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The Sabian Symbols: A Screen of Prophecy

by Diana E. Roche

430 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #98-0036; ISBN 1-55212-217-4; US$34.00, C$39.10, EUR26.51, £17.57

The Sabian symbols are the unique set of symbolic vignettes, or descriptive images, which were obtained by Dr. Marc Edmund Jones from an ancient Mesopotamian source in 1925 for each of the 360 astrological degrees of the zodiac.

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about the book about the author excerpts from the book sample Sabian symbol and interpretation table of contents catalogue info

About the Book The Sabian symbols are the unique set of symbolic vignettes, or descriptive images, which were obtained by Dr. Marc Edmund Jones from an ancient Mesopotamian source in 1925 for each of the 360 astrological degrees of the zodiac.  The Sabian Symbols:  A Screen of Prophecy is the most comprehensive work to be published on these world-famous symbolic degrees of the zodiac in nearly a quarter of a century.  And it is the first book ever on the Sabian symbols to include reproductions of the original handwritten descriptions of the images made famous by Dr. Marc Edmund Jones who originated the Sabian symbols in 1925.  The Sabian Symbols:  A Screen of Prophecy is written in user-friendly language while still retaining the unique philosophy and meanings of the symbols in Dr. Jones' now-classic book, The Sabian Symbols in Astrology.  This exciting and thought-provoking volume includes: Descriptions and keywords for each of the 360 Sabian symbols  Reproductions of Marc Edmund Jones' handwritten notes for each degree  360 theme words or phrases  Full and comprehensive explanation of each Sabian symbol  Daily guidance for each symbol  Thousands of additional keywords  Indexes for titles, keywords and images  Reference notes  Divinatory methods and techniques for using the Sabian symbols  Easy-to-follow instructions  Practical how-to-do-it tips  Full story of how the symbolic images were derived.

About the Author

Diana Roche is a practicing attorney, writer, counselor and certified questioned document examiner who lives in Berwyn, Pennsylvania. She has a B.A. in psychology from Neumann College, an M.Ed. in counseling from the University of Texas and a J.D. in law from Widener University. She practices Sabian astrology and has worked with the Sabian symbols for over 25 years. She has also taught and lectured in the fields of parapsychological research, symbolism and nonverbal communication. She and her husband are both long-standing members of the Sabian Assembly that Marc Edmund Jones, the originator of the Sabian symbols, founded in 1923.

Excerpts from Book

. . . Framing the Question: Everyone, even the nonastrologer, can use the Sabian symbols to gain insight into a problem or situation. Framing the question properly is the foundation of success in using any divinatory technique. Open-ended or broadly-framed questions are always preferred to a question that requires a simple yes or no answer. For instance, a question that asks, "What will be the result if I accept this job offer?" will give a fuller and more useful answer than "Should I accept this job offer?"

Writing your question down can help you frame your question more effectively. It also preserves it, in case you can't remember exactly what you asked. If you decide to use a method that assigns a number to each of the 360 Sabian symbols, instead of determining the symbol by sign and degree, the table below can help you find the symbol that matches the number.
 
 

Aries          1- 30

Cancer        91-120

Taurus        31- 60

Leo          121-150

Gemini        61- 90

Virgo        151-180

Libra        181-210

Capricorn    271-300

Scorpio      211-240

Aquarius     301-330

Sagittarius  241-270

Pisces       331-360

Some of the more common techniques used to derive a Sabian symbol are given below:
 
Calculator Method: Frame your question. Then concentrate on it while randomly punching five, single-digit numbers into a calculator. Divide the total sum of these numbers by 360. Round up anything over .5 to the next number. Round off anything under .5 and use the number to the left of the decimal point.  For example, 180.84 would be read as 181, or Libra 1, while 180.36 would be read as 180, or Virgo 30.

Mental Focus: Frame your question and write it down or hold it in consciousness. Mentally relax and wait until one number from 1-360 (or an astrological sign and degree) forms in your mind. Record that number or sign and degree and read the Sabian symbol description for that answer.

Using Dice: For those who like to use dice in divination, various game stores sell 30-sided and 12-sided dice that can be used to derive a Sabian symbol. Use the 12-sided die to derive the astrological sign and the 30-sided die to derive the degree.

-- Many more techniques given in the book  . . . .

