Monthly Archives: December 2011

Astrological Predictive Techniques | 4. Profections in the Style of Vettius Valens

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Valens Profections

The last three articles in this series introduced annual profections, those of smaller periods, and the combination of profections with other predictive techniques. In this article, the focus is on a more advanced use of profections. This technique is only found in the Anthology of Vettius Valens (2nd century CE). It is introduced in Book IV, Chapter 11 of his Anthology, with further discussion in some ensuing chapters and later books.

Download a Free Translation

The only full English translation of Valens’ Anthology is available for free download from its translator, Mark Riley. You can find it on his website in pdf format at this link (c.f about p. 77-82 for reference).

Three Points of Emphasis

The type of profections that Valens used adds three things to basic profections: 1.  Profections of the Sect Light (i.e. Sun for a day birth, Moon for a night birth) can be more important than that of the Ascendant. This is  especially so if the Light is in a “stake” of the chart (1st, 10th, 7th, or 4th place); 2. A planet in a place is more important than a planet ruling a place; 3. Any point, place, or planet can profect.

One: Importance of Profecting the Sect Light

Valens makes it very clear in Book V (Ch. 7) that he finds the profection of the sect light to be the most significant, even more so than the Ascendant:

The aphetic points of the years are operative when starting from any star, but the following aphetic points are most effective: for day births the sun, for night births the moon, especially when they are at the angles. Next <in effectiveness> is the Ascendant.  (Riley, 2010, p. 108)

In fact, any planet or place can be profected, and we will discuss the significance of them below.  However, the sect light and Ascendant have special general significance for the key events of the person’s year as a whole, so we may regard the planets that they transmit to as very important time lords of the period.

How to Profect the Sect Light

River Phoenix’s Natal Chart (Rodden Rating AA)

How do you profect the Sect Light?  Once you’ve gotten the hang of profecting the Ascendant, it will be easy to profect the Sect Light or any other point, as they move forward the same number of signs as the Ascendant does.  For instance, if one were a 23 year old with Scorpio Rising, then the annual profection of the Ascendant would be to the 12th place, Libra. This is because Libra is one before the 1st place, as 23 is one year before 24. 24 is a multiple of 12 and multiples of 12 are 1st place years.

If the person was born during the day then the Sun would be the sect light, and we would profect that too.  The Sun would profect to the 12th place from its own position.  If the Sun were in Virgo, then the 12th place from the Sun would be one sign back, in Leo.  Thus the annual profection of the Sect Light would be to Leo.  Both the profection of the sect light and that of the Ascendant would be considered important.

Two: Occupants are More Important than Rulers

In the previous posts on profections, it was noted that it is as if the Ascendant is the person entering a new house of the chart each year.  In that metaphor, the planet ruling the house is a “lord” of the time period. It is as if it were handed some responsibility concerning the place where the native is now dwelling or active.  It was also noted that any planet or planets in the place of the profection are very important, perhaps more directly so, as the Ascendant becomes “co-present” with them in that place. The planet or planets are like alternative or additional lords of the period.

Valens on Occupants

For Valens, the planets occupying the place are preferred to the ruler. They are the ones that responsibility gets handed over to, and they are said to receive the transmission. Again, from Valens Book V (Ch. 7):

If one of the stars in transit has entered this place, then it will be transmitting the chronocratorship. If the sign where the count stops happens to be empty, then count from the position (at the nativity) of the ruler of the sign, and examine in the same way the place found, whether using the nativity or the transiting stars. Then forecast the results of all the places and stars. <In other words,> if the count goes from star to star, use the stars for forecasting; if from a star to an empty sign, use the rulers of the signs. (Riley, 2010, p. 108)

The previous excerpt actually hits on a number of topics simultaneously. The occupants take priority over the ruler. Also, solar return transiting occupants (“the stars in transit”) may be preferred to the ruler (more on that below). Additionally, Valens appears to suggest profecting the ruler of an empty house and finding which planet it transmits to, taking that planet over the ruler itself.

Example of Occupants Receiving Transmission

Let’s return to our example of a 23-year-old, born in the day, with Scorpio Rising and Sun in Virgo. All annual profections go to the 12th place from their natal positions.  The Sun profects to Leo, which is occupied by Mars, and thus Mars receives the transmission of the Sect Light, becoming an important time lord of the year. The profection of the Ascendant is to Libra which is both ruled by and occupied by Venus, so Venus is the time lord for the Ascendant.

Solar Return Occupants

However, if we prefer solar return transits over rulers, then the picture changes again. Mercury occupied Leo at the solar return and is conjunct natal Mars within a degree. If we take the transiting occupant over the natal occupant then it would be Mercury that receives the transmission of the Sect Light.

River Phoenix Solar Return 1993 – Age 23 – Year of Death – Non-Precessed – Return Transits Pictured Along Outer Edge of Natal Chart

Now let’s look at the Ascendant. The Ascendant, Scorpio, profects to Libra, which is occupied by both the Mars and Jupiter.  Preferring the return planets, it is Jupiter and Mars rather than Venus which would be the Ascendant time lords. However, as noted below, Valens actually appeared to prefer natal occupants for occupied houses.

Different Time Lords

As one can see, the profectional method of Valens actually has the effect of changing which planet or planets are considered the most important time lords of the year by profection.  In the basic technique, Venus, ruler of the sign of the Ascendant’s profection, is Lord of the Year.  By contrast, in the Valens technique it is still Venus for the Ascendant profection, but we should look to Mars as even more significant as it receives the transmissions of the Sect Light. If we prefer solar return occupants then things get even more complicated with different results again.

It is important to acknowledge that this method of profections does yield different indications and was not a widespread technique in Hellenistic astrology.  However, this does not mean it is ineffective. Many modern traditionalists who have explored the method have been very satisfied with the results. We will return to our example chart below.

Three: Profect It All

Valens sees significance and usefulness in profecting every planet and place in the natal chart.  The planet or place hands off to the sign and the planets in the sign (or, if empty, the ruler of the sign) of the place of the profection.  Valens discussed this at great length in Book IV, Chapter 11, for instance:

Let us start our exposition from this point: when investigating the current year of a nativity, we divide by 12. Count the remainder from a star which is able <to transmit> to a star which is able to receive. In this way we will discover to what sign the year transmits. What I have said is easy to comprehend but complicated to determine since all the stars, plus the Ascendant, the sun, and the moon, can transmit to and receive from each other. (Riley, 2010, p. 78)

Significators

The nature of the star transmitting indicates what is affected. The one receiving the transmission provides the form of the effect and responsibility for its completion.  The significations of the planets and places profected are as follows (quoted material in bullet points below from Anthology of Vettius Valens, Book IV, Ch. 11, Riley trans., 2010, p. 79):

  • Ascendant – “length of life and bodily or mental activities”
  • Sun – “rank, preeminence, magnificence, the father, great personages, and whatever other matters are usually influenced by the sun’s nature”
  • Moon – “dangers to health, diseases, bleeding, or the mother”
  • MC (10th Place?) – “occupations, livelihood, and work”
  • Lot of Fortune – “good fortune and success in life”
  • Descendant – “mortality, change, or trouble”
  • IC (4th Place?) – “estates, possessions, secret matters, legacies”
  • Saturn – “bankruptcy, money or property, secret diseases, or family inheritance”
  • Jupiter – “rank, friendship, alliances, and possessions”
  • Mars – “military or public matters”
  • Venus – “women, love affairs, associations, or the category ‘female'”
  • Mercury – “associations, slave matters, servile matters, giving and receiving, or written matters”

Valens additionally noted that it is important to profect from the four principal lots.  Therefore, it is a general method applicable to any significant chart point as a means of understanding its changing state and the activations of its relationships within the chart. However, take the natal significations of the profected point, rather than restricting yourself to the significations given above. For instance, if Venus strongly signifies your sister in your natal chart and Venus transmits to a Mars in sect in your natal chart, then one indication may be that your sister starts taking self-defense classes or joins the military.

Cumulative Effect and Priority

Valens instructed us to consider if most of the planets receiving the transmissions for the year (from the planets, angles of the chart, and Lot of Fortune) are benefics or malefics. Benefics indicate a good year, while malefics a bad one. If a near even mix of both then the year will be very changeable in terms of fortune.

Lights and Ascendant Show Dominant Influences

The transmissions of the sect light, Ascendant, and even the non-sect light are more important in this regard. In fact, at one point in Book IV, Chapter 11, Valens did make explicit that actually both lights and the Ascendant give the strongest indications:

To find the overall influence in any nativity, it will be necessary to count the years from the sun, the moon, and the Ascendant, and if the count ends at an empty place, then they <sun moon Ascendant> will be transmitting to the rulers of these <empty> signs. These three figures have great influence, whether the transmission is to benefics, to malefics, to the angles or operative places, or to places not at the angles. Next it will be necessary to investigate the transmissions of the other stars: if malefics control the year, but the three aphetas have a benefic effect, then the year will be vigorous and distinguished, after some doubt, anxiety, and annoyance. (Riley, 2010, p. 78)

Example: River Phoenix

Let’s return to our example. We noted that the Ascendant transmits to Venus and that the Sun transmits to Mars. We’ll keep the solar return out of things for now. Examining the other light (the Moon), we find her in Taurus, so she transmits to Aries. Aries is empty, so the Moon also transmits to Mars.

Let’s examine some other profections. Jupiter is with the Ascendant so it transmits to Venus. Mercury is with the Sun, so it also transmits to Mars. Saturn and the Descendant are with the Moon so they also transmit to Mars. Venus in Libra profects to Virgo so she transmits to the Sun and Mercury. The lot of Fortune is in Leo so it profects to Cancer which is empty, thus it transmits to the Moon.

 

Mars Dominates; Venus is Important

Two of the three main signifiers (the Sun and Moon) transmit to Mars, and a number of the other signifiers do as well, including Mercury, Saturn, and the Descendant. Some transmissions go to the Sun, the Moon, and Mercury, but all of their own transmissions are to Mars. The next most significant transmissions are those to Venus which most importantly pertain to the Ascendant and Jupiter.

What do we make of all this? Mars is the out-of-sect malefic and it is dominated (right-side square) strongly in the natal chart by Saturn. Mars rules the 1st house of the body and the 6th of disease and accidents so its most dangerous indications pertain to harmful accidents. Valens’ technique is telling us that Mars will affect some major areas of life in significant ways.

I would still use the Ascendant’s profection as the one that sets the self’s location and circumstance as was the typical practice in Hellenistic astrology. Venus is the lord of the year and the occupant of the profectional Ascendant. She is in Jupiter’s term in an air sign in the twelfth-house, out of sect, and only aspected by Mars. We see artists and artistry prominent, as well as the use of intoxicants (one of Venus’ significations). Jupiter indicates good times, success, and friendships, as well as bountiful opportunities for abuse of substances.

Solar Returns and Transits

In many places Valens noted the effect of transits on places receiving the transmissions, including in a quote from Book V which is above, where he stressed the priority of star to star over star to ruler.  It seems that a transiting planet could even be considered to receive the transmission, especially if the place being transmitted to were empty, as Valens noted in Book IV, Ch. 11:

If no star transmits to another, and if the distribution is to empty places, then it is necessary to note the empty places: especially if any stars are there in transit, they will receive the distribution. (Riley, 2010, p. 78)

Presumably, for the annual profections, these transits would be the planetary positions at the solar return. In fact, Valens clarified that he was most interested in the transits of the solar return chart, again from Book IV, Ch. 11:

Whenever we find a transmission in one cycle, (whether from one or from many), we examine the horoscope recast for that year, particularly the transits of the stars, to see if they have a configuration similar to their configuration at the nativity with respect to the transmitters and receivers, and if they have the same phases with respect to the sun. If this is found to be true, we say that the results are certain. If the configurations are different and dissimilar, the results will not take place in toto: some things will happen overall, others partially.  (Riley, 2010, p. 79)

Breaking It Down

My understanding from reading Valens is that we prefer the natal occupants as receiving the transmission. If there are no natal occupants, then we prefer a planet that is an occupant in the solar return. If there are no occupants in the solar return, then we prefer the ruler.

So, in our example, we end up with mostly the same transmissions. This is because the important transmissions (Sun, Moon, Ascendant) are to places already occupied in the natal chart, or ones that remain empty in the return (Aries). There is a an exception that is worth noting though. Mars receives many transmissions so its transmission is worth looking at. Mars transmits to Cancer, and it is occupied by Venus in the return, so Venus receives the transmission rather than the Moon. In the natal chart, Mars signifies harm, among other things, while its transmission to Venus indicates the harm takes a Venusian form (pleasure, intoxicants).

The Death of River Phoenix

River Phoenix died on Halloween 1993, at age 23. Within a year of his death, two movies he starred in were released and he was involved in about a half dozen other film projects. Aside from a prolific and noteworthy acting career, he was also an animal rights activist and a singer songwriter.

He died a little over 2 months from his birthday. In those two months, he was known to be active with musician friends of his, and to be abusing drugs. This is reflected in the Ascendant’s profection to Libra, in the 12th place of undoing and social ills, ruled by and occupied by an out-of-sect Venus which seeks sensory indulgence and the arts. The year before was a prolific acting year (Mercury rulership and occupancy) which came with a lot of recognition (Sun’s occupancy).

Mars-Venus and Age 23

As noted in the article on planetary years, Mars has 15 years and Venus has 8. Therefore, age 23 is an activation of Mars-Venus relationships in the natal chart. Mars and Venus are both out of sect in the chart (they are nocturnal planets but in a day chart), and Venus is additionally in the 12th place and only aspected by Mars. Venus also has her twelfth-part in the 6th house (Aries) of illness and accidents, ruled by Mars.

River Phoenix’s Natal Chart (Inner) with Twelfth-Part Positions (Outer)

Mars is in the 10th house of actions, recognition, and authority, where he dominates the Ascendant and Jupiter, which he rules, afflicts the 7th house Moon and is dominated by Saturn with a close aspect. The twelfth-part of Mars is in the 7th place, further emphasizing the relationship with Saturn and the Moon (occupants of the 7th) and with Venus (ruler of the 7th). Mars rules the 6th place of illness and accidents, and aspects the twelfth-part of the Moon in that place within a degree.

