updates

Structural coupling in horoscopes for Iran by Bill Sheeran uploaded [31/01]*new*
Erfurt School Massacre, Germany by Bill Sheeran uploaded [31/01]*new*
Bye Bye Yugoslavia by Bill Sheeran uploaded [31/01]*new*
Horoscope for the Republic of Iraq by Bill Sheeran uploaded [31/01]*new*
Astrology is two-faced (at least) by Bill Sheeran uploaded [16/01]*new*

astrology articles

• Structural coupling in horoscopes for Iran
  This article was originally posted to the Political Astrology newsgroup on November 22nd 2004. It discusses various horoscopes of relevance to Iran and its history, and suggests they are structurally coupled through a shared emphasis on certain degree areas in the charts concerned.
• Erfurt School Massacre, Germany
  Some astrological material relating to the shooting dead of 18 people at a school in Germany on April 26th 2002 is briefly described. Mars and Saturn were very much to the fore at the time of the event. Of particular note is the exact square between Uranus and the Ascendant / Midheaven midpoint during the shooting.
  
• Bye Bye Yugoslavia
  A short article about the decision made by the Yugoslav parliament in 2002 to abolish the Balkan federation. The astrological pictures in play at the time are classical. As predicted on the basis of the astrology, the 'death of Yugoslavia' was delayed from the originally proposed time frame in autumn until February 4th 2003.
  
• Horoscope for the Republic of Iraq
  This is the first article that I wrote about the Iraq situation which was brewing to boiling point during the second half of 2002. The US-led invasion happened on March 20th 2003, six months after this was written. The focus is on the horoscope for the foundation of the Republic of Iraq, one of the national charts that could be significant for following how the drama would unfold. The predictive statements made were not wrong.
  
• Astrology is two-faced (at least)
  This proposal suggests that the full range of astrological forms fills a spectrum between polar opposites. The degree of cross-fertilisation between the opposites gives rise to the diversity of forms, each of which has its place in the spectrum. The distinction often made between the astrology of causes and the astrology of signs is a misleading one, as they have a common imaginal root evident in their shared symbolism.
  
• The Astrology of Wolfgang Döbereiner - article by Michael McMullin
  An introduction to the astrological system of Wolfgang Döbereiner, known as the Munich Rhythm Method. Michael studied this system over a prolonged period of time and read much of the relevant material produced by Herr Döbereiner.
• Astrology and Science - a relationship in transitionby Bill Sheeran
  A slightly optimistic article written by me in the mid 1990s suggesting what might be required for constructive dialogue between astrologers and scientists. Still has some good points in it.
• The Old Astrology & the New Catechism - article by Fr. Laurence Cassidy, S.J.
  Jesuit theologian and philosopher Fr. Laurence Cassidy attempts to clarify the relationship between astrology and Christian beliefs (particularly those of the Roman Catholic Church). Commissioned by myself in 1993 while I was editor of Réalta, the journal of the now-defunct Irish Astrological Association.
• Astrology, Patriarchy and Postmodernism by Bill Sheeran
  This article suggests that the hurdles facing astrology will only be overcome by re-framing it in terms which make sense to the contemporary imagination. Central to this argument is the notion that the forms which astrology takes are inevitably culturally determined. Astrology as we recognise it emerged in the pre-modern era. The forms it took were incompatible with the dominant scientific world view which characterised the modern era from its beginnings in the 17th century. Trying to 'fit' astrology into a classically modern mould is a fruitless task, as the essence of modernity is based on modelling reality in terms of quantity, materiality and objectivity. In the last 20 years or so, the climate has changed. The post-modern perspective is potentially less refractory to astrology. But in order to take advantage of this, astrologers need to break free from patriarchal roots and reconsider their subject in the light of new understandings.
• The Observer Observed by Bill Sheeran
  A major mundane astrology article in 3 parts. It questions the common practice of relying on unique national horoscopes for mundane astrology work. Instead, the notion of a family of related horoscopes, linked to each other through structural coupling, is proposed. Structural coupling, an astrological concept originated by the author, is illustrated using horoscopes from the history of the quest for Irish Independence. Other topics covered include the shift of mundane astrology from its earlier natural astrology form to a more judicial astrological form in the 20th century, the cultural grounding of astrology and astrologers, etc.
• Revisioning Astrology as a Process by Bill Sheeran
  This essay puts forward some initial suggestions as to why astrologers should give consideration to new theories such as those of Chaos and Complexity.
• Astrology and Unpredictability by Bill Sheeran
  A talk given at the 2nd CIDA International Congress, Venice, Italy October 1997. It discusses the difficulties associated with the integration of the Uranian principle into astrological practice, as reflected in a resistance to acknowledging the inevitability of unpredictability in living systems. The expectations of what astrology has to offer are consequently unrealistic.
• Process Thinking and Feedback Loops by Bill Sheeran
  During the summer of 1998 I presented a talk entitled Astrology and Cultural Attitudes to Order and Chaos in Vilanova, a village on the coast about 30 miles west of Santiago de Compostella in N.W. Spain. This essay was originally printed as an appendix to the transcription of the talk subsequently published in the conference's proceedings. It discusses the need to shift from a structure to a process orientation when considering the nature of astrology, and in doing so placing the astrologer in a central participatory role as opposed to a peripheral observational role in the astrological process.
• Astrology is what Astrologers do by Bill Sheeran
  A simple proposal concerning the nature of the astrological process.
• Astrology is Disconnected from Celestial reality by Bill Sheeran
  Another simple proposal which states the fact that the horoscope is at least one step removed from celestial reality and that any efforts to understand the nature of astrology should take this into account.
• Generational Themes
  An edited version of a posting to the ACT online mailing list which was subsequently published in the Wholistic Astrologer in 2000. It discusses the culture lag which separates the echoes of outer planet symbolic expressions from those which occurred during their original time frames. As an example, the connection between mid-1950s Rock and Roll and mid-1970s Punk Rock is explored in terms of Neptune's passage through Scorpio.
• On the Nature of Astrology
  A short article extracted from a contribution I made to an online astrology discussion group a few years ago (1999). It describes some features of my astrological perspective from that time in a nutshell.

