Charles
Carter was one of the great English astrologers of the twentieth
century. With Alan Leo, John Addey and Charles Harvey, Carter
transformed astrology in England. He introduced technical and
philosophical innovations and participated in a number of key
institutional developments.
Charles
Carter was born on 31 January 1887 at 10:55PM in Parkstone, Dorset.
He had an Aquarian Sun in the 4th house, and Uranus rising
in Leo just into the 12th. At his birth, Saturn had just
culminated in Cancer. With this combination of rising Uranus and an
elevated Saturn, Carter was well-figured to lead the astrological
world. He died in October 1968. 1
His
astrological service included a number of key appointments. In 1922
Carter followed Leo as the President of the Astrological Lodge of
London and revived the institution. In 1948 he became the first
Principal of the Faculty of Astrological Studies. In 1958 he became a
founding Patron of the Astrological Association of Great Britain.
Carter's legacy is remembered at the annual Astrological Association
conference. A leading astrologer is invited to deliver the Carter
Memorial Lecture as the central plenary session of the event. This
invitation is one of the highest accolades an astrologer can receive.
Carter
wrote a number of significant books including The Principles of
Astrology (1925), Zodiac and the Soul (1928) and Essays on the
Foundations of Astrology (1947). He reflected on key philosophical
issues in The Seven Great Problems of Astrology (1927). He advocated
the use of some innovative directional methods in his slim volume
Symbolic Directions in Modern Astrology (1929).
Charles
Carter introduced a technical innovation that is almost forgotten
today - his poli equatorial house system. He described his system of
domification in Essays on the Foundations of Astrology. The method is
found in Chapter 8, Problems of the Houses. In the chapter, Carter
reviews many of the principle systems of domification including the
Regiomontean, the Campanean, the Equal and the Placidean. He then
introduces his own method so nonchalantly that the reader may miss
the significance of the text.
Carter
writes that in his poli equatorial method “...the houses are
demarcated by circles passing through the celestial poles and
dividing the equator into twelve equal arcs, the cusp of the 1st
house passing through the ascendant. This system, therefore, agrees
with the natural rotation of the heavens and also produces, as the
Ptolemaic (equal) does not, distinctive cusps for each house....” 2
Calculation of the cusps is a relatively simple affair. The ascendant degree is converted to right ascension in degrees. Thirty degrees (or two hours) of right ascension is then added for each subsequent cusp. The right ascension so found is, for each cusp, then converted back to celestial longitude and expressed in zodiacal degrees. The tenth house cusp will not generally coincide with the MC degree. The second cusp is opposite the eighth cusp, the third opposite the ninth and so on.
Figure 1: Charles Carter's Poli Equatorial House System - Diagram |
Carter
notes that the Regiomontanean system of domification also uses equal
division of the equator as its foundation. In fact, Carter's
poli equatorial system is one of a family of house systems derived
from equal division of the celestial equator. The others are the
Morinean and the Meridian (or Axial Rotation) house systems.
The
following table sets out the basic elements of the four
equatorially-based systems of domification.
System | Pole | Notes |
Poli equatorial | Equatorial (Celestial) | The 1st house cusp will coincide with ascendant but the 10th house cusp will not generally coincide with the meridian |
Regiomontanus | Horizontal | The 10th and 1st house cusps coincide with the meridian and the ascendant respectively |
Morinus | Ecliptic | Neither the 10th house cusp nor the 1st house cusp will coincide with the meridian or the ascendant |
Meridian (or Axial Rotation) | Equatorial (Celestial) | The 10th house cusp will coincide with the meridian, but the first house cusp is the equatorial ascendant |
Table
1: Comparison of Equatorially-Based House Systems
Holden
describes Regiomontanus, Morinus and Meridian as house systems as
space-based methods of domification. Although the Earth's rotation
determines the length of our day (a time factor), Holden's view is
that the equal division of the equator in each system is primarily a
division of the celestial sphere as a spatial unit. 3
Figure
2: The Equatorial Frame of Reference
In
Carter's poli equatorial house system, we find a method of
domification that draws on ideas from Platonic cosmogony and
cosmology, being derived from equal divisions of the circle of the
Same (celestial equator) projected onto the circle of the Different
(ecliptic). The ascendant is used as the cusp of the first house. In
developing a method of house division that uses the circles of the
Same and Different, Carter gives us a system of domification that is
integrated with Platonic philosophy. This philosophy is so often the
unspoken foundation of much astrological lore.
A good example of the poli equatorial house system in action is the Exeter Astrology Group's own natal chart. (See below) In this chart the important Venus-Uranus opposition is moved to within a few minutes of arc of the 4th-10th axis. This symbol describes the purpose of the group of the group very clearly - a public gathering of friends (Venus-10th cusp) built around the foundations of a shared interest in astrology (Uranus-4th cusp).
