Thank you to reader Iago Pereira for bringing this chart to my attention.
Challenging Assumptions
Some charts challenge our assumptions. These charts can be very frustrating, especially for beginners, as they find that basic chart analysis leads them in the wrong direction. However, more than any other charts, challenging charts push us to refine our art. Without such challenges, our astrology does not grow and simply becomes dogmatic. We ignore such charts to our own disadvantage.
David Carpenter
In this article, we are going to look at one of the most challenging charts which I’ve come across. Life is complex and contradictory. This chart is one of a serial killer, rapist, and pedophile. Additionally, he was a victim of childhood abuse. Amazingly, he has also been unusually lucky in his life, in the sense of catching breaks. He was released from jail multiple times after horrendous crimes. He’s been married twice and has had three kids. Furthermore, he’s a reportedly well-behaved prisoner who has been on death row for decades (34 years) without execution, and still maintains his innocence. These days, he even has a penchant for religion.
The Trailside Killer
David Carpenter was born on May 6, 1930 at 9:16 pm in San Francisco, CA (AA-rated source). He is infamous as the “Trailside Killer”, owing to a string of murders which took place on hiking trails in some of San Francisco’s most scenic parks. Strangely, the murders took place when Carpenter was 49 and 50 years of age. He was caught shortly after his 51st birthday.
David Carpenter’s Birth Chart
Note on Biographical Sources
Information on Carpenter’s life and criminal record prior to the killings is somewhat hard to come by. I rely heavily on the collection of news stories at Murderpedia.org (see Information PDF). However, some stories are inconsistent or riddled with minor errors. For instance, a couple stories state he was born in 1930 but also that he was 33 years old in 1960. The Criminal Minds Wiki also has some conveniently organized information on his crimes and behavior. Additionally, for insight into his prison life, I read an interview with him that was conducted by a fellow prisoner. Note that there are also some minor errors in the Wikipedia article on Carpenter.
Issues with this Chart
Carpenter’s chart challenges in a number of ways. The bulk of my analysis is going to be focused on individual problem areas. I’ll present my solutions or at least some food for thought. After exploring the main issues, we’ll look at the chart in terms of timing.
Many of the challenges pertain to things I’ve previously written articles about. For instance, the interpretation of sign dignity is significant in the chart, as he has 3 planets in domicile. I’ve written many articles on how dignity is often mis-used by traditional astrologers. This chart raises some of those issues anew. Additionally, I’ve written on the importance of twelfth-parts and the lots, including the Lot of Boldness in the charts of murderers. I’ve also highlighted how mutable signs were seen as a destabilizing influence on the character by some Persian astrologers. I’ll explore these important considerations with this chart.
However, there are other ways in which the chart is challenging, particularly for me. I follow the approach of Hellenistic and Persian astrologers. They rely heavily on the Ascendant Lord, Mercury, and the Moon for character delineation. The Lord of the Ascendant is Jupiter in a somewhat benefic place. Additionally, Jupiter is with the sect benefic and its ruler, Mercury is with both benefics. The Moon is dominated by both benefics and her ruler. This is a pedophile turned rapist and murderer – hardly a benefic character. Reading character in this chart is complex.
I. Character
Jupiter is the domicile lord and main (first) triplicity lord of the Ascendant. Jupiter also closely aspects the Ascendant within about 5 degrees. Therefore, Jupiter is an important significator of the character. Jupiter is in the 7th house (a stake of the Ascendant) and is strongly advancing, so it is quite strong. Jupiter is out of sect, but it’s still a benefic, and one that is with the sect benefic (Venus), as well as its own ruler, Mercury. This would appear to bode very well for the character, but this guy is a pedophile, rapist, and serial killer. What gives?
Mercury too is typically used for the character and rational mind. Here Mercury is in the 7th place, in its own house and bound, with both benefics. None of the malefics aspect it with a hard aspect (square or opposition). Therefore, one the surface, Mercury is perplexing.
First, we have to seriously consider whether Jupiter and Mercury are saying something meaningful about the character and the life. Next, we have to look deeper at the “hidden placements” of these planets by twelfth-parts, and possibly even antiscia. Finally, we also have to consider special techniques specific to aggressive behavior.
