from the initial direction from the radix of thelocality shift, there are other factors to note. Througha shift in locality, a planet (or even a city) may bebrought onto (or away from) the horizon or an angle. Ihave found that a planet achieves high focus when on61

The Astrology of Local Spacethe horizon, in terms of its activity within theindividual. In other words, we can adjust and tune ourradix – and ourselves – through locality shifts, muchlike we might tune a musical instrument. Thisamounts to an adjustment in space rather than overtime.Another objective that might be accomplished by alocality shift is to bring a yet farther away city to highfocus – say to an angle or in aspect to a planet,allowing a second locality shift to be made in itsdirection. This alters or modifies the psychicinteraction of person and place by altering thedirection of approach to it. The effect achieved wouldbe quite other than that invoked by approaching itdirect. Some of the magical quality of this LSdimension can be seen in the checkerboard-like worldconcept that emerges, where individuals not onlymove in relation to a planetary energy they require,but are ever adjusting and jockeying into position toachieve the most resonant move.62

The Astrology of Local SpaceA Progression in SpaceApart from the focus achieved through the angles andplanets, we may compare aspects and whole-chartpatterns with the radix local space chart, consideringchanges in orientation, and so forth. Another point ofinterest which has proven very useful in my work isexamining the aspects that the planetary positions inthe local space locality shift make to the radix localspace chart, in particular by bringing one planet to aconjunction with another.As Charles A. Jayne has pointed out to me, thisamounts to a progression of the chart through spacerather than time (a very elegant concept) for those of63

The Astrology of Local Spaceus, perhaps, who find it hard to wait! I have found thatboth the conjunction and opposition (the alignments)as formed by this progression in space are the mostsignificant.Sun Conjunct VenusHere I include an example of this "progression inspace" to illustrate this beautiful concept. In mostmethods of progression or direction, a planet such asthe Sun is moved through time to a conjunction (forexample) at another planet's position in the radix. TheSun may be brought to a conjunction with Venususing any of a number of methods to progress ordirect a natal chart, and this Venus/Sun conjunction64

The Astrology of Local Spacewill be precise or exact at some particular moment intime. We may, for instance, look forward to ourVenus/Sun conjunction in the 63rd year of life, and soon. Using local space techniques, we may be able toachieve this same Venus/Sun conjunction by meansof a locality shift that would bring the Sun to conjunctthe local space radix for Venus...in almost no time!Fine TuningPerhaps modern man is developing an intuitive sensefor self-adjustment and focus through locality shifts –something that ancient man did very little of. Itappears that one can enrich and complement variousqualities of the radix through location adjustment –65

The Astrology of Local Spacebringing out needed energies at one place and time,moving elsewhere for another life episode at anothertime. These are some of the fundamental ideas withwhich I have worked thus far. The obvious value ofthese charts in the astrologer/client relationshipshould be clear. I have used these charts withsuccess, and have found that many people areconcerned with where they might live in order to bringtheir self into some resonant and satisfying focus.66

The Astrology of Local SpaceArticle II: Discovering Local SpaceThere seem to be at least several distinct levels ordimensions to our life. Depending upon the clarity ofthe day, our awareness may be centered in adimension ranging from the very mundane on upthrough an occasional sharing in some sort of moretranspersonal or cosmic form of consciousness. It isbecoming clear to this astrologer that this multidimensionalityof our life perhaps may best berepresented and examined through a series ofastrological charts, and that an attempt to extract alllevels of our life – the many quite different dimensions– solely from the geocentric ecliptic chart alone is67

The Astrology of Local Spacebound to be a frustrating experience. In a word, it is:un-necessary.The Zodiac or Ecliptic SystemIn fact, astrologers make regular use of three verydifferent systems of coordinates (whether they areaware of it or not) each time they erect a natal chart:namely, (1) the zodiac or ecliptic, (2) the equatorialsystem (right ascension and declination), and (3) thehorizon system of coordinates. The actual distinctionsbetween these different systems of coordinates arelost to most of us, and they are kind of jumbledtogether to form some kind of zodiac pie. It hasbecome my realization that these basic physical68

The Astrology of Local Spaceplanes of reference – the horizon, equator, ecliptic,and even the galactic and supergalactic planes –correspond symbolically to the various differentdimensions or levels of our consciousness – as theyexist NOW, in their mutual interpenetration.Furthermore, these levels can be sorted out, and asastrologers we may learn to read these differentlevels as separate, yet related and whole dimensionsof our experience.The Horizon System of Local SpaceLet me rephrase all of this. Our Universe, andtherefore our Life, can be described or expressed inastrological terms using any one (or all) of several69

The Astrology of Local Spacefundamental planes of reference: the Ecliptic,Horizon, Equator, etc. These different planes andtheir respective coordinate systems are like differentlanguages (or algebras) in that they each can expressthe same moment in time, the same planets – in fact,each can express the entire universe, and yet eachorders these same objects and data in a different wayso as to bring out and raise a particular dimension ofreality above the general threshold of our life and intoour awareness.Since our life and consciousness appears to flowthrough at least several quite distinct levels, it is myconviction that the most sensible method by which toexpress or map these different levels is through thesefundamental ordering or reference planes. Asastrologers, our almost exclusive concern for theplane of the earth's orbit – the familiar ecliptic orzodiac – and the relation of all activity to this planeresults for us in a loss of contrast and dimensionalitythat the use of these alternative coordinate systemsmight provide.70

The Astrology of Local SpaceAs Above, So BelowThere are at least two basic factors to consider whenexamining the various coordinate systems available tous, and they are summed up in the familiar axiom, "AsAbove, So Below, yet after another manner." The firstfactor, "As Above, So Below," is an indication that thevarious coordinate systems may be ordered to form ahierarchy in terms of a progressive "inclusivity" orgreater comprehensiveness. In other words, thegalactic coordinate system includes the heliocentricwithin itself, the heliocentric includes the geocentric,the geocentric includes the horizon, and so forth. Thisrepresents the "As Above, So Below" portion of thephrase, and this "wheels within wheels within wheels"71

The Astrology of Local Spaceconcept is well understood, and a popular onethrough which to express the various dimensions ofconsciousness. In other words, a large frame ofreference or coordinate system somehow involvesinformation of a larger or more meta-physical kindwhen considered in relation to a more particular orless inclusive system.“Yet After Another Manner “The second factor to be illustrated in the phrase, "AsAbove, So Below, yet after another manner," while ofequal importance is less well understood. The greatreference planes and their respective systems ofcoordinates are not only inclusive of one another (that72

The Astrology of Local Spaceis, larger and smaller in relation to each other), butthey are also inclined at different angles or attitudes toone another. In other words, learning to use andunderstand the nature of a more inclusive systemsuch as the ecliptic or zodiac system, in relation to theequatorial or "right sphere" system, is not only amatter of ordering the information along a differentplane (taking a larger view or picture), but alsoinvolves a fundamental change in attitude, orinclination. This shift in attitude, or reorientation ofattitude, is an important concept for astrologers toconsider and to absorb.73

The Astrology of Local SpaceExpanded ConsciousnessLet me present an analogy which might relate tointerpreting these various planes in our everyday life.As a society, we are becoming ever more aware ofthe cosmic or transpersonal perspective as beingassociated with the idea of expanded consciousness,with a more whole-view, etc. Yet we have notunderstood on this same broad social level that sucha change in scale or scope may also involve a basicchange in attitude: a fundamental change in theapproach to life – our inclinations.74

The Astrology of Local SpaceChange in Attitude or ApproachIn other words, growing up is not just a process oftaking an ever more inclusive approach; it can alsoinvolve a change in attitude or perspective. We canno longer be inclined in directions we once were, andthis must amount to a radical change – that is, changeat "root" level – in our activity! Furthermore, a basicmisunderstanding as to what is involved in spiritualgrowth has resulted from an attempt to view suchgrowth exclusively as some kind of "enlargement." Wewistfully look forward to someday growing beyond theparticular terms of our everyday existence.75

The Astrology of Local SpaceThis is a result of ignorance of the change in attitude– the change in point of view, or vantage point – thataccompanies true spiritual development: a changevery difficult to imagine or assess for one not awarethat such change is a natural and expected part ofany deeper initiation.Inclinations and AttitudesSo much for metaphysics. Much of my own researchhas revolved around these various coordinatesystems and the actual dimensions of life theydescribe. In particular, I have been concerned withthe inclinations or attitudes of one system to another. Ilike to tell myself that the reason for this interest may76

The Astrology of Local Spacebe due to the fact that I was born with such a "bad"attitude toward some facets of life in this world thatvast changes in attitude on my part have beennecessary simply for my survival. Let me repeat:these different coordinate systems are greatlanguages or orderings of our total reality and eachone raises to our attention its characteristic gestalt orwhole dimension of life.To my knowledge, L. Edward Johndro was the firstmodern astrologer to make a life-long concern of thearticulation of the difference between wholecoordinate systems (ecliptic and equator). And in myopinion, a final assessment of Johndro's work may notdeal so much in terms of his technical genius alone aswith the scope and comprehension of his vision, andin particular, that focus of it relating to the essentialdifferences between events as interpreted on theecliptic or on the equator. In recent years, thisresearch has been carried on and developed furtherby Charles Jayne, Theodor Landscheidt, and others.77

The Astrology of Local SpaceLocal Space AstrologyMy particular research has centered on the differenceand relationship between the geocentric andheliocentric ecliptic systems and, in recent years, onquestions of cosmic structure, in particular on anattempt to assess the interpretive meaning of thegalactic and supergalactic planes as they stand inrelation to one another and to the zodiac. With theseideas in mind, we are ready to examine a mostparticular and fascinating system of coordinates: thatof the local horizon. There is no intention here todocument or "prove" the validity of this system in thisvery preliminary article. My purpose is to present theimpression I have formed regarding the dimension of78

The Astrology of Local Spaceour life I have found to be mapped in the chart of localspace, and to provide those interested with the meansto calculate such charts. I would very muchappreciate feedback and comments from those of youwho investigate this very interesting dimension.Local Space ChartIn simple terms, the local space chart is a map of the360 degrees of horizon surrounding an event such asbirth, much as I might look around us toward the East,West, North, and South. In this horizon coordinatesystem, the fundamental plane to which all else isreferred is the local horizon of the observer, and theposition of the various planets as they appear from79

The Astrology of Local Spacethis location are projected onto the horizon using thefamiliar astronomical coordinates: azimuth andaltitude. Azimuth is the equivalent of zodiac longitudein this system and is measured, for our purposes,from the East direction, through the North and onaround in a counter-clockwise direction – in the sameway that we measure the traditional signs andhouses. The Local Space chart wheel is as if onewere standing in the northern hemisphere facingSouth.The Magic CircleAltitude, analogous to ecliptic latitude, is measuredabove and below the horizon to the poles (Zenith and80

