Just for giggles, I checked out my daily horoscope. Nothing more than a dose of entertainment; I never take seriously what the heavenly bodies appear to have in store. Still, I am perplexed. My horoscope for today is littered with cynical phrases like "communicating with others is difficult;" "you feel inhibited and uncommunicative;" "others are not receptive;" "you are inclined simply to keep your thoughts to yourself."
I would pay little heed to this jab, except for the fact that I could not, for the life of me, figure out how to approach this column. Literally, I have been sitting here facing a blank screen for the better part of an hour. Hence the detour to my daily horoscope.
I had been composing a series of articles on a discovery made by my friend. While remodeling his house, he uncovered a layer of vintage newspapers from 1939 beneath his kitchen floor. These pages provide a fascinating window to the world on the brink of World War II, and discuss everything from a day in the life of that mysterious Adolf Hitler, to a printed job offer seeking a new executioner at Sing Sing Prison.
I had just about used up the material available in that stack of newspapers when, searching for inspiration, I checked my horoscope. I noted that it was freakishly accurate to the blockish way I feel today. In fact, it reminded me of another horoscope I read recently, one that was also freakishly accurate. With renewed vigor, I uncovered an article from the Chicago Sunday Tribune, dated Aug. 6, 1939.
At the time the Chicago Sunday Tribune wrote its piece, Hitler was not the notorious figure we know him as today. Many Americans knew little of Germany's new dictator, and viewed him with a sense of detached curiosity. Thus, the Tribune published "Hitler's Horoscope;" an interpretation of the heavens on the day Hitler was born. A celestial map is provided, as well as explanations from Wynn, who also conducted the Tribune's regular horoscopes.
Hitler was born on April 20, 1889 at 6:30 p.m. in Austria. An astrologer's map published in a period almanac provided the celestial portrait for his horoscope. At the time of Hitler's birth, several extraordinary occurrences were underway in the heavens. Saturn, the planet of retribution, was in mid-heaven. Mars, the planet of forceful retaliation, was located at 90 degrees in relation to Saturn. Mars was also in conjunction with Venus, Hitler's ruling planet and also an indicator of art and music. Also in Taurus with Venus and Mars was the Sun - the foundation of character. Off by itself in Capricorn, but with great strength, was the Moon.
According to Wynn, these relations among the planets are incredibly significant. Although I take my daily horoscope with a grain of salt, I am always perplexed when a prediction of uncanny significance turns out to be accurate. Keep in mind what was happening, and about to happen, as of August 1939:
Hitler's rise to power in Germany was well-established, and he had already annexed both Austria and Czechoslovakia. Many of the remaining world powers, still reeling from the Great War, took on an attitude of appeasement. World War II would begin very soon, but was still a month away.
According to Hitler's Horoscope by Wynn, Saturn's location produces qualities of self-pride that typically result in a great fall. The location of Mars indicates a selfishness that "blinds (Hitler) to the rights, motives, and abilities of nations with which he deals." Venus, Hitler's ruling planet, adds a sense of art and music to his character, but its close relation to Mars guarantees that Hitler's life will be a conspicuous one.
The Sun, given its relation to the other planets, instills Hitler with stubbornness. This results in a purpose for revenge. Wynn writes, almost prophetically, "Appeasement attempts will fail."
Finally, Hitler's strengths in Capricorn give him the ability to recognize the weaknesses of opponents while covering up his own. He is guaranteed to look to the public as the means of carrying out his excessive ambitions.
Wynn concludes with the following:
Hitler's end will be defeat at the hands of enemies he could have had for friends. Every minute spent in attempting to appease Hitler is wasted, especially in the balance of 1939. Now is the time to stop him, for he is at his weakest since gaining power in 1939 (due to the transit of Saturn over the Sun, Mars, and Venus). This is the most disintegrating vibration known.
Hitler feels this (and) he will bluff to his full extent. He is a natural showman, but is tempted this month to bite off more than he can chew or digest. It is right now that his opponents can defeat Hitler if they bring him to a showdown, for he is not going to be as weak again for many years. Continuing through September and October, Hitler will have almost irresistible desires to increase his importance and power.
Wynn concludes with, "(Hitler) is one of the most dangerous men in history, because of his technique."
It may not seem accurate to describe Hitler as "weak" in August of 1939, at least given what we think we know about World War II. However, Wynn's horoscope reads freakishly accurate, given that many Nazi officials echoed the same sentiment post World War II:
Germany should never have fought against Great Britain and the United States. Rather, they should have all joined together to fight their one common enemy: Russia.
