Ambrosia Academy of Astrology and Palmistry

New courses that have been introduced in June 2010 are listed below.
Click on any of these courses to go to the new Astrology Courses web site.

Online Courses include:
- Financial Astrology Module 1: Planetary  Transits to Transits
- Foundation Studies Certificate
- Horary Astrology Certificate (predictive astrology)
- HORARY Astrology Diploma (predictive astrology)
- PALMISTRY Diploma (hand analysis)

Questions? please send me an email.

Your tutor is Peter Burns, who has been practicing Astrology and Palmistry since 1984, teaching and lecturing since the late 1980’s, has a Diploma of Astrology (FAA) and has been awarded a Horary Craftsman Certificate by John Frawley.
Peter has been the Vice-President of the Federation of Australian Astrologers 2006-2009, was the president of the Victorian Astrologers Association 2006-2008, and has been the Editor of the national FAA Journal since 2000.

Readings: I no longer doing  personal readings as I need to devote all my time to my students,  writing and teaching. If you need a referral please contact me.

One of the major benefits of studying horary astrology is the understanding it brings to ‘first principles’. Included among these first principles are the concepts of dignity and reception.

The assessment of essential dignities underpins many judgements in horary astrology, and is invaluable in natal astrology. Unfortunately essential dignities are often overlooked by many modern astrologers. However when the essential dignities are applied to the assessment of relationships in the natal chart our understanding of the relationship dynamics is deepened. This is especially true when the receptions between planets are included in the assessment of relationships.

The natal chart is populated by planets which represent people in the life of the person represented by the horoscope. When these interplanetary relationships are examined with the insights of dignity and reception, the network of relationships, likes and dislikes, are revealed.

However these relationship insights are not available to those who have not studied the dignities of the planets, and the receptions between planets. Many astrologers know about the aspects between planets. This understanding can be further informed and deepened by an understanding of dignity and reception.

In regard to financial astrology, a number of financial astrologers were predicting a very fortunate time for big business and the economy in late 2007 as Jupiter was about to ingress into Capricorn. They clearly had no knowledge of essential dignities! Jupiter went into the sign of its fall when it ingressed into Capricorn, which coincided with the fall of the stock market.

If you are beginning your astrological studies, I would encourage you to first study horary astrology as it provides a solid foundation for all further astrological inquiry. If you are an experienced astrologer, I would also encourage you to study horary astrology. It will add immeasurably to your astrological understanding as well as your capacity to assist clients in natal work. Your insights will be deepened and your wits will be sharpened.

HORARY ASTROLOGY Diploma Course
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If you have any questions please feel welcome to contact me.

The horary astrology course is focused on how to make accurate predictions about anything without the aid of a natal chart. Instead a chart for the time when the question is asked is used.
There is a strong cosmic resonance with the serious intent of the person asking the question and the chart for the time when it is asked, and this resonance is shown in the horary chart as the past and the future in relation to the matter asked about.
Modern natal astrology has a number of serious disadvantages compared to horary astrology. The most obvious is that few birth times are accurate. So many people give their birth time as being 6 pm or on the hour, which seems to defy the laws of probability. Many astrologers spend hours trying to rectify charts but there can never be any certainty that these charts are accurate.
In contrast the horary chart is accurately timed for when the astrologer receives the question.
Neither does the horary chart require us to wade through the details of solar return charts, progressed charts, or harmonic charts. All that is needed is contained within the one chart.
Perhaps the major advantage of the horary astrology is that the chart has only a singular focus: the question asked. In comparison the astrological symbolism contained in the natal chart can be interpreted on many different levels for different time periods.
Most clients come with one or two major concerns and seek a practical and accurate answers to their questions. Horary astrology provides accurate and clear answers to common questions. The questions can include relationships, money, work, health, etc..
Modern astrologers have the opportunity to dramatically increase their effectiveness and value to clients by using horary astrology. Horary offers a huge time saving as well as increased accuracy.
The other interesting point is that horary has retained the ancient predictive techniques that were discarded by Alan Leo at the beginning of the last century. These techniques were ditched so that he could avoid being seen as a predictive astrologer (he was being prosecuted for making public predictions and wanted to stay out of jail). It is ironic that many of these techniques we known to W.D. Gann and would be so useful for predicting the stock markets using financial astrology.
Horary astrology has retained the ancient predictive techniques and in the Horary Astrology Diploma Course I explain clearly how these techniques are used. This is an online correspondence course (distance education).