The Astrology of Local SpaceNadir) from 0 degrees to 90 degrees. It is worth theemphasis of repetition to stress that from thestandpoint of the local space chart, the horizon is thewhole azimuthal great circle as it ranges around thewheel of the chart – not simply the line described bythe astrologer's house cusps the First House and theSeventh House, as our astrological habituations temptus to think. This, then, gives a sort of "flat earth"perspective, as it were, the visible horizon being muchlike the traditional magical circle. And, as traditionteaches us regarding the nature of the magical circle:the circle is realized to be the equator of a spherewhich extends above and below the plane of the localhorizon (the apparent or rational horizon cut theinfinite sphere in coincident circles).81

The Astrology of Local SpaceTopocentric ViewIn this system we have a map in space of an eventfrom a topocentric perspective, from a local center,and thus, an astrology of “local space.”Before I dive into the astrological techniques useful inthis new dimension of local space, here is myimpression of what Local Space is all about – thegeneral feeling of what portion of life is capturedthrough this horizon coordinate system.82

The Astrology of Local SpaceHeaven and Earth as InterchangeableThe most remarkable factor, and the key concept youmay need in order to appreciate the particular qualityof the local space chart is to know that every object inthe universe -- whether celestial or mundane -- has anequal and valid position in this chart. Not only theplanets and stars, but on an equal basis, cities,countries, and even the local water tower or theneighbor's house can be represented. All thatconcerns us here is the direction of any object inspace -- not their distance. In other words, thecelestial sphere and the mundane or geographicsphere exist side by side and are interchangeable! Astar is a city is a neighbor. We can walk toward, write83

The Astrology of Local Spaceletters to, or get up and move into – for instance – our7th house. Even more startling, we can travel towardour natal planets, since they also represent a directionon the globe in the chart of local space.84

The Astrology of Local SpaceLocal Space TechniquesHere then, are some specific approaches I havefound to be most useful in examining these charts.The following remarks represent the most usefultechnique that has evolved from my research intolocal space. Space here permits neither a gradualpresentation of this information nor the history of orsequence through which I arrived at these thoughts.Any technique is the very essence of a much largerexperience, and every statement here should beinvestigated and tested out with local space charts inhand.85

The Astrology of Local SpaceOnce you have mastered the mathematics (programsthat calculate local space charts are available fromMatrix Software for most popular computer brands)involved in erecting these charts, and have laid themout on 360 degree wheels similar to those picturedherein, a probable series of questions you want toinvestigate may arise. Let us consider some of them.Local Space PositionsCompare the planets in the local space chart withyour geocentric natal chart. As you will soon note, theindividual aspects between two planets can be verydifferent in the two kinds of charts. Also, the largerwhole-chart patterns may indicate a different quality,86

The Astrology of Local Spaceone from the other. A planet may achieve great focusin the local space chart that is not brought out in theGeo chart, and yet you may have intuited and sensedthe added importance of this planet or principle in themake-up of the individual involved and yet had noastrological basis for your intuition.Relocation in Local SpaceThe single most important use of local space in theastrologer/client relationship in my experience hasbeen in locality shifts – relocation. One of the mostfrequent questions asked this astrologer during areading is: "Where would be a good place for me tolive?" I have made use of the quite valid and useful87

The Astrology of Local Spacetraditional technique of adjusting the RAMC of theradix to the new locality and coming up with a newAscendant, set of house cusps, and so forth. Theradix positions then are read in terms of these newangles. Local space is by nature suited to expressboth celestial and geographic positions on one map orchart. Its special nature introduces several conceptsnot encountered in other techniques.88

The Astrology of Local SpaceRadix Local Space ChartsAside from the planetary aspects, there are twoprimary indicators of strong or high focus in the natallocal space chart:(1) A planet is on or near the horizon (it has lowaltitude).(2) A planet is conjunct to one of the four angles orcardinal directions.It is worth noting which of the planets is closest to thehorizon, even if not conjunct. I have used standardorbs for azimuth – although I haven't arrived at anyfinal rules in this respect. It is also worth noting which89

The Astrology of Local Spaceplanet is most elevated (has the greatest altitude).And the parallels and contraparallels also needinvestigation.Cities and LinesWe are now ready to examine a technique that gets tothe heart of what these charts are all about. At thispoint I have in front of me my radix local space chart,with the various planets plotted on it. As I mentionedearlier, we can also plot the positions of cities andplaces on the earth on this map, so, our next projectthen will be to translate all of the important cities inour lives into their equivalent positions on our radixmap of local space. We should be sure to include not90

The Astrology of Local Spaceonly the places we ourselves have lived in or visited,but also the cities that we have always thought thatwe might like to visit – that bring a warm feeling tomind, and so forth – not to mention the positions ofcities where friends and no-so-friendlies live, wherethere are business relationships, where packages andletters come from and go to, etc.What To Look ForWe then examine these various places in terms oftheir position (or direction) on the local space chartwith these thoughts in mind:Are these cities in aspect, in particular by conjunctionor opposition?91

The Astrology of Local SpaceAre they in alignment with planets in the chart?In what quadrants and houses do these cities fall?And are any on the angles?I have found that individuals tend to move towardcities that are also in the direction of planets thatrepresent the particular kind of energy they mayrequire at that time. An individual, for instance,needing to invoke the key to success often obtainedthrough Jupiter, may make one or several moves inthat direction.92

The Astrology of Local SpaceMapping the Birth MomentAlthough its concept is so simple as to be almostembarrassing, this technique has shown itself to be ofgreat value. In any case, its value seems to besubstantial rather than hypothetical. Next to, forexample, some of the cumbersome and ultratraditionalplace rulerships, proposed national birthcharts,etc. – many of them seemingly very arbitrary –the complex and confusing juggling of all thesefactors seem a rather specious approach to thelocality problem, and their results are rather tentative.The local space chart is one of several valuablecharts or mappings of the birth moment. Asmentioned earlier, it is becoming clear to manyastrologers in these times that our life may perhapsbest be represented and examined through a seriesof astrological charts, and that an attempt to extractall levels of our life – the many quite differentdimensions – from the geocentric ecliptic chart aloneis bound to be a frustrating experience. In a word it is:UN-necessary.93

The Astrology of Local SpaceOut ThereI would like to share a few experiences and thoughtswith you concerning some of the structure in spacebeyond the zodiac and how it can be of value inindividual development and growth. Let me relate apersonal story as to how I first got interested in thedeeper regions of space. My own research, as someof you may know, has centered on the difference andrelationship between the geocentric and heliocentricecliptic systems. My interest in the space surroundingour solar system was minimal. I was put off by thebillions of stellar objects out there and, on a morebasic level, by the ideas of coldness and blackness Ihad been programmed to associate with outer space.94

The Astrology of Local SpaceDistant space somehow represented the epitome ofother-ness and was foreign to me. I wasembarrassed, in terms of astrological usage, by all ofthe books I had read on the fixed stars with theexception of L.E. Johndro's book, “The Stars: Howand Where They Influence.” How was I to determinethe significance of these billions of stars and use themin my practice, when I had enough difficulty, as it was,just using the nine planets and the Sun and Moon?I Had a DreamAnd then the unexpected happened. I had a dream, avery special dream. It was not an ordinary dream, butone of those dreams that are more real than waking95

The Astrology of Local Spaceconsciousness – that take months to understand andabsorb. In my dream the astrologer L.E. Johndroappeared to me and his eyes were filled with light. Infact, there were rays or stalks of light coming out ofhis eyes. This strange being said but one word,"LOOK!" and with his arm turned and pointed to theNight Sky. I looked. The sky was filled with brilliantpoints of light. The stars and all of this starry materialwere clustered together to form the great glowing archof the Milky Way or galactic plane. It was wondrousbeyond description and in that instant my heart wentout from me and filled this bright space. Never againhave I had the feeling of being here on Earth, warmand trembling before the cold and black of space. Ibecame the space and light and reversed my polarityor attitude. I realized that I was a living representativeof this mother galaxy. I was the outer spaceman weare all looking for or waiting to find us!96

The Astrology of Local SpaceMother UniverseFrom that night forward I began to venture beyond thezodiac in an inquiry as to the nature and structure ofthis mother universe. Here, in brief form, is what Ifound for myself:We are in fact living nodes or information aggregates.Moreover, the universe is in intimate contact with itselfthrough us. The manifold nature of the great cosmicevents is represented through our own self and lives.There is not only a correlation between theseseeming remote cosmic events and our person, butan identity as well. Information coming from theGalactic Center, carried by electromagnetic and97

The Astrology of Local Spacegravitational radiation from every last star and cosmicplane and event, passes through us at all times. Weare, in some way, a node or information complexcaught in a matrix or web of manifestation.We Are the SpacemanThe overpowering idea that occurs when we makesome acquaintance with the universe and its structureis that there is no difference between out there and inhere. We are already out there! Our world and our selfand relationships are a perfect reflection of what isand what is happening out there. Not an analogy, butan identity. Black holes, supernovae, quasars, andthe like are not only remote cosmic events, but this98

The Astrology of Local Spaceidentical story is represented, reflected, lived, andacted out each day in our lives here on Earth.Information circulates through the universe and ouridentity or sense of our self is this very process ofcirculation. Identity is not a substance but arelationship, in fact, a circulation and a process ofcommunion or communication. Not only is there aconnection between our life and that life of our Galaxyand universe, but: we are the connection.The Symbol is RealA study of the structure of the universe, at any level,is a study of ourselves, of our life. The guidelines ofcosmic structure only help to illustrate the specific99

The Astrology of Local Spacestructure of our self. In summary, the idea that I amelaborating here is: astrology is not only a symbolicsystem of psychological discussion. The symbol isalso, in fact, real. If we say it is an analogy, then theanalogy is complete down to the limits of any specificexample we might chose.We are all time and space travelers. There are nobetter words that I know of than these of Emerson:"All inquiry into antiquity is the desire to do away withthis wild, savage, and preposterous ‘There’ or ‘Then’,and introduce in its place, the ‘Here’ and the ‘Now’.Belzoni (an archeologist) digs and measures in themummy-pits and pyramids of Thebes until he can seethe end of the difference between the monstrous workand himself. When he has satisfied himself, in generaland in detail, that it was made by such a person ashe, so armed and so motivated, and to ends to whichhe, himself, should also have worked, the problem issolved, his thought lives along the whole line oftemples and sphinxes and catacombs, passesthrough them all with satisfaction, and they live againto the mind, or are NOW." -- Essay on History.100

