Harmonic Chart

Cover of Cochrane's book

A sub-horoscope which can help to reveal horoscope aspects which otherwise often remain hidden. This method has its roots in Indian astrology (so-called Vargas) and was taken up in the middle of the twentieth century by John Addey.

Conjunctions in the

• 2nd harmonic show oppositions in the radix chart. The
• 3rd harmonic shows trines in the radix chart, the
• 4th shows squares and oppositions, the
• 5th shows quintiles (360/ 5), the
• 6th sextiles, trines, oppositions (as 6 = 2 x 3). The
• 7th septiles (360/ 7), the
• 8th semi-Squares and sesquisquares, squares, oppositions (as 8 = 2 x 2 x 2, or 4 x 2), and so on

Calculation

In order to create a harmonic horoscope the 360 degree circle is divided by the number of the particular harmonic. It is theoretically possible to do this with any number, but in practice the most common harmonics astrologers work with are the 4th, 5th, 7th, 8th and 9th.

In the following, the number 5 (i.e. the 5th harmonic) is used to illustrate the principle: The 360 degree circle is divided into 5 segments. The resulting aspect is the quintile (72 degrees); the fifth harmonic is concerned with the quintile and bi-quintile. Each of the 5 segments contains the whole zodiac, always starting at 0 degrees of Aries. These five segments are then laid on top of each other so that the planets which form quintiles or bi-quintiles to each other in the original chart come together. What remains is a 72 degree segment which is then expanded out again to form a whole circle. That is the 5th harmonic horoscope. All the planets that formed quintile or biquintile aspects in the natal chart now come together to form conjunctions. Any resulting oppositions were semi-quintiles (36 degrees) in the natal chart and a trine in the harmonic chart was a 3rd of a quintile (24 degrees) in the natal chart.

The following procedure is used to calculate the positions of the planets, Ascendant and Medium Coeli in the harmonic chart: The absolute number of degrees of each horoscope factor is multiplied by the harmonic number - in this case 5. (The absolute number of degrees is always measured from 0 degrees of Aries; for example, the absolute number of degrees for 23 degrees of Gemini is 83 degrees). If the result is a number larger than 360, then 360 is subtracted as many times as is necessary from this number until a number below 360 is reached. This number gives the position of the horoscope factor in question.

The age factor is determined by the number of days since birth, divided by the length of the tropical year. Each ecliptic longitude is multiplied by the age factor, and then reduced with modulo 360 to the range [0..360]. The reference place makes no effect, as the age harmonic chart operates purely with the birth chart.

Interpretation

As might be expected, number symbolism is an important factor when it comes to interpretation: The number of the harmonic and the aspect resulting from the division of the circle - in the above example the quintile - indicate the quality of the theme in question.

The most significant planets in the harmonic horoscope are those that form a conjunction because they resonate most closely with the harmonic number. The next factors to consider are those planets that form other major aspects because they also share a common wavelength.

The harmonic is kind of lens through which you can read something about the person. For example, the septile supposedly indicates inspiration plus discipline, and is common in charts of members of the clergy and composers. It seems to be a more spiritual aspect. So if you want to know about someone's spirituality or creative inspiration, run the 7th harmonic chart. Hard aspects will show what is challenging or difficult in this domain for the person, and the trines will show what flows easily for them.
Christoph Schubert-Weller comments that: "A strong 4th harmonic indicates above all the challenge of self-integration but also the strive for concrete success. A strong 5th harmonic is above all linked to an active, constructive and formative approach to the world of form. The 7th harmonic emphasises the artist, the creative person. But the 7th harmonic is also more strongly associated with criminal behaviour. A strong 9th harmonic indicates idealistic, religious and at times paranormal capabilities. The 9th harmonic is associated with wisdom and composure.

See also

• Minor Aspect

Weblinks

• What a Harmonic Chart is and How to Interpret it (David Cochrane, youTube-demonstration 2015)
• Harmonics (Astrodienst)
• Calculating harmonics (Astrodienst; select type of chart: Other charts >Harmonic charts, Age harmonic chart)
• Alice Portmann: Age Harmonics (many articles)
• Harmonics: which and why (50megs.com, 2003)
• The Harmonic Astrology Project (Michael Jordan, 2001)
• Axial Harmonics - A brief development history (Carl & Rodney Smith, 1999-2000)
• Age Harmonics (Brose Dymrock/Astrolabe)

Bibliography

• John Addey: Harmonics in Astrology: An Introductory Textbook to the New Understanding of an Old Science 272 pages. L.N.Fowler 1st edition 1976; Eyebright Books 4th edition 2009 ISBN 1904258026 ISBN 978-1904258025

The most comprehensive work on this subject, with detailed instructions regarding the calculation, interpretation and application of harmonics

• Michael Harding and Charles Harvey, Working with Astrology: The Psychology of Midpoints, Harmonics and Astrocartography. Arkana 1990/ Consider (Revised edition) 1998, 472 pages. ISBN-10: 1873948034 ISBN-13: 978-1873948033

An introduction to harmonics which is easy to read, with lots of practical examples

• David Hamblin, Harmonic Charts, Aquarian Press
• David Cochrane: The First 32 Harmonics. A Qualitative Research Study 102 Pages, 2012. Cosmic Patterns Software, Inc.