typhoid fever in December 1861. As often happens in the wake of an accurate astro-
logical prediction, some individuals were outraged at the triumph of “medieval super-
stition.” In this case, Edward Belcher, a writer for the London Daily Telegraph,
attacked Morrison, who responded by suing for libel. The jury found in favor of Morri-
son, but he was awarded only 20 shillings. He was rewarded, however, by the substan-
tial increase in sales of his almanac that the publicity brought him. Beyond his
almanac, Morrison is best known for the abridged edition of Lilly’s Christian Astrology,
which he published. Morrison died on February 8, 1874.
Sources:
Holden, James H., and Robert A. Hughes. Astrological Pioneers of America.Tempe, AZ: Ameri-
can Federation of Astrologers, 1988.
Morrison, R. J. An Introduction to Astrology.London, H. G. Bohn, 1852. Reprint, San Bernardi-
no, CA: Borgo Press, 1980.
MOVABLESIGNS
Movable signs is an alternative expression for the cardinal signs, which are Aries,
Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn. Movable signs should not be confused with mutable
signs, which refer to four entirely different signs.
MRIGASIRA
Mrigasira (or the Deer Head) is one of the Nakshatras (lunar mansions) of Vedic
astrology. Represented by a deer’s head, this Nakshatra is found from Taurus 23°20’ to
Gemini 6°40’. Soma, the divine nectar, presides, and the planet Mars rules over this
sign associated with the fleetness of a deer. People may be more curious and creative,
yet flirtatious and suspicious during this period.
—Pramela ThiagesanMUHARTA
Muhurta serves a purpose similar to that of Western electional astrology in which the
astrologer chooses an auspicious time for the commencement of an action. In ancient
Vedic times, however, the specific role of muhurta was primarily for the timing of per-
sonal and community rites that expressed the spiritual life of the culture.
The central role of such rites is best understood in the context of the philoso-
phy of karma. Although the Western sense of karma is often limited to the results of
past action, karma actually means action. In the context of muhurta, karma can be
thought of as current actions founded in the will to choose that which can best ame-
liorate or soften the impact of less evolved past decisions or of simply creating new life
trajectories. From this perspective, the wheel of karma is an ongoing cyclical process
that encompasses both experiencing the fruits of past action and having the will and
responsibility to choose and perform new current actions. In turn, current actions can
feed back to patterns created in the past and modify them, carving out new behaviors
that are hopefully more beneficial to the individual and to his or her society.
THEASTROLOGYBOOK [469]
Muharta