Secondary progressions are a popular predictive technique in modern astrology. For the technique, the transits of each day following the birth are symbolic of each year of life. In other words, a day symbolizes a year.
Secondary vs. Primary
They are called “secondary” to distinguish them from “primary” directions. The primary motion is the earth’s rotation. Due to the earth’s rotation, celestial bodies have a 24 hour cycle of rising and setting. In primary directions, every degree of earthly rotation (1 degree of right ascension; 4 minutes of clock time) after birth is associated with one year of life.
The secondary motion is the motion of celestial objects through the zodiac. The planets do this at different rates. For instance, the Moon takes about a month to travel through the zodiac, while the Sun takes a year.
Primary directions can be traced back to the early strata of Hellenistic astrology. On the other hand, secondary directions are typically believed to have been invented by Placidus. Placidus was a 17th century astrologer, monk, and mathematician.
Hellenistic Secondary Progressions?
Surprisingly, secondary progressions were also discussed by Vettius Valens. Valens was a 2nd century Hellenistic astrologer. Therefore, his discussion is over 1500 years prior to the independent invention of the technique by Placidus. However, unlike primary directions, secondary progressions were not widespread in Hellenistic astrology. Like many other predictive techniques, evidence of their use in that era survives only in the work of Valens.
Clear Secondary Directions in Valens
Valens discussed two methods of secondary progressions in Book IX, the final book of his Anthology. The first is the standard method in which one determines the age of the native, and then adds that many years in days to the birth date and looks at the transits to the natal chart on that day.
It is necessary to calculate as follows: add a number of days to the birth date equivalent to the age (in years) of the native. Then, having first determined the date, whether in the following month or in the birth month itself, cast a horoscope for that day. <See> which star, if any, is in the Ascendant or is coming into conjunction with another star, and whether it is moving from an angle to a point following or preceding an angle, or from a point <following or> preceding an angle to an angle, or whether it was rising at the date of the delivery but is now setting or coming to some unrelated phase, or to something better. You may consider these to be the periodic forecasts. (Valens, Anthologies, Book IX, Ch. 3, Riley trans., 2010, p. 154)
Secondary Return
The second method is more unusual. I call it the secondary return, as the method is akin to a solar return of the secondary direction chart. It starts the same as the first technique. Initially, you find the date that is the same number of days after birth as one’s age. For instance, if you are 25 and were born on April 4th, then the date for the secondary progression is April 29th. However, in this approach, you look at the transits to your natal chart that occurred on April 29th of this year, rather than the year of birth.
The following procedure seems valid to me: we add the age in years to the birth date and calculate in which month the new date falls. Then chart the <transits> of the stars of the current year and make the forecast as described. As for the previously explained <previous paragraph> method for the stars: we will not find much change in position for Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars. These stars have an imperceptible motion and stay in the same place. In the latter method <this paragraph> we will find that they come to be in square, trine, and in opposition. (Valens, Anthologies, Book IX, Ch. 3, Riley trans., 2010, p. 154)
According to Valens, this technique is really for looking at the progression of Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. The more usual secondary progression should probably be preferred for the other planets. It is also worth noting that Hellenistic astrologers tended not to track transits throughout the year. By using the solar return and the secondary return, we see the transits that matter most for the year.
Symbolic Time
It is pretty cool to see Valens using this symbolic rationale of equating smaller units of astrological time with larger units of time in one’s life. It opens the door for validating the basis of other modern symbolic progressions. Symbolic progressions abound in modern astrology, including tertiary progressions (1 day = a lunar month of life) and solar arc directions (everything progresses at the same rate in one year as the Sun does in a day following the birth).
Secondary Progressions in Free Software
The basic secondary progression as described by Valens can be accomplished in the free open-source astrological program, Morinus. Just select “Secondary Directions” from the “Chart” menu or pressing CTRL+SHIFT+F4 while a chart is open. As we’ll see, this type of progression is a useful predictive device.
Secondary Progression Examples
Progressed Sun to Natal Saturn at Cobain’s Death
In Kurt Cobain’s natal chart, the Sun, which moves about a degree a day, is about 27° behind Saturn. Kurt died at Age 27. As we can see from the chart of the secondary progression, he died when the Sun progressed to Saturn. In other words, the Sun conjoined Saturn 27 days after he was born which is symbolic of Age 27. In the chart for 27 days after birth, the Sun is at 28°49′ of Pisces, which is in the same degree as his natal Saturn. The disc of the Sun (half a degree wide) actually spans over that exact Saturn position.
Cobain’s Secondary Progressions at Age 27 – Progressed Sun conjunct Natal Saturn.
The Valens method looks at the transits so many days after birth as years in age. It is a good method for most purposes, as SP planets generally won’t move more than about a degree or two each year. However, the Moon moves about 13 degrees in a day; about 13 degrees/year for the SP Moon. Therefore, its position can differ considerably after just half a day, symbolic of half a year. For this reason, we might want a more precise measure of secondary progressions in order to find exactly where the progressed Moon would be months after the birthday.
One way to do this is simply to add about a little over a degree to the position of the SP Moon for each month after the birthday. On average, the Moon travels a little over a degree each twelfth of a day (symbolic of each month). Therefore, that method will allow us to know the approximate month that the SP Moon will complete an aspect to a natal factor. Also, some software programs will calculate the SP Moon position for a particular day after birth. This can be useful as the SP Moon can be very significant in predictive timing.
Carradine Sun-Saturn Intensifications from SP Sun and Moon
David Carradine died when Age 72, but about halfway through the year. His death was in June, while his birthday was in December. Looking at the exact SP positions for the day of death, the SP Sun and Moon stand out.
First, we note that the SP Sun finally moved into Pisces. Pisces is his first house of self and body. This is significant because it is an important planet moving from a cadent house to the most important angular one. Note in the Valens quote above that he attached particular important to SP planets entering the rising sign. Additionally, the first house is occupied by Saturn in Carradine’s chart.
Carradine’s secondary progressions at the time of deathSecondly, we notice that the SP Moon enters into his natal Sun-Saturn square configuration. The SP Moon applies a square to his Saturn (while separating from Mars). It applies an opposition to his Sun. All of this in an extremely tight configuration that also includes SP Venus, the planet of sexuality.
Secondary Return Example
Valens was concerned about the fact that Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn move very little by secondary progression. To remedy this he proposed the secondary return technique I discussed above. I have not experimented with this latter technique as much, but there have been intimations that it may be useful. We can abbreviate secondary return positions with R2 to distinguish them from SP (secondary progressed) and SR (solar return) positions.
For example, please return to Carradine’s age 72 SP date, February 18th, but look at that date on the year of his death (2009). We find 2R Jupiter, the ruler of his 1st house, in the 12th house of the bad spirit and conjoined to 2R Mars, the out of sect malefic, in the bound of Venus and the domicile of Saturn. 2R Saturn also opposes his natal Saturn. See also the indications from the Saturn-Saturn opposition at the solar return which were even more revealing.
Carradine’s Secondary Progressions but using year of death rather than year of birth
Conclusion
Secondary progressions were almost absent from ancient astrology. They appear almost as an afterthought in the last book of Valens’s Anthology. But they can be considered a Hellenistic predictive technique. More importantly, they can be an informative addition to our arsenal of annual techniques for prediction. Take some time to explore them for yourself.
So far we’ve looked at the origins of astrology, the meanings of the planets, planetary loudness, and general planetary prominence. A discussion of the signs of the zodiac, which figure so prominently in popular astrology, has been put off until this point. This is because the significations of the planets are more central to work in ancient astrology than those of the signs of the zodiac. However, the signs of the zodiac are very important in their own right, so let’s take a look.
An Examination of the Most Important Facets of the Zodiac
We’ll look at the key features of the signs, as well as how they relate to the fixed stars (sidereal) and the seasons (tropical). I show that the most commonly used features of the signs stem from the tropical (seasonal) cycle, while the sidereal (fixed stars) features play a comparatively minor role. Additionally, we will explore the 4 signs in every chart that refer to prominent personal matters (the “stakes”).
Moving Beyond Signs in Popular Astrology
Nearly every test of astrology by the scientific community has been a test of Sun-sign astrology and Sun-sign-based newspaper horoscopes. It is ironic that the newspaper blurbs are called “horoscopes”, as the term “horoscope” (from horoskopos) initially referred to the hour-marker (rising sign). The rising sign is quick to change, being a different sign about every two hours. Contrast this with the Sun-sign which changes once a month.
In ancient astrology, the most important sign is this fast moving rising sign, rather than the slow-to-change Sun sign.
And so, the domicile occupying the rising [place] is called the horoscope; the effect of this [is] over the body and life of a man itself, and all his undertakings. (Abu Ma’shar, The Abbreviation of the Introduction to Astrology, Book I, 109, Dykes trans., 2010, p. 71)
The Rising Sign Depends on Location, Hour, and Date
In Hellenistic astrology, the rising sign is the symbol of the individual. The rising sign is based on the primary motion of the Earth, its rotation. The eastern horizon moves through all 12 signs in 24 hours (about one sign every two hours). In other words, in ancient astrology, the personal symbol is a factor of the location, time of day, and time of year of the birth.
Sun-signs are a factor which applies to everyone born in a given month-long period, no matter the location of the birth. By contrast, you can have a completely different rising sign from someone born at the same time as you in a different part of the country or someone born at the same time of day at a different time of year. Similarly, it can be different from someone born in the same hospital a few minutes later (if you were born near the end of the sign).
I the Ascendant, life, steering-oar, body, breath. (Valens, Anthologies, Book IV, Ch. 12, The Names of the Twelve Places, Riley trans., 2010, p. 80)
Signs Contain Micro-Signs
Nearly all Hellenistic astrologers also utilized the twelfth-parts. These are twelfths of the sign that project into other signs. In this division of the zodiac, the first 2.5 degrees of each sign corresponds to the sign itself, while the next corresponds to the next sign, and so forth. These twelfth-parts are neglected today but they are a feature of the zodiac that is almost old as the zodiac itself. The twelfth-parts date back to at least the 5th century BCE. See my introductory article on the twelfth-parts for more.
