The primary principle of the Prenatal Epoch has been stated by Max Heindel
in The Message of the Stars, where
he says that the body is the product of lunar forces and that the position of
the Ascendant, or its opposite, at birth, is the Moon's position at
conception. The keyword of the Moon is fecundation or fertility, and it is
Jehovah and the lunar Angels that preside at the birth of a child. This is
stated in the Cosmo-Conception and
other works of the Rosicrucian Philosophy. We thus see that the Moon has
primary influence over the formation of the physical body, and that the
Ascendant represents merely the transference of the Moon's position from
conception to birth.
This law was known to the ancients as the "Trutine of Hermes," from Hermes
Trismegistus, who first correctly formulated and stated the law as follows:
"The place of the Moon at conception becomes the birth ascendant or its
opposite point."
"But this proved to be but one-half of a very important law, for while the
Ascendant at birth was the place of the Moon at a certain Epoch, the Ascendant
or its opposite point at this Epoch was the place of the Moon at birth — a
very remarkable interchange of factors." — E.H. Bailey.
According to the Ancient Wisdom, "The World-Breath has a definite and
periodic pulsation, a systole and diastole action, whereby birth and death are
controlled." This idea of periodicity, well established by modern science,
furthers the idea that birth can take place only in respect to any single
locality at intervals, that these intervals are in accord with lunar motion,
and that only every seventh impulse of the World-Breath permits of human
births.
The modern version of the Prenatal Epoch we first established by the
English astrologer known to the astrological world as Sepharial, in the year
1886. It was published by him in 1890. In this he had the collaboration of a
trained and veteran scientist, a doctor, who helped him to establish the primary
laws of the Prenatal Epoch by years of painstaking research and actual
experiments. This doctor was an expert obstetrician and proved the laws of the
Prenatal Epoch by actual firsthand data.
These laws have been further verified, extended, and complemented by the
painstaking researches of E.H. Bailey, to whom great credit is due for his
many and exact proofs of the Prenatal Epoch. His book upon this subject is
considered standard authority, and we are in the main following his very
worthy contribution to the subject and are extending him full credit.
One of the primary uses of the Prenatal Epoch is the correction or
rectification of the birth time when only the approximate time is given.
Another is its utility in determining correctly the sex of the native.
Finally, it gives sidelights on the character and inner nature of the
individual as fundamental as those of the birth chart.
"As births are brought about in exact harmony with lunar laws, it is shown
that intrauterine life is in direct relation with the sidereal world without,
that the great fact of maternity is capable of purely astronomical measurement
and rule .... The law is nothing less than a mathematical measurement of human
life, a stupendous natural fact; nothing more exactly mathematical and matter
of fact is to be found in the records of scientists than this record of intra-
uterine life, for only through its study will the laws of generation be fully
understood." — Sepharial.
"In the measurement of the intra-uterine period we actually measure the
whole future of the individual; alter this one fact — the moment of
conception (or its spiritual counterpart, the Epoch) — and you change the
whole course of the progeny's destiny. If we accept the esoteric theory that the
Prenatal Epoch is the descent of the Ego to the Desire World, then it must
show the inherent character of the Ego about to incarnate. It may be stated
that the Epoch has a more intimate relationship with the individual than the
horoscope at birth, the latter appearing to reject the personality and its
heredity and environment. In other words, the Epoch represents the man about
to manifest in the flesh, the horoscope denotes actual personal conditions and
environments into which he is born. Every birth is directly connected with the
Epoch, and every authentic natural birth will, within the limits of an error
of observation, yield an Epoch in accordance with the rules to be given." —
Bailey.
For summary, let us restate the fundamental principle of the Prenatal
Epoch known as the Tritune of Hermes: "The Ascendant at birth is the
place of the Moon at a certain Epoch, ant the Ascendant or its opposite point
at Epoch was the place of the Moon at birth."
This yields the:
Four Laws of
the Epoch
1. When the Moon at birth increases in light, it will be on the ascending
degree of Epoch, and the Moon at Epoch will be on the ascending degree at
birth.
2. When the Moon at birth decrease in light, it will be on the decreasing
degree at Epoch, and the Moon at Epoch will be on the descending degree at
birth.