. . .  The Sabian symbol for the day can sometimes be quite literal. On April 23, 1996 the Sabian symbol for the sun at sunrise was 4 Taurus, ìThe rainbowís pot of gold.î That same day there were two major news stories. One of the New York subway robbers who was shot by ìsubway vigilanteî Bernard Goetz was awarded $43 million dollars by the jury in his personal injury case against Goetz. The other major news story concerned the exorbitant prices paid by bidders at a Sothebyís auction for clothing and other personal articles owned by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.

. . . The Sabian symbol for the sun in an individualís chart can also be quite revealing. Remember that the sun represents  purpose. Eva ìEvitaî Peronís sun was at 15 Taurus 46'. The Sabian symbol for her sun is 16 Taurus, ìAn old man attempting vainly to reveal the Mysteries.î This symbol indicates a need to share the deepest part of self, and it frequently points to feelings of inadequacy and personal failure. Evita rose from impoverished obscurity as Eva Duarte, the illegitimate daughter of a married rancher and his cook/mistress in a small village in Argentina, to become an actress, mistress of a series of powerful men and, finally, the wife of Argentine dictator Juan Peron and acclaimed ìsaintî of the poor. Throughout her short life her insecurity was evidenced by her lavish expenditures for fine jewels and clothing and her insatiable need for recognition and adulation. Her purpose thus may be described in terms of her striving to be understood and recognized for her inner worth. Unfortunately, she chose the path of many individuals who overcompensate for their feelings of inferiority by surrounding themselves with material objects that represent outer achievement.

. . . The ascendant in a chart represents the nascent personality and how society in general perceives the individual. It also provides insight into the individualís psychological struggle to establish his own unique identity. The Sabian symbol for Evitaís ascendant is 28 Aries, ìA large disappointed audience.î This symbol dramatically reflects her fear of losing her popularity with the people of Argentina if she did not give them what they wanted and expectedóa fear that was likely exacerbated in 1947 when, as Argentinaís emissary, she bungled her way through Spain and several other European countries making one diplomatic faux pas after another.

Sample Sabian Symbol and Interpretation

(handwriting image is shown in book)

THEME: The Magic of Believing. This symbol speaks to having faith that anything is possible and refusing to fall victim to the idea that everything is contingent on the happening of some prior event, or that there is only one way to get a job done. The image of a sleigh without snow suggests insurmountable obstacles and difficulties to the person who accepts limitation, yet this symbol alludes to magic and the power of imagination. The challenge in this degree is in recognizing that nature is generous with her resources and that there are illimitable solutions and alternatives for achieving any goal. On a practical level, this degree refers to serendipity or the fortuitous convergence of events in time and space in a relevant and significant but inexplicable manner. Positive: At its highest, this symbol represents creativity and a magical ability to make wishes come true or a knack for being at the right time and place when things come together in harmony. Negative: Pollyannaism or a fatalistic acceptance of disappointments as oneís lot in life.

TODAY: The accent is on miracles and magic. Help may come from an unexpected source. The solution is there if you will only see it.

Opportunity: Your greatest advantage lies in being open and receptive. Use your imagination and be creative. Experiment with every idea. One of them will work.

Risk: Guard against accepting defeat too easily by telling yourself and others that things just werenít meant to be. Avoid rejecting possible solutions because they donít seem logical.

STEPPING STONES: Faith, magic, miracles, transcendence of difficulty, imagination, resourcefulness, support. 

Table of Contents

 The Origin and History of the Sabian Symbols

 The Early Influence of ìCharubelî
 The Mesopotamian Connection
 The Plan
 The Event
 Early Work on the Sabian Symbols
 The Sabian Symbols in Astrology
 Today

Methods and Techniques

Determining Which Degree to Use
Transiting Planets
Chart Angles
New and Full Moons
The Sabian Symbol at Sunrise
The Sabian Symbol at Moonrise
Chart Rectification
Horary Charts
The Astrological Formula

Polarity
Quadrature
Triplicity
First and Second Halves of Signs
Five Degree Units of Each Half Sign

Fivefold Dimension of Self-Expression

Framing the Question
Calculator Method
Mental Focus
Drawing Slips
Using a Clock
Using Dice
Using Playing Cards
Journals and Scrapbooks
Using Your Imagination

4 Negative or Reversed Symbols

5 The Sabian Symbols - Aries to Pisces

CHAPTER NOTES

INDEX TO SABIAN SYMBOLS

INDEX TO KEYWORDS

INDEX TO THEMES

GENERAL INDEX

Catalogue Information