The twelfth-part of the rising sign (Ascendant) changes about every 10 minutes of clock time. Someone born at 10 am may have Taurus of Sagittarius rising (i.e the Taurus micro-sign in Sagittarius) while someone born at 10:10 am may have Gemini of Sagittarius rising. The twelfth-parts are one of the most important divisions of the zodiac and they apply to the zodiac as a whole. Not only the rising sign has a micro-sign, but also the signs of the Sun, Moon, and all other chart factors. The twelfth-parts bring in a degree of complexity and nuance that is lacking in popular astrology.
Twelfth-Parts of Aries
Faster Factors are More Personal Factors
The Sun was not symbolic of the personal ego or personality center in ancient astrology. Rather, as discussed in the first lesson, the Sun symbolizes power, popularity, brilliance, and the father. In fact, in many ancient astrologers’ techniques for personality delineation, the Sun plays a minor role or is absent altogether. The faster moving Ascendant, Moon, and Mercury played a greater role. For instance, check out Ptolemy’s instructions for examining “the quality of the soul“.
In a chart, we can see how the Ascendant (rising sign), symbolic of the person, interacts with the Sun, symbolic of power, honors, and brilliance. The Sun does not need to symbolize the person or their ego.
In a nativity the all-seeing sun, nature’s fire and intellectual light, the organ of mental perception, indicates kingship, rule, intellect, intelligence, beauty, motion, loftiness of fortune, the ordinance of the gods, judgement, public reputation, action, authority over the masses, the father, the master, friendship, noble personages, honors consisting of pictures, statues, and garlands, high priesthoods, one’s country other places. (Valens, Anthologies, Book I, Ch. 1, Riley trans., 2010, p. 1)
Signs are Not Constellations
The 13 Signs of the Zodiac?
You may recall sensational news stories about a 13th sign of the zodiac. Often these stories would be accompanied by click-bait headlines declaring that “you have a new Sun sign”. These stories were based on the work of an astronomer who was trying to draw some criticism of astrology for its supposed lack of logic. The idea was that there are 13 constellations which fall on the ecliptic. Recall that the ecliptic is the path of the Earth around the Sun, or from the vantage point of the Earth, it is the path of the Sun around the Earth.
By this astronomer’s logic, since the Sun now passes through 13 constellations, not 12 as in ancient times, there are now 13 signs of the zodiac. However, he made the mistake of confusing constellations for signs of the zodiac. His mistake has fostered widespread ignorance regarding the difference between a sign and a constellation. As of this writing, even the Wikipedia entry for the constellation Ophiucus, the so-called 13th sign, now addresses the difference.
Constellations are Groups of Stars, Signs are Mathematical Divisions of the Sky
Constellations are special groupings of stars. They have been used in astrology for many thousands of years. They are much older than the signs. The twelve zodiacal constellations have varying dates of origin, with Taurus going back as far as the bronze age (4,000 BCE). The twelve constellations on the ecliptic were not regularized into “signs” until about 600 BCE (by the Babylonians).
Signs, unlike constellations, are all equal in size, at exactly 30 degrees each. Constellations dramatically vary in size and traditionally lack clear boundaries. The signs are mathematical divisions of the sky into a coordinate system to precisely measure the travel of the planets along the path of the ecliptic. Not long after the signs were introduced, the concept of divisions of each sign into twelve micro-signs was also introduced. Both signs and twelfth-parts are mathematical in nature and not to be confused with the constellations with which they share names.
Stars and Constellations in Ancient Astrology
Stars and constellations were also used in ancient astrology. Some astrologers, such as Manilius and Ptolemy, extensively used the constellations and the stars within them. Sometimes they even used extra-zodiacal constellations (like Ophiucus) to provide additional significations. But these stars and constellations indicate separately from the significations of the signs of the zodiac.
Signs as Feature Bundles
Importance of Equinoxes and Solstices
In the discussion of planetary advancement, we looked at the early importance of planetary alignments at a location among ancient cultures. Those alignments were with the local horizon (Ascendant/Descendant) or meridian (MC/IC). The most important of such alignments were typically those on the days of the solstices and (approximate) equinoxes. Equinoxes and solstices are important points in the Sun-Earth cycle and also mark seasonal transitions in the year.
Most importantly, the equinoxes mark the intersection of the ecliptic (path of the Sun and classical planets) and the equator (rotational path of the Earth), while the solstices mark the maximum deviation of those paths. In other words, the equinox points are the intersections between the road traveled by the planets (ecliptic) and the road traveled by the Earth (equator), so they are of central importance in traditional geocentric astrology.
Equinox means Equal Daylight and Dark
The equinoxes are the times when the day and the night are of equal length. Day being sunrise to sunset and night being sunset to sunrise. At least this is ideally the case. In actuality, due to refraction and landscape variation, the day and night are usually of slightly different length on the equinoxes. Less controversially, the solstices are the times of the longest day or the shortest day (longest night), as well as the points of sunrise and sunset on the local horizon appeared to stop and change directions. Therefore, the solstice dates could be precisely found by people even many tens of thousands of years ago. The change in the length of day and of daylight is due to the extent to which the northern hemisphere of the Earth is inclined toward or away from the Sun.
The point where the Sun travels farthest north (geocentrically) is the summer solstice. From a modern Sun-centered perspective, it is at that point when the northern half of the Earth is furthest tilted toward the Sun. The point where the Sun travels farthest south is the winter solstice. At that point the northern half of the Earth is tilted furthest away from the Sun.
When the Sun crosses the equator toward the north it is spring equinox. From a Sun-centered perspective, it is after that point that the northern hemisphere will begin to tilt toward the Sun. The Sun crossing the equator toward the south is autumnal equinox. It is after that point that the north begins to tilt away from the Sun.
Two signs are called equinoctial, the one which is first from the spring equinox, Aries, and the one which begins with the autumnal equinox, Libra; and they too again are named from what happens there, because when the sun is at the beginning of these signs he makes the nights exactly equal to the days. (Ptolemy, Tetrabiblos, Robbins trans., 1940, I.11, cam. p. 67)
Beginning in Spring
Hellenistic astrology began in the last couple centuries before the start of the first millennium. At that time, the signs of the zodiac where loosely situated over the constellations from which they are named. However, the zodiac, unlike the constellations, had a starting point. The starting point was the beginning of the sign of Aries, which is the spring equinox.
The zodiac is essentially a circle with no beginning or end, but the sign of Aries is considered to kick things off as it signals the transition to spring in the northern hemisphere.
For this reason, although there is no natural beginning of the zodiac, since it is a circle, they assume that the sign which begins with the vernal equinox, that of Aries, is the starting-point of them all, making the excessive moisture of the spring the first part of the zodiac as though it were a living creature, and taking next in order the remaining seasons, because in all creatures the earliest ages, like the spring, have a larger share of moisture and are tender and still delicate. (Ptolemy, Tetrabiblos, Robbins trans., 1940, I.10, cam. p. 61)
Northern Hemisphere Orientation
Horoscopic astrology has a bias for understanding the signs in terms of the northern hemisphere due to originating in that hemisphere. Some find this bias disquieting. However, the northern hemisphere is the dominant hemisphere when it comes to human affairs. The northern hemisphere accounts for more than two-thirds of the habitable land on earth. Additionally, about 90% of humans on Earth live in the northern hemisphere.
More importantly, the association of the sign qualities, both seasonal and constellational, in the early Hellenistic period when this system came about is a foundational moment for this system. The sign associations which often derived from circumstances that held in the particularly era and place of the birth of Hellenistic astrology, nevertheless hold for Hellenistic astrology in our era, despite the shifting of the constellations and the different seasons experienced at different latitudes including south of the equator.
Decomposing Signs into Features
The signs of the zodiac take on their astrological significance by way of a conglomeration of various features. Some of these features are based upon the yearly solar cycle, reflecting the light, seasons, and calendrical year. In fact, the most important features used in Hellenistic and Persian astrology are based on this yearly solar cycle. Other features are based upon the images of the constellations, their associations, and the significations of the stars.
Precession
In the centuries that followed the advent of Hellenistic astrology, it migrated to India, where it transformed the astral lore of the subcontinent (see Yavanajataka). However, the relationship between the seasons and the stars changes over the centuries. Due to what’s called the precession of the equinoxes, the equinoxes slowly move backward across the backdrop of the constellations. They do this at the rate of about 1 degree every 72 years. Therefore, in astrology, it becomes necessary to choose whether the features of the constellations or the seasons are key to the nature of the signs.
Two Zodiacs: Which do you choose?
The famous natural philosopher and Hellenistic astrologer, Claudius Ptolemy, of the second century CE, asserted that the signs of the zodiac should be defined by the equinoxes and solstices. In this way, the signs always correspond to the same seasonal light/dark relationship. This is now known as the Tropical Zodiac.
The tropical zodiac was used by Greek astronomers pretty much as soon as the zodiac entered Greece from Babylon in the 5th century BCE. Earlier in that same century comes our earliest evidence of the Babylonian regular twelve sign zodiac of 30 degrees per sign.
From the Babylonian
The Babylonian regular zodiac was derived from the application of the Babylonian ideal soli-lunar calendar. A lunar month is about 30 days (closer to 29.5), and there are 12 lunar months in a year, yielding a 360 day ideal year. The vernal equinox occurred during the first month of the Babylonian calendar. The Babylonians traditionally used 17-18 zodiacal constellations. In an attempt to correlate the constellations with an ideal calendar of 12 months of 30 days, they first equated groups of constellations with months. This led to a division of the zodiac into 12 regular 30 degree sections, roughly correlated with both the calendar and the unequal constellations (which greatly varied in size). The zodiac started with the constellation in which the equinox occurred (the hired man, which equates to our Aries). However, the Babylonians started the zodiac 8 (System B) and 10 (System A) degrees back from the vernal equinox, where the equinox was supposed to fall in the first month.
