The Ethics of Using Electional Astrology to Time a Birth
In this episode I talk with Patrick Watson about whether it is ethical to use electional astrology in order to choose a birth chart for a baby that is about to be born, as well as some of the issues connected with that topic.
Patrick and his wife had a baby just last month, and as an astrologer he had to think about some of these questions, so I thought it would be good to take the opportunity to discuss it on the show.
Outline of the Podcast
Here is a general outline of the episode and some of the main points that we talked about:
- Patrick had a baby last month, and we wrestled with the issue of electing a birth, and some of the things that arise as a result of it.
- James Patrick Watson, born January 24, 2014 at 1:04 PM in Phoenix, Arizona. 29 Taurus rising.
- Is it ethical to elect a birth chart?
- Would it be ethical to not elect the birth chart if you had the option?
- Is this similar to eugenics or gene selection, like the movie Gattaca?
- Could it lead to negative things, like discrimination?
- They needed to pick a date because a C-section was necessary due to complications.
- In the end we picked the date, but didn’t have control over the time, so it was like 50/50.
- 50% left up to chance, and 50% choice.
- The birth time ended up being later in the day than even anticipated.
- Patrick noticed a number of connections between the Ascendant and important moments in the parent’s relationship.
- No known planetary placements or Lots at 29 Taurus/Scorpio in the natal chart of parents. Were these transits in anticipation of James’ Ascendant or did the transits “cause” James’ Ascendant to be 29 Taurus?
- Wendy Stacey from the UK has done a study on the increased use of C-sections in modern times, showing that it is becoming more and more common.
- It is safer.
- Doctors prefer it and recommend it because then it conforms to their schedule.
- The result though is that more people are born during the day.
- Is the birth chart still valid if it was a C-section instead of a normal birth?
- We put this question to rest right away and say yes.
- It seems like people who say no have a fundamental misunderstanding of astrology.
- However, Gauquelin did say that the Mars effect vanished for induced births.
Transcript
A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 15 transcript
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