Venusian Year

He died of a drug overdose at the Viper Club (partly owned at the time by Johnny Depp) on 10/31/1993 at 1:51 am pacific time. The solar return for the year (below) had Mars and Jupiter both in the sign of the profection. Additionally, Mercury, the ruler of the 8th house of death, was transiting conjunct natal Mars.

River Phoenix Solar Return 1993 – Age 23 – Non-Precessed – Return Transits Pictured Along Outer Edge of Natal Chart

The Moon was transiting in the 1st, reinforcing its signification of the body, and it was ruled by and dominated by natal Mars, while applying an opposition to natal Saturn. This reinforces the natal Moon-Saturn configuration (also worth noting is that the Ascendant directed to the opposition of Saturn at the time of death). It also sets off the natal Saturn-Mars square as important for the year.

Venus Returns to the 12th House

River died during his Venus return. In fact, Venus returned exactly to its natal position less than a week before his death. This marks out the period as particularly important in relation to what Venus promises in the natal chart. She is a planet that gravitates toward sensory pleasure in a bad place and out of sect, and aspected only by Mars who overcomes her (right side aspect). Therefore, she easily slips toward over-indulgence and harm, particularly that associated with natal Mars. The twelfth-part of Venus is in the 6th (Aries), a house of illness and accidents, ruled by Mars, further emphasizing these themes.

Transits (Outer Wheel) at Time of Death Along Natal Chart

The Moon Returns to Saturn

River also died on the day of his lunar return, emphasizing the natal Moon-Saturn conjunction, which was also emphasized by the Moon’s position in the solar return. In fact, the Moon was at 16 degrees Scorpio in the return, opposing natal Saturn, while it was at 17 degrees Taurus at the time of death, opposing its return position and conjoining Saturn.

Mars-Saturn All Around

The time of death shows transiting Saturn square to natal Saturn and opposing natal Mars, while transiting Mars squares natal Mars and opposes natal Saturn. Therefore, this dangerous active configuration of the malefics is active at the time of death. Additionally, Mercury (ruler of the 8th of death) was with Mars at the time death, and both were transiting in the 1st house where the signified most directly concerning the body. Note that a Mercury-Mars combination was signaled as important in the solar return where return Mercury conjoined natal Mars.

Transits (Outer Wheel) at Time of Death Along Natal Chart

Prenatal Syzygy

Vettius Valens emphasized the role played by the prenatal syzygy in matters related to health. The prenatal syzygy is the New or Full Moon which most directly preceded the birth. River Phoenix was born with a waning Moon so prior to birth there was a Full Moon. The Full Moon preceding his birth was at 23°48′ Aquarius. Note that it is in partile (same-degree) opposition with natal Mars and is in a tight square with natal Saturn. The transiting Mars-Saturn configuration noted above brings in the prenatal syzygy.

Saturn is Ruler of Days

The article on planetary years also includes a discussion of a technique for dividing up the year such that each planet rules a set of days. In the technique we start with the lord of the year (ruler of profectional Ascendant), then move to each successive planet in the natal chart in zodiacal order. Phoenix died about 70 days after his solar return. Venus got about 23 days, then Jupiter about 34 days, and then Saturn got the next 85 days. Therefore, Saturn was the lord of days at the time of death.  Saturn is the natural significator of death, afflicts the natal Moon (natural significator of the body), and rules the prenatal syzygy. Transiting Saturn’s configuration with these elements and the transiting Moon’s application to them were discussed above.

Wrapping Up

The context for River Phoenix’s year was best characterized by Venusian activity, with strong connections to the particular indications of Venus in his natal chart. This supports the typical use of annual profections of the Ascendant in which the house and its ruler are most active. Additionally, the most important period of the year came during the time when the lord of the year, Venus, returned to her natal position. However, with both Venus and Jupiter in the activated 12th house at the time of death, one might suppose protection and fortunate circumstances would be more appropriate for the particular period.

The fact that the period is a dangerous one is clearer when we consider the Valens profections. Both lights transmit to Mars and Mars tends to dominate a lot of other important profections. Mars is even in Libra during the solar return. With the information from the Valens method we can take the presence of Mars in Libra in the return as a serious concern. The solar return Moon and the primary direction of the Ascendant also indicate difficulty with Saturn for the period. The timing of death comes as transiting Mars and Saturn are activating the square and the Moon is entering their configuration.

Sorting Things Out

Of course, we may quickly find ourselves dealing with a soup of indications to sort out. However, we have some means of sorting them out. This technique is discussed solely in terms of annual profections. If transits are examined they are generally the solar return ones. We can continue the common practice of looking at the Ascendant’s profection to find a lord of the year and to see the overall setting for the year’s events. Rather than using the other profections as alternatives or to tack on more time lords, use them for additional information. The lights, especially the sect light, will transmit to planets that are influential in major events. From there we can profect individual factors when they are of particular interest.

Taking It Further

I have only scratched the surface as to the way that Valens used profections.  You will find many more tips in Chapter 11 of Book 4 and in later sections of the Anthology. Vettius Valens has given us a broad range of new uses for profections. I plan on returning to Valens-style profections in many future articles.

A final note. Valens profections provide a good context for understanding Persian degree-based profections (the subject of the next article). Persian degree-based profections also involve the profection of all the points in the natal chart. They are very similar to Valens profections but used more for timing than for delineating broad themes for the year.

Note: this article was significantly revised and expanded in April of 2018. Changes included extensive editing as well as the addition of the River Phoenix example.

References
Valens, V. (2010). Anthologies. (M. Riley, Trans.) (Online PDF.). World Wide Web: Mark Riley. Retrieved from http://www.csus.edu/indiv/r/rileymt/Vettius%20Valens%20entire.pdf

Mercury in Gemini, Mercury in Virgo | Not Necessarily Strong for the Intellect

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Mercury with Super-Dignity

If you believe that Mercury, the planet of intellect, must bode well for the intellect in its own domiciles, Gemini and Virgo, then you are mistaken. The delineation of intellectual prowess is a matter that goes far beyond the sign placement of Mercury. Additionally, many ancient astrologers considered Mercury in a mutable sign, especially one of its own domiciles, to have a destabilizing effect on the mind. This is in contrast to what one may assume based on the level of “dignity” of Mercury in its own domicile.

Due to an over-reliance on sign-based dignity in delineation, there is a trend among today’s traditional astrologers to consider a planet in its own domicile as signifying that the natural significations of the planet are strong and beneficial. In the case of Mercury in its own domicile, it would have a dignity score of at least +8 by the most common scoring methods. By such an approach, the natural significations of Mercury in relation to the intellect, communication, cleverness, and quickness would all be accentuated in a beneficial way.

Dignity isn’t Dignified

For those who don’t know, I’m a strong critic of the over-reliance on dignity in traditional circles for matters of the strength and goodness of a planet. I do use “dignity” for rulership, pertinence, and various qualitative considerations including a type of prototypicality (a type of strength). However, I have made it a point to speak out against the use of dignity as a chief strength consideration, and especially for any matter of goodness, benefit, or “dignity” in the dictionary sense.

I completely avoid the use of dignity in that manner in my own work on the blog. I also frequently engage in polemics about the idiocy of heavy reliance on dignity.  For instance, I’ve discussed the dignity problem in “The Curious Case of Jeffrey Dahmer and Ted Turner” (and its sequel) and “Dignity: The Biggest Problem with Late Traditional Astrology“.  Here I look at one particularly cogent error of the dignity approach, the belief that Mercury, the natural significator of the rationalizing mind, bodes well for the intellect in the signs where it is most dignified, its domiciles Virgo and Gemini.

Mercury in Virgo or Gemini Can Be An Indication of a Small Intellect

Both Masha’allah (On Nativities, c.f. Dykes trans., 2008, Section 5) and Abu’ali al-Khayyat (The Judgment of Nativities, c.f. Dykes trans., 2009, Ch. 5) discussed the signification of Mercury for thought and speech. One factor examined is its occurrence in sign of different quadruplicities. Signs come in three flavors of quadruplicity, cardinal (aka moveable/changeable), fixed (aka solid), or mutable (aka common). The “quad” in quadruplicity comes from the fact that there are 4 signs in each group.

Their comments take place in their discussion of delineating character, mind, and will in the chart. For that type of delineation, they both rely heavily upon the lord of the Ascendant and Mercury. Mercury indicates the manner of speaking (and also of intellect, to at least Abu’ali).

They seem to agree that Mercury in a cardinal sign (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) indicates an enthusiasm, fast grasp of things, and even skill in speech. Mercury in a fixed sign (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius) indicates a deeper more serious search for truth and a giver of good advice. However,  Mercury in a mutable sign, which includes Virgo and Gemini as well as Sagittarius and Pisces, is indicative of a small intellect quick to anger and slow to understand.  Additionally, Abu Bakr, in a passage pertaining to indications of quickness to rage, noted Mercury in one of his own domiciles as an indication of instability.  These passages are summarized below.

Mercury through the Quadruplicities

Mercury in a Cardinal/Moveable Sign (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn)

Masha’allah said, “…strong and in a moveable sign, it indicates he has a good way of speaking, and an honored one, and one fearing God” (Dykes, 2008, Section 5, p. 398).  On Mercury in a cardinal sign, Abu’ali said, “…it signifies the intellect’s loftiness, easy grasp [of things], and [its] beauty, and love of the sciences, and religion” (Dykes, 2009, Ch. 5, p. 236).

Mercury in a Fixed/Solid Sign (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius)

Masha’allah said, “…it indicates he is going to be honored, and by means of truth and goodness and counsel in his life, and his advice will be most truthful in every way, and will free hindered advice from hindrances” (Dykes, 2008, Section 5, p. 398).  On Mercury in a fixed sign, Abu’ali said, “…it signifies prudence, constancy, mercy [or pity], and the fulfillment of things undertaken” (Dykes, 2009, Ch. 5, p. 236).

Mercury in a Mutable/Common Sign (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces)

Masha’allah said, “…it indicates he has little wisdom, and is liable to anger, and as a rule he does not believe the advice of another” (Dykes, 2008, Section 5, p. 398). On Mercury in a mutable sign, Abu’ali said, “…it signifies a small intellect with great speediness, and quickness to anger, and a scarce and small stability or perseverance in something undertaken, or advice, or business” (Dykes, 2009, Ch. 5, p. 236).  Additionally, Abu Bakr noted, “If Mercury were in his own domicile, the native will be fearful and unsound” (Dykes, 2010, On Nativities, Book II, Ch. 1.2, p. 143).

Not Just About Mercury

The delineation of intellectual strength is not something to be taken lightly.  Intellect cannot be delineated based on the quadruplicity of Mercury’s sign placement alone.  Many of the quotes above were said to pertain to both Mercury and the Lord of the Ascendant, as both were relevant concerning the character. Additionally, the approach is based strongly on Ptolemy (2nd century) who also emphasized the quadruplicity of the significant personality factors. However, Ptolemy’s main factors were the Moon and Mercury (rather than Asc Lord and Mercury). In what follows, “solstitial” means cardinal and “bicoporeal” means mutable.

Of the signs of the zodiac in general, then, the solstitial signs produce souls fitted for dealing with the people, fond of turbulence and political activity, glory-seeking, moreover, and attentive to the gods, noble, mobile, inquisitive, inventive, good at conjecture, and fitted for astrology and divination. The bicorporeal signs make souls complex, changeable, hard to apprehend, light, unstable, fickle, amorous, versatile, fond of music, lazy, easily acquisitive, prone to change their minds. The solid signs make them just, unaffected by flattery, persistent, firm, intelligent, patient, industrious, stern, self-controlled, tenacious of grudges, extortionate, contentious, ambitious, factious, grasping, hard, inflexible. (Ptolemy, Book III, Ch. 13, Robbins trans., p. 335)

Quadruplicity is just one consideration, and a thorough consideration of quadruplicity should involve looking at the quadruplicity of not only Mercury, but also its twelfth-part, the Ascendant, the Ascendant lord, the Moon, and the Lot of Spirit. There have been great geniuses born with Mercury in each of the signs. Consider the following individuals with Mercury in mutable signs:

Gemini: Nikola Tesla, Karl Marx, Jean-Paul Sartre, etc.

Virgo: Leo Tolstoy, Howard Hughes, Claude Debussy, George Soros, etc.

Sagittarius: Isaac Newton, Noam Chomsky, Benoit Mandelbrot, etc.

Pisces: Copernicus, Bach, Charles Darwin, Thomas Jefferson. etc.

The Benefits of Mercury in Detriment or Fall

Many traditional astrologers today associate Mercury in detriment or fall with a “debilitated Mercury”. This debility means that Mercury is not able to express its true nature, being weakened by the contrary sign and overall less fortunate. However, Mercury is in detriment or fall when it is in one of the signs of Jupiter, the greater benefic. Rulership by Jupiter at least links Mercury with wisdom, philosophy and/or religion, and the search for greater truth. Rulership by Jupiter also links Mercury with gain and fortune.

Noam Chomsky and Christopher Hirata (child prodigy with a very high IQ who started work with NASA when 16), both have Mercury in Sagittarius. Both also have Mercury combust the Sun in Sagittarius, not regarded by its ruler Jupiter, but conjunct an angle and in a stake, with strong identification with Mercury as it is either in the first or ruling the first house in both charts.  Copernicus too had Mercury ruled by Jupiter, this time in Pisces. Mercury is again with the Sun in a stake, with Mercury ruling the first house (Virgo), though he has Jupiter regarding Mercury.

In these cases, we see that the other factors are more important than dignity, quadruplicity, reception, and combustion. The link of Mercury with Jupiter by rulership, the prominence of Mercury by advancement, and the identification with Mercury shown through some important rulership of the Ascendant and/or position in the stakes are more important indications of notable intellectual prowess. Note that Mercury with the Sun may show additional public importance.

Traditional Emphasis

What is significant is that Mercury in a mutable sign, especially Mercury in its own domicile, was ever considered an indication of a weaker, more superficial, or more unstable intellect. It is also interesting that Mercury was given a relatively similar signification in all the mutable signs. These signs range from those where Mercury has negative dignity by scoring methods to those with very positive dignity.

This historic fact indicates that “dignity” was much less emphasized than it is today, while other sign features like quadruplicity were more emphasized, at least among some ancient astrologers. Today, dignity is too often treated as an over-riding factor for strength and benefit associated with a planet. In truth, it is just a planet ruling itself, one that’s become a little bit more hyper-prototypical and less tied to other planets. In the case of Mercury, this may not be a good thing.