HORARY ASTROLOGY Diploma Course
Diploma Course SYLLABUS
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If you have any questions please feel welcome to contact me.

The Aries ingress of the Sun represents the astrological New Year and has been traditionally used to provide an indicator of the year ahead. On March 21st the Sun enters Aries marking the beginning of Spring in the northern hemisphere and Autumn in the southern hemisphere. The Sun is used to represent the New Year because it is the source of light and life in our solar system. To show how this New Year is the uniquely expressed in Australia the ingress horoscope is set for our capital Canberra.
Because this chart represents the ingress of the Sun into Aries we first turn our attention to the Sun, its location within the horoscope, and the aspects it makes to the other planets.

Finance for healthcare?
The Sun’s second house placement suggests that in 2010 financial security is a primary concern. The Sun applies by trine to Mars in Leo, which has only recently stationed direct and is still moving slowly. Mars as the tenth house ruler represents the Rudd government, and its placement in the sixth house highlights health care issues.
The Sun’s trine to Mars shows economic initiatives applied to healthcare. Mars is said to have ‘its joy’ in the sixth house because its ability to cut away what does not function, and this may be reflected in the elimination of duplicated services and cost-cutting measures.
The Ascendant of this ingress horoscope represents the country and its people. In traditional terms Aquarius is ruled by Saturn, which is retrograding and about to exit the sign of its exaltation in Libra. Those who believe in the continued exalted state of the country might be in for some disappointment. However Saturn does return to its exalted state in late July.

The people must be heard
Those astrologers who use Uranus as the ruler of Aquarius will recognise its placement in the second house of finances as the need for change and reform of the financial sector. Uranus usually packs a surprise, and the sextile it receives from the Moon reflects popular support for reform. While this sextile aspect is benign the Moon is sitting on the fixed star Algol which carries a powerful punch. The government will ignore the people at its peril!

Trouble for Rudd’s government
Returning to the Sun, we see that it next aspects Saturn by opposition. Planetary oppositions across the financial houses suggest opposing demands and limitations on supply. Government initiatives in the healthcare sector may meet strong opposition.
The Sun’s subsequent square with Pluto, the planet of covert power and transformation, links with Saturn in a T-square, which is a very stressful alignment of planets, suggesting political machinations behind the scenes. This T-square is a precursor to the spectacular t-square alignment in August 2010 described by Nick Owens in the Capricorn ingress article on the C.I.A. web site.
Hidden power plays within the opposition
Venus as ruler of the fourth house, the house opposite the tenth house of government, represents the opposition, and is debilitated in Aries. The opposition party is not in good shape. Venus is also in shadow (antiscia) opposition to Jupiter, which is moving fast and powerfully placed in Pisces. With Venus and Jupiter in beneficial mutual reception hidden power plays may produce a beneficial outcome for the opposition. The Moon, which represents the people, is in Taurus and is in the sign where Venus, which represents the opposition, is dignified. But can the opposition win an election?

Neptune’s fury
Of major interest in this dynamic horoscope is the location of Neptune within a degree of the Ascendant, squared by the Moon which is aligned within a degree of the IC, conjoining Algol. The important of this square between Neptune and the Moon is amplified as it on the power points represented by the angles.
Neptune suggests inspiration and high ideals in the positive, and deception and confusion in the negative. It has been associated with floods and nature’s fury. I can highly recommend the DVD Neptune’s Return, produced by Nick Owns and Julija Simas of the C.I.A., which was reviewed on page 45 of this March 2010 FAA Journal. In this DVD Neptune’s historic link with Poseidon as representative of nature’s fury is vividly portrayed. Let us hope that Neptune’s placement on the Ascendant is benign.