7th House: Sex and Marriage
Jupiter is in the 7th house, which in ancient astrology is the house of marriage and sex. Many indicators (especially Venus with Mercury) in the 7th tended to show a preoccupation with sex. One thing noted frequently with Carpenter is that he was an uncontrollably lustful character. Even in his first marriage he was said to want sex constantly. He started stalking other women while married. The lord of the 1st and Mercury (two significators of the self and mind), in the 7th, with Venus, mathces this emphasis.
Jupiter’s role in the 7th is also interesting in the sense that Carpenter was able to marry and have children given his notorious past. He was a convicted pedophile prior to meeting his wives. He was also very abused as a child and suffers from an extreme form of stuttering. That he could get married, twice, and father three children is somewhat remarkable. Benefics in the 7th house are an indication of some undeserved luck in this area.
Well-Behaved?
While Carpenter was a depraved pedophile and stalker from early on, he seemed able to get off on good behavior time and time again. Prior to a string of murders, his stints in prison were rather brief compared with his crimes. He is noted as being a somewhat model inmate and one who is religious. It is thought that his victims may not have originally suspected he’d harm them because his mild manner and stutter made him seem harmless. He has molested many boys, raped many women, and killed at least 8 people. Now, at age 88, he has survived 34 years on death row without execution. He maintains his innocence and fights for his own release.
We see the role of Jupiter strongly advancing in many of these facts (see also the chart of OJ Simpson). Jupiter is loud in the life, granting lots of opportunities and breaks. It is quite likely that his character is one that does seem to align with Jupiter ruled by Mercury. Someone who seems friendly, even helpful, as well as knowledgeable or judicious. Jupiter is not indicating that he is a “good guy” but Jupiter is indicating that he can come off as one, and that is part of what makes Carpenter so dangerous.
Mars Influence
Jupiter is in the bound of Mars and is most closely aspected by Mars, from the right side. Therefore, Jupiter is linked strongly with Mars, and Mars is the more influential of the two in the relationship. Mars is the closest aspect to Jupiter from the right side and it is an applying aspect, so it is a Jupiter colored by Mars. The Mars bound of Gemini is particularly associated with blood and destruction.
The fourth term, 7° belong to Mars: much-burdened, with no brothers, having few children, a wanderer, with a good income, destructive, bloody, inquisitive. (Valens, Anthology, Riley trans., 2009, p. 6)
Mars itself is in sect and in a good place, but Mars is very strongly afflicted by Saturn. Saturn is out of sect, in the dark 2nd place, and it dominate Mars. This is exacerbated by the fact that the aspect is applying within 3 degrees. Therefore, Mars is strongly colored by and connected with Saturn.
Mutability
This chart was brought to my attention in reference to another article of mine on Mercury and mutability. Mutability was associated with instability and fickleness in Hellenistic astrology (see Ptolemy, Book III, Ch. 13). Some of the Medieval astrologers additionally associated the Lord of the Ascendant or Mercury in a mutable sign with anger, fearfulness, and an unsound mind. The passages pertaining to that are quoted in the article.
In the case of David Carpenter, we see the Ascendant, its lord (Jupiter), Mercury, the Moon, and Venus in mutable signs. Most of the planets, including the most important character significators are in mutable signs. Furthermore, three of the seven planets are ruled by Mercury, including the Asc Lord and Mercury itself, adding more instability to the mix.
Missing Pieces
Obviously, we cannot get the full story on character from the apparent state of the Lord of the Ascendant and Mercury in the chart. For the most part they indicate positively. It is in fact troubling that they can apparently indicate positively for the most part but we can end up with someone like David Carpenter. We do see that the strongly advancing Mars is very loud in the life and influential upon the character, but there are plenty of missing pieces. Remember this before assuming that you can judge character based on the apparent state of a few factors that signify character.
Twelfth-Parts
I have written extensively on the twelfth-parts. I have discussed how you don’t know the full story about a planetary placement until you’ve examined the twelfth-parts. These additional positions were used by nearly every Hellenistic astrologer, with some of them stressing that they hold the secret to hidden information. Carpenter’s chart emphasizes the importance of these positions.
David Carpenter’s Birth Chart with Twelfth-Part Positions Along Outer Wheel
A few notable things are revealed in the twelfth-parts. Twelfth-part Jupiter is conjunct Saturn, the most malefic planet in the chart, This ties the Asc Lord to Saturn’s significations. The Ascendant and Saturn’s significations get tied to the Sun (publicity) in the dark 6th house by way of their twelfth-part positions. Mars has its twelfth-part square its natal position, intensifying it. Furthermore, its twelfth-part is in the harmful 8th house of death. That twelfth-part is also opposed to Saturn and the twelfth-part of Jupiter. Venus has her twelfth-part conjunct the Moon in Virgo, confirming the strong instinctual need for sexual gratification.
