Many of the articles on this site feature the use of twelfth-parts. Those unfamiliar with the twelfth-parts should check out the information I’ve provided on them starting with the introductory article on them. In this article, we look at finding twelfth-part positions in your head and with free software.
If you would like to use free software to find twelfth-parts then please download the Traditional Morinus software program (click to go to download page). It has undergone a number of great updates, including the addition of twelfth-part calculation. Please see the article on the installation of Morinus.
Finding Twelfth-Parts in Your Head
Of course, you can calculate twelfth-parts with pen and paper. It’s simple and was discussed in the introductory article on the twelfth-parts. However, I’d like to highlight some quick and dirty techniques for finding twelfth-part sign positions. Below are my tips. The numbers that I give are where the twelfth-part sign starts, so always think in 2.5 degree segments. Remember that 10 goes from 10°00′ to 12°30′ of that sign.
0 = Same Sign
This is the easiest one to remember. If the planet is in the first 2.5 degrees of any sign, from 0°00′ to 2°30′, then its twelfth-part is in the same sign.
10, 20 = Trine, Same Element/Triplicity
If the position is in the 2.5 degrees following degree 10 or 20 in the sign then it is in the same element. It is in one of the signs trine to that one. 10 is the beginning of the first trine, the one following. 20 is the beginning of the second trine, the one prior. For instance, if the Moon were at 10°30′ Scorpio, then the twelfth-part Moon is in Pisces, the water sign after Scorpio. If it had been at 22°00′ Scorpio, then the twelfth-part Moon would’ve been in Cancer, the water sign before Scorpio.
15 = Opposite Sign
If a planet were at 15° (up to 17°30′) of some sign, its twelfth-part would be in the opposite sign. For instance, you see someone has Jupiter at 16°47′ Cancer. Capricorn is opposite Cancer, so you know that the twelfth-part of Jupiter is in Capricorn.
5°, 25° = Sextile
You see Jupiter at 6°33′ Libra in someone’s chart, but where is it’s twelfth-part? The segment beginning with 5° is the sign that is the sextile after the one occupied. The segment beginning with 25° is the sign that is the sextile before the one occupied. 5 and 25 – easy enough to remember, especially since 25 is 5 squared, and the sextile is of the nature of Venus who makes a five-pointed pentagram figure in her course. Returning to our example, the twelfth-part of Jupiter must be in the following sextile, Sagittarius.
30′ = 6 degrees of a sign for twelfth-part
Let’s return to our example with Jupiter. Jupiter is at 6°33′, and we determined its twelfth-part is in Sagittarius. However, where in Sagittarius? We know that Sagittarius starts at 5° Libra and goes until 7°30′ Libra. Every half degree after 5° is another 6 degrees of Sagittarius, starting from 0°. Jupiter is about 1.5 degrees past 5°, which is 3 time half a degree. Each half a degree is 6 degrees, so 3 times 6 puts Jupiter at about 18 Sagittarius.
For fine-tuning, note that every 5′ of a degree equals 1 degree for twelfth-part positions.
Examples
In order to get you thinking in twelfth-parts and getting acquainted with these rules, let’s work on a few examples.
Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain’s Natal Chart
Where is the twelth-part of Kurt Cobain’s Venus, planet of love, artistry, and beauty? Venus is at about 26.5 degrees Pisces. 25 is the magic number here as it is in that 2.5 degree segment after 25. In the rules above I specify that 25 is the preceding sextile. Venus is in the 7th, Pisces, so the twelfth-part is two signs back in the 5th, Capricorn. How many degrees after 25 is 26.5? 1.5 degrees. Each half degree is equivalent to 6 twelfth-part degrees, so the twelfth-part of Venus is 3*6=18 degrees into Capricorn. 18° Capricorn as the position means that Venus is in her own bound and in her Joy (the 5th place of children, creativity, entertainment, and performance is called the Joy of Venus).
Bill Gates
Bill Gates’ Natal Chart
Where is the twelfth-part of Bill Gates’ Mercury, planet of commerce, scholarship, and technology? Mercury is a little more than 16.5 degrees into Libra at 16°36′ Libra. As Mercury is in the 2.5 degree segment after 15, it is 15 that is the magic number here. 15, being half of 30, also puts us halfway around the zodiac from Libra to the sign that is its opposite Aries. What degree of Aries is Mercury’s twelfth-part? Mercury is a little more than 1.5 degrees past 15, and 1.5 is equivalent to three 1/2 degree segment. Again, each 1/2 degree segment equates to 6 degrees, which puts us 18 degrees into Aries. There is an extra 6′ though, and every 5′ is another degree, so it must be at 19° Aries. Therefore, the twelfth-part of Bill Gates’ Mercury is in its own bound in Aries, with the sect light, the Moon, in the 10th house of authority, honors, and profession.
Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston’s Natal Chart
Where is the twelfth-part of Whitney Houston’s Venus? The magic number is 10, as it’s in the 2.5 degree segment after 10° Leo. As mentioned in the rules above, 10 puts is in the next sign of the same element. The next fire sign or first trine is Sagittarius, the 10th house. What degree in Sagittarius? Venus is at 11°12′ Leo, so it is two 1/2 degree segments plus 12′. Each half degree segment gives 6 degrees, bringing us to 12. Then every 5′ segment is a degree, and there are two of them in 12′. This brings us to 14° Sagittarius. Houston’s Venus twelfth-part is in its own bound in the 10th house of authority, honors, and profession.
Dalai Lama
Dalai Lama’s Natal Chart
Where is the twelfth-part of the Dalai Lama’s Jupiter? The Dalai Lama’s Jupiter is in the 2.5 degree segment after 12.5, so it doesn’t fit exactly with any of our rules. However, our rules can lead us right there. 12.5 is one segment after 10, and one before 15, so Jupiter is one sign after the first trine and one sign before the opposition. We can go either way. If thinking in terms of “10, plus one sign”, then we would find Pisces, which is the next water sign after Scorpio, and we would put Jupiter in the next sign, Aries. In terms of “15, minus one sign”, then we would find Taurus, the sign opposite Scorpio, and put Jupiter in the one before it, Aries. In any case the twelfth-part is in Aries. But what degree of Aries? Jupiter is at 13°28′ Scorpio, so it is nearly 1° past 12°30′ Scorpio. Each 30′ equates to 6°, so it is nearly 12° into Aries. 5′ is equivalent to a degree and it is only short by 2′, so it is less than 12°00′ Aries, but by less than a full degree. This puts the twelfth-part of Jupiter at 11° Aries. The twelfth-part of the Dalai Lama’s Jupiter is in the Venus bound in the 10th house of authority, honors, and profession.
Finding Twelfth-Parts in Morinus
Recently, the developers of the free, open-source, astrology program, Traditional Morinus, added twelfth-part capability to the program. Please read the article on basic installation and chart entry in Morinus.
Settings
Once you have Traditional Morinus installed and ready to go, load one of your charts, or the chart that it comes with. Let’s look at its default chart, that of Morinus (Jean-Baptiste Morin), the prolific 17th century French astrologer and mathematician. Then go to the Option menu and Appearance I, or hit SHIFT-A (that is, hold Shift and press A). Click the bullet in front of “Dodecatemoria” to turn on the twelfth-parts, which will appear marked along the outer edge of the wheel.
I also recommend adding the terms (bounds) into the wheel, making the wheel black and white, and thickening up the lines for the angles, as shown below.
A couple other things you can do quickly to set your charts like mine include pressing SHIFT+F6 to switch to whole sign houses, and pressing SHIFT+W to have the Node position be the true position (note: I may have still had the Node at mean position in some examples). Finally, make sure you press SHIFT+U, so that your settings will be saved for the next time you start up the program.
Morinus Twelfth-Parts
Morinus’ Natal Chart with Twelfth-Parts
Look at Morinus! The twelfth-part of Jupiter is right on the Ascendant. The twelfth-part of Mercury is in its own bound in his 10th.
The Example Charts
Below are the charts that I discussed above, but this time with the twelfth-part placements included.
