Essays on the Foundations of Astrology

Book excerpt: Charles Carter (1887-1968) wrote this book in London during World War II. It was his first book in more than a dozen years. In this book, Carter turns his attention to fundamentals. Why the planets are what they are. How the Sun differs from the Moon. How Jupiter and Mercury are interrelated. Having had his fill of aspects in terms of the planets, in this book Carter tells us of aspects in terms of signs and the elements they represent. A planet in a fire sign, in square to a planet in an earth sign, Carter says, is an obviously difficult combination: Fire consumes earth, or, earth smothers fire. On the other hand, air/water squares are much less stressful. Carter was particularly fascinated by the nativities of Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler, his contemporaries. Charts for both men are given. Mussolini he declares to be a "bombastic Italian dictator", but Hitler remained a puzzle. ___________________ Charles E.O. Carter, one of the leading astrologers of the 20th century, was President of the Astrological Lodge at the Theosophical Society from 1920 to 1952. He was first Principal of the Faculty of Astrological Studies, which he helped found in 1948. He edited The Astrologer's Quarterly from 1926 until 1959. Essays on the Foundations of Astrology was first published in 1947.