3. When the Moon at birth is (a) increasing in light and below the
horizon, or (b) decreasing in light and above the horizon, the period of
gestation is longer than the norm.
4. When the Moon at birth is (a) increasing in light and above the horizon
or (b) decreasing in light and below the horizon, the period of gestation is
shorter than the norm.
From these four laws we deduce the following:
Four Orders
of Epoch
1. Moon above horizon and increasing in light: 273 days minus x.
2. Moon above horizon and decreasing in light: 273 days plus x.
3. Moon below horizon and increasing in light: 273 days plus x.
4. Moon below horizon and decreasing in light: 273 days minus x.
It is to be understood that the 273 days referred to in the above table is
the normal period of gestation, or nine solar or ten lunar months. This normal
period is increased or decreased in accordance with the distance of the Moon
from either the Ascendant or Descendant, and "x" is a certain number of days
corresponding to this distance obtained by dividing the distance in degrees by
thirteen degrees, the latter being the average daily motion of the Moon.
When making the count, count to the Ascendant (AC) when the Moon is
increasing in light, and to the Descendant (DC) when the Moon is decreasing in
light. Another more definite way of stating this would be: In orders Nos. 1
and 4 the distance in degrees of the Moon from the horizon last crossed
(AC or DC), divided by thirteen, gives "x", or the number of days by which
this period is decreased; and in orders Nos. 2 and 3 the distance of the Moon
in degrees from the horizon which it is approaching, divided by
thirteen, gives the number of days by which this period is increased. These
rules are illustrated by the following examples:
Figure 1
Order No. 1
Moon above the horizon and increasing in light. Period of gestation is 273
days minus "x".
Increasing — hence "count" to AC.
Subtracting longitude of moon from longitude of AC gives 80 degrees, as follows:
AC:
7th sign
0 degrees
0 minutes
Moon:
-4th sign
-10 degrees
-0 minutes
Equals:
2 signs
20 degrees
0 minutes
Equals 2 signs plus 20 degrees or 80 degrees.
80 degrees divided by 18 gives B days by which the period is decreased.
"Index date" falls B days previous to "Epoch date."
Figure 2
Order No. 2
Moon above the horizon and decreasing in light.
Period of gestation is 278 days plus "x".
Decreasing-hence "count" to D.C.
Subtracting longitude of Moon from longitude of DC gives 106 degrees.
Dividing 105 degrees to 18 gives 8 days, by which the period is increased.
Hence "Epoch date" falls 8 days previous to "Index Date."
Figure 3
Order No. 3
Moon below the earth and increasing in light.
Period of gestation is 273 days plus "x".
"Count is to AC, because increasing and is 116 degrees. This divided by 13
equals 9 days the period is lengthened. Hence "Epoch Date" falls 9 days before
"Index Date."
Figure 4
Order No. 4
Moon below the horizon and decreasing in light.
Period of gestation is 273 days minus
"x".
"Count" to DC because decreasing, and is equal to 113 degrees. This
divided by 13 equals 9 days, by which the period is decreased, placing "Epoch
Date" 9 days later than "Index Date."
Figure 5
Order No. 1 (Variation of count)
Period of gestation 278 days minus "x".
Moon above and increasing.
The "count" is here made from the Moon to the AC and below the horizon to
the DC, decreasing the period by 14 days, less than of the regular Epoch
count.
Figure 6
Order No. 2 (Variation of Count)
Moon above and decreasing.
Period of gestation 278 days plus "x".
"Count" is made to DC as in rule but continued below the horizon to the AC,
increasing the period of gestation by 14 days, plus the count of regular
Epoch.
Figure 7
Order No. 3 (Variation of Count)
Moon below and increasing.
Period of gestation 278 days plus "x".
"Count" is made to the AC, according to rule, and continued above the
horizon to the descendant, increasing the period of gestation by 14 days.
Increasing: "Count" to AC and extend over and around. This will be 80
degrees plus 180 degrees, equals 260 degrees. This divided by 18 equals 20
days by which period is increased, and will bring "Epoch Date" 20 days earlier
than "Index Date."
Figure 8
Order No. 4
(Variation of count)
Moon below and decreasing.