Cobain with Twelfth-Parts
Gates with Twelfth-Parts
Houston with Twelfth-Parts
Dalai Lama with Twelfth-Parts
Have fun and feel free to discuss in the comments!
But looking back and up, from our vantage point on the descending road of modern history, we now see that all the evils of religion can flourish without any belief in the supernatural, that convinced materialists are ready to worship their own jerry-built creations as though they were the Absolute, and that self-styled humanists will persecute their adversaries with all the zeal of Inquisitors exterminating the devotees of a personal and transcendent Satan. Such behavior-patterns antedate and outlive the beliefs which, at any given moment, seem to motivate them. Few people now believe in the Devil; but very many enjoy behaving as their ancestors behaved when the Fiend was a reality as unquestionable as his Opposite Number. In order to justify their behavior, they turn their theories into dogmas, their bylaws into First Principles, their political bosses into Gods and all those who disagree with them into incarnate devils. This idolatrous transformation of the relative into the Absolute and the all too human into the Divine, makes it possible for them to indulge their ugliest passions with a clear conscience and in the certainty that they are working for the Highest Good.
One of the first topical series on the site pertained to the delineation of faith. I initially laid out some general guidelines based solely on basic principles, rather than special techniques. The basic ground rules were laid out in the first article of the series. I returned to those and reviewed them a bit in the fifth article of the series. However, in ancient astrology, strong delineation of a topic requires special techniques.
Special Techniques
Special techniques go beyond basic house ruler and natural significator indications, to examine a variety of key indicators. We might consider my initial approach of using Jupiter, the 9th, Saturn, Mercury, with a stress on the Ascendant for the self as being its own initial special technique. However, that approach was somewhat crude, so we should continually be looking at ways to refine and add to that set of tools.
The 9th House
I would like to briefly comment on the delineation of faith and its relationship to other topical delineations. It should be noted that faith, while having a large social component in many societies, can also be a rather personal matter. The house that most pertains to faith is the 9th, though the other major significations of the 9th involve travel and law. Obviously, faith is the more personal of these three topics. Therefore, faith calls for a deeper involvement with personality delineation and the 1st house (the self).
The Law
Additionally, we need to consider what exactly is meant by “law”. Today we think of law, religion, and science as very different fields. In the case of religion and science, they may even seem antagonistic. However, they are all concerned with types of law: civil law, spiritual law, and natural law alike. Religion is concerned with the laws and principles that pertain to spiritual harmony in much the same way as civil law is concerned with social harmony. Similarly, science is concerned with the laws and principles that pertain to the natural world. Therefore, the 9th is concerned with the deeper truths that lie behind appearances and enable some form of progress.
The Sun
Consider also that the 9th house is the Joy of the Sun and the place was called “God” by ancient astrologers. Firmicus Maternus also asserted that it was the Sun that produces religious customs among people (Book I, Ch. 2, #2 of the Mathesis). This solar sense of illumination and profundity is also apparent in terms of the Lot called Spirit. It is also known as the Lot of the Sun. Spirit is derived from projecting the arc from the non-sect light (darkness) to the sect light (light). It was considered by some to be relevant in delineation of faith. However, ancient astrology came into its own during an age when religion, power, and intellectualism were all considered quite solar. They were also more intimately linked than in many societies today.
The 3rd House and Faith
The 3rd house was also linked with faith. It is most prominently associated with shorter travels, siblings/kin, friends/neighbors, and counsel/messages. The 3rd house is the Joy of the Moon, and called “Goddess”. Some of the astrologers who linked the 3rd with faith were Vettius Valens (2nd century CE), Julius Firmicus Maternus (4th century CE), Rhetorius (7th century CE), Sahl (9th century CE), Abu Ma’shar (9th century CE), Abu ‘Ali al-Khayyat (9th century CE), Umar al-Tabari (9th century CE), Abu Bakr (9th century CE), and al-Qabisi (10th century CE). Umar al-Tabari, Abu Bakr, and Abu ‘Ali all explicitly directed the practitioner to look at both the 9th and the 3rd, and their rulers, when delineating faith (see Persian Nativities Volumes I and II trans. Ben Dykes).
The 9th House vs. the the 3rd House
Linking the 3rd with faith and religion was not as frequent in the Hellenistic period as in the following Persian period though. While nearly every Persian-Arabic astrologer linked the 3rd to faith and religion, only a handful of Hellenistic astrologers did. For instance, Paulus Alexandrinus (4th century CE) gave an exposition of the meanings of all the houses (Ch. 24 of Introductory Matters). However, he associated only the 9th, and not the 3rd, with philosophers, gods, mystics, divination, astrologers, dreams, and sacred rites. Paulus noted that the 3rd does partake in signifying travel and life abroad due to being opposite the 9th.
I find that the 3rd can pertain to faith and mysticism, particularly when it involves counseling others. However, if indications between the 9th and 3rd conflict, I would lean more heavily on the 9th. Please read on for clarification as to why this is so.
The Thema Mundi and a Mercurial 3rd
Note that in the Thema Mundi, Cancer is the 1st house. That would make Pisces the 9th house and Virgo the 3rd house. A 9th house belonging to Jupiter and exalting Venus is consistent with the laws for harmony and progress themes of the 9th. A 3rd house belonging to and exalting Mercury is consistent with attributions sometimes given to the 3rd concerning communication, news, media, and counseling (as well as siblings which are often connected with Mercury). I note this because I have a friend who is a radio personality who has both benefics in the 3rd. Additionally, some media empire types (Rupert Murdoch, Ted Turner) have strong 3rd house emphasis. This is significant as media, news, and communication technologies aren’t traditional 3rd house associations.
Deep Mysteries and Surface Mysteries
We must consider the possibility that the 9th is more concerned with the “deep structural mystery” of reality, where the 3rd is more concerned with “surface mystery” and appearances. I myself have noted that those with a strong 3rd house orientation may enjoy counseling, divination, and the appearance of mystery (such as magic with James Randi noted below). This does not necessarily entail a desire to take a long journey to discover deep universal truths. This is reflected in the significations of the 3rd as concerning shorter trips and the 9th with farther international ones. It is also reflected in the joys, where the 3rd is the Joy of the Moon, who herself is a superficial light (reflecting the Sun) and pertains to shorter journeys. The Sun, whose power reveals and uncovers, has its Joy in the 9th.
The Sun or Jupiter in the 3rd and Lack of Faith
Interestingly, not all astrologers agreed that the Sun in 3rd should signify faith. According to Abu Bakr,
“The Sun appearing in the 3rd house and in one of his own dignities, signifies [he will] totally lack faith” (On Nativities, Book II, Ch. 1.10, Dykes, 2010, p. 149)
Abu Bakr also makes statements indicating that he doesn’t believe Jupiter in the 3rd to be indicative of true faith, as opposed to just appearance. These assertions about the Sun and Jupiter in the 3rd are in direct contradiction to statements made by Maternus. This is a good time for me to repeat my admonition of “ancient astrologers didn’t all agree“. By contrast, Bakr did note religion and spirituality when those planets are in the 9th. This may be an example of a view in which the 3rd is more indicative of superficial appearance of faith. It is the house of counseling, communication, gossip, and tricks. The 9th, its opposite, is more indicative of the heart of belief. Similarly, Abu Bakr delineated Jupiter or the Moon in the 3rd as indicative of superficial appearance of faith, without much substance, even when they are in sect.
James Randi’s Prominent 3rd House
Pertaining to the topic of the Sun and the 3rd, note that James Randi has the Sun in the 3rd. He is one of the most prominent skeptics in the world, Randi has the Sun in Leo in the 3rd house with Mercury and Venus. Firmicus Maternus gave separate aphorisms noting that the Sun in 3rd, Mercury in 3rd, Venus in 3rd, Sun and Mercury in 3rd, and so on, all give indications of religious life. Additionally, Randi’s Mercury rules the Ascendant and is with the Sun, which should also make him religious by Maternus. Therefore, we must regard the strong association of the 3rd with religion given by Maternus with suspicion.
