Foreword

As far as the present author has been able to determine, the general Gestalt method of interpreting a horoscope was originated in America by Max Heindel. Curiously enough, however, his original approach was perpetuated by Jennie Bollenbacher, his private pupil, rather than by the Rosicrucian Fellowship he founded. His introduction to astrology was through Augusta Foss, a member of one of the country's very active astrological groups at the turn of the century and who, upon their marriage, helped in the wide popularization of the stellar art that probably was effected in major part and contemporaneously by his organization and the Brotherhood of Light. Heindel himself, in his personal insights relative to the horoscope, was aided at all points by a brilliant grasp of the interweaving facets of cosmic order. He was able more than half a century ago to see that reality was a construct, or a continuum of act or a doing, but despite his achievement in giving this its clearest of all early expositions in his Rosicrucian Cosmo-Conception he had neither the philosophical nor scientific background to develop his deeper astrological realizations very appreciably or to give them any currency as a basic charting of the nature of man.

The present writer developed the Gestalt approach to the horoscope independently some seven years later, with his insight sustained in what up to that time had been an isolated two decades of extensive struggle with the patterning genius of the cabala. His initial attempt at any acquaintance with astrology as then established was in 1912. His original contact with the world of astrologers was through Ella Woods early in 1914. The earliest fruits of his efforts to formulate the whole-view interpretation of the horoscope were two pamphlets privately printed in 1916 as a gift to the Societas Rosicruciana in America. These were Dimensional Evolution (12pp) and Evolutional Astrology (20pp), and the Gestalt [vii] insights are evident enough if the reader is looking for them. The exposition is handicapped, however, by the conventional terms of its expression as well as its framing in the more superficial assumptions of the occultism that was popular at the threshold of World War I. Very obvious is the lean on Alan Leo, and his attempt in England to use Theosophical principles for the greater dignification of the stellar art.

The author's own developing contribution of a truly functional mode of analysis, such as gradually came to be known as Sabian, had a careful exposition in due course through the mimeographed series of lessons issued from June to December, 1930, under the title Professional Astrology. These have been employed by students and professional astrologers all over the world for a full three decades, and they will still be available although superseded in most respects by this text. When it seemed that the technique had been subjected to sufficient practical test to justify a presentation in book form, a start was made with the beginner's manual, How to Learn Astrology, and a companion presentation, The Guide to Horoscope Interpretation, both published in 1941. Problem Solving by Horary Astrology came next, in 1943, and it had been selected as the first of the projected seven larger volumes for the reason that it met a very pressing demand, as indeed it still seems to do. Astrology, How and Why It Works, thereupon was prepared as the foundation text of the series, and it was available in 1945. Sabian Symbols in Astrology was scheduled to follow as the third of the more thorough expositions, largely because this interpretation of the zodiacal degrees had become so well known through the mimeographed lessons and the special interest of Dane Rudhyar. The details of preparation were unusually formidable and time-consuming, and the book did not appear until 1953.

That eight years also would be required to ready the present volume for publication was wholly unanticipated, and it is quite impossible to express any adequate appreciation to those who have helped in the task. A first draft was begun in May, 1952, at Hollywood Beach in Florida, and this was [viii] written with the references to actual horoscopes left for insertion after the general exposition had developed its fundamental coherence. Dorothy Keeffe volunteered her time over many long months, and gave a dedicated attention to locating illustrations for the various points of interpretation from the thousand charts of well-known people listed in Sabian Symbols. Her selections are the basis of the present text although it has been necessary to make changes in the examples over and over again in the course of continual revisions. Edna Smith's assistance was invaluable in the mathematical checking of the horoscopes used, and many Sabian students helped with this and the other not-too-exciting chores as the work progressed. Minnie Keys made reproductions of the illustrative charts in wheel form, and bound these for the use of those working with the manuscript or finding them helpful in astrological research. James Givens Allen throughout the period has given himself tirelessly to critical aid with the various drafts. Hadassah Roberts, with the assistance of Sabian students in the Wilmington area, has carried the entire responsibility for reading and correcting the first galley proofs, as well as helping with the subsequent ones, and the Sabian group in Boston in particular has assisted in reading proofs and checking them against the example horoscopes. Erwin Roberts, Senior and Junior, and Hadassah Roberts have given yeoman assistance with technical advice, and in co-ordinating the various publishing functions. There has been very generous financial assistance through Arthur Middleton Young and his Foundation for the Study of Consciousness and a long list of Sabian students and friends of the work, and there are no words for the tribute that should be paid to Priscilla Jones for unstinted help and sustainment at any and all points throughout this sheaf of years.

Norman, Washington, June 27, 1960

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