tain.They collected materials on astrological birth control and, having copies of most
of the relevant information at the time of the Soviet invasion, Ostrander and
Schroeder decided to have the materials in their possession translated. From these and
other sources they wrote Astrological Birth Control.(The book is also useful for its
overview of scientific research on astrological effects up to 1972.) Enough technical
material is included that any competent astrologer can cast an astrological birth con-
trol chart, although the authors were careful to include the caveat that they were not
recommending the system. The reports from non-iron-curtain researchers who have
investigated Jonas’s system since the publication of Ostrander and Schroeder’s book
are mixed; some claim to have replicated his results, while others report disconfirma-
tion. One can find numerous relevant websites by typing Jonas’s name into any Inter-
net search engine.Sources:
Centrum Jonas International.http://www.centrum.jonas.com.
Naish, Francesca. The Lunar Cycle: A Guide to Natural and Astrological Fertility Control.Brid-
port, Dorset, UK: Prism Press, 1989.
Ostrander, Sheila, and Lynn Schroeder. Astrological Birth Control.Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Pren-
tice-Hall, 1972. (Reissued in paperback as Natural Birth Control.)
———. Psychic Discoveries Behind the Iron Curtain.Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1970.BIRTHMOMENT
Although determining the exact birth moment—first appearance of the baby’s head,
delivery, severing of the umbilical cord, first breath, first cry, etc.—has sometimes
been the subject of debate, the consensus among most astrologers is that the natal
chart should be cast for the individual’s first breath. Clients sometimes tell astrologers
that their nativity should have been earlier or later than was recorded on their birth
certificate (i.e., that the chart cast for their moment of birth is somehow wrong,
because they were born premature). Such people misconceive the nature of astrologi-
cal influence: The individual’s first independent breath is like the clicking of a camera
shutter, exposing the “film” of their soul to the imprint of celestial influences.Sources:
Bach, Eleanor. Astrology from A to Z: An Illustrated Source Book.New York: Philosophical
Library, 1990.
Leo, Alan. The Complete Dictionary of Astrology.Rochester, VT: Destiny Books, 1989.BIRTHPLACESYSTEM
An alternative name for the Koch house system. By extension, Koch houses are some-
times called birthplace houses.BITTERSIGNS
The expression “bitter signs” is an older term applied to the fire signs, which were said
to be fiery, hot, and bitter. The antonym is sweet signs.Birth Moment
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