Jim Lewis (born James Lewis Slayden; June 5, 1941 – February 21, 1995) was an American astrologer, writer and entrepreneur. He is known for pioneering the technique of astrocartography, a form of locational astrology.

Early life

James Lewis Slayden was born on June 5, 1941 in Yonkers, New York. He spent time living at a commune in Big Sur, California, where he hunted deer.

Career

Locational astrology is an old concept, but Lewis expanded a little-known field, using detailed maps and modern software. In 1979, Lewis published the first edition of his annual Sourcebook of Mundane Maps. Lewis submitted a patent application for his system in 1980, which was granted on December 8, 1981. Lewis lectured throughout the world and regularly conducted seminars in which he trained students in astrocartography techniques. He later went on to administer a certification exam. Candidates who passed his stringent qualifications were given a certificate as a professional astrocartographers. Lewis's theories were subsequently developed by other astrologers, including Steve Cozzi and Martin Jay Davis. For his original work in developing and promoting the technique of astrocartography, Lewis received the Marc Edmund Jones award in 1978 and the "Regulus Award for Discovery, Innovation, and Research" at the United Astrology Congress in Washington, DC, in 1992.

Personal life and death

Lewis was gay and lived in San Francisco for most of his life. In the mid-1980s he was struck by a vehicle while crossing Military Road in Sydney, Australia, which is on his Mars Ascending line. Lewis died of a brain tumor in San Francisco on February 21, 1995, at age 53.

Legacy

In his will, Lewis provided for the formation of the Astrocartography Trust. In 1999, the Trust applied for a trademark for the mark "ASTROCARTOGRAPHY", which was granted on October 3, 2000. The registration was cancelled by the USPTO on May 6, 2011.

Selected publications