If we could measure history, find a way to objectively apply a standard grid or gauge the past (or future), what could we hope to use it for? That is a question we will need to answer throughout Measuring History because using proportional measurements with which we are already familiar, we can reliably place standard scales against we can easily and reliably calculate across time. No matter if we speak of 1500 or 1500bce, the scale remains the same. I can think of many uses for this process and these the reader will find below. The main focus of Measuring History: A Visual Primer intends to show how to measure history and why it helps see history from a new useful and objective perspective.
 	The chief method of measurement employs simple astrological techniques. Some may scoff at using the practice to examine history, but the open mind soon realizes that Measuring History: The Series really is about history. The simplest way to see the process merely involves seeing historiographies recited in parallel with outer planet movement. Think of it as history with an added dimension. 
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Standard Proportions

This work maps outer planets, especially Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto to history by adhering to the same proportions we see during each lunar cycle. These proportions, which we see as the lunar phases make this method very attractive. No matter how far into space and thus across time, increments of arc remain the same. Through this technique we can compare like outer planet proportions to another and extrapolate expectations for like alignments. But that these proportions remain consistent across time only makes up a part of the picture. The lunar phases fall at what we call the quadrate alignments, when two stellar bodies appear at 0°, 90°, 180° and 270° along the arc measurements we use to represent 360° orbits.

[place degree and phase circle side by side here]

These alignments become important because we live our lives according to their patterns year after year. Each one of these alignments stands on its own while simultaneously referring to other alignments and the entire planetary cycle. We can see this when we look at the same proportions depicted as the seasons:

[circular season graphic goes here]

The Summer Solstice describes not only the point where the earth moves closest to the sun, but as a time that is exactly one half year from its opposite, the Winter Solstice. And we should also note it as falling exactly the Spring and Autumnal Equinoxes. Indeed, in an angular fashion the seasons' beginning end points simply describe the earth's movement relative to the sun as shown comparatively below.

[season and quadrate alignment circle illustrations side by side here].

We can depict relationships between Saturn and Pluto and Neptune and Pluto in the same way, respectively.

[Sat-Plu and Nep-Plu circle illustrations side by side here].

All the above may prove useful for measurement, but another quality jumps out shows how the range of possibility measuring history offers. 
	The Summer Solstice never stands alone. Its place in the calendar always falls relative to all the Equinoxes and Solstices in a given year. And each solstice is germane to the year it falls in; by extension we can expand by saying that its this last quality makes it germane to all the other equinoxes and solstices for a given year. Also by extension, we can compare one solstice to another. Extending this process further, all of the qualities described above we can protract to any planet pairing. These attributes totally change how we can view history. By knowing one position, we can surmise much about at least four other ones. A summer solstice that appears at 90° relative to the spring equinox, the autumnal equinox and opposite (180°) the winter solstice and itself represents the start of particular year. When we apply this to an individual planet or a planet pairing the same quality holds.

[Saturn Wave]

Saturn holds the key to understanding about the value of measuring history about 60% of the time. Why it does so has many reasons, but here we apply what we have learned so far to one of its orbits. One of the chief reasons for concentrating on Saturn comes from its mirroring of human growth cycles and generational maps. Here we depict the Saturn in the form of a wave to introduce a different view of the orbital map. All the quadrate alignments appear in the same place, we just view them in altered form. Saturn's orbit averages twenty-nine and a half years, a span that nearly equals human cellular growth patterns; on average we create more cells than we lose up to around the age of twenty-seven. Thereafter we lose more than create, and we reach another peak in this phase as Saturn nears its second return. We do not stretch too much when we substitute Saturn's orbital span for a human generation. When we take this approach we really begin to see why measuring history works.
	When we extend our observation of the solstice to Saturn's orbit, we can apply one equal four process outlined above. Saturn at 90° relative to its position at birth brings us near the age of seven. At seven, no matter the society or historical era, a child of that age has to have developed some form of independence from the parents, while still mostly remaining under their control. From the age of seven we can look forward to the ages of fourteen (180°), twenty-one (270°) and twenty-eight/twenty-nine (360°) and backwards to birth (0°), as well as the entire wave, representing life between birth and time of Saturn's first return. We get two rewards with this approach: a Saturn orbit applied to a theoretical individual and a standard map that follow Saturn's quadrate alignments relative to its own orbit. The halfway point of every Saturn orbit falls the same for everyone, no matter their generation, a universal measurement. By this age, boy or girl deals with the changes of puberty. How each native deals with this time of life according to cultural moors, environmental factors and familial traits. Each experience varies in accordance to the inputs above, but it is one we all share. How we measure a life fairly well follows the checkpoints suggested here. Their beauty comes with equal application to planetary pairs whose scale match that of history

1915Saturn-Pluto1947

[1915Saturn-Pluto1947 diagram goes here]

1915Saturn-Pluto1947 stands for the Saturn-Pluto wave that begin in 1915 and ended in 1947. When held up to Russian/Soviet history of the 20th century we get revealing map

1915 (0°): Russia struggles to catch up to its industrial competitors: suffers great losses on WWI; it is not too much of a stretch to place the November Revolution with this date/alignment
1922 (90°): The Bolshevik Struggle comes to an end; the Soviet Union is born.
1929-30 (180°): Stalin cements control; millions die in wake of his power struggle: the Soviet Union dramatically increases industrial output
1940: WWII begins: Stalin aligns with then turns on Hitler
1947: Based on deals made during the war, Stalin establishes the Eastern Bloc of Soviet like republics by installing leaders in puppet regimes; these maneuvers established the positions that set the Cold War in place.  

Now let's compare Saturn's orbital relationship to human growth to the Soviet connection to 1915Saturn-Pluto1947.

At the solstice position of 1915Saturn-Pluto1947, 1922-23 the USSR comes in to being (December 30, 1922). On the Saturn/human diagram we see age seven, school age in most societies. This position is a checkpoint useful for measuring all that developed until this point. Jane or Dick does in school depends a great deal on the how the parents devoted toward upbringing, but also the overall environment, of both parent and child. The corresponding point on the Soviet diagram points to the development between the Revolution and the treaty that created the union. When we look at the 90° position in both diagrams in relationship to the entire wave we can see its critical place. How well a child adapts to school goes a long way to determining her/his future. That the USSR came into being both points back to the November Revolution and ahead to its Cold War role that represents the ultimate outcome of 1915Saturn-Pluto1947. The solstice/90°/1922 position also relates to other quadrate alignments in each wave. 1922 points to the onset of Stalin's influence. At the next quadrate alignment, the opposition  (180°), near 1929 sees Stalin cementing his power and the state strategy of executing possible rivals or insurgent groups, especially the kulaks, middle class farmers who objected to loss of their land. 
	In the same way the coming of school age connects to puberty and coming of age that occurs around fourteen or fifteen when Saturn is 180° from where it was in the birth chart. We can say the same for the 1915Saturn-Pluto1947 opposition around 1930. The beginning of that critical USSR Five Year obviously connects to its creation in 1922; looking ahead, we can see how Stalin's focus on industrial output helped at the next quadrate alignment near 1940 when it began its war against the Axis Allies. Stalin's stamp on power that emerged during the 1930 opposition period shows forth in the manner he grabbed power for the Soviet Bloc after World War II. 

Let's extend this to the next Saturn-Pluto wave:

[1948Saturn-Pluto1981 diagram goes here]

Undoubtedly the Cold War begins almost as World War II ends, but the USSR's intentions grew very clear with its blockade. Western response signaled that USA emerged as superpower from the war. It also included NATO to counterbalance the new power of the Eastern Bloc. When we put  1948Saturn-Pluto1981 side-by-side to Soviet history we enter an interesting discussion on whether the Cold War ended earlier or later than 1981. Nonetheless, Soviet/Cold War history quadrate alignments tell an interesting tale.

