Chapter 13 - Other Techniques

"Charles Carter considered that the chart of national leaders, together with the chart of the nation itself, where the times of these are accurately known, constitute by far the most reliable basis for mundane forecasting. They certainly represent the whole "inner" aspect of forecasting and must therefore constitute one half of the process of preparing a forecast."

This is the idea accepted by the author who presents some examples for the charts of national leaders and their countries: Hitler and Germany, Kennedy and U.S.A., Margaret Thatcher and U.K. Then, are presented other techniques, not so often used, like: declination cycles, degree areas, degree symbols, fixed stars, the galactic centre, the supper galactic center, the solar apex, heliocentric astrology, asteroids, new year charts, horoscopes of centuries etc. It is an area of astrology where many explanations, more or less reliable, can be found and, how the author realistically notes:

"The ex post facto explanation of world events probably employs more different techniques than any other area of astrology. Retrospective analyzes of earthquakes, sudden national upheavels, and the latest eye-catching headline call out methods which are rarely heard of when forecasts are being made."

Well said!

Chapter 14 - The Astrology of War and Peace: a Study of the Second World War

In Part 1 - Collective Pressure, Michael Baigent presents the transits of the outer planets Uranus and Pluto as significators of the events which occurred in Poland and Germany, mostly between 1920-1932. The charts of Poland, erected for 14 November 1918, 9:30 GMT (unfortunately not presented in The Book of World Horoscopes) and Germany (30 January 1933, 11:00 MET) responded very well to transits, as one can see in the period March - May 1926 when General Pilsudsky entered Warsaw and took power and Uranus was conjunct the natal Moon of Poland or when Germany invaded Poland (June 1939 - August 1940) and Uranus was in opposition with the natal Sun of Poland and conjunct with the natal Ascendant of Germany. These are some very good examples presented by Michael Baigent, as one can find in all his chapters from this book.  

In Part 2 - The Cyclical Background, Charles Harvey analyzes the connections between the charts of Hitler, the Third Reich and the German Empire to show how the aspirations of the German Empire found a way to manifest through Hitler. Then follows a complex analyze of the World War II where the author uses midpoints, planetary cycles, the Aries ingresses of 1939 - 1945 and the multiple conjunctions between Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus.

In Part 3 - Astrological Timing, Nicholas Campion presents the relation between different charts of the World War II, this time emphasizing the position of angles. One can find here the charts for Hitler's order to invade Poland (31 August 1939, 12:30 MET, Berlin), the first shot in WW II (1 September 1939, 04:17 MET, Danzig) and the final surrender of all German forces (8 May 1945, 24:00, MET, Berlin). 

Chapter 15 - The Astrology of Nations

In this chapter the authors make short analyzes for the national charts of The European Community (1 January 1958, 00:00 MET, Brussels), The United Kingdom (1 January 1801, 00:00 LT, Westminster), Ireland (24 April 1916, Dublin), Germany (2/3 October 1990, Midnight, Berlin), France (6 October 1958, 18:20 MET, Paris), Italy (10 June 1946, 18:00 LT, Rome), Spain (22 November 1975, 12:45 MET, Madrid), Hungary (23 October 1989, Noon MET, Budapest), Poland (24 August 1989, 13:05 LT, Warsaw), Russia (8 November 1917, 2:12 am LT), China (1 October 1949, 15:15 LT, Peking), Japan (3 January 1868, Noon LT, Tokyo), Middle East (25 April 1920, 11:12 MET, San Remo), United States (4 July 1776, 17:10 LMT, Philadelphia), Australia (1 January 1901, 00:00 EST, Melbourne), New Zealand, South Africa.

MY EVALUATION: 9,5

Conclusion. "Mundane Astrology" by Michael Baigent, Nicholas Campion and Charles Harvey is generally accepted as the best and most comprehensive book of mundane astrology that we have nowadays.  The authors present many techniques, but in a realistic manner, trying to focus the reader on those concepts which give results. This is a very good approach! The theoretical part is very well balanced by many examples, especially from the World War II, which are so clear presented that surely will make the reader say "this thing really works!".  I can't say anything else than to invite everyone who studies mundane astrology to read this masterpiece which will prove to be the best study material on the subject. In the final, a big "Thank you!" for the authors - 9,5.