The Babylonian zodiac was intended to be both tropical and sidereal. However, the Babylonians did not know about precession. Additionally, accurate calculation of the equinox required a more sophisticated geometrical astronomy than the Babylonians possessed. The Babylonians had studied planetary periods relative to each other (synodic) and to the stars (sidereal), so their mathematical astronomy upon which their tables were based resulted in sidereal positions. By contrast, over time their calculation of the equinox was off (equinox was no longer at 8 degree sidereal Aries).
Tropical
The ancient Greek astronomers were geometrically oriented. They could calculate a precise equinox. Many notable Greek astronomers and astrologers placed the start of the zodiac at the equinox as soon as the zodiac entered Greece. Initially they did so for reasons independent of precession, namely that it made more sense to them to start the zodiac right at an important juncture in the relationship between Earth and sky, rather than 8 degrees from it. The tropical zodiac became the dominant zodiac of sophisticated Greek astronomy. The Antikythera Mechanism (2nd or 1st century BCE), is the first mechanical computer and is believed to have been used for astrology. It was based on sophisticated Greek geometrical astronomy, including tropical zodiac calculations.
The work of Hipparchus on precession was not widely known until some time after Ptolemy (2nd century CE) popularized it. Many early Hellenistic astrologers (most notably Thrasyllus and Vettius Valens) show evidence of having believed the equinox was at 8 degrees Aries. They did so at a time when the zodiacs had shifted so much that the tropical and sidereal zodiacs were nearly aligned. In other words, they erroneously believed the vernal equinox was at 8 degrees Aries at a time when the equinox was around 1-3 degrees of sidereal Aries. We do know that Valens used updated sidereal tables for his positional calculations, so this is further evidence for the lack of knowledge of precession. In other words, many early Hellenistic astrologers, like the Babylonians, thought their zodiac was fixed both tropically and sidereally. Their tables derived from the sidereal periods which were easier to come by and didn’t depend on sophisticated Greek geometry. For more details on these matters and the history of the zodiac, please see the article “Why Use the Tropical Zodiac?“.
East and West Diverge
Following Hipparchus’ discovery of precession (2nd century BCE) and Ptolemy’s advocacy of the tropical zodiac (Almagest; 2nd century CE) on the basis of precession, western astrologers adopted the old Greek standard of starting the zodiac at the vernal equinox. By and large astrologers no longer poorly imitated the original Babylonian zodiac or asserted the equinox was at 8 Aries. Neither did they use a sidereal zodiac marked by way of a reference star.
By contrast, in India, the trend of defining the zodiac by way of a reference star prevailed. Today, it is usually Spica which marks the beginning of Libra. This Sidereal Zodiac ensures that the signs always loosely overlay the constellations for which they are named.
Today, the choice of two zodiacs has caused quite a stir. Astrologers in the west often choose the Tropical Zodiac simply because they are western. Those in India choose the Sidereal Zodiac simply because they are Indian. Arguments made for the Tropical Zodiac typically include the readily apparent effect that the Sun’s passage through the zodiac has on life on Earth as exemplified in the seasons. Arguments made for the Sidereal Zodiac typically include the fact that its signs still loosely overlay the constellations for which the signs are named.
The Origin of Features Matter
My opinion is that the debate is wrongly framed. In ancient astrology, the signs are defined by bundles of various features. One of the most important of these features is the rulership of signs by planets. This feature is almost certainly tropical in origin. By “tropical” I mean it is based on associations with the solar year and the seasons which are functions of the relationship between the eliptic and equator as marked out by the equinoctial and solstitial points.
The Lights (Sun and Moon) are assigned the signs of summer in the northern hemisphere (Cancer for the Moon and Leo for the Sun, approx. June 21st to August 21st). Saturn, the lord of darkness and cold, is assigned to the signs opposite. These are the signs of winter in the northern hemisphere (Capricorn and Aquarius, approx. December 21st to February 20th). These rulerships originated with the signs, not the constellations, and are clearly related to the seasons. Therefore, the planetary rulerships are intimately tied to the tropical zodiac.
A Place for Two Zodiacs?
It is possible that the sidereal zodiac is more appropriate for some purposes in astrology than the tropical zodiac. Since the signs signify in terms of their features it’s instructive for us to divide the features into two types: those derived from the tropical cycle and those derived from the constellations. The tropical zodiac is the appropriate zodiac for the most commonly used significations in ancient Hellenistic and Persian astrology. However, there are important significations which appear to be sidereal in origin.
Perhaps we should use two zodiacs, one for signifying the tropical features and another for signifying the sidereal ones. It is possible, though in practice I use the tropical zodiac for both. Zodiac features are symbolic and the two zodiacs roughly coincided around the birth of Hellenistic astrology. I take the tropical features as more fundamental. They reflect the important role the annual calendar played in their being 12 signs of 30 degrees starting with Aries in the first place. The constellations were fitted to the 12 idealized solar months, rather than the other way around (the Babylonian zodiac was 17-18 constellations). Therefore, I view it as the constellations lending their names and associations to the tropical signs at the birth of the zodiac. But let’s look at the iconic origins of various sign features.
Tropical Sign Features
Domicile and Exaltation Rulerships
As noted, the most important sign feature that is tropical in origin is that of sign rulership. These are rather systematic, with the signs of the Sun and Moon adjacent to each other and marking the peak of summer. The other 5 planets get two signs each straddling those of the Sun and Moon based on planetary speed. By this arrangement, the signs of Saturn are opposite those of the Lights.
In the image below, you can see that the Moon rules Cancer and the Sun rules Leo. Mercury is the fastest of the 5 other planets and it rules Gemini and Virgo. These are the signs on either side of those of the Sun and Moon. Venus is the next fastest and she rules Taurus and Libra, Those are on either side of those of Mercury. Mars rules Aries and Scorpio which are on either side of those of Venus. Jupiter rules Pisces and Sagittarius which are on either side of those of Mars. Saturn, the slowest, rules Aquarius and Capricorn which are on either side of those of Jupiter, and opposite the signs of the Lights.
Signs are the Houses of the Planets
The signs are domiciles of their rulers. Domicile means house. So the signs are the houses which belong to the planets. For example, if someone was born with Cancer rising then they have the Moon’s house rising. Cancer would be considered the 1st House of the chart and the Moon, ruler of Cancer, would be the ruler of this 1st House. The ruler is viewed as the owner and major player in affairs pertaining to the 1st House. Similarly, the next sign to rise, Leo, would be the 2nd House, with its ruler, the Sun, as the ruler of the 2nd House. This continues in the order of the rising of the signs in a chart.
Houses and zones of the stars [are what] they term the 12 twelfths of the zodiac, which they also call signs. Of these, the most northerly and closest to us are given to the luminaries–to the Moon, Cancer; and to the Sun, Leo. And [then] in order to the one nearest them, Mercury, [they give] Gemini and Virgo; after which, to Venus, Taurus and Libra; then, to Mars, Aries and Scorpio; then, to Jupiter, Sagittarius and Pisces; then to Saturn, the one farthest from us, Capricorn and Aquarius. (Porphyry, Holden trans., 2009, Ch. 5, p. 9)
Planetary Houses and Planetary Spheres
Recall from the lesson on the planets that the Moon is the closest to Earth, while Saturn is farthest away. Porphyry’s quote above highlights the fact that the Moon’s house is the one that is the closest to us in the northern hemisphere. It starts with the point where the ecliptic hits its northernmost point. This is the same place where the Sun marks summer solstice. By contrast, the first house of Saturn, Capricorn, starts where the ecliptic is farthest away its southernmost point. Capricorn starts at the position where the Sun marks winter solstice. In this way, the Moon’s house is marked by the closest point and Saturn’s by the point farthest away, mirroring their distance from Earth.
Meaning of Domicile
The planets have a connection with, an influence upon, and a responsibility to their houses. The planets want to be able to see or monitor their houses (this is done by configuration, the topic of the next lesson). When they see their houses they can more directly influence the affairs of their houses. A planet has the most direct influence on the affairs of the house it is in. So a planet in its own house is less dependent on circumstance. It is more independent and unencumbered in its indications. Such a planet will be less dependent upon and influenced by the relationships it has with other planets, for good or ill.
In Lessons 6 and 7, we will learn how to assign responsibility for various topical areas of life to the houses. The rulers of a house, especially the domicile lord, influence the manner in which these topics are indicated to manifest in the life.
Sign Gender
Each sign is either masculine and diurnal or feminine and nocturnal. This distinction is derived from the domiciles of the Sun and Moon. The Moon’s domicile, Cancer, is feminine and nocturnal. The Sun’s domicile, Leo, is masculine and diurnal. The signs then alternate in order as masculine/diurnal and feminine/nocturnal. I’ll just state them as diurnal or nocturnal, but know that diurnal signs were also said to be masculine, and nocturnal ones were said to be feminine. So, the next sign, Virgo, is nocturnal, then Libra is diurnal, Scorpio is nocturnal, Sagittarius is diurnal, Capricorn is nocturnal, Aquarius is diurnal, Pisces is nocturnal, Aries is diurnal, Taurus is nocturnal, and Gemini is diurnal.
Note that air and fire can lighten and rise, as this will help you to remember that Air and Fire signs are diurnal/masculine. Water and earth can darken and sink. Water and Earth signs are nocturnal/feminine. For more on the elements, see the discussion of triplicity below.
There are 12 houses. The Sun has a masculine or diurnal house (Leo) and the Moon has a feminine or nocturnal one (Cancer). What about the other 5 planets and the remaining 10 houses? Each of the 5 non-luminary planets has two houses, a day house (diurnal) and a night house (nocturnal).
Meaning of Sign Gender
Diurnal signs are symbolic of masculine and extroverted or overt traits related to a set of indications. Nocturnal signs are symbolic of feminine and introverted or covert traits related to a set of indications. However, sign gender is only a minor indication of introversion and extroversion.
Modern Sign Associations: Ruler Plus Gender
I bring up the gender of the signs because the modern associations of the signs largely derive from the domicile lord plus the gender of the sign. Although, three signs have some associations which also derive from their modern planetary ruler (Uranus with Aquarius, Neptune with Pisces, Pluto with Scorpio).
