But if the Moon’s Nodes have any symbolical meaning and can be used for purposes of prediction, so surely should the Nodes of the other planets, whose influence, gravitation excepted, is quite as great as hers. It is at all events just as well that we should have them under observation, and so I give them here. NODES OF THE PLANETS FOR 1900, WITH THEIR MEAN MOTIONS FOR ONE CENTURY. Ascending Descending Motion Neptune Leo 9° 43´ Aquarius 9° 43´ 1° 6´ Uranus Gemini 13 17 Sagittary 13 17 26 Saturn Cancer 22 5 Capricorn 22 5 53 Jupiter Cancer 9 24 Capricorn 9 24 1 0 Mars Taurus 18 2 Scorpio 18 2 46 Venus Gemini 15 44 Sagittary 15 44 52 Mercury Taurus 17 9 Scorpio 17 9 1 12 The Moon’s Node retrogresses through the entire zodiac in 18 years 225 days, which is at the rate of 19° 20´ per annum, and about 3´ per day. The Nodes of all the other bodies are direct in motion. Out of this same lumber-room I can bring another piece of neglected furniture, which possibly may suit somebody’s convenience, for some men build shanties out of old timber and others build theories out of anything. Mr. William Lilly, whose patrons were King Charles and the Great Reformer, Sir Elias Ashmole, and others of great fame, gave us the secret of one of his most alarming and successful predictions. Not that these latter are intended to alarm, but to forewarn and admonish. He says that his prophecy of the Great Plague and the Fire of London, 1665-6, was effected by means of the Aphelion of the planet Mars, which he noticed was due to ingress to the sign Virgo, that ruling the monarchy of England in his day, about that time. Astronomy was not a neat science in the time of Lilly, and he wisely refrained from giving a date for the fulfilling of his Prophetic Hieroglyphs, but he published them so well in advance of the double event as to secure himself against a possible margin of error in the calculations. In a preceding chapter the reader will find the calculation referred to. In effect Master Lilly was called before the Committee of the House of Parliament and there interrogated as to the founding of his prediction, and what light he could throw upon the matter. It is reported that he acquitted himself creditably and was thanked for his services. But mark you, Lilly said nothing about the Horoscope of the Monarchy nor the Aphelion of Mars, because doubtless he knew himself to be in the presence of learned men who made laws and not horoscopes, and whose business it was to prevent plagues and fires, not to predict them. But to the student of astrology he has very candidly delivered his whole mind on the matter.