The task of verifying astrological premises using the scientific method creates a host of problems perfectly illustrated by the Mars effect controversy which is still being debated more than 25 years later. Neither Gauquelin nor his prejudices in handling his data (an accusation from the sceptics) can be considered as the 'explanation' for the Gauquelin findings, since they have been replicated independently by others.
The planetary types have endured for at least 2,000 years, from the planetary gods of Harran, through Mithraism and their domination of Renaissance astrology. Although Gauquelin's types differed in the fact that he found no Mercurial or Solar type, his scheme is virtually identical to the ancient system. It seems that the planetary types has been a tool in esoteric schools since at least the beginning of the Christian era to provide the student with a compass of impartiality with which to discover his essence and eventually transcend it.
Many years ago I discovered a similar scheme of types that seemed to
me to explain all the mysteries of human psychology and enabled me to devise
a truly objective test using well-defined physical characteristics. My
research into these types originally yielded successful results well above
Gauquelin's 8 - 10% above those expected by chance alone.
MICHEL GAUQUELIN
Michel Gauquelin is one of the most famous and oft-quoted figures in
the study of planetary influences and is single-handedly responsible for
putting the study of planetary influence on a firm scientific foundation.
Born in Paris in 1928, he graduated in Psychology and Statistics from the
Sorbonne, and spent over twenty years studying the relationships between
cosmological
and biological phenomena. He possessed both a detailed knowledge of
astrology and a genuine scientific outlook based on formal academic training.
He had an avid interest in this field since a young age, but grew critical
of traditional approaches to astrology when his own research revealed the
faulty foundations of many astrological principles. The result of all his
studies are available in research documents privately published and a score
of books generally available. [1]
What distinguishes Gauquelin from other researchers into astrology is that he repeated his studies many times over, always with similar results.
The controversy over Gauquelin's findings is a saga in itself, and is
a clear example of the enormous resistance to anyone who threatens to bridge
the divide between the hard sciences and what is seen as 'popular metaphysics'.
Kepler, who encountered the same resistance to his laws of planetary motion
expresses it best: "I have moved mountains, it is amazing
how much smoke they expel."
NEO-ASTROLOGY
"...belief in astrology is one thing, and its scientific demonstration, the proof that it is more than just a belief but also a reality of Nature, is another." (Michel Gauquelin [2])
Gauquelin said that his works should not be termed "astrology". The Gauquelin horoscope is only a skeleton; most of the essential elements of traditional astrology - the zodiac, the aspects, the houses - have lost their significance, and out of the ten planets used by astrologers, only five are left. It's single foundation is his experimental proof of the influence of the planets and the two main pillars are the reality of planetary types and the power of the four celestial angles. [3] According to Gauquelin the distance between traditional and neo-astrology is such that it presents its practitioners with a veritable revolution.
The great minds of the Renaissance - Cardan, Paracelsus, Tycho Brahe,
Kepler, Newton - all studied astrology without discovering any laws. In
the twentieth century Gauquelin regarded it as "a Sleeping Beauty waiting
for a Prince Charming to awaken it." Gauquelin, like Kepler, is the consummate
scientist, his instrument the statistical method the only objective way
to avoid confusion between coincidences and laws. This is the spirit of
Gauquelin's unique endeavour - to chart a course between the astrologer's
faith and the scientist's scepticism.
TYPES: GLANDULAR AND PLANETARY
Dr Louis Berman, one of the pioneers of endocrinology earlier this century, after years of intensive study, developed a system of types based on glandular dominance and imbalance, declaring that "All attempts to classify human beings, ancient or modern, lack the fundamental quality that study and grouping them from the chemical point of view possesses." His studies convinced him of the fundamental importance of the glands of internal secretion as "controllers and regulators of that ensemble of forces, attitudes, habits and attitudes...known as character, individuality or personality." [4]
Gauquelin arrived at psychological profiles based on the appearance and influence of planets that had just risen over the horizon or just passed the mid-heaven at birth. He has established without doubt that the planets exert an influence on character. His results are as solid as any discovery in science, and no matter how many critics or sceptics examine his work, the purely empirical facts of his discovery will not go away. What is more interesting, however, is that Gauquelin's types are virtually identical to a scheme of types devised by Rodney Collin.
