The planet was first discovered by Sir William
Herschel, a Hanoverian musician who came to England
and pursued astronomy eagerly in his spare time
assisted by his sister, who merits respectful remem-
brance as being the first woman to win a name in science.

In compliment to the King the new planet was
named Georgium Sidus, or the Georgian Star, and it
was also called after its discoverer, and, indeed, some-
times still is. But the name Uranus has prevailed.

Uranus is the Latin form of the Greek word Ouranos,
which means the sky or heavens. It is a cognate of the
Sanskrit Varuna, one of the ancient Vedic gods of the
sky, and it is also said to be related to the Old English
word waer, or water. In Greek poetry the gods are
often called "Uranian," meaning simply "dwellers in
the heavens" or "celestials."

It is often said that the absurdity of astrologers is
manifest in the way in which they claim that the names
of the three "modern" planets - if one may for con-
venience call them so - have a real relation to their
qualities. For, it is said, these names are arbitrarily
chosen by people who have no astrological interests and
merely select whatever name seems to them to be
convenient. It is contended that  except for mere
chance, Neptune might as well have been named Pluto,
Pluto Uranus, and so on. The astrologer, with deeper
knowledge, denies that these choices were made
fortuitously, although he will of course admit that
the persons who chose them believed that they acted
without any guidance, either from within or otherwise.
We contend that there is a racial guidance, or over-
soul, that acts through our subconscious faculties and
causes such selections to be made in accordance with
a real fitness in things. We do not pretend that we
understand how this influence works, and, for myself,
should say that it is on the instinctual level only;
but we do contend, from our experience, that there is
such a directive power and that it usually operates with
a strange appropriateness.

The discovery of Uranus certainly revolutionized
many things, and, amongst others, it destroyed the
apparent harmony of the astrological scheme, by which
the Sun and Moon ruled a sign each, and there were
five planets, each ruling a positive and a negative
sign-these seven, a sacred number, and no more.
It was even declared that the appearance of a new-
comer had overthrown the whole astrological conten-
tion. It is true that it dealt a blow to it, for it is the
nature of Uranus to render obsolete old conceptions;
but it replaces them with fresh and wider ideas, and
astrology has no more been destroyed by the discovery
of the new planets than chemistry is destroyed by the
discovery of a fresh element. Yet we may admit that
ancient harmony of sign-rulership is half-regretted
by us and that ever since 1781 students have been
trying, incessantly but without much success, to
replace it with a new conception that will allot their
proper rulerships to Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto.

The fact is that the absolute harmony of the Spiritual
is never perfectly reproduced in the actual world of
precipitated existences; and whilst there must ideally
be twelve signs and twelve rulers of them, it does not
follow that this condition has been exactly reproduced
in our solar system, or in any other particular system.

The year 1781 is a long time ago now, and the fact
that we have not really agreed, or even got anywhere
near agreement, as to the sign-rulerships of the new
planets, leads me to suppose that the ancient scheme
of seven rulers is still valid, and that Uranus and his
new-found brothers have certain affinities with the
signs, but do not actually rule any of them. If Uranus,
for example, actually rules Aquarius in the same
way that Mercury rules Gemini, we should not still be
at variance as to the fact, after one hundred and fifty
years or more. It would have been settled long ago.
It would have been found that people with the Sun
or Moon, as the case might be, in favourable application
to the planet would marry Aquarians, and that Uranus
in the 7th would have the same effect, and so forth.

As it is, the planet has been said to rule Leo, Scorpio,
and Aquarius, and possibly Gemini, with which it
certainly has points in common.

Similarly Neptune has been related to Cancer and
Pisces, and certainly has some affinity with Scorpio,
the sign of poison, whilst it has even been given
dominion, by some of our more venturesome students
over Libra and Capricorn. When there is so much
difference of opinion it seems likely that there is no
real rulership at all, but that we are all on the wrong
trail.

It has been found no easier to agree as to the Plu-
tonian rulership and, in my opinion, the same proba-
bility holds good. It is not a ruler in the old sense.