Algol and the Moon
The exalted and angular Moon in Taurus shows the people’s power, and a conservative mood and a concern with security. The fourth house association with land and mineral wealth points to our resources. The Moon’s conjunction with the fixed star Algol, which has a reputation for disaster, and its square with watery Neptune is most inauspicious.

Clash of the planetary giants: revolutionary change
In late April we have the 4th Saturn-Uranus opposition, the clash of the planetary giants symbolising the opposing interests of the conservative forces and those seeking reform and change. On the day of the first Saturn-Uranus opposition Obama was elected as president of the United States. Uranus wants to smash the crystalline and outmoded structures represented by Saturn and bring about revolutionary change.
This global phenomenon of revolutionary change links the second house of finances to the eighth house of debt in Australia’s ingress horoscope.
The 5th and final opposition between these planetary giants occurs in the first degree of the cardinal signs, shifting the ground in preparation for the spectacular T-square in August. Again the spotlight is upon the financial houses in Australia’s 2010 ingress horoscope.

Jupiter-Saturn roller coaster
Following on the heels of the 4th Saturn-Uranus opposition in April we have the first Jupiter-Saturn opposition in May. This opposition exacerbates the tensions between poverty and plenty, abundance and scarcity, expansion and contraction. We are reaching the halfway point in the last of the Great Conjunctions of Jupiter and Saturn in the earth signs. The 20 year cycles of these planets are often associated with economic cycles, with the opposition phase signalling a downturn. The second opposition occurs in August and the last in March next year.

Rudd’s challenges
From April until July Jupiter Saturn will be conjoin and oppose Rudd’s Sun/Mars conjunction, providing a roller-coaster ride. Fortunately his natal Jupiter-Saturn sextile is in mutual reception, suggesting that he will find a way out of difficult situations.
And in late April his Sun/Mars conjunction receives a direct hit from the fourth Saturn-Uranus opposition. Again he may be assisted by a fortunate natal configuration, this time between Saturn and Uranus.

Pluto and Saturn
On April 7 Pluto stations retrograde in early Capricorn. Pluto is the ancient god of wealth and the planet was discovered during the 1929 crash. To gain some perspective we look to its dispositor, Saturn. The following day Saturn exits the sign of its exaltation and retrogrades into Virgo where it stays until July 22. In Virgo Saturn represents ‘the devil in the detail’. Again the emphasis is upon economic challenges. The transiting square between these 2 planets is like an economic pressure cooker seeking release.

Other Astrological events 2010 – 2011
Aside from the above mentioned oppositions between Jupiter/Saturn and Saturn/Neptune and the August T-square between Saturn Uranus and Pluto, we also have the entry of Uranus and Jupiter into Aries and their conjunction on June 9. Jupiter and Uranus conjoining in Aries is an explosive combination, promising bold initiatives and adventures, and a potential for violent revolution.
The lunar eclipse at the end of June conjoins Pluto and links up with the volatile conjunction of Jupiter and Uranus. The eclipse occurs across the financial houses in the 2010 ingress chart, bringing hidden issues to the surface for change, reform and transformation. This eclipse exactly conjoins the IC of the 1901 Australian Federation chart suggesting changes to the way we feel about ourselves as a country.
The solar eclipse in early July casts its shadow antiscia opposition to Venus, the Ascendant ruler of the Australian Federation chart. With Pluto conjoining the IC of this horoscope it appears that Australia faces some important changes in the year ahead.
The eclipses of December 2010 and January 2011 resonate strongly with Australia’s federation horoscope. Jupiter and Uranus cross in and out of Pisces/Aries over the next 12 months and both Jupiter and Saturn both square Pluto during this period.
Happy New Year!

HORARY ASTROLOGY Diploma Course
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This post is developed from my notes for my lecture presentation on Financial Astrology in January 2010 at the FAA International Astrology Conference in Brisbane.

Lecture to be published in separate posts
Because the intent of the lecture was to introduce different methods for making astrological correlations with the stock market, I will present these different topics from my lecture in separate posts, and add further information.