On the other hand, look at Randi’s faith more in terms of the 9th house. We see “law” (the 9th) characterized by intellect (air) and doubt (Saturn). Looking at Jupiter for enthusiasm for expansive realms and ideas (Jupiter) we find it weak (retreating and cadent) and embattled (12th with Mars). Additionally, we find doubt and struggle as very loud themes in the life (Saturn strongly advancing). Significantly, there is a self-identification with intellect and rationalism (air rising, ruled by Mercury).
Conclusions Regarding the 3rd
For all the reasons discussed, I advise that one leans more heavily on the 9th than the 3rd, and on the benefics rather than the Sun, for the “propensity to believe”. Jupiter itself, like the 9th, is a natural significator of religion, law, and philosophy. The influence and condition of Jupiter should not be ignored in delineating faith.
Mercury
In my series, I have used Mercury primarily as a natural significator of rationalism. However, to many astrologers, including Ptolemy, Masha’allah, and Abu ‘Ali, Mercury was also important for character. It pertains to the intentional or rational mind, and the nature of intention is important for character. Just as we examined the nature of the 1st and its ruler for faith, Abu ‘Ali examined the planets ruling and regarding Mercury as having a particularly strong effect on the native’s faith (see Judgement of Nativities, Ch. 29). Personally, I put more emphasis on the lord of the 1st than on Mercury in delineating character and inclination toward faith.
Lot of Faith
Abu ‘Ali and Umar al-Tabari both made use of the Lot of Faith or Law, and its lord, in the delineation of faith. Which lot is this? It could be Spirit or the same lot mentioned later by Bonatti as the Lot of Religion. This lot is the arc from the Moon to Mercury by day, or Mercury to the Moon by night, projected from the Ascendant. Umar included the Lot of Faith and its lord in a complicated (and corny, in my opinion) victor technique for a faith victor. He then he assessed the victor’s condition as the condition of the native’s faith. Interestingly, Umar advised to consider the triplicity lords of the lot. The condition of these would show changes to faith at different periods of the life (1st triplicity lord showing the first part of life, etc.). Abu ‘Ali looked at planets that are with the lot (i.e. in the same sign), as particularly influential upon faith.
Lot of Spirit
Our ideas of consciousness tend to be approximated in discussions of the significance of the Sun and its lot, called Spirit. The Sun is frequently described as the “light of the mind”. Spirit is the arc from the non-sect light to the sect light, projected from the Ascendant. In Hellenistic astrology it was used for many things, from professional achievement to mental health. Maternus, speaking of the house of Spirit in the natal chart said, “This house is called the substance of the mind.” (Mathesis, Book IV, Ch. 5, #2, Holden trans., 2011, p. 216) Abu Bakr considered Spirit to show appearance of faith while its ruler showed actual personal faith. In this way, one could appear faithful and be faithful (both strong and good), appear faithless but be faithful (lot weak but ruler strong), and so forth based on the strength and beneficence of the lot and its lord.
Fortune
The Lot of Fortune, which is the Lot of the Moon, is more seldom used in connection with faith. However, it is another point that can have relevance for character. Therefore, its occurrence in the 9th was noted by some astrologers as indicating religious inclinations.
Added Indicators
With all that said, while re-exploring charts there are 5 additional indicators I’d like to evaluate:
Spirit shows appearance of upright religious conduct while its ruler shows the actual personal sanctity in private – a sort of word vs. deed distinction. (Abu Bakr, Book II, Ch. 1.10)
Mercury’s rulership and influential regards by planets is indicative of the nature of faith. (Abu ‘Ali, Ch. 29)
The Lot of Faith and its lord participate in the delineation of faith on similar footing with the 9th and its lord, in that benefics in the places or with the lords and the lords in good condition (particular stress on the nature of the planet with or ruling the lot) are indicative of faith and wisdom, while the opposite shows the opposite. (Abu ‘Ali, Ch. 29)
The quadruplicity of the 9th sign indicates the fixity of the beliefs. Mutable signs show instability or flexibility in faith, fixed signs show steadiness, and cardinal signs show doubt and frequent change of faith. The quadruplicity of the ruler adds to this to a lesser degree. (Abu ‘Ali, Ch. 29)
Lord of the 9th oriental (i.e. preceding) the Sun shows more open profession of belief. The lord of the 9th occidental (i.e. following) the Sun shows concealing of belief. (Abu ‘Ali, Ch. 29)
Additionally, we should look at twelfth-part positions and antiscia as I’ve noted in other articles on the site. These are zodiacal relationships which are essential for understanding the full extent of a planet’s associations in the chart.
Example: James Randi
I first examined Randi’s chart in this context in the initial article of this series. There I noted the identification with Mercury which both rules and regards the Ascendant. We also saw the blaring general strength of Saturn in the chart which is conjunct the Descendant (i.e. was setting at birth) and has the most authority over the 9th (Saturn is domicile lord of the 9th, second triplicity lord, and regards the 9th from the right side). Additionally, there is the afflicted state of Jupiter retreating in the 12th with Mars.
James Randi’s Natal Chart
Twelfth-Parts
Let’s look at the twelfth-parts, a topic I’ve explored in the last few posts (see here and here and here).
3rd House Emphasis
We find the twelfth-part of the Ascendant in the 5th, Libra, the kingdom (i.e. exaltation) of Saturn, in Saturn’s bound. Randi came to prominence as an entertainer, a stage magician. The 5th house pertains to performance and stage, while its ruler Venus and her house Leo reinforce these notions of performance. We can gather some of this from the 3rd, of communications, being occupied by the very prominent Sun, Venus, and Mercury in Leo. This indicates the important role of communication in the life because the signs of the Lights, Leo and Cancer, are strengthening to planets in them (the Lights are naturally prominent). The Ascendant ruler, the Sun, and Venus all occupy the 3rd which is Leo, so it is a very prominent house.
Jupiter and Saturn
The twelfth-part of Jupiter also falls onto Venus further signalling fortune through entertainment. Note that the twelfth-part of Jupiter in the 3rd does not bring faith here. Like Venus in the 3rd, it associates 3rd house themes with benefit. The twelfth-parts of the Sun and Moon fall in the 8th, Capricorn, one of the domiciles of Saturn, further stressing the influence of Saturn upon the life. The twelfth-part of Saturn is in the 12th, the place occupied by Jupiter, further afflicting Jupiter. This reinforces the curbed enthusiasm for stepping beyond the known. In fact, Randi, with his extremely strong Saturn, very afflicted Jupiter, and strong identification with Mercury, is a bit of an extreme case when it comes to resistance to out of bounds experiences.
Randi on the Irrational
Why people are so drawn to the irrational is something that has always puzzled me. I want to be, if I can, as sure of the world, the real world, around me, as is possible. Now you can only attain that to a certain degree, but I want the greatest degree of control. I don’t … I’ve never involved myself in narcotics of any kind. I don’t smoke. I don’t drink. Because that can easily just fuzz the edges of my rationality, fuzz the edges of my reasoning powers, and I want to be as aware as I possibly can. That means giving up a lot of fantasies that may be comforting in some ways but I’m willing to give that up to live in an actually real world – as close as I can get to it. – James Randi (source)
As mentioned previously, Randi’s chart gives us a clear indication that heavy doses of solar energy in the 3rd are not sufficient to make one religious. Even the twelfth-part of Jupiter does not do so. The Sun in the 3rd may even be an indication of a total lack of faith as suggested by Abu Bakr.
Spirit
The Lot of Spirit in Randi’s chart is in the 9th, ruled by Saturn, the out of sect malefic, in the bound of Mars. It is squared by Mars and Jupiter from the 12th, and opposed by the Sun, Mercury, and Venus from the 3rd. Abu Bakr suggested either that the lord of Spirit in the 9th, or the lord of Spirit being the lord of the 9th (Saturn in this case), is indicative of good faith if the lord is received. It is not received though (Saturn does not aspect Jupiter). It is too premature to evaluate. However, the ruler is Saturn, the out of sect malefic, and is not received so this type of use of the Lot of Spirit could be worthwhile.
