AstroDatabank Software:
Lois Rodden and Mark McDonough

A review by Andrew Smith
(appeared in NCGR Newsletter, FAA Journal, Wholistic Astrologer Magazine)

There is one sad fact about astrology. Most of our lore is based on techniques and ideas that have not been rigorously tested. Without debating whether astrology is a science or a divinatory art, there is a general consensus that cosmic patterns are reflections of human behaviour. However, there is no agreement as to the types of behaviour in which differing patterns manifest. One only has to look at the overall quality of literature being currently published to see this ambiguity. Additionally, astrology is riddled with superstitious suppositions. Much lore has been based on hearsay, or on the opinion of astrologers’ pet theories. Uranian Astrologers swear by hypothetical planets, traditionalists see no discernible influence of the outer planets, contemporary western astrologers cannot even agree as to which is the most important consideration in aspects: the planets, the signs, the houses, the angle, or the orb?

When the history of twentieth century astrology is written, the 13th January 1999 will prove to be a turning point. It was on this day that Lois Rodden’s AstroDatabank was launched, and it heralded the day that superstition was vanquished and rigour was more discernibly applied to astrology. Such questions as "Is homosexuality really linked to having planets in the 2nd house? Are politicians really born with strong Saturn placements? Have earthquakes really got Uranus placed on an angle at the time of the event? Are psychotherapists really Plutonians in disguise? What is the AstroSignature of CFS? Is there a signature for car accidents?" could now be tested in a manner which does astrology justice. Scientific testing of astrology in the past has failed simply because there has been no means available to test all the variables that go into an interpretation. AstroDatabank has changed all that. It is important to keep in mind though, that whilst this program will not lead to someone proving astrology, it will make astrologers better, simply because they can now separate fact from fallacy. And that is an extremely important step for the astrological community.

So what is this AstroDatabank software. Basically it is a large warehouse of data. Lois Rodden has spent her lifetime collecting it. She has now made it easily accessible, and she has compiled with Mark McDonough over 20,000 birth records on one CD. That’s right 20,000 accurately sourced data all at the click of a button!! That’s an enormous amount of data. Given that data is the life blood of astrology, the possibilities of what you can do with this program are endless. All you need is curiosity.

Despite the size of the manual, the program is actually very easy to use. Being Windows based, it operates on a standard point and click mode. When viewing the records it is always easier to work using a filter. I did not believe the advice at first, and realized quickly why this is recommended. 20000 birth entries means over 2 million records and that takes time to 1) calculate, and 2) wade through.

Most data is accompanied by a fairly comprehensive biography, dated with significant life events. So if you are someone like myself with very little real knowledge about ‘famous’ people and their lives, AstroDatabank makes for a real interesting read! The data is comprehensively categorized. You can filter the records to display the charts of those who have suffered from TB; who are bigoted; who are self employed; who have been declared bankrupt; or who have a fetish for cross dressing etc.. You can further refine those filters using the AstroSignatures function to display each groups subtleties.

There are always limitations to any software program written. One problem in particular that faces the astrological researcher is that of filters. There are so many variables that go into an interpretation of a chart that it has been virtually impossible to conduct research without having to think seriously about getting someone to write you a program that will suit your needs. Despite having filters, which allow you to select data according to whether they fit certain patterns you are examining, most programs cannot cope with multi-tasking. The AstroDatabank has filters, but they are subtler, and they allow you to exercise more control over the research project. You get to define various AstroSignatures that enables you to score your data according to how well they fit the pattern you are examining, thus enabling him/her to manipulate the data in a manner of his/her own choosing. Hence you can make the computer work in accord to your own techniques, thereby allowing the user to measure, test and build new hypotheses in a more objective sense.

AstroDatabank is not meant as a calculation program, more as a store for data, though you can calculate your own charts. I have imported most of my client files to AstroDatabank, and I have started to use it as a filofax, recording all my notes about my clients. You can enter all sorts of personal information about the person you are inputting – name, address, email, phone/fax, consultation date, mailing date, as well as their various attributes – vocation, distinguishing features, biography, religion, places visited etc.