Jupiter and Saturn – the ancient markers of time
The planets Jupiter and Saturn have been known since ancient times as ‘the Great Chronocrators’. The term means ‘markers of time’.
Before the 1700’s the outermost planets known to astronomers and astrologers were Jupiter and Saturn. They had been used for centuries to mark the passage of time. The orbit of Jupiter is 12 years and the orbit of Saturn is 29 years. At regular twenty year intervals Jupiter caught up with and conjoined Saturn, marking the longest cycle known to the ancient astrologers.
The conjunction point between the two planets advanced approximately 243° at each conjunction, thus staying within the same triplicity (element). These conjunctions occurr successively in the same triplicity for about two hundred years. The 20 year Jupiter-Saturn cycles belong to a larger series which comprises approx ten conjunctions in one triplicity (element), lasting approximately 200 years each. After the cycle has moved through one triplicity it moves to the next triplicity, in the order of fire, earth, air, and water. Approximately every 800 years the conjunction returns to the same zodiac sign in what was called the Grand conjunction.
This great conjunction marks historical eras in our history, and has been associated with upheavals in civilisation, and is also associated with economic cycles of expansion and contraction.

In regards to financial astrological correlations to the stock market we are primarily concerned with the present Jupiter-Saturn cycle that began in May 2000 at 22 Taurus. Keywords associated with the planets Jupiter and Saturn are shown in the above diagram.

In traditional astrology Jupiter rules the 2nd house of income, and it is the natural ruler of prosperity. Saturn rules the 8th house of death and loss and is the natural ruler of poverty.

The adjacent graphic shows the expansion and contraction of the Jupiter-Saturn cycle.

Now reaching the critical halfway point in the cycle
In 2010 we are reaching the half way point, the opposition. The opposition represents the middle of the present cycle which began in 2000. Jupiter and Saturn make three oppositions in two pairs of signs.
The three 2010-2011 Jupiter-Saturn oppositions are:
1: 23 May 2010 at 28 Pisces-Virgo,
2: 16 Aug 2010 at 2 Aries-Libra; and
3: 28 Mar 2011 at 14 Aries-Libra.

These three oppositions represent critical points in the 20 year Jupiter-Saturn cycle from 2000 – 2020. If you are involved with the stock market I suggest you note these dates as there is a possibility that they may coincide with market reversals. They represent a type of ‘tipping point’ around which the global economy may turn.
The first of these three oppositions is dominated by Jupiter which is its dignity in Pisces. What is fascinating about the horoscope for this day is that volatile and explosive Mars is making an exact square with the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction which marked the beginning of this cycle in 2000 at 22 Taurus.

Less than a month before this May 23rd 2010 opposition, on the 27th April 2010 Saturn opposes Uranus in the last of the 5 oppositions that have correlated with the Great Financial Crisis. Historically this opposition is associated with unrest and revolution, the old versus the new, and unexpected changes to the status quo.
The horoscope for the Jupiter-Saturn opposition on 23rd May 2010 is a fascinating chart. The Moon Venus and Pluto all form an intense T-square, which represents a time of tension.
Saturn in this Jupiter-Saturn opposition horoscope makes an antiscia conjunction with the Moon. Antiscia (planetary shadows) are discussed in my post on shadow planets.
This shadow conjunction of Saturn and the Moon links the tension of the T-square to the Jupiter-Saturn opposition, suggesting that this is a very significant time.
And Jupiter is following so close to Uranus, the planet of revolution and upheaval. They conjoin together in the following sign of Aries on the 9th June 2010. This is a very explosive combination.

I would suggest the the period from April through to June 2010 may be very volatile in terms of political and social tension, and that this volatility may well be reflected in the markets.
I plan to analyse the horoscopes for each of the above Jupiter-Saturn oppositions in terms of possible consequences for America and Australia in future posts.

Become familiar with basic astrological tools if you correlate astrology with market directions
In order to understand the Jupiter-Saturn cycles it is very important to have a working knowledge of the essential dignities of these two planets and also of the receptions between them.
I cover essential dignities and receptions in my online predictive astrology course (horary astrology). Detailed instructions on essential dignities are provided in Lesson 8 of the HORARY ASTROLOGY Diploma course which I conduct by distance education. Receptions are covered in Lesson 10. If you are using astrology to trade or invest in the markets you are working blind unless you are familiar with these basic astrological tools.

