Margaret Hone, Astrologer

Margaret Hone

Leo Rising, with Sun in Libra and Moon in Aquarius

~ A Biography ~

by Carlo Ravin

Born: October 2, 1892, 2:13 a.m. GMT, Studley, England

source: page 14 of her book, Applied Astrology

Died: Oct. 14, 1969

source: email received Friday, May 12th, from the Astrological Association of Engand

Please see the following links for confirmation of this year of death:

http://www.astrologer.com/aanet/aainfo.html

http://www.zodiacal.com/history/chrono.htm

The Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology, 4th Edition, 1996, published by Gale and edited by Gordon Melton states:

born: Oct. 2, 1892
died: 1969

   Not so oddly, Charles Carter, Margaret’s dear friend, a man whom she was terribly fond of and had loved and worked alongside for so long, died in 1968.

Margaret Hone, Charles Carter, and others founded an educating body called the The Faculty of Astrological Studies in 1948 in England. The Astrological Association (AA) that they cofounded there ten years later still exists. And while it doesn’t call itself a teaching body as Hone and Carter did in the 1950s and 1960s, its courses are available online at astrology-world.com/courses.html, through Deb Goulding’s excellent site, www.astrology-world.com. The course of study is operated by other thoughtful English astrologers.

Margaret Ethelwyn Hone was an important astrologer in the mid 1900s, yet modern use of her great work has been largely lost in the New-Age-heavy “Modern Astrology” of the turn of the century. Ms. Hone is remembered mostly as a text-book astrologer, of which she was honored to be, and as an Englishwoman, she counted among her close friends men such as Charles E. O. Carter, Marc Edmund Jones, and Dane Rudhyar.

Where Carter and Jones ventured into fatalistic interpretations of astrology - that some planets were indeed malefic and thus classified as “evil”, a concept which has been swept under the rug of “Modern Astrology” - Ms. Hone held the textbook line. Any experience with her work will bear out her image as the archetypal serious schoolteacher…hair in a bun, standing over you in a smart dress, making sure that you put your nose back into your book once you’ve glanced around the room at your sweating classmates. That is to say that you will find yourself immediately feeling like an actual student, learning from an actual teacher. Not to come away with that feeling would be not to have experienced Ms. Hone’s work the way in which she intended it to be viewed. And that might result in your knuckles smarting from her wooden ruler, and your eventual decision to get your nose back into your study. She was a Libra Sun with an Aquarian Moon and Leo Rising, so what else would you expect? A big, brilliant Leo-stoked gust of the Winds of Learning, for that was Peg Hone.

Hone, Carter, and their contemporaries believed that astrology is more accurate to classify someone as their “Ascendant, with Sun in…”, thus making Ms. Hone a Leo with Sun in Libra. This is compatible with Carter’s reference to her as a “native of Leo” in his Preface to her book, below.

Clearly, Charles Carter was impressed with Margaret Hone. His preface to her well-known book, The Modern Text Book of Astrology bears this out. He felt that Ms. Hone’s work was a milestone in the English astrology of the day:

PREFACE

It gives me great pleasure to send a few introductory words to this notable work, for such it is.

It is a considerable time since a new text-book on astrology has appeared in Great Britain. On examination the reader will appreciate that this is, in the best sense, an ambitious work, designed to set a fresh and higher standard of astrological achievement in text-books I can bear personal witness that neither trouble nor expense has been spared to produce completeness; but I believe equally that padding has been rigorously excluded. Thus, if the price is, necessarily in these days, high, the purchaser may know that he is paying for substance and not for mere verbiage, or which there is none.

The diagrams merit special mention for their clarity and beautiful workmanship.

A glance at the Index will serve to show that much is included that is highly interesting to anyone studying astrology with the background of a wide general culture, but which has never before appeared, to my knowledge, in an English work of this kind. ChapterXVII, ‘The Historical Background,’ is a case in point.

Naturally, in a subject such as astrology, there are many differences of opinion even on fundamentals, and differences, too, as to how the art should be taught. As for this latter, much must depend on the intelligence of the pupil, and his or her previous studies. Hitherto most students, it is to be feared, have learnt their methods largely by rote, with only a limited understanding of the reasons for what they did. In this book, the authoress has sought to correct this common defect and to lead the student to technical proficiency in a manner that will enable him to understand not only what he is doing, but also why.