Mercury’s Mercurial Enough

Mercury, as a significator of intellect and speech, moves from place to place and constantly connects things. It is like the syntax of language, chaining complex ideas together.  Similarly, mutable signs are associated with back-and-forth between two things or parties.  It would seem that a mutable sign accentuates the instability of Mercury, rather than directing it and stabilizing it.  Furthermore, when he’s just working for himself, so to speak, Mercury is even more unstable.  This seems to be particularly so in Gemini, which is additionally an air sign, accentuating the flitting quality of Mercury.

In my experience, I find Mercury’s quadruplicity to be a weaker indication of intellectual strength or its lack.  I may address the delineation of intellect at greater depth in a future article. The main idea here is that Mercury in its own signs may be a counter-indication of intellectual strength. For this reason, and many more, we should not over-rely on the concept of dignity for strength or benefit.

Personal Note: Mercury in Fall

On a personal note, my daughter’s early and articulate language use has impressed me. She has Mercury in Pisces and combust, within 3 degrees of the Sun, though strongly advancing and in the 5th. Additionally, four of her seven planets are in Air signs, including a Gemini Moon. Jupiter, the ruler of Mercury, is cadent and retreating in the 12th, so it does not aspect Mercury. She was fluid and articulate in her speech from when she first began to speak. She has always been ahead of the curve both linguistically and mathematically. Teachers have raved to me about the depth of her story-telling and social abilities. She tells her stories with an unusual amount of detail and is not afraid to use big words.

Conclusion

My hope is that this article forces many astrologers to question their assumptions about dignity. A sign’s influence on the significations of a planet are more complex than dignity scoring would have one believe. The quadruplicity, triplicity, and nature of the ruler of a sign are important considerations. They can be obscured in an approach that emphasizes dignity. Additionally, the delineation of any matter, including the manner of speech and thought, involves more than just sign placement, and should involve multiple relevant factors.

For more on the problems with dignity and its scoring, please see the article on Dahmer and Turner, the article on the history of dignity scoring, and the article on James Holmes.

 

Update October 2018

This article was thoroughly edited and updated in late October of 2018 with additional content intended to clarify the main points.

Featured Image

Mercury with Fig Leaf (cropped) by Sputnikcccp at en.wikipedia. Photo taken by Sputnikcccp in the Vatican, May 25, 2003. (Transferred from en.wikipedia) [GFDL, GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0], from Wikimedia Commons

References
al-Tabari, U., & al-Hasib, A. B. (2010). Persian Nativities II:  ’Umar al-Tabari and Abu Bakr. (B. N. Dykes, Trans.). Minneapolis, MN: The Cazimi Press.
Bishr, S. ibn, & Masha’allah. (2008). Works of Sahl & Masha’allah. (B. N. Dykes, Trans.). Minneapolis, MN: The Cazimi Press.
Masha’allah, & al-Khayyat, A.  ’Ali. (2009). Persian Nativities I: Masha’allah and Abu  ’Ali. (B. N. Dykes, Trans.). Minneapolis, MN: The Cazimi Press.
Ptolemy, C. (1940). Ptolemy: Tetrabiblos. (F. E. Robbins, Trans.). Cambridge, MA: Loeb Classical Library. Retrieved from http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Ptolemy/Tetrabiblos/home.html

Character | 1. The Curious Case of Jeffrey Dahmer and Ted Turner Revisited

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If Not Dignity, Then What?

In the polemical “The Curious Case of Jeffrey Dahmer and Ted Turner“, I showed how dignity is not a good indicator of a planet’s tendency towards more positive or negative significations. The charts of Jeffrey Dahmer (4 planets in domicile) and Ted Turner (4 planets in fall or detriment) are cogent reminders of how inaccurate the use of dignity for beneficence can be. However, the question remains as to how one should judge beneficence and loftiness of character (moral disposition) and social status (eminence).

The delineation of character, morality, and eminence is complex.  Of those, character is the easiest. Traditional methods will tell you far more in regards to character than modern psychological astrology. Eminence is a much messier can of worms. In the application of eminence techniques, I often find more relevance in terms of social mobility, than in terms of a pre-ordained hierarchical “rank of fame”, as some traditionalists describe it. Eminence will be explored at some later time.

Character Basics

Ascendant Lords, Mercury, and Dominant Planets

Abu’ali on the Lord of the Ascen­dant and Mer­cury: “these sig­nify the mat­ters of the soul, and the morals of the native, just as the Moon and the Ascen­dant sig­nify the body” (The Judg­ment of Nativ­i­ties, Dykes trans., 2009, p. 236). Abu Bakr on the other hand has us look at dom­i­nant plan­ets in the chart, par­tic­u­larly those in the 1st or 10th. This is similar in spirit to the “vic­tor of the chart” approaches which were popular in the later middle ages. Ptolemy looks at Mer­cury for the ratio­nal mind and the Moon for the irra­tional, mir­rored in the modern-day notion of a con­scious and uncon­scious mind.

Overall, in character analysis, I find the Ascendant Lord(s) and the dominant planet(s) to be the most important starting points of the delineation. All of the rulers of the Ascendant are of some significance for character, as all are connected in some way with the individual themselves (signified by the Ascendant). Prominent planets in the chart are a strong influence upon the life, so their impact will be felt, but if they have no rulership of the Ascendant then there is not likely to be an identification with the planet.

Fixed Stars

Powerful fixed stars conjunct the Ascendant, MC, Moon, and Mercury are very influential upon the character but will not be dealt with much here. Suffice it to say that Dahmer has the very martial star Pollux on his MC which the author of The Book of Aristotle (initially believed to have been Masha’allah) associated with Mars and a wrathful violent temperament, especially by day (Masha’allah, Ch. III.2.1, Dykes trans., 2009, p. 79).

Lots

There are some lots which are also relevant to character, especially the Lot of Spirit (but others as well). I will not being exploring the lots here.

Planetary Strength

Rather than using all strength/weakness and beneficence/maleficence con­di­tions at my dis­posal in the lit­er­a­ture, I’m going to restrict myself to those I find most impor­tant. They are the same factors I used in the series on faith and were discussed in the first article of that series.

Per­son­ally, I rec­og­nize at least 3 dis­tinct types of strength: prominence, stability, and pertinence.

Vol­ume

Volume or prominence per­tain to the extent that a planet pours out its nat­ural sig­ni­fi­ca­tions. A prominent planet influences many areas of life in a strong way, not just those associated with the houses it occupies and rules. Prominence is shown by advancing/retreating, sta­tions, pha­sis, and apogees.

Prototypicality

Prototypicality and stability are less impor­tant than prominence. They are shown by var­i­ous con­di­tions of con­gruity. These include sign-based dig­nity, the joys, and gender conditions, among others.  Stability has various forms. A stable planet is likely to signify what it signifies consistently in life. A planet in a fixed sign is more stable than one in a mutable sign, and one in a cardinal sign is least stable of all. Dignity, especially domicile, makes a planet more consistent and stable in its indications (for better or worse) because it is its own ruler. A planet ruled by another planet of a contrary nature is less stable as it is influenced by the ruler.

Pertinence

Pertinence is the rel­e­vance of a planet to a par­tic­u­lar mat­ter. For intance, a planet in the 1st or one of its stakes (especially the 10th) is pertinent to the character of the per­son.  When a planet or point nat­u­rally sig­ni­fies some­thing, is in a place, rules a place, or regards a place (especially by opposition or the right side), it becomes pertinent to a matter.

Strength is not beneficence or maleficence. The benefit or harm associated with an indication per­tains more to nat­ural sig­ni­fi­ca­tion, sect, place, and plan­e­tary influence.

Jeffrey Dahmer: Malefics through the Moon and Venus

I recommend watching this fascinatingly candid interview with Dahmer in which he discusses the impetus of his actions.

Rulers of the 1st

The ruler of the 1st was com­monly used because it is pertinent to the character by way of the accidental signification of the 1st house as the house of the individual. It was used for character and moral disposition by Masha’allah in On Nativ­i­ties, and Abu’ali in The Judg­ment of Nativ­i­ties, among others.

Jeffrey Dahmer’s Natal Chart

8th House Venus Overcome by Saturn

Venus, a natural benefic, pertaining to beauty, sensuality, and pleasure is made malefic by being out of sect and in the 8th place. She is regarded on the right-side most closely by Sat­urn (by trine) in the 4th. Sat­urn is the dom­i­nant plan­e­tary influ­ence over Venus, as she is over­come by Sat­urn and in Saturn’s bound. The bound ruler of the Ascen­dant Lord is very impor­tant to Masha’allah in show­ing the native’s involve­ment in some­thing. Sat­urn, planet of death and the macabre, is in the 4th which has sig­ni­fi­ca­tions related to the dead and buried things. Saturn, the 4th house, and the Saturn bound all rein­force the sig­ni­fi­ca­tions of death and harm of the 8th.

That Venus does not regard the Ascen­dant is sig­nif­i­cant. Venus is in a “dark” place. Venus puts the native in con­nec­tion with hid­den or dark ele­ments of life. This in itself does not nec­es­sar­ily signify the native is immoral. It is com­mon for instance for those involved in social reform, prisons, institutions, and so forth to have the ruler of the 1st in the 6th or 12th. Also, those involved in lend­ing and insur­ance may have it in the 8th.

A Marriage of Saturn and Venus

The lack of aspect from Venus also prompts us to look more closely at the influ­ence of other rulers of the Ascendant, espe­cially Sat­urn. Saturn is the exal­ta­tion and first trip­lic­ity ruler. It is in the 4th, and retreat­ing. Saturn’s retreat makes it less pub­lic and pervasive, but it is still very personally sig­nif­i­cant as it is in a stake. Saturn is in the bound of Venus, adding to the sig­nif­i­cant rela­tion­ship between

Sat­urn and Venus. Saturn and Venus, and the 4th and 8th houses are central to char­ac­ter­iz­ing the native’s per­son­al­ity. There is pleasure-seeking, asso­ci­ated with death and dirge, the macabre. Venus made bad, as an impor­tant per­son­al­ity sig­ni­fi­ca­tor, tends to per­tain to shame­less excess. Super­fi­cially, we would think that he’d seem gen­tle, possibly effem­i­nate, some­what depres­sive, and quite shy.

Malefic Venus, Alcohol, Sex, and Dead Things

In Dahmer’s case, the Venus tended toward abuse of alcohol (Venus as drinks, made malefic signifying intoxicants), compulsive indulgence, and difficult sexuality. He was considered a catch within the gay community and would manipulate men into positions where he could harm them. He would often drug his victims. His ultimate motivation was sexual attraction and a desire for sexual possession.

The associations of this Venus with death are very strong. Venus is not only in the 8th place of death, but is in a very close relationship with Saturn, lord of death and dead things.

Ages of Man and Developmental Venus

Venus becomes developmentally activated from the age of 14 to 22, roughly the ages of sexual development. During Dahmer’s adolescence he went from the Mercurial highly curious boy of Mercury in the 9th, to the withdrawn, secretive, Saturnine Venus in the 8th. This brought very vivid sexual fantasies of necrophilia.

Mer­cury

Mercury was used by many for the character and moral disposition, includ­ing Masha’allah, Abu’ali, and Ptolemy, among oth­ers.

Mutability and Confusion

Mer­cury is not nec­es­sar­ily strong for intel­lect in Virgo or Gem­ini. Mer­cury in a com­mon (i.e. muta­ble) sign, such as Virgo or Gem­ini, was said to sig­nify a small but quick intel­lect, liable to anger. It indicates an unstable mind, that has trouble with per­se­ver­ance. This is in contrast to the extremely hon­or­able intel­lect of Mer­cury in a fixed sign. It also differs from the con­fi­dence, quick grasp, enthu­si­asm, and good-speaking abil­ity of Mer­cury in a move­able (i.e. car­di­nal) sign. This is a rather weak indication though, as there have been a number of great geniuses with Mercury in mutable signs (especially Sagittarius and Pisces as Jupiter connects gain to the intellect).

Out of Sect and Closely Aspected by Mars

Dahmer’s Mer­cury is out of sect, though in a some­what good place (the 9th). It is apply­ing to Mars, and scru­ti­nized by Mars in a very close appli­ca­tion in which Mars over­comes Mer­cury.  There is a vast range with Mer­cury in terms of benefic thru malefic sig­ni­fi­ca­tions. Mer­cury is somewhat weak­ened though, par­tic­u­larly for intel­lec­tual activ­i­ties from the mutability. There is also weakness due to its cadency and from combustion (it is under the Sun’s beams).

Deceitful Intentions

Dahmer was said to be a relatively good student as a youth. However, he didn’t pursue higher education and was not an intellectual. Overall, his intellectual abilities were capable enough to allow him to commit murder and cover his tracks over many years. He used his intellect in ways that were particularly maligned. His focus was on deceit, from drugging men at clubs to take advantage of them, to secretly raping, murdering, and even eating men. In a sense, the chart reveals Mercury to be most active as an accomplice of Mars, as it applies to Mars which overcomes it. Combustion may be signifying the way his intentions were kept “obscured”.

The Dom­i­nant Planet

The Setting Moon

The Moon hap­pens to also be the dom­i­nant planet in the chart. She is strongly advanc­ing in the same degree as the Descendant. Mars, Sat­urn, and to a much lesser extent, Jupiter, are also quite dom­i­nant by being in the stakes. However, the Moon is in a stake and gen­er­ally strong, con­junct the angle.

The Moon is the planet sig­ni­fy­ing the irra­tional mind. This is the mind that later came to be called the subconscious.  The Moon has an extremely strong influ­ence in the life. It is as if she is broadcasting from a loudspeaker all over the life. This makes Dahmer particularly attuned to her very subjective, vivid, irrational influences.

Reflecting the Malefics

The Moon is co-p­re­sent with Mars so her sig­ni­fi­ca­tions are mixed with Mars. Accord­ing to Ser­a­pio, the planet in the earlier zodi­a­cal degree is typically more influential when two plan­ets are in the same sign (a type of overcoming).  The Moon is also ruled by Mars so the Moon is strongly influ­enced by Mars.

The Moon is also in the bound of Mer­cury, but Saturn, which is dominating her from the 4th (within 3*) is a much more direct influ­ence. Over­all, the out of sect Moon is overwhelmed by the influences of Mars and Saturn. The irrational impulses are pulled along malefic vio­lent and macabre dimensions.

