Johndro, L. Edward

Johndro, L. Edward

(religion, spiritualism, and occult)

Lorne Edward Johndro was born in Quebec on January 30, 1882, the same day that Franklin D. Roosevelt was born. While still a young man, he moved south to the United States, settling in Lockport, New York. He became friends with Ernest Wykes, a superintendent of a children’s home in Lockport who frequently discussed astrology with him.

Johndro worked as an electrical engineer from 1914 to 1917. He then studied radio and graduated from the National Radio Institute in the 1920s. He perceived parallels between radio/electromagnetism and astrology, and this was reflected in his books and articles, which contain frequent references to radio and electromagnetism. Johndro’s writing style is difficult, and his references to electricity only compound these difficulties.

He published two books on the fixed stars in 1919. Their purpose was to assist astrologers in locating terrestrial locations where certain celestial configurations might be anticipated to manifest. Because of their mathematical complexity, these techniques have been infrequently used.

Johndro also introduced the vertex as an important point in the astrological chart, described a technique for constructing a “locality chart” from terrestrial latitude and longitude, and theorized a complex schema of planetary rulership. He continued to write and experiment for the rest of his life. Johndro has a well-deserved reputation as a highly technical astrological writer. He died in the late afternoon of November 11, 1951, in San Diego, California.

Sources:

Holden, James H., and Robert A. Hughes. Astrological Pioneers of America. Tempe, AZ: American Federation of Astrologers, 1988.Johndro, L. Edward. Astrological Dictionary and Self-Reading Horoscope. 2d ed. Washington, DC: American Federation of Astrologers, n.d.Johndro. The Earth in the Heavens. San Bernardino, CA: Doherty, 1929. Reprint, New York: Weiser, 1970.Johndro. A New Conception of Sign Rulership. Washington, DC: American Federation of Astrologers, n.d.Johndro. The Stars: How and Where They Influence. San Bernardino, CA: Doherty, 1929. Reprint, New York: Weiser, 1970.