[LAST UPDATED JAN.2001] Al H. Morrison was an outstanding and outspoken 20th century Astrologer (as you will see from the following quotations) who communicated with resolve and insight. His attempt to bring world astrological organizations together into an international Congress of Astrological Organizations (CAO), suffered partisan obstacles -- yet eventually his efforts transformed into the establishment of the CAO Times, a journal wherein he published articles of exceptional insight and unique contributions to Astrology. Al continued to lecture most often in Europe, and particularly in Ireland, where he participated up until his last days in ongoing research on the several stonehenge-like rock constructs throughout the Emerald Isle. Eventually I will be including some of the information he shared with me on the Stone circles in Ireland either in this tribute or in a separate article on this website. According to Al, he was born on 8 July 1916 in a small village in Arkansas located at 92w52 x 34n46. He lived much of his life in the city of New York and had periodic contact with such prominent astrologers as Charles Emerson, Charles Jayne, and Hans Niggemann, all of whom took an interest in Uranian Astrology. While Al did not call himself a Uranian astrologer, he was one of the most enthusiastic supporters of research on new planetary factors, and contributed significantly to the publication of ephemerides for newly-discovered asteroids and planetoids. He printed one of the first ephemerides of Chiron and supported related research enthusiastically. With Aries rising, he spoke directly and locked horns with a number of astrologers, yet persistently moved forward with what he called "clean, clear Astrology". He supported people's efforts in research and their efforts to clear up astrological misconceptions. Al did not suffer fools gladly. He appeared to be motivated primarily to publish and proliferate sound new ideas that promoted human and social evolution and contributed something original to the field of Astrology. I remember in particular how excited he was to share with me the astronomical verification of Transneptunian asteroids in the early 1990s, and he was supportive of my work with the Witte-Sieggrün Transneptunians. It was my good fortune to have corresponded with Al regularly for about 12 years immediately prior to his death in 1995 and at this point I would like to share some of my favorite succint quotes from him:
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Al was known for his no-nonsense, direct manner of communicating, and he could be quite critical and emphatic and at the same time, dead serious. The chart here has the dial pointer set to the Sun, but let's first look at Mercury to investigate his communicative nature. We can see visually that if we shift the dial 3° counterclockwise, one of the pointers will be on Mercury, and the other long points of the star, which mark 16th harmonic angles, considered critical in Uranian Astrology, ME=HA=SA=VU; in other words, there is a cluster of ME.SA.HA.VU. [Traditional astrology pays more attention to higher harmonic and "soft" aspects, with larger orbs, whereas Uranian methods show that 16th harmonic angles with 1° orb describe more precise and outstanding special personality qualities and talents.] ME.HA showing as conjunct on the 90° dial indicates a critical nature that gets down to brass tacks and dispenses with impractical formalities. Hades is the populist planet... it speaks in the voice of the common man, and deals with the basic facts, with no frills. With Saturn involved, it indicates a serious demeanor and complements the aforementioned with a sense of responsibility in communicating. Add the intensity and clout of Vulkanus, and this indicates someone who speaks forcefully and with intensity, and has a subsequent strong impact on others' thinking. Saturn involved in this configuration provides the sense of responsibility that made Morrison an effective advocate for the "serious astrology" that he spoke of often and admired. On the other hand, it was this same seriousness and intensity that alienated Morrison from those whose astrology he had less than time for. Hades can be discriminating in both the positive and the negative sense of the word, and coupled with his Mercury and Saturn, he had no time for what he considered to be nonsense or duplicity or pretense. The ME.HA combination also indicates an interest in mysteries and secrets, and Al was the first to support research, investigation into new areas such as asteroid discoveries, and even took an interest now and again in Uranian techniques. He made special efforts to reprint out-of-print historical texts of value, such as W. H. Chaney's astrology primer, and texts on Celtic astrological mythology and Islamic astrology (Al-Biruni); he found value in knowledge that was useful and significant despite its obscurity. Following are interpretations for ME.SA.HA and ME.SA.VU from the Brummund Rulebook, accompanied by my own observations in parentheses (© Ruth Brummund and Blake Finley). These further substantiate Al's aforementioned charactersitics and interests.
In keeping with the ME.HA cluster, Al frequently sent out flyers dealing with archaeological discoveries, deadpan jokes, and obscure research projects that escaped the attention of the mainstream. In wrapping up our assessement of Mercury, we can also see visually on the dial that ME falls at the midpoint of Aries Point (or Vp, Vernal Point) and Mars, i.e. ME=AR/MA: his manner of communicating out among the public was direct and to the point. This is also an indicator of work (MA) entailing communication (ME) out among the public (AR), reflected in his publishing activities. Al's love of astrology can be found if we visually notice that the midpoint between Uranus and Apollon; UR.AP, often considered the key combination for astrology, falls on his Venus. It tells us that astrology was his one of his many loves; and with that same UR/AP=VE configuration in 16th harmonic aspect to Kronos, the dial shows that Morrison was a dedicated authority and master of astrology. Now, let's look at his Sun, which happens to closely clustered with his MC, thus forming about the same configurations with other points. MC clustered with the SU means someone who is known for their individual uniqueness, and who radiates vitality out to others, often functioning as an inspiration to others. Even those who objected to his sometimes coarse manner of communicating would almost have to admit that he was motivating and inspiring. Sun is one's core vitality and inner purpose as reflected through the life-source of our Solar System, and for Al it is clustered (including the 16th harmonic aspects) with Cupido and Poseidon, and even linked to Mars through Poseidon. This indicates that his life's purpose was to spread enlightenment in socially; and that despite his sometimes seemingly antisocial (often said of Hades) manner of communicating, his inner purpose was to bring light to his associates, community, and society (CU.PO), which he did enthusiastically and with determination (MA). Here are the interpretations of MA.CU.PO given in Brummund's Rulebook, also followed by my own supplements in parentheses (© Ruth Brummund and Blake Finley).
I find it particularly suitable to present excerpts from Ruth Brummund's Rulebook here, as Al had agreed to publish my English translation. However, interference from other parties, astrological politics, and resulting temporary suspension of my translation work led to not having the book completed at the time of his death, which occurred in 1995. None of the problems were a surprise to Al, as he had seen such situations before. And perhaps I felt a strong link with Al since his birthday was on the same day as my father's, only one year earlier. I miss the many substantial and information-packed letters Al wrote and only wish for the field of astrology that we continue to have more no-nonsense, serious, dedicated astrologers like Al in the future. I think I could say that my current mentor, Ruth Brummund, fits that description. (information about Al derived directly from correspondence written by Al Morrison himself.) If you are interested in more information about the Brummund Rulebook, click here.
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