Dark and Fallen
Some interesting things occur with the twelfth-parts when dark houses and zodiacal fall are considered. The Sun and Moon end up conjunct in the dark 12th house. Actually, the twelfth-parts reveal 5 of 7 planets in dark houses, with all involved in hard malefic aspects. Additionally, the twelfth-parts put 4 of the 7 planets into the signs of their fall.
The Lot of Spirit
A look at the lots is vital to an analysis of any topic in the natal chart. The Lot of Spirit is particularly relevant to matters of character. I’ve explored the Lot of Spirit in depth in the article on the Four Principal Lots and the lesson on the lots.
David Carpenter’s Birth Chart with a Selection of Important Lots (Affliction and Mother at top of chart – names cut off)
As noted by reader Iago Pereira, Carpenter has the Lot of Spirit with and ruled by Mars, while dominated by Saturn. In terms of character, Spirit shows an aggressive martial character dominated by a bitterly dark and malefic Saturn. Mars is in the bound of Venus tying the violence to women and sexuality. As noted, Mars has its twelfth-part in the 8th house, connecting it with harm and death.
The Lot of Boldness
I have written an article on the Lot of Boldness as a possible indicator of capacity for bloodshed. The Lot of Boldness and Mars were the main factors explored by Abu’Ali for delineation of aggressive behavior. Additionally, many planets significant to the character in masculine signs was said to exacerbate aggressiveness. Mars in the 4th was also said to be significant for bloodshed. We may wish to consider Mars advancing toward the IC in a similar fashion, as quadrant houses were starting to be used during the period in which Abu’Ali practiced.
Carpenter, like the mass murder James Holmes, has Boldness with and ruled by Mars, while Mars strongly advances toward the IC. The Lot of Spirit additionally connects this with the character. Furthermore, the Ascendant, Lot of Spirit, Lot of Boldness, and 4 of 7 planets are in masculine signs, including the Asc Lord (Jupiter), Mercury, Mars, and Venus. Therefore, this special technique for assessing numbness to violence appears to be a promising one.
Additional Factors
Planetary Day and Hour
It is hard to look at Carpenter’s chart and not notice that he was born on the planetary day of Mars and at the planetary hour of Mars. Many Medieval astrologers included the rulers of the planetary day and hour as significant in their techniques for finding an overall chart lord. Vettius Valens also advised to look at the planetary day and hour rulers of the natal chart (see my article on planetary days and hours). We may consider this another indication of the importance of Mars in characterizing Carpenter’s life.
Antiscia Chart
Julius Firmicus Maternus (4th century) advised that the secrets of the chart can be found in the twelfth-part and antiscia positions. Many Hellenistic astrologers used the twelfth-part positions, and I’ve discussed them in this chart. However, only Maternus appears to have used the antiscia positions as additional body-doubles, or shadow points, for the planets. While I don’t normally use the antiscia points in practice, Carpenter’s chart has made me wonder if maybe I should. I’ve touched on the use of antiscia by Firmicus in an article on the twelfth-parts, and I’ve discussed antiscia in more detail in an article on symmetry in ancient astrology.
David Carpenter’s Birth Chart with Antiscia Positions Along Wheel
The Ascendant and Saturn are antiscia each other. This connects Saturn, the most malefic planet in the chart, with the nature of the self and character. Even more striking, Saturn is contra-antiscia Jupiter to the degree (i.e. they are the same distance from 0 Aries). This is seen as an opposition in the antiscia chart. Therefore, Saturn pertains strongly to both the Ascendant and its lord (Jupiter) by antiscia.
Additionally, Mars has its antiscia in the 10th house with the Moon, connecting it with the appetites and irrational mind as well as Carpenter’s role in the public eye. Similarly, the Moon’s antiscia is with Mars (i.e. the Moon and Mars are antiscia each other by sign). Also, both benefics and Mercury have their antiscia in the 8th house linking them with harm and death.
II. Mercury and Communication
One of the other perplexing things about Carpenter is his severe stutter. He is said to have been a severe stutterer since early childhood. This speech condition has caused him immense suffering due to the difficulty of communication as well as bullying in his school years. However, Carpenter has Mercury in sect, with both benefics, in domicile, in its own bound, and unafflicted by malefics.