1948: Cold War begins. USSR gathers satellite nations under the Eastern Bloc, begins a policy of funding proxy wars to help spread its influence; the US counters, especially with the Marshall Plan. NATO emerged with the US acting as a centerpiece' we should also note that a number of other new nations sprung up near the 1947-48 Saturn-Pluto conjunction: Japan (with a new constitution), China, Israel. Pakistan, India and others. 
1954: Much happens in the Soviet Sphere. Stalin died in 1953 and Khrushchev replaced him contentiously; Soviet scientists exploded the largest hydrogen device announcing their parity with the United States. That Sputnick would launch in 1957 points to the probability that work had started by this year
1965: Both sides of the Cold War realized, to varying degrees that they had reached the full extent of their influence. The Cuban Missile Crisis proved to both that Mutually Assured Destruction could happen. From 1959 the Cold War had grown more complicated for both sides because China chose a form of Communism separate than the Soviet brand. We can fairly see this period as the peak of the Cold War period (think Dr. Strangelove)
1972: Both sides feinted toward detente, signing the SALT treaty etc. Nixon had,by opening relations with China, weakened the Soviet position. Though the Soviets sought to keep its people under control, too much contact with the West, particularly in Eastern Bloc nations, undermined the Soviet message of sacrifice for the state.isastrous Afghan war. Poor military performance eroded confidence in the overall leadership structure. Better and more
1981: The end of this Saturn-Pluto wave brings us to an obvious crisis throughout the Communist Party  of the Soviet Union. From here forward the Soviets conducted its disastrous Afghan war. Poor military performance eroded confidence in the overall leadership structure. Better and more
 seldom communication with the West encouraged Eastern Bloc citizens to demand independence. Yes, much of this occurred after 1981, but most of the momentum toward downf seldom communication with the West encouraged Eastern Bloc citizens to demand independence. Yes, much of this occurred after 1981, but most of the momentum toward downfall had gone into motion in the time between 1972 and 1981.
	View the events at these checkpoints as secondary. That we can use them as checkpoints cogent to an overall theme proves far more valuable. Lay these dates on top of US or British history and the story is different but we see similar connections at each quadrate alignment. Compound this ability in two directions: the relationship between quadrate alignments remains consistent no matter what period or system. The relationship between age seven in the Saturn/Human-growth diagram and ages fourteen and twenty-one, equals the same as between summer solstice, autumnal equinox and winter solstice, respectively; the relationship between 90°, 180° and 270°  remains the same across time and space. The second direction to absorb begins with knowing that the Saturn-Pluto wave is only one of about eight outer planet waves that conveniently map to different historical frequencies. Each shares the same quadrate alignment characteristics. Essentially, with the knowledge laid out out so far we have the major components needed to measure history.

Same Periods, Different Examples

To further illustrate the value of measuring history lets British and United States next to the Soviet to the same two Saturn-Pluto waves:

1915Saturn-Pluto1947

[1915Saturn-Pluto1947 diagram goes here] (United States)

During 1915Saturn-Pluto1947 the USA went from a powerful, emerging nation to overshadowing superpower. The main story of the Cold War featured the stand off between the USA and USSR, but we should not forget the subtext of the formerly powerful Great Britain and France giving way to the United States, particularly on Vietnam and in the Middle East

1915 (0°): As a result of the stalemate, the United States tipped the balance by coming out of isolation armed with an industry perhaps equal to all of Europe combined (since the war stunted the latter's output). In return 
1922 (90°): The Bolshevik Struggle comes to an end; the Soviet Union is born.
1929-30 (180°): Stalin cements control; millions die in wake of his power struggle: the Soviet Union dramatically increases industrial output
1940: WWII begins: Stalin aligns with then turns on Hitler
1947: Based on deals made during the war, Stalin establishes the Eastern Bloc of Soviet like republics by installing leaders in puppet regimes; these maneuvers established the positions that set the Cold War in place.  

1915Saturn-Pluto1947

[1915Saturn-Pluto1947 diagram goes here] United Kingdom

Because the United Kingdom still included a vast empire that spanned many seas, the transition from pre World War I superpower to post World War II second tier power includes the subtext of colonial independence. From the Balfour Declaration in 1917 to independence on the Sub-continent in 1947, changes to the British Empire feature prominently throughout 1915Saturn-Pluto1947.

1915 (0°): Russia struggles to catch up to its industrial competitors: suffers great losses on WWI; it is not too much of a stretch to place the November Revolution with this date/alignment
1922 (90°): The Bolshevik Struggle comes to an end; the Soviet Union is born.
1929-30 (180°): Stalin cements control; millions die in wake of his power struggle: the Soviet Union dramatically increases industrial output
1940: WWII begins: Stalin aligns with then turns on Hitler
1947: Based on deals made during the war, Stalin establishes the Eastern Bloc of Soviet like republics by installing leaders in puppet regimes; these maneuvers established the positions that set the Cold War in place.  
Readers might notice that even though all three of these nations enter the same two periods under different circumstances with varying traditions, they each had turning points at the quadrate alignments. Each of the these turning points relate to another in way in another in very recognizable ways. By extension each one of these themes has inter/intra relationship whereas each wave has a theme that stands on its own (inter-relationship), while each quadrate alignment relates to every other quadrate alignment consistent with each wave theme (intra-relationship).
	In the examples above we see how to compare the interrelationship of the two adjacent Saturn-Pluto waves. In Soviet history 1915Saturn-Pluto1947 mirrors the episode of how the Russian Revolution turned into the USSR and how the Bear came to be one of two major players in the Cold War; 1948Saturn-Pluto1981 fairly well speaks to most of the Cold War episode engendered during the previous. Equally in both examples, each quadrate alignment relates to every other (including to ones in other waves). This characteristic adds a feature that any chronological historiography lacks: an ability to look at any given period holistically. The uses of this tool could be endless. In these examples  knowing the “coordinates” of two Saturn-Pluto waves that paralleled a good part of the 20th century provides a rich reference matrix. With it we can compare the turning point (quadrate alignment) of each Saturn wave for each history as we have done above. We can surmise, by using similar compare and contrast techniques we can determine if these quadrate alignments correlate to turning points in history (they do). Measuring history adds completely new element no standard history can: an ability to extrapolate into the future (or the past). Perhaps Measuring History thus becomes a misnomer, but I claim artistic license here.

Expanding the Example

 The current step will lead us in many directions, a tendency characteristic of this method. I recommend that readers refer to the chapter The Onset of World War I. It shows how the complexities that fostered the 'Great War' mirrored an equally complex sequence of outer planet wave intersections. I point to that chapter for two reasons. First, it displays how measuring history presents episodes in whole forms that easily connect to other whole forms. Secondly, the examples above begin with the Great War, helping us refer to familiar territory. I also recommend this here because I feel there is no one way to read history in this manner. Measuring history moves away from the linear to the circular. I am almost certain that until this work no one reads history in this manner. With a field so new, no one can truly say where this work may lead. I choose here to write in the simplest way I know how, yet the directions I could head and the many paths I will take seem endless. I am certain, that once understood, measuring history will stimulate many imaginations adding infinitely to possibility.

A list of outer planet activity coincident with the beginning 1915Saturn-Pluto1947 is quite extensive. See the following as an introductory. The terminology may appear daunting but the lesson to take from here involves the depth of information measuring history provides. 

1882: Saturn conjunct Pluto
1883: Saturn conjunct Neptune
1892: Neptune conjunct Pluto
1896: Saturn conjunct Uranus
1902-1905: Uranus opposite Pluto
1907-1912: Uranus opposite Neptune
1915: Saturn conjunct Pluto
1917: Saturn conjunct Neptune
1919: Saturn opposite Uranus
1930: Uranus upper square Pluto
1942: Saturn opposite Uranus
1947: Saturn conjunct Pluto
1954: Saturn conjunct Neptune
1956: Uranus upper square Neptune
1965: Saturn opposite Uranus
1966: Saturn opposite Pluto 
1966: Uranus conjunct Pluto.

Yes, a long list to digest, especially while learning new terms, but simple observation offers easy clues. 

Notice that certain events appear in clusters such as:

Cluster A
1882: Saturn conjunct Pluto
1883: Saturn conjunct Neptune
1892: Neptune conjunct Pluto
1896: Saturn conjunct Uranus

and

Cluster B
1902-1905: Uranus opposite Pluto
1907-1912: Uranus opposite Neptune
1915: Saturn conjunct Pluto
1917: Saturn conjunct Neptune
1919: Saturn opposite Uranus

and

Cluster C
1965: Saturn opposite Uranus
1966: Saturn opposite Pluto 
1966: Uranus conjunct Pluto

A look at these three periods from an objective, purely historical view:

Cluster A: the end of the Second Industrial Revolution. Consider the First Industrial Revolution to loosely starting around 1710 and ending around 1870. Consider the later period centered around national economic policies integrated with industrial production and capital management. During the previous industrial episode, industry had more of an entrepreneurial flavor with governments supportive, but more along for the ride than in charge of or cognizant of any industrially based economic policy. After 1870 the tendency moved toward government backed policies geared to industrial output meant to spur economic growth. Also after this time labor groups began to emerge to counter the industrial barons who sought not to waste an hour of any available labor.
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Cluster B:

[Chart of 1915-1917 goes here]

This chart represents the entire cluster as it includes almost all the transits from the period.