For example, Uranus has much in common with
Aries on the score of energy and self-reliance, but its
peculiar nervous composition is not Arietic. It resembles
Gemini mentally, but this sign lacks the Uranian will.
It has much in common with Leo, but cares little for
display, whilst Leo has nothing of the Uranian love
of the unconventional; Leo dons a top-hat and white
waistcoat as readily as Uranus flies to shorts and an
open shirt. Scorpio is often like Uranus, but the planet
is not so taciturn and repressed, being often sociable
and friendly among those it likes. On the other hand,
Uranus resembles Sagittarius in some ways, but is not
superficial and changeful of purpose. In mental breadth
Uranus is like Aquarius, but it is far more forceful than
this sign.

Thus, of the twelve signs there are no less than six
that recall Uranus to my mind, and I dare say there
will be some who even think that he rules one of the
others.

Uranus has certainly been described very differently
by different writers, of whom some have applied many
evil adjectives to him, such as malicious, vengeful,
wayward, stubborn, proud, jealous.

Others, with a turn of the so-called mystical, regard
him as an occultist, an adept possessing a marvelous
will-power by which he exercises extraordinary powers
over nature and man.

Others describe him as a sort of childish genius,
neurotic and untrustworthy, but not bad-hearted. In
an, ancient issue of M Oder11, Astrology there is a clever
sketch of the planets based on the supposition that a
needy youth writes to his friends and relations for a
little pecuniary help. I forget the details, but kindly
Aunt Luna sends a moderate amount, with a caution
to use it thriftily; Uncle Saturn rebukes his extrava-
gance but offers a position, not too well paid but with
some opportunity of ultimate. advancement, in his
office; and so forth. Uranus is represented by a friend
who dashes off a few incoherent lines about a wonderful
discovery he is on the point of making, and then adds
as an afterthought that "he hasn't the money-yes-
no-yes, he has," and encloses an unsigned cheque,
a postal order out of date, half a dozen foreign postage
stamps, and a few other odds and ends of currency.
I think this is an extremely good picturette of one
Uranian variety!

However, these three types all unite in regarding
Uranus as being very unusual, whereas, after all,
quite a number of people are born with the planet
rising and therefore he cannot always cause notable
eccentricity.

I prefer to stick to a classification that has become
habitual with me and to say that there are three kinds
of Uranian: the primitive, the ordinary or normal, and
the supernormal, with many intermediate shades.

Of the primitive Uranian one must freely admit that
the evil adjectives of Raphael and others are quite true.
He is very revengeful, very bad-tempered-being,
indeed, uncontrollably furious on occasion-and com-
pletely unreliable. Sometimes the malice and ill-temper,
which come with a prominent Mars, are absent, and
we merely get perversity and untrustworthiness; this
variation is not bad-natured, but is incapable of
common sense, wearies his friends with his incon-
sistencies and lack of reason, and is for ever ..going
off at a tangent," as we say, and leaving whatever
he was engaged upon, often just at a critical moment
when, by using ordinary reason,. he might have achieved
success. Perversity-that is a Uranian keyword.

This type will never admit its own folly, but will
try to justify even the silliest of its acts, so that sensible
people soon tire of its ways and write it down as a
hopeless ass, or something more lurid. lack of patience
is perhaps the other primary fault of the type, which
loves to act, think, and feel quickly and with intensity
and is irked beyond endurance by those who move
to a slow tempo.

Reposefulness, the practice of doing nothing on
occasion, and relaxation are difficult things for Uranus,
but he is usually the better for mastering these arts,
and from time to time putting them into practice.
By doing so he certainly becomes easier to live with.

Uranus, both primitive and advanced, often feels as
if he were but a vehicle for tremendous mental and
emotional forces that seem to carry him away with
them and cause him to do and say things almost
before he has realised that he is speaking or acting.
When his interests are aroused, his concentrative
powers are strong, and he will work without remission
until he has found the solution he is seeking or has
fallen asleep at his desk. The will-power is almost
always great, but in the primitive type it is fitful and
unsustained and is not controlled by reason. Self-will
is almost always present; the Uranian wants his own
way, at all costs, and hates inhibitions to such an
extent that even the temporary discomfort of a
crowded train or room seems to suffocate him; he is
often definitely claustrophobic, for the presence of
crowds seem to symbolise the crushing our of his o\own
individuality, which he prizes. In the same manner
he tends to be ultra-independent, preferring, in extreme
cases, suicide to submission or becoming dependent
on others. There is nothing. cringing or parasitic about
him and he is no schemer, or but a poor one, preferring
open action to subterfuge and violence to guile. He is
rarely financially dishonest.