The solar identity of the group is in the collectively focused 11th house, and Mercury, being the classical symbol for astrology is close to the cusp of the 12th, the spiritual house. Jupiter, often in the 2nd house using mainstream systems, moves to the cusp of the 3rd house, a symbol for a group dedicated to learning and sharing information of a spiritual and philosophical nature. The poli equatorial system is clearly effective in this delineation.
The cusps are listed below:
It is disappointing that Carter's method of domification is so little used. It is not mentioned in key texts that describe the principles of house systems. It is not offered in any of the main programmes available in the astrological software market. Furthermore, there is very little information about the system available on the internet. I have never seen a published chart delineated according to the poli equatorial system apart from Carter's own examples. 4
A good example of the poli equatorial house system in action is the Exeter Astrology Group's own natal chart. (See below) In this chart the important Venus-Uranus opposition is moved to within a few minutes of arc of the 4th-10th axis. This symbol describes the purpose of the group of the group very clearly - a public gathering of friends (Venus-10th cusp) built around the foundations of a shared interest in astrology (Uranus-4th cusp).
The solar identity of the group is in the collectively focused 11th house, and Mercury, being the classical symbol for astrology is close to the cusp of the 12th, the spiritual house. Jupiter, often in the 2nd house using mainstream systems, moves to the cusp of the 3rd house, a symbol for a group dedicated to learning and sharing information of a spiritual and philosophical nature. The poli equatorial system is clearly effective in this delineation.
Figure 3: Exeter Astrology Group (using Poli Equatorial Houses)
The cusps are listed below:
Cusp 1: 6 SC 19
Cusp 2: 5 SG 53
Cusp 3: 3 CP 40
Cusp 4: 1 AQ 44
Cusp 5: 2 PI 0
Cusp 6: 4 AR 21
Cusp 7: 6 TA 19
Cusp 8: 5 GE 53
Cusp 9: 3 CN 40
Cusp 10: 1 LE 44
Cusp 11: 2 VI 0
Cusp 12: 4 LI 21
(Note to programmers - if you would like a simple BASIC program to calculate poli equatorial house cusps, please contact the author via the EAG website. This program is provided on an open source basis to promote the inclusion of poli equatorial houses in commercial and non-commercial astrological software. You may adapt it to your own needs/programming language.)
(Note to programmers - if you would like a simple BASIC program to calculate poli equatorial house cusps, please contact the author via the EAG website. This program is provided on an open source basis to promote the inclusion of poli equatorial houses in commercial and non-commercial astrological software. You may adapt it to your own needs/programming language.)
It is disappointing that Carter's method of domification is so little used. It is not mentioned in key texts that describe the principles of house systems. It is not offered in any of the main programmes available in the astrological software market. Furthermore, there is very little information about the system available on the internet. I have never seen a published chart delineated according to the poli equatorial system apart from Carter's own examples. 4
In
Carter's day, his method had one undeniable advantage – it needed a
single table of houses. This meant that calculation of houses cusps
was simplified. Once the ascendant had been calculated, the other
cusps could be read directly from a page of data. This is because
poli-equatorial cusps are not latitude-dependent (once the ascendant has been identified). Carter's system has
other benefits. It creates houses that are more or less equal, in
terms of the twelve divisions of the ecliptic that they demarcate.
This minimises the issue of intercepted signs.
The
system will occasionally fall down in charts where the calculation of
the ascendant is problematic. This only occurs in extreme polar
latitudes. However, Rob Hand notes that this difficulty is more
theoretical than practical. The identification of an ascendant in
these latitudes is only impossible when the horizon and ecliptic
coincide. According to Hand “...this occurs for only an instant and
only on the infinitesimal band of the Arctic and Antarctic circles,
so it is not a serious drawback in practice.” 5
Carter's
system has a clear advantage over quadrant based methods of
domification in polar latitudes because it does not rely on the need
for an identified midheaven and ascendant. This issue can be a
difficulty because the ascendant and meridian can coincide at times.
More commonly, the midheaven and ascendant can fall close together on
the ecliptic in high northern latitudes. This leads to gross
discrepancies in the size of quadrant houses when measured on the
ecliptic.
In
Essays on the Foundations of Astrology, Carter provides a number of
interesting case examples to illustrate his poli equatorial system.
He looks at charts for Tennyson, the great Victorian poet, King
Edward VII, and Emily Popejoy.
In the
King's chart, Carter points out that with the poli equatorial system,
“The presence of the Moon, in close square to Saturn, on cusp 10
seems peculiarly appropriate to the native's strict upbringing and
suppression by his royal Mother, who refused for many years to allow
him to take part in public affairs. Venus in the 10th
agrees with his popularity and that of his consort.” 6 In other
systems, the moon would fall variously in the eighth or ninth houses;
in most systems Venus would fall solidly in the cadent ninth.