James Randi’s Natal Chart with Lots of Faith and Spirit
Outward Faith
Let’s consider the possibility that Spirit shows outward profession of faith. In such case, we would expect a combination of very strongly restrictive doubt and skepticism (Saturn ruling and out of sect). We would also expect a spirited pursuit of truth and intellectualism (the 9th and air). Additionally, there is aggressiveness associated with secret plans of undoing (Mars ruling the bound of Spirit in the 12th of hidden enemies). This is certainly the case. Randi has been launching secret offensives against faith since his early twenties. He has taken on jobs as fake astrologer, psychic, and so forth to spoof and attack supernatural beliefs. He did this while getting his career as a magician together and before coming into public prominence.
Certainly, Spirit is not in such great condition that we would suppose outward profession of sanctity. We were already getting much of the Saturnine sense from the 9th. Spirit may still be of value particularly as it occupies a specific bound, showing the 12th house Mars influence. Additionally, Spirit shows Randi’s own preoccupation with the 9th house themes of law and faith. Randi is more known as a tester of mystics (Saturn 9th themes) than even for his being a magician.
Mercury
It was Abu ‘Ali that advised we look at Mercury. We are to pay particular attention to the planet or planets Mercury is most strongly connected to. For this we look to planets with Mercury, ruling Mercury, or that Mercury applies to in aspect. Mercury is with the Sun, in the Sun’s domicile, and in phasis (i.e. making an appearance). Therefore, we expect a strong solar influence. Mercury is also in Jupiter’s bound and applying a square to Jupiter with Jupiter in the superior position, so we expect a strong Jupiterian influence. Both Jupiterian and Solar influences on Mercury are indicative of religious and faithful people to Abu ‘Ali. I’m not overly impressed with this technique, as the more general technique yielded a much more accurate analysis.
Lot of Faith
First, it should be noted that the Lot of Faith is right at the beginning of a sign and a birth time error of only about 2 minutes could put the lot in the preceding sign. This could make a huge difference. Per the current time the lot is in the 10th in the sign of Jupiter and bound of Venus. If birth was about 2 minutes earlier, it would be in the 9th in the sign of Saturn and bound of Saturn. This is a very big difference! Assuming that the lot is at 0 Pisces, it is ruled by Jupiter, however Jupiter is out of sect, in a bad place (the 12th), and with a malefic, so it is not very indicative of faith.
Abu ‘Ali seemed to highlight planets with or aspecting the lot. Saturn dominates (i..e superior square) the lot, and Mars is in a scrutinizing (i.e. within 3 degrees) square to the lot, so we might consider this lot extremely afflicted by malefics, showing a destruction of faith.
Quadruplicity of the 9th
The 9th sign is Aquarius, a fixed sign, so we might expect that Randi is not the type to question his own beliefs or radically change them much. This seems consistent with the fact that Randi has been involved in spoofing astrology, psychism, and all things supernatural since his early twenties. The ruler of the 9th is in Sagittarius, a mutable sign, which might show instability in belief and possibly a tendency toward syncretism (input from many sources combined into a new whole). I don’t see the mutability of the ruler as much in his life in regards to belief. However, the mutability could pertain to scientific approaches to establishing truth which are inherently unstable (changing as new evidence is presented).
Orientality of the 9th Lord
Saturn is occidental the Sun in Randi’s chart. This represents concealing of belief, keeping beliefs private. This certainly doesn’t seem to be the case, as Randi is a very prominent and vocal proponent of his skepticism. Perhaps this is overridden by the fact that Saturn is so strongly advancing right on the horizon in the chart. I associate general strength factors like advancing with the volume of a planet in the chart and would consider this a blaring loud Saturn. In any case the oriental/occidental distinction seems insufficient on its own to establish how ready one is to profess one’s beliefs.
Conclusion
I’ve thrown quite a lot of material at the reader in this post. While our general method of reading faith in the astrological chart has proved very valuable, there is room to go deeper. As we go deeper we take on more factors. Unfortunately, with more factors self-deception becomes easier. We must remain critical and thoroughly evaluate these additional factors, which are more complicated than they seemed.
All of this and primarily just to distinguish the very faithful from the very doubtful, and the very genuine from the very superficial? Apparently not. With all these factors there is room enough for a very nuanced view of one’s beliefs. Faith is one small topic among many. Obviously, as astrologers, we have our work cut out for us. To those who need all the answers now, so that they can go out and compete with psychics, this may be disparaging. However, I think the techniques are extremely promising, By remaining humble and working to hone our special techniques, the 21st century may be the century in which the art of astrology reaches a depth of accuracy never before attained.
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.
Masha’allah, & al-Khayyat, A. ’Ali. (2009). Persian Nativities I: Masha’allah and Abu ’Ali. (B. N. Dykes, Trans.). Minneapolis, MN: The Cazimi Press.
Featured image is an illustration from Doubt and Other Things: Verse and Illustrations by Elihu Vedder (1922) in the public domain.
In the previous articles, I discussed the use of the twelfth-parts. These are also known as the dodecatemoria or the duads/dwads. For a review of the twelfth-parts and their use, please see the first and second article Here and in future posts of the series, I’ll be revisiting analyses from other articles on the site to look at the twelfth-part positions.
A Return to Sign Dignity
In my articles on dignity, I’ve pointed out the folly of using sign-based dignity to evaluate the beneficence or maleficence (i.e. benefit or harm) of a planetary signification. Overall, dignity has been a chart factor that has been far over-emphasized by traditional astrologers. It is to traditional astrologers what “Mercury retrograde” is to modern astrologers – a convenient but inaccurate crutch.
Dignity as a Separate Concept is a Distraction
It is my opinion, dignity as a separate concept is unnecessary. Dignity as a separate concept is a redundancy in most cases when it appears to work . Generally, a planet in its own domicile is made more prominent because its ruler is itself – a type of feedback loop. In that sense, a planet with dignity has a type of strength or prominence.
There are also more specific instances of a benefic or malefic interpretation in which dignity is not really at the heart of the issue. For instance, the Moon in Scorpio is linked with difficulty (especially in a day chart) by the Moon being ruled by a malefic. It is similar with Venus in Scorpio or Aries.
More commonly, the astrologer is overlooking more important factors such as place, sect, and the influence of malefics or benefics when they defer to dignity. Mercury in Pisces is a Mercury linked with benefit (Jupiter). However, if someone with that configuration had a speech impediment, the astrologer would be quick to blame Mercury in fall. Perhaps, they missed that Mercury is in the 6th house and dominated by Saturn.
The Curious Case of Jeffrey Dahmer and Ted Turner
The first of the articles on dignity compared the charts of Jeffrey Dahmer and Ted Turner. Dahmer had a whopping 4 planets in domicile, with only 2 peregrine and only 1 in fall – a chart with an unusually high amount of dignity. Ted Turner has no planets in domicile or exaltation, 1 planet in fall, 3 planets in “detriment” (for those who use detriment – I don’t), 2 planets peregrine, and only 1 planet with positive dignity – an unusually ill-dignified chart.
I found Dahmer and Turner to be the perfect minimal pair for explaining the trouble with dignity, not just in terms of beneficence and maleficence, but also for strength. I do use some sign-based significations like domicile, exaltation, fall, triplicity, and bound, for prominence myself. However, I give them less stress than typically given to them. I place more stress on advancing/retreating, being in a stake, stations, phasis, and relationship to the lights (including being in a domicile of a light). I explore strength indications at length in the lessons.
Dignity is Not Beneficence and Not Stature
Obviously, Dahmer’s life was not filled with more joy, goodness, and positive productivity than that of Turner, as might be expected if dignity pertained to beneficence and maleficence. Similarly, while Manetho, Maternus, and other Hellenistic astrologers suggested that one’s stature and power depend to a great deal on the number of planets in domicile in one’s chart, it is clear that this also cannot be the case. We would expect the lack of dignity in Turner’s chart to suggest he is very much held back. Similarly, we would suggest that Dahmer has immense social mobility. Therefore, while I believe that being in domicile, exaltation, triplicity, or bound is reinforcing of a planet, it is obvious folly to rely on dignity for beneficence and for evaluating social stature.
