This is in answer to an astrologer engaged in an online discussion of the relative merits of equal houses versus Placidus houses in astrology.

Ironically, people who have horoscopes like the one compacted onto the ASC-DSC axis tend to be just as lopsided, particularly in the light of my system. Examples can range from a child born in isolated northern Norway who was seen as a father-substitute by the mother virtually from birth. She talked to him like a husband rather than tiny infant and he developed in that way. Or on the other hand people who never grow up and remain bonded infants.

Remind the critics that there are two times every day in all latitudes where the houses are exactly equal. Did you know that? At 06:00 and 18:00 Sidereal Time. Thus despite the extreme latitudinal conditions, there are always people in those latitudes who have equal house charts naturally.

Years ago I connected the whole dispute with the apparent effects of living in various latitudes. For example, near the equator almost all charts are equal house and in those climates the social condition is primarily "tribal" and where individuality is frowned upon, if not overtly punished. As you more north (and south) from the equator the variations in house sizes increase to the "balance point" at 45°N (near NY, Paris, Berlin) where individuality and tribal qualities are balanced. Further north they become exaggerated as there are cultures where individuality is virtually a religion and tribal sense nonexistent, all the way up to the Eskimos who live in small family units in isolated places.

Although this is a tremendous generalization, I believe it is an interesting starting point in the discussion of "equal house" versus "Placidus houses."

People’s birth times are often a bit “off” in one direction or the other and the reading addresses that issue. It usually corrects the time if it isn’t right. The planetary influences are also either inner or outer in the way they manifest, in that they often do not correspond to what many consider important dates in their lives, i.e., marriage date, graduation from school, birth of children. All of these events are the “literal” dates of really the end of a process that started earlier, i.e., relationship leading to marriage, school years leading to graduation, gestation leading to a birth. The horoscope shows symbolic phases and stages of life when our inner processes manifest, like when you realize that you love someone, which then leads to formalizing the relationship with marriage six months, or a year later.

(A letter from Portugal)

My name is Carlos Oliveira and I’m writing to you in the name of Maria Flávia Monsaraz, founder of Quiron – Portuguese Centre of Astrology in Lisbon. I believe you and Maria Flávia met in the International Astrological Congress in Venice some time ago.

We, Maria Flávia and a group of people that include amateur and professional actors, and other people in some way dedicated to the active and conscious participation of the construction of this new age that has emerged, are in the process of creating the “Theatre of Peace” – a Symbolic Theatre with the aim of bringing back the Sacred to the big audiences.

We have a play to start our first work, based on a book written by Maria Flávia. It regards the planets of our Solar system and their symbolic meaning. This is where we come to you so that you might possibly help us. We are looking to inspire ourselves in the Symbolism from the Greek Theatre.

We would deeply appreciate if you could in light us, in what ever ways you find best, with your vision and knowledge on this subject.

All the Best,
Carlos (carlosol@clix.pt)

and my reply:

Dear Carlos,

I have been interested in theaters for decades and have written and lectured about the “memory theater” that is based on astrology. I include an image of a memory theater painting I made in 1975 here, based on Palladio’s design. It allows the stage to be where the “aspects” take place, the interaction between the planets, which also allows one to place actors in particular symbolic places during a play. The stage entrances are spirit, soul and mind; and the balcony onstage is the “higher level” of entrance and exit.

In the early 1980s I gave a talk about the “Astrological Memory Theater” in Amsterdam and we actually made a theater in this form as I did some few lines from MacBeth to illustrate how it worked. It was a great success. The audience was seated by their “Sun signs” and that was also very interesting.