Associations such as those of Leo with leadership and confidence (Sun) and Cancer with sentimentality and emotion (Moon) come right from the rulers. Furthermore, compare the playfully clever and curious Gemini of modern descriptions (extroverted Mercury) with the critical and self-deprecating Virgo (introverted Mercury). Taurus is described as slow and sensual (introverted Venus) while Libra is harmonious and indecisive (extroverted Venus). Aries is pioneering and loud (extroverted Mars) while Scorpio is touchy and strategic (introverted Mars). Sagittarius is adventurous and optimistic (extroverted Jupiter) while Pisces is dreamy and mystical (introverted Jupiter). Capricorn is conservative and managerial (introverted Saturn) while Aquarius is independent and stubborn (extroverted Saturn).
A Note on Modern Sign Associations
If you’ve been exposed to a lot of modern astrology, as I have, then the modern associations of the signs, derived from their rulers, will immediately jump out at you. However, I would avoid thinking of the signs this way. Think of the signs instead based on the other features discussed here. The ruler’s influence on the nature of a specific house will vary according to whether it is in the house, configured to the house, and the relationship of the house to other planets. There is more to the signs in any given chart than the ruler and the gender of the house, so please consider all of the sign features explored in this lesson.
Exaltations of the Planets
Each of the planets also has a sign that is said to be its exaltation or kingdom. The motivation for this is not as clear, but appears to also be based on tropical considerations. The exaltations center around the signs of the equinoxes and solstices. For instance, the Sun and Moon are associated with the signs of spring in the exaltations.
The signs in which the planets are exalted. The specific degrees of exaltation were considered to be the most exalted positions.
Exaltations Emphasize the Equinoxes and Solstices
The Sun is exalted in the sign of the spring equinox (Aries). The exaltations of the Moon (Taurus) and Venus (Pisces) straddle that sign. Saturn is exalted in the sign of the autumnal equinox (Libra), which is opposite that of the Sun. Mercury is exalted in a sign that straddles that sign (Virgo). Jupiter is exalted in the sign of the summer solstice (Cancer). Mars is exalted in the sign of the winter solstice (Capricorn).
Therefore, the four slowest planets, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, and the Sun are all exalted at the four signs that start with the equinoxes and solsitices (Aries, Libra, Cancer, Capricorn). The other three planets are all exalted at signs which straddle one of the equinoctial signs (straddle Aries or Libra).
Additionally, Porphyry noted that the signs of exaltation are in configuration to the domiciles. The diurnal planets (Sun, Jupiter, and Saturn) are exalted in a sign that is trine to one of their houses. The exaltations of the nocturnal planets (Moon, Venus, and Mars) are sextile to one of their domiciles. Configurations are the topic of the next lesson, so don’t worry too much about this at this time.
Meaning of Exaltation
The exaltation is a house where the planet is given more power and freedom to act. The planet is a celebrated guest of honor. The sign opposite a planet’s exaltation was called its fall or descension. The house of its fall was considered a place where a planet is more downtrodden in its significations, like an unwelcome guest. I personally liken the effect to the planet being given aid or freedom to realize its significations (for good or ill). Similarly, the house of a planet’s fall is a house where it is being disadvantaged or restricted (fall).
And the signs opposite the exaltations are their falls, in which they have weaker powers. (Porphyry, Holden trans., 2009, Ch. 6, p. 10)
Exaltation Lords are Rulers Too
The planet who has its exaltation in a house was also considered to be a ruler of the house. An exaltation ruler also has the ability to aid in the managing of the affairs symbolized by the house.
They are said to be co-ruler with each other, whenever it is their domicile or their exaltation. (Porphyry, Holden trans., 2009, Ch. 7, p. 10)
Avoid Detriment and Point Systems
Some astrologers use a similar concept for the signs opposite a planet’s domicile, calling them the “detriment” of the planet. This concept of detriment did not figure into Hellenistic astrology as a distinct or widespread concept. The notable figures of Hellenistic astrology didn’t use detriment and I don’t advise using it either.
Starting in the late medieval period and continuing to this day, many astrologers have assigned point values to the different forms of rulership. This is a practice started by a medieval Persian astrologer, based loosely on a technique by Ptolemy . However, in Ptolemy’s technique he gave each ruler and each aspecting planet one point, rather than having a weighted point system with a stress on sign placement like the medieval system. I find this to be more misleading than useful and I strongly advise against the practice.
Quadruplicity and Stakes
Quadruplicity is a fancy word for a grouping of four signs. This very important concept creates three types of signs. Signs of each type form a cross pattern. These features are tropical in nature, as they divide each season into 3 parts, a beginning, middle, and end, with distinct features.
Cardinal Signs
The cardinal signs are those which start with an equinox or solstice. The cardinal signs are also called the changeable, moveable, tropical, or equinoctial signs. They mark the turning of a new season, and thus a bold step in a new direction. Cardinal signs are associated with frequent change, boldness, and fast initiation. However, they are not associated with depth or staying power. Mercury in a cardinal sign was considered good for oratory ability, as cardinal signs signify quickness and bold projection.
The cardinal signs are as follows: Aries (0 degrees Aries is the point of the spring or vernal equinox); Cancer (0 degrees Cancer is the point of the summer solstice); Libra (0 degrees Libra is the point of the autumnal equinox);Capricorn (0 degrees Capricorn is the point of the winter solstice).
Fixed Signs
Each cardinal sign is followed by a fixed sign. These are also called the solid signs. These are the signs at the heart of the season when things are most stabilized. The fixed signs are associated with steadiness, staying power, slowness, thoroughness, and depth. They are the signs which Dorotheus (1st century CE) recommended emphasizing in choosing times for important endeavors. Dorotheus recommended their use in elections because they signified carrying things to completion and making them last. Mercury in these signs was thought to signify depth in thought and possible writing ability. The fixed signs are Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius.
Mutable Signs
Each fixed sign is then followed by a mutable sign. These are also called the common or twin signs. These signs are said to participate in two seasons. They mix the season that is drawing to a close with the coming season. For this reason, they are dualistic and signify complication, confusion, exchange, and mediation. In electional astrology, they were believed to signify a need for additional conditions to be met (i.e. things getting more complicated) but were helpful in elections where socializing was desired. Mercury in these signs was thought to be a bad indication for intellect by some astrologers. This is because mutable signs are unstable, prone to confusion and frustration. The mutable signs are Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces.
The Stakes
The signs of the same quadruplicity as the rising sign are known as the stakes, angles, or pivots of the chart. These are the most important houses of the chart, as their topics are the cornerstones of life. “Stakes” is the preferred translation given by Ben Dykes, Ph.D. for “kentra” (spike, prick), the Greek term for these places. These places operate to fix the sky (signs) to a location with four corners like stakes are used to fasten a tent.
Four Key Topics
The stakes of a birth chart are those houses which form a cross with the rising sign. The rising sign is the 1st House, pertaining to the individual/body. The 10th House, pertaining to the career/attainments is an important stake of the 1st House. The 7th House, opposite the first, pertains to marriage/partners. The last stake is the 4th House, pertaining to family/home. We will return to the assignment of life topics to the houses in Lesson Six.
Stakes of a Chart; Stakes of a Planet
Planets in the stakes of a birth chart have a type of personal prominence. They have a strong influence upon the person, as they are in the house of an important area of life. These houses are also strongly configured to the rising sign (the next lesson explores configurations).
We can also use the term “stake” for any house that forms part of a cross with it. In other words, a sign’s stakes are those signs of the same quadruplicity (cardinal, fixed, mutable). While the stakes of the chart are those signs in the same quadruplicity as the rising sign, the stakes of another house or planet in the chart are those signs of the same quadruplicity as that house or planet. Those stakes are particularly influential upon the house or planet, much like the stakes of the chart are influential in the life of the individual.
Barack Obama’s Chart Stakes and Quadruplicity
Barack Obama has the sign of Aquarius rising, which is a fixed sign. The fixed signs are Aquarius, Scorpio, Leo, and Taurus. Barack has Jupiter in Aquarius, the 1st House. He also has the Sun and Mercury in Leo. Therefore, Jupiter, the Sun, and Mercury are in the stakes of the chart and are directly operative in particularly important areas of life.
Obama has Aquarius rising, which is a diurnal/masculine sign ruled by Saturn. Saturn is in Capricorn which is a cardinal sign. Other cardinal signs include Cancer, Libra, and Aries. Only Venus is also in a cardinal sign, Cancer. Therefore, Venus is the only planet in one of the stakes of Saturn’s position.
Triplicity and Elemental Lords
Triplicity is similar to quadruplicity but signifies groupings of three signs. These are 4 groups of signs that are in triangular relationships to each other (trine each other). Today these 4 groups are identified by the elements: Fire, Earth, Air, and Water.
In early Hellenistic astrology, the triplicities were originally associated with the winds and directions rather than the elements. However, here I will label the triplicities by element as is commonly done. There are three signs in each triplicity or element. Each element has one cardinal sign, one fixed sign, and one mutable sign.
Triplicity is Tropical
Triplicity is of tropical origin as it was originally associated with the directions. The tropical signs are fixed in terms of their direction. In fact, this is built into our concepts of the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. The Sun reaches its greatest northern latitude (the Tropic of Cancer) on the summer solstice, which marks the beginning of the sign Cancer. The Sun reaches its greatest southern latitude (the Tropic of Capricorn) on the winter solstice, which marks the beginning of the sign Capricorn. The sidereal signs are not directionally fixed with relation to the Earth, as the direction of a given sign shifts over time due to precession.
Triplicity Rulers
The triangles are also associated with another system of rulership, called the triplicity rulers. Each triangular set of signs has three triplicity rulers. An element is associated with one planetary ruler by day, another by night, and a third which is a lesser participant. The triplicity ruler of the sect of the chart was typically used to signify the primary and initial influence. Triplicity rulers were akin to a support network of friends and family, helping one to achieve what could be impossible on one’s own.