The Astrology of Local SpaceDiscovering Your SelfA process of self-discovery awaits those who wouldinquire into the nature and structure of this universe.We may read and study the history and record ofastrology through all of the books we have. We mayreturn again and again to our favorite passages tomake sure of what we have found there. But, sooneror later, each of us must turn away from the book andjust live. We must ourselves become the book andonly that lives which we have known for ourselves tohave life, which we have lived. There is great value ina reading of the ancient wisdom and documents.What the ancients saw or discovered aboutthemselves, the truth, is still true today. All of the law101

The Astrology of Local Spaceof the universe still exist to be known today, otherwisehow could it be the law? We are always free to leaveoff at reading about our life and cast off into aninquiry...our inquiry...and to live that life. We can learnto know what we are talking about.102

The Astrology of Local SpaceHorizon CoordinatesThe Horizon SystemIn the Horizon system a plane through the observingpoint parallel to the horizon is the plane of reference.The poles are the Zenith (point overhead) and theNadir (point underfoot). The vertical circle through acelestial object (such as a star) and the zenith is theObject Circle. The coordinates are given (for theobject) by Azimuth, which is the horizontal angle (A inthe diagram) measured from an arbitrary referencedirection – East in our case – counterclockwise to theobject circle) and the Altitude (a), which is the103

The Astrology of Local Spaceelevation angle measured upward from the horizon tothe object). The great circle through the north andsouth points and the zenith is the Meridian, and thegreat circle through the east and west points and thezenith is the Prime Vertical. Circles of parallel altitudeto the horizon that are not great circles are calledAlmucantars.Horizon Sphere – A heavenly sphere based on theplane of the observer's local horizon (90° from boththe zenith and the nadir), but taken from the center ofthe Earth.Zenith – The zenith is the point directly overhead anyspot on Earth.Nadir – The nadir is the point directly beneath(opposite the zenith) any spot on Earth.Altitude – The angular distance of any body above orbelow the plane of the local horizon. Altitude ismeasured from 0° to 90° from the plane of the horizonto either pole.Azimuth – The angle measured around the 360°circumference of the horizon, either east or west(there are different practices). The azimuth of anobject as measured from the meridian plane of theobserver and a vertical plane through any body.Prime Vertical – A great circle passing through thezenith (north pole), nadir (south pole), and the eastand west points on the horizon.104

The Astrology of Local SpaceAltitude Circles – Parallel circles of altitude, whethernorth or south of the plane of the horizon.Almuncantar – Parallel circles of altitude, whethernorth or south of the plane of the horizon.North Point – A point on the horizon to the north ofthe observer, where the meridian plane intersects thehorizon.South Point – A point on the horizon to the south ofthe observer, where the meridian plane intersects thehorizon.East Point – A point on the horizon to the east of theobserver, where the prime vertical plane intersectsthe horizon.West Point – A point on the horizon to the west of theobserver, where the prime vertical plane intersectsthe horizon.105

The Astrology of Local SpaceLooking at Local Space ChartsRelocation ExampleIn the lower right of the above diagram you can seethe red dot that marks Lancaster, Pennsylvania, mybirth place. In this map, Michigan and Pennsylvaniaare highlighted in yellow. Various cities are labeled.In addition there is a blue line which marks my natalJupiter line in Local Space and a red line which marksmy Moon-Uranus-Saturn conjunction.Note that the Blue Jupiter line runs near Ann Arbor,as well as pretty much right through Lansing and106

The Astrology of Local SpaceGrand Rapids. My first major move after my birth wasto Ann Arbor, Michigan, very close to my Jupiter line,about 1.6 degrees.Jupiter has to do with how we make our way throughlife’s obstacles (Saturn), our particular path orvocation. It was in Ann Arbor that I found myvocations as an astrologer, a musician, and anarchivist.So, you will want to take a look at the Jupiter line inyour own natal chart and Local Space map, to seewhat cities or areas of land it passes through. As forhow close or far from the line makes sense, don’talways look for or expect to find tight orbs. The realquestion to ask is which planetary line is the town youare living in nearest to? Of course if it is 90 degrees ormore from any line, that won’t do. My point here isthat Jupiter runs close to Ann Arbor, Michigan, andeven closer to Lansing and Grand Rapids.This suggests that both Lansing and Grand Rapidswould also be good for determining my vocation, andthere are other factors to consider, like the nature ofthe town or city itself. Both Ann Arbor and Lansing aremajor university towns, while Grand Rapids is not.Everything should be factored in, just like it is in dayto-daylife.107

The Astrology of Local SpaceMoon SignIt was in Ann Arbor that I really dug into astrology, notto mention entering astrology as a full-timeprofession. As mentioned earlier, I also found avocation (for some seven years) as a professionalmusician, and turned an avocation for interviewingother musicians and artists, which later morphed intoan interest (and vocation) in archiving data on music,film, rock posters, and so forth.As for Lansing and Grand Rapids, Lansing is thehome town of my best friend and Grand Rapids is themain town I do most of my larger-item business in, thenearest major city to Big Rapids where I live.108

The Astrology of Local SpaceNatal Local Space ChartNow, let’s back up a bit and take a careful look at mynatal Local Space chart for Lancaster, PA, where Iwas born. What does it tell me?A quick look at my natal Local Space chart shows thatalmost all of the planets (every one except Neptune)are on the Western sides of the chart. If there is sometruth to the idea that we tend to move into thedirection of our planets, then this brings new meaningto the old phrase “Go west young Man!” I certainly didthat.109

The Astrology of Local SpaceSoutherly NeptuneThe most southerly planet is Neptune, but this is alsoclear from my standard natal chart, where Neptune ison the Midheaven. We can also see that in the LocalSpace chart, my Sun/Pluto conjunction is tighter,about four degrees in the LS chart, as opposed to 7degrees in the natal chart.Perhaps the most interesting fact of the natal LS charthas to do with the triple conjunction of the Moon,Saturn, and Uranus. In my traditional natal chart(geocentric zodiac), the Moon, Saturn, and Uranusare each separate by about three degrees from oneanother, still quite a tight little stellium conjunction.110

The Astrology of Local SpaceThe StelliumHowever in my LS chart, these three bodies (Moon,Saturn, and Uranus) are all conjunct to within lessthan half a degree, all within about 23 minutes of arc.Now that is a very tight conjunction in anyone’s book,while in my standard natal astrology chart the Moon,Saturn, and Uranus as seen on the zodiac werespaced apart by some three degrees each.In fact, as seen from my birth place, those threebodies were lined up so that all three were within 23degrees of azimuth from one another. In other words,at my birth, had my father walked out and looked atthe sky with a telescope, all three of those bodies111

The Astrology of Local Spacewere one, aligned or conjunct in azimuth (theequivalent of longitude in the Horizon system) exactly.They were lined up in azimuth and stacked one abovethe other in altitude.Now this is a significant fact, astrologically speaking,a fact that cannot be seen in the traditional natal chartfor my birth. As for how we might interpret it, probablyall of us might agree that this close alignment makesthis triple conjunction much more important than wemight otherwise imagine.We might also note that Venus and Neptune have thesame altitude, and Jupiter is closest to the horizon, alittle less than three degrees.112

The Astrology of Local SpacePlanets at Low AltitudePlanets close to the natal horizon appear to be moreimportant (in greater focus) because of that fact. Ialways look at the altitudes for the planet to see if anyof them are within ten degrees or so of the horizon. Ifso, then I find them to have increased emphasis inthat individual. In particular, the planet closest to thehorizon seems important.In my case, that would be Jupiter, the planet ofvocation, literally how we make our way through life.Because it is so close to the horizon, I considerJupiter to a key factor in my makeup. Also note thatboth Uranus and Saturn are around ten degrees or113

The Astrology of Local Spaceless, with Uranus being the next most important, andso forth. So, Jupiter and Uranus are emphasized,pointing to an unusual career. Uranus is consideredby some astrologers as the planet of astrology, so wecould have that thought as well.Bodies on an AngleIn the LS chart, the four angles are also important, thedirections East, South, West, and North. Don’tconfuse these four directional angles with the moretraditional use of the word “angles” to refer to fourprimary house cusps, First, Fourth, Seventh, andTenth, although they are obviously related.114

The Astrology of Local SpaceIn my years of work with LS charts, I have foundbodies close to any one of these four directionalpoints are significant and should be interpreted assuch. Looking at my natal LS chart, I have two bodieson angles, Neptune and the Sun. Neptune is the moreexact, being conjunct the Zenith direction by less thanone degree. And the fact that my Sun is around threedegrees from due West is also significant, both by thefact that here we have a body close to the angle andalso because it is the Sun, which always representsour Self in one way or another. These are bothauspicious or significant factors in evaluating this LSchart.115

The Astrology of Local SpaceAspect Patterns in the LS ChartThe aspects between bodies in the LS chart havealways intrigued me, but never panned out well forinterpretations. In my experience, the aspect patternsin the zodiac in the traditional geocentric natal chartand especially in the heliocentric natal chart are muchbetter indicators than the aspects and their patternsas found in the LS chart. That is just my experience.You may want to explore this yourself.While simple alignments such as conjunctions andoppositions in the LS chart bring emphasis, I havehad less use for the whole-chart aspects and patternsin these horizon charts. This could be due to my ownlaziness. As an astrologer, I tend to go for the lowhangingfruit with any technique. If I get enough ofthat to satisfy my curiosity, then I seldom go further. Iam not a scholar and seldom do research for its ownsake. If I can get a quick picture, that is usuallyenough for me; looking at the planets close to the fourangles, alignment by conjunction and oppositions,and altitude (in particular any body close to thehorizon) is usually enough for me as regards the LSchart.However, I do quite a bit with the direction of citiesfrom the natal LS chart and the actual relocation ofthe LS chart itself.116

The Astrology of Local SpaceThe Direction of CitiesIn the beginning, there were no computer programsfor LS charts; in fact, there were no home computersback then. At that point, although positions in azimuthand altitude had been mentioned in the literature,nothing like a Local Space chart had ever beencalculated, much less put forward in an interpretativesense as a legitimate view of a nativity.In fact, there no calculators with trig functions, at leastnone that I could get my hands on. I had to do my firstLS chart using a 4-function calculator and trig tables. Icould take me an entire day to do a chart, and eachbody calculated was cause for some small117

The Astrology of Local Spacecelebration. Gradually I built my own LS chart, planetby planet.Planet Lines are City LinesOnce that was done, I just had to know about thevarious cities and places I had lived and visited in mylife. Where do these places appear in the LS chart?Well, of course I had to figure out how to calculate thedirection of cities in Local Space, and then actually dothe numbers.The very first city I calculated the direction for wasAnn Arbor, Michigan, which was the main move I hadmade away from my birth city of Lancaster, PA. Ofcourse, I was knocked out to find that it was a move118