He dislikes to appear weak or to show his feelings-
except the more independent and "manly" ones! When
ill, he hates consolation - a symptom well known in
homoeopathy. Pity irritates him and almost seems an
insult - he is not down yet, by a long chalk!

Uranians are usually well-pleased with themselves
without being actually conceited. But if they are
astrologers and know themselves to be Uranians, or
consider themselves entitled to be deemed as such,
they are often very satisfied about it. They may not
talk a lot, but it becomes obvious that they assume
as a matter beyond question that other astrologers
envy them and respect them as really "born under
Uranus." They feel called on to demonstrate their
Uranianity, if I may coin the word, by doing strange
and unexpected things, writing free-very free-verse,
and indulging in other pursuits that are in their eyes
the right thing for an Uranian to do. In fact, they set
up a sort of convention of unconventionality and derive
much inner content from reflecting that they are not
at all as other men, but are something remote and
splendid. "His soul was like a star and dwelt apart"-
yes, that was written about Shelley, and he had his
Sun conjunction Uranus; we Uranians are like that,
you know!

These psychological peculiarities demonstrate that
Uranus has much pride in his nature; when this has
been dissolved by rational self-analysis, and when he
has got into his head that men are naturally gregarious
and that there is nothing fine in ultra-independence,
but merely a rather childish vanity, he becomes a less
touchy and much pleasanter individual, as well as
a happier one. It may be a noble ambition to try to
excel others, but to seek merely to be different for the
sake of being different is nothing better than conceit.

Now let us consider the normal type of Uranian who
earns his living, keeps his temper (usually), and tries to
be a respectable citizen. I have known many of this
sort and have tried, here and there in my writings, to
remind my fellow-students that this variety does exist.

In a sense even the normal Uranian is abnormal,
in so far as he is usually interested in something unusual
or has some uncommon belief or pursuit. But very
often this is "quite a harmless-and possibly even a
very praiseworthy-affair. I can recall among my
acquaintances two or three whose chief peculiarity is
interest in universal philosophy and religion, which
cannot be called exactly a vice! Then there is one
who is a very keen wireless student, with powers quite
beyond the usual. There are two of three vegetarians
and a nudist-this last is the nearest that any of them
approach to wrongfulness, and, as a matter of fact, he
is a very respectable member of the sun-bathing
fraternity, and when "clothed and in his right mind"
is nothing more bizarre than a bank manager! It is
noteworthy that some of these people have no special
intellectual powers at all - it is well to mark this, for
there is a notion abroad that Uranus rising is always
intellectually gifted. It is also to be observed that they
are quite up to the average in general kindliness,
in fact one or two are extraordinarily "good sorts"-
it is well to mark this, too, because it is often believed
that Uranians are an aloof race, irritable and incompre-
hensible. There is this side to their nature, but I cannot
sufficiently affirm that one meets some very jolly
people with Uranus in the ascendant, though they are
forthright, outspoken, and rather tactless. This type is
rather reminiscent of Mars rising in Sagittarius, or
Jupiter rising in Scorpio. There is the Jovian jollity
and good-fellowship with the Scorpio depth, for there
is nothing superficial about Uranians.

These people are usually interested in human nature
and have a keen sense of humour, being fond of telling
anecdotes that throw light on the peculiarities of races
and individuals. The Uranian self-will often appears
as a certain tendency to be slapdash and careless about
details. In fact, Uranus is rarely a good plodder and
prefers to work in spurts-and then, if possible, only at
things in which he is interested.

This "normal" variety is usually very fond of the
open-air, of camping, walking tours, and all sorts of
free-and-easy recreation.