Triplicity and Timing
Triplicity lords were often used to show the timing of greater and lesser support from others in one’s life. This could allow one to look at how some states of affairs (such as a relationship) could change over time. The first triplicity lord (the one of sect) showed the initial support. The ruler of the other sect showed the secondary influence. This secondary influence was usually thought to take over after the minor years of the first lord or the ascensional time of the sign occupied by the first triplicity lord. At least in Medieval astrology, the third lord came to signify the final nature of support, though we don’t see significant evidence of this in the Hellenistic period.
Triplicity as Reinforcement
Additionally, when a planet was in a sign which it ruled by triplicity then it was seen as having some extended support which could make it more prominent or reinforced in its significations. For instance, a planet in triplicity (or house, exaltation, or bound) might be protected from any weakening effect of being under the beams of the Sun.
The Fire Triplicity
The Fire triplicity has Aries as its cardinal sign, Leo as its fixed sign, and Sagittarius as its mutable sign. It is a masculine and diurnal (day) triplicity. Its rulers are the Sun by day and Jupiter by night, with Saturn participating. The Fire triplicity is particularly associated with power and leadership. Fire signs are associated with the east because their cardinal sign Aries is to the right of the northernmost sign, Cancer.
The sun, being fiery, is most related to Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius, and this triangle of the sun is called “of the day-sect” because it too is fiery by nature. The sun has attached Jupiter and Saturn to this sect as his co-workers and guardians of the things which he accomplishes […]. Therefore the sun is the lord of this triangle for day births; for night births Jupiter succeeds to the throne; Saturn works with both. (Valens, Anthologies, Book II, Ch. 1, Riley trans., 2010, p. 25)
The Earth Triplicity
The Earth triplicity has Capricorn as its cardinal sign, Taurus as its fixed sign, and Virgo as its mutable sign. It is a feminine and nocturnal (night) triplicity. Its triplicity lords are the Moon by night and Venus by day, with Mars participating. The Earth triplicity is particularly associated with the working of the land. Earth signs are associated with the south because Capricorn marks the winter solstice which is at the southernmost point on the ecliptic.
Next the moon, being near the earth, is allotted the houserulership of Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn, a triangle earthy in nature and the next in order. It has Venus and Mars as members of the same sect […]. Therefore for night births the moon has preeminence; in the second place is Venus; in the third is Mars. For day births Venus will lead; the moon will operate second; Mars, third. (Valens, Anthologies, Book II, Ch. 1, Riley trans., 2010, p. 25)
The Air Triplicity
The Air triplicity has Libra as its cardinal sign, Aquarius as its fixed sign, and Gemini as its mutable sign. It is a masculine and diurnal (day) triplicity. Its rulers are Saturn by day and Mercury by night, with Jupiter participating. The Air triplicity is particularly associated with culture and movement. Air signs are associated with the west because their cardinal sign, Libra, is right of the southernmost sign, Capricorn.
Next is the airy triangle of Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius. For day births Saturn will rule this; Mercury will operate second; Jupiter, third. For night births Mercury will lead; Saturn will come second; Jupiter, third. (Valens, Anthologies, Book II, Ch. 1, Riley trans., 2010, p. 25)
The Water Triplicity
The Water triplicity has Cancer as its cardinal sign, Scorpio as its fixed sign, and Pisces as its mutable sign. It is a feminine and nocturnal (night) triplicity. Its rulers are Mars by night, and Venus by day, with the Moon participating. The Water triplicity is particularly associated with all things water. Water signs are associated with the north because Cancer marks the summer solstice which is at the northernmost point on the ecliptic.
In the same fashion, next is the moist triangle of Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces. Mars will have the houserulership for night births; in the second place is Venus; in the third the moon. For day births Venus will lead; after it comes Mars; then the moon. (Valens, Anthologies, Book II, Ch. 1, Riley trans., 2010, p. 25)
An Example with Rulership, Quadruplicity, Stakes, and Triplicity
Bill Clinton’s Natal Chart
Cardinal Stakes with Mars, Venus, and Jupiter Advancing
Bill Clinton has the sign of Libra rising as the 1st House (the self). The stakes of the chart are cardinal, and they are Libra (1st House), Cancer (10th House), Aries (7th House), and Capricorn (4th House). Only Libra is occupied, with Mars, Venus, and Jupiter all in it and advancing. Mars is prominent on the Ascendant.
We expect him to have a very Mars-y life, one that is in a sense quite combative and competitive due to Mars in the 1st and on the Ascendant. Also, we generally expect Mars, Venus, and Jupiter to directly signify in relation to more important matters in the life (stakes). As Venus and Jupiter are benefic, they tend to bring success and fortune circumstances to the significations of Mars. The Ascendant, Mars, Venus, and Jupiter are all ruled by Venus, so we expect the self to be strongly influenced by aesthetics and sexuality, especially with Venus in the actual 1st House.
Cardinal and Air Rising with Venus and Mars Together
Venus and Mars are out of sect, and Mars, as a malefic, signals trouble in relation to Venusian matters (cardinal is bold and impulsive). His initial aspirations to be a professional musician are also very clearly shown by the presence of Venus and her rulership of the 1st. Libra is a cardinal sign, so we expect a bold expressive character. The planets in the 1st House also make their more important expressions in terms of boldness and rapidly sweeping changes in circumstances. The 1st House is an air sign, so we might expect the self and the planets in the 1st to have a strong connection with thought and movement.
Saturn with the Sun and Mercury in Fixed Leo
Clinton was born during the day and Libra is the exaltation of Saturn. Also, Saturn is the triplicity lord of Libra (an all air signs) by day. Therefore, we expect Saturn to have some influence over 1st House matters as well.
Saturn is in Leo, a fixed, fire sign, signifying steadfastness (fixed) and leadership (fire). Saturn is also with the Sun in the same house, and the Sun rules the sign Leo and the fire triplicity by day. Therefore, the solar influence (which is of power, exposure, prominence) is very strong. Saturn is also with Mercury, the planet of intellect. Saturn, Mercury, and the Sun are in a fixed sign, so they signify in a more stable and progressive, less episodic, manner. As they are all with each other they mix their significations of leadership and honors (Sun) with struggle, authority, and discipline (Saturn), as well as communication, commerce, and analysis (Mercury).
Other Tropical Features
Rising Times and Symmetry
There are a great many additional features of signs that are tropical in origin but of less importance. For instance, whether signs were of short or long ascension (i.e. taking more or less than 2 hours to rise) was an important consideration in choosing times for actions according to Dorotheus. Similarly, there are relationships which pertained to signs and degrees mirroring each other (i.e. equidistant) across the points of the equinoxes and solstices (see my article on symmetry).
Northern and Southern Signs
Additionally, the Persians spoke of the southern signs (Libra thru Pisces) as being cold while the northern signs (Aries thru Virgo) were hot. In this case, both the directions and the temperatures are a reference to the tropical cycle.
Seasonal Quarters
The signs were also divided up into seasonal quarters. Spring signs (Aries, Taurus, Gemini) are hot, moist, infant-like, and sanguine. Summer signs (Cancer, Leo, Virgo) are hot, dry, young, and choleric. Autumn signs (Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius) are cold, dry, middle-aged, and melancholic. Winter signs (Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces) are cold, moist, elderly, and phlegmatic.
Note on Tropical Features
These other features of the signs are not used as commonly as those cited in the previous section, so we won’t explore them in depth. However, I note them because they figure into some techniques of Hellenistic astrology. Planetary rulership, exaltation rulership, triplicity, quadruplicity, sign gender, ascensional times, sign symmetry, the division into northern and southern signs, and the seasonal quarters all relate to the tropical cycle. Therefore, most of the features of the zodiac that are most important to us in Hellenistic astrological chart work should rely upon the tropical zodiac.
Main Sidereal Features
Image Associations
The Greek word for sign, zoidion, meant image or species. Indeed some of the features of the signs are direct associations with the species of thing that is imaged by the corresponding constellation. For instance, Dorotheus noted that an eclipse in Aries would likely affect sheep, while one in Sagittarius would affect horses, and so forth.
Additionally, there are some sign classifications that pertain to the imaged category or species of the signs. For instance, some signs are four-footed, others lack a voice (because they image animals lacking a voice), and some are rational (because they include an image of a person).
These sign associations are used less often than rulership, quadruplicity, and triplicity, but they are important to some techniques. I believe it is an open question as to whether the sidereal zodiac (or even the constellations themselves) would be a more appropriate zodiac to use for these types of considerations.
Surya surrounded by the signs of the zodiac. Himachal Pradesh Court, India ca. 1830
Star Cluster Delineations
Certain segments and degrees of signs have distinct significations in many Hellenistic texts, based on stars and segments of constellations. Such delineations are prominent in many Hellenistic authors, including Valens, Ptolemy, and Maternus. However, very little has been done to revive the use of such material. This material is truly sidereal in origin. The sidereal zodiac or even the constellations themselves are more appropriate to this type of delineation than the tropical zodiac.
Decans
There is an Egyptian division of the signs into thirds, called the decans. The decans were used for time-keeping in ancient Egypt. As the decans were based on the rising of 36 different star clusters, they are a star-based (sidereal) division.
Lunar Mansions
The nakshatras, a division of the sky into 27-28 lunar mansions, have been used in India since before the arrival of Hellenistic astrology. They are associated with star clusters which the Moon passes through over its 27-28 day monthly cycle. They are probably not appropriate for use with the tropical zodiac. A similar lunar cycle division into 28 mansions also appeared in ancient Chinese astrology. In Arabic medieval astral magic, a 28-mansion division derived from the Indian nakshatras was used.
Celestial map with the signs of the zodiac and the lunar mansions from a 16th-century Turkish manuscript.
Bounds or Terms
There is one last division of the signs which we need to address. It is one which we will be using in future lessons. The bounds or terms are divisions of each sign into 5 segments. Each of the five non-luminary planets rules one of the segments (bounds) in each sign. As each sign is a planet’s house, think of the bounds as five rooms of the house. Each room belongs to a planet (except the Sun and Moon).