The Astrology of Local Spacedirectly into my Jupiter, exact to within less than twodegrees. In other words, I had moved directly into theprimary planet of vocation, literally the guru (theSanskrit word for Jupiter is "guru") or guide to how weare supposed to get through life. Of course, I wantedto know about some of the other places in my life, so Ihad to hand-calculate those. The results were equallyuseful!My move in 1964 to Berkeley, California to study wasa move directly into my Natal Mercury, to within threedegrees. Mercury has to do with the mind, with study,and all of that. The other major move I have made inmy life is to my present location in Big Rapids,Michigan, which amounts to a move directly into myMoon-Saturn-Uranus conjunction, again a move towithin less than 2 degrees of this triple conjunction!More about this later.119

The Astrology of Local SpaceRelocated Local Space ChartsThe next step is to relocate your natal LS chart to thevarious cities or places you have lived, vacationedand/or traveled to. This amounts to calculating a LSchart for the same exact date, time, and time zone forwhen you were born, only using the place coordinates(geographic longitude and latitude) for the relocatedplace. Remember to use the same time and timezone. Everything is the same, except the geographiccoordinates. I have an inexpensive program that doesall of this for you, if that helps.Now examine each relocated LS chart using all of thevarious techniques mentioned earlier. For example,120

The Astrology of Local Spacemy initial move to Ann Arbor was a move in thedirection of Jupiter. In addition, it brings Mercury toone the four angles, the West Point. It also positionsUranus to the horizon, by about 1 degree 16’ of arc,and Saturn, Moon, and Jupiter are less than tendegrees from the horizon.City Directions from Relocated ChartsOne last thing relating to relocated LS charts and thatis the direction of cities from the relocated chart. Inother words, once you have relocated a chart, youmay want to know in what direction various cities arefrom the relocated chart. Compare these city121

The Astrology of Local Spacedirections to the positions of the new positions of theplanets in the relocated charts.Thus we might relocate along one planet line andthen from the relocated chart, relocate again alongthe relocated planet lines, achieving a move byindirection that might not work out so well as a directmove from the natal LS chart. An example from myown chart:My initial major move was from my birth place inLancaster, PA to Ann Arbor, Michigan, which wasalong my Jupiter line. It was in Ann Arbor that I foundmy vocation. Then I relocated to my current home inBig Rapids, Michigan, which put me on my Moon-Saturn-Uranus line in my natal LS chart. In otherwords, I found my vocation and then moved to fix thatlocation with Saturn; my Moon-Saturn-Uranusconjunction (less than 30 minutes of arc for all three)is a very powerful part of my natal LS chart.My move to Big Rapids put Mercury on the WestPoint, and brought Uranus to 31’ minutes of altitudearc from the plane of the horizon, thus positioningUranus like a laser beam on the horizon. And,although the Moon, Saturn, and Uranus are all lessthan 10 degrees of altitude, it takes Uranus andselects it out from that tight bunch of three planets.Uranus often represents astrology and also inventiveideas (computers, etc.) of which I have contributedseveral.122

The Astrology of Local SpaceSummary of IdeasIn review, let’s go over some of the major ways oflooking at local space charts.(1) Bodies on one of the four major angles, East,Zenith, West, and Nadir.(2) Bodies in alignment by conjunction or opposition.(3) Bodies within 10 degrees or less of the plane ofthe horizon.(4) Direction of cities and places.(5) Relocated LS Charts, including all of the abovepoints in the relocated charts.123

The Astrology of Local Space(6) Check directions of cities and places in therelocated charts.(7) Compare positions between natal and relocatedLS charts.124

The Astrology of Local SpaceRelocation AnalysisNow I will go over several relocations using my ownchart as an example. Some of you may want to skipover this section, as there is considerable detail.However, for those of you who are trying tounderstand how to interpret relocated LS charts, thissection should help to spell it out for you.125

The Astrology of Local SpaceRelocation: Berkeley, CaliforniaIn 1964, I spent a year in Berkeley, studying with aprofessor there and generally learning more aboutlife. As you can see, the relocated chart for Berkeleydoes several things. As mentioned earlier, Berkeley isa move directly into my natal LS Mercury. Mostimportant, it puts the planet Jupiter directly on theWest angle, exact to within 7 minutes of a degree.This should tell us right off that this place will have amajor effect on the life path or vocation, which in factit did. It opened my eyes not only to astrology but toall kinds of spiritual inquiry, including the work ofGurdjieff and Ouspensky.126

The Astrology of Local SpaceIn addition, I had a major spiritual experience ofinsight, one so strong that it was a transforming eventin my spiritual life. Note that in this move, Pluto hasbecome the most southerly planet in the chart.Relocation: Ann Arbor, MichiganWe have kind of gone over this, but let’s review. AnnArbor is a move directly into my natal Jupiter, and themove brings the planet Mercury to within threedegrees of a major chart angle, the West Point. Itkeeps Neptune as the most southerly planet. Inaddition, it places the planet Uranus on the plane ofthe horizon, with an altitude of 1 degree 16’ of arc. It127

The Astrology of Local Spacealso places Saturn, the Moon, and Jupiter to withinless than 10 degrees of altitude on the horizon.Ann Arbor was where I found several vocations, andwhere I read just about every major piece of literaturein existence, thus the Jupiter and Mercury emphasis. Ialso became a musician and performed for someseven years, perhaps indicated by the SoutherlyNeptune.128

The Astrology of Local SpaceRelocation: Big RapidsAs mentioned, this move is onto the line of the Moon-Saturn-Uranus conjunction, perhaps the strongestsingle factor in my LS chart, since all three bodies areconjunct to within less than 30 minutes of arc. Thisrelocation brings Mercury to about 30 minutes of arcfrom the West Point chart angle. Another veryauspicious effect is that the planet Uranus is broughtto within 31 minutes of arc of the horizon, thussingling it out from the Moon and Saturn in that threewayconjunction. Thus Mercury and Uranus arehighlighted, and the entire move invokes that verytight triple conjunction of the Moon, Saturn, andUranus.129

The Astrology of Local SpaceLocal Space Relocation AstrologyThe Astrology of Local Space presents a fascinatingmethod of learning about oneself that involvescreating a map of the space immediately surroundingyour birthplace. It is very simple. If your mother wereto walk outside your home at the moment of your birthand look around, holding you in her arms, the Sun,Moon and planets would each be in a particulardirection from where she stood, whether you couldsee them at that moment or not.For example, she could perhaps point toward thedirection of the Sun or the Moon in the sky. If we drawa line across the Earth from where she stood in the130

The Astrology of Local Spacedirection of the Sun, it would pass through anynumber of cities. Those cities and places mark a pathacross the earth toward the Sun. You would beexamining the space surrounding your locale. This iswhy I term this technique Local Space Astrology.Formulated in the Early 1970sThe techniques presented in Local Space weredeveloped by me in the early 1970s, before homecomputers made the scene. At that point, all thecalculations had to be done with pencil, paper and logtables. Later I would do them on programmablecalculators. This was before the advent of the homecomputer.131

The Astrology of Local SpaceWhat a difference a computer program makes toresearchers into local space and its relatedtechniques! The following section is designed tointroduce the wide variety of techniques available inLocal Space and to sketch out several possiblescenarios for personal exploration and research.Earth Meets HeavenAstrology is, above all, a way to get to know yourselfand your particular orientation to the Earth and theHeavens. Here, we will be working with two differentsets of maps: geographic maps of the Earth andcelestial sky maps. While these maps are verydifferent, they are but different perspectives for132

The Astrology of Local Spacegraphing the same information. The birth year, date,time and place remain the same. In other words,nothing changes but the coordinate dimension (ourperspective and attitude) – the way we look at thisparticular piece of time and space.Celestial = GeographicWhen we are working with the geographic maps, weoverlay the celestial bodies and the sky map todetermine where the planets, stars and other deepspacestructure were in relation to places (cities,towns, etc.) on the Earth. We want to find out ourparticular orientation (attitude) to the cosmos for anygiven time and place. For example, we know that at133

The Astrology of Local Spaceany given instant of time, the planet Mars is directlyoverhead a particular place on the Earth. Local Spaceallows us to locate just where on Earth that point is.Earth Mirrors HeavenLocal Space techniques bring the heavens down toearth. Planets and stars are no longer somewhere"out there," far off and unconnected objects.In fact, we exist in a vast web or matrix ofconnectivity. The planet Earth is set, as a jewel is set,in time and space. As astrologers, we know that all ofthe various planetary motions are inter-related andsynchronized, like some vast cosmic clock. Moreimportant, as the Earth turns, it orients or points (from134

The Astrology of Local Spaceany particular location) first toward one part of theheavens and then another. At any given time each ofthe planets are in a particular direction in space fromwhere we now stand.Go west Young ManThus the planet Jupiter may be to the West at birth.Not only is it to the West, but a straight line drawnfrom where we stand toward the direction of Jupiterpasses through a particular series of towns and cities.These cites are all due West of us. In fact, if weextend that line, it becomes a great circle stretchingaround the celestial sphere. Starting from where weare, our Jupiter line stretches out toward a particular135

The Astrology of Local Spaceplanet and ends up describing a great circle in theheavens (and on the Earth), returning at last to a pointjust behind us – a full 360 degrees. And this entiregreat circle and the straight line that it describesmarks our particular orientation to that great planetJupiter.360-DegreesHow significant and useful that relation happens to beis up to each of us to determine. I am certain thatmany people will have no awareness of anyconnection. Others, like myself, will explore thatJupiter line and learn a lot about ourselves and aboutour relation to that planet. Jupiter, as astrologers136

The Astrology of Local Spaceknow, is connected to vocational matters, how wemake a living, or simply put: the way we go (our path)through the obstacles of life.For example, years ago I left my home and movedalong my Jupiter line, and took up residence in a townin that direction. It was in that town that I discoveredmy particular vocation (astrology) and I did not leavethat town until that vocation was well set in myconsciousness. In other words, I found success in lifealong my Jupiter line. Later, I moved elsewhere(along other lines) to strengthen and deepen thatvocation in other ways.137

The Astrology of Local SpaceWorld Local Space MapToday, Local Space maps are a built-in part of manyastrological programs. Matrix Software, for one,provides these. Others do too.You will want to enter your complete birth informationand check out the local space planet lines (greatcircles) plotted on a map of the world. This will giveyou an idea as to what countries and areas of theworld (directions) at your birth were oriented towardthe various planets. And, since the world is a largeplace, you will want to zero in on the state or (country)where you were born for a close-up view of all this.138

The Astrology of Local SpaceState and Local MapsMake smaller maps for the U.S. and for the state youwere born in.Take your time. Study your particular maps in the lightof what cities you have been (or not been) to. Andtravel is not the only indicator. Where do your friendsand not-so-friends live? Where are your businesspartners? Where have you always dreamed of going?What places do you instinctively not like?Examine every relation and form of communicationyou have as regards its direction in relation to yourbirth map. What does each suggest or tell you? Don'tforget to examine planets that are close to the horizon139