Enter Twelfth-Parts
With the above said, it is interesting that the twelfth-parts tend to reveal much more strength and beneficence in Turner’s chart. The twelfth-parts also reveal additional weakness and maleficence in Dahmer’s chart.
Dahmer’s Twelfth-Parts
Dahmer’s Natal Chart with Twelfth-Parts along Outside of Wheel
In Dahmer’s chart, there are 4 planets in domicile and 1 in fall but 3 twelfth-part planets are in fall (and 1 in “detriment”), with none in domicile or exaltation.
Twelfth-Part Mars in X Ruled by the Moon and Square to Mars
More importantly, the twelfth-part of Mars, occupies the powerful 10th place (Dahmer’s “achievements”), square to its natal position. The square to its natal position increases its malice (see quote in previous article on twelfth-parts that square or oppose their natal positions).
Mars-Moon combinations, such as the one in the natal chart, have significations that relate to bodily violence. The twelfth-part of Mars is in the sign of the Moon and square to the natal Moon-Mars. The twelfth-part of the Moon in Scorpio, a domicile of Mars, in the bound of Saturn (significator of death), and in the 2nd place (one of the dark places). Therefore, the Moon-Mars bodily violence signification is reinforced in many ways.
An Even Darker Character
The Moon is relevant for character, especially in terms of irrational impulses and instincts. Ptolemy identified it with the irrational part of the soul (see Tetrabiblos, Book III, Ch. 13). The Ascendant and Mercury are also relevant for character delineation and are in the bounds of Jupiter in the natal chart. The Moon, Mercury, and the Ascendant have their twelfth-parts are in bounds of Saturn. The twelfth-part of Mercury is additionally with the twelfth-part of Saturn in the 11th, pertaining to friends and groups.
The ruler of the Ascendant, the twelfth-part of the Ascendant, and the ruler of the twelfth-part of the Ascendant are also relevant to the character. We find the ruler of the Ascendant, Venus, to be in the 8th pertaining to death, fear, and harm, in the bound of Saturn. The twelfth-part of the Ascendant is in that same place and bound. Additionally, that twelfth-part is also ruled by Venus. Therefore, three important character significators are piled into the bound of Saturn, the planet of death, in the 8th place, the place of death, ruled by Venus, planet of sexuality.
Turner’s Twelfth-Parts
Ted Turner’s Natal Chart with Twelfth-Parts on Outside of Wheel
The 3 planets in “detriment” in Turner’s natal chart are in their own domiciles in the twelfth-parts. Saturn in fall sees its twelfth-part in “detriment”. However, detriment was not a distinct concept in Hellenistic astrology. Therefore, Saturn’s twelfth-part is actually in triplicity and the sign of the sect light. Being in triplicity and in a sign of a light, especially the sect light, is strengthening.
Lighting Up the 10th House
The Sun has its twelfth-part in the 10th with the Moon, in a sign of Mercury and bound of Jupiter. Both twelfth-part lights in the 10th provide an additional indication of power and influence.
Benefics Gracing the Lights
Additionally, the twelfth-part of the sect benefic, Jupiter, falls into the 12th, the place of the Sun, Fortune, and Venus. This links benefits to their significations. The other benefic, Venus, lands in the 11th, her domicile, the place of the Moon. Thus both benefic twelfth-parts occupy the places of the lights linking them with fortunate circumstances.
Conclusion
Twelfth-parts give very important additional information about planets and points in the natal chart. Dignity is often a redundant consideration, but it can play a role in terms of planetary prominence and reinforcement. If you are going to consider dignity as a strength consideration, then be sure to also examine the twelfth-parts.
The ancients stressed how the twelfth-parts are responsible for major modulations in planetary signification within a sign. In this sense, dignity relating to twelfth-part positions may be even more important than that related to natal positions. More work research is needed in this area. In any case, the twelfth-parts positions reinforce or contradict significations in the natal chart. It is these reinforcements and contradictions that help us to correctly interpret the chart.
For, if you want to explain the entire substance of the astrological significations from the efficacy of the dodecatemories and from the terms in which they are found, you will not be mistaken; for the Babylonians attribute the supreme power of [astrological] decrees to the dodecatemories, but Ptolemy to the antiscions, [and] we to both. (Maternus, Book III, Ch. 9, #14, Holden trans., 2011, p. 170)
So, you thought you just had one astrological chart, but in Hellenistic astrology you have two. Then again, maybe three. The secret charts are found by examining some projected positions for chart factors.
Twelfth-Parts
The second chart I allude to is the chart of the twelfth-part positions. Twelfth-part positions were noted as a fundamental basic of astrological technique by nearly every Hellenistic astrologer. Their use was urged most strongly by Julius Firmicus Maternus. These are typically marked along the natal chart to keep a reference to natal chart houses. I explored what the twelfth-parts are and how they are calculated in the introductory article.
Antiscia
The third chart that I alluded to is something that appears to be more idiosyncratic to Maternus. It is the use of antiscia positions as yet another chart body-double. I explored this use of antiscia by Maternus very briefly near the end of my article on sign symmetry.
Maternus attributes this use of antiscia chart positions as secret positions to Ptolemy, though this is a false attribution. Maternus is the only Hellenistic source I know of that uses this third set of positions. On the other hand, the dodecatemoria or twelfth-parts are indeed Babylonian in origin, and their use was widespread among Hellenistic astrologers.
Paulean Twelfth-Parts
In the last article, I expressed that Paulus presented an idiosyncratic variety of twelfth-parts in which the position in degrees and minutes are multiplied by 13 rather 12. I was recently confronted by a footnote by James Holden (footnote #2, p. 18, 2009) in his translation of Rhetorius in which he noted that there is evidence in surviving cuneiform tablets that the two different methods of projecting twelfth-parts existed in Babylonian astrology. In other words, according to Holden multiplying by either the more common 12 or the 13 as used by Paulus, then projecting from the beginning of the sign, were both used (Holden cites “Mesopotamian Astrology” by Koch-Westenholz).
If it is in fact the case that the 13-fold variety does also have Babylonian origins, then at least among the Hellenistic astrologers, it was a less popular variant. Manilius, Dorotheus, Ptolemy, Valens, Maternus, Hephaistio, Porphyry, and Rhetorius (as well as later astrologers) employed or expressed preference for the 12-fold variety.
The Importance of the Twelfth-Part Positions
I was originally skeptical about the use of the twelfth-part positions. I didn’t think they represented an important or informative addition to the natal chart positions. I’m sure many readers initially feel the same way. Therefore, I want to stress that the twelfth-parts were mentioned as a basic of astrological technique by nearly every Hellenistic astrologer. Many of them, including Manilius, Maternus, and Rhetorius, felt it necessary to stress how important they are despite how easy it is to overlook them.
… the genitures differ in a single constellation, because the individual signs vary on account of the distribution of their divisions and modulate their respective powers in the dodecatemories. (Manilius, Book II, #710-712, Goold trans., 1977, p. 139)
And the method of dodecatemories is a necessity in nativities; and I also put down the astrological significations of these so that some might use them not just as in a secondary work. (Rhetorius, Ch. 18, Holden trans., 2009, p. 18)
Now I shall show briefly how you may inquire about the dodecatemories, for some think that they can find the entire substance of the nativity from them, and they intimate that whatever is concealed in the delineation can be discovered from the dodecatemories. (Maternus, Book II, Ch. 17, #1, Holden trans., 2011, p. 59)
Basics of Use
The twelfth-part positions are used just like natal positions. They give additional information and reveal significations that might be missed from looking at the natal chart alone.
