Encyclopedia of Astrology

Equator. The planets which are posited in these signs pass obliquely through the semi-arc of the Ecliptic to the Mid-

heaven - not the zenith. Therefore the position which a planet will occupy at some future moment, to which it is desired

to direct it, must be calculated by Oblique Ascension.

In an effort to reconcile the rising or ascendant moment at which a planet passes above the horizon, with its oblique

ascension along the Ecliptic to a mid-heaven point that is on the same longitudinal circle as the Zenith, but a

considerable distance removed from it, various attempted compromises have resulted in several different systems of

House Division (q.v.). The horizon system appears to yield the correct House positions of the planets in a birth map, but

the directing (q.v.) of planets to the positions they will occupy at some future moment, requires the application of

Oblique Ascension, both to the planets' places and to the progressed cusps.

For a concise classification of the term, note the appended table:

THE CELESTIAL SPHERE

Circle of reference Horizon Celestial Equator Ecliptic

Poles Zenith N. celestial pole Midheaven

Nadir S. celestial pole Immum Coeli

Secondary Circles Vertical circles Hour Circles Latitude

circles

Parallels of altitude Parallels of declination Parallels

of Latitude Coordinates Altitude Declination

Celes. Latitude

Azimuth Right Ascension Celes.

Longitude

Zero Circle Vertical c. thru S. Hour c. thru Ver. Latit. c.

thru V.

point Equinox Equinox.

Direction of first Through West Eastward Eastward

coordinate

Ceres. (1) Daughter of Ops and Saturn; a Roman goddess of growing vegetation, particularly corn. Her day of celebration
occurred on April 19th. (2) The first of the Asteroids (q.v.) to be discovered.

Chaldaeans. First a Semitic tribe, but later the magi of Babylonia, astrologers and diviners. From among them came "the
wise men from the East." We know little of Chaldaean astrology, but some idea of their teachings are to be gleaned from
the Chaldaean Oracles. With them Astrology was a religion, but of a far different type from any which has survived to
modern times. The Chaldaean priests were famous Astrologers. They held that the world is eternal, without beginning or
end; that all things are ordered by Divine providence; and that the Sun, Mars, Venus, Mercury and Jupiter are
"interpreters," concerned with making known to man the will of God. From the regularity of motions in the heavenly
bodies, they inferred that they were either intelligent beings, or were under some presiding intelligence. From this arose
Sabianism, the worship of the host of heaven: Sun, Moon and Stars. It originated with the Arabian kingdom of Saba
(Sheba), whence came the Queen of Sheba. The chief object of their worship was the Sun, Belus. To him was erected the