Moon-Mars in the House of Partners

The Moon is in the 7th which pertains to encounters with others, especially romantic partners.  Mars rules and occupies the place, while Saturn dominates the place.  Both Mars and Saturn are in “stakes” and thus very strongly important to Dahmer. However, both are retreating, thus they are private, moving behind the scenes, avoiding any loud broadcasting of their significations. The Moon, in contrast, is blaring her peculiar lunar energy across the life. She is the vehicle through which Mars and Saturn find entrance into the life.

The Moon and Mom

Interestingly, some focal issues in Dahmer’s early life revolved around his mother’s anxiety and combativeness. This created a lot of stress in his home. His first murder happened just after high school at a time when his mother unexpectedly left him in the house alone for an extended period of time. The Mars-Moon has some symbolism regarding mental illness, particularly anxiety. His mother’s anxiety disorder is vividly symbolized as Mars shows an overload of energy. Mars-Moon also symbolizes Dahmer’s unconscious need (Moon) for violence (Mars) against partners (7th house).

Conclusion

Dahmer can be most strongly identified with a strong Venus-Saturn configuration between the 8th and 4th houses. A Venus made malefic showing a dark overly indulgent type. He was driven by a cold and macabre sense of sexuality and beauty.

Pulled by Venus into sensual indulgence, the strong lunar influence upon his life saw him embracing irrational impulses.  The nature of the irrational mind and sense of beauty are colored predominantly by the malefics. Themes of violence and the macabre are particularly prominent.

The personality is overall phlegmatic and melancholic. He is somewhat feminine (through Venus), coolly frank (through Saturn), with a touch of joviality (through Jupiter).

Ted Turner: Aggressively Ambitious and Gregarious Mercury

Ruler of the 1st

A Very Benefic Jupiter

Jupiter is the ruler of the 1st and is the sect benefic. He is in the 3rd of siblings, communications, journalism, current events, and transportation.  Jupiter naturally signifies a cheerful disposition, charisma, faith/positivity, and a desire to seek greater truth.  He is natually benefic and here is also in sect and dominated by Venus. Therefore, this is a very gregarious and positive Jupiter indeed.

Ted Turner’s Natal Chart

A Connected and Choleric Jupiter

Jupiter is influenced by many planets. He is very closely dominated by the Sun, but also dominated by Venus, closely overcome by the Moon (trine), overcome by Mercury (sextile), and overcome by Mars (trine).  Jupiter is in the bound of Mars and the domicile and triplicity of Saturn. Therefore, there is quite a lot going on with Jupiter, which is in a relationship with every planet in the chart.

Jupiter is most dominantly influenced by the Sun, then Mars, then Venus. In my opinion, this brings out a much more choleric or ambitious Jupiter but one with aesthetic dimensions.  Jupiter is not particularly prominent (cadent, retreating). However, it is relevant to eminence through its close regard by the Lights. Its weakness is also counter-acted by the strong advance of Mars and Saturn, its rulers, in the chart.

The Popular Sibling

Overall, we expect a cheerful, gregarious, likable personality, but one a bit heated and geared toward power plays. He values style and sensuality. There is a particular connection to matters of communications and/or journalism (the 3rd).

The Dominant Planet

Mercury Rising

Mercury is the dominant planet in the chart. It’s strongly advancing towards the Ascendant and is in the 1st. Mercury is in its own bound, reinforcing Mercury’s natural significations relating to news and communications. It is also the natural significator of business and commerce and is in the sign of Jupiter.

Mercury is out of sect, and very closely overcome by Mars, so Mercury can pertain to malefic significations, despite position in the very good 1st place. There is a broad range of good and bad significations. Negative significations relevant to character are tied to Mars in the 11th of friends and popularity. This can pertain to a propensity for aggressive speech, words reflecting bad on one’s character or creating problems in friendships. It may even show deception. The most well-known manifestation in Turner’s life has been a propensity to put his foot in his mouth and make controversial public statements. There is both a Jupiterian casual humor and a bit of Mercury’s more mischievous side. Mars makes the mind very keen, intense, and aggressive. It may be difficult to turn off or control the chatter.

The Moon

The Moon is out of sect, in the bound of Mars, co-present with Mars, and opposed by Saturn. Therefore, the Moon can signify very difficult matters.  The Moon is in the 11th, which is one of the most benefic places of the chart so there is a range, but the Moon can be difficult.

Overall the Moon is somewhat torn between the venusian Mars and the martial Saturn. Mars in Libra in the 11th showing an overt hot ambition, particularly for popularity, achievement, and sensual pleasure. Saturn showing heated obligations, restrictions, and responsibilities. The Moon, Mars, and Saturn are in the most benefic places in the chart, the 11th and 5th, but we expect difficulties in mental extremes from the malefics. There is a weight on a subconscious level and a choleric temperament of great restlessness.  Most problematic from the influence of the malefics may be matters of friends, children, romance, and personal leisure.

Conclusion

Mercury plays a huge role in characterizing Ted Turner as someone constantly involved in media, analysis, and business.  The role of Jupiter is also very strong and important to self-identification. Both are particularly choleric (ambitious, domineering).

We expect someone who is fast-thinking and busy. He is curious, mischievous, and aggressively ambitious, particularly when it comes to opinions, commerce, and technology. The identification with Jupiter bring an over-arching benefic sense to the personality of wanting to do good, help out, and expose truth.

The combination of Jupiter and Mercury makes for a very gregarious and humorous personality overall – a mix of the sanguine and the choleric. The tendency to domineering speech is shown by Mars overcoming Mercury and the sheer prominence of Mercury. However, as Mercury is in a mutable sign and ruled by a cadent retreating planet, there may be a tendency for more chatter than substance.

References

Masha’allah, & al-Khayyat, A. ’Ali. (2009). Persian Nativities I: Masha’allah and Abu ’Ali. (B. N. Dykes, Trans.). Minneapolis, MN: The Cazimi Press.

Image Attribution

Cropped image of a derivative work by wikimedia user Zenman from an original image by user cliff1066. Image is of a mask by the Wee peoples, Côte d’Ivoire, Late 19th to mid-20th century.

Persian Mundane Astrology | The Six Elements for Deducing Advanced Knowledge

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Foreward

There’s a lunar eclipse today. It seems like a good time to discuss the importance of solar and lunar phenomena in ancient mundane astrology. Honestly, despite my great interest in mundane astrology, I haven’t studied it thoroughly. Therefore, I avoid mundane prognostication.

I’m sure that if you search for “lunar eclipse December 10, 2011, astrology”, you’ll be inundated with mundane astrological predictions. I’m also pretty sure that most of the predictions will be vague and obvious. You’ll see people predict that some existing long-term crisis will be prolonged. You know, the type of crisis that always takes years to resolve anyway.  🙂

However, if you want to spot a change in the trends, then you should know the type of charts to look at. Let’s take a look at that.

Mundane Astrology

Mundane astrology is the study of astrological significations as they relate to the general world, including political, religious, cultural, and meteorological events. In many regards, there is simply a lack of high quality and clear Hellenistic and Persian mundane texts in English. By contrast, there are extensive works on natal astrology. Additionally, in the Persian medieval period, there is an outpouring of pivotal horary and electional material, but the mundane material is less pronounced.

Abu Ma’shar On the Great Conjunctions

Perhaps, the most comprehensive, and certainly the most influential, treatment of mundane astrology from the period that interests me (pre-1100 CE), came from Abu Ma’shar in the 9th Century CE. It is known as The Book of Religions and Dynasties, or On the Great Conjunctions, among many other names.

An English translation by Keiji Yamamoto and Charles Burnett was released in 2000.  This translation can be a bit confusing, and at a price over $500 on Amazon, it can also be prohibitively expensive.  College students should know that Texas A&M University has a copy available for inter-library loan.

This text should serve as something of a bible for traditionalists into mundane astrology, particularly for those who are fans of Abu Ma’shar. I’ve heard that Benjamin Dykes, who produces clearest and most thorough translations of ancient astrological texts available, has planned on translating the text at some point.

A 16th century Latin translation of Abu Ma’shar’s classic text of mundane astrology, On the Great Conjunctions.

Six Elements for Deducing Advanced Knowledge

One of the first issues that come up with mundane astrological work is deciding which charts matter most and how they fit together.

In Book I, Chapter 1, of The Book of Religions and Dynasties, Abu Ma’shar sets out the 6 levels of important mundane charts. These are hierarchically arranged in terms of the length of time for which they give significations. One of the more fascinating aspects of that exposition is that all of the charts are of lunar syzygies (New and Full Moons) and solar sign ingresses.  The level of importance assigned to a specific ingress or syzygy pertains to its proximity in time to important phenomena.  Here is the list of the six elements for deducing advanced knowledge (from Book I, Ch. 1, 12-21).  You may find it helpful to use the handy tables of Jupiter-Saturn conjunctions and Mars-Saturn conjunctions supplied on Richard Nolle’s website.

1. Aries Ingress Preceding Great Conjunction in Aries

A great conjunction is a conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn. Presumably, this is the first conjunction in Aries of the series in the fire triplicity.  This occurs about every 960 years. The next 1st conjunction in Aries of the fire triplicity series would take place every 960 years ideally, but can actually be a much shorter or longer period.  Currently, it’s the Aries Ingress of 1702.

2. Aries Ingress Preceding Great Conjunction in New Triplicity

Presumably, this is the 1st conjunction in a new triplicity marking the beginning of the series in that triplicity, even if there are one or two last bastion conjunctions after it in the series of the prior triplicity.  This occurs about every 240 years. Again, it seems it could be applicable for quite a bit longer or shorter a period, depending on the particular length of time of the series.  Currently, it’s the Aries Ingress of 1980 (great conjunction in air).

3. Aries Ingress Preceding Mars-Saturn Conjunction in Cancer

This occurs about every 30 years.  Currently, it’s the Aries Ingress of 2004.

4. Aries Ingress Preceding a Great Conjunction

This occurs about every 20 years.  Currently, it’s the Aries Ingress of 2000.

5. Three Quarterly Charts

A. Solar ingress into a cardinal sign (i.e. charts of the equinoxes and solstices – especially the Spring Equinox)

B. New Moon that precedes “A” (i.e. the New Moon preceding a equinox or solstice)

C. Full Moon that precedes “A” (i.e. the Full Moon that precedes the equinox or solstice)

The Aries ingress is the most significant of these and is the main chart used for predictions of the year.

6. Three Monthly Charts

A. Solar ingress into a new sign

B. New Moon

C. Full Moon

Typically B (new moon) was preferred when the lunation directly preceding the ingress was a New Moon, while C (Full Moon) was preferred when the lunation directly preceding the ingress was a Full Moon.

Solar Ingresses and Lunar Syzygies

This is the hierarchy of mundane charts presented by Ma’shar in Book 1.  Many indications and predictive techniques, such as profections of the chart Ascendant, are derived from these charts for the relevant locations.  There is much more to Ma’shar’s own mundane predictive system than just these charts, but this exposition gives a general sense of the fundamental role solar ingresses and lunar syzygies, including eclipses, played in traditional mundane astrology. Basically, all the mundane charts looked at were of one of these classes (i.e. either the moment of a sign ingress or the moment of a lunation).

Note on Mean Conjunctions and the Zodiac

Please note that I give the ingress chart date using the true conjunction in the tropical zodiac for each of the first four categories. However, many Persian astrologers (including Abu Ma’shar) used mean conjunctions and the sidereal zodiac instead. Mean conjunctions assume an idealized steady progression through the signs with a clean transition to each new triplicity, rather than the actual progression in which the length may vary.  I feel strongly (and so did some medieval astrologers and most later astrologers) that the actual Jupiter-Saturn conjunctions in the tropical zodiac should be the point of reference.

References
Abu Ma’shar. (2000). Abu Ma’Sar on Historical Astrology: The Book of Religions and Dynasties on Great Conjunctions (Islamic Philosophy, Theology, and Science). (K. Yamamoto & C. Burnett, Trans.). Leiden and Boston: Brill Academic Publishers.
Image Attributions
Featured image of the painting Selene (1880) by Albert Aublet (cropped) is in the public domain.
Image of the 16th-century translation of Ma’shar’s On the Great Conjunctions is in the public domain. 

Astrological Predictive Techniques | 3. Another Basic Profection Example

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Edit: The James Randi example which was previously in this article was removed on 07/22/2020 due to some unintentional errors which were pointed out to me by a reader in a private correspondence.

Profections in a Predictive System

For those unfamiliar with profections, please review the first two articles of this series which introduce annual profections and those of smaller periods.  In the last article, it became clear that monthly profections are somewhat controversial.  Nevertheless, they are an easy and informative addition to one’s predictive arsenal, so I recommend their use.

The main idea behind profections is activation of natal potentials. However, their utility becomes clearest when they are used in concert with other predictive techniques such as solar returns, directions, and transits. In this article, we’ll look at some profection examples which incorporate other predictive techniques.

The Primacy of the Ascendant

Any point in the natal chart can be profected, but the profection of the Ascendant is particularly important. There is a logic to that.  No other point in the chart is so succinctly symbolic of the individual person, the self.

One may think of the sky as the soul, and the Earth as the body. The Ascendant is that point where the sky rises out from the Earth as the soul peers out through the body, manifesting experience. The Ascendant entering houses, is like a person entering houses.  Planets in the places will be directly encountered, planets ruling the places will oversee matters, and planets regarding the place may exert some influence.

Profections with Returns and Transits

Here we’ll look at some examples with solar returns and transits. The natal chart will show the default condition and the range of potentials possible in this. Solar returns reveal the overall plan of action for the year. Transits show the transient movement of guests around the chart (without telling much about what they’re up to in itself).

Returns and Precession

I should note that I prefer the use of precessed solar returns. It can be rather controversial and unorthodox as I use them with the tropical zodiac. In most articles, I will simply use the non-precessed return as a set of transits around the natal chart. However, the solar return Ascendant and its ruler are important for natal activation, particularly in the predictive system of Abu Ma’shar.

When using the return Ascendant this way, I find the precessed return to be much more informative than the non-precessed return.  For now, I’ll just go ahead and use the precessed return in this article, though you are welcome to use non-precessed returns in your own work if you prefer. A comparison between precessed and non-precessed returns is beyond the scope of this article.