Collin made the connection between the classical types of antiquity and the types delineated by Louis Berman. He was a student of P D Ouspensky, who was himself a student of the mystic and teacher G I Gurdjieff. The study of types was a significant part of Gurdjieff's teaching, and Collin was able to verify and develop his own discovery in the concentrated atmosphere of an esoteric school.
To describe the structure of the inner planets as a unity in themselves,
and their relationship to one another, Collin used the Enneagram, a symbolic
tool first introduced by Gurdjieff. When this unity is divided by seven
the result is the recurring decimal .142857. The planets are arranged on
the outside circle of the Enneagram according to the length of their periods
of
revolution while the inner circulation describes the order of exchange
of influence between the planets and the order in which the types combine.
The Solar type is on the point where all lines cross and combines with
all the other types.
Many people are combinations of types; Saturn-Mars, Mars-Jovial, Jovial-Lunar,
Lunar-Venusian, a Venus-Mercury, and Mercury-Saturn. The Solar type combines
with all the others, softening hard edges, magnifying sensitivity and often
energising otherwise passive qualities. Below is a very brief description
of each type in it's "pure" or "classic" form, its governing planet and
the gland under its influence.
THE SEVEN BASIC TYPES
ANTERIOR PITUITARY/SATURN TYPE - Active/Positive
Physical shape: The classic Saturn is the tallest of all types, with long bones, high, prominent cheek-bones, and high forehead. They have an upright stature with straight shoulders and strong muscles. Their habitual expression is subdued, or one of concerned concentration.
Character: Austere, Cautious, Cold, Controlled, great powers of Endurance, Impartial, Moderate, Patient, Paternal, Sombre, Wise.
Classic Type: Abraham Lincoln, Peter Fonda, Greta Garbo, Vanessa Redgrave.
Saturn/Mars Type: John Wayne, J F Kennedy, Diane Sawyer, Margaret Thatcher
ADRENAL/MARTIAL TYPE - Active/Negative
Physical shape: The pure Martial is small, muscular, robust and strongly built. They often have a short, thick neck on rounded but powerful shoulders and a large chest, especially Mars/Jovial. The classic Martial has a pale or freckled complexion and red hair or blonde hair and blue-eyes. Their habitual posture is challenging or defensive, and solidly grounded.
Character: Aggressive, Blunt, Bold, Competitive, Courageous, Daring, Destructive, Honest, Loud, Passionate, Rough, Strong.
Classic Type: James Cagney, Chuck Norris, Sybil Shephard, Gerri Halliwell.
Mars/Jovial Type: Nikita Kruschev, Winston Churchill, Bette Midler,
Barbara Bush.
POSTERIOR PITUITARY/JOVIAL TYPE - Positive/Passive
Physical Shape: Pure Jovials have a large frame, a big waist on top
of thin legs. They have large, round heads and the men are prone to baldness.
Both sexes have poor eyesight and more Jovials wear glasses than any other
type. Their habitual
expression is smiling and benevolent, regal or dramatic.
Character: Ambitious, Benevolent, Creative, Dramatic, Extravagant, Gregarious, Maternal, Proud, Refined, Vain.
Classic Type: Orson Welles, Burl Ives, Oprah Winfrey, Colleen McCullough.
Jovial/Lunar Type: Prince Edward, Mahatma Gandhi, Hilary Clinton, Joanne
Woodward.
PANCREAS/LUNAR TYPE - Passive/Negative
Physical shape: The classic Lunar complexion is often very pale and the chin is often receding and nearly always small in proportion to the rest of the face. If on the Jovial side, the facial features are rounded, if on the Venusian side, thinner and longer. The hair is very fine, and sometimes straggly or 'mousy'. The women often have soft and rounded features, and a very feminine 'doe-eyed' beauty. The habitual posture or facial expression of the Lunar is suspicious, resistant or withdrawn.
