posted November 11, 2002 08:18 PM         

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I'm not sure what the textbook definition of a quest is, I guess I've never looked it up.
In my mind a quest is defined by two principle things: A goal and the quester(s). More than just the quester however, is how the pursuit of the goal changes the one pursuing it from the man he was before the quest, into the man he is after the quest. It doesn't have to be a dramatic change either, maybe a lesson learned or a new found perspective. Sometimes, it's just the wisdom gained during the course of the questing that helps to redefine the man as much as it defines the quest itself.
In any event, by my definition, my search for Professor A.F. Seward "The World's Foremost Astrologer" has become more than a search. It has taken on the status of quest.
Let me briefly recap what I HAVE learned about this amazing man.
During his lifetime Alfred F.(erdinand?) Seward travelled the globe in search of the earliest recorded information about astrology. His travels led him to the Himalayan mountain range where he encountered monks who had preserved what he believed were the oldest known scrolls recording astrological knowledge.
Whether before or after this I'm not sure, but in 1915 Professor Seward wrote a book which he called The Zodiac and Its Mysteries. He published it himself and priced it at $1. He wrote several other books.
He had 3 offices across the United States. These were located in Chicago, Atlantic City and Los Angeles.
He appeared on the radio programs in the late 20's and early 30's on the same radio stations as such notables as "The Shadow" and Harry Houdini and was in fact a HUGE celebrity of his time.
He made recordings of sun sign information for Victor Records in 1932.
He was either named for, or IS a famous Scottish Seer of the late 19th century.
He had an Astrology Center in Atlantic City, one of the most popular attractions on the boardwalk.
I think what I've learned the BEST about Professor Seward is this:
He LOVED what he did, and although he no doubt profited handsomely from his work, I honestly don't get the feeling that it was the money that motivated him to action. Professor Seward, I believe, wanted to help people, and he felt that this end would best be served by promoting astrology and helping it to achieve the status of a mainstream science. He, I believe, wanted EVERYONE to know what he knew, and these are not the actions of a profiteer.
As I said before, many of my beliefs have been redefined since I began this quest. I have learned that mass appeal and worldwide fame DO NOT assure anything even remotely resembling immortality and in fact, even the most successful of us will one day be all but forgotten.
For all of his success and celebrity, one has but to search in vain for something as simple as a piece of biographical data on Professor Seward to learn that he has all but vanished from the face of the planet.
I have learned that truth, in and of itself, is NOT enough to ensure posterity's acceptance. Without disparaging those who are patiently doing their part to keep the ancient arts of astrology alive, I have to say that I believe more damage has been done by focusing on astrology's weak suit: probability projection in the form of horoscopes (not that the science isn't still compelling in that area) than would have been done had modern day astrologers instead stuck with presenting sun sign information to the masses as a tool that the common man could use in his daily life to help him in understanding himself and the people around him. This, I feel, is astrology's strong suit, at least as far as the general public goes.(I would highly recommend the book LOVE SIGNS as a perfect example of how compellingly accurate sun sign information can be, and how highly palatable it can be made to the astrologically uninitiated.)
Professor Seward seemed to know this and it was for this reason that the books he wrote and made available involved tried and true data that was less subject to interpretation, the whims of chance and/or the ever unpredictable actions of free spirits exercising free will. To be sure, Professor Seward himself provided horoscopes to the masses, but as he cautioned in his book, The Zodiac and Its Mysteries, canned horoscopes are far from reliable and an accurate horoscope was a very personalized thing.
However, what is done is done and we can only hope to undo the damage that has been done to the general public's perception of this ancient science of cause and effect observation. We can do this by providing people with astrology at its best and literally "blowing their minds" consistently with the irrefutable truths that have been known for millenia.
As for me, I must continue on my quest, for quest it is, and what type of man will come out on the other side of this quest, I cannot say for sure except to say, "a better man" and leave it at that.
I will continue to do my part to revive Professor Seward's dream one person at a "mind blowing" time, and as I do so, I will continue to pursue his story as well. I have to. I have a debt to repay, and each person introduced to the great truths of astrology is like a check made out to
A.F. Seward and Co. not Inc, 3620 Fremont Street(formerly Rokeby St.) Chicago Illinois.

Roger Dafremen
dafremen@hotmail.com
P.S. Does anyone have any information on one Professor A.F. Seward "The World's Foremost Astrologer"?

posted November 11, 2002 09:14 PM         

Linda's most profound way of presenting information is beyond my mere scope of expression. Her ability to speak as though to each one of us in her written words was an amazing talent and insight.

She is sadly missed by all of us.

It's funny you should bring up Professor Seward. I have his book, the original and just yesterday I was perusing my books and saw it and looked through it. It has been years since I looked at it. Near the end of the book are two coupons remaining of three. They are for an astrological forecast and at the bottom of each coupon it says--"This coupon is never out of date--send it in at any time."

Donna

posted November 12, 2002 07:34 PM         

Linda is still my inspiration, and Love Signs one of my "bibles." I'm a pantheist with a twist, maybe someday I'll go into it if anyone's interested.(Pardon me for giving up all of the mystery in one post, but like I said, I'm rarely at a loss for words. Yesterday was one of those few occasions.)