The Profection Example

I’m only going to give a quick example with annual and monthly profections in concert with the solar return and transits. The example is David Carradine’s death by accidental autoerotic asphyxiation.

David Carradine’s Death

A brief bio of Carradine can be found on Wikipedia here. His AA-rated chart data can be found on AstroDatabank here.  He is reported to have died the evening of June 3, 2009 in Bangkok, Thailand by accidental asphyxiation.

Carradine’s Malefics

Carradine was born with the malefic Mars, out of sect and in the 8th, the place of death, assembled with the Moon, a natural significator of the body. Mars also overcomes the Sun by a scrutinizing (i.e. within 3*) sextile. The Sun is an important life-force signifier, especially for those born during the day.

Additionally, Carradine was born with Saturn rising, in the 1st place, adhering (i.e. conjunct within 3*) to the Ascendant, and in a partile (i.e. same zodiacal degree/part) square with the Sun.

Therefore, in matters of death we particularly expect to see Mars playing a role, as well as to some extent Saturn and Venus. Why Venus? Because Venus rules the 8th. Note that Venus is in Capricorn, Saturn’s earthy nocturnal abode, and she is in a bound of Mars. The combination of these planets is appropriate to the sexual nature of the death, as well as the constrictive and violent nature.

Carradine’s natal chart with transits at time of death on outer wheel

Saturn Occupies Annual Profection

His death took place at age 72.  As 72 is a multiple of 12, this puts him in a 1st place, Pisces, year, profecting the Ascendant to natal Saturn, with Jupiter as lord of the year.  Jupiter is a little bit weakened by being in fall, but overall is quite benefic and strong, as it is in its joy, the strong good 11th place, and is in sect and in phasis, assembled with Venus.  Jupiter is ruled by Saturn and dominated by Mars. Therefore, while overall we expect an excellent and popular year from Jupiter with much fortune, Jupiter is subject to the malefics and does not prohibit danger.

Here we see the value of the indications of the planet occupying the place, Saturn. There is also clearly a danger of reading too much into the Lord of the Year alone and its natal standing. However, my understanding is that it was a popular year for Carradine with a lot of opportunities and travel.

Sun-Saturn Square Highlighted

The profection for the month of death was to the 6th place, Leo, ruled by the Sun. The 6th is the house o illness and accidents. This particular year and month lord combination highlighted the Sun-Saturn square in the natal chart. Both planets are extremely strong and generally carry positive significations in the natal chart. They are both in sect, in good places, and in signs of Jupiter.  It was indeed a very positive year for Carradine prior to the asphyxiation accident. He had about a dozen films of his in post-production at the time of his death.

Mars-Sun and Saturn Rising Solar Return

Looking at the solar return, we see some very different indications.  Perhaps most importantly, srMars is in a partile conjunction (actually within about 2′ of a degree!) with the natal Sun (nSun). Both malefics are strongly advancing while the benefics are the weakest planets in the chart. The solar return Ascendant is in Carradine’s 7th place, Virgo, ruled by Mercury. The 7th (like the 4th, but to a lesser extent than the 8th) carries associations with death, as it is the place of setting.  Significantly, srSaturn is in the 1st of the return, strongly rising, echoing that configuration in Carradine’s chart. Return Saturn opposes his natal Saturn, and squares his natal Sun. Overall, the solar return speaks of activation and strong intensification of the affliction of Carradine’s Sun by Mars and Saturn.

David Carradine’s Last Solar Return (precessed)

Lunar Return with Mars in the House of Death

The day of death was also Carradine’s lunar return. The Moon returned to the 8th place which it shares with Mars in the natal chart. On that day, the lord of the year, Jupiter was transiting in the 12th, in a very weak spot of the natal chart. Transiting Mars was in partile trine to natal Jupiter, striking Jupiter with its rays.

Saturn-Sun All Around

The most significant aspects are from Saturn and the Sun which both oppose their natal positions. Transiting Saturn was at 15 Virgo (srAscendant) on Carradine’s Descendant (13VIR) and opposing natal Saturn. Saturn was also transiting in a dominating square to the natal Sun. Both aspects were within less than 3 degrees of exact (i.e. both scrutinizing).  Transiting Sun was at 12 Gemini, strongly applying squares to natal and transiting Saturn and opposing the natal Sun.

Dealing with Complex Indications

With this example, we can see how worthwhile it can be to combine annual and monthly profections together with solar returns. Transits themselves are rather superficial without them. Also, transits are almost completely meaningless without any context from a natal chart. For these reasons, I don’t recommend transit cookbooks.

We see the capacity for someone to have a great year apart from one really horrible event.  Someone may have a natal chart that indicates extraordinary luck, popularity, longevity, social mobility, health, and so forth, but still, bad things do happen to everyone. It is important to understand the range of potential in a natal chart. A benefic planet, simply by being out of sect, or in a bad place, or ruled by a malefic, etc. can have some negative potential linked to it. Very rarely does any planet in one’s chart have only the capacity to signify good.

This is the great difficulty in prediction. Indications are subject to the potentials in the natal chart, and the potentials in the natal chart are in a sense infinite. To deeply work on the natal chart we must understand things like general strength, general beneficence, particularly in relation to topics. However, we also need to understand the range or variance of possible significations, and the specific activations that an bring out less common indications. In this way, we get a feel for whether a certain period of time will be more of what’s generally promised or carry some big surprises.

Adding More Predictive Tools

We are still dealing with an extremely stripped-down predictive system.  There will be more articles on profections in this series.

It is important to keep in mind that there are many additional techniques that played a key role in the predictive systems of people like Abu Ma’shar.  There are also many predictive methods found in Valens which have yet to be thoroughly explored.

Astrologers combine their preferred set of predictive methods into their own predictive systems as no single predictive technique is in itself adequate to signify the most important events in one’s life.  Just as there are special techniques for natal matters, in which multiple factors are examined, prediction is best when one uses a number of effective predictive techniques in concert.

Image Attribution

The featured image is of 17th-century frescoes in Svetitskhoveli, Mtskheta, Georgia, including a zodiac. The image is in the public domain.

Astrological Predictive Techniques | 2. Monthly Profections

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This is why such extremes of experience are found in the passage of time, and good is linked to bad, sorrow attends success, and in its inconstancy fortune maintains no steady course: to such an extent is it varied and changing, nowhere remaining the same; and by its commutation of everything in the lives of us all it has forfeited our trust.  (Manilius, Astronomica, 3.524-530, Goold trans., 1977, p. 206-207)

Profections for Smaller Time Periods

In the first article of this series, we looked at one of the simplest, most ubiquitous, and effective of ancient predictive techniques, profections.  Now, we’ll look at how astrologers applied this concept of profections to smaller time periods such as months, days, and hours. Therefore, if you are unfamiliar with profections, please read the first article to get acquainted before reading on.

Annual Profections Recap

When a native is born, the lord of the year is the lord of the house [ascendant] in which the native was born.  Thus count from the ascendant a year for each sign until you reach the year which you desire; the lord of that house is the lord of the year.  Look at the lord of this sign, whether it is a benefic or a malefic, and in the base-nativity how its position was and in which foundation it was.  From the base-nativity is known what is concerning him [the native] at the beginning of the year, and the beginning of the year is always when the Sun enters the beginning of the minute in which it was on the day of the native’s nativity. (Dorotheus, Carmen Astrologicum, Book IV-1.1-5, Pingree trans., p. 90)

Dorotheus goes on to discuss not only that the ruling planet (i.e. lord of the year) is important, but also the planets in the sign the Ascendant profects to, and the regards (i.e. aspects) of the planets to that sign (especially by opposition).

Variations on annual profections will be dealt with in greater depth in many future posts on predictive techniques, but Dorotheus has captured the main idea of the basic method pretty well.

Monthly Profections Basics

The monthly profection always involves moving (i.e. profecting) the Ascendant one sign per month. We start from the sign of the annual profection, which takes the first month. For instance, if one were 23 years old, born with Aries rising, then the annual profection would be to Pisces (24 would be first place, so 23 would be one back in the 12th place, Pisces). The first month after the solar return would be a Pisces month, with Jupiter as lord of the month. The next month would be an Aries month, with Mars as lord of the month, and so forth.

The simplest approach is to use the day of the month of your birthday as a marker.  For instance, if born on the 2nd of August, then you could have the 2nd of August to 2nd of September as the first month, 2nd of September to 2nd of October as second month, and so forth. This is the method I tend to use for finding a lord of the month. Early on in my studies of profections, it was the method that was recommended to me by Robert Zoller in his Diploma Course in Medieval Astrology (2003, Lesson 18, p. 17-18).

However, there was a greater diversity of opinion among ancient astrologers with regards to monthly profections. What did various astrologers of the Hellenistic and Persian periods have to say about monthly profections?

Opinions of Astrologers on Monthly Profections

Manilius on Smaller Profections

To every sign there comes an hour just once a day, a day twice in the month, a month once in the year, and a year once in twelve annual courses of the Sun.  (Manilius, Astronomica, 3.548-551, Goold trans., 1977, p. 207)

This passage is found in Manilius’s (1st century CE) discussion of an alternative method for profecting through the signs.  In another post dealing with additional profectional variants, I will address the other system preferred by Manilius. For our current purposes, we are focused on the more typical profection of the Ascendant.  Aside from the references to smaller units of profections, Manilius does make clear that the Ascendant profects to each sign once per year when it comes to monthly profections.

In terms of the smaller units, he notes that each sign gets a day twice in the month. I assume he was referring to the 2.5 day periods from dividing a month by 12. If each day were a new profection then half the signs would come up twice in the month and the other half would come up three times. Each sign comes up only once a day for hourly profections so these are 2 hour periods (either of an equal type or unequal based on planetary hours).

Al Biruni’s 13 Months

There is at least one notable exception in the literature to the 12-months per year rule. It occurs about 1,000 years after Manilius, with the noted Persian polymath Al Biruni (11th century CE):

When the signs and degrees of the yearly terms have been learnt, each year is divided into (thirteen) months of 28 days 1 hour 51 minutes and a sign to each given, so that the last month ends at the same degree as the radical ascendant has the same sign as the first, while the first month of the next year has the same sign as the year; similarly a sign is given to each of thirteen periods of 2 days 3 hours 50 minutes, the end of the last of these periods coinciding with the end of the monthly term. (Al Biruni, The Book of Instruction in the Elements of the Art of Astrology, 522, Wright, 1934, p. 95).

This 13-fold division of Al Biruni is atypical for profections. I don’t personally recommend it.

Ptolemy’s 2 1/3 Day Profections

The 13-fold division may have been an attempt to rationalize and refine some remarks by Ptolemy (2nd Century CE) referring to 28 day monthly profectional periods and 2 1/3 day daily profectional periods:

We shall discover the general chronocrators, then, in the manner described, and the annual chronocrators by setting out from each of the prorogatory places, in the order of the signs, the number of years from birth, one year to each sign,and taking the ruler of the last sign. We shall do the same thing for the months, setting out, again, the number of months from the month of birth, starting from the places that govern the year, twenty-eight days to a sign; and similarly for the days, we shall set out the number of the days from the day of birth, starting with the places which govern the months, two and a third days to a sign. (Ptolemy, Tetrabiblos, Book 4, Ch. 10, Robbins trans., 1940, p. 453).

Ptolemy used an approximation of the orbital period of the Moon. The orbital period is almost 28 days. The time it takes for the Moon to travel 360* in the zodiac.  Ptolemy took this as a month, rather than either the approximate synodic period of the Moon (almost 30 days, time between New Moons) or 1/12 of a year (just over 30 days), which seem to be more commonly chosen.

Other Hellenistic Astrologers

We will look at other Hellenistic astrologers to explore how they divided the time.  We will ignore Dorotheus (1st century CE) in this matter, as he presented totally different methods for finding month and day lords, that don’t seem to be based on profections.

Valens

Valens (2nd century CE) added much to the use of profections. He advocated profecting all the different planets and points to each other(with particularly stress on the Ascendant and Lights). This system of transmitting and receiving will be treated in another article. It is a variant on the basic idea of profections.

However, despite the large and complicated exposition of annual profections that Valens provided (c.f. Book 4, Ch. 11-13), he did not treat of monthly profections. Note that it is possible that I’ve overlooked some mention of monthly profections in his massive text. He seemed to have used different methods, including those used by Dorotheus, to find month and day lords.

Maternus

Julius Firmicus Maternus (4th century CE) also advocated annual profections, but used a different technique for periods less than a year (c.f. Mathesis, Book II, Ch. 27 vs. Ch. 28).

Paulus

Paulus Alexandrinus (4th century CE) did discuss monthly profections (c.f. Introductory Matters, II.31). However, he was not specific about how long the month should be. By contrast, he did specify that each daily profection should last one day, rather than 1/12 of a month.  This would yield about 2.5 cycles of 1 day profectional periods in a month, rather than the oft-found one cycle of 2.5 day periods.

I am not myself an advocate of using daily profectional lords at all. However, I can see the logic in using either the 2.5 day or the 1 day periods. If one is so inclined to use daily profections at all, then one should tinker to find which variety is most effective.

Perso-Arabic Astrology

In Persian predictive methods, the stress is on the annual profection of the Ascendant and its indicated Lord of the Year. There is little concern with monthly profections.

Masha’allah

Masha’allah discussed the Lord of the Year from the annual profection before other methods in his discussion of annual methods in Book IV of the Book of Aristotle. He even delineated each planet as Lord of the Year (c.f. Book IV.1-7). He did not employ profections for figuring month and day rulers.

‘Umar al-Tabari

‘Umar al-Tabari similarly placed a great deal of stress on annual profections. He employed a continuous 30* per year approach rather than discrete annual jumps by sign (to be addressed in a future article). However, he gave no discussion of monthly profections in Book II of his Three Books on Nativities.

Abu Ma’shar

Abu Ma’shar also emphasized the annual profection of the Ascendant. Like al-Tabari, he employed a continuous degree approach. The profected sign of the Ascendant is critical to his predictive method outlined in his On the Revolutions of the Years of Nativities. It received a lot of attention and delineation material, particularly in Book II.  However, monthly profections get only a very small mention. They are mentioned in Book IV in which he discussed rulers of shorter periods, He specifically uses a 30 day monthly profectional period, a 2.5 day daily profectional period, and even a five-hour hourly profectional period. Thus it is clear that he sees division by 12 as the key to deriving smaller profectional periods.