David Carpenter’s Birth Chart
Before getting to the possible ways Mercury could indicate stuttering, let’s look at the ways Mercury may be indicating true things about the life. It is well known that IQ is not a strong predictor of intellectual success in life. Carpenter is reported to have an IQ of 125 (very high) and to have gotten good grades in school. Additionally, he got a degree in computer printing and was trained as a typesetter, a very mercurial profession. He even taught classes on these matters.
These things all suggest that Mercury is indeed prominent in his life. That prominence is reflected in Mercury’s position in a stake, in its own place, ruling the Moon and MC. Its benefits through association with both benefics are also well-attested in the life.
Mutability
As noted above, mutability, as well as rulership by Mercury and a position in an air sign, can all destabilize Mercury. Mercury is complicated enough, while Carpenter’s Mercury (and its twelfth-part) in a mutable sign, in air, and ruled by itself vacillates so much that it causes difficulty.
Retrograde Station
In the lesson on planetary prominence, I noted that whether a planet is direct or retrograde is not as significant as whether it stations within a week of birth. Additionally, a direct station within a week of birth is very strengthening, while a retrograde station is the opposite. Amazingly, astrologers often discuss how a planet is retrograde but miss that it is actually stationing direct (powerfully strong). In Carpenter’s case, it is too easy to see that Mercury is direct and miss that it is stationing retrograde.
Two Days After Carpenter’s Birth – Mercury Stations Retrograde
Mercury stations retrograde less than 2 days after Carpenter’s birth. It is this debility of Mercury which may be the symbolic key to Carpenter’s severe speech impediment.
III. Parents
Taking an approach which stresses the importance of the 4th house, the Sun, and the Moon for parents can lead to surprising results. The 4th house is ruled by Jupiter, a benefic, which is in a strong house. The Sun is in the weak and dark 6th house but is ruled by Venus and in the bound of Jupiter. The Moon is the sect light, very prominently positioned in the 10th house, dominated by the benefics and her ruler. However, Carpenter was notably abused by an alcoholic father and had a domineering strict mother.
Saturn and the Father
Both the Sun and Saturn are relevant as natural significators of the father. By night, Saturn often becomes the more important significator. Both the Sun and Saturn are in dark places (6th and 2nd places respectively) and out of sect. Saturn is also the only planet making a right side aspect to the house of father (4th) and to the Sun (trine). Therefore, Saturn has a significant influence over the significations of both the 4th and the Sun. Saturn is very malefic in this chart, exacerbated by being out of sect, in the dark 2nd place, and in an applying close aspect with Mars. As we’ll see with timing, Saturn activations also relate strongly to Carpenter’s crimes.
The Moon and the Mother
Little is known about Carpenter’s family, though his mother is characterized as domineering and physically abusive. Note that the Moon literally dominates the 1st house of the self in the chart. Additionally, the Moon is trine that malefic Saturn, signifying friendship between the Moon and Saturn. Also, the Moon rules the 8th place of the chart, which is occupied by the twelfth-part of Mars.
Twelfth-Parts
Again, the twelfth-parts provide plenty of additional insights. The Sun and Moon are together in the 12th house of enemies and undoing. The twelfth-part of Saturn is with the Sun, reinforcing their strong relationship.
Lots
Interestingly, the Lot of the Father is conjunct the Lot of Boldness. Both together are with and ruled by Mars. They are also both with the Lot of Spirit. Above I discussed how Spirit linked the character with the influence of this Mars. We’ve also seen how indicators of the father connect with the sense of self (Jupiter as ruler of the 4th and 1st, Asc antiscia Saturn). Now we see the occurrence together of Boldness, the Lot of the Father, and Lot of Spirit, with and ruled by this strongly advancing Mars. Violence, the sense of self, the role of the father, and a numbness to violence are all connected in this house.
There is a similar connection between the Moon, the Lot of the Mother, and the Lot of Affliction in Virgo. The Lot of the Mother in the 10th house confirms that the Moon in the 10th is the main significator of the mother. The Lot of Affliction connects the Moon with with crises in the life. As they are in the same degree, it would seem that the mother is connected with crisis-inducing situations in the life.
Antiscia
The antiscia chart also shows the mother linked with harm. The Moon and Mars are antiscia each other by sign. As already noted, the Saturn-Ascendant antiscia shows self-identification with the father.