Period of gestation is 278 days minus "x".
"Count" is made to the DC, according to rule, and continued above the
horizon to the AC, decreasing the period of gestation by 14 days.
Moon decreasing, hence "count" to DC and extend over and around.
Full "count" is 180 degrees plus 118 degrees equals 298 degrees. This,
divided by 18 is 28 dose which the period is decreased, bring the "Epoch Date"
28 days later than "Index Date."
Since the Moon travels the entire zodiac in 28 days, or one lunar month,
in 14 days it will have gone one-half the way, or from one sign to its
opposite. Hence to "vary" the "count" do not reverse, but continue
around, either above or below the horizon, and either increasing or
decreasing period of gestation by 14 days.
Law of Sex
It is very easy to reach a fictitious Epoch. One of the most important
things to be observed in the Prenatal figure is that it must determine the
sex of the native. Unless the Epoch conforms to this fundamental condition,
that is, defines the sex of the subject, it is not correct.
Every Epoch must conform to four separate and distinct conditions, viz:
1. It must confirm the time of birth within the limits of an ordinary
observation.
2. It must define the sex of the subject according to certain rules.
3. It must show the general character and fortunes of the individual.
4. It must furnish directions in accord with the events of life.
Unless, therefore, an Epoch conforms strictly to these four conditions, it
may be regarded as a fictitious one.
The law of sex is based upon the Hindu subdivision of the zodiac into
twenty-eight mansions or "asterisms" of 12 6-7 degrees each, which gives the
following:
Sex or "Critical" Degrees
These sex or "critical" degrees are used to confirm the sex of the subject
or native. They are the central points of their respective orbs, which extend
both ways to the end of orb.
It will be noticed, therefore, that when one degree of a certain sign is
in one sex, the opposite sign and degree are in the opposite sex. Hence all
that is necessary in order to place one of the factors in the proper sex
position is to vary the count by fourteen days, making the period of gestation
either shorter or longer, which will bring the proper ascending degree.
The application of these sex or "critical" degrees is as follows: "Allow
the proper orb of influence for the Moon and Ascendant in the natal chart.
This will show at once whether a masculine or feminine degree is rising, also
the sex position of the Moon. It will be noticed that no matter in what degree
the Ascendant falls, it will always occupy a position within orb of one of
these sex points, either masculine or feminine; but the Moon's position may
fall outside of the orb of influence, and this gives what is termed a
negative position of the Moon. If the Moon is negative in the birth
chart, we have either a strictly regular or irregular Epoch.
Figure 9
Orb (in natal figure)
for AC is 6 4-1 degrees equals 6 34'.
for Moon is 4 2-7 degrees equals 4 17'.
Important: Always remember that since the Moon at birth becomes AC
or DC at Epoch and vice versa, the orbs of influence of the Moon and AC in the
Epoch Chart will change places so that the orb of the Moon at Epoch will be 6
34', while the orb of the AC will be 4 17'. "If, however, the Moon is within
orb of one of these sex points it is termed a sex Epoch." — Bailey.
Therefore, to determine the sex of the subject from the figure of the
Prenatal chart, note:
1. When the Ascendant is negative (as in strictly regular and irregular
Epochs), the sex of the area occupied by the Moon is the sex of the subject.
2. When both the Moon and the AC are within their respective orbs of a
degree of the same sex, the sex of the subject is the same as the sex of the
area so occupied .
3. When the Moon and the AC are placed within their respective orbs of a
degree of the opposite sex (the Moon in a female and the AC in a male or vice
versa) the sex of the subject is determined by the quadrant held by the
Moon at Epoch. There will then be two points of one sex and one of the
other, and whichever sex predominates will be the sex of the subject.
The term "quadrant" means quarter. The first quarter of the chart from AC
to nadir is female, the second quarter from nadir to DC is male, the third
quarter from DC to MC is female, and the fourth quarter from MC to AC is male.
Thus if the sex position of one of the factors, either AC or Moon, is in an
opposite sex from that of the other factor, the sex of the quadrant in which
the Moon is placed at Epoch determines the sex of the native.