Cognition Usage Isn’t Just About Cognition
Even the interpretation of cognition usage (discussed in the last article) is along these lines, though it is for horary or consultation charts. Masha’allah (in On Hidden Things) discussed multiple signficators for the querent’s thoughts or intentions. One of them was the ruler of the Ascendant. However, Masha’allah expressed that the best significator is the twelfth-part of the Ascendant and its ruler. In other words, the twelfth-part Ascendant and its ruler are used just as the Ascendant and its ruler to give information about the querent and the matter itself.
Hellenistic Astrologers Using Twelfth-Parts as the Secret Chart
Paulus: Twelfth-Parts Also Show Benefic/Malefic Indications
We get a sense of this all-purpose use in Paulus, even though he used the 13-fold ones. In Ch. 22 of his Introduction, he noted that the twelfth-parts of benefics occurring in important places signify very good things for the person. By contrast, twelfth-parts of malefics occuring in such places indicate bad things. Benefics produce fortunate circumstances where they occur, and malefics produce difficulty, and it is the same with the twelfth-parts of each.
Maternus: Delineation of a Planet or Point Includes Delineating its Twelfth-Part
Maternus laid out the use of twelfth-parts in Book II of the Mathesis. There he instructed us to look at numerous things but stressed the place, the ruler, and the bound ruler of the twelfth-part. We are are also to look at sect and the interactions between planets in ways that he discussed for regular planets (for instance that there is greater harmony between the waxing or full moon and diurnal planets). All in all, it seems that Maternus wants us to look at twelfth-part positions as on an almost equal footing as natal positions, examining things like place, sign ruler, bound ruler, regards/aspects, and special configurational indications.
This is further stressed in Book III, when each chapter on a planet ends with Maternus admonishing the reader to also check out the planet’s twelfth-part. Apparently, we are to look at the same factors discussed with reference to the natal planet. In this way we will not miss some important indication that is in the twelfth-parts but not the regular natal chart, as everything should be in one or the other. Maternus even advised to check the twelfth-part of the Lot of Fortune after discussing Fortune’s delineation (Book IV, Ch. 4) . Again, the clear lesson is to delineate the twelfth-part as you’d delineate the planet.
Rhetorius: Twelfth-Part Positions Signify in Configurations Too
But what of the relationship of a twelfth-part to its same natal point, such as the twelfth-part of the Sun to the natal Sun? Rhetorius treated of this in Ch. 60 of his Compendium. A twelfth-part trine its natal position increases the beneficence or fortune signified by the planet, but one opposed to its natal position increases the maleficence or difficulty signified by the planet.
Rhetorius also discussed how the twelfth-parts of malefics falling in places can make things more difficult and the twelfth-parts of benefics easier, similar to what Paulus mentioned above. He put particular stress on the twelfth-part of the Moon in relation to the nature and social standing of the person. In his delineations of twelfth-parts he particular stressed the influence of the ruler of the twelfth-part. Some delineations also involve regards/aspects from natal planets and even the qualities of the signs, such as human and quadrapedal. That the twelfth-part delineations of Rhetorius encompassed all these things lends support to the idea that delineation of the twelfth-part is very much like delineation of a natal planet or point.
Delineation Example: Steve Jobs
In the next several posts on twelfth-parts, I’ll be digging back to analyses from older posts on the blog and showing how twelfth-parts add valuable information. I will kick this off by taking a brief second look at the chart of Steve Jobs for the rest of this post.
In one my first posts, in October 2011, I discussed the natal chart of Steve Jobs and some of the most important general planetary strength considerations, showing that his Mercury is much stronger than one might think from a cursory glance. Before reading on, I urge the reader to give that post a quick review by visiting it here. While stations and phasis may not be appropriate to twelfth-parts, the twelfth-parts can tell us additional information about the strength of Mercury.
Steve Jobs’ Natal Chart with Twelfth-Parts on Outer Wheel
In the original analysis I noted that Mercury is probably the strongest planet in the chart in terms of having a generally pervasive influence over the life in a broad way, as it is strongly stationing direct, making an appearance (in phasis), advancing, and ruling the 1st.
Twelfth-Part MC Conjunct nMercury; Twelfth-Part Mercury Strong
Looking at the twelfth-parts we find further indication of the significance of Mercury by the twelfth-part of the MC being conjunct Mercury. This and the fact that Mercury’s twelfth-part is advancing in the 11th which is a strong and fortunate place. It is in a sign of a light (Cancer, home of the Moon, which is the sect light of the chart), while actually with the twelfth-part of the sect light. These are all additional indications of the strength of Mercury.
The twelfth-part of Mercury is in the bound of Jupiter (as is the natal Mercury), and is very tightly conjoined to Jupiter, in the place of Jupiter’s Joy, and in the sign of Jupiter’s exaltation. These things all connect Mercury with fortunate and lofty Jupiterian themes, but are not as strongly expressed in the natal chart itself.
Mercury posited in the 11th house from the ASC will make talented persons, indispensable for all activities, and those to whom the conduct of great business affairs is entrusted; but then it denotes greater duties if it was conjoined to Jupiter by a favorable aspect. (Maternus, Book III,Ch. 3f, #23, Holden trans., 2011, p. 147)
More Twelfth-Parts
The twelfth-part of Venus, the sect benefic, occupying Virgo, a house of Mercury, further emphasizes this fortunate quality of Mercury. Also note that the twelfth-part of Jupiter falls right onto the Sun in the chart. The twelfth-part of the Sun is in the place of the Sun’s Joy with the twelfth-part Ascendant. The Moon’s twelfth-part is strongly advancing toward the MC. She is also with the lord of the Ascendant and Jupiter (as well as Saturn). Additionally, the twelfth-part of Fortune is conjunct the Moon, the sect light.
Key Information
As one can see, the twelfth-parts not only help us to get more information out of the chart about the prominence of Mercury, but also showcase fortunate circumstances connected to Mercury. These are important features of this person’s life that are reflected in the chart with the twelfth-parts but would be easy to miss from the natal chart without them. We see many additional indications that the chart is of someone with great social mobility and very fortunate circumstances linked to Mercury.
Conclusion
Twelfth-parts are not a trivial matter. In chart delineation, it is vital to see which indications are repeated in many different ways. Such indications are stronger and more important, allowing us to say something meaningful about the life. The twelfth-parts are a vital and important part of chart delineation. If you’re looking at a chart without the twelfth-parts, you are missing a huge chunk of the information in the chart. Without this important information, you can rest assured that you will reach the wrong conclusions. Similar indications of something in the chart may be repeated without your knowledge while other indications you might think are important may be contradicted by the twelfth-parts. If you’re serious about accurately reading a natal chart add the twelfth-parts to your chart readings today.
References
Manilius, M. (1977). Astronomica. (G. P. Goold, Trans.). Cambridge, MA: Loeb Classical Library.
Maternus, J. F. (2011). Mathesis. (J. H. Holden, Trans.). American Federation of Astrologers.
Rhetorius of Egypt, & Teucer of Babylon. (2009). Rhetorius the Egyptian. (J. H. Holden, Trans.). Tempe, AZ: American Federation of Astrologers.
There is a secret key to the zodiac. Inside every zodiacal sign there are another twelve-signs. This division of the zodiac dates back to Babylonian times and was a key element of Hellenistic and early medieval astrology, but is extremely neglected today. Key elements of natal delineation and timing have been lost due to ignorance regarding this important feature of the zodiac. In this article, I explore the origins and use of twelfth-parts.
Pray examine now a matter trivial in appearance, yet one of great moment, which does not permit description of itself save by a Greek word. I speak of the dodecatemories, of which the name proclaims the principle. The signs each consist of thirty degrees, and every total is further divided by twice six; the calculation therefore shows that in each division there are two and a half degrees. (Manilius, Book 2, 693-700, Goold trans., 1977, p. 137)
Who Used the Twelfth-Parts?