Jupiter-Saturn cycle expansion-contraction hypothesis
At my lecture in January 2010 at the FAA International Astrology Conference in Brisbane, I analysed depressed economic activity for the 140 period from 1860 until 2000. This analysis focused on the seven twenty year periods from 1860 to 2000. It was noted that five out of the seven 20 year periods clearly showed that the first ten years had a lower measure of depressed activity than the second ten years. The expansion and contraction phases of the Jupiter-Saturn cycle appear to be validated. The remaining two periods were indeterminate and neither contradicted nor validated the hypothesis.
If the hypothesis that the Jupiter-Saturn cycle represents an expansion of economic activity in the opening phase of the cycle and that a contraction of economic activity during the closing phase of the cycle is valid, then there is a strong probability that we are entering a ten year period of economic contraction. While no single cycle can be considered as being decisive in our ability to predict the future, the Jupiter-Saturn cycle appears to have produced consistent results since 1860, with the possible exception of two twenty year periods. It is however important to consider other long term cycles and to integrate these within the context of our current economic cultural and political situation.
In the coming posts I plan to analyse other long term astrological cycles in relation to market directions.
In order to use astrology to predict stock market directions it is essential to be familiar with basic astrological concepts. These are offered in my predictive astrology course (horary astrology), such as house rulerships (which includes commodity rulers), triplicity rulers, receptions and the correct way to use aspects.
HORARY ASTROLOGY Diploma Course
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If you have any questions please feel welcome to contact me.

At the recent FAA Conference in Jan 2010 in Brisbane Australia I gave a lecture on financial astrology, and was asked by a number of people to talk more about the concept of planetary shadows (antiscia). Detailed instructions on how to use antiscia are provided in Lesson 12 of the HORARY ASTROLOGY Diploma which I conduct by distance education. Course syllabus.

Antiscias only take a moment to see
If you are an experienced astrologer it takes but a moment to glance around the horoscope to see whether the antiscia of any of the planets falls upon another planet or important point in the horoscope. However without taking a moment to do this brief mathematical excursion vital clues may be missed.

Gaining or losing money
In questions about making money, for example, if the shadow of the planet representing the question falls on a malefic, which is a debilitated planet, then the proposed action or enterprise is unlikely to succeed. It is better that the client refrains from taking the proposed action even though it is something the client really wants to do.

For example supposed you asked: “If I invest in BHP shares, will I be rewarded financially?” If the significator representing your second house (the second house represents your money) falls on a malefic, such a retrograde Mars in Libra in the eighth house, then the answer would be an emphatic NO, unless contradicted by other testimonies. If you missed this planetary shadow you may have lost some serious money!

So what are antiscia?
The concept that antiscia, which offer an alternative to a planet’s position by placing it on a point on the other side of the Cancer-Capricorn axis, seems strange to many people. How can this tiny insignificant point pack such a powerful punch? Is this some new age concept invented to keep astrologers amused in between client readings?
No, actually antiscia have been used for many centuries and have simply fallen into disuse in modern times. The weird thing is that antiscia actually work and that only a fool would overlook them, especially if money is being wagered on the stock market.
To understand how these little guys work we need to go to the meaning of the word ‘antiscia’.
My Webster’s New Twentieth Century Dictionary (1976) defines “antiscians, antiscia” as coming from the Greek meaning shadows. ‘Anti’ means opposite and ‘skios’ means shadow. In geography it means the inhabitants of the earth living on the same meridian but on opposite sides of the equator, whose shadows at noon are cast in opposite directions.
In astrology we take the word to mean the point in the chart which is the same distance from the Cancer-Capricorn axis as the planet being considered, but on the opposite side. Cancer and Capricorn represent the solstice points. This antiscia point is interpreted as being a shadow reflection of the planet.
When one planet is on other’s antiscia it represents a reflected shadow of the other planet, something which is hidden or not obvious, and may represent either a bonus or a problem. When one planet is on the antiscia of another planet, each is a shadow of the other planet. In the rest of this article I shall use plain English and refer to antiscia as ‘planetary shadows’.