Another feature that merits commendation is the lack of dogmatism that characterises the work. Varying opinions are given fair play, and Mrs. Hone does not force her views down the reader’s throat in the somewhat arrogant manner employed by less fair-minded writers, especially in the old days.

Yet another point to be applauded is the inclusion of carefully worded definitions; and similarly the key-word system is used in a way that is both practical and theoretically sound.

One may in fact assert that a student will need no other library than this book for some considerable time; and he might indeed be wise if he confines his reading to it for several months, thus gaining a comprehensive basis for his astrological investigations before adding to his library. When he feels ready to take this step, he will find guidance in the Appendix.

The authoress has generously acknowledged the help she has received in compiling this work, a matter which, it has been said, natives of Leo are sometimes prone to overlook. But the book bears throughout the stamp of her own vivid and comprehensive mentality. It will unquestionably be a guide and help to many - and not only to beginners.

~ Charles E. O. Carter,

London, 1950

Carter saw Margaret Hone neither as arrogant, bookish, nor condescending, yet as someone who taught clearly, and who acknowledged those who helped her, as she did for Carter in her dedication of this book to him:

Copyright Margaret E. Hone, 1951

This book is dedicated to

CHARLES E. O. CARTER

B.A., D.F.ASTROL.S.

President Emeritus of the Astrological Lodge of London
Principal Emeritus of the Faculty of Astrological Studies
Author of many books on Astrology

Carter’s work has followed that of the late Alan Leo (1860-1917). Through his careful and scholarly writings, and his Libran chairmanship of the Astrological Lodge of London, the Headquarters of Astrology in Great Britain, the “Royal Art” has flourished in this century, had been purged of many of its superstitions and has gained the respect of all who give time to its study.

Ms. Hone also did biographies of astrologers, of which we will eventually include on this site, or perhaps on some other online biographical resource for astrologers, such as Donna Cunningham’s Astrologers’ Memorial website

Here is one that Ms. Hone did for her good friend Charles:

1887. Charles E. O. Carter, B.A. (London), D.F.Astrol.S.
Born Dorset, England. He graduated at London University and was called to the English Bar in 1913. After his return from four years of service in the first war (1914-18) he helped to carry on the work begun by Alan Leo in the Astrological Lodge of London (Lodge of the Theosophical Society). He became President in 1922 and still holds that office. He has made this Lodge the main centre for astrological lectures in England and a training ground for many astrologers. He has edited its quarterly magazine Astrology since its first appearance in 1926, and has corresponded with astrologers all over the world. In 1948, the Lodge sponsored the founding of the Faculty of Astrological Studies, a teaching and examining body in London, electing him as its first Principal. On his retirement in 1954, he was given the title of Principal Emeritus.

His many scholarly books continue to reflect deep thought and careful research on astrology and their use by students in all countries has raised the status of astrology. It is fitting that this history should close with the name of one who is worthy to be ranked amongst the finest exponents of the art.

Margaret Hone’s book The Modern Text Book of Astrology was adopted as the official text-book for the use of students of the Faculty of Astrological Studies. From this, she went on to construct the three graded Course for External Studies, and then to write Applied Astrology.

Margaret Hone’s book also presented her opinions on the duty of an astrologer. She valued research, sober thinking and methods, confidentiality, and a strict avoidance of predictions, echoed in later years by astrological writers, such as Noel Tyl in his 12 volume series, The Principles and Practice of Astrology, published by Carl Llewellyn in the early 1970s. Here now is Ms. Hone’s charge to us all, entitled:

Chapter 19

THE DUTY OF AN ASTROLOGER

To Astrology

To add to all existing proof of actual correlation of cosmic action with human life, by all means in his power.

To avoid woolly-thinking and wishful-thinking at all costs.

To interpret the significance of what he has charted in the light of the actual nature of planetary action, all other considerations being secondary.

To avoid all attempt to “score hits” or to indulge in guess-work; and to interpret with reserve rather than to go too far.

To check and re-check his work, getting all possible corroboration from another astrologer for publicised charts.

