Introduction

This series of articles has been about testing and refining an ancient Hellenistic approach to the astrology of a person’s profession or occupation. It can be best to view the results as pertaining to skills used in the context of one’s calling.

Actions in Hellenistic Astrology

Techniques of this sort were discussed by Ptolemy (2nd century CE), Paul of Alexandria (4th century CE), Olympiadorus (6th century CE), and Rhetorius (7th century CE), among others. These astrologers presented their own preferences, or art, for the application of the same basic technique. The techniques assign particular importance to the indications given by Mars, Venus, Mercury, and their combinations. These three are the planets of actions which can become the significators of the occupation. Furthermore, there is an emphasis in the technique on planets in the “stakes” of the chart (the 10th, 1st, 7th, 4th houses) or triplicity of the 10th house (10th, 2nd, and 6th houses), rulership of the 10th, and being configured with the Lights (i.e. Sun and Moon).

Not all ancient astrologers of the Hellenistic and Persian period used this technique. Some preferred basic delineation or a special combinations of factors for delineating profession. Rhetorius used this technique along with basic delineation and a discussion of special chart combinations which indicate specific occupations. However, as a specific technique for finding the planets most relevant to the occupation or calling, this technique is unrivaled in its efficacy.

Looking Back

In the first article, I outlined some notes and quotes on the Hellenistic views on the technique, as well as my own particular approach to it. In the last article, I reviewed the technique and explored three examples from a recent chart challenge. Please refer to those two articles for quick summaries of how the technique is applied in practice.

So far, most of the articles in the series have focused upon artists (Venus) and intellectuals (Mercury) with little attention paid to athletes and laborers (Mars). However, I’ve mentioned that Mars can be a little trickier than the others. In a chart of high social standing Mars may indicate a more aggressive managerial role or competitive political role rather than athletics or labor.  So far, we’ve only seen one example of Mars as the main significator; Dick Butkus from the last article.  Here we’ll look at another example of the technique correctly singling out Mars as significator in an athlete’s chart.

O. J. Simpson

O. J. Simpson is now a convicted felon who will be serving decades in prison. He is now best known for the controversial legal trial over the death of his ex-wife Nicole Brown. That trial was preceded by a lengthy flight from the police, but ended with his acquittal. Amazingly, it was followed by his attempt to publish a book detailing how he would’ve killed her if he had done it.  Years later, he was arrested on multiple felony charges.  You can read a brief bio on Wikipedia. His chart is rated AA for accuracy and is pictured below (with twelfth-part positions).

Brief Note on Character

This series is not about delineating character, but I’d like to quickly note the indications of planets most relevant for character. Typically, the factors most relevant for character are the ruler of the 1st, the Sect Light, Mercury, planets in the 1st, and the Moon.

Dark Places and Malefics in the 1st

OJ’s Sect Light (the Sun) is the ruler of the Ascendant, but it is in a dark place, the 12th, pertaining to betrayal and enmity, in Cancer, ruled by the Moon. The Moon is also in a dark place, the 8th, pertaining to death and stagnation.  Additionally, the twelfth-parts of both Lights are in the 6th, a dark place, in Capricorn, ruled by the malefic Saturn. Therefore, both Lights and the ruler of the Ascendant are entirely oriented toward the dark places, pertaining to hidden and potentially harmful matters.

Mercury is out of sect and in a dark place, the 12th, while under the beams (concealment). This is an association between the rational mind (Mercury), concealment (12th house, under the beams), enmity (12 house), and instability (out of sect).

Saturn is in the 1st house of self, as is the twelfth-part of Mars, the out of sect malefic. Therefore, the malefics are directly operable in the house of the character and temperament. Additionally, the Ascendant and the Moon are both in the bounds of Mars.

Malefic Character with a Jupiter Life

Overall, it is very clear that the malefics and dark places predominate over matters of character. Therefore, it wouldn’t be unusual to expect much in the way of hidden motives, malicious intent, and personal undoing.  However, the sect benefic, Jupiter, is the most prominent planet in the chart, actually right on the IC (conjunct within 3 degrees). Fortunately, or unfortunately, a great deal of good fortune, luck, and a larger than life atmosphere permeate the life as loud and pervasive themes as well.

Actions

Let’s turn to the technique for actions.

Pertinence

Place

Mars is advancing to the MC (about 18 degrees from it).  Saturn and Jupiter are the only planets in stakes of the chart (the 1st and 4th respectively).  However, out of Mars, Venus, and Mercury, only Mars is in an appropriate place, the 11th, Gemini.  Additionally, the twelfth-part of Mars is in the 1st house. Of lesser importance, Mars also overcomes, by applying sextile within 3 degrees, Saturn, the occupant of the 1st.

Rulership and Other Matters

Mars is the only planet of the three action planets in the chart with some form of rulership at both the Ascendant and the MC It rules the rising bound, while it has participating triplicity at the MC and 10th. Jupiter also has a form of rulership in both places. The Sun and Venus, which respectively rule the 1st and 10th are both in the 12th, which is generally the most inappropriate place for actions. However, Venus is strongly in phasis in the chart, almost exactly 15 degrees from the Sun.

Conclusion

Mars is judged to be the most relevant planet for professional matters by far. It advances toward the MC, in an appropriate place (with its twelfth-part in a pivotal place), and has some rulership of the Ascendant and MC.

Jupiter is also very important for the profession. It is in a stake, with rulership at the 1st and 10th. However, it is not one the three action planets, so we view it more as a modifier. Note that the twelfth-part of Jupiter is with Mars in the chart, an indication of a champion (fortune in athletics).

Venus also has importance on account of ruling the 10th and being in phasis. The Moon very closely aspects Mercury also (separating). Therefore, there is a sense in which the 12 house cluster of Sun, Venus, and Mercury together signify entertainment work of a Venus-Mercury nature  (vocal, acting). In later life he was an announcer and actor fitting with such work.

General Strength

Jupiter is by far the planet with the greatest general strength in the chart.  It is not just strongly advancing but actually conjunct the angle of the IC.  Jupiter also regards both lights by trine. The Sun (Sect Light) overcomes Jupiter by applying trine within 3 degrees. Additionally, Jupiter stations direct about 6 days after birth.  Jupiter is ruled by Mars, arguably the second strongest planet in the chart, and pertaining to athletics.

I consider Mars the second strongest planet in the chart in a general way. It is the strongest of the three action planets. Mars advances to the MC and is dominated by the Moon. Most of the other planets in the chart are retreating or barely advancing.  Venus is also strong but in different ways. Venus is in phasis, and is advancing, while she is co-present with one Light and regards the other.

Conclusion

Mars is the planet in O.J. Simpson’s chart with the greatest relevance for profession. It is also a planet with a broadly pervasive influence over his life. We expect martial significations to show up in many guises and in many different areas of the life, with great frequency.  In the most simplistic terms, Mars would show a career path pertaining to brawn, as opposed to the brains of Mercury or aesthetics of Venus.  It is interesting that Mars is in the bound of Jupiter and with the twelfth-part of Jupiter, connecting it with success.

Once again we find this technique to be a breath of fresh air in comparison to most other vocational technique of western astrology. It leads us down the right path to look at the proper planets. We even learn something of the nuances and variety to occupational possibilities and developments. Not only is Mars singled out for O.J. but we get a sense of the importance that Venus (entertainment) can play and how it all relates to a hugely pervasive Jupiterian influence on life circumstances. Saturn’s twelfth-part is conjunct Jupiter, suggesting where such luck hits limitations.

Featured image is in the public domain.