Cluster C

With Saturn opposite the Uranus-Pluto opposition of 1965-1966, four waves representing various frequencies intersect at time that a majority of historians and other social commentaries consider a pivot point. Without going into a lengthy dissertation that appears elsewhere, the 60s saw a shift away from an older traditional formality to a newer more anything goes attitude we still struggle to define. A map of the outer planet waves outlined above mirrors the time periods that merged during this undoubtedly signature decade.

Why Four Waves?

There are three wave interactions: Saturn-Pluto, Saturn-Uranus and Uranus-Pluto. So why four waves? The Uranus-Pluto conjunction brings 1849Uranus-Pluto1965 wave while inaugurating 1966Uranus-Pluto2100 one. This dynamic endows an ability to see a period like the one here with a level of complexity that includes past and future all at once.
	1849Uranus-Pluto1965 includes five quadrate alignments: 1848, 1870, 1902-1905, 1930 and 1965. Without to much work we can point to labor and industry as themes that resonate at these pivot points. 1966Uranus-Pluto2101 brings the weight of 2010, 2050, 2072 and 2100 to the 1965-66 conjunction. With the courtesy of hindsight, one can say without equivocation that Barack Obama's election in 2008 and inauguration in 2009 resounds with the issues of the 60s coincident with the Uranus-Pluto: civil rights for all races and genders, accusations of false patriotism and the Vietnam War experience. In this way we see the conjunction as a link between two waves, giving us both the opportunity and burden of seeing the larger picture all at once. We need remember here that few, if anyone, have the experience to effectively interpret how to best use this resource. Consider it a work in a progress. Nonetheless, the reminder that clusters like these call for a need to be seen in a four wave pattern instead of just one date lays before us.

Cluster C Continued: 

Saturn-Pluto

We already discussed 1947Saturn-Pluto1981 where the Saturn-Pluto wave began around 1947. We saw where the advantages that the Soviets gained during WWII vaulted them into direct rival to the United States. Cluster C includes 1947Saturn-180°-Pluto1981, where the opposition represents the midpoint of the Saturn-Pluto wave. With hindsight we can safely surmise that the time that coincides with the opposition, ~1965, brought us to the height of the Cold War. Both sides through proxy wars took their respective agenda to largest extent they could. In the United States the propaganda in the words of 'Domino Effect' reached deaf years. The Prague Revolution of 1968, though ultimately a failure, demonstrated that the Eastern Bloc only took Soviet doctrine so far. The Cuban Missile Crisis of a few years before proved to both sides that mutually assured destruction went beyond war games. On both sides, the forces that promoted policies that engendered the Cold War reached the peak of their power. Thereafter in both spheres the public clamored for greater domestic spending at the expense of military budgets. The US, more stable, weathered this better (though the budget suffered a great bit in consequence to Vietnam in the 70s). In the USSR the push toward militarism came with great sacrifice of its peoples, of which they gradually wearied. For those in the US who remember, the talk of fallout shelters and nuclear evacuations faded quickly from this time forward. If the 1947Saturn-Pluto1981 mirrors the Cold War, then we can rightly say that the wave's halfpoint came during Cold War's peak.

Saturn-Uranus

1943Saturn-Uranus1988 takes us from World War II to fall of the Berlin Wall. 1943Saturn-180°-Uranus1988: 1966 came at the wave's midpoint. The difference between pre-mid-60s and post mid-60s make the Saturn-Uranus opposition seem like an electrical switch. Perhaps we can best see the time from 1966 through 1987 as the time when the effects of World War II wore off. In the US, we can see how women, who worked (or saw their mothers work) as Rosy Riveters no longer accepted secondary roles traditionally held. The idea that America's fight in World War II included a fight for freedom made Jim Crow laws and unequal voting rights into a hypocrisy younger generations would no longer ignore. On a less ideological level, the GI bill helped veered America toward greater suburban influence. While fashion may seem a trivial factor to point to, dress of all types in places around most of the world, people turned from a fashion for every class to a more casual, in some cases more androgynous styles. For certain, many of the old rules where broken or discarded. But all this does not really point to a greater force that took place then and reverberates down to time of this writing: the culture wars. The 60s is a complex time, but one thing that we can best associate with Saturn-Uranus here are culture wars, times when groups take opposite sides of an unwinnable argument. Hidden under the rhetoric of the anti-war movement, we need remember that Ronald Reagan gained governorship of California on the strength of his opposition to attacks on the status quo. Even in the peace movement, both sides could bridge their differences; the Democratic Party warred with itself enough to cost it the '68 election. Divisions in the black community fissured along lines of those who supported more militaristic solutions over the civil disobedience promoted by Martin Luther King Jr. We should also note here that the Republicans' 'Southern Strategy' explicitly moved to the front burner during this time. 

Uranus-Pluto

Here the line between the Saturn transits and the Uranus-Pluto conjunction seems to blur. The 60s as we see above saw many elements come together. In the two examples above we can recall how the Cold War somewhat blended with the culture wars (some against the war were called 'pinko commies').  Underneath these intra-century issues, however, we can see cultural changes that trace back to the previous century. 

[1849Uranus-Pluto1965 diagram goes here]

The quadrate alignments trace from 1848, 1870, 1902, 1930 and 1965. A close look at events connected to these times clearly point to issues of class. 1848-149 brings us to the time of the 1848 Revolutions, the Communist Manifesto, Seneca Falls, the beginning of the Abolition Movement and Potato Famine. 1870 brings us to near the Franco-Prussian war (that included class warfare as a subtheme) and distinct rise of labor in response to robber-barons. 1902, at the opposition, lands us in the midst of a worldwide progressive movement and to the precipice of the Russian Revolution of 1905. 1930 takes us to the height of fascism, a perverted form of populism that took the strongest hold in Germany and Italy, that also rose in Britain, France, Spain, South America and even the United States (under Huey Long). Consider Stalin's pogroms in the same category. The period also brought about a global depression that surely traces back to the late 1840s, when the world inextricably accepted industrialism as part of its economic policies. The more we dig into the periods connected with 1849Uranus-Pluto1965 we see a consistent surrounding class, extremism and a major lurch in one direction or another. Most of themes, issues and players in the 60s shadowed those of the 1848. Power to the people, street protests and riots all occurred for the same purpose during the both times. The same, 'all men and women should live in freedom' repeats as a theme. Communism, socialism and similar movements or cultural pulls appear as themes in 1848 and the mid-60s. Additionally, the same themes repeat at the other quadrate alignments: the Commune of 1871 inspired both Socialists and frightened conservatives for decades; hereafter socialist parties grew in great numbers becoming more integrated within the social fabric and trade unions. Fascism of the late 20s/early 30s certainly rose partially in response to the success of socialist movements. Adding depth, if we step back two quadrate alignments we arrive at 1792 and 1819, respectively, representing the bookends of the French Revolution, further demonstrating the Uranus-Pluto connection to extremist, sometimes revolutionary movements (Karl Marx was also born near the quadrate alignment of 1819).
	We cover this particular Uranus-Pluto in depth in other places, how Cluster C fits into the bigger picture remains our focus. Looking from 1965 as if we did not know the history connected to later quadrate alignments, we can see where Cluster C brings together issues germane to 1942 (Saturn-Uranus), 1947 (Saturn-Pluto) and 1848, 1870, 1902 and 1930. With little argument we can declare that when Cluster C was “active” all of these issues from these times played out simultaneously. 1942Saturn-Uranus1987 speaks to the USA reaching the height of its power. 1947Saturn-Pluto1981 stands for the Cold War. 1849Uranus-Pluto1965 points to a more complete integration of all classes, gender and races into the body politic. Notice this convergence contains universal significance. Though the USA dominated history of the time, all of the issues apply to about every nation on the planet. The Cold War drug many nations into their agendas via proxy war. The US rise to power pushed certain parties into one camp or another, particularly in the Middle East (the US backing of Israel becomes apparent after the Seven Day War in 1967). The call for national independence that resounded in soon to be former colonies appeared repeatedly around the world in the 1960s. Certainly, US independence served as much as a model as did the call for great freedoms for all peoples. Interspersed with these movements the two powers of the Cold War attempted to win influence by means that varied from goods to weapons. 
	