Accompanying the program comes a 190 page manual. Now before you panic and think that that is too much reading, bear with me a second, while I tell you a little about the manual. Rodden and McDonough have done their homework. Most astrologers are not technically literate, and so the manual has been designed with the non-technical / non-computer-literate in mind. It is both simple and well written. Finding, sorting, filtering, scoring, printing, viewing, and defining AstroSignatures are all succinctly explained in a non threatening, concise manner. It is not so simple so as to offend the more technically literate, but is not so advanced that it would leave the uninitiated totally in the dark. This is both very thoughtful and ingenious, keeping the astrologer in firmly in mind. The manual is also sourced, indexed and contains a glossary, which for a reference manual is unusual. Appendix 3 is particularly valuable as it contains information on where to find birth data, birth cert. examination policies, a list of the standard times zones and their nomenclature, and a step-by-step procedure for manually calculating time corrections.

"When the history of 20th Century astrology is written, the 13th of January 1999 will prove to be a turning point. It was on this day that Lois Rodden’s AstroDatabank was launched, and it heralded the day that superstition was vanquished and rigour was more discernibly applied to astrology."

Just in case you are only starting out on your astrological career, are a student or non-professional astrologer, please do not think that you will not benefit from this piece of software. If someone came along and said to me that I had to choose between this software and a lifetime’s supply of books, I would chose this software. Why? Because you can learn more actual hardcore data than from abstract theories and ideas. You can see astrology in action. If you want to understand the nature of Mars-90-Pluto, why not filter the data to select only those with this aspect in their charts, and then read the biographies, and understand how this principle manifests in reality. I would encourage anyone with a computer to buy this program.

So where is the criticism? Actually, what criticism I have is minor, and is based more upon what is not there. The more I work with AstroDatabank, the greedier I become. After three months of playing with it, I want more data. I have talked with Mark McDonough, about developing on the AstroDatabank website, a subscription function for existing owners of the CD, whereby they can upload and download freely notes, biographies and data from other subscribers. This is most valuable for anonymous data, of which each practicing astrologer has unlimited access to through their clients. Giving other astrologer access to client notes, and histories, albeit in an ethical and responsible and anonymous fashion is perhaps the most valuable source of astrological data available. AstroDatabank Co. is in a position to offer such a service to their subscribers, and boy would that be valuable.

Other criticism lies in the size of the database. It is huge, and it is impossible to backup on conventional floppies. So you may need to invest in a zip drive, or to save uploaded data to a separate database and to merge this database with the huge file stored on your hard drive.

The speed at which new data is calculated varies depending upon the specs of your computer. It took my 233Mhz Laptop 4hours 42 minutes to fully calculate 502 imported files. Granted that the vast majority of this time (3 hours 31 minutes) was taken calculating the aspects. But this is frustrating, and is therefore absolutely recommended to heed the warning set in the manual to leave your computer on overnight to fully import and calculate new charts.

I recommend you interface this program with the ACS atlas. There is a mini ACS atlas supplied with the program, and it can slow down data entry without it. There is no facility to interface AstroDatabank with the Solar Fire / Win Star / Janus place files. But then this is due to the fact that the ACS atlas is far superior to all other atlases currently available.

Finally, being European, I would have liked to see more European data, and less Amerocentric data, but then the software was designed in the States, so why shouldn’t there be more American data. Also, there is a lot of scope for the inclusion of mundane data, which I am sure has already been thought of for inclusion in subsequent updates.

"If someone came along and said to me that I had to choose between this software and a lifetime’s supply of books, I would chose this software."

As you can gather from this review, I have enjoyed it, so bear with me whilst I bestow one final accolade. I have learned from experience to treat with a pinch of salt the claims from various advertisers. AstroDatabank is the first product I have had the pleasure of reviewing that truly lives up to its claims. ‘…software to create better astrologers…’ is the logo, and indeed it truly does. For me, AstroDatabank is an aide to enhance one’s intuition and to improve the quality of one’s professional practice. Intuition is built on 99% experience and 1% inspiration. What better way to build experience, and therefore intuition, than to explore, test and scrutinize horoscopes for patterns. Since professional astrologers are essentially providing a service for their clients, the more refined and accurate the astrologers observations are, the better the service they provide. So can you honestly be without this program?

Andrew Smith

(Reprinted with permission.)

"So can you honestly be without this program?"