LESSON XVI

   Lesson XVI concerns the concept of time and why it is so important to you as an astrologer. This lesson is short in length because it is very important and complex and you must read it over a few times till you understand it. You need not memorize it but you must understand it. The element of time is what produces the individuality of every horoscope. It will be necessary for you to know the exact time - hour, minute, - when your client was born. This time will be solar time (time which is based on the movement of the Sun). You must learn our method to convert this into Sidereal time, (pronounced SY DEAR-EE-AL) which is true star time based on the motion of the universe. Our method for the computation of star time (Sidereal time) is not difficulty however, if you do not give it your undivided attention, you may become confused.

   It is our contention, that the simpler these computations are, the better for the student. For example, there are many people in the world who have acutely logical minds, and possess amazing inherent powers for character a analysis. Such people are well-adapted for astrological interpretation. However, they may have an ardent dislike for figures, and shy away from anything which involves complicated calculations. What a shame that many people of this type are prevented from astrological investigation for such a senseless reason! It seems to us that many astrologers have purposely complicated the computations to build up their own egos. We will present this concept of time and computation in an easily comprehensible manner, so that even those with a deep-down phobia for figures are able to proceed in their astrological development. It is imperative that you realize that our method is efficient and complete, and that it produces the exact precision of more complicated systems.

   No horoscope can be accurately erected until you have mastered several basic factors concerning time. Dating from the early history of Society, the various governments of the world have tried to simplify man's relationship to time. In so doing, and in continually changing these simplifications, they have created endless difficulties for the astrologer, who is trying to calculate the true Sidereal time for a given event or birth. In this Lesson, the reasons for the calculations to be made are explained, and definitions are given for all terms used. (As the same understanding is required of a student of astronomy, surveying, aerial or marine navigation, fuller explanations of the principles involved will be found in textbooks dealing specifically with these subjects.) As much of this is of interest to the general public, the same explanations can be conveniently found in a necessarily restricted section of Whitaker's Almanac. Every practicing astrologer should always keep a copy of the current edition of some Almanac, as it is extremely useful for reference.

   The Sun moves approximately sixty miles every four minutes. This average sixty miles forms one degree of longitude, hence the Sun travels one degree of longitude in four minutes of time, or 15 degrees to the hour. Suppose a certain city is sixty miles or so west of your birthplace, the Sun will not reach this other city for four minutes. In the past, each city or country place maintained its own time, but as people moved more frequently, they argued about the correctness of their watches so much, that Standard time was introduced. Before we can set up the angles of the horoscope, we first need true Local Mean Time. Therefore, when the birth time is given, it is given in Standard time, and it is necessary for us to convert it to Local Mean Time. This procedure is very simple and should cause you no trouble. Remember that this correction is simply to find the true local mean time. More computation is necessary before we can erect the chart but this is our beginning.

   Since the meeting of train schedules, etc., is impossible on the basis of local time, Standard Time Zone meridians were spaced at intervals of 15 degrees of longitude east and west of Greenwich, and all clocks within each zone were adjusted to the mean Solar time of the mid-point of the zone. The material which follows need not be memorized. You will refer to it many times in the future and eventually it will become part of you.

1. Eastern Standard Time - E.S.T. is calculated to the 75th meridian west longitude.
2. Central Standard Time - C.S.T. is calculated to the 90th meridian west.
3. Mountain Standard Time - M.S.T. is calculated to the 105th meridian west.
4. Pacific Standard Time - P.S.T. is calculated to the 120th meridian west.
5. Alaska was standardized in 1918 on 150th Meridian west, but in actual practice, other zones are and have been in use: 120° 150°, 165°.*

*If you look in an Ephemeris or an Atlas, and you find that the place where you were born is exactly on the 75th, 90th, 105th, or 120th meridians, you need make no calculations for Local Mean Time. It will coincide with Standard Time. Again, if you were born previous to November 18, 1883, no correction is needed. In the following exercises, the meridians are correct only to the nearest degree.

Ex. 1. If you were born in New York City at 4:10 A.M. Eastern Standard Time (E.S.T.), what is your Local Mean Time?

   Any map will indicate to us that New York City is 74 degrees WEST of Greenwich, that is to say, that it is 1 degree east of the 75th meridian. Therefore the Sun has already passed over N.Y.C. before it reaches Philadelphia, or rather, the 75th meridian. It will have taken four minutes to travel this distance, hence when the Eastern Standard clock at either Philadelphia or New York shows 4:10 A.M., it will be 4:14 A.M. Local Mean Time in New York City.