Planets Have No Influence

Readers should have noticed no mention of planetary influence. Whether or not planets influence us is not something that Measuring History sets out to prove, Instead, it seeks to demonstrate that history follows patterns that we can see among the planets. Why this works could have many causes but that history follows these patterns is the only goal for pursuing this work. Once established as a given, those interested can pursue the reasons why. Showing how history's turning points match quadrate alignments and the vagaries of what this tells us about history proves more useful. This prevents creating presumptions instead tying to planetary signatures to history.

Tying the Clusters Together

All three clusters tie together planetarily and historically. A number of common threads stand out. 1896Saturn-Uranus1941 and 1942Saturn-Uranus1987 appears in all three clusters. Of special importance the midpoint of 1896Saturn-Uranus1941 appears near 1919, close to the Armistice but also a year that saw to cultural wars in the United States: the fight for Women's Suffrage and the return of America blacks from Europe, fresh with tastes of freedom found there not available in their home countries (Jackie Robinson was born in 1919, Martin Luther King in 1921). Both issues festered or grew until the next cultural wars seen during the 60s and the next Saturn-Uranus opposition seen in Cluster C. 
	
If my point is clear here the reader should see that reciting history my measuring them. We should see that connecting history through outer planet relationships helps us see connections we normally would miss. What readers should realize from here forward that those of us who have venture  into this realm have only made baby-steps. Richard Tarnas reports he took over thirty years to compose Cosmos & Psyche. I began work on this series in 2001 and see years of work ahead. Measuring History uses simple astrological techniques, not even coming close to reaching the full scope of the practice. Yet, the main challenge I have faced is the depth of material that measuring-history provides. At the same time Measuring History only scrapes off a few layers of topsoil. Real treasure lies ahead in the future work this one hopefully inspires.

	Cluster B and C share waves that connect and overlap. 1915Saturn-Pluto1947 and 1948Saturn-Pluto1981 (and 1883Saturn-Pluto1914 ties into these). As we saw above the quadrate alignments of 1915Saturn-Pluto1947 closely map turning points of Soviet history. The close connections continue  through 1947Saturn-Pluto1981. But they also overlap around 1930, a time that has strong connections to 1965, the center of Cluster C. What makes this section more useful are the links to what we have touched on already, but approached at a different angle for a different reason. 

[Image of 1930 Saturn-Uranus-Pluto T-square]

	The T-square image above appears commonly in all types of charts, but relatively rarely―a few times a century―among the outer planets. The one above includes Saturn, Uranus and Pluto. Bringing in waves we discussed already we get 1915Saturn-180°-Pluto1947, 1896Saturn-270°-Uranus1942 and 1849Uranus-270°-Pluto1965. The first wave, 1915Saturn-Pluto1947 brings us both to the beginning of World War I, but the beginning of events tied to the November Revolution. By stepping back one quadrate alignment 1896Saturn-Uranus brings us back to 1919, the year of the Versailles treaty that set the circumstances in place that set Germany on its eventual path. In a different way 1849Uranus-Pluto1965 takes us to the root of Germany's path to World War II. The Weimar Republic traces its roots to the 1848 Revolution that inspired the first (failed) effort to unite the Germanies. The quadrate alignments of 1848, 1870, 1902, and 1930 all relate to the turning points that led down the path to fascism. Compare all of these planet positions to all the other national timelines and you will see similar results. Though USA, USSR or United Kingdom began each of these waves under different circumstance, at each of the turning points we can trace turning points relative to each nation with similar results. Additionally, we can see other connections here, particularly between 1930 and 1965. Saturn was opposite Pluto in 1930 as it was around 1965 (and as it would be again in 2001). We can see the same all or nothing attitude during both periods, a time when people chose sides, whether they had a proclivity toward such decisions or not. We must stress here the cumulative effect of all these waves coming together. Just because Saturn opposes Pluto, does not mean we will see extreme activity. However, the tendency for extreme circumstance increases great a deal when a number of quadrate alignments intersect (we should remember though that the Twin Towers fell near 1981Saturn-180°-Pluto2018). 
 	As of this writing (2009) we stand in the midst of  global financial often compared to events of the early 1930s. Readers of Measuring History should not feign surprise. All three of the planets in the 1930 T-square, Saturn, Uranus and Pluto align in a T-square most “active” between 2008 and 2012. Like 1930 Uranus squares Pluto, but from the other side (90° in the 2010s versus 270°during the 1930s). Many of the same issues and dynamics hold over both episodes, but each T-square holds its own signature. One thread germane from 1930 through 2010 that traces through 1965 is that of the New Deal. The New Deal attempted to answer not only needs of the time, but as it turned out, a major hole in the safety net. From Robert J. Samuelson, Washington Post, March 16, 2009:

What's more, the Depression changed our thinking and institutions. The human misery of economic turmoil has diminished. "American workers [in the 1930s] had painfully few of the social safety nets that today help families," Romer said. Until 1935, there was no federal unemployment insurance. At last count, there were 32 million food stamp recipients and 49 million on Medicaid. These programs didn't exist in the 1930s. 

This speaks to events we can connect to 1849Uranus-Pluto1965. The upper square of the 1930 (1849Uranus-270°-Pluto1965) speaks to the unresolved labor issues that we can track back to 1849 when the USA was still trying to solve the slavery issue (try tracking the US history of racial relations as a parallel exercise). When we move forward to 1876, we see the beginning of the Long Depression and the contentious beginning of the union movement with the Great Railroad Strike of 1877 that birthed the mainstream call toward unionism. Of course, with this event business and governments also prepared, by establishing anti-union practices or bolstering state militias for instance. At 

[MORE] 

The Larger Significance of Cluster A

Cluster A connects to both Cluster B and C, mainly through the two Saturn-Uranus waves: 1896Saturn-Uranus1942, 1943Saturn-Uranus1987 and three Saturn-Pluto waves 1883Saturn-Pluto1914, 1915Saturn-Pluto1947 and 1948Saturn-Pluto1981. As a reminder Cluster A is:

Cluster A
1882: Saturn conjunct Pluto
1883: Saturn conjunct Neptune
1892: Neptune conjunct Pluto
1896: Saturn conjunct Uranus

As visual clue outer planet charts for 1883 and 1896 appear as follows:

[1883 and 1896 charts side by side]

We will review the cluster to cluster connections we spoke of so far but cluster opens up a new vista. The lowest frequency wave we mentioned so far is Uranus-Pluto which align at the same quadrate alignment every 110 and 140 alternatively. The Neptune-Pluto conjunction of 1892 brings us to a wave that began in 1398 and ended in (1399Neptune-Pluto1892). By extension 1892 gives us 1893Neptune-Pluto2364. We'll speak to this last wave toward the end of this introduction and elsewhere, but 1399Neptune-Pluto1892 gives us the most material to work with. The quadrate alignments during this wave fell at 1399, 1571, 1648, 1821 and 1892. A quick look at these show each as a turning point in European, and in this case world history. By taking a short-cut based on the knowledge that the opposition, the half point of every wave points to its essence we proceed immediately to 1648, the opposition (1399Neptune-180°-Pluto1892) of this Neptune-Pluto wave. 
	1648 stands out as portal between past and future. Starting with a trickle that later turned to a torrent, the Age of Reason turned all thought, even how we think about thinking in all possible directions. This cultural movement led to massive secularization that still drives economies, nations and all aspects of lives across the globe. Why secularization took off then when it loomed as a possibility since the Greece likely brought it from Egypt in the 6th Century bce speaks to many different   long-term historical trends that converged to create the atmosphere that inspired one of the biggest changes in how people change over all of written history. Why this change appeared at this time among the players it did shows us why we ended up as we now live. At the same time how the way the outer planets mirrored this change steers us to all of the turning points that led to the events of 1648 and the ones that followed. How 1648 ties into 1892 (and 1821) should bring us full circle, tying together the many loose ends set forth already. Each quadrate alignment leaves a signatures easy to follow with a little work. The signatures of 1399Neptune-Pluto1892 clearly left a mark that turned into a seemingly endless rush of event on top of event, particularly in the last decades of the 19th Century. Saturn's alignment to both of the planets in this wave that repeats about every 495 years helps us see a bigger picture on available through the measurement of history.
	1648 brought the Thirty Years Wars to a close, ending the century and half bitter of religious wars that blazed throughout Europe. While it did not answer whose religious answer was correct, it did leave the decision of religious worship to the states. This represented a sea change because it removed the oversight of Rome Catholicism forever. This result led to two simultaneous developments: the move toward modern structured government and dramatic acceptance of a secular approach to almost aspect of life. The Church recognized the implications; it declined to sign the Peace of Westphalia that ended both the Thirty and Eighty Years. Religion did end as a source of contention, nor did the Church cease to act as a major influence―Catholicism still administered and taught schools for quite some time after this watershed date. In the same light, the move toward the Age of Reason did not come on like a light, blinding people to previous topics or approaches off the table―scholars still debated Aristotle versus Plato. Simply put the Church had lost the authority and credibility to control monarchs or scholars. After over a thousand years of growing authority Europe began to lose the one institution that most united the region. We need to emphasize here that Europe did not stop worshiping through Christianity or immediately begin questioning God's existence (though some would later). To the contrary Christianity not only had established a religious base, but the intellectual and cultural foundation from which the Age of Reason sprang.