Important Time Periods
Let’s change gears and look at the timing of Carpenter’s crimes and life relative to indications with ancient predictive techniques. A thorough analysis of these time periods could fill a book. I’ll keep the analysis brief to focus on just a few techniques for each year in order to investigate if factors are activated which were singled out in the delineation above. The timing of events explored is from a work-up with a timeline from Radford University.
Age 17: Molestation Conviction
The details are unclear, but by age 17, Carpenter molested two of his young cousins (ages 8 and 3). He was sentenced to the California Youth Authority.
Profection
The annual profection of the Ascendant at age 17 is to the 6th house. For Carpenter that is Taurus, occupied by the Sun, ruled by Venus. Venus is posited in the 7th house of marriage and sexuality. The public significations of the Sun, sexual themes of Venus, and themes of harm and illness of the 6th fit this period.
Solar Return
The solar return for the year sees srVenus conjunct nMars in Aries. It even has srMars with her in an applying conjunction. The srMoon in the sr12th applies to srVenus. All of these configurations further highlight the significance of Venus and give her a strong link for the year with Mars and sexual violence (Venus-Mars).
David Carpenter Age 17 Solar Return
The srAscendant is with nSaturn, ruled by Saturn, and in the bound of Venus, highlighting the natal Saturn’s themes. srSaturn is very malefic in the chart, as it is in the 8th of the return, out of sect, and strongly advances toward the Descendant. Therefore, Saturn in the chart is also highlighted in the solar return.
Secondary Progressed Moon
Using the Valens technique for secondary progressions, we pull up the chart 17 days after birth. We are particularly interested in the relationship to the natal chart.
Carpenter’s Age 17 Secondary Progressions Along Wheel
The spMoon progressed to conjoin Mars in Aries. In this we see Mars highlighted yet again. The spSun also progressed to conjoin Mercury in Gemini. Mercury rules the 10th house of reputation and we see an important event in this year in terms of developing Carpenter’s public reputation.
Primary Directions: Distributor
The distributor of the Ascendant by primary directions from ages 14-18 was Mars. In other words, the Ascendant directed through the Mars bound of Sagittarius during that period. At age 14, Carpenter was hospitalized for committing sex offenses and by age 17 he got his first sentence. Therefore, we see a confirmation that Mars in his chart is particularly linked to sexual violence.
Carpenter’s Youth Distributors of the Ascendant
Age 25: Marriage
Carpenter was married at age 25 to a 19 year old Ellen Heattle. She gave birth to their three children over the following 5 years.
Planetary Years
25 marks the activation of the Moon by planetary years. The Moon is the sect light of the chart and separates from Mercury (ruler of VII in VII) to apply to Venus (in VII). The Moon naturally signifies the mother and personal life, and here is accidentally connected with status/reputation (10th house) and marriage (Mercury-Venus in VII) among other things.
Primary Directions
The marriage was on November 5th, 1955, when Carpenter was 25.5 years old. By primary directions, Venus directed to the natal Sun within a week of the wedding.
Carpenter’s Direction of Venus to the Sun at age 25.5
Age 30: Assault and Attempted Murder
While still married, Carpenter attacks a woman. He tied her with a clothesline and tortured her with a knife and claw hammer. A military officer responds to the screams. Carpenter tries to shoot him but misses and then is shot twice by the officer. Later in the year, he is tried and sentenced to 14 years (only 8 will be served). Additionally, he is diagnosed with sociopathic personality disorder at this time.
Planetary Years
30 marks the activation of Saturn by planetary years. I have noted that Saturn is particularly associated with the father, sense of identity, and the worst malefic significations in the chart. Saturn and Mars are in an intense applying square with Saturn dominating. Saturn also signifies isolation (imprisonment).
Primary Directions
Interestingly, Saturn directs to the Ascendan while the square of Saturn (11 Libra) directs to the Moon, both at age 30. Again, the activation of Saturn reflects the native having to come to terms his actions and do hard time.
David Carpenter Age 30 Directions of Saturn
Age 39: 2nd Marriage and Multiple Rapes
Unfortunately, Carpenter was paroled after only 8 years. Less than a year later he was married to his second wife, Helen. However, less than 6 months after marriage, in late January and early February 1970, he was involved in many violent crimes. The period is of interest for its intensity with two rapes, multiple attempted rapes, stolen cars, home invasion, and kidnapping all within the span of a week. The crime spree culminated in his arrest on February 3, 1970. He also briefly escaped from jail in April. He was convicted at age 40 through a plea bargain.