To fit himself for serious work as soon as possible, since the responsibility undertaken, and the growing ability to compare many charts, are the two finest ways of adding to his store of knowledge, from which he can give his experience in his own subsequent writing and lecturing.

To His Clients

(The word “clients” is deliberately used in order to overcome earlier notions that “one should not take money for astrological work.” The old adage that “A workman is worthy of his hire” is applicable to the astrologer, as to all other workers. The public, accustomed to the facile Sun-sign interpretations of the popular press, has no idea of the hours of work which go to the preparation of a full astrological reading with progressions for some years ahead, and is only recently realising that a suitable price must be charged for this.)

His duty then is:-

To work in the spirit engendered in such professions as the medical and legal, so that he may help his own profession attain to the status of these, thus bringing to the client that confidence in him which should be given to any professional man.

To keep the confidences of the client absolutely undisclosed, as are those given in connection with other professions. (This does not mean that interesting or informative charts should never be shown or quoted, but that permission must always be obtained first.)

To refuse completely to be drawn into foretelling anything which may be inadvisable to discuss. (One constant refusal must be to state when a death may occur. A non-astrological client is often very annoyed with such a refusal, since he thinks that a “horoscope,” which “begins” at birth, must “end” at death. The expression “your” horoscope has been used so freely that he does not realise that it is not “his” at all, but is a snapshot of a fleeting moment of time, with the development of which his life has continued to correlate. The chart shows only the trends and predispositions which are likely to produce events. Death may be the result of application of the principle of suddenness (Uranus) or of a hurtful force which the body cannot stand (Mars), or it may be a gentle dissolution (Neptune) or a happy release (Jupiter). The working of such principles may result in death under certain physical circumstances, but at NO time is this certain.)

To avoid all sensationalism and to endeavour to help the client through all difficulties by a constructive interpretation rather than a merely factual one.

To give a time when the written report may be expected and to endeavour to stick to it, advising the client if the delay is unavoidable.

To Himself

To force himself to be thorough and accurate and conservative in all work, so that he builds up a reputation for trustworthiness rather than cleverness.

To refuse to undertake work when already over-booked. Good work cannot be done in a hurry.

To work and practise unceasingly, since there is no other way by which experience can be gained.

Ms. Hone also contemplated and wrote about the intersection of astrology and psychology, another important aspect of astrology that has been conspicuously coopted by the “New Age”. In her book, she gives an overview, and her original thinking in this area as well:

Chapter 18

THE USE OF MODERN PSYCHOLOGY IN MODERN ASTROLOGY

Whatever is born or done this moment in time, has the qualities of this moment in time.

~ Carl G. Jung

Old-time astrology was mainly connected with the events in the world and in the lives of people and with a classification of people into types, according to the nature of the signs, modified according to aspects. This was the first systematisied scheme of psychological assessment of the person.

As with astronomy and medicine, so also psychology has in modern times undergone a special development. This science, in its modern meaning, comprises a study of human behaviour, and, in its medical aspects, of mental derangement and its far-reaching effects, together with the classification of individuals from the psychiatrical point of view.

Depth Psychology

This is further development which is more in line with astrological work. Those who have written about it have given the world a new vocabulary which is most helpful to the astrologer.

In the early years of this century, astrological development in England was mainly through workers connected with the Theosophical Society. No praise can be too high for this, since it kept pure astrology to a high ethical level sharply differentiating it from the merely commercial. The study of it on these lines was spread through the world by the wide ramifications of the Society.

Unfortunately, the deeper the understanding of the human being in the light of eastern religions, meant constant use of the phraseology of those religions, excellent to those familiar with it, but meaningless to others. The man-in-the-street of the latter half of the century has been familiarised with psychological terms through the press and the cinema, and the modern astrologer might with advantage re-phrase his age-old truths accordingly.

Of the great names which stand out in the history of the growth of psychology, that of Freud comes first to mind. After him came Adler, and lastly came C.G. Jung, whose “analytical” psychology correlates more closely with the work of astrology than do the ideas of his predecessors. Believing in astrology himself, and having those on his staff who are experts in it, he is accustomed to the realisation that he can get help in difficult cases under his care from astrological aid. The average psychologist in England is more conservative. Not being of the calibre of a free investigator like Ju