Character: Aloof, Cool, Dark, Dependable, Eccentric, Dreamy, Instinctive, Moody, Orderly, Pessimistic, Practical, Secretive, Suspicious, Timid, Uncommunicative.
Classic Type: Woody Allen, Rowan Atkinson, Emily Dickinson, Christina Ricci.
Lunar/Venusian Type: Stephen Hawking, David Byrne, Jackie Onassis, Meg
Ryan.
PARATHYROID/VENUSIAN TYPE - Passive/Positive
Physical Shape: The pure Venusian has gracefully rounded, shapely or well-balanced features, with abundant and wavy hair, nearly always black or dark brown. They have a long and shapely neck, a round or oval face, appealing almond-shaped eyes and often full red lips. The Venusian can also grow quite large, and they tend towards the classic pear shape ending in thick ankles. The habitual expression is either vacant, tender or alluring.
Character: Accepting, Charming, Gracious, Indecisive, Lazy, Nurturing, Over-indulgent, Sensual, Slow, Sympathetic, Vague, Vegetative, Voluptuous.
Classic Type: Marlon Brando, Jackie Gleason, Neve Campbell, Mama Cass.
Venus/Mercury Type: Jack Nicholson, Elvis Presley, Maria Callas, Elizabeth
Taylor.
THYROID/MERCURIAL TYPE - Active/Negative
Physical shape: The classic Mercurial type is short, wiry, compact and trim like a sports car. The hair is medium-fair or dark, the face is angular, often with a long or pointed chin. They are tidy and fastidious and it shows in their grooming; the men nearly always opt for goatee beards and thin moustaches. Their habitual expression is playful, searching or calculating.
Character: Agile, Boastful, Critical, Dexterous, Fast, Fastidious, Fickle, Impatient, Intellectual, Manipulative, Perceptive, Restless, Talkative, Volatile, Witty.
Classic Type: Jim Carrey, Billy Crystal, Fran Drescher, Holly Hunter.
Mercury/Saturn Type: David Copperfield, Chris Isaak, Cher, Germaine
Greer.
THYMUS/SOLAR TYPE - Active/Positive
Physical shape: When studying Solars it must be remembered that their qualities are often overlayed on those of other types, but if you are fortunate enough to meet a pure Solar, you will not forget them easily. The classic type is small, thin and ‘waif-like', with a light, supple, child-like body, with a slender waist, and little body hair. They are distinctly androgynous with transparent, 'milk and roses' skin, delicate features and delicate health. Their habitual posture or expression is wide-eyed and innocent.
Character: Child-like, Creative, Excitable, Gullible, Imaginative, Naive, Over-sensitive, 'Sunny'.
Classic Type: Prince, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Drew Barrymore.
Being of a certain type means that our dominant essential characteristics
are the result of the endocrine hormones broadcast in our bloodstream.
The glands, tuned to a particular planet, and stimulated by its appearance
either rising or culminating at our birth, or making the appropriate angles
to these points, immediately begin to influence how the body will grow.
The
mixture of these chemicals influences all levels of our physical machine
- structural and psychological. The pituitary stimulates the growth of
long bones, the thyroid the rate at which our metabolism idles and accelerates,
the adrenals stimulate muscular development and certain aspects of pigmentation,
etc., etc.
These same hormones that directed bodily growth and development, in
a higher octave represent our subjective psychology. They determine our
attitudes, affinities with the outside world, talents and weaknesses, our
whole way of seeing the world. Our essence, our quintessential character,
is the composition of the chemicals in our bloodstream at any given moment.