The Astrology of Local Spacein altitude or near the East, North, West, and Southcompass points.Ways to See Altitude(1) Get a world or USA map from a program that canproduce local space and see how close the planetscome to the horizon.(2) Another, and perhaps better way to examinealtitude is to view a list of LS planets sorted byaltitude, with the ones with the least or lowest altitudeat the top. Examine the altitude column and see if anyplanets are less than ten degrees in altitude.140

The Astrology of Local SpaceRelocationNext, you will want to relocate yourself to the variousother places you have lived, visited and/or wish to go.Again, don't forget to examine the altitude andcompass points for planet action. Compare thechange in planet strength (Local Space Analysis) fromplace to place with your particular experience of thoseplaces. It will be helpful to look at the Local Spacechart wheels as well as the maps, since often thealtitudes are listed for easy reference.141

The Astrology of Local SpaceCity DirectionsAnd don't forget that one (if not the) most importantindication of planet strength is when the city is nearthe direction of that planet's line on the map. If aplanet line runs near a city in question, that's a verypowerful indicator. What you are exploring is yourunique perspective and orientation to the Earth andthe heavens – your particular attitude.The Prime VerticalDon't forget to explore the prime vertical coordinatedimension as well. Perhaps, it can wait until you getused to the standard azimuth maps and wheels. Still,keep this dimension in mind. It is every bit as142

The Astrology of Local Spaceimportant as the azimuth local space maps. In fact,the prime vertical is the natural complement to theazimuth projection. They are like the cross-hairs on agun sight. You need both of them to get a fix on yourtarget which is yourself.Where the azimuth local space chart has to do withaction and outreach on our part, the prime verticaldimension has to do with reaction, the response of theworld to us. In a word, the prime vertical tells us aboutthat which is fated or destined for us, the areas of lifethat will happen automatically and don't require efforton our part. The prime vertical charts those areas oflife where we can't help but be involved. It is ourdestiny. None can say no to us where the primevertical (and vertex) are involved. It is fated.143

The Astrology of Local SpaceCycles, Circles, Centers, CirculationA central idea emerging through my recent cosmic ordeep-space research is the use and value of thevarious astrological coordinate systems (Local Space,Geocentric, Heliocentric, Galactic, etc.) as actuallybest representing the different levels of our lifeexperience. We have been using some of thesesystems for calculating our astrology charts forcenturies, but few of us have thought to extract fromthem their unique perspectives interpretively.The word CENTER can mean both the same and yetdifferent things to individuals. The center about whichour own life appears to revolve is sacred to each of us144

The Astrology of Local Spacein its ability to reveal or communicate to us theessence or identity of ourselves, who we are. It is ourwellspring or source, our identity.The center for each of us always refers inward towardour essence, and yet the center or lifeline for oneindividual may be a new car at one point in their life, anew wife or a child at another point, and so on.However, at each point that center is inviolate foreach of us, although the outward form of what wetake for our “lifeline to the center” may be constantlychanging.145

The Astrology of Local SpaceCenter as SelfIt should come as no surprise to us that the differentkinds of “center” may be conveniently expressed inthe various coordinate systems of astrology, each ofwhich represents a different perspective on the samegiven moment in time and space. These differentperspectives, each with their individual centers andviews, are appropriate or useful for different kinds ofinquiry into life.The particular origin or center chosen for each inquiryshould most correspond to the center of gravity, the"kind" of question or inquiry or level being considered.146

The Astrology of Local SpaceFor example, astrology as we know it combines threedifferent coordinate systems and planes to arrive atthe traditional natal chart that we all use, the Ecliptic(Zodiac Longitude and Latitude), the Equatorial (RightAscension and Declination) and the Horizon (Azimuthand Altitude).The Ecliptic or Zodiac SystemAlthough these three (and other) coordinate systemsinterpenetrate and are related to one another invarious ways and are used conjointly, they each offera very distinct and valuable perspective, when usedalone. Why do we not study these views?147

The Astrology of Local SpaceThus for an examination of our personal differencesand circumstances, the specific terms of our life (whatpasses for astrology in most parts of the world),astrologers traditionally use the traditional geocentricastrological chart, with its familiar M.C., Ascendant,houses, etc. In general, studies of the general termsof mankind (mundane astrology) involve considerationfrom the center of the earth where we live and work:Geocentric Astrology.Heliocentric or Sun-Centered SystemFor a study of the motion and relation of the selfwithin the solar system considered as a functioningwhole, the Heliocentric Ecliptic System with the origin148

The Astrology of Local Spaceat the Sun center would be appropriate. In this heliocoordinate system, we can examine the archetypes oflife and consciousness, and in general questionstraditionally referred to religion, perhaps more recentlyalso considered by some as psychological.Galactic and Supergalactic SystemsIn like manner, Galactocentric and super-Galactocentric coordinates are appropriate fordynamical studies of the larger or more cosmicstructure of our reality, in particular the direction (oranti-direction) of their centers. For each of us, theremay be moments and even days when our awarenessis truly of or in synch with cosmic dimensions. After149

The Astrology of Local Spaceall, it is there. It just may be too obvious or general forus to pick up on. Vast centers are ubiquitous.Perhaps we could agree that there are different levelsof truth or reality. What is essential as a kernel oftruth to one may appear to another as one exampleamong many of a larger ordering or structure. Whenwe each refer to our center, the center around whichwe revolve, we share in the common idea of centersand yet different ones among us revolve around orconsider what is central or essential differently. Allreference to different centers simply points out thelack of “Identity,” and that these seemingly differentlevels or centers (in fact) form a continuum – acontinuing experience or identification. All centers arelinked or shared, somehow.150

The Astrology of Local SpaceLarge Cosmic SystemsIn other words: all of these larger systems such as theSolar System, Galaxy, and so forth include us (hereon Earth) within their reaches like a mother holds achild within her womb. We are the children andparticular representatives of Earth and the solarsystem, but also of the Galaxy and beyond. Theirnature, identity, and self (Earth, Sun, Galaxy,Supergalaxy, etc.) are identical with our own. In fact,we have come up through this "outer space" throughall the time there is to BE HERE NOW our self.Our day-to-day consciousness continually circulatesfrom more particular awareness to more "cosmic"151

The Astrology of Local Spaceawareness and back again. The exercise of variouscoordinate systems, like exercising our muscles, canserve to remind us that all reference to centers (allreferral in fact) indicates an attempt to achievecirculation (circle or cycle) or identity, and to “RE”-MEMBER or remind ourselves of who we already areand have always been.Identification IS CirculationIn other words: all discovery is Self discovery andidentification is circulation! Cosmic events andcosmic structure are a very consistent and moststable reference frame through which to come toknow ourselves. If, in the flux of life, as astrologers,152

The Astrology of Local Spacewe are looking for a convenient map of our inner andouter experience, we already have it in the variouscoordinate systems we have always had at hand.The use of these inclusive (nested) meta-coordinatesystems is not the symbolic process some suggest,but here the symbol in fact is real. We are notworking with analogies or, if we are, the analogy iscomplete down to the specific example through whichwe discover the virtual process itself – our Life.The Ends Already MeetAs my teacher taught me, “God” is no beggar,creating a symbolically true but specificallydisappointing creation such that we should have to153

The Astrology of Local Space"touch up" his creation or somehow have to make theends meet. The ends already meet! It is we who willchange first our attitude and then our approach to thiscreation. And these changes in attitude, thisreorientation in our approach to what is unchanging oreverlasting in life, represent the specific areas wherethe exercise and use of various coordinate systems ofunderstanding our life become important to presentday astrologers. To discover our own orientation andinclination – that we are already perfectrepresentatives of all space and all time, acting out indetail through our persons events of a so called"cosmic" nature that occur in space at remotedistance and times – is this not what astrology isabout?154

The Astrology of Local SpaceWe Are Out ThereThat we may each discover that supernovae andblack holes are not simply some ever-distantcataclysmic events, but are (rather) part of our owneveryday experience acted out in fact by personswithin the galaxy of our own experience, and that thegoal of our study and our inquiry into astrology is tore-present and reveal the nature of ourselves and ourintimate circulation and connection and identity in theHeart of the Sun, Heart of the Galaxy, Heart of theSuper-Galaxy. In a word, and here is the point: thefact that all identification is simple circulation (acontinuing or circle), and all inquiry, questioning andsearch can but end in the discovery of our Self155

The Astrology of Local Spacewhether "writ small" in the corners of our personalstruggle or "writ large" across the very heavens.Again: all self discovery, all Identification is rediscoveryand simple: CIRCULATION.Local AttractionAs we look into the Sun during the course of a yearand describe the qualities of those who are born inthe various signs, we succeed in defining NOT theposition of the Sun, but that of the Earth in relation tothe Sun. We all know this.This illustrates an important axiom: all inquiry intogreater centers does not reveal the nature of that156

The Astrology of Local Spacecenter (in itself), but rather reveals our relationship tothat center, reveals something about ourselves.Centers Serve to Mirror or ReflectTheir function is to reveal to us not their intrinsicnature, but our own. Revelation is (and has alwaysbeen) the sign of communication with greater centersor planes. Revelation, not of some far off distantentity or "God," is always of ourselves and the “God”in us. We discover the God in ourselves.In a discussion as to the qualities of the centers of theGalaxy and Super-Galaxy, we can understand thatinquiry into the direction of the Galaxy will serve toreveal the nature of our own Sun, while inquiry into157

The Astrology of Local Spacethe Super-Galaxy will serve to reveal the nature of ourGalaxy. The idea presented here is that it is thenature of higher centers to reflect and respond tomore particular or local centers. Higher centers reflector show us ourselves.Gravity is a Local PhenomenonAt this point another very significant Axiom emerges.The experience of physical attraction (traction = todraw across or towards) or gravity is primarily a localphenomenon. For instance: we directly respond tothe attraction we call “gravity,” that of the center of theEarth. Our Earth responds (by gravity) to the center ofthe Sun, the Sun to the Galaxy, and so forth. Yet as158

The Astrology of Local Spaceindividuals we are not aware of the pull of the Sun onthe entire Earth, much less of the Galaxy on theEarth, or again: attraction or gravity is always a signof a local phenomenon. This is an important point. Letme explain.EnlightenmentThis perhaps will make more sense in our practicalaffairs if we put it this way: a sign of ourcommunication with higher or "vaster" centers (“God”or “Total Awareness”) is not a physical gravity(graveness) or attraction, but always anenlightenment, a releasing and accepting of thenature of the particular terms (terminals) of our159