However, it should be noted that these profections of periods under a year are one of the last things discussed in his discussion of rulers of periods less than a year, and he doesn’t refer to any corresponding Lord of the Month, Day, or Hour. Instead, Ma’shar apparently used them aspectually. It’s unclear whether he actually used profections of smaller periods in natal prediction, or was simply conveying the idea behind them as a possibility for fine-tuned investigation.

In a given annual profection, profect the four chief indicators through the months at a rate of 30° per month. […]  For all of these, direct them through the next 30° (representing one month) at a rate of one day per degree, noting the planetary bodies and rays encountered. (Abu Ma’shar, On the Revolutions of the Years of Nativities, Book IX, Ch. 8, Dykes trans., 2010, p. 205-206).

Conclusion: A Confusing Legacy

In conclusion, monthly profections existed in the Hellenistic period but most Hellenistic astrologers didn’t use them for time lords. Their absence in most texts can be contrasted with the prevalence of annual profections.

When monthly and daily profections are employed, it is difficult to tell which time period to use. They can be based on a prototypical conception of the time period (such as 28 or 30 days for a monthly, and 1 day for a daily). On the other hand, they can be treated as 1/12 of the greater period (such as just over 30 days for monthly and 2.5 days for daily). There are conflicting indications given in the early texts when they are discussed. Interested readers should experiment to find the style that is most effective.

Personally, I do feel that adding monthly profections to one’s predictive toolbox is worthwhile. I think that their frequent neglect in ancient predictive material is in part owing to a general emphasis on larger time frames and bigger events. Transits are also often neglected in ancient astrology for the same reason. Transits too should not be neglected in the practice of the art in this fast-paced modern era of easy computation.

References
Biruni, A. (2006). Book of Instructions in the Elements of the Art of Astrology. (R. R. Wright, Trans.). Bel Air, MD: Astrology Classics.
Ma’shar, A. (2010). Persian Nativities III: Abu Ma’shar on Solar Revolutions. (B. N. Dykes, Trans.). Minneapolis, MN: The Cazimi Press.
Manilius, M. (1977). Astronomica. (G. P. Goold, Trans.). Cambridge, MA: Loeb Classical Library.
Ptolemy, C. (1940). Ptolemy: Tetrabiblos. (F. E. Robbins, Trans.). Cambridge, MA: Loeb Classical Library. Retrieved from http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Ptolemy/Tetrabiblos/home.html
Sidon, D. of. (2005). Carmen Astrologicum. (D. Pingree, Trans.). Abingdon, MD: Astrology Center of America.
Image Attribution

Feature image of “clock boy” (cropped) by malias (Flickr) [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Ancient Astrologers Didn’t All Agree | Paradigms and Chart Lords

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Hellenistic Astrology is Diverse

It is my hope that the great heterogeneity among ancient astrologers is apparent on this blog.  Ancient astrologers sometimes differed greatly in their preferred techniques and the way they employed them.  This is especially so in the Hellenistic period, where we see even greater diversity than in the medieval period. I don’t adopt any single astrologer’s approach to reading a chart, but like to explore multiple approaches, compare and contrast them. Our job is to find the techniques that work best and point out those that seem less than promising.

However, there is a widespread misconception that the Hellenistic system is narrow. In this view Hellenistic astrology is a single system of techniques that is concise, simplistic, focally concerned with a person’s objective success/failure, and informed by a single deterministic philosophy.

The misconceptions are fed by both sides; those that would like to believe that Hellenistic astrology was that way, and those that dismiss Hellenistic astrology because they believe it was that way.  I will explore this in greater depth in this and additional follow-up posts to my “Ancient Astrologers Didn’t All Agree” polemic. It needs to be addressed repeatedly and at length to overcome the hype frequently disseminated, both by marketers and detractors.

One Perspective Presented as the Perspective

The most succinct quick example of this misconception of a single homogeneous Hellenistic “system” or “paradigm” is from a Skyscript forum discussion.  I stumbled upon a discussion, which you can view here, where the Hellenistic lord of the chart is discussed.  This conversation is so illustrative of the problem on so many levels.  I am not drawing attention to this conversation to put down the contributors on either side.  It is a rather informal forum, and people are simply sharing knowledge and opinions.

The forum post is probably the best online explanation of this particular chart lord technique (specifically of Robert Schmidt) that you’re going to get on the web.  I don’t want my criticism of these attitudes as being driven by misconception to imply that I think that people informally sharing their personal views, preferred techniques, and opinions about things are doing something wrong or merit critical evaluation and judgment.  Rather, I think that the particular attitudes and debates there expressed are symptomatic of widespread views and attitudes about Hellenistic astrology.  The forum thread simply serves as a very convenient and publicly accessible illustration of multiple facets of the issue in one place.

The One Approach to Chart Lords

In the post, someone presented THE method of finding various predominators used by Hellenistic astrologers. In fact, they are presenting a method mentioned by Porphyry (3rd century CE). Additionally, it’s not even clear Porphyry used the specific technique. Finally, the technique is among many varying chart-lord techniques discussed in the period

The Greek word for the ruler of the chart is transliterated as “oikodespotes”.  There are various techniques for finding the lord of the chart, which is typically associated with either best characterizing the personality and life of the native or dealing with matters of longevity (or a little of both, c.f. Julius Firmicus Maternus).  In Book III, Chapter XIX, Maternus noted a diversity of opinion in his day (4th Century CE), as did Porphry (3rd Century CE). Maternus presented four distinct methods for finding the ruler of the chart (oikodespotes), and stated a preference for the fourth method.

Many ancient astrologers didn’t put stock in a single ruler (or narrow set) of a chart. It tends to be overly reductionist, assigning too much signification to one planet.  Many astrologers present and endorse varying viewpoints on the matter.  There is no such thing as THE Hellenistic method for finding the chart ruler, widely endorsed by many, let alone most Hellenistic astrologers.  This is obscured by the language in the post which is indicative of widespread adoption by Hellenistic astrologers. Additionally, we’re given the impression that Hellenistic astrologers had a systematic collection of chart rulers working in concert.

One, Simple, Clearly Explicated Method

The method is presented as if it is a clean and orderly method. However, in the actual discussion Porphyry clearly was referring to differing viewpoints and noted, “For there is much dispute about this, and almost all of it is very difficult [to understand]” (Holden, 2009, p. 25).

See the initial fearful and reactionary response in the thread. The responder talks of Hellenistic astrology as being smaller and more formulaic. It nicely illustrates the ready uncritical adoption of this viewpoint, The misrepresentation can become the focal point for the evaluation of Hellenistic astrology as a whole.  If it’s ideologically and technically narrow then it is just a plaything for an ideological cause. It is no longer worth being explored and valued for what it is; a rich, varied, and valuable collection of astrological science, full of techniques and principles yearning for rediscovery, application, and evaluation. In reality, astrologers of the tradition, even in the Hellenistic period, represented a spectrum of philosophical beliefs about astrology.

A Single Authority to Appeal to

From what I’ve gathered, this version of the technique is not so much Porphyry as Robert Schmidt.  Schmidt seems to have believed that this particular passage from Porphyry was drawn from Antiochus of Athens, as many of the passages in Porphyry have been.  However, Porphyry drew on many astrologers, not just Antiochus.

Antiochus or Porphyry?

Considering the style of the passage and Porphyry’s note about differing views, it appears unlikely that the material is from Antiochus. In fact, in Schmidt’s original 1993 reconstruction of Antiochus, the passage is not included. If it were from Antiochus, that would be interesting, as it would suggest that there was widespread disagreement and confusion about the technique even in Antiochus’s day (1st to 2nd century CE).

This implicit appeal to Schmidt, and from Schmidt to Antiochus, is interesting. It is a means of avoiding the need to attribute the source as Porphyry. Porphyry is not particularly well-known for his astrological work and he was compiling differing views. It is convenient to attribute the material to someone other than Porphyry when looking to promote it as the “original” reconstructed method.

Antiochus and Reconstruction

Antiochus of Athens is often looked to as the representative of THE ONE Hellenistic system. He wrote a set of definitions that lays out such basic principles as aspect types and planetary configurations. Those attempting to “reconstruct” a Hellenistic system often look to him as someone close to the source. Most Hellenistic astrologers did not appear to employ all the features of his aspect doctrine. This bolsters the possibility that it was an original fuller doctrine.

However, we really don’t know if he was closer to the source than other early Hellenistic astrologers (such as Valens). Perhaps, he just had a greater concern with defining terminology than most. Additionally, the possibility that Antiochus may have added additional features to a more basic and widespread preexisting aspect doctrine is also plausible. The lack of clear dating for Antiochus further complicates the practice of using passages attributed to him in the reconstruction of a single original “Hellenistic system”. Porphyry is our early source for the Antiochus material. He is from the late 3rd century.

Might Antiochus have been a reasonable astrologer who wanted to lay out the various principles and techniques used by 2nd century Hellenistic astrologers into a more cohesive set of definitions? His particular set of definitions does not line up perfectly with those provided by other astrologers such as Serapio. There are numerous points of agreement, but some differences in terminology between them. It is possible that each Hellenistic astrologer of the age in which Porphyry lived may have presented a slightly different set of definitions had each taken up the task. It is likely there was already a diversity of opinion on some principles and configurations in the earliest foundational texts.

The Supposed Nautical Paradigm of Hellenistic Astrology

The technique is placed within a nautical paradigm. The nautical paradigm is presented as if it is THE metaphorical paradigm of Hellenistic astrology. However, there is no such paradigm with look-outs and these other details in Porphyry. There are a couple subtle nautical metaphors in the passage, but no explication or advocacy of any paradigm.  Of course, metaphor is an important part of language.  However, a metaphor used a little bit, in one passage, is very different from giving a paradigm by which the astrologer fully conceptualizes the technique, let alone the paradigm of Hellenistic astrology as a whole.

There is frequent use of various metaphors throughout ancient astrological texts.  I recall a metaphor concerning horses or horse races in Valens. Metaphors are useful in conceptualizing something abstract in more concrete terms, but they rarely imply paradigms. It is important not to confuse one modern-day astrologer’s favorite metaphors for a systematic metaphorical paradigm underlying Hellenistic astrology (the so-called “grande paradigm underlying Hellenistic astrology“). The argument for a single metaphorical paradigm for Hellenistic astrology is a spurious one.

Take-Away

There are widespread misconceptions regarding the scope and diversity of Hellenistic astrology. Diving into the ancient literature, it becomes clear that astrologers have their work cut out for them. We must sift through, adopt, prioritize, and evaluate often-conflicting techniques and methods.  Currently, in the traditional community, there is a tendency to cite a single authority, present it as the way it was done in traditional astrology, give one or two chart examples, and go on one’s way.  This will not suffice, now that the full diversity of astrology, so rich in the Hellenistic period, has come to light.

Astrologers will have to actually develop their own art of astrology based on ancient fundamentals and resources. It is not enough to cherry-pick delineation that fit one or two examples.  The literature is rich and varied. We can find whatever we are looking for in the chart if we look hard enough and have a large enough set of sources to cherry-pick from.  That is not effective astrology. That is effective bullshitting.

Never before have astrologers had such access to accurate charts, calculators,  researching tools, and astrological texts.  This is a very important time for astrology and an exciting time to explore the beautiful, rich, ancient traditions. Hellenistic astrology does not provide a quick and easy fix on fate. It provides the principles and inspiration for an art of astrology of thre greatest accuracy and descriptive depth. Armed with thousands of pages of pointers from the ancient astrologers, we can get there. However, it’s going to take a lot of critical thinking, consistently applied principles, and an aversion to self-deception.

 

References
Porphyry, & Serapio. (2009). Porphyry the Philosopher. (J. H. Holden, Trans.). Tempe, AZ: American Federation of Astrologers.
Featured Image attribution: Mesopotamian Cylinder Seal image by Walters Art Museum [Public domain, CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

Astrology with Free Software | 2. Morinus Updated with Location Lookup

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Introduction

I mentioned Morinus in my initial post on free software options, as it is the best free astrology program available for traditional astrologers.  In fact, for those doing primary directions, it’s important, even among competing programs that cost a lot of money.

Updated Morinus

Today, I was notified of an extremely important update to the program made by one of its developers, Endre Csaba Simon of Finland.  The program now allows lookup of location using the online geolocation database.  This is a very important advance in terms of making the program easier to use. One previously had to manually discover and enter the coordinates, time zone, altitude, and other features of a location.

The new version can be downloaded from the official site for the program – Morinus: Free Open-Source Advanced Professional Astrological Software.

Entering the Location

From the data entry page click Place.

After entering the place in the location blank, you hit “Search”. If there is just one matching selection, it will automatically plug the correct data into the proper fields on this page.  If there is more than one place then you will get a screen like the following with a list of locations.

Still Free and Open Source

This is a great advancement for this program.  It’s important to remember that the program is not only free but also open source.  The nature of open source software is such that the more people use and enjoy the software, the faster and more focused the development becomes to meet the needs of the user community, and the more people will work on the development of the software.  Free and open source software means community property. This is a program that the astrological community should wholeheartedly endorse, support, and take pride in.

Astrological Predictive Techniques | 1. Profections Intro

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Profections are one of the oldest, most important, and easiest of the ancient predictive techniques. In this series, we will explore profections and how to combine them with other predictive techniques.

Activating the Natal Chart and Transits

Many people are familiar with transits. Transits compare the celestial configuration of one time, such as the planetary positions now,  with the configuration at another time, such as the planetary positions in your birth chart. Transits are by far the most common predictive technique used today.  However, in traditional astrology, they were viewed as rather superficial and insignificant in themselves. They gained significance when they involved planets that in some way were activated during that period.

Time Lords

Planets become activated by being Time Lords.  No, these are not the type of Time Lords that fly around the universe in a telephone booth. Time Lords are planets that by some predictice technique become highlighted and gain a greater bearing or influence over a certain period of time. Prediction starts with a proper understanding of the birth chart. These activations time  show when things signified in the natal chart are most likely to come to pass.