STATISTICAL VERIFICATION OF BODY TYPES
Inspired by Gauquelin's methodical approach, I wanted to carry out my own investigations. Although I could not hope to achieve anything on the same grand scale, I believed I could satisfy myself there was a definite planetary effect, and at the same time perhaps discover a few more laws of celestial influence. My approach was to be slightly different than Gauquelin's. Whereas his studies were based on psychological profiles, I had the advantage of being able to base mine on the easily identifiable physical characteristics of each type, which seemed a much more solid criteria. (for a large gallery of photographs of good subjects for each type see: http://bodytypes.homestead.com)
One of the giants of Renaissance science, Johannes Kepler, is most well-known
for his famous laws of planetary motion. But as we all know Kepler was
also a keen astrologer, and was careful to "separate the precious stones
from the dung" in astrological lore. The 'precious stones' were the planets
and the angles they made to each other and to the two strongest
points on the chart - the ascendant or horizon, and the MC or point
directly overhead. Kepler considered the planets and their angles to be
the essential elements of astrology. The crucial angles were the conjunction,
opposition, square, trine, sextile and quintile, because they could all
be equated with musical intervals. These are the aspects used for the following
tests using orbs of 8° for the large aspects and 6° for the quintile
and sextile. (I am currently experimenting with using large angles only
- con, opp, trine and square, as the significance of the quintile and even
sextile is debatable is some astrological quarters.)
I proceeded to collect nearly 600 horoscopes of well-known individuals along with photographs of each. My sources were largely already published horoscopes and internet data bases. My aim was to determine their body types and see where the planets fell. If someone was, for instance, a Mars/Jovial, I would look for either of these planets making angles to the ascendant or MC.
Originally I used Gauquelin's criteria of 'zones of intensity'. Approximately
65% showed planets in the required positions. Although extremely pleased
with the result, there were elements of Gauquelin's studies that bothered
me. People with no planets in strong zones still displayed strong characteristics
of each type, and some were even better 'specimens' than those who had
them in a key zone. Remembering Kepler's conviction that the angles to
the ASC and MC played a key role, I decided to use these as the determining
factors. The results were much higher. Very often planets that make 60°,
90° and 120° angles to the ASC and MC also appear in Gauquelin's
zones. The higher figures included those points making angles outside them.
SOLAR TYPE
For reasons yet unknown the sun's aspects did not produce any result
for the solar type. Because the sun is a star and not a planet the type
also is of a different order of creation, and where the influence of the
sun may play its role is not as obvious as with the other 'planetary' types.
So I tried another hypothesis; that the Solar type is influenced by increased
emanations of the Sun, so naturally I turned to the sun-spot cycle. The
results were both interesting and perplexing. I found that the three solar
types I considered to be the most classic types - Michael Jackson, Prince,
and Madonna - were born in 1958, a year that recorded the highest sun-spot
activity ever. This was more than a coincidence, yet there were few other
significant or obvious correlations between the births of solar types and
this cycle of solar activity. For the time being at least this type is
not suitable for testing using the same methods as the planetary types.
TEST STATISTICS: FIRST SAMPLE
The planets that relate to type are naturally not the only ones that appear in the chart; they appear consistently and most frequently in the charts of those designated as a particular type. Of a total of 299 charts, 261, or 87%, contained the planets relating to type. Within that total, the charts of composite types totalled 182, and of those, 76, or 42% contained both planets relating to type. The results using Gauquelin's zones was 187 of 299 or 62.5%.
Of the total of 574 charts of famous people I managed to identify half by type. First of all I obtained the figures for random distribution of the planets appearing at the angles to the ASC and MC using the 289 charts of those whose types I had been unable to determine and found that there were 890 appearances of planets at each of the sensitive points. I then recorded the appearance of each planet:
Saturn 166 times, Mars 140 times, Jupiter 139 times, Moon 150 times, Venus 141 times, Mercury 154 times. Out of the total of planets aspecting the ASC or MC, the figures were hovering about the expected 16% due to chance.
