Perhaps the greatest source of confusion in trading wheat

astrologically arises from the search for the correct natal chart for
wheat. At least six separate dates have been proposed. We will discuss
the ten most likely candidates for the "real" wheat chart.

In this study, it was assumed that Chicago is located at 87 W 39, 41 N

52. The Koch system of houses was used since it is favored by both
Bill Foster and Judy John. Wheat prices since 1259 were used to
generate a list of MAJOR tops and bottoms for these tests.

In "Astro-Cycles & Speculative Markets", L. J. Jensen states that the

Liverpool Grain Exchange was opened on August 28, 1201 Old Style. The
chart found on page 51 of his books contains an Ascendant of 18
Scorpio 12 and a Midheaven of 8 Virgo. A birth time of 11:45 am LMT
will generate the Ascendant and Midheaven of Jensen's chart.

Many of the planets contained in Jensen's 1201 chart are not in their
correct locations. I have generated a correct chart for this date. In
the correct chart, you will find natal Jupiter (Sag), Neptune
(Pisces), Chiron (Taurus), and the Ascendant (Scorpio) all at 18
degrees. In addition, natal Mercury (Leo), Venus (Libra), and Saturn
(Pisces) generate a Yod at 28 degrees. Therefore, 18 degrees and 28
degrees would appear to be "hot spots" in the chart.

Since America was a former British Colony, George Bayer felt that the
US grain markets were related to the English grain markets. Therefore,
Bayer used a date of January 2, 1587 Anni Veteris as the birthdate for
his wheat chart. On this date the Book of Orders was issued in London
which described the rules and regulations for trading wheat. The Book
of Orders was issued at 5:31 am Local Time (according to Bayer).

Since England did not adopt the Gregorian Calendar until 1752, the old
Anni Veteris (Julian) calendar must be used. In the Gregorian
calendar, October 4, 1582 (Thursday) was followed by October 15, 1582
(Friday).

The natal chart of 1587 has an Ascendant of 17 Sag 24 ("Turning 400

Years of Astrology to Practical Use", pp 126-129) or 19 Sag 13 ("A
Complete Course in Astrology", pg 31). Since the "Complete Course" was
written in 1937 and "Turning 400 Years" was written in 1943, we will
assume that the data in the newer book is more correct. George Bayer
described in calculations of the 1587 wheat chart on page 126 of
"Turning 400 Years".

George Bayer stated that he calculated and tested many Ascendants

before he selected an Ascendant of 17 Sag 24. He found that wheat
changed direction whenever transiting Venus made aspects to either 17
deg 24 or 2 deg 24 of a sign. [Note that Bayer is using all aspects
which are multiples of 15 degrees.] Therefore, he selected the time to
fit the facts instead of calculating a chart for the actual moment the
Book of Orders was signed.

George Bayer did NOT merely calculate a chart for the moment of birth.
He CORRECTED the horoscope by shifting the location of the natal
planets forward and backward (pp 115-126). Therefore, one can not
reproduce his natal chart by merely casting a horoscope for the date
and time he mentioned.

I do not feel that a true horoscope should be "corrected". I feel that

much of the complexity which George Bayer added to the wheat horoscope
was an attempt to find something which worked. Bayer did not have a
computer to calculate daily planetary positions. He also did not have
information on outer planets.

On March 13, 1848, a group of men met at 3:00 pm in order to "take the
initiatory steps in regard to the formation of the Chicago Board of
Trade". This meeting is discussed in Taylor's history of the CBOT
(page 136). A constitution was adopted, and a committee was appointed
to draw up a set of by-laws. We do not know the actual time the vote
was taken.

I have found this date mentioned on charts in Gann's own handwriting.

If we use a time of 3:00 pm LMT, the Ascendant is at 18 Leo 23 and the
Midheaven is at 9 Taurus 0. The Ascendant of this 1848 chart is
square the Ascendant of the Liverpool Grain Exchange chart. There is a
definite linkage between the two charts.

In "Turning 400 Years" (pg 125), George Bayer stated that the Chicago
Grain Exchange opened on February 18, 1859. He felt that this chart
did not work and should not be used. In studying Bayer and Gann I have
discovered two important "rules". Rule #1: "Bayer often lies when he
sounds like he is telling the truth". Rule #2: "Gann often tells the
truth when he sounds like he is lying". Anyone who has REALLY decoded
"Stock and Commodity Traders' Handbook of Trend Determination" will
know what I am talking about.

In a letter to Mr. John H. Spohn, Gann stated that the second

incorporation of the CBOT occurred on February 18, 1859. Gann
suggested that a time of 9:30 am LMT (9:20:32 am CST) be used as a
birthtime. Gann did not sound confident of the time. However, he felt
an Ascendant of 5 Taurus was valid. The chart has a Midheaven of 18
Cap 59. We again find 18 degrees to be important in the chart. In
addition, we find that Gann values 5 degrees. [Note: Pluto is at 5
Taurus 47 on that date. Gann had probably noticed its effect and
shifted the Ascendant to match that degree.]