Obama’s January 2010 eclipse

To demonstrate the principle I will examine the horoscope of a famous person with an accurate birth time. Barack Obama will do just nicely.
On the 15th January 2010 there was a solar eclipse on the ruler of Obama’s ascendant and within days he was finally speaking out against China’s cyber tactics and expressing regret at the surprise loss to a little-known Republican who beat the Democrat in a ’safe’ seat left open by Ted Kennedy’s death in 2009. Eclipses often contain a surprise, and it is not always pleasant.
In case you are new to astrology, the ascendant ruler is often considered to be the most important planet in the horoscope, and represents the strength of the individual.
Obama’s rising sign is Aquarius and the ruler of Aquarius is Saturn.

Get a grounding in the basics before using astrology to trade the markets
Saturn is placed in the other sign that it rules: Capricorn. If you are attempting to use astrology to trade or invest in the markets and don’t know what signs planets rule and which signs strengthen or weaken the planets then you might like to consider doing my predictive astrology course, which provides a solid grounding in the basics of astrology. Planetary strength is covered by the concept of ‘dignity’, which is so often overlooked in the modern textbooks on astrology.

Obama’s ascendant ruler in the 12th house
Saturn in Obama’s horoscope is located in the twelfth house. The twelfth house is the place of hidden things, hidden motives and self-undoing. This is not a good placement for any planet. Having one’s Ascendant ruler in the twelfth house is like being locked away with no ability for self-expression.
Not only is Saturn in the twelfth house but it is retrograde. Retrogradation (when a planet appears to move backwards through the zodiac from the earth’s perspective) is understood in astrology to be similar to a person walking backwards, not being able to see where they are going. By the way Saturn applies by square to warlike Mars which stands at the cusp of the eighth house, and rules his tenth house of destiny. There is so much in this horoscope which contains significant pointers to the future.

So how do antiscia work?
So how is it that Obama is able to express himself so eloquently if his Ascendant ruler is locked away in the twelfth house? The answer is revealed when one looks at Saturn’s shadow. Planetary shadows are formed across the Cancer-Capricorn axis (Cancer and Capricorn are the 2 solstice points). Saturn is 25° 19’ from the solstice point of 0° Capricorn. 25° 19 minutes on the opposite side of this solstice point is 4°41’ of Sagittarius. This point is the exact shadow of Saturn.
How did I get this figure? There are 30° in a sign. 30° minus 25° 19’ = 4° 41′. Remember that each degree has 60 minutes, not 100. Degrees and minutes are not based on the decimal system but on the old imperial measurement system.
Now when we are using planetary shadows we allow a 2° orb for conjunctions and oppositions (no other aspects are used). Opposite 4°41’ of Sagittarius is the Moon at 3°21’ Gemini. The orb of 1°20’ is within the allowable range.

Obama’s Moon says it all
Obama is able to find expression through his Moon. Saturn’s shadow falling on his Moon works very well for Obama. The Moon is in the dignity, triplicity and the terms of Mercury, all of which are strong indicators of his persuasive talents. Note that his Moon separates from a close sextile to Mercury and applies by square to Pluto. Obama is able to reach the masses. The Moon is also in a double-bodied sign, indicating his capacity to entertain different opinions on the same subject, depending on his target audience.

Dignities, receptions, and triplicity rulers are so important in making accurate astrological judgements
The use of planetary shadows in astrology is very important. Modern astrologers who are unfamiliar with their use would gain so much by including them in their natal readings. The use of planetary shadows in horary charts, which are sometimes used by financial astrologers as a guide to successful trading, and their application in natal and mundane astrology (mundane astrology relates to current affairs and political events) are very important and should not be overlooked.
To use planetary shadows correctly it is essential to be familiar with other basic astrological concepts which are offered in my predictive astrology course (horary astrology), such as house rulerships (which includes commodity rulers), triplicity rulers, receptions and the correct way to use aspects.

HORARY ASTROLOGY Diploma Course
Diploma Course SYLLABUS
Diploma Course PRICE
If you have any questions please feel welcome to contact me.