Rise of the Wadjet Witch - By Juliet C. Obodo Page 0,3
If you’re not, I’ll never bring it up again.”
“Well, in that case, we have a deal.”
Chapter 2
Jill walked Memphis to her subway line and then hopped in a cab. Memphis spent the rest of her trip home thinking about cigarettes and girls with holes in their heads. By the time she arrived home, she was so wired she couldn’t sleep. She took a hot shower and settled in for a marathon of trash television on the new sofa that she and her roommate Gemma purchased. It was the first item in their apartment on which they had actually spent money; they’d been curbside decorators for way too long. Gemma was still out and would most likely spend the night at her latest guy’s apartment. She was the perfect roommate—there just often enough so Memphis felt neither lonely nor smothered.
After some channel surfing, she caught a wave on the local public access television network; in New York it was better than reality television. A new show called The Universe Now was on; she loved watching new hosts make clumsy production mistakes..
Oh, this should be interesting, she thought. And it actually was. The host was very smooth and well spoken. He announced that he would discuss a new area of science each night—areas that were new and cutting edge, and didn’t fall in line with the mainstream beliefs of both astrologers and astronomers. Now he really had her attention. He would be crossing the lines and mixing the sciences of astrology, astronomy, and archeology. This reminded her of Jonathan’s work; his research was comprised of both biology and astronomy. He hoped to discover new life forms.
“Today’s show focuses on an astronomical belief system called Astronography,” the host said, “which is based on the fact that mankind is influenced by the state of the solar system at the moment of birth.”
He explained that he would use it to create natal charts because the planets are essential to life. “They are our life source,” he said. “Planetary influence comes in different forms, and the forms are based on their aerial position and their interplanetary relationships. The aspects formed between the planets describe these relationships. The planetary positions in relation to the place of birth tell how one expresses themselves in life situations, and is depicted by the astrological houses.
“Astronography is different from astrology; it’s a more evolved system. Astrology is a belief system of the relationship between visible astronomical phenomena and events in the human world. It is a system of horoscopes that claim to predict aspects of an individual’s personality or life history based on the positions of the Sun, Moon, and planetary aspects at the time of birth. People have attached importance to astronomical events, developing elaborate systems for predicting terrestrial events from celestial observations.”
Memphis agreed with him. She knew girls in college who wouldn’t step out of their dorm rooms before checking their daily horoscopes.
The host continued. “For a long time, astrology was considered a respected area of study. Its ideas were even included in other areas of study such as astronomy, alchemy, and medicine. At the end of the seventeenth century, new scientific ideas in astrology, particularly heliocentrism—the Sun as a center of reference—affected the credibility of astrology. It then lost its academic and theoretical standing. Astrology became relegated to spiritualism and New Age philosophy. It is now a pseudoscience because it doesn’t develop solutions to its problems or complete theories. In fact, astrology literally means ‘star theory.’
“Astronography is more evolved astrology; there is actual evidence behind its theories. It isn’t as technical and unenlightened as astronomy.”
Memphis sat through her share of lectures regarding the stars, but this had to be the most interesting one she’s heard. His ideas had basis, but they were so radical.
“Today’s show will instruct you on how to build an astronographical natal chart. The natal horoscope portrait is drawn from the planetary positions at the time of your birth. By interpreting the roles of the planets, their qualities and constellations in the sky at the moment of birth, an astronographical chart will be able to reflect a true overview of a person. Mental and emotional tendencies of your personality are shown, and your areas of weakness are described. The chart gives many insights into the finer nuances of your character, your spiritual and psychological modes—even your future potential. With a chart reading, you will have a better understanding of self and be able to choose what path you want to follow.”
Memphis scoffed at the idea