Edgar Allan Poe – Profections and Parallels

Edgar Allan Poe was born on Thursday 19 January 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts. Astrodienst lists his birth time as 01:00am, a rectified time with a ‘C’ Rodden Rating. Numerous astrologers have tried to figure out exactly what time he was born. There are at least five different birth times listed in the source notes of his Astro-Databank entry. Even his time of death has conflicting sources.

Considering the Hellenistic technique of Annual Profections, Poe’s rectified Scorpio ascendant makes sense. This technique “activates” a particular house and it’s respective themes starting on each birthday. His second birthday, which activated his 3rd whole sign house in Capricorn, emphasized his Saturn – the traditional ruler of the sign – as well as his Sun (often represents the father) and Mercury, both in Capricorn. At this age Poe’s father disappeared.

When Poe was four years old – a 5th house profection year – his mother died. During this year, his Pisces stellium was activated. This includes his Moon and the dwarf planet Ceres – both of which represent the mother. Poe’s Moon is conjunct Pluto, Lord of the Underworld.

5th house profection years activated Poe’s Pisces stellium again at ages 16 – when he was “secretly engaged to Sarah Elmira Royster“, age 28, and finally at age 40, when he died. The details surrounding his death are shrouded in mystery, which seems oddly fitting for a Scorpio rising with Uranus in the 1st trine to Pluto. His cause of death was speculated to be everything from delirium tremens to rabies.

Sagittarius and Pisces are traditionally ruled by Jupiter. I don’t usually consider modern rulerships but, Neptune – the modern ruler of Pisces, in Poe’s chart is in Sagittarius and highlighted by a very close parallel to Pluto in Pisces. This conjunction by declination unites Neptune to Pisces through Pluto, which is also conjunct Jupiter by longitude. In Kt Boehrer’s book Declination she states that, “the parallel is the strongest of all aspects” and, “is of the nature of a longitudinal conjunction”.

Neptunian and Plutonian themes certainly seem to be exceptionally prevalent in Poe’s life. He was an author of the macabre who was as deeply emotional and creative as he was troubled, obsessed with death, and addicted to alcohol. These influences are seen in his life’s work as well as his death and posthumous reputation.

The rectified birth time of 01:00am places the vast majority of Poe’s planets underground in the subjective realm of the chart. This also makes sense for someone with such a vivid inner life. We may never know the exact details of Edgar Allan Poe’s birth or death, but it is still fascinating to see how one parallel and a rectified birth time can illuminate so much about such a mysterious person.

Sources:

Edgar Allan Poe natal chart on Astrodienst https://www.astro.com/astro-databank/Poe,_Edgar_Allan

Edgar Allan Poe’s chart details including declinations https://www.astro.com/tmpd/cxfnfileua8pAP-u1558619635/astro_2atw_edgar_allan_poe.66486.217353.pdf

NNDB’s Edgar Allan Poe biography page https://www.nndb.com/people/469/000022403/

“Poe’s Works and Timeline” from The Poe Museum https://www.poemuseum.org/poes-works-and-timeline

Wiki biography of Poe https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Allan_Poe

Wiki article on Poe’s death https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Edgar_Allan_Poe

Wiki biography of Poe’s childhood sweetheart Sarah Elmira Royster https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Elmira_Royster

“Edgar Allan Poe natal chart Jan 19, 1809” by Jude Cowell on Stars Over Washington https://www.starsoverwashington.com/2009/08/edgar-allan-poe-natal-chart-jan-19-1809.html

“Scorpio Riser Edgar Allan Poe marks 200th Birthday (Pluto magnified in Pisces Stellium)” by Synthia L. Rose on Scorpioland http://scorpioland.org/scorpio-riser-edgar-allan-poe-marks-200th-birthday-pluto-magnified-in-pisces-stellium/

The Astrology Podcast Episode #153 “Annual Profections: A Basic Time-Lord Technique” by Chris Brennan  http://theastrologypodcast.com/2018/04/26/annual-profections-a-basic-time-lord-technique/

“Declination: The Other Dimension” by Kt Boehrer