The Astrology of Local Spaceexistence. Knowledge of so-called inner planesexhibits itself to us through a process of reflection ormirroring of our self rather than through thepresentation to us of something new or somehow"other."Personal PowerLet me put it crudely, as we might encounter thisprinciple on a day-to-day basis. When I was growingup I was seemingly attracted and drawn into thesphere of all kinds of local power merchants, wouldbe“gurus” who ruled by their personal power andattractiveness. I, who knew nothing then, lived interror of these powerful merchants of fear, and160

The Astrology of Local Spacestruggled to keep from being drawn into an orbitaround them. I was foolish enough to think this waswhat teachers were supposed to look and act like.Later, when I met my first real teacher, all of thischanged, and I could see all of these phonies were nodifferent that I was, struggling to define and assertthemselves. What my teacher showed me was not apowerful center around which I was to orbit, but,instead, a kindness and interest in me that I hadnever before experienced. In fact, my teacher knewhow to appreciate and care for me more than I knowhow to care for myself. In his long-gone reflection Isaw myself, and learned something about who I was,not how powerful he was. He had the power to reflectme to myself.161

The Astrology of Local SpaceHigher Centers Embrace UsFrom that day forward, I never was fooled by thewould-be guru, with their fierce looks and demands. Iknew that any real teacher would reflect me and helpme to better know myself.This is what I am trying to say here, when I say thathigher centers mirror or reveal to us, reflect our ownself, and do not themselves exhibit a greater intrinsicattractiveness or gravity than we (ourselves) alreadyhave. In other words, inquiry into centers reveals tous our own essential sense of attractiveness orgravity, not of some “other.”162

The Astrology of Local SpaceIn fact, it is the nature of centers, higher centers, to be“non”-material or non-physical, by definition. Ourinquiry into this realm of centers is limited only by ourfear or reluctance to see our self in this mirror, andseeing through the back of the mirror has alwaysbeen a sign of Initiation. To sum this up:Greater centers mirror or reflect our own self andnature, revealing to us our essential identity asalready a part of a larger whole, and enlightening usof (or from) our "grave-ness” and the burden of anapparent loneliness or imagined separation from thatwhole.These centers are our personal welcomingcommittee, helping us identify ourselves as alreadybelonging to a line or lineage, stretching back as faras life itself.163

The Astrology of Local SpaceHigher CentersWith this idea in mind, let us resume our investigationas to the nature of the Galactic and Super-GalacticCenters. Given the above, we can expect theGalactic Center to exercise considerable greaterphysical attraction on our Sun (and ourselves) thanthat of the local Super-Galactic Center. In fact, one ofthe identifying features of the Galactic Center(GALACTIC CENTER) at work as revealed in chartanalysis (research by astrologers Charles Harvey,Theodore Landscheidt) is a certain "macho" likequality, a sense of strength and power perhapstypified in the zeal and self-righteousness of certainextreme religious factions. Or more simply: this164

The Astrology of Local Spacetendency in the qualities of Sagittarius and Capricornof sternness and physical action or "power."Everything is already conveniently embedded in themeaning of the common zodiac signs.Another way to put this is to point out the great abilityand power of the Galactic Center as represented(when strongly aspected) in the natal chart to moveand attract others. We find this feature in the chartsof great political and religious leaders who possessthe power to move nations to action. The GalacticCenter figures in these charts in the traditionalastrological ways – by conjunctions and other aspectsto the Galactic Center. We may contrast this "macholike"quality found in the Galactic Center to the165

The Astrology of Local Spacequalities that indicate the presence of Super-GalacticCenter (SGC) in natal charts. Here we look to thetraditional qualities of Virgo and Libra – that of care,service, reflection, and love.Buddha = AwarenessPerhaps the best representative of the Super-Galacticnature occurs in the Eastern religion Buddhism, in theidea of compassion and especially in the belovedfigure of the Bodhisattva, a being who is literallydevoted to the service of all life until ignorancevanishes in every one in complete identification of selfas one with “God.”166

The Astrology of Local SpaceThe Galactic Center is located around 26 degrees ofSagittarius. The Super-Galactic Center is locatedaround 1 degrees of Libra, roughly at right angles toone another.We do not find the SGC as physically powerful andmoving as we do the GC. In the West, the traditionalgod figures are more fierce and full of the "fire andbrimstone" approach than of the endless care andservice as typified in some of the Eastern traditions.In fact, only in these times we are now living are the"servile" qualities associated with Virgo Sun signcoming to be appreciated as a power in themselves.In other words, the SGC represents a non-material oressentially a passive power rather than the moreactive kind of power as seen in the Galactic CenterIdea. In the Bible it repeatedly says "This came topass... that came to pass." The passive genius, notactive in the "doing of things" but rather active in the"undoing of things," is in helping things to pass fromthis world. This SGC is a non-material or spiritualtask and genius equally to be valued along with themore active One-who-does-things or brings-things-tobein this world (GC). We can see these twoarchetypes at work in the world, and they may beconveniently studied in their local representatives: theGalactic and Super-Galactic centers and planes.167

The Astrology of Local SpaceSo Inclined"As Above ,So Below, but After Another Manner,"familiar as an occult maxim, might be the perfectdescription of what is involved in understanding thevarious astrological coordinate systems and theirtransformations. It is easy to communicate theconcept of "wheels within wheels" (larger systemscontaining within them nested smaller systems), andthis has resulted in the popular idea of the chakras orplanes (planets) of our experience and Self as anascending hierarchy of levels, each inclusive of thepreceding level.168

The Astrology of Local SpaceA Matter of InclinationWhat is not generally appreciated, but which becomesincreasingly clear when we examine the actualstructure of the various cosmic systems, is not onlythe idea of larger systems embracing the smallsystems within them (levels), but the fact that eachlarger system is also differently inclined to thepreceding one. It should be understood that asidefrom the often tedious mathematics involved incoordinate transformations, there is an accompanyingphilosophical or psychological adjustment to be made,a shift in viewpoint, a change in the approach orattitude to the subject.169

The Astrology of Local SpaceSo, there is not only an “expansion” in perspectivewhen we move to a larger coordinate system, butthere is also a reordering of our sense of direction.This is what makes it so difficult for an individual tosee beyond his or her present dimension and get afeel for what is perhaps their inevitable future. Thereexist what are termed "event horizons," beyond whichwe cannot understand how life can go on.Rites of PassageAn example of some event horizons: puberty,marriage, child birth, and death, to name a few of theclassics. We cannot see beyond our present sphereinto what our future might be like in these otherdimensions because we cannot help but conceive of170

The Astrology of Local Spacethese events in terms of our present line of (linear)thought. To pass through these event horizonsinvolves total change, not just an extension orexpansion. We do not watch our own change, for weare what “Is” in fact in transition or change. We arechanging. As I used to put it to myself: I waswondering what I was going through, until I realized Iwas going through.171

The Astrology of Local SpaceEvent HorizonsThe idea presented here should be obvious: thecrossing of an event horizon involves simplereorientation on our part, call it a change of approachor attitude. The new dimension or sphere we enterturns out, after our adjustment or change, to revealour previous or past life in new light. We see our oldbehavior and opinions differently in our new approachto life. It may be very difficult, as we all know, tocommunicate this difference to one who has not yethad that experience. What has changed perhapsmost is our INCLINATION. We do not want the samethings we did want, or we now want them in adifferent manner. We are no longer inclined such that172

The Astrology of Local Spacewe feel the way we used to. Our life now revolvesaround a different center than before – a wife or child,for instance.We not only revolve around a different center or pointto a different star, but that amounts to a change ininclination and direction. That change in inclination iswhat is hard to convey to someone looking to havethat experience. We call all grasp the idea that a"greater" experience will embrace our previousexperience like a set of Russian nesting dolls. We allget that.173

The Astrology of Local SpaceCenters and OrientationWhat has not been properly presented is that alongwith the expanded experience and the embracing ofwhat went before is a shift in inclination, a newperspective. If we are studying with an enlightenedteacher (from our perspective), we tend to imagine anexpanded consciousness, but always in relation to ourcurrent center. We don’t know, spiritually orpsychologically speaking, where a deeper or "greater"center is located, and this is by definition. If we did,we would already be oriented.What the teacher does is very clear in Asian religions,where the teacher gives what are (interestingly174

The Astrology of Local Spaceenough) called the "pointing out" instructions, afterwhich the student, with some practice in day-to-daylife experience, manages to get the "point," and,through an often slow and painful time, manages toreorient themselves to point to the new center. To "getthe point" here means to get reoriented.Everything shifts, and the previous center is no longerconsidered "central," and either dissolves or losesinterest or magnetism for the student. This is the ideaof centers we are presenting here, only through thewonderful precision of these natural astrologicalcoordinate systems.175

The Astrology of Local SpaceAstrological Coordinate SystemsIn fact, many of these principles are graphicallyrevealed through the study and exercise of thevarious astrological coordinate systems. Forinstance: what appears in one system as isolated andsingular entities that are apparently unconnected,when viewed in the perspective of another systemdefine the basic shape of the system itself. How oftenin our lives does some singularity appear as if another and foreign entity, but later, when we haveexperienced several of this type as representatives ofa kind at first unfamiliar, this same event becomesrecognizable to us and loses its threatening quality. Ithappens all the time to each of us.176

The Astrology of Local SpaceI cannot recommend strongly enough the exercise ofthese various ways or systems for understanding ouruniverse to astrologers practicing today. Let usexamine briefly some of these larger systems andtheir systems and their Centers. For those of youinterested in a more thorough description and catalogof the various members of these systems see mybook: “Astrophysical Directions” (1976).Cosmic Systems and Centers1. SOLAR SYSTEM Center: Sun2. LOCAL SYSTEM (Gould's Belt) This is a group ofsome 10 to the 8 th stars of which the Sun is amember. The Local System, originally thought to be aminute galaxy embedded with the Milky Way, isconsidered to be an ellipsoid of 700x200 parsecs withthe long axis parallel to the New Galactic Longitudes160-deg/340-deg and located in Orion-Cygnus spiralarm. The centroid of the Local System is in Virgo atabout 15deg25' with nodes to the Ecliptic at 10deg22'of Sagittarius (North node) and Gemini. The systemis inclined to the ecliptic by about 66 degrees. Note –positions are of the Epoch 1950.0.3. LOCAL GALAXY...The Milky Way. Estimated tocontain 10 to the 11th stars, The Galaxy is a disc-likestructure with a diameter of some 30,000 parsecs, acentral ellipsoidal nucleus of about 4000 parsecs, andan average disc thickness of several hundredparsecs. The nodes and center (about 26-degree ofSagittarius) in relation to the ecliptic are given177