Hellenistic Astrologers
In addition to Manilius, the twelfth-parts were used by almost every Hellenistic astrologer. Early Hellenistic astrologers who used twelfth-parts include Dorotheus of Sidon (1st Century CE) in Book I, Ch. 8 and other sections of Carmen, Ptolemy (2nd Century CE) in Book I, Ch. 22 of the Tetrabiblos, and Vettius Valens (2nd Century CE) in multiple sections of his Anthology. Julius Firmicus Maternus (4th Century CE) strongly advocated the use of twelfth-parts in Book II, Ch. 17, and many other sections of his Mathesis. Additionally, Porphyry of Tyre (3rd Century CE) in Ch. 39 of his Introduction to the Tetrabiblos used twelfth-parts, as did Hephaistio of Thebes (5th Century CE) in Book I, Ch. 18 and in Book III of his Apotelesmatics. Rhetorius (7th century) also used twelfth-parts in Ch. 18 of his Compendium.
Early Medieval Astrologers
The twelfth-parts continued to be a basic component of astrological technique as practiced by later Perso-Arabic astrologers of the early medieval period, including Sahl, Masha’allah, Abu Ma’shar, al-Qabisi, Abraham Ibn Ezra, and more.
Abu Ma’shar made extensive use of twelfth-parts in his predictive methods. He made over 20 mentions of twelfth-parts in his work on predictive natal astrology, On the Revolutions of the Years of Nativities. Ma’shar advocated their use in nearly all predictive techniques. He explicitly advocated their use in solar returns (see Book I, Ch. 5-6; see Book II, Ch. 3 in relation to the profected Ascendant), lunar returns (see Book II, Ch. 1), primary directions (see Book III, Ch. 1), and transits (see Book V, Ch. 9). The twelfth-parts are key not only to natal delineation but also to predictive astrology.
Pre-Hellenistic Use
However, the use of the twelfth-parts predates Hellenistic astrology. The twelfth-parts. like the twelve-sign zodiac itself, have their origins with the Babylonians, who used them in omen lore at least as far back as the 5th century BCE. Therefore, the twelfth-part divisions of the zodiacal signs are nearly as old as the regularized twelve-sign zodiac itself.
What are the Twelfth-Parts?
The twelfth-parts appear in the earliest strains of Hellenistic astrology. They are also known as dodecatemory/dodekatemoria, duodena/duodecimae, or dwad/dwadashama. As the 1st Century astrologer, Manilius, explained in the opening quote, the twelfth-parts are divisions of each astrological sign into 12 equal parts. Each of the twelve parts are assigned a zodiacal sign beginning with the greater sign itself.
Finding Twelfth-Parts
Some authors, including Manilius, give two ways to calculate these, both leading to the same result. One way is to think of the first 2.5° as belonging to the sign itself, the second to the next sign, and so on until you get to the last 2.5° which belongs to the sign preceding the greater sign. For instance, if Mercury were found at 28° Scorpio, then it would be in the last 2.5° of the sign, and thus its twelfth-part would be Libra.
A second method is used for greater accuracy. We take the degrees and minutes of the position within the sign and multiply it by 12, then add that many degrees to the beginning of the sign the planet is in. For instance, with Mercury at exactly 28°00′ Scorpio, we would take 28 and multiply it by 12, yielding 336, then we would add this to the beginning of the sign Scorpio, so 30 would bring us to Sagittarius, 60 to Capricorn, 90 to Aquarius, and so on until we get to Libra with 6 degrees left over; the twelfth-part of Mercury would therefore be 6°00′ Libra in this case.
Chart Calculation of Twelfth-Parts
The FREE, open-source, traditional astrology program, Morinus, has twelfth-part calculation built-in. Some of the developers of the program have been very kind to me and gave given me the chance to check out the functionality before it was implemented. It is great to have a program that can lay out the twelfth-part positions quickly and visually, because as we’ll see, these positions are informative and early astrologers placed importance on them.
Morinus Chart Appearance Options
In order to pull up twelfth-parts in Traditional Morinus, after installation using the instructions I’ve provided, first pull up a chart. Then hold Shift and press A, or click on Option from the top navigation menu and click Appearance I. Select Dodecatemoria from the In Chart options and click OK. The chart will then have the twelfth-part positions apparent around the outside.
Bruce Lee’s Natal Chart with Twelfth-PartsVariations
Some Variations
Manilius Division
Manilius asserted that the twelfth-parts are further divided into 5 segments of half a degree each, assigned to the five non-luminary planets, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Venus, and Mercury (see Manilius, Astronomica, Book 2, 738-748). However, Manilius didn’t specify the order that the planets are assigned to these subdivisions, and no other early astrologers addressed these divisions. Typically, the Chaldean order, either from slowest to swiftest (Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Venus, Mercury) or the reverse (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn) is suggested. While the first one of these orders is certainly the most logical, supported by the use of such order in many other types of zodiacal division from decan to monomoiria, we can’t be sure. I don’t recommend the use of these subdivisions in practice.
Paulean Thirteenth-Parts?
It is also worth noting that Paulus Alexandrinus (4th Century CE) provided an idiosyncratic type of twelfth-parts. The twelfth-part explanation in Paulus is most likely in error, as he multiplies the position by 13, rather than by 12. He gives a paragraph explaining his justification for multiplying by 13 rather than 12, but there isn’t much logical sense in the explanation in my opinion. Paulus seemed to imply that multiplication by 13 was necessary to allow the 12th parts to come back to the sign that the planet is in. This is hardly a noteworthy argument, as the first 2.5° of the sign already fall to that same sign in the standard system.
Commentary on Paulus
In the commentary on Paulus by Olympiodorus the Younger (6th Century CE), he found it necessary to explain the more typical form of twelfth-part first to preface the discussion. He then explained the idiosyncratic Paulean form. As far as I know, this idiosyncratic form of twelfth-part isban innovation of Paulus and was used by Paulus only, so I will not pursue it further here.
And we say: the ancient Egyptians used to call it the 12th part, since the number is found in the position of each star multiplied by 12. However Paulus, having come later and examined the matter closely, [said] that the multiplication by 12 is never returned to the same zoidion where the star is, where we seek the dodekatemorion — but often the dodekatemorion of the star happens to fall in the same zoidion where the star is. (Olympiodorus, Commentary on Paulus Alexandrinus, Ch. 21, Greenbaum trans., 2001, p. 102)
How were Twelfth-Parts Used?
The twelfth-parts produce a secondary zodiacal position for each planet and point in the chart. It is as if each point is projected into an additional hidden zodiacal position.
There are four main ways in which the twelfth-parts were used in Hellenistic astrology: 1. The twelfth-part of the Moon gave indications regarding the physical sex of the person; 2. The twelfth-part of the Sun gave indications about the Ascendant when it was unknown; 3. The twelfth-part of the Ascendant revealed thoughts/intentions; 4. Twelfth-part positions gave additional information about planetary significations that are on par with the natal positions of the planet.
I will briefly explore three of these four uses; for sex, finding the Ascendant, and interpretation of cognition. However, I want to make it clear to the reader, that the last use is by far the most fruitful and important.
Sex of a Person from the Natal Chart
Both Dorotheus (Book I, Ch. 8 of Carmen) and Valens (Book IX, Ch. 8 of Anthology) used the sex of the sign of the twelfth-part of the Moon for delineation of the native’s sex.
Dorotheus
For Dorotheus, the basic idea is that if the Moon’s twelfth-part is in a male sign (i.e. a Fire or Air sign) then the native is male, but if in a female sign (i.e. an Earth or Water sign) then the native is female. However, there are some exceptions that can override this indication of the sex of the sign of the twelfth-part of the Moon.
The exception are as follows: 1. Sun, Moon, and Ascendant are in signs of the opposite sex, 2. the Light of the opposite sex (i.e. Sun is masculine and Moon is feminine) is in the Ascendant in a sign of its same sex, 3. planets of the opposite sex occupy the 1st and the 7th, 4. both Lights are in signs of the opposite sex and a planet of the opposite sex rules the Ascendant (example given is of both Lights in masculine signs and Jupiter ruling the Ascendant, this overriding a feminine twelfth-part of the Moon to indicate a male child).
Valens
For Valens, the sex of the sign of the twelfth-part of the Moon and the sex of the sign occupied by that sign’s ruler give strong indications for sex of the child.