- Dan Wegmueller of Monroe writes a column for the Times each Monday. He can be reached at dwegs@tds.net.
I would pay little heed to this jab, except for the fact that I could not, for the life of me, figure out how to approach this column. Literally, I have been sitting here facing a blank screen for the better part of an hour. Hence the detour to my daily horoscope.
I had been composing a series of articles on a discovery made by my friend. While remodeling his house, he uncovered a layer of vintage newspapers from 1939 beneath his kitchen floor. These pages provide a fascinating window to the world on the brink of World War II, and discuss everything from a day in the life of that mysterious Adolf Hitler, to a printed job offer seeking a new executioner at Sing Sing Prison.
I had just about used up the material available in that stack of newspapers when, searching for inspiration, I checked my horoscope. I noted that it was freakishly accurate to the blockish way I feel today. In fact, it reminded me of another horoscope I read recently, one that was also freakishly accurate. With renewed vigor, I uncovered an article from the Chicago Sunday Tribune, dated Aug. 6, 1939.
At the time the Chicago Sunday Tribune wrote its piece, Hitler was not the notorious figure we know him as today. Many Americans knew little of Germany's new dictator, and viewed him with a sense of detached curiosity. Thus, the Tribune published "Hitler's Horoscope;" an interpretation of the heavens on the day Hitler was born. A celestial map is provided, as well as explanations from Wynn, who also conducted the Tribune's regular horoscopes.
Hitler was born on April 20, 1889 at 6:30 p.m. in Austria. An astrologer's map published in a period almanac provided the celestial portrait for his horoscope. At the time of Hitler's birth, several extraordinary occurrences were underway in the heavens. Saturn, the planet of retribution, was in mid-heaven. Mars, the planet of forceful retaliation, was located at 90 degrees in relation to Saturn. Mars was also in conjunction with Venus, Hitler's ruling planet and also an indicator of art and music. Also in Taurus with Venus and Mars was the Sun - the foundation of character. Off by itself in Capricorn, but with great strength, was the Moon.
According to Wynn, these relations among the planets are incredibly significant. Although I take my daily horoscope with a grain of salt, I am always perplexed when a prediction of uncanny significance turns out to be accurate. Keep in mind what was happening, and about to happen, as of August 1939:
Hitler's rise to power in Germany was well-established, and he had already annexed both Austria and Czechoslovakia. Many of the remaining world powers, still reeling from the Great War, took on an attitude of appeasement. World War II would begin very soon, but was still a month away.
According to Hitler's Horoscope by Wynn, Saturn's location produces qualities of self-pride that typically result in a great fall. The location of Mars indicates a selfishness that "blinds (Hitler) to the rights, motives, and abilities of nations with which he deals." Venus, Hitler's ruling planet, adds a sense of art and music to his character, but its close relation to Mars guarantees that Hitler's life will be a conspicuous one.
The Sun, given its relation to the other planets, instills Hitler with stubbornness. This results in a purpose for revenge. Wynn writes, almost prophetically, "Appeasement attempts will fail."
Finally, Hitler's strengths in Capricorn give him the ability to recognize the weaknesses of opponents while covering up his own. He is guaranteed to look to the public as the means of carrying out his excessive ambitions.
Wynn concludes with the following:
Hitler's end will be defeat at the hands of enemies he could have had for friends. Every minute spent in attempting to appease Hitler is wasted, especially in the balance of 1939. Now is the time to stop him, for he is at his weakest since gaining power in 1939 (due to the transit of Saturn over the Sun, Mars, and Venus). This is the most disintegrating vibration known.
Hitler feels this (and) he will bluff to his full extent. He is a natural showman, but is tempted this month to bite off more than he can chew or digest. It is right now that his opponents can defeat Hitler if they bring him to a showdown, for he is not going to be as weak again for many years. Continuing through September and October, Hitler will have almost irresistible desires to increase his importance and power.
Wynn concludes with, "(Hitler) is one of the most dangerous men in history, because of his technique."
It may not seem accurate to describe Hitler as "weak" in August of 1939, at least given what we think we know about World War II. However, Wynn's horoscope reads freakishly accurate, given that many Nazi officials echoed the same sentiment post World War II:
Germany should never have fought against Great Britain and the United States. Rather, they should have all joined together to fight their one common enemy: Russia.
- Dan Wegmueller of Monroe writes a column for the Times each Monday. He can be reached at dwegs@tds.net.