For all the deepest determinant of their lives was still the slow but ever-repeated passage
II the seasons, a rhythm which set the pattern of work and leisure, poverty and prosperity
of the routines of home, workshop and study. ... On this rhythm were imposed those of religion. 
When the harvest was in the Church blessed it and the calendar of the Christian 
year provided the more detailed timetable to which men lived. Some of it was very old,
 even pre-Christian; it had been going on for centuries and could hardly be imagined otherwise.
 It regulated the day for many people; every three hours the religious were called to prayer 
in thousands of monasteries and convents by the bell of their house, and outside the walls, 
laymen set the pattern of their day by it, too when they could hear it. Until there were striking 
clocks, only the bell of the parish church, cathedral or monastery supplemented the sun 
or the burning of a candle as a record of passing time, and it did so by announcing the hour 
of another act of worship. 

A History or Europe, p 196 

	We should in this context repeat that the humanists who helped deliver the Renaissance that inspired the Age of Reason all worked in the Christian spirit; they attempted to reform the Church so that it better served the people. None but the most radical rejected religion. As a point in fact Thomas Aquinas tried to reconcile reason and religion, establishing an intellectual stance the Church maintained for decades. Only after the Church refused to recognize the obvious―people in the 17th Century could peer into a telescope and self-determine that planets revolved around the Sun, for instance, did scholars of the period seek to push the limit of Reason. I bring this up to remind while the change was dramatic in hindsight, it was barely felt at the time. The Age of Reason proved so monumental comes from the other episodes that appeared almost simultaneously to the movement.
	Coincident with (and somewhat contributory to) the switch to a more secular view came the English Civil War. From those episodes Hobbes produced Leviathan, which laid the foundation for modern philosophical discourse. Less known, but equally important, in France Les Frondes exploded as a result of the end of the Thirty Years War. During this revolution among the nobility those returning from the war, drunk with power, attempted to demand greater rights from the monarchy, especially vulnerable since the reign of Louis XIV stood in regency. Infighting among the nobles and aid from the streets of Paris helped the Court weather the episode and forever influenced the young king to control and manipulate the Second Estate. This tendency had a profound affect on the future philosophy, science and technology, all fields that benefited from the cry for Reason above all; as the most powerful region in Europe that the age had France as its center meant its influence spread across quickly across European civilization. This last fact has special since the Age of Reason transcended into the Enlightenment that, at least in part, inspired the French Revolution. [Author's Note: The chapter The French Revolution, An Example,  covers the many outer planet links between 1648 and the French Revolution]. We also need note that the Thirty Years War cemented certain positions that prevail down to our time. Scandinavia established itself as a player in European politics; Germany lay in ruins, a condition that fueled its later insecurities; Spain (and to a lesser degree Portugal, once indomitable, turned into a poor man of Europe; the union between Poland and Lithuania, that protected both from its neighbors faded into disagreement; Poland would cease to be Polish by the end of the next century.
	Not all of these changes relate to the Peace of Westphalia, but that piece also represents another completely new development of the time: a written and negotiated peace treaty conducted in the vernacular. Peace talks began in 1642 and were conducted in a number of languages, not just the traditional Latin. This characteristic reflected a sign of those times and a major development. Matters conducted in native tongues removed barriers to literacy and scholarship further eroded the monopoly the Church had held over the release of material. A treaty in the vernacular meant more parties could access documents more efficiently, without any loss of meaning through translation. Think of how this affected the Age of Reason as well. Scholars could produce works locally in there own language, giving them the opportunity to reach the masses nearest them. People did not have to learn Latin to learn other topics, granting publishers a wider audience. Merchants could conduct business more easily since they could conduct business in the local tongue.

1648 and Cluster A

The period from the 1870s through 1892 to the end of century into the World War I all occurred in a whirlwind compared to previous times, even a hundred years before. Industrial output increased dramatically while populations grew exponentially. Barriers of all kinds, particularly in industry and technology, fell like they had never existed. By 1869, a passenger could cross the USA in days rather than months Electricity powered streetcars by the early 1870s. Businesses routinely conducted transatlantic communication. By the end of the 1870s people could hear another voice by wire over growing distances. The automobile of 1889 soon led mass-production of vehicles less than twenty-years from its invention, Marconi's and Einstein's work of the early 1890s would drastically alter the world a little over a decade later. From the time of unification in the 1870s to 1914, German steel output had doubled that of the British, a previous industrial giant. Yet by 1914 the USA surpassed the production of steel of France, Britain and Germany combined. No doubt the world changed before peoples' eyes, even more quickly than most could grasp (possibly explaining the German decision to go to war with Europe).
 	When we compare the period surrounding 1648 to the turn the 20th century we see a dramatically changed world, but one where the latter date with all certainty growing out of the roots of the former.  Secularization, once released, proved almost unstoppable, presenting its own issues to be sure. Nonetheless, we can easily see all the elements of 1648 expanded to new levels, while also recognizing its signature. Additionally, we need to note the signature of the other quadrate of 1399Neptune-Pluto1892 that fell around 1819 that extended the themes of 1648. The political and diplomatic foundations laid in the 1640s resonated throughout the Empire period into World War I still clinging to the balance of power philosophy pursued after the Peace of Westphalia. At the same time we see in those fin de siecle times the signature of the French Revolution that in the larger sense ended near 1399Neptune-270°-Pluto1892:1819. Whereas in 1648 Church influence over politics collapsed, leaving the tradition of primogeniture diplomacy, 1821 left first Europeand eventually all regions of the world working toward nationalization, a concept partially introduced by the French Revolution. Indeed,we should note that World War I, which Cluster B mirrors, also, to an extent, came about to answer the issue of nationalization among the territories in the Ottoman and Hapsburg empires. [Author's Note: The entire period gets extensive treatment in The Onset of World War I, Another Example].
	 Essentially, issues surrounding 1399Neptune-360°-Pluto1892 revolved around how the world dealt with reconciling growing nationalization with the unstoppable effects of secularization (1893Neptune-0°-Pluto2384 deals with the same issue but looks forward instead of backwards, a subtle, but clear distinction). World War I best epitomizes the collision of these concerns. Secularization lead to mass industrialization that helped ignite the war―the United Kingdom cemented alliances in fear of growing German naval strength. Industrialization and better technology let armies kill more effectively. The question of nationalization in the Balkans literally ignited the Great War. As the reader may by now, the way Cluster A connects to Cluster B, speaks to how the 1880s connected to  the war years. How the clusters relate to one another points to how Europe immersed itself in a war all sides in hindsight admitted was folly. A chief reason Europe fell into this war centers its inability to grasp the issues that arose around the time Cluster A appeared. In other words,when it came to addressing 1398Neptune-0°-Pluto1892 it chose war.

Which Direction?

