SABIANSYMBOLS
The Sabian symbols are the unique set of 360 symbolic vignettes or descriptive images
for each degree of the zodiac, which were obtained in 1925 by Marc Edmund Jones
from an ancient Mesopotamian source.
Several years earlier, Jones had become interested in the psychically obtained
astrological symbols of the Welsh seer, John Thomas, better known as “Charubel.” He
thought about asking permission to recast the descriptions of the symbols, but decided
they were too moralized for his purposes. He decided, instead, to try to obtain a more
universal set of symbols from one of the “invisible Brothers” who was saturated in the
early Egyptian schematism from which the zodiac was originally derived.
With a plan in mind, Jones began looking for someone with psychic abilities
but limited life experience (i.e., a person devoid of a sophisticated mindset) to assist
him—someone whose consciousness could receive an impression, but form only a sim-
ple, modern picture or situation for each of the 360 degrees. For this task, he chose
Elsie Wheeler, a Sabian Assembly student who had been wheelchair-bound with
arthritis for years. A quiet park lane in Balboa Park, in San Diego, California, behind
a row of trees, but close to a busy intersection, was selected as the most opportune
place for the project. This setting met the requirement of natural law, that the highest
spiritual tasks be performed in everyday situations of high intensity or turmoil.
The project was accomplished in the space of about four hours, in two separate
sessions. Jones brought 360 white, unlined, 3” x 5” index cards with him. He had earli-
er written one of each of the 360 astrological degrees on each card. The role of the
invisible brother was to transmit the meaning of each degree to Jones through Wheel-
er. Her role was to allow her mind to be impressed and describe the pictures she saw.
Jones was responsible for supplying the refined cabalistic training needed to critically
interpret the pictures.
THEASTROLOGYBOOK [585]
S
XXX