The bounds are unequal divisions of the signs. No one knows the rationale behind this division of the zodiac. Some authors (including Ptolemy) proposed multiple systems of dividing the signs into bounds. However, the most widespread and the oldest (see this article on pre-Hellenistic evidence for bounds), are the Egyptian bounds.
In conclusion, both the tropical and the sidereal zodiacs have their own motivations. We are primarily concerned with significations that are tropical in nature. However, the western astrologer may be missing out on a chunk of significations which are sidereal in origin. The sidereal zodiac appears best suited for image associations and delineations of degrees and clusters influenced by stars and constellations. Perhaps one day we will come to find some happy synthesis in the use of both zodiacs for those domains where they are most appropriate. For now, I will stick with the tropical zodiac for use in these lessons.
Homework
You now have many new tools to work with. The rising sign is particularly symbolic of the person, so take a look at the sign of the Ascendant, and that of the Moon, in various charts. Pick apart the possible significations based on the features of the signs. Look at which planets are in the rising sign and which are with the Moon.
Next, take a look at the rulers of the Ascendant. The domicile ruler pertains more to the character and spirit of the person while the Ascendant itself pertains more to the body and temperament. Examine the nature of the rulers and how they are affected by the significations of the sign. How might character and bodily temperament change over the life based on the triplicity lords of the rising sign and those of its ruler?
You also have an additional planetary prominence consideration, that of a planet being in the stakes. Think about how a planet in a stake may impact a person. Even a planet that is not prominent in a general way may have a very strong influence over important matters in the person’s life by virtue of being in a stake. In such cases, you’ll find the influence of the planet more focused in those areas of life, and less pervasive and broad in its significations.
References
Ma’shar, A., & Al-Qabisi. (2010). Introductions to Traditional Astrology. (B. N. Dykes, Trans.). Minneapolis, MN: The Cazimi Press.
Porphyry, & Serapio. (2009). Porphyry the Philosopher. (J. H. Holden, Trans.). Tempe, AZ: American Federation of Astrologers.
Featured image of the Dendera zodiac (cropped)by Louvre Museum [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Twelfth-parts of Aries image by groupuscule (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Domicile rulerhips and Exaltation rulerships images are by Meredith Garstin (Meredith Garstin) [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
Image of Surya surrounded by the signs of the zodiac is in the public domain.
Celestial map image from the Zubdat-al Tawarikh in the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts in Istanbul, dedicated to Sultan Murad III in 1583 (in the public domain).
In the first article, I introduced the general rules or guidelines of electional astrology. These guidelines were laid out by Dorotheus in the first century. We found that the most important factors in choosing times significantly differed from today’s traditional electional astrology. Those guidelines were put into practice in the second article on choosing the right time to ask a favor and the third article on timing messages.
I’d like to continue to explore Dorothean material on useful elections. This article takes on another very broadly useful matter: when to buy and sell things. Again we will see that the general guidelines are important. Additionally, I’ll introduce you to some place-related rules. We will focus primarily on two techniques in Chapter 9 of Book V of Carmen (Ch. 10 of Dykes trans.). After that we’ll take a quick look at the other chapter on selling (Ch. 43 Pingree trans.; Ch. 44 Dykes trans.). That chapter looks at various lunar phases and what they signify in elections for sales.
Buying and Selling by Lunar Connections
The Moon is very important in this matter, so we must first consider her aspects. Whole sign aspects are when planets regard (“see”) each other, or are co-present (“with”) each other in the same sign. If you are not familiar with these then please see the lesson on configurations. Additionally, there are also “connections” between the planets. These are the aspects by degree. In Hellenistic astrology these were typically those aspects that were within 3 degrees of exact, regardless of sign boundaries. However, for the Moon, we consider her closest aspects within 13 degrees as connections. This is approximately an aspect that will be completed within a day of her motion.
Note that this technique is also discussed by Hephaistion (Book III, Ch. 16). However, Hephaistion presented the second technique (that of the stakes discussed below), then this lunar technique.
Void of Course
The Moon was failing to make a connection when she did not complete an aspect within the next 13 degrees of motion, regardless of sign boundaries. As noted in the section on corruptions of the Moon from the article on the basics of electing, there is also a concept in which the Moon is “void of course” or running in a void. The concept of void of course Moon does not appear as a lunar corruption in Dorotheus or Hephaistion. It appears in some Hellenistic texts as more of a natal concern and later became a corruption for elections. The Hellenistic concept of void of course also uses a bigger range than even the 13 degrees used for connections. The Moon is only void if she doesn’t complete an exact connection within the next 30 degrees of her travel.
Both Applications and Separations
The connections made by the Moon are important in Hellenistic elections. This includes both her applications and her separations, as discussed in the introductory article. We will focus on applying and separating connections completed within the 13 degrees in front of or behind the Moon, regardless of sign boundaries.
Lunar Symbolism
“If you wanted to sell something or buy [it], then look at the position of the Moon: for the star which the Moon is connecting with indicates the buyer and the price, the star which the Moon flows away from indicates the seller, and the Moon indicates the commodity which is sold or bought.” (Dorotheus, Book V, Ch. 10, Dykes trans., 2017, p. 241)
In summary, the Moon is the commodity, her separation is the seller, and her application is the buyerand price. Buyer and price are lumped together. Therefore, what is good for the buyer is good for the price. From this it is clear that what is meant by price is a “good deal”, i.e. the buyer benefiting from the sale.
Examining Condition of Significators
Malefics with or regarding one of these significators shows it is in a bad state. Benefics with or regarding one of these significators shows it in a good state. As regards are by whole sign it would be rare for a significator to have no regard from a malefic, so what is intended is to examine the nature and closeness of the aspect. For instance, a malefic opposition within 3 degrees is powerfully negative, while a malefic in whole sign inferior trine is very weak. The most powerful regards are when a planet is with another, square, or opposed. Connections are also more powerful. You want a benefic to be with the significator, square it, opposed it, or connecting with it by some aspect, but you don’t want a malefic to do so.
Example of Lunar Significators
Let’s use our letter election from the last post as an example chart. We will pretend that it pertained to the sale of a book.
Commodity: Moon
The Moon would represent the book. Jupiter is with her which is powerfully beneficial. She is regarded by Venus by sextile which is also beneficial but much less so. Her lord, Mercury, connects with her by square and she is strong in the 1st place. She is not regarded by Mars and is only regarded by Saturn via inferior trine. Therefore, we would judge the book to be of very good quality.
Seller: Separation
The seller is Venus as the Moon has just separated from her. Venus is square to Mars and she is not regarded by her ruler. She is regarded by the Moon and Jupiter but weakly so. Venus is also in a cadent place and retreating. We would not judge the situation to be very favorable to the seller. Overall, the seller’s condition is disadvantaged as the strongest aspect is from Mars. If we were electing for the seller then we’d want to improve the state of the planet the Moon is separating from.
Buyer: Application
The buyer is Mercury because the Moon is applying a connection to Mercury. Mercury is in a somewhat mixed state. On the negative side, it is under the beams and in a mutable sign. However, Mercury also shows benefit by being dominated (right-hand whole sign square) by Jupiter which it is making an applying connection to. By contrast, the connection with Mars by sextile has separated. Mercury is also with Fortune. Mercury also rules the Sun, Moon, Ascendant, Fortune, and Jupiter. In conclusion, the buyer seems to be in a pretty good state and is favored over the seller as the advantaged party to receive the greatest benefit from the transaction. If electing, we have positioned the buyer to buy a high quality product at a favorable price.
Buying and Selling by the Stakes
The stakes of the chart are the four most important houses and define a cross of the signs. They include the Ascendant and those signs of its same quadruplicity (cardinal, fixed, mutable). For instance, if Gemini rises, then Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces are the four stakes of the chart. They would also be the 1st, 4th, 7th, and 10th houses respectively. These four places take on special significance in Dorotheus’s alternative technique for sales elections.
“The Ascendant indicates the one buying, and the seventh the one selling, and the tenth indicates the price, and the house of fathers {4th} indicates the the commodity which you are selling or buying. And look in these places in the manner which I described to you about the matter of the Moon in the first approach: for wherever the fortunes or infortunes occur or look at it, it introduces harm and benefit to that matter which is attributed to that stake.” (Dorotheus, Book V, Ch. 10, Dykes trans., 2017, p. 242 – curly brackets added)
This same technique was also give by Hephaistion (Book III, Ch. 16).
Condition of the Stakes
In summary, the 1st house is the buyer, the 7th is the seller, the 10th is the price, and the 4th is the commodity. He explicitly advised us to look at how benefics or malefics are in or regarding those places. Hephaistion advised to do the same
In this we see another contrast between Hellenistic elections and later traditional elections, concerning the state of significant places. The regard of planets to the places became de-emphasized and replaced by analysis of the state of the ruler of a place. Dorotheus makes no mention of the rulers of the places in this technique. The places themselves are the primary factors of influence here.
Additionally, regard is not as important for this technique as the position of benefics and malefics in the houses themselves. This is because each of the stakes has a strong regard to the others. Though it is worth noting that regards from the right side are more influential than those from the left, particularly as we look at those regards by sextile and trine for this tecchnique.
Example of Stakes as Significators
Let’s use the same chart as an example again.
Buyer: I
The buyer is at a great advantage in this election because Jupiter is in the 1st house with the Moon. Additionally, Venus and the lord of the place regard it. Saturn only regards from inferior trine.
Commodity: IV
The product also seems to be in a good state. Mercury, the Sun, and Fortune occupy the 4th place. The place is dominated by Jupiter (right-hand square) and occupied by the place’s lord. Mars regards only by inferior sextile, so its influence is relatively weak.
Seller: VII
The seller is not in a very bad state, but not nearly as good as the buyer. The 7th place is empty. Saturn is in a superior sextile to it. Venus is also in superior trine. Overall, it is fairly neutral. However, it is not in nearly as good a state as the 1st place, which represents the buyer. Therefore, this election favors the buyer.
Price: X
It is very much the same situation with the 10th place, representative of the price. Mars in superior trine, but the place is overall somewhat neutral.