Ex. 2. Suppose you were born in Dallas, Texas, at noon (12:00 P.M) C.S.T., what is your L.M.T.?

   A map or ephemeris tells us that Dallas is 96'/2degrees west of Greenwich, that is, 6'/2degrees west of the 90th meridian. 6'/2 degrees equals 26 minutes (Note: when the place in question is west of the meridian, we subtract the time correction; when it is east of the meridian, we add it.), thus the L.M.T. for Dallas, Texas at noon is 11:34 A.M.

Ex. 3. Suppose you were born in Los Angeles, California at noon P.S.T., what is your L.M.T.?

   The ephemeris or map shows us that Los Angeles is 118 degrees west, or 2 degrees east of the 120th meridian. 2 degrees yields 8 minutes. The Local Mean Time in question will be 12:08 P.M.

Ex. 4. If you were born in Minneapolis on June 2, C.S.T. midnight (12:00 A.M.), what is your Local Mean Time.

   Minneapolis is 93 degrees west, that is, 3 degrees west of the 90th meridian. 3 degrees yields 12 minutes (for west, remember we subtract). Therefore, the L.M.T. is 12 minutes before midnight on June 2, so in actuality you were born at 11:48 P.M. on June 1.

Ex. 5. Suppose you were born in Washington, D.C. at 7:15 P.M., E.S.T., what is your L.M.T.?

   Washington, D.C. is 77 degrees west, or 2 degrees west of the 75th meridian. 2 degrees yields 8 minutes of time. For places west of the meridian that sets the time, subtract these minutes, hence your L.M.T. is 7:07 P.M.

   With this method, discovering the L.M.T. for anyone born in the U.S. is a simple matter. You need only be able to add and subtract, and these computations will never involve difficult numbers.

I. Greenwich Mean Time (G.M.T.) is set for zero longitude. At an International Meridian Conference in 1884, it was agreed by astrologers of the leading nations that they would use the meridian of Greenwich as the zero degree on all maps. Greenwich Mean Time is used throughout Great Britain, France, Belgium, Holland, Luxemburg, Spain, Portugal, Algeria, and Morocco.

2. Middle or Central European Time (M.E.T. or C.E.T.) is standardized on 15 degrees east longitude. It is used in Germany, Sweden, Norway, Austria, Hungary, Poland, Switzerland, Italy, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia. The time is one hour fast of Greenwich, hence subtract one hour to obtain G.M.T.

3. Eastern European Time (E.E.T.) is standardized on 39 degrees east longitude. It is used in Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Egypt, Palestine, and the Union of South Africa. The time is two hours fast of Greenwich, hence you subtract two hours to obtain G.M.T.

   You will find the following notes on time in foreign countries useful, particularly if you ever become interested in Mundane Astrology.

   India went on Standard Time on January 1, 1906. It is standardized on 82'/2degrees east longitude, i.e., 5'/2 hours fast on G.M.T. Note that Calcutta is not on this standard. It is 5 hours 53 minutes 21 seconds fast of Greenwich.

   Burma is standardized on 97'/2grees east longitude, i.e., 6'/2 hours fast of G.M.T.

   Indo China and Thailand are standardized on 105 degrees east longitude, i.e., 7 hours fast of G.M.T.

   Western Australia, Hong Kong, and the Philippines are standardized on 105 degrees east longitude, i.e., 8 hours fast of G.M.T.

   Japan and Korea are standardized on 135 degrees east longitude, i.e., 9 hours fast of G.M.T.

   Eastern Australia is standardized on 150 degrees east longitude, i.e., 10 hours fast of G.M.T.

   Marshall and Soloman Islands are standardized on 165 degrees east longitude, i.e., 11 hours fast of G.M.T.

   New Zealand, Guam, and Samoa are standardized on 172'/2 degrees east longitude, i.e., 11'/2 hours fast of G.M.T.

   Newfoundland, Labrador, and Uruguay are standardized on 52'/2 degrees west longitude, i.e., 3'/2 hours slow of G.M.T.

   Canada uses Atlantic Time for places east of 60 degrees west longitude, such as Nova Scotia. From 60 degrees west to 90 degrees west, Canada is standardized on the 75th meridian, i.e., four hours slow of G.M.T.

   Puerto Rico, Chile, and Paraguay use Atlantic Time, four hours slow of G.M.T.

   The Panama Canal Zone uses Eastern Standard Time, five hours slow of G.M.T.

   Hawaii is standardized on 157'/2 degrees west longitude, i.e., 10'/2degrees hours slow of G.M.T.

   The U.S.S.R. is divided into ten zones of time, extending from 30 degrees east longitude to 150 degrees east. These zones occur regularly at intervals of 15 degrees, each equivalent to one hour of time.