Profection
His lucky break of being paroled, his marriage, and his out of control sexual aggression relate to activation of Venus and Jupiter in the chart. The profection is to the 4th house, Pisces, making Jupiter lord of the year. Jupiter is with Venus and both are influenced by Mars. Note that by Valens-style profections, it is also the case that Jupiter and Venus profect to the Moon (House of Affliction), Saturn profects to Mars, and Mars profects to its twelfth-part and the Moon (ruler of the 8th). The strong role of the benefics in the year make it a complex time – one of a release from prison, a marriage, and a sudden slew of rapes.
David Carpenter’s Birth Chart
Primary Directions: Distributor
During the release from prison, the marriage, and the rapes, Venus was the distributor of the Ascendant. Around the time that Carpenter was convicted, Saturn took over as distributor. This echoes the benefits of Venus running into the problematic sexuality of Venus, then the dark isolation of Saturn.
David Carpenter Distributors in his thirties and early forties
Solar ReturnThe solar return has echoes of many of the Venus and 7th house themes discussed. Gemini, the natal 7th house, rises in the return. Return Mercury is in Gemini conjunct natal Venus. Jupiter is advancing in the return and rules the MC (gift of status).
David Carpenter Age 39 Solar Return
However, we also see some echoes of the themes of sexual aggression. Return Mars is in the 7th of the return, 1st house of the natal chart. It is in the house of the other for the year from the house of the self in the natal chart. There is an application between srVenus and srMars echoing he natal chart. Importantly, srVenus is at 11° Aries conjunct natal Mars within 2 degrees and ruled by natal Mars. The srMoon is with nSaturn while srSaturn is with the nSun.
Transits
We know that the crimes of the year took place in a short period of time from January 27th to February 3rd of 1970. A look at the transits kicking off the crime spree reveals many interesting things.
David Carpenter 1-27-70 Transits Along Natal
The crime spree takes place during a Mars return as tMars entered Aries just a few days prior. It actually kicks off with the tMoon’s opposition to nMars. Jupiter, the lord of the year, was transiting in Scorpio, Carpenter’s 12th house, ruled by Mars. Mercury transits in Carpricorn with natal Saturn. Saturn is transiting in the 6th through the house and bound of Venus, with his malice directed along sexual dimensions. Transiting Saturn overcomes the Moon by trine, echoing the natal Moon-Saturn trine.
Arrest
The entire crime spree took place during the period between the transiting Moon’s opposition to natal Mars and her conjunction with natal Saturn. Carpenter is arrested soon after.
02/03/1970 Day of Arrest Transits
Age 49-50: Serial Killer
Sadly, Carpenter was paroled to a halfway house shortly after his birthday in 1979, after serving less than 9 years. Within months of his release he had become a serial killer. Previously, he had not killed anyone. It is believed that he killed at least 10 people between August 1979 and May of 1981. Most of his victims were women hiking along scenic trails in the San Francisco area. Many of the victims were raped. He was arrested just after his 51st birthday.
Planetary Years
Age 49 is an activation of Sun-Saturn relationships by planetary years. On its own Sun-Saturn configurations often crop up at time of death, as the Sun signifies vitality and Saturn signifies loss. As noted previously, the twelfth-parts of Saturn and the Ascendant are in Taurus with the Sun. Additionally, the Sun and Saturn are trine each other across the dark 2nd and 6th houses, with Saturn overcoming the Sun. I had noted how this configuration relates to the father as well.
David Carpenter’s Birth Chart with Twelfth-Part Positions Along Outer Wheel
Profections
Ages 49 and 50 are profections to the 2nd and 3rd houses. Therefore, Saturn was the lord of the year for both years that Carpenter was an active killer. Additionally, Saturn occupies the 2nd house, further highlighting Saturn’s significance the year the killings began.
David Carpenter’s Birth Chart
Solar Return Age 49
We see the lucky Jupiter and the aggressive sexuality highlighted in the solar return. The return has srVenus in srVII and ruling the return Ascendant. It also has srJupiter on the srMC (gift of status; release from prison). However, note that srVenus is in Aries, ruled by and occupied by nMars. Additionally, she is with srMars and srMercury, indicating aggression with intent. Additionally, we see the lunar return in the solar return, but one with srSaturn, emphasizing the Saturn-Moon relationship noted in the natal chart.