Results
This method is poor for predicting sex. For instance, Kurt Cobain has Sun, Moon, and Ascendant all in feminine signs, which would override the fact that the twelfth-part of the Moon in his chart is in Sagittarius, a masculine sign. Additionally, the ruler of the twelfth-part of the Moon is Jupiter, which is also in a feminine sign.
Cobain’s Natal Chart
One might argue that perhaps Dorotheus was incorrect and the twelfth-part of the Moon should be given the primary consideration in this endeavor. However, examine the chart of Traci Lords. Her Ascendant is in a masculine sign, Sun and Moon in feminine signs. The twelfth-part of the Moon is in a masculine sign, and its ruler, Saturn, is also in a masculine sign, so if they were given primary consideration we’d judge her to be a man.
Traci Lords’ Natal Chart
Junk Technique
In conclusion, we cannot rely upon the twelfth-part of the Moon methods of Dorotheus or Valens to guess the sex of a person by the birth chart. Perhaps Dorotheus and Valens have given us leads for the eventual development of a technique for guessing the sex of an individual from the chart that involves use of twelfth-parts. So far we don’t have a reliable technique for such a determination.
Twelfth-Parts for Finding the Ascendant
Another one of the more spurious uses of the twelfth-parts is to rectify the sign of an individual’s Ascendant when it is unknown. It is Valens that discussed this use of twelfth-part of the Sun in Book I, Ch. 4 and Book IX, Ch. 7 of his Anthology. It is only one method among many rectification methods discussed by Valens.
The method involves first knowing if the person was born by day or night and knowing the Sun’s position accurately enough to be able to find the sign of its twelfth-part. The Ascendant for a day birth will either be the sign opposite the sign of the Sun’s twelfth-part, or one trine to that sign, with preference given to the “left” trine (i.e. the one that is 120° after the sign of the twelfth-part of the Sun). If it is a night birth, then it will be one of the signs opposite to these, again with the same preference.
Example
For example, if someone was born with the twelfth-part of the Sun in Taurus, then for a day birth the most likely Ascendant would be Virgo, but could also be Scorpio or Capricorn. If a night birth then the most likely Ascendant would be Pisces, but could also be Taurus or Cancer.
Results
I’m a day birth with the twelfth-part of the Sun in Taurus, and my Ascendant is none of the three relevant signs, nor any of the three signs for night births. A technique that narrows the Ascending sign to one-fourth of the signs of the chart, but still doesn’t give you an accurate indication is not a very valuable technique.
Interpretation of Cognition
One of the more fascinating niche uses of twelfth-parts is in the interpretation of cognition. This use was common for consultation charts, and later in medieval horary astrology. The technique originates with unknown Indian astrologers and Hephastio of Thebes. Importantly, it was adoped by Masha’allah. The basic idea is that the twelfth-part of the Ascendant gives indications about the thoughts and intentions of a native or a querent (the one asking the astrologer to divine the answer to a question). The native is really concerned about matters pertaining to the house represented by the twelfth-part of the Ascendant. The qualities and conditions of that place such as the quality of the sign, its domicile lord, and occupants of the sign are all relevant to the native’s true concerns.
The Search of the Heart
Dr. Benjamin Dykes explored this use of twelfth-parts in considerable depth in his translation of, and commentary on, Hermann of Carinthia’s “The Search of the Heart”. I highly recommend this work of Dr. Dykes for those interested in delving into this use of twelfth-parts in greater depth. Dykes explores the technique in his introduction, translates a work which uses the technique, and provides commentary on that work. Additionally, he includes appendices with further discussion and translations, including a table of the entire 144 significations given by Hephastio for each twelfth-part of the Ascendant.
Horary Astrology
The primary use of this technique in medieval astrology was to anticipate a client’s area of concern. This usage appears to have started in Indian and/or Hellenistic use of consultation charts. This use of consultation charts preceded, and likely lead to, the development of horary astrology.
Masha’allah in On Hidden Things (from the Works of Sahl and Masha’allah translated by Dykes in 2008) suggested that the twelfth-part of the Ascendant provides the best indications regarding a querent’s intention in an horary reading. If a planet is in that place then you look to that place as signifying the person’s intention. If the place is empty then you look to the place of its ruler.
Masha’allah: Twelfth-Part Ascendant and its Ruler
In an example given by Masha’allah (the same example was given by Hermann of Carinthia centuries later but attributed to the Indians), the Ascendant was the 12th degree of Aries, which has its twelfth-part in Leo. As the Ascendant was in Aries, Leo was the 5th place from the Ascendant. Leo was empty in the horary chart and the Sun was in Libra, the 7th. Masha’allah surmised that the question involved the 5th in the condition of the 7th or the 5th seeking the 7th. The indication was that of a child seeking a woman (or seeking the querent’s wife).
Masha’allah said that if the Sun had been in the 6th then it would’ve suggested a question about a sick child, and so forth. As you can see the stress in this technique is primarily on the significations of the place/house. One can combine the significations of the place with its ruler, in the sense of the place being fulfilled by or meeting the condition of the ruler’s place. This is one of a few different techniques given by Masha’allah and later authors for interpreting the intentions of a querent.
Chart Projections
Used with natal charts the technique puts an interesting twist on the idea of personal focus and fulfillment. The ruler of the Ascendant shows a particular pull towards a certain place in the natal chart. Consider its accompanying themes and significations. Similarly, the twelfth-part of the Ascendant and its ruler may reveal a personal emphasis for the individual.
In the next article on twelfth-parts, I’ll explore their use in natal delineation in more depth. I’ll draw heavily on Maternus, who found in twelfth-parts the secret to more accurate delineation. I highly recommend the use of the twelfth-parts of all chart factors. I also recommend their use in predictive astrology as advocated by Abu Ma’shar. However, let’s start by looking at twelfth-part of the Ascendant.
Hitler’s Twelfth-Part Ascendant
Hitler had the twelfth-part of the Ascendant in Leo with the greater malefic Saturn, in the bound of Mercury. It is in the networking and popularity-oriented 11th House (house of friends), in the sign of leadership, Leo. Its ruler, the Sun, was in the 8th, pertaining to death and harm. The twelfth-part of Hitler’s Sun is also in the 8th, and its ruler too is in the 8th. This gives interesting additional valuable information that we can add to our knowledge that his Ascendant lord (Venus) and the sect light of his chart (the Sun) are in the 8th of his natal chart.
Using the Masha’allah-style of place combination, we might suggest that he has some intention to achieve a Saturnine standing in groups through death, fear, and destruction. I also think that Leo and the solar element both contribute meaning here, as does the bound of Mercury.
Hitler’s Natal Chart
Dahmer’s Twelfth-Part Ascendant
Looking at Jeffrey Dahmer’s chart, we find the twelfth-part of the Ascendant in the 8th of death. It is also in the bound of Saturn. It is conjunct Venus, the lord of the Ascendant, which is also the ruler of the twelfth-part. They are both in the same bound of Saturn in the 8th. Therefore, the personal intentions and focus on Saturnine-Venusian, death, fear, and destruction themes are very pronounced.
Dahmer’s Natal Chart
Explore Twelth-Parts
Start playing around with twelfth-parts in natal, horary, mundane, and electional charts. For electional astrology, putting the twelfth-part of the Moon in strong and good places is recommended by Sahl and others. Experiment, and if you have any revelations, feel free to share them in the comments.
References
Dorotheus of Sidon. (2005). Carmen Astrologicum. (D. Pingree, Trans.). Abingdon, MD: Astrology Center of America.
Manilius, M. (1977). Astronomica. (G. P. Goold, Trans.). Cambridge, MA: Loeb Classical Library.
Paulus Alexandrinus & Olympiodorus. (2001). Late Classical Astrology: Paulus Alexandrinus and Olypiodorus. (D. G. Greenbaum, Trans.). Reston, VA: Arhat.
Image Attribution
Featured image of Dodecahedron Aventicum (cropped) by Woudloper [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], from Wikimedia Commons