The Astrology of Local Spaceelsewhere. The Sun is located some 10,000 from theGalactic Center.4 LOCAL GROUP OF GALAXIES The local groupincludes about a score of member galaxies, thelargest of which is the Andromeda Galaxy (M-31).Our galaxy and M-31 revolve around a commoncenter of mass roughly in the direction of 27-degreesin the Sign Aries.5 LOCAL SUPERGALAXY . Our Galaxy is part of avast flattened super system of galaxies some 40megaparsecs in diameter, with the center (at 1degrees of Libra) in the great Virgo Cluster some 12-16 megaparsecs from our Sun.178

The Astrology of Local SpaceThe Horizon SystemWe will return to some additional ideas as to therelationship between the equator and the ecliptic afterwe introduce the third major astrological system ofcoordinates, that of the Horizon.The Horizon system of coordinates represents thethird and last of the spherical systems used inconstructing a natal chart. In this system, thereference plane is one through the birthplace orobserving point that is parallel to the horizon. Thepoles of this system are the Zenith (point overhead)and Nadir (point underfoot). The latitude-typecoordinate in this system is called Altitude and is179

The Astrology of Local Spacemeasured from 0° to 90° from the plane of the horizonto either pole. The longitude coordinate is calledAzimuth and is measured from 0° to 360° along thehorizon (for astrological use in this book), startingfrom the East point and moving in a counterclockwisedirection through the North Point and on around, inthe same way that we are used to measuring housesor signs.The Horizon System is built around the specific placeon earth of the event and all other objects, such asplanets, stars, cities, etc. are then expressed in termsof how they were oriented or appear from thisperspective. The horizon system is most like thestandard road map in that it has a North-South-East-West orientation. The North-South axis is identical tothe Celestial Meridian running from the north celestial(or geographic) pole through the observer to the southpole. The East-West circle is called the Prime Verticaland runs due East or West from the observer. It doesnot follow the East-West geographic parallels oflatitude. The horizon system can be anyplace onearth you are.180

The Astrology of Local SpaceThe Pole Star (North Star)The earth is endlessly revolving, exposing us,wherever we are, to the entire circle of the heavens.At night, we can see the stars, planets, andconstellations change every few hours or so. Butthere are two places in the heavens that do notchange, and that is the part of the heavens directlyabove (and below) the North and South geographicpoles, respectively. Everything revolves around thosetwo points.In the Northern Hemisphere, there happens to be astar right above the North Pole, and this is called(obviously) the Pole Star. It is also called the North181

The Astrology of Local SpaceStar. This star has been used forever as a guide starfor travelers and seamen, because it is the onecelestial object in the Northern Hemisphere that isalways there. It does not change.182

The Astrology of Local SpaceThe Obliquity of the EclipticThe angle between the ecliptic and equatorialsystems, some 23.5 degrees, is called the Obliquity ofthe Ecliptic, and this angle creates the difference inperspective between the two systems. Let’s go oversome of the main points of difference between thesetwo systems.1. The celestial equator and the ecliptic planeintersect to form the two equinoxes and theequinoctial axis.183

The Astrology of Local Space2. The Vernal Equinox or 0° Aries node or point isthe ascending node of the ecliptic plane to theequatorial plane.3. The Autumnal Equinox or 0° Libra point is thedescending node of the ecliptic plane to theequatorial plane.4. These points and these two coordinatesystems are FIXED in space.5. AT ANY MOMENT and AT ANY PLACE in theEarth's orbit, the ZERO° Aries point isALWAYS in the same direction and at aninfinite distance.6. The measurement of longitude along theecliptic or the equator is only identical at thefour Cardinal points: the two equinoctial andsolstitial points.7. At all other points, there is a differencebetween a degree of longitude (the samedegree) as measured along the ecliptic and thesame degree measured on the equator.8. Each system is simply tilted at an angle to theother.184

The Astrology of Local SpaceRelocated Angles and HousesPerhaps the oldest of the three methods involvesrelocating the natal chart angles and houses, which isas simple as casting a chart for your birth day andtime, but for another locality – a different place.While the angular relationships between the planets(planetary aspects) do not change using thistechnique, the chart angles (Ascendant, Midheaven,Vertex, etc.) and the house cusps do change. Theresult is that using this method, you get differingrelationships to the angles and particular planets canappear in houses other than in the standard natalchart.185

The Astrology of Local SpaceIn other words, you can alter house and anglerelationships to the planets, which may enhance andmake a particular configuration more prominent or itmay de-emphasize a configuration, perhaps puttingan inauspicious planet more to the back burner andaway from center stage. Here is a simple example:Suppose I have Saturn in the 7 th House, the house ofmarriage and public recognition. I may not wantSaturn there. By relocating the angles by moving toanother town or city, I may be able to push Saturn intothe 8 th House, where it might be a little more at home,freeing my 7 th House up for an easier marriage orwhat-have-you.186

The Astrology of Local SpaceRelocation to Ann Arbor, MichiganThe move to Ann Arbor, continuing my series ofmoves, does a number of things using this technique.Perhaps most important, it brings the planet Uranusdirectly to the Descendant, the 7 th House cusp, thusemphasizing “astrology,” computers, and inventions ingeneral. It was here that I became a professionalastrologer, was the first person to program astrologyon a home computer and make those programsavailable to my fellow astrologers, and also to developa number of innovative techniques like this one: LocalSpace.187

The Astrology of Local SpaceIt brings Mercury to the 8 th House cusp, emphasizingesoteric thinking and theory. It also places Venus inthe 9 th House, rather than the 8 th House, making foran interest in things that last, such as religion; in thiscase it was Buddhist mind training that wasundertaken.188

The Astrology of Local SpaceRelocation to Berkeley, CAMy relocation chart for Berkeley, CA gives me aScorpio Ascendant, moves Mars into the 6 th House,and my stellium of Moon-Saturn-Uranus into the 7 thHouse. My Jupiter moves into the 8 th House, and theSun and Mercury move into the 9 th . Perhaps mostimportant, it places Pluto on the Midheaven, and itwas here that I had a number of mind-openingexperiences, most transformative.189

The Astrology of Local SpaceRelocation to Big Rapids, MIMy relocation chart for Big Rapids, MI does severalthings. It gives me a late Scorpio Ascendant. It putsMars into the 5 th House, a major change, whichaccents my children and creativity in general. It placesthe astrological planet Uranus on the 7 th House cusp(Descendant), which also rules computers andinnovations. Mercury is moved into the 8 th House ofthe esoteric mind, and Venus is moved into the 9 thHouse of religion, in this case Tibetan Buddhism.190

The Astrology of Local SpaceAstro-GeographyThis particular technique, Astro*Geography, wasdiscovered by astrologers Donald Bradley and GaryDuncan, but later popularized under the name“Astro*Carto*Graphy” by astrologer Jim Lewis in thelatter part of the 20 th Century. It is still very much usedtoday and many astrological programs include it. Youcan also buy “Astro*Carto*Graphy” maps from variousonline services.This is not a book about A*C*G, but since it is one ofthe three leading methods of astrological relocation,let’s go over it briefly to make clear what it is. Thereare a number of articles and books onAstro*Carto*Graphy available, so look there for furtherinformation.A*C*G uses a standard geographic map such as youmight find in a road atlas or state map. On thisgeographic map are drawn curved lines that representwhere the nine planets, the Sun and Moon are risingat the moment of a birth. In other words, these linesrepresent all the places in the world where, if youwere born at this moment, you would have aparticular planet rising, that is on the exact cusp of theFirst House.A similar line is also calculated for each planet thatmarks the point the planet where the planet is setting(on the Descendant) or in other words is on theSeventh House cusp. Additionally, lines for theMidheaven (MC) and Imum Coeli (IC) are also given.191

The Astrology of Local SpaceThe lines for the MC and IC are always vertical linesrunning North and South on the map, while the risingand setting lines are always curved lines creatinggreat circles. Thus for the ten most bodies inastrology (nine planets, the Sun and Moon), therewould be a total of 40 lines plotted, for each body arising, setting, and MC and IC line.What Are A*C*G lines?A*C*G lines (as pointed out above) show all theplaces in the world you might travel or relocate to,where you would have a First House (or SeventhHouse) emphasis. In other words, when you are atthat location, it is as if you were born there with theparticular planet rising (on the cusp of the FirstHouse) or setting (cusp of the Seventh House),directly above (Midheaven), or directly below (ImumCoeli). Only these four points (for each body) arerepresented in Astro*Carto*Graphy. The rest of thelocal horizon is ignored using this method. Here is anexample:192

The Astrology of Local SpacePlanet Uranus in A*C*GIn the above A*C*G map (or a section of it), you cansee the Uranus line passing through Michigan. Otherrising/setting lines in the U.S. include the Moon,Saturn, and Jupiter. That’s it. There are someMidheaven/IC lines (the vertical lines) for Venus,Pluto (off the coast), Neptune, and the Lunar NorthNode, but nothing else. As we will see later on, usingLocal Space, we can also mark Uranus on the horizonin Michigan, but also what direction (planet line) anycity is from the natal/radix chart.193

The Astrology of Local SpacePros and ConsOn the pro side, A*C*G is very popular and doesshow where you might achieve angular planetaryemphasis – planets rising or setting, at the Midheaven(above) or the IC (below).One of the problems I have with A*C*G is that youmay have an important line (let’s say the Sun orVenus) that is almost entirely in the middle of theoceans. In the above example, you can see myVenus is literally out-to-sea. Not much chance I willever visit there (except perhaps on a cruise ship),194

The Astrology of Local Spacemuch less relocate there. Is my love life too emotional(water)?The other main problem I have with the A*C*Gtechnique is that it does not tell you in whichdirections the planets and other bodies are at birth,much less which cities these lines pass through.Luckily the Local Space chart does this, which is whatthis book is primarily about.195

The Astrology of Local SpaceMichael ErlewineInternationally knownastrologer and authorNoel Tyl (author of 34books on astrology)has this to say aboutMichael Erlewine:“Michael Erlewine isthe giant influencewhose creativity isforever imprinted on allastrologers’ work since the beginning of the Computerera! He is the man who single-handedly appliedcomputer technology to astrological measurement,research, and interpretation, and has been theformative and leading light of astrology’s moderngrowth. Erlewine humanized it all, adding perceptionand incisive practical analyses to modern,computerized astrology. Now, for a second generationof astrologers and their public, Erlewine’s geniuscontinues with StarTypes … and it’s simply amazing!”196