Time Lords in Vettius Valens

While Time Lord systems are largely absent in modern astrology, they were the mainstay of ancient predictive astrology, and they continue to be a popular feature of Indian astrology today. In Hellenistic astrology, there were many types of Time Lord systems and they were discussed by many different astrologers. In fact, there are still unexplored Time Lord systems which are exclusive to the gigantic Anthology (click for free translation) by Vettius Valens (2nd century CE).  Valens was a traveling astrologer who picked up techniques from many different astrologers in his time. The bulk of his huge Anthology is devoted to natal predictive techniques of all sorts, which astrologers are still exploring, testing, and coming to understand.

Shining a Spotlight

While most Time Lord systems that will be discussed on this blog were introduced during the Hellenistic period (and most are reported from Valens), there are also some Time Lord systems that were introduced by the Persians, such as the Firdaria system.  In any Time Lord system, the emphasis is on activation of the natal chart.  Some astrologers may take a cookbook approach to Time Lords (such as on the linked Firdaria site) but the real value of these Time Lords is that they “turn on” or “potentiate” certain significations of the planets in the birth chart. Also, there are Time Lord techniques that activate signs, places, and particular configurations of the chart.  Transits and other predictive techniques, such as solar and lunar revolutions (i.e. returns), become more focused and clearer through the use of Time Lord techniques.

Introducing Profections

While there are other important Time Lord techniques, I find profections to be one of the most valuable and the easiest to use. Profections are a good first and foundational predictive technique to learn. After learning profections, one can get into other Time Lords and predictive techniques. Ultimately, we want to consider how techniques can be prioritized and integrated into one’s own particular predictive system.

Hellenistic and Persian Astrologers on Profections

There are few Time Lord systems, or even predictive techniques, more ubiquitous and universal in Hellenistic and Persian astrology than profections.  It is truly one of the most vital predictive methods of ancient astrology, and was discussed much more frequently than transits.

Some of the Hellenistic astrologers that used this technique (which is nearly all of them) included Marcus Manilius and Dorotheus of Sidon of the 1st century CE, Vettius Valens and Claudius Ptolemy of the 2nd century, Paulus Alexandrinus and Julius Firmicus Maternus of the 4th century, Hephastio of Thebes of the 5th century. Persian and Arabic astrologers who used profections include Masha’allah ibn Athari and ‘Umar al-Tabari of the 8th century, Sahl ibn Bishr, Abu ‘Ali al-Khayyat, and Abu Ma’shar al-Balkhi of the 9th century, and al-Qabisi of the 10th century.

Paulus Alexandrinus on Profections

Paulus gave one of the clearer expositions of the basic technique (Ch. 31, from Greenbaum trans., 2001, p. 65, bracketed passages added by me for clarification):

As many years as the nativity should spin out, we pass these through from the hour-marking zōidion [sign], giving the first year of engendered time to the Hōroskopos [ascending sign] and the second to the post-ascension of the Hōroskopos [2nd place], and so on for the rest in the following zōidia [signs], until the 12th number should be completed.

Dorotheus on Profections

Dorotheus begins Book IV of his work with a thorough analysis of the lord of the year as revealed by the annual profection.

When a native is born, the lord of the year is the lord of the house [ascendent] in which the native was born. Thus count from the ascendent a year for each sign until you reach the year which you desire; the lord of that house is the lord of the year. Look at the lord of this sign, whether it is a benefic or a malefic, and in the base-nativity how its position was and in which foundation it was. From the base-nativity is known what is concerning him [the native] at the beginning of the year, and the beginning of the year is always when the Sun enters the beginning of the minute in which it was on the day of the native’s nativity. (Dorotheus, Book IV, Ch. 1, 1-4, Pingree trans., 2005, p. 245)

He goes on to discuss how to analyze the lord of the year and how to use it to aid in analysis of the solar return chart.

Basic Technique: Annual Profections of the Ascendant

The two quotes above illustrate the annual profections, which is the most basic and most important form of profections. This is an annual shift from one sign to the next for each year of life, beginning with the rising sign.  Paulus goes on to give examples, of how the profection each year comes to the next sign or place of the chart, and the ruler of that place becomes the “lord of the year”.  The technique is easy and requires no fancy computer software, as there are no specific degrees involved, but rather just discrete hops from one place in the chart to the next at intervals of time.  In fact, the technique is called a “circumambulation”, meaning “a walk around” the chart.

Practice Finding the Annual Profection and Lord of the Year

To illustrate, if someone was born with Pisces rising, then Pisces is the 1st Place or House, and Jupiter is the Lord of the Year for their first year of life (age 0).  On the solar return (the moment the Sun returns to its natal position, typically near the birthday), at age 1, the Ascendant profects to the 2nd Place. As Pisces was rising, the 2nd Place is Aries. Its ruler, Mars, becomes Lord of the Year.  It continues like this, from one place to the next on the solar return/birthday, until the start of their 13th year, which is the 12th birthday, at which point we return back to Place 1, Pisces, with Jupiter as the Lord of the Year again.

Finding the Place of the Profection from Multiples

Let’s say someone has Leo rising. In this case, ages 0, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, 96, and so forth (multiple of 12) are 1st Place/Leo years with the Sun as Lord. Ages 1, 13, 25, 37, 49, 61, 73, 85, 97, and so forth are 2nd Place/Virgo years with Mercury as Lord. Where will the Ascendant profect when they are 18 years old?  18 years old is their 19th year, so take the remainder of 19/12, which is 7. The Place of that year is the 7th Place, Aquarius, with Saturn as Lord.  What about at age 44?  44 is the 45th year, so take 45/12 which leaves a remainder of 9, so it is a 9th Place/Aries/Mars year.  If there is no remainder when you divide by 12, then you’re dealing with the 12th place.

Another way to find profections is to simply use the age itself and count forward or backwards from a multiple of 12, as all multiples of 12 will be the 1st Place.  So if you are looking at age 25, then you know this is one year past 24. 24 is the 1st Place, so 25 will be the 2nd Place.  If it is age 35, then this is one year back from 36, so it will be the 12th place.

Take a number of charts and simply try finding the place of the current profected Ascendant for all of them. Practice until you can do this quickly in your head knowing nothing more than the person’s rising sign and age.

Usage of Annual Profection of the Ascendant

Ascendant as Self

The annual profection of the Ascendant is interesting from a symbolic viewpoint.  First, the sky is sometimes generally conceptualized as the soul or mind, while the earth is conceptualized as the body. The Ascendant is the point where the sky appears to stream up from the earth at the eastern horizon, like a soul peering out through a body.  The Ascendant, and the rising sign in general, are representative of the self, or the locus of the actual physical discrete person in the horoscope.

Profection of Ascendant as Movement of Self into Houses

As the Ascendant profects to the next house of the chart, it is as if the person pays a visit to a new house each year. The indications of that house thus become awakened in the life.  While the Lord of the Year is given a lot of attention, in some ways the planets in the sign itself are even more important, being directly encountered during this visit, while the lord of the chart particularly presides over and takes responsibility for the affairs.

Analyze the House of the Year and the Lord of the Year

Paulus on the Lord of the Year (Ch. 31, from Greenbaum trans., 2001, p. 65):

[…] falls to Virgo.  Hermes is the lord of the year.  We examine the [star] of Hermes, how it lies in the nativity, and which of the stars make a baleful aspect to it, and which look ahead at the zōidion where the year has chanced to be, and which were configured with it in the nativity.

The Foundational Type of Profection

There are profections for months also, and days, as well as other types of profections of planets. All of them follow the same principle of moving something into a new house at each new time interval.  We will look at these in future articles. However, the annual profection of the Ascendant has a particularly special significance.  Not only does it establish a main “lord of the year”, and highlight a sign and place, but it is also incorporated strongly into other predictive techniques.  Many astrologers paid special attention to the sign of the profected Ascendant and its lord in the solar return chart.  Additionally, transits are more important when they involve the lord of the year, and/or the sign of the profected Ascendant.

Example of Transits with Profections

To simplify, I’m going to give an example of using profections to highlight important transits, as this will be the easiest way for the beginner to start working with profections. However, I caution against trying to predict on the basis of an annual profection and transits alone.  There are many other factors, and in time we will explore them and learn how they fit together.

It can be difficult to find examples which involve just transits with the annual profection, but I know of one particularly striking one in which the transits and profections speak volumes. I am going to look at some additional predictive techniques as well because they further highlight the key areas of the chart. Let’s take a look at it.

James Randi Publicly Announces Cancer Diagnosis

[Note: this section corrected 6/27/12 using input from reader, Erna]

I’ve addressed Randi’s chart before in terms of belief, so I won’t do much analysis here.  Suffice it to say, I admire the guy. I think the chart info that he has provided for himself is honest and accurate, as his chart has a lot to say.

Focus on Mars and Saturn

In this case, we’ll be looking at the malefics in Randi’s chart, Mars and Saturn.  Mars is the ruler of the 6th of disease, and is in the 12th of loss, oppression, and hidden enmies.  Both the 6th and 12th are largely regarded as the worst of the bad places in ancient astrology. Therefore, malefics in these places have the capacity to signify quite difficult matters when activated. Saturn is the out of sect malefic in Randi’s chart, and as such tends to signify in a way that is both difficult and can be challenging to Randi’s self and purpose.

Randi was diagnosed with intestinal cancer in mid-2009. It looks to have been successfully treated, but it was certainly a difficult period.

James Randi’s Natal Chart (twelfth-part positions along the outside)

9th Place, Aquarius, Saturn Year

James Randi was born in August of 1928, so when he was diagnosed with intestinal cancer in June of 2009, as well as when he announced that cancer treatment was underway on or about July 9, 2009, at the Amazing Meeting that year, he was 80 years old.  Age 84 would be a 1st place year, so age 80 would be back 4 places at the 9th place, Aquarius, with Saturn as Lord of the Year.

Saturn in the Natal Chart

Saturn would be regarded as the more difficult of the malefics because Randi was born at night and Saturn is loyal to those born during the day.  Saturn’s ability to signify difficulty is also shown by its position in the sometimes antagonistic 7th house and the location of Saturn’s twelfth-part in the 12th house which is a dark place called bad spirit as it was particularly associated with problems (especially mental/social ones shown by the word “spirit”).

James Randi’s Natal Chart (twelfth-part positions along the outside)

Side Note: Using Valens-style profections (which we haven’t yet explained), in which the planets are also profected, Saturn profects 9 places to the 3rd house, where the Sun and Mercury are located.  Saturn to the Sun is particularly symbolic of health issues, as the Sun is symbolic of vitality and Saturn of loss and restriction. Saturn’s profection to the ruler of the Ascendant (Mercury) has some similar significations as the Ascendant is symbolic of the body and self.

Lord of the Year in Solar Return

Randi’s 2008 Solar Return

Looking at the solar return for that year (above) which was in August of 2008, we find that the Ascendant was 17 Virgo, with both Saturn and Mars (with Venus) in the rising sign (which is the 4th house of the natal).  At the time of Randi’s cancer announcement transiting Saturn was also at 17 Virgo afflicting the solar return Ascendant (see Saturn in outer wheel of chart below).

Cancer Announcement transits (outer wheel) to natal chart (inner wheel)

Mars Transits the Twelfth-Part of the Lord of the Year

As mentioned, Mars is a malefic, in a bad place, and Mars also dominates Mercury, ruler of the Ascendant.  In June and the first half of July, 2009, Mars was transiting through Taurus, Randi’s 12th place, where Mars is also located natally.  The twelfth-part of Saturn, lord of the year, is also located there.

An Announcement on a Mars Return

Fascinatingly, James Randi publicly announced the cancer during his exact Mars return.  The Mars return occurs about every 2 years due to the apparent speed of Mars through the zodiac (which is about half a degree per day), so this is not an event that happens every day or often.  Not only did the return of Mars coincide with the announcement but Mars was most likely in the exact same degree of the zodiac that Mars held at birth when the announcement took place, a degree it would occupy that year for only those first couple days of the July 2009 Amazing Meeting.  The last time Mars returned to that degree (i.e. his last Mars return) had been in August 2007, and the next Mars return was not until June of 2011.

Cancer Announcement transits (outer wheel) to natal chart (inner wheel)

I’ve provided the transit chart (relative to natal) so that you can confirm the positions of the planets. Look particularly at Mars on the day of the Amazing Meeting during which Randi publicly announces his cancer diagnosis.  The natal chart is inside with transits around the edge. The Mars return is highlighted for better visual understanding.

Recap of Key Natal Factors

It was a Saturn year for Randi. Saturn is a planet that is able to signify the most difficult circumstances in Randi’s life. Saturn has its twelfth-part position with Mars in the natal 12th house. Mars is the other planet of the chart that signifies difficulties and is in the 12th house of the natal chart which is a difficult house. Mars rules the 6th house which pertains to health, so it is strongly symbolic of health problems.

Recap of Key Predictive Factors

As noted, Saturn, was lord of the year. The combined influence of Saturn and Mars was highlighted in the solar return, which featured both planets in the rising sign, symbolic of the self and body. At the time of the events, Saturn transited in the very degree of the solar return Ascendant, while Mars returned to its natal position in a difficult house (Mars return).

This example brought in other techniques besides just basic annual profections. We looked at twelfth-part positions in the natal chart, solar returnes, transits, and even Valen-style profections. This illustrates how annual profections form the backdrop to other predictive techniques and structure their meaning.

Conclusion

Use annual profections of the Ascendant to recognize periods when natal significations will be more active. However, we don’t experience the same fate at age 12, as at age 24, and at 36, etc.  Paying particular attention to transits from and to the Lord of the Year, and through the place. Predictive factors should be considered with the natal significations. Profections highlight the natal and predictive factors that are most relevant for the year.

I would like to add that profections are thought of as a handing off of responsibility. A new planet takes responsibility for your well-being, as you, the Ascendant, enter into the planet’s house.  As we look at the Lord of the Month in the next post, you’ll see the same thing for a monthly period.

If you’re new to profections, then I hope this post has been informative. Have fun with this great, simple, and effective technique that was a staple of the ancient astrologer’s repertoire.

References

Alexandrinus, P., & Olympiodorus. (2001). Late Classical Astrology: Paulus Alexandrinus and Olypiodorus. (D. G. Greenbaum, Trans.). Reston, VA: Arhat.

Dorotheus of Sidon. (2005). Carmen Astrologicum. (D. Pingree, Trans.). Abingdon, MD: Astrology Center of America.