At intersections like these, writing Measuring History often turns difficult. For example I could from here explain how measuring-history via outer planet segments does not predetermine history. How the quadrate alignments display “decision points” where choices the collective makes determine how the direction of history changes. I could also explain how among Neptune-Pluto waves, 1399Neptune-Pluto1892 stands out because at each quadrate alignment the quadrate alignments of the Uranus-Pluto and Uranus-Neptune also fell within a few years of the Neptune-Pluto ones. Throughout history these combinations appear rarely and always portend major shifts in historical directions. By extension, I can also tell you that this convergence of quadrate alignments reflects throughout the issues that led up to and echoed throughout World War I. But the main reason I mention any of this here is to discuss how different measuring-history differs from writing history conventionally. Typically, most histories follow a chronological path, this happened, then that happened or that happened because that happened, then that happened, etc. This approach makes perfect sense and as one who enjoys reading history, I admit feeling a sense of comfort when reading a work that takes me from Point A to Point B with a few 
stops along the way. But Measuring History differs from the conventional. Its point is not to reveal untold stories or to make a political or cultural point. Instead, Measuring History begins outside of history, first establishing a grid based on calculable and dependable measurements and then lays the grid on top of history allowing a reader to compare any part of the grid to another. For this reason have I intentionally write all of the Measuring History Series in a way that seems to jump all over. I am certain this has advantages and drawbacks, but this work is so different there is no guide. After all, if you can see history all at once, where does one start and end?

Decision Points

Here we start with a preview of how events at all the quadrate alignments of 1399Neptune-Pluto1892, 1399, 1567, 1648, 1821 and 1892 play a factor during the Empire/Pre-WWI period. We will also see how episodes near the oppositions between Uranus and Pluto and Uranus and Neptune near 1902 and 1908, respectively, also contributed to the tumult of the Great War and steps the Allies took that led to World War II. Simply stated the path from 1399 through 1567, 1648, 1821 to the period under study took the dual path of transforming government from the dual stewardship and regional rulers and moving Europe from a religiously guided mindset to a secular dominance. That Europe and new players on the world stage tried to solve issues through war show how much they struggled to define new roles for their governments and their citizens. Though we should never turn history into a blame game. Hindsight confirms that the turn to war on both sides ranks as cruel mistake that cost millions of of lives and ruined growing economies. In short all parties made bad decisions. Why they did so can be found in countless volumes on the topic. We just want to tie quadrate alignments to the decision process.

[Place an eight pane image here showing the charts for 1399, 1567 and wave images for connected to these dates]

	In 1399 the Church and all of Europe's rulers skirmished over the division at the top of the Catholic Church. The Church to a great degree acted more like a mafia family. If you wanted to conduct any business, from the smallest town to the most powerful monarchs, you needed to have the blessing of the Church. The problem, especially acute in the 1390s, raged because two different popes (soon to be three) claimed to rule the nuncio. Each claim came with backing from different powerful interests who, of course, competed in other ways. Keep in mind that Europe worked on a regional basis. The town next door could have a ruler different than yours and could be hundreds of miles away. If the lord of that town backed the wrong pope, you might not be able to trade with that town any longer. Add to this the way the Church had tentacles in all facets of life: birth, marriage, schooling, commerce (churches often doubled as the town market) and even the monarchy and the picture of confusion begins to emerge.
	Now fast forward to 1567. By this point the argument of 1399 had transcended into a region wide conflict still centered around who determined how we worshiped, but it had widened to include a number of Protestant splinter groups, who conducted similar arguments among themselves. The most important date to consider is 1563 when the Council of Trent (1545-1563) reached its end. The council directly responded to the causes of the Reformation. It did address some of the concerns that helped Luther ignite the Reformation movement: it sought to better teach parish priests, forbade bishops from taking political only appointments and ended absentee appointments where the clergy administered districts they may visit once or twice, if at all. At the same time they repudiated the Reformation. Actually the Church took it further and created the Counter-reformation, vowing to use any necessary means to drown what it saw as heretical behavior. This cleared up any confusion over how secularized the Church had turned. This also put to rest any idea of it turning to the vernacular for any Church functions. Essentially, this handed the Age of Reason, which began at the next quadrate alignment to the Protestants.
	All of this lies at the root of 1648, both the chapter and the book. The 1560s turned out to be a tipping point in world history, but the central lesson here revolves around the decisions made here. From Spain, to England, France, Poland and the Netherlands and as far away as Mexico or the Philippines. Decisions carried through during that decade set the world on its inevitable path toward secularism. It should be easy to see how the secular path helped create the situation that engendered World War I. By following the tipping points that seem to align with the quadrate alignments. When we look at these times, below the events we must understand the decision matrix that turned these periods into tipping points. 
	At the bottom of the events of the 1560s lay the religious wars of Europe. To understand them we must know that the wars completely engulfed familial grasps for power across Europe. Charles and Philip of the Hapsburghs fought for family fortune as much as they fought for the Church. The French Wars of religion erupted because Catherine d'Medici proved a weak monarch and various factions tried to leverage the Huguenot question into some level of power. When Elizabeth ascended the throne, her hold on power and England's fortune seemed the shakiest in Europe. Mary, Queen of Scots, still help claim to the throne others were willing to inflame. Philip thought he might be able to solve his religious difference with England through marriage. A look back to 1339 and the Papal Schism shows that in many ways the issue had not really changed that much. Political interests resented Church intervention in their sovereignty (and tithes!). The difference between the times was that the Protestantism offered those seeking power another weapon to use against their neighbor, Rome or another noble. And just as important to all of this were the decisions that accompanied these motives.
  	16th Century Spain offers the best example. From the 1530s through the end of the century, Spain as the Superpower of the time. Backed by American gold and silver it could buy the best armies and equipment and wage battle anywhere in Europe. But Spain was Spanish in reputation only. When Charles assumed the throne of Spain he brought with him Flemish ministers. He employed Spain's treasury to pursue the interests of his empire. He fought in the style and mindset of the Crusades, an ideology that the Spanish bought into but ultimately damaged their region. Hardly can we place all of the blame, or any really, at the feet of Charles and Philip. The Spanish court did not stand as untied front in favor of all Spanish. In fact, its conditions entering 1399Neptune-Pluto1892 precluded it from taking the actions that would have cemented a position at the top of the European economic totem pole. Partially because of geography and partially because of La Reconquista, Spanish nobility did not suit itself to fighting for Spanish unity or causes. Charles used the Spanish to the degree it benefited its members. Spain, once it defeated the Muslims, needed little defense and therefore never developed any. Whereas French and English developed a mindset that eventually led to establishing standing armies, Spain hired mercenaries, a practice that extended to the New World where conquistadors set up virtual kingdoms the crown had little means to control.
	All of these conditions contributed to Spanish decline and elevation of the Dutch, English and French who rush into fill gaps left by Spanish abandonment. But the Spanish, Charles and Philip can only seen to have followed faulty policy in hindsight. By the standards and assumptions of the time they made correct choices and strategical moves for the time. One could nitpick about a decision here or there, but in the overall scheme most monarchs likely would have followed similar paths. Charles and Philip could not see that the massive influx of currency led to runaway inflation that fed into a vicious circle of paying more currency into a higher price structure that fed into ever higher interests rates that eventually led to a cycle of bankruptcy. That it should have saved its currency for rainy days, built local industry and created colonies that fed back into a market loop as the British later managed to. Yes, these were mistakes, but ones only seen in hindsight. Monarchs of the period rarely reached sophisticated levels of education and minsters, especially in Spain, often gained status through militarism rather than scholarship. Few (if any) of the time could have envision the modern treasury and banking system that the large sums of currency required to for proper management. Charles and Philip genuinely thought they carried on the work of God and justified the huge influx of bullion as a reward for good works and a built in motive to continue.
 The decisions based on the conditions were right for the time, but simultaneously woefully behind them. Remember, this was a time when communiques took months, no one even knew what inflation meant and the merchant class existed in function only. Spanish bullion exacerbated these deficiencies. Additionally, no one had the capacity of self-examination. In contrast to today where every moment of diplomacy and politics gets hyper-analyzed few critics were heard and those that did so with possibility of punishment (a la Thomas Cromwell). There was little incentive to try new ways and few to pinpoint areas of improvement. This is in a time when bucking the trend could lead to exile or death. By now I have likely overemphasized that leaders and society made the best choices given their conditions, education and experience, but I also want to emphasize that the conditions and decisions combine into outcome at the quadrate alignments. 

1567

A randomly drawn chart for 1567 shows a square pattern that appears rarely, especially in charts of outer planets that move slowly than ones closer to the sun. The list of 1567 outer planet waves in bold in the 1399Neptune-Pluto1892 quadrate alignment comparison table shows a great similarity to each of the other three periods shown below.