Figure 9
The Sex Quadrants
Irregular Epochs
Up to this time we have been dealing with the regular Epoch, that is, when
there is an interchange of the two factors, the Moon with the AC or DC when
increasing in light or the DC when decreasing in light, and the AC with the
Epochal Moon. These interchanges are not always regular and may vary, first,
because the Epochal chart does not define the time of birth, and second,
because the Epochal chart does not correctly define the sex of the native. It
is therefore necessary to make variations from the regular order of Epoch. We
have 3 of these variations which can be applied to each of the 4 orders:
(1) Taking the "count" from the AC or DC according to rule, but reversing
the rising and setting of the Moon at birth, making its place set when
increasing and rise when decreasing.
(2) Taking the "count" from the Moon to the DC when increasing and from
the Moon to the AC when decreasing, but making the Moon's place rise or set
according to rule.
(3) Taking the "count" from the Moon to the DC when increasing and from
the Moon to the AC when decreasing, and reversing the rising and setting of
the Moon as in variation (1).
Table of Variations
Table of Variations
Variation I:
Birth:
Epoch:
Moon increasing
AC becomes
Moon
Moon increasing
Moon becomes
DC
Moon decreasing
DC becomes
Moon
Moon decreasing
Moon becomes
AC
Variation II:
Birth:
Epoch:
Moon increasing
DC becomes
Moon
Moon increasing
Moon becomes
AC
Moon decreasing
AC becomes
Moon
Moon decreasing
Moon becomes
DC
Variation III:
Birth:
Epoch:
Moon increasing
DC becomes
Moon
Moon increasing
Moon becomes
DC
Moon decreasing
AC becomes
Moon
Moon decreasing
Moon becomes
AC
"It must be properly understood that this irregularity or variation from
the main postulate of the Epoch is in no sense arbitrary or fortuitous. The
variation must be made in order that the Epoch conform to the four prime
conditions. It should be borne in mind that in all regular and irregular
Epochs the Moon at birth holds a negative sex area, and therefore its rising
or setting does not affect the sex, and the variation of this point is for the
purpose of requiring the Epoch to confirm the birth time. In the second and
third variations it is the sex of the area held by the AC which requires a
deviation from the main law. Thus the "count" is made from the Moon to the
AC and that point is an area in the opposite sex of the subject, the "count"
must be continued round to the opposite horizon, which will bring it into an
area of the required sex. The Moon's place may rise according to rule, but it
may also be necessary to reverse the process." — Bailey.
A third class of Epochs comprises those which are more strictly designated
"Sex Epochs." Here the interchange of the two factors is wholly and
exclusively governed by the sex of the areas in which both the Moon and the
Ascendant are placed, taken in conjunction with the sex of the subject.
Sometimes the interchange will be regular, but in others either of the three
irregular methods will obtain, while the sex of the quadrant of the Moon held
at Epoch is brought into use in a very large number of cases. This class
includes the large majority of cases where the period of gestation is
increased or decreased by periods longer than the usual fourteen days." —
Bailey.
All that is now necessary in order to compute the actual date of Epoch is
to find the class of Epoch required to fit each given case. This is done
according to the following rules and gives us,
Six Classes of Epochs
1. Moon negative (a) Increasing
AC same sex (as person)
(b) Decreasing
AC opposite sex (to that of person)
This class is either regular or irregular, variation (1).
2. Moon negative (a) Increasing
AC opposite sex
(b) Decreasing
AC same sex.
This class is either of the second or third variations, irregular.
It will never be regular.
3. Moon increasing: AC and Moon same sex (as person)
Moon decreasing: AC and Moon opposite sex (to that of person)
This class is regular or irregular, variation 1 and 2.
4. Moon increasing: AC same sex,
Moon opposite sex (to that of person)
Moon decreasing: AC opposite sex, Moon same sex (as person)
This class is regular or irregular, variations 1 and 3.
5. Moon increasing: AC opposite sex, Moon same sex (as person)
Moon decreasing: AC same sex, Moon opposite sex (to that of person)
This class is regular or irregular, variation 2 and 3.
6. Moon increasing: AC and Moon in opposite sex (to that of person)
Moon decreasing: AC and Moon in same sex (or person)
This class will never be regular, but irregular, variation 1, 2, and 3.
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