Because of the above information concerning immature births, I changed my approach to my subject somewhat. Infant deaths due to immaturity are largely a result of the inability of the mother to sustain the pregnancy any longer. Since I did not have enough data on the mothers to put together a meaningful research group concerning immature births, I have eliminated from the current project all cases in which both twins died. This group presents a possible area for further study (in any case where the infant is born alive, indications of the crisis which causes death will occur within the natal chart by progression or by transit; the research would be in the direction of determining these types of constants).

Turning then to the two remaining groups of twin births, those in which both twins survive and those in which one twin dies, various comparisons between the charts were made in the hope that differences would reveal themselves. To check the results against each -other, the data for surviving twins (the control group) were compared to the data for sets in which one twin died (the actual research group).

In preparing the charts of both research groups, the Koch house system was used. Each chart was calculated to within one minute of accuracy for the house cusps; the planets have also been corrected. (The original research was done before astrological computer programs were available.) For this portion of the research, aspects to the Ascendant and Mid- heaven were considered only to determine whether the aspect approached or separated from the exact degree. When a stationary planet has been noted, the exact day of the station has been determined.

Research Considerations

Nine considerations were made in order to determine what factors could distinguish the charts of live twins from sets in which one twin dies shortly after birth. Each of the above points was considered as a possible way to determine individual traits in natal charts.

Results

Dramatic differences occurred between the research group and the control group. Some of the typical astrological considerations did not appear to be significant in this particular study, while comparatively "minor" differences were more apparent. The following table lists the results.

In each group, sets of twins were born at a time during which the Ascendant changed signs between the births, and in the case of twins who survive, the Midheaven occasionally changed sign. In neither group did this occur more than 15 percent of the time. The average time between births is 10 to 12 minutes, placing 15 percent of births within the range of normal expectations-that is, in a random sample of charts set 10 to 12 minutes apart, between 1 and 15 percent would show a Midheaven or Ascendant sign change, or both.

In the data for intermediate house cusps and interceptions, changes occured in roughly 25 percent of the charts in both groups. While this is slightly higher than expected, it is not significant to this study, in that the data for both groups are basically the same.

Aspects to the Midheaven and Ascendant were examined in order to determine changes in the nature of the aspects. Did aspects change from approaching to separating between the charts? In the case of the Midheaven approximately one-half of the charts in each group showed changes - that is, in one-half of the cases at least one aspect to the Midheaven changed from approaching to separating, or vice versa. Because the change is roughly equal in both groups, this factor is not considered significant.

While the Midheaven aspect changes did not appear to be significant, the changes in aspects to the Ascendant are apparently significant. The percentages shifted enough between the groups to be noticeable - the control group remains at about 50 percent change while the research group jumps up to 76 percent. In three-fourths of the cases of charts where one twin dies, at least one aspect to the Ascendant changes from applying to separating, or vice versa.

A similar factor occurs in considering planets changing houses between charts. In the control group, about 15 percent of the charts show a planet changing house, while in the research group, changes occur in 76 percent of the charts. This difference is even more significant when one considers that the range between the groups is wide - 60 percent.

In the control group, half of the charts in which planets change houses are for cases in which the births occured at least 90 minutes apart. This time difference is very unusual (average time between births is 10 to 12 minutes). In one other case one twin did nearly die within the first 24 hours (he probably would have died except for the expert medical attention he received). An examination of the research group also proves interesting. Here we have 76 percent of the cases exhibiting changes. In the charts where planets change house, an average of 1.5 planets per case was found.

The remarkable thing about this piece of information is not the fact that 1.5 planets change house, but rather the fact that there is such a conspicuous lack of planets changing house in the charts of the control group. It would seem that 1.5 planets changing house, on the average, is not so extraordinary. The extraordinary fact is that nearly all cases in which planets change house occured in sets of twins in which one twin dies.

Checking the charts within the research group in which no planets change house, we find the following information:

1) Approximately one-third of the cases involved Sudden Infant Death. The importance of this information is unclear at this time and could be the basis for further research, if a large enough number of such cases can be found.

2) Approximately one-third were the result of extreme immaturity, cardiac failure, and breathing problems.

3) In cases of Cesarean section, the time between births is as short as one minute, thus minimizing the chance for a planet to change house between births.

4) An occasional twin will have a rare disease, such as brittle bone disease, and will die because of it.

Stationary planets were closely involved in 92 percent of the cases in which one twin died, while in cases where both twins lived, only 15 percent of the charts contained stationary planets. In checking for stationary planets several days were allowed before and after the birth date. This was done because the actual crisis could occur ten days before or after the birth.

In the control group, in no case was there more than one stationary planet involved in a set of twins' charts, and that in only one out of seven pairs. In the research group, however, including all sets of charts, there was an average of 1.16 stationary planets. Of these the majority occurred within one day of the birth.

Within the research group, a comparison of charts which contain planets stationary and those in which planets change house point out one other interesting fact. In only one case was there no stationary planet and no planet changed house. In every other case in the research group, either a planet changed house between the birth times, or a planet was found to be stationary; frequently both.

Limitations of the Study

First I would like to mention some of the limitations involved in this particular research project:

1) The reliability of data is always somewhat questionable. In the case of twin births that occur in the hospital, a high level of accuracy is assumed, inasmuch as the situation itself is unusual, and therefore attention to precision is more likely.

2) Information about death of a twin beyond the neonatal period is often impossible to obtain; thus the study is limited to deaths that occurred within a few weeks of the birth at most. Cases in which the information was doubtful were discounted (i.e. the hospital did not see the twins for a six-week check-up).

3) The information required is not public information and must be obtained from reliable sources; I am depending on my sources for accuracy.

4) Numerous astrological considerations remain.

5) Every effort to maintain a high level of accuracy in erecting the charts was made.

In spite of limitations of this study, the results appear to be fruitful in determining crisis factors in charts for multiple births. The immediate value of the results is in the area of predicting critical factors in twin births in which there may be no immediately obvious crisis. In some cases, such as my husband’s, premature birth or some other element presents an immediately identifiable problem. In my sister-in-law's case, both twins appeared healthy at birth; one died later due to Sudden Infant Death with no warning,. Yet in both cases, factors in the natal charts point LIP the potential crisis. Perhaps the foreknowledge of critical births could alert the doctor and the parents to a situation demanding special attention.

The key factors in critical births are planets changing house between the birth times, stationary planets, and changes in aspects to the Ascendant from approaching to separating. One of these factors - stationary planets - could be monitored easily by medical staff and could alert them to potential problems if a mother expecting twins were to enter the hospital in labor at that time. Charts would, of course, need to be erected for the correct birth times in order to determine the other factors, although close monitoring of delivery by an astrologer could identify the times most likely to produce problems, especially for planets changing house. The above broad latitude for the astrologer seems unlikely at this time, but the potential exists for such use of astrological techniques at some future date.

Another application of the study results is in consideration of individual differences between twins who both survive. Some of the factors one would expect to show differences simply do not exist. Rectification by events presents unique problems for twin charts. Isolating astrological factors in each case that indicate differences in temperament or in events can be difficult for all but the most experienced astrologer.

At the time this article was first written, preliminary results indicated that an approach to twin delineation must begin with careful consideration of individual differences resulting from environment and conditioning; these considerations can then be tied back into the natal charts. This area provides many possibilities for future study.

This article first appeared in Today’s Astrologer, the bulletin of the American Federation of Astrologers