Carter
notes Tennyson's tight Mars-Uranus conjunction falls in the sixth
house in many house systems. He concludes that this symbolism
“...seems inappropriate to the native's robust health....” 7
Carter suggests this pair “...would be much better placed in the
5th, indicating the emotional tragedy which led to In
Memoriam and the death of the
poet's son of fever.” 8
Using the poli equatorial
method, Uranus and Mars fall
in the fifth house, suggesting
the unexpected death
of a child. He
also notes that in the poli equatorial system, Jupiter moves from the
cusp of the twelfth house onto the cusp of the eleventh house which
“...seems to agree much better with the poet's phenomenal
success....He won fame, rank and money.” 9
Carter's
method of domification also has some practical benefits, including
house cusps that fall more or less equally on the ecliptic and have
unique degrees. The astrologer has to accept that the midheaven is
unlikely to form the cusp of the tenth, but, as Carter has
demonstrated, this may, in practice, yield important interpretative
insights.
We
should do Carter the honour of looking at his own nativity using the
poli equatorial method he devised. In many systems, including all
quadrant based methods of house division, his highly elevated Saturn
falls in the cadent ninth house, being just beyond the culminating
degree in the diurnal circle.
Despite
Saturn's lack of traditional dignity, this placement is an adequate
symbol for his fine philosophical mind. His astrological vision moved
subtly between the realms of the Platonic world of Ideas and the
mundane world which we inhabit. However, this image does not carry
the authority of a man who served the astrological community at the
highest levels for many years.
In the
equal house system, we note that his Saturn is on the nonagesimal
degree. This degree, falling exactly square to the ascendant, marks
the 10th house cusp in the simple equal house method of domification. 10 The nonagesimal degree is the highest point of the ecliptic above
the horizon; any planet placed in this degree is given prominence
within the horoscope.
However,
when we use his own poli equatorial method of domification, Carter's
Saturn falls a few degrees inside the tenth, the cusp being at 14
Cancer. This is testament to Carter's own observation that his
poli equatorial method, having many of the advantages of the
straightforward modus equalis
or Ptolemaic system, has the
further benefit
of yielding cusps that carry a unique mundane signature.
Figure 3: Charles Carter's Horoscope (using Poli Equatorial Houses)
This
symbol – Saturn in the tenth house - clearly identifies Charles
Carter's authority and acumen. He worked to establish and maintain
the institutions that still embody the mainstream traditions in
English and British astrology. He took a large share of
responsibility for the good governance of some of the key political
and educational institutions that represent our cosmic art. There can
be no higher recommendation for Carter's poli equatorial house system
than this signature from his own nativity.
1.
Further details of Carter's life and astrological legacy can be found
at www.charlescarter.co.uk,
a memorial site established and maintained by the Wessex Astrology
Group. Charles Carter's birth details are published on this site.
2.
Charles Carter (1947, 2nd ed. 1978) Essays on the
Foundations of Astrology. Theosophical Publishing House, London. p.
158-159.
3.
For detail discussions of these systems see R W Holden (1977) The
Elements of House Division. Urania Trust/Faculty of Astrological
Studies, London.
4.
A pdf copy of Carter's original Poli-equatorial Table of Houses can
be downloaded from
http://www.charlescarter.co.uk/marriage-house-system.html#housesystem
for readers who may wish to try the system. Carter
produced this table in January 1946. In a charming aside, at the foot
of p. 159 of Essays on the Foundations of Astrology, Carter invites
readers to contact him for “A set of tables may be obtained from
the author, price 6d, post paid, for those who wish to
experiment.” The cloud-based software, astroapp (www.astroapp.com),
has the poli-equatorial method programmed as one of
their range of house systems.
5. Rob
Hand (1982) Essays on Astrology. p. 136. Hand says that what is
critical when working with charts at extreme latitudes is to have a
clear definition of what is to count as the ascendant. See Hand
(1982) p. 132 for more details on definitions of the ascendant.
6.
Carter (1947, 2nd ed. 1978) p. 160.
7.
Carter (1947, 2nd ed. 1978) p. 162.
8.
Carter (1947, 2nd ed. 1978) p. 162.
9.
Carter (1947, 2nd ed. 1978) p. 162.
10. Jeff Mayo (1995)
Midheaven, Zenith and Nonagesimal. In Z Matthews (ed.) An
Astrological Anthology: Essays and Excerpts from the Journal of the
Astrological Association (Vol. 1 – 1959-1970). The Astrological
Association, London. p. 397-399. Originally published in the AA
Journal, Vol. 6, No. 3, p. 24.
2 comments:
Thank you, you lovely people this is just what I was looking for! Best wishes Sally
Thanks Sally - glad you appreciated the blog entry. Ed
Post a Comment