The Astrology of Local SpaceA Brief Bio of Michael ErlewineMichael Erlewine has studied and practiced astrologyfor over 40 years, as an author, teacher, lecturer,personal consultant, programmer, and conferenceproducer.Erlewine was the first astrologer to program astrologyon microcomputers and make those programsavailable to his fellow astrologers. This was in 1977.He founded Matrix Astrology in 1978, and hiscompany, along with Microsoft, are the two oldestsoftware companies still on the Internet.Michael, soon joined by his astrologer-brotherStephen Erlewine, went on to revolutionize astrologyby producing, for the new microcomputers, the firstwritten astrological reports, first research system, firsthigh resolution chart wheels, geographic and starmaps, and on and on.Along the way Matrix produced programs that spokeastrology (audio), personal astrological videos,infomercials, and many other pioneering feats.Michael Erlewine has received major awards fromUAC (United Astrological Conferences), AFA(American Federation of Astrologers), and the PIA(Professional Astrologers Incorporated), and scores ofon online awards.Michael and Stephen Erlewine have published ayearly calendar for almost 30 years, since 1969.Michael Erlewine has produced and put on more than197

The Astrology of Local Space36 conferences in the areas of astrology andBuddhism.Example Astro*Image CardAside from his current work as a consultant for NBC’siVillage and Astrology.com, Erlewine has personallydesigned over 6,000 tarot-like astrology cards,making authentic astrology available to people withlittle or no experience in the topic. TheseAstro*Image cards are available through a varietyof small astrological programs and in eBooks. Someexamples can be found at WWW.StarTypes.com,where there is also a link to his astrological software.198

The Astrology of Local SpacePersonal Astrology ReadingsMichael Erlewine has been doing personal astrologyreadings for almost forty years and enjoys sharing hisknowledge with others. However, his busy schedulemakes it difficult to honor all requests. Feel free toemail (Michael@Erlewine.net) him if you wish apersonal chart reading. He will let you know if hiscurrent schedule will allow him to work with you.The sections that follow will give you more detailsabout Michael Erlewine and his very active center.The Heart Center HouseIn 1972, Michael and Margaret Erlewine establishedthe Heart Center, a center for community studies.Today, the Heart Center continues to be a center forastrological and spiritual work. Over the years,199

The Astrology of Local Spacehundreds of invited guests have stayed at the HeartCenter, some for just a night, others for many years.Astrologers, authors, musicians, Sanskrit scholars,swamis – you name it, the Heart Center has been ahome for a wide group of individuals, all united bytheir interest in spiritual or cultural ideas.Heart Center LibraryErlewine also founded and directs The Heart CenterAstrological Library, the largest astrological library inthe United States, and probably the world, that isopen to researchers. Meticulously catalogued, thecurrent library project is the scanning of the Table ofContents for all major books and periodicals onastrology.200

The Astrology of Local SpaceThe library does not have regular hours, so contactahead of time if you wish to visit.Michael@erlewine.net.The All-Music Guide / All-Movie GuideMichael Erlewine's devotion to studying and playingthe music of Black Americans, in particular blues, ledto his traveling to small blues clubs of Chicago andhearing live, blues greats like Little Walter, MagicSam, Big Walter Horton, and many others. He wenton to interview many dozens of performers. Much ofthis interviewing took place at the Ann Arbor BluesFestivals in 1969 and 1970, the first electric bluesfestivals of any size ever held in North America, andthen later at the Ann Arbor Blues & Jazz Festivals.201

The Astrology of Local SpaceWith their extensive knowledge of the blues music,Erlewine and his brother Daniel were asked to playhost to the score or so of professional bluesmusicians and their bands. They were in charge ofserving them food and (of course) drink. Michael wenton to interview most of the performers in these earlyfestivals, with an audio recorder, and later on withvideo.The interviewing led to more study and ultimatelyresulted in Michael founding and developing AMG,the All-Music Guide, today the largest single databaseof music reviews and documentation on the planet.Erlewine started from a one-room office, and thereviewers and music aficionados of the time laughedat his attempt to cover all music. But he persisted,and the all-Music Guide appeared as a Gopher Site,before the World Wide Web even existed – adatabase of popular music for all music lovers.Over the years AMG grew, and the All-Movie Guideand All-Game Guide were born and also flourished.Later, Erlewine would create ClassicPosters.com,devoted to the history and documentation of rock n'roll posters, some 35,000 of them.These guides changed the way music was reviewedand rated. Previous to AMG, review guides like the"Rolling Stones Record Guide" were run by a fewsophisticated reviewers, and the emphasis was on theexpertise of the reviewer and their point of view.Erlewine insisted on treating all artists equally, andnot comparing artist to artist. What can be important,202

The Astrology of Local SpaceMichael points out, is to find the best music any artisthas produced, not whether the artist is better or worsethan Jimmie Hendrix or Bob Dylan.Erlewine sold AMG in 1996, at which time he had 150full-time employees and 500 free-lance writers. Hehas edited and published any number of books andCD-ROMs on music and film. During the time heowned and ran AMG, there were no advertisementson the site and nothing for sale. As Erlewine writes,"All of us deserve to have access to our own popularculture. That is what AMG and ClassicPosters.comare all about.” Today, AMG reviews can be foundeverywhere across the Internet. Erlewine's musiccollection is housed in an AMG warehouse,numbering almost 500,000 CDs.203

The Astrology of Local SpaceHeart Center Meditation RoomMichael Erlewine has been active in Buddhism sincethe 1950s. Here are his own words:“Back in the late 1950s, and early 1960, Buddhismwas one of many ideas we stayed up late, smokedcigarettes, drank lots of coffee, and talked about,along with existentialism, poetry, and the like.“It was not until I met the Tibetan lama, ChogyamTrungpa Rinpoche, in 1974 that I understoodBuddhism as not just philosophy but also as path, away to get through life. Having been raised Catholic,serving as an altar boy, learning church Latin, and allthat, I had not been given any kind of a path, otherthan the path of faith. I hung onto that faith as long asI could, but it told me very little about how to live andwork in this world.“I had been trying to learn the basics of TibetanBuddhism before I met Trungpa Rinpoche, but thespark that welded all of that together was missing.Trungpa provided that spark. I got to be his chaufferfor a weekend, and to design a poster for his publictalk.“More important: only about an hour after we met,Trungpa took me into a small room for a couple ofhours and taught me to meditate. I didn’t evenunderstand what I was learning. All that I know wasthat I was learning about myself.204

The Astrology of Local Space"After that meeting, I begin to understand a lot moreof what I had read, but it was almost ten years laterthat I met my teacher, Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche, theabbot of Karma Triyana Dharmachakra Monastery inthe mountains above Woodstock, NY. MeetingRinpoche was life-changing.Heart Center Symbol"It was not long after that we started the Heart CenterMeditation Center here in Big Rapids, which is stillgoing today. My wife and I became more and moreinvolved with the monastery in New York, and weended up serving on several boards, and even asfundraisers for the monastery. We helped to raise thefunds to build a three-year retreat in upstate NewYork, one for men and one for women.205

The Astrology of Local Space"We also established KTD Dharma Goods, a mailorderdharma goods business that helpedpractitioners find the meditation materials they mightneed. We published many sadhanas, the traditionalBuddhist practice texts, plus other teachings, in printand on audio tape."Years have gone by, and I am still working withKhenpo, Rinpoche and the sangha at the Woodstockmonastery. Some years ago, Rinpoche surprised mywife and me by telling us we should go to Tibet andmeet His Holiness the 17th Karmapa, and that weshould go right away, that summer, and I hate toleave the house!"That trip, and a second trip that followed some yearslater, turned out to be pilgrimages that were also lifechanging. Our center in Big Rapids has a separatebuilding as a shrine room and even a small Stupa."I can never repay the kindness that KhenpoRinpoche and the other rinpoches that I have takenteachings from have shown me."206

The Astrology of Local SpaceMusic CareerMichael Erlewine’s career in music started early on,when he dropped out of high school and hitchhiked toVenice West, in Santa Monica, California, in anattempt to catch a ride on the tail end of the Beatnikera. This was 1960, and he was a little late for that,but right on time for the folk music revival that wasjust beginning to bloom at that time. Like many otherpeople his age, Erlewine traveled from college centerto center across the nation: Ann Arbor, Berkeley,Cambridge, and Greenwich Village. There was a wellbeatentrack on which traveled the young folkmusicians of the future.Erlewine, who also played folk guitar, hitchhiked for astint with a young Bob Dylan, and then moreextensively with guitar virtuoso and instrumentalist207

The Astrology of Local SpacePerry Lederman. Erlewine helped to put on Dylan’sfirst concert in Ann Arbor. He hung out with peoplelike Ramblin’ Jack Elliot, Joan Baez, The New LostCity Ramblers, and the County Gentlemen.In 1965, the same year that the Grateful Dead wereforming, Michael Erlewine, his brother Daniel, and afew others formed the first new-style band in theMidwest, the Prime Movers Blues Band. Iggy Popwas their drummer, and his stint in the band was howhe got the name Iggy. This was the beginning of thehippie era. Michael was the band’s lead singer, andplayed amplified Chicago-style blues harmonica. Hestill plays.Erlewine was also the manager of the band, andpersonally designed and silkscreened the band’sposters, one of which is shown below.The Prime Movers became a seminal bandthroughout the Midwest, and even traveled as far asthe West Coast, where the band spent 1967, the“summer of Love,” playing at all of the famous clubs,for example, opening for Eric Clapton and Cream atthe Filmore Auditorium.As the 60s wound down, and bands began to breakup, Erlewine was still studying the music of AmericanBlacks, in particular blues. Because of theirknowledge of blues and the players, Michael and hisbrother Dan were invited to help host the first majorelectric blues festival in the United States, the 1969208

The Astrology of Local SpaceAnn Arbor Blues Festival. They got to wine and dinethe performers, and generally look after them.Michael interviewed (audio and video) most of theplayers at the first two Ann Arbor Blues Festivals, theyincluded: Big Joe Turner, Luther Allison, Carey Bell,Bobby Bland, Clifton Chenier, James Cotton, PeeWee Crayton, Arthur Crudup, Jimmy Dawkins, DoctorRoss, Sleepy John Estes, Lowell Fulson, Buddy Guy,John Lee Hooker, Howlin’ Wolf, J.B. Hutto, AlbertKing, B.B King, Freddie king, Sam Lay, Light-nin’Hopkins, Manse Lipscomb, Robert Lockwood, MagicSam, Fred McDowell, Muddy Waters, CharlieMusslewhite, Louis Myers , Junior Parker,Brewer Phillips, Otis rush, Johnnie Shines, GeorgeSmith, Son House, Victoria Spivey, Hubert Sumlin,Sunnyland Slim, Roosevelt Sykes, Eddie Taylor,Hound Dog Taylor, Big mama Thornton, EddieVinson, Sippie Wallace, Junior Wells, BigJoe Williams, Robert Pete Williams, Johnny Young,and Mighty Joe Young.Email:Michael Erlewine can be reached atMichael@Erlewine.net209