Synthesis
In this case the techniques yielded very similar but not quite identical significations. These two approaches can be synthesized. For instance, when electing for a buyer we can make sure that both the planet the Moon applies to and the 1st house are both attended by fortunate planets. We can also try to avoid afflicting the 10th and 4th. For a seller the stress should be on the separation of the Moon and the 7th house.
Note that the person we are electing for is not always represented by the Ascendant and the application of the Moon. In a sales transaction, the buyer is the effective agent that offers to purchase kicking off the transaction. Without a buyer, there is no offer, so the buyer is suitably the 1st house in a transaction. Whether the seller has been trying to sell for years or has never marketed the commodity, the seller receives the buyer’s offer and formalizes the transaction. The seller is suitably the 7th house in a transaction. Similarly, the commodity (Moon) flows away from the seller and to the buyer, so the seller as separation and buyer as application are also suitable.
Lunar Cycle Material
There is some additional material on buying and selling contained in Chapter 43 (44 of Dykes trans.). This is the last chapter of Book V of Carmen. Here the signification is provided by various lunar cycles. These cycles are of three types, those relative to the nodes, relative to the Sun, and through the signs.
Hephaistion not only addressed this material as well in Book III, Ch. 16 of Apotelesmatiks but provided a lengthy quote from the original Dorotheus.
“When Selēnē passes by the up-leading Node, if, full of light, she also increases her course in numbers, [for] whatever you buy, you will give more than what you need to give. But going on the down-leading paths, on which she decreases, going towards less, easy will the purchase be. And they say that if you look up on when Selēnē comes out from the assembly, and first enters the four-sided figure of the fiery-looking Helios, better will it be for fairer [dealings]: form you will pay money for something worth buying, and a more agreeable deed is to offer neither too inferior a price nor a much too superfluous amount. Until she into the diameter moves, it will suit the one who sells or demands payment. Again, when the quick-glancing one goes into the third side of the square, then it is good to buy–or steal– whatever one desires. The Goddess being on the fourth side and moving towards the assembly, if you give little from much, better will this be for you.” (Hephaistion quoting Dorotheus, Apotelsmatics, Book III, Ch. 16, #13-17, Gramaglia trans., 2013, p. 81)
Relative to the Nodes; Ascending/Descending in Latitude
After the Moon passes the North Node but before she reaches the South Node, she is ascending, Once the Moon passes the South Node, and before she reaches the North Node, she is descending. An ascending Moon indicates rising prices (benefits seller) while a descending Moon indicates falling prices (benefits buyer).
Relative to the Sun; Lunar Phase
From the Moon leaving the beams of the Sun to the First Quarter Moon is a time of fair prices. The First Quarter Moon to the opposition (i.e. Full Moon) is a time when it is best to sell (also a good time to commence litigation). The Full Moon to the Last Quarter Moon is a good time to buy. From the Last Quarter Moon to the New Moon is a time when one can give little to receive much, so the price is particularly low.
Therefore, just after a New Moon it doesn’t favor either buyer or seller. However, when she is more than a quarter full the waxing Moon (think rising prices) favors sellers, while the waning Moon (think fall prices) favors buyers. Note that Hephaistion adds that the Full Moon indicates a higher price (favors the seller) and waning indicates a lower price. So the buyer advantage is not until the Moon is clearly waning toward the last quarter. When it is waning past the last quarter is probably the time when prices are lowest.
Relative to the Signs; Ascending/Descending in Ecliptic Declination
This is not mentioned by Hephaistion, nor in his quote of Dorotheus (see above). However, the manuscripts of Dorotheus that we have also equate the signs of increasing declination with increasing prices and vice-versa. Some (including Dykes 2017) take this to be a corruption of the advice regarding the nodes (i.e. using declination instead of latitude). Though it may also reflect an additional condition discussed by Dorotheus.
Dorotheus noted the ascending half as Aquarius to Cancer and descending as Leo to Capricorn. However, technically, in terms of declination, the ascending half is from the start of Capricorn to end of Gemini, and the descending is from the start of Cancer to the end of Sagittarius. Again, the ascending Moon indicates inflated prices (benefits seller) while a descending Moon indicates deflated prices (benefits buyer).
Five Dimensions of Benefit
Altogether, we’ve seen 5 separate ways to indicate benefit will be more to a buyer or to a seller (lunar connections, stakes, nodes, phase, sign). Of the five, I consider the lunar connections to be most important. Let’s take on more look at our example chart in terms of who benefits most by all five considerations though.
Lunar connection: Buyer benefits by lunar connection because Mercury is in better state than Venus.
Stakes: Buyer benefits by stakes because the Ascendant is in a better state than the 7th.
Nodes: Buyer benefits by nodes because the Moon is past the South Node which indicates falling prices.
Lunar Phase: Buyer benefits by lunar phase because the Moon is waning at Last Quarter indicating falling prices.
Signs: Seller benefits by signs because the Moon is in Gemini which is in the ascending half of the zodiac, indicating higher prices.
Conclusion
Experiment with these on your own and decide what works best in practice. Of course, these indications may also have interesting implications for speculative investments, such as that of stock, bonds, and commodities. Much more research is needed in this area.
References
Dorotheus of Sidon, & al-Tabari, U. (2017). Carmen Astrologicum: The ’Umar al-Tabari Translation. (B. N. Dykes, Trans.). Minneapolis, Minn.,: The Cazimi Press.
Hephaistion of Thebes (2013). Apotelesmatics Book III: On Inceptions. (E. Gramaglia, Trans.). Minneapolis, MN: The Cazimi Press.
This article was significantly updated on 05/11/2019 with the addition of quotes from more recent translations of Dorotheus and Hephaistion. Additionally, some minor errors in the original article have been corrected and it has been edited for greater clarity.
In the first article of this series, I presented the general rules for electional astrology as laid out by Dorotheus. I briefly touched on how they contrast with the rules of the later tradition. We found some differences in emphasis in the electional astrology of Dorotheus. One must be attentive to the sign types of the Ascendant and the Moon, the strength of the Moon itself, the strength of her lord, strengthening benefics over malefics, and making the natural significator of the matter more prominent. In the second article of this series, I looked at the more specific guidelines for electing a time to ask a favor. We saw a reiteration of the importance of a strong Moon and strong natural significators. Now we look at letters, news, and other things under the dominion of Mercury, the messenger.
Letters and Information
In this article, we will again deal with a common but specific type of election. The matter at hand is that of writing and teaching. For instance, when is the best time to write to someone? We would typically think of this in terms of when to send a letter, when to teach, or when to deliver some important information. I am of the opinion that the same rules apply to signing or delivering contracts as well. The electional side of this was dealt with in Chapter 16 (Ch. 15 of Pingree trans.) of Book V of Carmen.
We will also attempt to draw information from Chapter 27 (Ch. 26 of Pingree). That chapter pertains to interpreting the event chart of when one receives a letter or some other information (such as a book).
Writing and Teaching
Dorotheus is very concise in his advise on this matter. I quote the entire Chapter 15 of the Pingree translation below, which is one sentence:
Let this be when Mercury is with the Moon and none of the malefics is with it or aspecting it while Mercury is eastern and is not under the [Sun’s] rays or retrograde in [its] motion and the Moon also is free from the misfortunes which I wrote of [and] untroubled. (Dorotheus, Book V, Ch. 15, Pingree trans., 2005, p. 271)
Mercury
Not surprisingly, we notice that the key natural significator to strengthen in the matter is Mercury. As is always the case with elections, we want the Moon strong. Along with strengthening Mercury it is best if Mercury is oriental the Sun (morning rising) and not afflicted by malefics. Finally, we want the Moon and Mercury to be linked together strongly. Ideally, we’d like them to be in the same sign.
It’s helpful to consider each separate factor as helpful. One often has to write, teach, sign, or deliver important documents frequently. It is not always possible to do so when Mercury is direct, oriental, not in the beams, strong, not regarded by malefics, and with a strong Moon in the same sign. In fact, it could be the case that such an ideal scenario doesn’t occur for months. However, first we can use the general rules which I discussed in the first article, and go from there.
Strengthen the Moon, as with all elections.
Strengthen Mercury as the natural significator. A matutine (morning rising) Mercury is preferred.
Make sure the Moon and Mercury are strongly linked together, with an application in the same sign being preferred.
Example
An example may be in order. Today is 9/2/2012. Mercury is at 3 Virgo and is under the beams of the Sun. Mercury will be under the beams for a while. It is also in a mutable and straight sign which is nocturnal. Unfortunately, being under the beams and being in a mutable sign are not ideal. Additionally, we have a letter that must be sent at some point in the next week. Ideally we want to send the letter at night as Mercury is in a nocturnal sign. Mercury is at least oriental to the Sun and in a straight sign.
We should strengthen the Moon and Mercury as much as possible. While doing this we need to link them together. Additionally, we’ll pay some extra attention to the signs of the Moon and Ascendant.
Connecting the Moon to Mercury
Currently, the Moon is in Aries which does not see Virgo. Therefore, the connection between the Moon and Mercury is quite weak. Additionally, Mercury is connecting (applying aspect within 3 degrees) with Mars and the Moon is opposed to Saturn. When the Moon connects with Mercury from Taurus, she will also be applying an opposition to Mars, which is not ideal. On the other hand, when the Moon is in Gemini things look better. She will be in one of the stakes of Virgo, in Mercury’s domicile, and with the benefic Jupiter. She will not be regarded at all by Mars and only regarded by Saturn by inferior trine.
Strengthening the Moon
Gemini is a mutable sign and a crooked one at that. However, the fact the Moon will be with Jupiter and unafflicted by the malefics alleviates the instability of the sign.
The best time for such an election, in my opinion, is when the Moon is in Gemini and is rising while applying to Mercury. This would be at moonrise, the night of the 7th, near midnight of the 8th. Immediately after the Moon rises in Gemini, she would be on the proper side of the horizon (in halb). Jupiter will be in the same sign which is fortunate. Both will be very prominent, as will Mercury and the Sun.
