Where do most stars (and the planetary systems that surround them) in the Milky Way form? What determines whether a young star cluster remains bound (such as an open or globular cluster), or disperses to join the field stars in the disc of the Galaxy? These questions not only impact understanding of the origins of stars and planetary systems like our own (and the potential for life to emerge that they represent), but also galaxy formation and evolution, and ultimately the story of star formation over cosmic time in the Universe. This volume will help readers understand our current views concerning the answers to these questions as well as frame new questions that will be answered by the European Space Agency's Gaia satellite that was launched in late 2013. The book contains the elaborated notes of lectures given at the 42nd Saas-Fee Advanced Course "Dynamics of Young Star Clusters & Associations" by Cathie Clarke (University of Cambridge) who presents the theory of star formation and dynamical evolution of stellar systems, Robert Mathieu (University of Wisconsin) who discusses the kinematics of star clusters and associations, and I. Neill Reid (S pace Telescope Science Institute) who provides an overview of the stellar populations in the Milky Way and speculates on from whence came the Sun. As part of the Saas-Fee Advanced Course Series, the book offers an in-depth introduction to the field serving as a starting point for Ph.D. research and as a reference work for professional astrophysicists.

Where do most stars (and the planetary systems that surround them) in the Milky Way form? What determines whether a young star cluster remains bound (such as an open or globular cluster), or disperses to join the field stars in the disc of the Galaxy? These questions not only impact understanding of the origins of stars and planetary systems like our own (and the potential for life to emerge that they represent), but also galaxy formation and evolution, and ultimately the story of star formation over cosmic time in the Universe. This volume will help readers understand our current views concerning the answers to these questions as well as frame new questions that will be answered by the European Space Agency's Gaia satellite that was launched in late 2013. The book contains the elaborated notes of lectures given at the 42nd Saas-Fee Advanced Course "Dynamics of Young Star Clusters & Associations" by Cathie Clarke (University of Cambridge) who presents the theory of star formation and dynamical evolution of stellar systems, Robert Mathieu (University of Wisconsin) who discusses the kinematics of star clusters and associations, and I. Neill Reid (S pace Telescope Science Institute) who provides an overview of the stellar populations in the Milky Way and speculates on from whence came the Sun. As part of the Saas-Fee Advanced Course Series, the book offers an in-depth introduction to the field serving as a starting point for Ph.D. research and as a reference work for professional astrophysicists.

The material for THE TWELVE ASTROLOGICAL HOUSES: The Way of Creative Accomplishment, was written in 1943-44, immediately following THE ZODIAC as THE UNIVERSAL MATRIX. Like its companion book, it is one of Rudhyar's most accessible and easy-to-read works. It provides comprehensive descriptions of each of the ten astrological planets in each of the twelve astrological houses. In common with THE UNIVERSAL MATRIX, the astrological interpretations are more striking, psychological and critical than what we came to expect from Rudhyar during the second half of the 20th century. The electronic publication includes hyperlinks to the birth charts of dozens of interesting example nativities.
Some sample passages from THE TWELVE ASTROLOGICAL HOUSES
"Every personality is the child of an individual vision (Ascendant) and of a set of collective habits (second house), Rudhyar writes. The great person is one who uses such habits to demonstrate the vision - and thereby repolarizes them. The weak personality lets collective habits use the vision which thereby becomes distorted and materialized. Every personality is a field of integration for individual vision (first house) and collective habits (second house) - our inner life is very often a battlefield It is in the third house that the issue . . . is determined; for it is the quality of the person's environment and of his mentality (largely conditioned by education) which will decide in the third house whether the fourth house factors (ego, home, and so on) will be energized preponderantly either by those developed in the first house or those belonging to the second house."
PLANETS IN THE FIFTH HOUSE
"When a strong planet or a group of planets are located in the fifth house of a natal chart this does not mean the native will necessarily be a particularly gifted artist, or a great lover, or the progenitor of many children, and so on. It indicates, rather, that matters related to this house will be insistently the focal point for the person's attention. The native will be involved in fifth house issues and experiences by apparent choice or by compulsion . . . They will create problems which will demand a solution.
Problems however constitute opportunities for growth and for 'creative accomplishment' - thus the title of this series. Where there are no problems, the mind and will of the individual are not roused into operation . . ."
MOON IN THE ELEVENTH HOUSE
"The Moon in the eleventh house signifies a person highly sensitive to social moods and changes, who is often the mouthpiece of some great mass-movement seeking expression in a subterranean manner. The spiritual-occult systems proclaimed by Rudolph Steiner are much involved in personalized states of consciousness and dependent on personal 'revelations'. Indeed, it might be argued the 'revelations' of the seer could merely be projections of his collective, national and personal 'hopes and wishes' and fears and prejudices, rather than authentic and significantly interpreted revelations of spiritual realities. The traditional chart of Joan of Arc shows Moon conjunct Jupiter in the eleventh house - indeed an excellent symbol for one whose "Voices" saved a Kingdom . . ."