Quadrate Alignments of 1399Neptune-Pluto1892 Emphasis on 1567	

~1399	~1567	~1648	~1821	
Saturn conjunct Uranus
Saturn opposite Neptune
Saturn opposite Pluto
Uranus opposite Neptune
Uranus opposite Pluto
Neptune conjunct Pluto 	Saturn upper square Uranus 
Saturn lower square Neptune
Saturn opposite Pluto
Uranus upper square Pluto 
Uranus opposite Neptune
Neptune lower square Pluto 	Saturn opposite Uranus 
Saturn opposite Neptune
Saturn conjunct Pluto
Uranus opposite Pluto 
Uranus conjunct Neptune
Neptune opposite Pluto 	Saturn upper square Uranus 
Saturn lower square Neptune
Saturn opposite Pluto
Uranus upper square Pluto 
Uranus conjunct  Neptune
Neptune upper square Pluto 	

Notice the similarity between all of the quadrate alignments and remember that each one of the six quadrate alignments that appears at each quadrate alignment represents an outer planet wave with a frequency of at least 31 years. Look back through history and you will find very few intersections like these and when you do you find them at historical turning points. We can also see clearly how at each one of the quadrate alignments of 1399Neptune-Pluto1892 that a theme remains consistent from point to point. 

To carry this forward lets compare 1567 to the Empire period as best we can; 

1567 Compared to the Empire Period	

~1567	~1883-1910	
Saturn upper square Uranus 
Saturn lower square Neptune
Saturn opposite Pluto
Uranus upper square Pluto 
Uranus opposite Neptune
Neptune lower square Pluto 	Saturn conjunct  Uranus 
1883Saturn-Neptune1916
1883Saturn conjunct Pluto1914
Uranus opposite Pluto 
Uranus opposite Neptune
Neptune conjunct Pluto 	

	The quadrate alignments appear over a longer period during the onset of the World War I so much so I have included the entire Saturn-Neptune and Saturn-Pluto waves. Think of how this simply describes reality in a different way. Though the 1560s turned out to into tipping point in European (and world) it still appears a as relatively simpler period . By the 1883-1910 period the entire globe in some way. Unlike with Charles and Philip, nation went against nation (for most really the first time in history) and competition pitted industry against industry and national agenda against national agenda; scientists were more valuable than soldiers; standing armies combined with factory output in generals' assessments; stable banking and credit systems often did more damage than any weapon ever could. No longer do we see a make it up as you go along affairs of state found in the 16th century. Instead, diplomacy mixed with politics and ideology in pursuit of advantage typically expressed in capital gains. No longer was performing God's work good enough. If you could not meet someone's bottom-line, you had little place or leverage in society. In some ways Nietzsche was correct, God was dead and replaced by a machine. This becomes particularly apparent during the Great War where the efficiency of killing machines produced gruesome statistics.
	At the same time we see how the decision matrix that began this section plays a factor that carries through all the quadrate alignment themes of 1399Neptune-Pluto1892. At each of the turning points 1399, 1567, 1648, 1821 and 1892 during this wave, the decisions people made as a collective changed the direction of history. People did not make decisions all at once around these periods. Instead, ones made everyday combined into directions where various trends collided into a crisis point. These daily, monthly, yearly and decade decisions connect with the higher frequency waves like Saturn-Pluto, etal. On a larger scale we see at 1567, for instance, where the lower frequency waves besides Neptune-Pluto, ie, Uranus-Pluto and Uranus-Neptune contain signatures we can recognize. For 1567, 1455Uranus-Pluto1598 and 1478Uranus-Neptune1649 apply bringing in all sorts of factors that tainted the direction history took in the 1560s. Most notably with 1455Uranus-Pluto we can point back to the printing press since Gutenberg's Bible debuted around that year. With 1478Uranus-Neptune we should note this as a time when the Italian Renaissance spread across Europe, altered by time, culture and geography. Certainly we can see these signatures during the 1560s with the printing press aiding much of the rhetoric behind all sides of the religious debate. Here we need remember that with the press more could participate in conversations concerning religion as more texts appeared in the vernacular, removing the barrier of knowing Latin. This raised the percentage of the population who could partake in the debate, including nobility, who at time did not require advanced education. The Renaissance, also aided by the printing press, because it spread at varying rates, had a long lasting affect over most of Europe. In context of religious conflict, the cultural movement opened up all intellectual conversations including ecclesiastic. This gave many the license to question Rome's authority at time when Rome and its minions had already undermined the institution through corruption and ostentatious displays of wealth. 
	As we can see, the printing press and the Renaissance put the Church in a position where it needed to redefine itself bringing us back to the Council of Trent and call for Counter Reformation. Here we can see that the Church addressed its own issues, ending absentee bishoprics, putting an end to indulgences and pledging to better teach local parishes. But it also decided to double down on its struggle against Protestant 'heretics' , keeping the other side's focal point in place. Where a softening in position could have defused the Eighty Years War, the Spanish crown chose to send Frederick Alvarez, Duke of Alba. The duke chose to cling closely to the Counter Reformation, persecuting and prosecuting anyone who suggested anything but strict obedience to Spanish religious doctrine. By executing two Catholic nobles, the duke turned all of the 'Low Lands' against the crown. Eventually Spain would regain the Catholic districts in the South (mostly in today's Belgium) but the damage done at multiple quadrate alignments proved irreversible. Indeed, the entire episode put the Spanish on a trajectory that lead to the defeat of its thought to be invincible armada in 1588.
	What we need to learn here is that the Spanish had doomed themselves well before 1567. I ran into a college thesis online  that bests sums up the issues that Spain could not know to address at the time

﻿
•	An examination of the importance of political institutions for war finance might begin with some preliminary appreciation of the magnitude of the problem facing early modern states. Total annual spending by the Spanish Monarchy increased from about one million ducats in 1534 to about 6.5 million in 1572/73 to 12.69 million in 1621 (Elliott 1963, 203; Thompson 1976, 288).

•	One reason for the escalation was that the cost of European warfare increased dramatically during the early modern period. The major European armies grew about ten-fold from 1530 to 1710, and costs per soldier rose, too (Bean 1973; Parker 1972, 3-24, 134; Parker 1979, 45-63, 86-103). At sea, the emergence of Atlantic powers like England and the Netherlands along with Europe's conquests and rivalries in America and Asia made ocean naval warfare both strategically and economically important after 1580. Shipbuilding was expensive and capital-intensive (Lynch 1984a, 313-50). Overall, early modern states faced the task of raising huge amounts of money by European standards.

•	The Monarchy was preoccupied with foreign policy concerns and decided to fight wars on the basis of religion or reputation. Any economic-based expected cost-benefit analysis was secondary if at all relevant (Elliott 1989, 114-36).

•	Several issues important to the ultimate result of Spain's wars were present throughout and do not necessarily provide strong answers to the question of why Spain fought well for decades against the Dutch, then lost control over time and eventually conceded a partial defeat. These include American bullion flows, Spain's multiple enemies, and the Dutch option of fighting a defensive war. 
(From: ﻿Political Institutions and the Spanish Monarchy's Finances 1521-1648

Akira Motomura, Stonehill College

http://eh.net/Clio/Conferences/ASSA/Jan_96/motomura.shtml

Later we read

﻿
Borrowing and Defaults

The Spanish Monarchy defaulted on its debt service obligations more often than did the Dutch Republic. A likely cause is that a traditional monarchy had less of a vested interest in preserving property rights like future claims than did a commercially-oriented republic. Moreover, the republic's greater willingness to pay taxes gave lenders more confidence that the revenues needed to service the loans would be available. Thus, the Dutch Republic gave prospective lenders more confidence that it could and would service debt. Thus the Dutch Republic was a better credit risk than the Spanish Monarchy and enjoyed greater access to credit, as reflected in lower interest rates.

The greater creditworthiness of the Dutch Republic was manifested in greater access to credit. It paid interest rates as low as 3% while the Monarchy often could not borrow as much as it requested, even when offering as much as 10% as it did in 1621 (Dom'nguez Ortiz 1983, 8-31, 307). Dutch creditors also participated in the war effort by lowering interest rates charged to the Dutch Republic, though other Dutch lenders were willing to lend to the Spanish Monarchy (Parker 1974, 573).