In "Astro-Cycles & Speculative Markets", L. J. Jensen stated that the

Chicago Board of Trade was opened on February 18, 1859 at 11:10 am
True Local Time. The chart (page 53) contains an Ascendant of 9 Gemini
20 and a Midheaven of 14 Aquarius.

In definance of Bayer's instructions, I tested a birthdate of February

18, 1859. I decided to use a birthtime of 10:30 am CST (10:21 am LMT)
for the tests. Further rectification led me to believe that the
correct birthtime was 10:29 am CST (although LMT was still in effect).
This chart has the Midheaven and Pluto at 5 degrees. The Ascendant,
Sun, Uranus, and the North Node are at 28-29 degrees. Chiron is at 18
Aquarius 25. In addition, the 1859 natal Chiron is square the
Ascendant and natal Chiron of the Liverpool chart. Thus the Liverpool
chart and the 1859 chart are "linked" by points at 18 degrees and
28-29 degrees. The 1859 chart has the three required "hot spots" -- 5
degrees, 18 degrees, and 28-29 degrees. I have found VERY OLD Latin
astrology texts which state that wheat is "ruled" by Pluto. Therefore,
Pluto in Taurus and square the Midheaven seems appropriate.

Jim Hyerczyk studied the 1985 "Statistical Annual" of the CBOT. A

table in that book stated that both wheat and corn began trading on
January 2, 1877. This information was plainly contradicted by earlier
editions of the "Statistical Annual". The 1877 chart has Mercury at 28
Cap and Transpluto at 28 Gemini. No planets are at either 5 degrees
or 18 degrees. This chart does not "link" to the Liverpool chart.
Initial tests indicated that this chart does not reflect changes in
wheat prices. This chart demonstrates how careful one must be in
researching birth data.

A history of Chicago stated that the city adopted Central Standard

Time by moving the clock backward by 9 minutes 33 seconds on November
18, 1883.

The final candiate for the wheat chart is May 1, 1884 at 10:32 am CST.
This date has been suggested by both Ruth Miller and Carol Mull. This
is supposed to be the first recorded date for trading wheat on the
CBOT. After reading Taylor's history of the CBOT, I am at a loss to
determine where this date came from. Taylor stated that "even in the
first years of the board's existance there was evidence that sales
were made for future delivery". During the third annual meeting of the
CBOT (April 7, 1851), it was provided that "all transactions between
members be recorded, and that a record should be kept of the
attendance at the daily meetings". The Great Chicago Fire of 1871
destroyed almost all the records of the CBOT.

During April 1885, the CBOT committee decided to rent seats and
preside at meetings for trading purposes. Every sale was to vacate a
previous bid or offer. The standard units would be 5,000 bushels of
grain, 250 tierces of lard, 250 barrels of pork, or 50,000 pounds of
meants. It was arranged that the call of wheat would begin at 11 am.
The actual first call for wheat occurred on or after April 30, 1885.
This date appears to be ALMOST EXACTLY ONE YEAR after the date
suggested by Carol Mull, etc.

The 1884 chart has the Ascendant at 5 Leo and the Midheaven at 22
Aries. Neptune is at 20 Leo. The Point of Fortune is at 28 Libra. Only
the East Point is at 18 degrees (Cancer). If the time of this chart is
shifted slightly, only Neptune connects to the Liverpool chart. The
"links" in this chart appear to be coincidence, not reality.

Therefore, the Liverpool chart (1201) appears to be the "father" of

the CBOT (1859) chart. I have often noticed that TRUE charts related
to a commodity seem to have definite "links" if they are correct. As I
have often stated "TRUTH IS TRUTH". The Liverpool chart and the 1859
CBOT chart are so tightly linked that you could use either one for
trading. However, the 1859 CBOT chart is better for CBOT wheat.
We have now rectified the DATE, but not the time. We have also found
three "hot spots" -- 5 degrees, 18 degrees, and 28-29 degrees.

The "hot spot" at 28-29 degrees brings up the topic of COINCIDENCE.

People may notice that "wheat turns during a planetary ingress". That
is NOT strictly true. Wheat turns because of a hit to its natal chart.
The Ascendant, Vertex, Sun, Mercury, Uranus, and North Node are all
hit "during a planetary ingress". However, the ACTUAL turn occurs when
the transiting planet hits the "hot spot", NOT zero degrees of a sign.
The natal chart is TRUTH; the planetary ingress is COINCIDENCE. This
is one reason why planetary ingresses seem to work on some stocks or
commodities, but do NOT work on others. The ingress is NOT the force
which is changing prices. If ingresses changed a market, then ALL
commodities or stocks should turn during an ingress. We all know that
does not happen.

Bonnie Lee Hill