She connects with Mercury from a strong applying square, while Mercury is in a stake, advancing, lord of the Ascendant, with Fortune. The benefic Jupiter would be prominent and the malefics would be weakened.
Note on Combustion
While Mercury being under the beams is not ideal, Mercury is in its own sign and exaltation. Some Hellenistic astrologers (see Rhetorius and Serapion) thought that a planet was actually made stronger under the beams if it was in its exaltation or some other type of rulership. Mercury has exaltation and domicile rulership of its position, and rules the Sun in the same way.
Note on Mutability
Mercury, the Moon, and Ascendant would all be in mutable signs which is also not ideal. However, Jupiter in the 1st helps to alleviate this to a great degree. Additionally, we have made the Moon and Mercury as strong as we can. We have also linked the Moon with Mercury as strongly as we can. The benefics have been augmented and the malefics diminished.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we have found a facilitating time, despite possibly discouraging circumstances (Mercury combust). In this case, our connection between the Moon and Mercury is even more ideal than having both in the same sign. This is because Mercury is with the Sun so the Moon and Mercury will get together on a New Moon which is one of the corruptions of the Moon.
It is very important to go into elections looking to augment the time rather than to be a perfectionist. No matter what the general state of things looks like, there is always some times that are more optimal than others. As things will follow largely according to other root charts, such as your own natal chart, don’t go into elections with too much of a mindset of it being like the natal chart of your undertaking. When people do this they tend to see the flaws in the time and feel that things lean toward failure by default because of something like a combust Mercury. In other words, they see individual factors as sealing the fate of the undertaking. No, these currents are subtle. You can push against some currents. The point is to get some more significant currents working in your favor.
Clues from the News
Chapter 26 pertains to using the event chart of when some news arrives (such as a letter or other message). The chart is read to tell us what the news is or was about. Interestingly, it is one part event chart astrology and another part natal astrology. We look at the relationship between event chart planets and natal positions.
The basic idea is to view the event chart as a set of transits to the natal chart. We determine if benefics are influencing natal Mercury, or transiting Mercury is influencing natal benefics. Also, we see if the transiting Moon is connecting to natal Mercury free from malefics. Another method is given also, in which one looks to see if it is the benefics or the malefics that are transiting the places (or the stakes of the places) of the natal luminaries (Sun and Moon) and to judge according to that.
As far as input for our Mercurial elections goes, this is not extremely helpful. We do see that Mercury again is important though. Mercury is the central planet to consider whether one is on the transmitting or receiving end of a message. When looking at the event chart of the act of receiving it essentially becomes more of a matter of transit analysis. Benefic transits to natal Mercury and Mercury transits to natal benefics show good news. If these involve malefics then we have bad news. Also, we want to see if it is transiting benefics or malefics that are mostly influencing the Lights (Sun and Moon).
Conclusion
In this special topic, we find that the natural significator of communications, Mercury, becomes very important. The general rules of elections are again also put to use. This is a significant type of election for people in business or politics who must sign important documents, deliver important messages, and make important requests on a regular basis. The implications for this particular type of election extend beyond letters to the best times to sign contracts, deliver important emails, perform a lecture, make a webcast, file important legal paperwork, and even publish articles (I really need to use that more). We live in very Mercurial times. Therefore, while the advice given by Dorotheus in Chapter 15 is very brief, it is some of the most versatile advice on electing that he has provided.
References
Dorotheus of Sidon. (2005). Carmen Astrologicum. (D. Pingree, Trans.). Abingdon, MD: Astrology Center of America.
In the first article of this series, we discussed the origins and fundamentals of electional astrology which find their root in Book V of the Carmen Astrologicum of Dorotheus (1st century CE). In this article, we find a natural transition point from general principles to specific topics. Chapter 15 (14 of Pingree trans.) of Book V pertains to asking for favors. This is one of the most general topics. For instance, maybe you want to ask your boss for a raise. You’ll want the circumstances to be favorable. For instance, for your boss to be in a generous mood.
Lord of the Moon Emphasis
In the passages on the general approach to elections I noted that there was no stress placed on the lord of the Ascendant. That was unusual considering its prominence in medieval elections. We did see that the lord of the Moon was important for outcome, and that there were some parallels between the role played by the Moon and that of the Ascendant. Perhaps the lord of the Ascendant should be important in a similar way to the lord the Moon. Dorotheus only emphasized the lord of the Moon for outcome. He neglected the lord of the Ascendant. This is pretty much the reverse of what we see in the later tradition.
Lord of the Ascendant Rising
Interestingly, in the matter of asking favors, the lord of the Ascendant does become an important factor. However, it is not emphasized in the same way as in later medieval elections. As seen below, there is a need to put the Moon either in the Ascendant or strongly linked with the lord of the Ascendant.
There are some other passages in Dorotheus where the lord of the Ascendant does appear to play something of a parallel role with the Moon though. For instance, in material on electing for journeys. The Ascendant and Moon both carry symbolism related to the physical self. Their lords would be considered more abstract, such as showing spirit guiding toward the result. The lord of the Ascendant would be considered to pertain more to the spirit of the person and their “direction”. Therefore, I think that the Ascendant has primary importance but that its lord is systematically emphasized when elections involve a need to strengthen the spirit and social sentiment, or the matter is that of a journey.
Asking Favors
Ask for this when the Moon is in the ascendent or in quartile to the ascendent or in trine to it while the Moon is increasing in computation and in light or the lord of the ascendent is direct in [its] motion [and] not retrograde and is with the Moon in one sign and the Moon conjoins it. (Dorotheus, Book V, Ch. 14, Pingree trans., 2005, p. 271)
The Moon
Again, as in the general principles, it is advised to put the Moon in the Ascendant. Additionally, it is advised to put the Moon in the Ascendant and have it waxing. This is exactly the opposite of what is advised by later Perso-Arabic authors. Saul specifically advised against putting the Moon in the Ascendant when she is waxing. Again, I feel that this advice not to put the Moon in the Ascendant is a corruption of original electional doctrine.
Here, we find that if we cannot put the Moon in the Ascendant then we should at least put her in a sign quartile or trine the Ascendant. The quartiles referred to are at least 2 of the other angles or “stakes”, of which the 10th house (i.e. 10th sign counted inclusively from the Ascendant) is the next strongest after the Ascendant (1st house), then the 7th, and then the 4th (though Dorotheus may not be including the 7th in this advice). The trines are the 5th and 9th places, but the 9th is expressly advised against in the introductory material if it is a mutable sign. Dorotheus also advised to have the Moon in her own house or regarding it.
Recap of Lunar Rules with Consideration of Asking a Favor
Make the Moon strong and waxing. Put her in the Ascendant if possible, if not then the 10th, 4th, 5th, or 9th (provided it is not mutable). If possible make the sign she is in one of long ascension, a fixed sign, and/or a sign of the sect in favor. Make sure she is not corrupted nor impeded by malefics. Have her fast and increasing in speed. Have the lord of the Ascendant direct and not stationing retrograde. Also, if possible put the Moon in the same sign as the lord of the Ascendant and conjoining it, especially if you can’t get the Moon in the Ascendant itself. Additionally, make sure the Moon is in her own place (Cancer) or regarding it (i.e. in whole sign aspect to it).
Natural Significators
And it is preferable if the Moon is in her own house or looking at her own house, and Mercury is with Jupiter. Now if you sought the needed thing while Mercury is with Saturn or looking at him from a powerful place, then he will not have a good word put in [for him], nor will he get that needed thing. But if one seeks the needed thing when Mercury is with Venus and the seeking of it is before women, and it is something he rejoices in and is entertained by, then he will have a good word put in [for him] in that. (Dorotheus, V.15, Dykes trans., 2017, p. 247)
Mercury
The idea here is that the planet Mercury associates with is important for the election of asking favors. The emphasis is not so much on making Mercury itself strong and prominent though as it was for natural significators in the general principles. Instead it is about making Mercury benefic.
The basic idea is that you want Mercury to be with (i.e. in the same sign as) a benefic or strongly connected to a benefic. Avoid having Mercury in the same place as a malefic or strongly connected to a malefic, especially Saturn. Dorotheus advised that it is great to have Mercury with Jupiter, but quite bad to have Mercury with Saturn or aspected by Saturn from a strong place. In requests made to women or involving pleasures or entertainment it is best to have Mercury with Venus.
Significator of the One Being Asked
Dorotheus ends the section by advising one to strengthen certain planets which signify the one that is being asked for the favor. For instance, one is to strengthen Jupiter if asking from leaders or nobles (or bosses?) and to make sure that Jupiter is not retrograde (stationing retrograde would be much worse in my opinion) nor afflicted by Saturn. Similarly, he advised to strengthen Mercury if making a request to a scientist, business person, or analyst. One should strengthen Saturn if making a request to an elderly person, an accused person, or a slave. This is fairly consistent with the general principles so it is assumed that we strengthen such a planet by putting it in a stake while free of the afflictions mentioned in the last article.
Conclusion
Below I summarize the most important points of electing to ask a favor in a way that is more easily adapted to the astrologer’s art. Also see Hephaistion Book III, Ch. 25 which is a briefer treatment of favors with similar guidelines.
The Moon should be strong, waxing, fast, in one of the facilitating signs, and able to see her own sign (i.e. in whole sign aspect to Cancer).
Mercury should be linked with benefics (same sign is best) rather than malefics, particularly with the benefic that pertains most to the type thing or the person being asked. Avoid the influence of Saturn on Mercury.
Act when the Moon is prominent and linked with the Ascendant. The best is the Moon in the Ascendant, but also very good is the Moon conjoining the lord of the Ascendant in the same sign while angular.
Act when the planet that is the best natural significator of the person being asked is strong (i.e. angular).
Best wishes and happy electing!
References
Dorotheus of Sidon. (2005). Carmen Astrologicum. (D. Pingree, Trans.). Abingdon, MD: Astrology Center of America.
Dorotheus of Sidon, & al-Tabari, U. (2017). Carmen Astrologicum: The ’Umar al-Tabari Translation. (B. N. Dykes, Trans.). Minneapolis, Minn.,: The Cazimi Press.