I'd like to leave a few more self aggrandizing bits of fluff behind if it's not an imposition. First a poem written one morning when I saw the missus. (Inspired by some of the excerpts from Venus Trines at Midnight.) Secondly something I wrote after overindulging in Kilahl Gibran who I discovered only after reading mention of his name in Ms. Goodman's book(Oh dear, I'm sure I've completely messed up the spelling on that name Kilail? Gilbran? Oh nevermind.)

Libra's Moon
R. Dafremen

Where is the Sun?
Ah, but that is easy, he is in Libra
And the Moon?
She lies curved, and silvery in the sky at twilight
Next to me at the dawn, as I awaken
Brighter than the stars
Yet not so bright as the Sun, which burns my face
Not so cool as the stars, to leave me chilled at night
But a smooth, round face, which dazzles my eyes
Tugs at my body, my soul
And sets my heart to wandering
Dancing through the evening sky.

Notions of a Fool

"It is said that no man is an island unto himself, but truly do I believe that all men are but islands to themselves that tremble in being washed away by the very sea that binds them. Only in our undoing are we finally completed, only in our final dissolution can we know the strength of a greater unity. Many reach out from isolation, but none escape its confines. Humanity's incomparable joys are paid for with the inescapable sadness of its solitude.

It is said that behind every great man there is a great woman, but truly do I believe that behind every great human, there is great fortuitousness, and that this partner of whom it is spoken stands as a single example. Numerous are the great men who have come and gone without ever having seen greatness. Without end are the stories of those who have known them, felt their brothers' potential for success, but who have shaken their heads at the lack of circumstance which led to these great ones having passed in anonymity. Truly it is not for the man alone to choose his greatness, but for greatness also to choose the man.

It is said that love will find a way, but truly do I believe that love knows not the way or the path, only the moments of its own passing. Love knows not its purpose or its plan, only its results be they pleasure or pain, and then only having passed blindly on its way. Love is not now, nor has it ever been a guide. Love is a beggar's kiss, sincere in its gratitude for having its needs attended, or simply flattering enough to disguise a robber's blow. Love is neither a means nor an end, it is neither a cancer nor is it the cure. Love simply is, and as such may serve as a lesson, or none at all, for such is a lover's gamble.

It is said that he who speaks excessively is not at peace with his own thoughts, but truly do I believe that many who speak without end do but justice to their existence, insomuch as while in their thoughts they may seem uneasy, in their actions they are not. It is by action alone that any but the individual may know the nature of one's inner peace. Speak then what you think, for your thoughts are the thoughts of the world around you, its children who would not be left to die that you might hold your tongue for fear of being judged. Speak freely, for your voices are those of the earth beneath your feet, of the very air you have breathed since the moment of your birth. These ask not to be silenced by human vanity passing as wisdom. Would that the unspoken thought could cry out its longing to be free, or that the spoken thought could sing upon its joyous liberation from the depths of an unfettered mind. Would that the unknown thought could plead its case for being known. Would that the silent counsel of but one mind could find its place as the cure for that which ails the many, or that the absurd notions of a fool might stand as gentle reminders to those would-be fools that might otherwise follow."
- R. Dafremen

posted November 16, 2002 12:00 PM         

http://lovestarz.com/goddess.html

You said: "We can do this by providing people with astrology at its best and literally 'blowing their minds' consistently with the irrefutable truths that have been known for millenia." Well, that's what I do Here is some more of my work:

http://lovestarz.com/cosmos.html

Is it mind blowing? More than Seward's work, I believe, yet maybe his work was mind-blowing in his day, yet from my study of it, it was not, it was just more technical astrology, which is not bad, it's just technical.

Yet Voltaire said that to the living, we owe respect, yet to the dead, all we owe is the truth. So any discussion to get to the truth about Seward is good and necessary, as we are having here. I know he was a world traveler and good astrologer, yet why would he say that he is the greatest astrologer of all time? Even if he was, was he that vain, or at least not at peace with his own thoughts? I am more interested in understanding why I should prefer his work over someone like, say Lewi, or Janksy, or Walter Coleman, or Linda Goodman, not to even mention the great British astrologers of the day like Rudyhar, Hone, Carter, Leo, Leek, etc. Why? In my opinion, as far as I have seen, he was Just Another Decent Astrologer. I think you need to write a good biography of him, perhaps examine some factors in his birthchart, find information about him from his contemporaries, and complete an essay that is convincing that his contributions to the art and science of Astrology were based less in vanity, since that is the impression that he has left in some of us that actually remember him. You won't find many people here who have even heard of him. Here are some biographies I wrote, and while they are not complete, they lend some insight into the person themself:

http://lovestarz.com/biographies.html

The average student of astrology today will buy a book at the local store by a modern astrologer and be just as happy as others may have been with Seward's work in his day. Yet I think you need to restore the truth about this man, rather than just scan and host his body of work online, which while it is a great thing to do, is just more online astrology without an understanding of the speaker himself. I explain why I am convinced that Goddess-centered Astrology is the future, based on who I am, rather than just technical stuff, so perhaps I am the greatest astrologer of all time?

And after you complete this fabulous biography, which you have begun to flesh out in your posts here so far, you should send the link to Donna Cunningham, so she can link to it here:

http://solsticepoint.com/astrologersmemorial/

I believe that you owe this service both to Prof. Seward and to the world Give us the truth behind the speaker so we can put some faith in his words.