For the 299 chosen as types I recorded the individual results of finding the appropriate planet/s in the chart:
Mars: 28 out of 41, or 68%
Mars/Jovial: 32 of 35, or 92% - both planets: 16 of 35, or 46%
Jovial : 11 of 11, or 100%
Jovial/Lunar: 43 of 45, or 95% - both planets: 23 of 45 or 51%
Lunar: 3 of 8, or 37%
Lunar/Venusian: 23 of 24, or 95% - both planets: 19 of 24 or 80%
Venusian: 23 of 26, or 88%
Venus/Mercury: 24 of 26, or 92% - both planets: 11 of 26 or 42%
Mercury: 8 of 10, or 80%
Mercury/Saturn: 28 of 30, or 94% - both planets: 11 of 30 or 37%
Saturn: 20 of 26, or 77%
Saturn/Mars: 20 of 21,or 95% - both planets: 7 of 21 or 33%
SECOND SAMPLE
The second sample comprised a total of 33 friends and acquaintances of which 31 contained the appropriate planet. 17 of these were composite types and 7 contained both planets. This time I had the advantage of observing behaviour and mannerisms which supplied much more information about body type than the large sample.
(Using photographs is perhaps the least reliable source of information
about body type. Only the most obvious specimens of each type are recognisable
by photograph alone. Many people simply do not fit into these well-defined
physical parameters. Not all of us look like Grace Kelly or Abraham Lincoln.
Body type then becomes a study of subtle mannerisms and unconscious habits,
proclaiming loudly the planetary energy, for those with eyes to see.)
THIRD SAMPLE
For my third test I enlisted the aid of the National Council of Geocosmic
Research in the US. Two members agreed to send me photos of 43 subjects,
whose type I would identify and send them the planets I expected to find
in the charts. They then sent the results by Email. Of a total of 44 subjects
I was able to identify 42 as types, from which I predicted 29, or 69.5%
correctly.
The original results were very promising, in fact, they were a little
too good. I was suspicious that my ignorance of statistical methods was
responsible for such good results. I contacted Kenneth Irving, who has
done considerable work with Gauquelin's findings, who pointed out
the flaws in my simple calculations but also hinted that there may yet
be something there to discover given the proper protocols. I have tried
to attract the interest of someone with the necessary knowledge to take
the research further and have had some expressions of interest. At the
time of writing an interested party is reviewing the data with the aim
of refining the tests. They may have to undergo considerable review but
in my opinion they hold great promise for concrete results that could firmly
establish a new science of celestial influence.
OUR PLANETARY 'NATURE'
Kepler's own description of the degree of control of the planets over human nature firmly establishes a person's character but has no power to predict individual events; on the one hand determining the fixed nature, but leaving the destiny of the individual as a natural outcome of the behaviour of their 'type'. The stars do not compel or override free will, nor decide the fate of the individual, but they impress upon the soul a special character:
"...in the first igniting of his life...he receives a character and pattern of all the constellations of the heavens which he retains until he enters his grave. This character afterwards leaves noticeable traces on the formation of the countenance and remaining shape of the body, as well as business affairs, manners and gestures...by his behaviour produces corresponding fortune." [5]
Kepler had a deep conviction that astrology - like astronomy - needed to be reformulated "in order to become a true scientific doctrine". [6] Much of Pythagorean philosophy is based on the concept of balance between two extremes. Somewhere between the objectivity of science and the intuition of harmony lies the beginning of a true science. I invite any other willing pioneers to join me in many more exciting discoveries to come.
"Thus, from the Harmony of the Spheres to chaos - after a long detour
- astrology, purified, understood and accepted for itself, will at last
find its place among the great laws of Nature, as the first law." [7]
Notes
[1] See The Cosmic Clocks, The Spheres of Destiny, Cosmic Influences on Human Behavior, The Truth about Astrology and Neo-Astrology. « Text
[2] Neo-Astrology, Arkana, 1991, p. 143. « Text
[3] Neo-Astrology, p. 167. « Text
[4] The Glands of Personality. « Text
[5] Kepler by Caspar, p. 191. « Text
[6] Neo-Astrology, p. 91. « Text
[7] Neo-Astrology, p. 178. « Text
Note: Anyone wishing to participate in further research can email Anthony.
