By borrowing from Burgoyne and the Continental astrological tradition, Papus produced a work that provides fresh insights to the English speaking astrological tradition. Lehman's introduction places Papus in an historical perspective and explains his influence in late 19th and early 20th century France. In translating this work from the French, she has given English speaking students of astrology and the Western Mystery Tradition an important source work. The French physician Papus (Gerard Encausse, 1865-1916) was involved in many secret societies. Papus alone was in a unique position to synthesize these influences into his astrological and esoteric work. His mentors included Francois Charels Berlet, who was involved in the Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor, as well as being the premier French astrologer of his day; and Thomas Burgoyne, the author of The Light of Egypt (explaining the principles and practices of the Hermetic Brotherhood). By borrowing from Burgoyne and the Continental astrological tradition, Papus produced a work that provides fresh insights to the English speaking astrological tradition. J. Lee Lehman's translation from the French maintains the integrity of the original work and is highlighted with explanatory notes and updated supplemental material. Astrology For Initiates is a valuable addition to any astrological studies reference shelf. -- Midwest Book Review Alas, Papus cannot speak for himself, but it was a privilege to have the opportunity to translate him. Papus provides a very interesting historical perspective in astrology, since his life encompassed many of the occult trends of the 19th and early 20th centuries: Martinism, Theosophy, magic, and astrology. Known more prominently in Tarot circles than astrology ones, it is a shame that Papus had not had the chance to complete this work before he died. But what is truly interesting is that, in this era prior to modern word processing, Papus created his work initially by pasting together his writing with that of others he clearly planned to use as his primary sources. Formost among these was Thomas Burgoyne's Light of Egypt: itself a highly interesting document from the lineage of the Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor. Dr. Gérard Encausse (1865–1916), also known as Papus, was an influential French occultist. He was the cofounder of premier occult journal L’Initiation and a lively weekly paper of occult news and opinion, Le Voile d’Isis ( The Veil of Isis ). He also founded the Groupe Indépendant d’Études ésoteriques (Independent Group of Esoteric Studies) and was an important leader of Ordre de la Rose+Croix Kabbalistique (Order of the Kabbalistic Rose+Cross), the leading French magical order of the time. Papus played a crucial role in reformulating the Martinist Order, an organization that remains active today. Astrology for Initiates Astrological Secrets of the Western Mystery Tradition By J. Lee Lehman Samuel Weiser, Inc. Copyright © 1996 Samuel Weiser, Inc. All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-0-87728-894-7 Contents Translator's IntroductionA Word to the ReaderChapter 1. The Celestial SphereChapter 2. The PlanetsChapter 3. The Twelve SignsChapter 4. Applications of AstrologyAppendix. Astrology and the CalendarTablesTranslator's ReferencesIndexAbout the Translator CHAPTER 1 The Celestial Sphere In the night if we direct our regard toward the starry sky, we can see, if theweather is clear, an enormous quantity of stars, more or less brilliant, and sooverwhelming that it seems impossible to even recognize anything at first. Whileobserving all these brilliant points in the sky more closely, we begin to noticethat some of them form distinct groups of stars separate from one another. How to Recognize these in the Mass of Stars In antiquity, people formed these groups of stars, figures to which theimagination of the wise ones assigned some shapes. Some are merely geometric,but most often people used the shapes of animals, of people, or of objects. Onegave the name of constellations to these clumps of stars, and there are someunique constellations in the Northern Hemisphere which are directly overhead inEurope, and some others unique to the Southern Hemisphere, on the other side theequator. The Starry Route One should also note, that besides some stationary stars that appear studded inthe sky like so many lights, there are also mobile bodies that promenade throughthe constellations. These stars are first the Sun, then the Moon. Of the rest,the planets, we will speak later. Let us hold on, for the moment, to theexterior sensations that they produce on the Earth. We will see that a lot ofobvious movements are actually due to the movement of the Earth, but we willignore this at present, because it would interfere with the clarity of ourdescriptions. Therefore, in observing the sky, people realized that in itscourse the Sun traversed the constellations, always the same; they noted thatthe Moon followed th