James Randi. (2011, November 28). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 04:29, December 3, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=James_Randi&oldid=462839271

Image Attributions

Featured image of Vatican Museum spiral staircase by User:Colin / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

Astrology of Religion, Atheism, and Belief | 10. Abu Ma’shar

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Update 08/10/2019:

In an 8/9/19 interview with Chris Brennan on the Astrology Podcast, Dykes noted that his recent research has called into question the birth time for Abu Ma’shar used here. A student of Ma’shar reported that Ma’shar didn’t know his birth time. Therefore, the chart should now be considered to be conflicting/unverified in terms of reliability. See the end of the article for an addition pertaining to whether this chart accords with current events pertaining to Ma’shar.

Additional Update 8/13/2019: Added analysis of the timing of the publication of Margherita Fiorello’s book on the decans.

Introduction

This article continues the series on examining religion, faith, or lack of such in the astrological chart. In the last article, we looked at the chart of Bill Maher. In this article we turn to the chart of the notable 9th century astrologer, Abu Ma’shar. The ingredients and recipes for this type of analysis can be found in the first article, on James Randi. The basics were reviewed with additional comments in a few articles back, on Madalyn Murray O’Hair.

Abu Ma’shar

Abu Ma’shar was one of the most influential of the later Persian Medieval astrologers.  He differed from most Persian astrologers in his use of quadrant houses. Most earlier astrologers used whole sign houses, as done in the Hellenistic period. Additionally, he profected in 30 degree increments rather than by sign. The innovative approaches that he adopted were of particularly strong influence upon later European Medieval and Renaissance astrology.  In my opinion, his greatest contributions were in introductory material, mundane astrology, and annual natal predictive methods.

Birth Time and Source

Abu Ma’shar’s “On the Revolutions of the Years of Nativities” is his work on natal predictive methods, including solar returns. In Ben Dykes’s introduction to his new translation he provided Ma’shar’s birth time and natal chart. The birth time was established by noted historian of science, David Pingree.  The source appears to be from chart examples Ma’shar has given. There is some conflict between the positions implied by the day and time and those given by Ma’shar, by a few degrees.  In any case, Dykes gives the day and time as 8/10/787 at about 10pm, near Balkh, Afghanistan (Dykes, 2010, p. 1).

The Ascendant of the reconstructed chart example is at 2 degrees Taurus. I’ve set my chart at 9:55 pm to match the example.  All planets are in the same signs (and within 5 degrees) in the chart example as in the chart I use, except Saturn. Ma’shar’s example put Saturn in late Aquarius, while the day and time established by Pingree put it at 0° Pisces.

Why this Chart?

Given that there is some conflicting information about his chart from the reconstruction, why use this chart at all?  The problems with the chart are probably owing to slight table inaccuracies and calculation errors committed in Ma’shar’s time.  The chart should therefore be regarded as near B-rating accuracy, in my own opinion.

Ma’shar is interesting from a belief standpoint, as he was initially a skeptic but became a believer.  Ma’shar was an astrological skeptic until his late 40’s, when al-Kindi brought him around to astrology (Dykes, 2010, p. 1).  He went on to become a very notable astrologer and defender of the science of astrology.

Abu Ma’shar’s Natal Chart

Ma’shar’s Chart Analyzed in Brief

Jupiter:

Very Strong

Jupiter is strongly advancing, within about 5 degrees of the MC. Therefore, Jupiter is very strong, even though it is in a cadent place.

Very Benefic

Jupiter is naturally benefic and is in a good place, the 9th. While out of sect, Jupiter is not regarded by the malefics. Venus (sect benefic) dominates Jupiter. Therefore, Jupiter is very benefic in the chart overall.

Notes on Jupiter

Jupiter is one of the strongest planets in the chart.  We expect expansive experiences, including spiritual ones, to play a major role in this person’s life.  Jupiter is in the sign and bound of Saturn. Due to the influence of Saturn we may expect such experiences to also be accompanied by doubt. Jupiter is dominated by Venus, so there is likely to be a strong sensual or artistic orientation to the joys of Jupiter.   

9th Place:

Strong

The 9th, Capricorn, is occupied by a very strong Jupiter. Saturn, planet of doubt, fear, loss, and dread rules the 9th.  Saturn is pretty strong, as it’s advancing in the 11th, overcoming the Ascendant (sextile within 3 degrees). Venus, the ruler of the Ascendant, also dominates the 9th. Overall, the 9th is a very prominent place in the chart.

Mixed, somewhat benefic

Saturn rules the 9th, and is quite malefic, as Saturn is out of sect.  However, a planet in the place pertains more directly to characterizing it than the ruler.  The position of Jupiter in the actual 9th, and Venus dominating it, are enough to associate the place primarily with pleasant circumstances in the life.

Notes on the 9th Place

Matters of belief-systems and searching for some greater truth are fairly prominent in his life. His beliefs can be heavily informed by doubt/skepticism (Saturn rules the place), but also spirituality/religion/faith and deeper expansive truth (Jupiter), as well as sensual pleasure (Venus domination).

Saturn:

Strong

Saturn is advancing and is not subject to any major weakening conditions. Therefore, Saturn is strong.

Somewhat Malefic

Saturn is naturally a malefic, and here is out of sect.  Saturn is in a good place and is overcome by Jupiter by sextile, which are mitigating. However, we expect Saturn to have regularly signified difficult matters and circumstance in the life.

Notes on Saturn

Saturn, as the significator of doubt, fear, obstruction, loss, and so forth, does have a pretty strong effect over the life in a general and pervasive way. Saturn is influential in matters of belief (the 9th).

Mercury:

Very strong

Mercury is advancing, in phasis, and is in a “pivot” of the chart (i.e. the 4th), while assembled with the Sun and regarded by the Moon. Therefore, Mercury is very strong and prominent.

Mixed, somewhat benefic

Mercury is in sect and is in a good place, but is assembled with Mars, so there is quite a lot variation over time with whether Mercury’s significations are positive or negative. Overall, Mercury will tend to be positive.

Notes on Mercury

There doesn’t appear to be a strong identification with Mercury, as Mercury has no dignity at the Ascendant.

Conclusion

Ma’shar was not a religious leader, nor was he an atheist.  He also seemed to identify quite strongly with the Moon and Venus. Unfortunately, we know little of his personality and life before astrology. However, what is notable about belief in his life is his doubt in astrology in particular, and then his very strong faith in it. In his life in general, we see that faith plays a major role, but that doubt is also quite strong, and both play a role in the belief system.

Saturn-Jupiter and Traditional Astrology

This interplay between faith and doubt is not uncharacteristic of the charts of serious astrologers employing rigorous methods. There is a desire to give concrete evidence for God or the gods shown in these charts. For instance, Robert Zoller has Jupiter in the 9th, dominated by Saturn. Though Zoller’s Saturn is a bit weak, and Jupiter rules the Ascendant, so there is much less doubt and much more faith there. Chris Brennan has Saturn as ruler of the 1st and in the 10th, while Jupiter is somewhat weakened. However, the 9th is made prominent through a Venus ruled by Jupiter. I myself also have Saturn ruling the 1st and Saturn in the 9th, but Saturn is conjoined to Jupiter in the 9th within 2 degrees.

08/10/2019 Addition – A Predictive Examination of the Questionable Birth Time:

Given that the validity of this chart has been strongly called into question, we should consider whether it accords with current events. This year, 2019, has seen a resurgence in Ma’shar translations. In addition to the Dykes translation of Ma’shar’s voluminous text on natal techniques (published 8/9/19), there was also the release of Burnett and Yamamoto’s translation of Ma’shar Great Introduction (published 4/4/19). Additionally, there was the publication of a book on The Decans of Albumasar, focusing on his treatment of the decans in the Great Introduction, by astrologer Margherita Fiorello on 11/14/2018.

8th House Year by Annual Profection: Benefics, Self, Legacy

Incidentally, the birth day on the chart above is August 10th, making today this supposed Ma’shar chart’s birthday. However, today the Sun is at 17 Leo and Ma’shar (of the chart) was born with it at 20LEO37. Therefore, this analysis and both published books took place in the final month of Ma’shar’s 2018 solar return. Ma’shar’s chart turned 1,231 years old on Aug. 13, 2018 at about 2:30 pm in Balkh, Afghanistan. At age 1,224 (every multiple of 12) the profection would be to the first house. Therefore, the profection of the year was to the 8th house for this cycle, 2018.

Ma’shar’s natal chart is picture below with twelfth-part positions. One thing that stands out about the 8th house is that it is ruled by Jupiter, that benefic which is strongly advancing toward the IC. Additionally, Sagittarius is occupied by Venus, the sect benefic which is also the lord of the 1st house of self. Furthermore, Venus and Jupiter are strongly associated with each other as Venus and the twelfth-part of Jupiter both occupy Libra.

Therefore, the 8th house, Sagittarius connects strongly with both benefics, the sense of identity (1st house). The 8th house pertains to death and benefits pertaining to death, but the 4th house typically pertains more to legacies. The twelfth-part of Venus is in a close trine with the Sun in the 4th house, Leo. Keep Sagittarius, Venus, the 8th and 4th houses in mind as we turn to the solar return and transits.

Abu Mashar with Twelfth-Parts

2018 Solar Return

Ma’shar’s solar return from 2018 at his birth place is given below. Note that Venus in the return is at 6 Libra, the exact same degree it held in the natal chart, and is advancing toward the MC (recognition). So the solar return presents a strong indication of the natal promise of Venus for this year. Additionally, the return Ascendant is at about 12 Sagittarius, in the natal 8th house, with the twelfth-part of Venus right near the Ascendant. Therefore, we get a strong sense of the promise of Venus, particularly with regard to her twelfth-part in Sagittarius, coming to the forefront in the year’s events.

Abu Mashar 2018 SR

Monthly Profections

The way that Ma’shar did monthly returns and profections was a bit different than the Hellenistic approach. Ma’shar considered the monthly return to be when the Sun reached each 30 degree segment from the natal Sun (a zodiacal solar month). At that point the profection proceeded to the next month. I won’t be analyzing Ma’shar’s idiosyncratic solar monthly returns (which I don’t use myself) but I will be looking at monthly profections.

November 14th, 2018

The publication of Fiorello’s book coincided with the start of the monthly profection to Pisces (just a day prior). Jupiter the lord of the year and of the month, was in Sagittarius, the sign of the year still, which was also the Ascendant of the solar return.

Abu Mashar 11-14-18 Transits Outside Natal Chart

Transiting Mercury was also in Sagittarius at about 12SAG55, so it was right at the Ascendant of the solar return. Additionally, the twelfth-part of transiting Mercury was in Taurus (12SAG55 -> 5TAU), at Ma’shar’s own natal Ascendant and Moon. The transiting Moon’s twelfth-part conjoined that of Mercury that very day at 5TAU, around the time when the Moon transited past 8 AQU (7AQU55 -> 5TAU). The Sun was transiting in Scorpio which is the sign that Jupiter occupied in the return.

April 4th, 2019

Therefore, the first month (roughly Aug. 13th to Sept. 13th) is Sagittarius. The Burnett and Yamamoto publication came out on 4/4/19. That would be part of the 8th month of the year from the return, making Cancer the sign of the month. Cancer is occupied by the twelfth-part of Mercury in the natal chart. In the solar return Cancer is empty but its ruler, the Moon, is in Virgo in the 10th house. Cancer is also strongly influenced by Jupiter in the natal chart as Jupiter is the exalted ruler and is opposite the sign. The natal Moon is in turn ruled by Venus which is also in a stake of Cancer. Therefore, through Cancer there is a strong the indications of Moon, Venus, and Jupiter are significant.

Abu Mashar 4-4-19 Transits Outside Natal Chart

One of the more striking features of the timing of this translation and the year in general is that Jupiter, lord of the year, spent much of the year transiting through Sagittarius, the sign of the year. At this time of this publication Jupiter was still transiting in Sagittarius.

The Moon (lord of the month) and the Sun were both transiting in Aries. Aries was the 5th house in the solar return. It is appropriate for new “children”, or creative works, of the year attributable to Ma’shar, despite his being dead for 1,200 years. Aries was also the position of the twelfth-part of Jupiter in the solar return (at 29ARI). Additionally, the twelfth-parts of the transiting Jupiter (24SAG15 -> 21 VIR) was exactly conjoined by that of the transiting Sun (14ARI15 -> 21 VIR) on this very day (at the natal North Node).

August 9th, 2019

The publication of the Dykes translation on 8/9/19 and the corresponding interview took place in the final month. The final month is that of Scorpio. This is very significant as Jupiter, the lord of the year, was in Scorpio in the solar return.

At the time of the publication Jupiter was still transiting in Sagittarius, the sign of the year. It was transiting at 14 Sagittarius which is a partile trine with natal Mars (14 Leo – lord of the month). Additionally, it was in a close trine with the transiting (and natal) Sun and transiting Venus (conj. n. Mars) at the time. The transiting Moon was also in Sagittarius (sign of the year) applying a conjunction with transiting Jupiter (lord of the year).

Abu Mashar 8-9-19 Transits Outside Natal Chart

Mars, lord of the month, was transiting in its own return in Leo, with the Sun and Venus. On this day, the twelfth-part of Mars (24LEO30 -> 24TAU) also exactly conjoined the twelfth-part of Jupiter (14SAG30 -> 24TAU) at 24 Taurus.  Therefore, on the day of the publication and interview the lord of the month’s twelfth-part conjoined that of the lord of the year, at 24 Taurus, in the first house of the nativity, in a partile trine to natal Jupiter (24 Capricorn).

Conclusion Regarding Conflicting Chart Data

In conclusion, while it is important to note conflicting and unverified data, it is also important to note that there may be some validity to the Ma’shar chart. Reading predictive techniques on a 1,200 year old natal chart for someone long deceased is anything but a straightforward process. I’ve also only scratched the surface in terms of indications. Still, there are some striking indications of dynamic natal activations from this chart that correspond with the events and the timing of those events pertaining to this life even still. File this one under worth checking when something big happens in relation to Ma’shar’s legacy.

References
Ma’shar, A. (2010). Persian Nativities III: Abu Ma’shar on Solar Revolutions. (B. N. Dykes, Trans.). Minneapolis, MN: The Cazimi Press.

Featured image is of illustrations in the 1515 Venice translation of Abu Ma’shar’s De Magnis Coniunctionibus. Image is in the public domain.