	None of the above reaches any controversial conclusions. The statements clearly display that Spain declined to the benefit of the rest of Europe for many reasons, not just one or two. But one decision stands out as fatal: the one to fight what where essentially its own people in the Netherlands over religious worship and taxes. Spain could have used Dutch commercial ken and unity behind its merchant interests (and had the Dutch and Spain remained unified, imagine their economic and military power--the Dutch could not, in the end, compete against the more mighty French and English). One quote in particular stands out:

(ibid)

	The Dutch turned into commercially adept citizens because of centuries of trade on the Baltic. Its people were no better than the Spanish. The trajectory of their history simply turned beneficial when the merchant class gained economic power. They made decisions the Spanish forced them into, but at a time when decisions became  a pivot around which history turned, their past better suited them to make determinations that brought them fortune. Again their circumstances proved easier to handle than the Spanish ones, but nonetheless, as a group the Dutch made decisions (including the initial among a minority to consecrate churches) at time when many quadrate alignments intersected. We do not make a determination  about right or wrong, fool or folly here, we simply point out that people chose their future direction based on prevailing conditions. The planets positions relative to one another did not make them decide one way or another. The choices made came from prevailing conditions and attitude.
	At the same time we should see 1567 as a time when several signatures of history, as defined by outer planet quadrate alignments, intersected so that the intersections point to a time when these signatures force decisions that alter the course of history.

An Alternative Direction

	Keep in mind here that a few years after 1567 Philip softened his position against the Dutch. The entire war ebbed and flowed with a few truces thrown in. Not all of the Dutch chose Calvinism or even Protestantism. Lords Egmont and Lamont, both Catholic, sought to negotiate with the Crown. More than likely, had their pleas for negotiation been heard, the Dutch revolt would have faltered. Frankly, the Dutch had luck on their side. Holding off the Spanish at the beginning of the war helped it gain footing Spain could never completely regain. So even if Philip chose to delay his efforts there remains the possibility he could have held advantage that forestalled the need to call up the Armada in the 1580s. More than any other event, the loss of the Spanish fleet let Europe know that Spain wore no clothes. The English Navy (and the rest of Europe) learned the naval tactics and figured out the craft they would need to dominate the oceans. From that point forward, the English never looked back. The Spanish, however, lost 60% of its fleet one used the transport the bullion that had fueled its ascent. Worse, its creditworthiness shattered, it could not rebuild more quickly than its now more adept adversaries. All of this episode easily traces back to the direction Philip chose in 1567 coincident with the outer planet Grand Cross of 1567.
	The same thought process  applies to the Empire Period that preceded the Great War. Germany built itself into a powerhouse based on insecurity fostered by years of disunity. We need remember that somewhat like Italy, more powerful forces in Europe benefited from a disjointed Germany. All wanted to control the Rhine, an important route from South to North. So when Germany united under Prussian oversight it did so with a predisposition of foreign policy that looked over its proverbial shoulders. It also united under a young and emerging mindset under ever more complex world forces. In many ways, the period, the table above means to demonstrate, mirrors that of 1567 but spreads out from the late 1870s through 1919. The Germans collectively decided war proved the best solution and the outer planet intersections show that their choices took history in a new direction. All of the other parties, Axis or Ally, at least partially chose alliances and to go to war based on past assumptions. No side really chose well in deciding to go to war. I doubt the French would have chosen war if they know they would lose half of their male population. Austria-Hungary would not have chosen combat if it had known that the choice would end its empire. The Ottoman Empire really had few choices. War or not, various parties gradually ate away at the once great empire and the Porte could little but watch. The United States went to war reluctantly, pulled in by German attacks on US shipping, another misjudgment on behalf of the Germans. The Russians lost millions and got little from the war, a consequence that ended the Russian Empire in 1917. Overall, most involved made poor decisions if we judge the results of the entire conflict. Considering that Armistice led to regimes that committed genocide and another global war that killed millions, a view courtesy of hindsight confirms that  collectively most who called for war at the time made a poor choice.
Back to the Empire Period in Detail

Saturn conjunct  Uranus 
1883Saturn-Neptune1916
1883Saturn conjunct Pluto1914
Uranus opposite Pluto 
Uranus opposite Neptune
Neptune conjunct Pluto 

[1849Uranus-Pluto1965 Wave Image Here]

[1822Uranus-Neptune1992 Wave Image Here]
 
[1399Neptune-Pluto1892 Wave Image Here]
The latter also appears as 

[1893Neptune-Pluto2384  Wave Image Here]

	This gives us a clue to what people of the time faced. Without a big stretch we can see both sides straddling both past and future. Nations appealed to knighthoods and past traditions to gin up the war effort, yet both sides deployed modern weapons that made killing more efficient than ever. Indeed, this represented a major challenge never really overcome: generals fought a modern war with outmoded tactics and strategies. As with the Spanish and 1567, however, judging right or wrong through hindsight misses the point. The entire globe from the 1870s through the end 1910s melded old with new; horses and cars tried to live side by side. The war brought much of the old world to an end.
	When we spoke of the quadrate alignments of 1399Neptune-Pluto1892, 1399, 1567, 1648, 1821 and 1892,  we brought in the theme of the march into the modern world through the shift from theocratic to secular thought. Clearly, by 1892 all vestiges of theocracy as significant political force had disappeared. 1892Neptune-Pluto2384 should have a new theme. What could it be? The entire World War I onset period, in which the 1892 Neptune-Pluto conjunction stands at the center tells us what we need to know,	
	Ultimately all of the parties in the war fought over resources that they wanted to secure for their nation-state. Sub-themes tie into this. If you were an empire ill-suited to the nation-state model, you entered the period at a severe disadvantage, as we see with Austro-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire and China, continuing past practice proved nearly impossible. That the United States tipped the balance tells other sides of story. Industrial output replaced religious doctrine. The short-lived hegemony of European centered dominance had ended (but the Europeans had not figured that out yet). The world now lived on international trade and bureaucracies and politicians turned into gatekeepers for all. With these new practices came new side-effects. Oil went from barely known to critical supply. Pollution turned into a limiting factor; people favored the automobile because they thought it would end horse-dung messes; New York City adopted electric trains because coal began to choke the city. International trade and commerce requires cross-border regulations, agreements and diplomacy. All of these themes emerged as central during the Empire period when the three lowest frequency waves moved into quadrate alignment. Below we eliminate signatures related to both Uranus waves by showing how they tie together events of post-Napoleonic Europe to the advent the Digital Age (1822Uranus-Neptune1991) and the '48 Revolutions to 1960s uprisings. When we look at the turn of the century in regard to the Neptune-Pluto wave, we see the themes mentioned above. 
	Each Neptune-Pluto wave, like each outer planet pairing, can represent a theme. This practice differs little from mainstream historical process of naming periods or eras. The difference with measuring history comes through use of quadrate alignments and other points of reference not available  conventionally. Those used to way many writers already divide history need not worry; Neptune-Pluto (and other outer planet divisions) fairly well confirm what we already use. In my opinion these measurements enhance what we already know, giving more structure by which to view history.

	Some may find this section a bit controversial since it may seem arbitrary. 

	The Neptune-Pluto conjunction of 1892-1893 brought 1399Neptune-Pluto1892  to a close, but also inaugurates 1893Neptune-Pluto2384. What can a wave appearing both at end and beginning tell us?Quite a lot.
	The Empire period through World War I still had the appearance of the old times. The assassination of an Archduke, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne set off the war, but after 1919, who cared about Dukes or Barons or anyone with a title? What industrial nation (ie, one with power) after this period had heirs to a throne or even a throne to ascend to (disallowing symbolic positions). After the war the Austro-Hungarian, Russian and Ottoman empires ceased existence. During the war the horse would make its last appearance as military transport. Chemical weapons, aeroplanes and submarines made their wartime debut. Though 'fronts' and 'flanks' still proved important in military strategy, 'communications' and 'transportation' took their side along side them. By 1919 the new had for the most part replaced the old. What had not been touched soon would be. That women in most industrial nations acts as a great barometer of progress on many fronts. Feelings of newness had burgeoned for at least fifty years but the Great War pushed any unsure motivations one way or another.
	
Feelings of Newness

	Imagine how the world felt from the 1880s through the Great War. So many things that fifty years previous seemed impossible began to appear all around the world. More than individual accomplishments humans across the globe must have felt that collectively they could do more than any other previous organization

Inter-Century Uranus Waves

	The period from about 1880 through the end of Woard

People Make History