THE ZODIAC as THE UNIVERSAL MATRIX is not only one of Rudhyar's most accessible and easy-to-read books, it is also the only book in which Rudhyar provides comprehensive descriptions of each of the ten astrological planets in each of the twelve signs of the zodiac; and the descriptions themselves are more striking, psychological and critical than what we came to expect from Rudhyar during the second half of the 20th century. Written during 1942, it uses the birth charts of many world leaders of the time as examples.
The premise of THE UNIVERSAL MATRIX is significant and intriguing, for in it Rudhyar attributes substantive and causal qualities to the zodiac. In the work, Rudhyar describes the zodiac (the Universal Matrix) as a substantive "electromagnetic field" of "zodiacal influence" which is permanently anchored to the earth, the "emanations" of which "beat constantly upon us." Yet such statements, which might surprise some readers familiar with Rudhyar's astrological work, is actually consistent with his lifelong metaphysics. Indeed, the basic concept of fields enveloping the planet and human beings is of ancient origin, and it is an integral part of Theosophy, from which Rudhyar largely drew his metaphysical underpinnings.
Here's some sample descriptions:
MARS IN LEO
"When the Leo-type of energies . . . are activated by the forceful and outgoing planet Mars, fireworks may be expected. This produces a colorful personality, or at least a strong will to dominate . . . There is an intense urge toward dramatic self-expression; and, when concrete materials for self-expression or for personal show are not available, the person is likely to use imaginary materials."
MERCURY IN LIBRA
"In a negative sense, Mercury in Libra reveals a frivolous, butterfly mentality; and also a social urge which is more a matter of intellectual attitudes than one of deep realizations. Mental pride and sensitiveness to social criticism may be in evidence; or an extreme subservience of the mental life to social or cultural traditions."
VENUS IN GEMINI
"When Gemini forces are illumined by the presence of Venus, experiences and sensations are valued mostly for the meaning which can be derived from them . . . Thus the person with such a natal configuration may pass from experience to experience, from human contact to more human contacts simply to provide food for the development of her sense of value and her quality of emotional response. . . . They are like the 'kisses' given to the flowers by the bee; all that the bee wants is honey. . . . It is better not to become attached to persons with a natal Venus in Gemini, if one wants lasting happiness; but an intimate (though brief) contact with them should be revealing and stimulating, for they are artists in expression and 'catalytic agents' for growth."
MARS IN CANCER
"This is a rather unsatisfactory position for Mars, because this planet symbolizes all outgoings and Cancer is a field for the activity of concentrating and indrawing forces. Thus either Mars in Cancer is not allowed to operate with any degree of power by a number of inhibiting influences, or else the energy of Mars is thrust into a work which is not congenial . . . In the former case the person born with Mars in Cancer demonstrates a weak capacity for action and for initiative, great moodiness, irritability or so-called 'artistic' temperament. In the second alternative he tends to act with aggressive selfishness; he makes unreasonable demands upon others . . . loses his sense of proportion and makes a show of himself and his personal problems."