We now come to the supernormal Uranian associated
with rulership, government, and organisation, and we
find this type in positions of authority, often exercising
almost autocratic powers, in which the great volitional
vigour of the planet has full play. Signor Mussolini
may be taken as an example of this sort of Uranian.
There is nothing of the easy good-fellowship of the
second variety, and everything seems swallowed up in
the love of power and authority and in great concen-
tration of will upon certain objects. This kind is not
inherently bad or criminal, but it is ruthless and sticks
at nothing to get its ends, which are usually quite
impersonal and take no account of what individuals
may think or claim. It is drastic, sudden, dictatorial,
and almost inspired-though not necessarily from
above. There is much magnetism and the power to
sway multitudes by the sheer force of personality.
Uranus can be a dramatic orator and seems to know
just how to work on the emotions of crowds. We see
this both in Mussolini and in Hitler. The latter, in his
vegetarianism and simple personal life, is typically
Uranian, for the planet is no Sardanapalus.

In physique the planet often shows forth in a Martian
manner, one class being distinguishable by dark or
even black hair, with dark, shining eyes and a ruddy
complexion, with white and very even teeth, and red
lips. Exactly the same appearance is very frequently
possessed by Aries and Scorpio, showing that the
planets Mars and Uranus have much in common.

In contrast to this we often find a Saturn type of
Uranian who is inclined to be tall and rather spare in
build, much more nervous and more obviously energetic.

The health is usually good, apart from peculiarities
of the nervous system that occur frequently enough.
The characteristic irritability of the planet clearly
indicates one of the principles that should guide
Uranians who seek to improve their health, and that
is a careful avoidance of irritant comestibles, or, at
any rate, moderation in their use. Condiments such as
mustard or pepper, drinks such as tea and coffee, and
all very spiced substances, even very acid fruits-these
may not all be injurious, but it is likely that some of
them will be, and probably their ill effects will be most
obvious in respect of the nerves. Their own instinct
usually warns the Uranians against the use of meat
in excess. In my experience a "bland" diet, devoid of
over-heating or "strong" food, is best for them and
will often cure, not only actual maladies, but also
irritability of temper. There is very little danger that
this sort of living will make the Uranian phlegmatic,
for he can usually be relied upon for mental and
physical energy in abundance.

A homoeopathic remedy that has apparent affinity
with the type is nux vomica, a substance allied to
strychnine, the action of which, in excess, is convulsive,
so that the homoeopathic dose may be relied upon to
produce an exactly opposite effect, calming and
steadying the system. Dr. Boericke says: "The typical
Nux patient is rather thin, spare, quick, active, ner-
vous, and irritable," and "Nux always seems to be out
of tune-inharmonious spasmodic action." "He does
a good deal of mental work, has mental strain and leads
a sedentary life, found in prolonged office work, over-
study, and close application to business, with its cares
and anxieties." This sounds like many Uranians,
though we associate the planet with science, art, or
literature rather than with business.

In the field of sex our planet has a bad name. It is
not only regarded as the planet of divorce, and quite
correctly, but is also usually declared to be the cause
of those distressing and sometimes criminal aberrations
that modem science is inclined to attribute to the
irregular functioning of certain glands. We may leave
these topics to the medical specialist whose work it is
to investigate and alleviate them, merely agreeing that
Uranus does have an affinity with perversity in all its
forms, from the kind which manifests in the desire to
help one's enemies and take not the slightest trouble
to assist one's friends, to love all foreigners and decry
everything English, to that which manifests in sexual
confusion. On the other hand, it is entirely wrong to
suppose that such things must necessarily follow from
Uranian afflictions, eg. when Venus and the Sixth
house are involved, though admittedly one might
suspect such propensities in a map of that kind. It is
unfortunate that some writers make sweeping asser-
tions on subjects like this, without having gone to the
pains of really investigating them and discovering
something like a definite rule as to their indication.