Ex. 1. If you were born in Paris at noon by the clock, what is your L.M.T.?

   Paris is 2 degrees 0 minutes east of the Greenwich Meridian which is 0°, hence you will add 8 minutes. Your L.M.T. is 12:08 P.M.

Ex. 2. If you were born in Berlin at noon by the clock, what is L.M.T.?

   Berlin is 13 degrees 24 minutes east of the Greenwich Meridian. The difference to the 15th meridian is 1° 36', hence for west of this meridian, you subtract six minutes. Your L.M.T. is 11:54 A.M.

Ex. 3. If you were born in Jerusalem at noon by the clock, what is your L.M.T.?

   Jerusalem is 35° 14' east. This is 5° 15' east of the 30th meridian, so add 21 minutes. Your L.M.T. is 12:21 P.M.

Ex.4. The Korean War started at 4:00 A.M. on June 25, 1950 by Korean Standard Time. What was the L.M.T.?

   Seoul is 127°, which is 8° west of the 135th meridian that sets the time, hence subtract 32 minutes to get the L.M.T., which will be 3:28 A.M.

Ex. 5. At the request of Burmese astrologers, Burma declared itself a republic on January 4, 1948, at 4:20 A.M., in Rangoon. What was the L.M.T.?

   Rangoon is 96 degrees east and the meridian that sets the time is 97'/2 degrees east. Thus Rangoon is l'/2 degrees west of the meridian. Subtract 6 minutes and the L.M.T. will be 4:14 A.M.

   WAR TIME was invented during World War II. This means that the clock was set one hour ahead during both the summer and winter. In the U.S., War Time began February 9, 1942, and ended September 30, 1945. All you must do for people who were born during this time is subtract one hour, from the birth time to obtain true Standard Time. Remember this calculation must be made regardless of whether it was winter or summer as War Time embraced the entire year.

   DOUBLE SUMMER TIME - During World War II, some European countries used War Time all the year around, but during the summer they employed what they called Double Summer Time. This simply means that the clocks were turned ahead by two hours. You must subtract two hours when computing the horoscope of a person born during this time. Any almanac will list which countries employed Double Summer Time.

   GREENWICH MEAN TIME - The position of the planets in some ephemerides is given in Greenwich Mean Time, which is simply the Local Mean Time of the suburb of Greenwich, four miles South East of London. Through this suburb the zero degree of longitude passes. The Royal Observatory is located there. In London, time is sometimes stated in Greenwich Civil Time, meaning that no correction has been made from Greenwich for the four mile distance. However this does not concern you. This Civil Time is stated simply for reference.

   SIDEREAL TIME (S.T.) - Sidereal Time is time measured by the stars, and not by the Sun. Sidereal Time is slightly faster than Sun Time. If a fixed star if exactly overhead on any particular day, and the Sun if also overhead then on the following day, that is, 24 hours later, the Sun will arrive at the same overhead portion approximately four minutes later than the fixed star. The star or sidereal time is therefore much more accurate and that is why we use it. There are many more complicated aspects of sidereal time but this is all you are required to know at this point.

   With these two books and the simple application of our chart erection principles, you can compute the figures for any horoscope. All you need now is a sheet of blank horoscope charts. In this lesson we show you reprinted pages of these books to demonstrate their use. You may use any ephemeris and table of houses. The following is a sample of the computations for the erection of a natal horoscope. (Just to refresh your memory, we refer to a natal horoscope as a nativity).

   In the erection of this chart we follow the method employed by Hugh MacCraig in the above-mentioned 200 Year Ephemeris. The Table of Houses which we use for this example is the A-P Table of Houses. With these two books, we are equipped with all the necessary data for calculating any astrological chart.

   In all astrological work, it is at all times advisable to adopt a regular method of procedure, which will save you time and make your work more efficient and satisfactory. The following principles of procedure have been adopted by us, and we recommend them to you.

   Principle I. Write down all the birth time information.

   Ex: The birth information for our hypothetical chart is June 6, 1949, 11:20 AM. in Bronx County, New York City.

   Principle II. Using MacCraig's Ephemeris, we find and make note of 1) the Longitude of the Bronx, 2) the Latitude, 3) the Longitude calculated in time. (Note: The Bronx is part of New York City, hence there is no separate listing for it Therefore, the longitude and latitude of New York City will suffice.)

   Ex.: 1) Longitude: 73W57 2) Latitude: 40N45 3) Longitude in Time: 4:56. This is necessary for a slight time correction which will be explained in a future principle.