articles by Juan Antonio Revilla

• The Seed Metaphor - introduction by Bill Sheeran
  
• Thoughts on Astrological Research
  

Irish astrology

• Early Irish Astrology: an historical argument - by Peter Berresford Ellis
  This article originally appeared in Réalta (vol 3. no.3 1996). As far as I am aware, this is the first serious article on astrology and the Irish Celts to have been published in an astrology journal. Of particular interest is the speculative connection between the Irish word budh, a name for the planet Mercury (which symbolises knowledge) and the Sanskrit word budh which means to 'know', and is also the name for the planet Mercury. The past participle of the stem budh is buddha. Which means 'enlightened'.
• An Irish Zodiac in the Library at Basle - by Henry S. Crawford
  An article published in 1925 about a zodiac scribbled on the blank side of a page in a manuscript (probably 8th-9th century) of De Rerum Natura by Isidore of Seville. Includes image of the zodiac and descriptions of its various inscriptions.
• The Irish Astrological Society - by Bill Sheeran
  As far as I am aware this was the first society devoted to astrology in Ireland. It was set up by Cyril Fagan and others in 1922. Although Fagan refers to it several times in his writings and W.B.Yeats was the chairman, I have found it very difficult to glean any information about the society from anyone living here. I eventually found some material in the Yeats archive at SUNY (the University in Stonybrook, New York).
• The Beginnings of the Irish Astrological Association - by Sheila Lindsay
  Sheila Lindsay was a founder member of the now defunct Irish Astrological Association, which in its day (1973-2003) was the main teaching body and meeting place for astrology students in Ireland. This article recounts the origins of the Association.

Irish astrologers

• Cyril Fagan
  Cyril Fagan is the most important astrologer Ireland has produced and was one of the key players in 20th century astrology. The contents of these pages are primarily biographical.
• W.B.Yeats
  Celebrated as a poet but less well known for his astrological interests and activities.
• John Whalley
  An eccentric astrologer, almanack maker, and "Doctor of Physick" based in Dublin during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. First person to translate Ptolemy's Tetrabiblos into English.
• Patrick Sinot
  Obscure Irishman condemned by the Holy Office of the Inquisition in 1621 for practising astrology. Professor of Grammar and Rhetoric at the University of Santiago de Compostela. Central character in El Irlandés Astrólogo, a play written in 1959 in Buenos Aires by Galician artist, poet and playwright Luis Seoane.

Non-astrological writings

• American Dreams
  This was published in issue 4 of The Yoke magazine in summer 2003. It is about the evolution of the American sense of identity and the problems posed when that identity is based on an ideology rather than the usual determinants such as shared ethnicity, etc.
• In Defence of Decay
  A piece of writing first published 2002 in the independent Irish magazine The Yoke. Basically a somewhat lyrical rant against superficiality, and a lusty promotion of the aesthetics of decay.

Any on the contents of this site would be most welcome. I hope you find something of interest within and that you enjoy your visit!