But that Uranus is connected with divorce and
marital disharmony is not to be denied, seeing that the
fact is based on an essential feature of the planet, to
wit, its love of independence. Marriage is an inhibition,
even though it may be a very pleasant one; let the
Uranian once look upon it in this light and he is prone
to resent the state at once and look round for freedom.
If he is one of the more reasonable sons of the planet,
a little tact will preserve him from headlong acts of
folly, but if not, then his pet foible may ruin his
married life. It is certain that Uranus in the 7th house
is not a good sign where marriage is concerned; and if
it is badly afflicted the outlook is definitely the reverse.
Nor is Uranus in the 5th house good; it inclines to
affect the moral character adversely, should the map
in its entirety show weakness of that kind. It is
indeed obvious that a planet that hates restriction
must often be tempted to break the law, both human
and divine.

A fierce element of resentment often burns in the
Uranian breast, that is to say, if there is in the map
in general a propensity toward rebellion. Such people
are quick to quarrel with social order and to espouse
whatever may be the newest form of revolutionary
activity-socialism, communism, nihilism, or what
not. They are political and economic rebels, and they
are usually likewise in arms against all forms of estab-
lished religion, for religions usually forbid us to do
certain things, and Uranus dislikes interference from
without. He is not by nature particularly religious and
heartily rejects all forms and ceremonies, rituals and
ritualistic observances, although, of course, he is always
potentially a quick-change artist who will suddenly
outdo the ordinary ritualist at his own practices,
just as Annie Besant passed from secularism through
theosophy to the elaborate rites of Co-Masonry and
the Liberal Catholic Church I have indeed known
others with Sun in affliction with Uranus, as she had,
who are keen ritualists, but one is tempted to suppose
that this is in spite of their Uranian configurations,
and not because of them. Uranus is certainly interested
in religion and even fascinated by religious and philo-
sophical problems, but he is not a devotee; and is, as
a rule. addicted to the intellectual and active paths-
gnana-yoga and karma-yoga-rather than devotional.
Yet he IS much attracted to conceptions that
are grandiose and to phraseology that is high-sounding,
and one can easily understand why Annie Besant was
attracted to the vast, though confused, philosophy that
is unfolded in the Secret Doctrine.

Much of the psychological trouble to which Uranians
are prone is, in my opinion, due to the fact that they
have an exceedingly strong emotional nature which,
for some reason that appears to operate in almost all
of them, they prefer to try to ignore; indeed, sitting on
safety-valves seems to have a special fascination for
this perverse planet. They like to picture themselves as
adepts at self-mastery, with the "lower nature" in
complete. subjection to their own iron wills, and they
eventually suffer, in one form or another, for this
attempt to use suppression instead of sublimation.
There is, of course, a higher and a lower nature in
man, but this is not to say that either the one or the
other is evil; indeed, the so-called lower nature is very
good in its own place and way. Undoubtedly it is
powerful, and to talk proudly of "mastering" one's
emotions and passions is to throw down the gauntlet
to natural forces which can be very devastating if too
cavalierly treated.

It may be said that each of the planets is apt to
need some particular gift of mind or spirit. Mercury is
lacking in principle and character and considers others
too little. Venus is often too dainty and averse to
facing unpleasant tasks. Mars is weak in the concili-
atory aspect of life and makes enemies. Jupiter is
extravagant and lacking in restraint. Saturn is too
matter-of-fact and misses the joy and beauty of
things. Neptune has the exact opposite tendency and
forgets the actual in the pursuit of fancies and imagin-
ings. Uranus, too, needs Saturn, inasmuch as with
much practical ability in certain directions and plenty
of self-control when he himself is electing to apply it,
he overlooks the social or gregarious aspect of human
life. and the very actual dependence of human beings
each upon the other. Saturn, through Aquarius, pre-
sents this fact to our consciousness, and Saturn, by
its strong sense of fact and actuality, can also correct
the waywardness of Uranus, if anything can, driving
home the lesson that common sense is none the less
valuable because it has a homely ring and is not one
of the pretentious virtues. Certainly the primitive
Uranian is a difficult horse to control, and the native
himself, if he sets himself to the task, will have a long
and perhaps a lonely journey to travel, with plenty of
adventures on the way.

However, there are compensations in all things and
Uranus, like the other planets, brings his own gifts to
those born beneath his sway.