David Carpenter Age 49 Solar Return
Conclusions
I could go on and analyze each murder and the ensuing arrest. For instance, the Moon and Mars were transiting in Cancer at the time of the 1st murder. However, due to time constraints I will wrap things up.
Beyond the Superficial
The chart of David Carpenter is interesting on a number of levels. I believe it is impossible to accurately see the key associations in this life without using the twelfth-parts, lots, and other such hidden factors. Additionally, we see the importance of detailed delineation in which things like possible stations, twelfth-parts, antiscia, and the lots are checked. In fact, it may be that much of the key information in every chart is actually less apparent. Such hidden information tends to be more individualized and to indicate things that are less superficial. By contrast, easily apparent indications like dignity by sign can easily lead one astray if misinterpreted.
Additionally, we see the importance of special techniques. Unusual features of a life don’t typically stand out at face value in the natal chart. Special techniques such as that for finding unusual aggression in the chart are vital. We see additional promise with the technique of using the Lot of Boldness, as we did for James Holmes.
Confirmation through Timing Techniques
Even when delineation is difficult, we find that the principles behind the best predictive techniques can help us make sense of important events. We see repeated and reinforced activation of the relevant factors that were identified in the delineation. In fact, we can use timing techniques to test our hypotheses about the significance of certain houses and other factors in the natal chart.
For example, on a superficial level Carpenter’s Moon appears strong and even benefic. Through timing techniques and a closer look at indications involving the mother we see Virgo, the Moon’s house, crop up time and again. Many of the events are true to its role as the House of Affliction. For instance, see the lunar return with Saturn conjunct the natal Moon at the 49th solar return. Factors are often mixed in signification, and sometimes their significations can have a very broad range across positive and negative dimensions. In Carpenter’s case, the wide range of significations may be exacerbated by the mutability of signs of many factors (dualistic or vacillating).
Loose Ends
While it is grim subject matter, all astrologers should check this chart out and keep it in mind. Delineation is very difficult and we still have many unanswered questions. A big part of delineation is understanding the central tendency and spread of various factors. We compare indications, look for repeat indications, and try to come to some conclusions about the most probable possibilities. In all of this we need to know the relevant factors for a given subject matter and how to prioritize and integrate them.
As you come to refine your own art of chart interpretation, return often to this chart to test your methodology. Carpenter is a complex individual but a severely damaged and destructive one. In untangling the web of his chart one faces many tough interpretive decisions. Ultimately, we want to make the same decisions, with the same interpretive principles and priorities, with every chart. Otherwise, where shall we start with the chart of someone we don’t know?
In the last lesson, we looked at the places, a vital method of assigning topics to houses. The places assign topics to the signs, the houses of the planets, based on their order of rising after birth. The aspect system (dealt with in Lesson 5) and the symbolism of the Ascendant were used as aids in understanding the meanings of the places.
In this lesson, we turn to the lots. The lots are another critical method of assigning topics to houses. Planetary configurations and the symbolism of the Ascendant are also integral to lots.
Lots are a critical element of thorough chart delineation. Without them, we will often find that we lack the confirmation that we need in order to confident about something the natal chart appears to indicate. Equipped with the factors discussed in this and prior lessons, we will be ready to start delineating any topic from the natal chart. Guidelines for delineation will be the subject of the next lesson.
Game Plan
There is a lot of ground to cover in this lesson. Hellenistic astrologers differed considerably in the extent to which they used lots. It is likely that all Hellenistic astrologers used at least one lot, namely the Lot of Fortune. However, some notable Hellenistic astrologers used about two dozen lots. There are also lots derived from lots, places from Fortune, predictive techniques involving lots, and more.
There are two sections to this lesson. First, I’ll provide some background information to contextualize the place of the lots in astrology. This includes the history of lots and their rationale. Next, I’ll explore which lots are most important, who used them, and in what ways. I’ll be providing some quick examples of using many of the lots. Along the way I’ll also show how to calculate lots in free software and indicate some key sections of texts for further research.
Lots are typically part of a deep dive into a specific topic of the natal chart and their use in isolation is often less telling. However, due to time constraints and for the purpose of brevity, examples in this lesson will be brief. They will tend to just point out a couple interesting ways in which the lot connects with the individual’s life. However, like any single chart factor, on its own, without confirmation from other factors, we cannot proclaim what it indicates for someone’s actual life.
What’s Covered
I will specifically discuss what appears to be 10 lots. However, as we get to the the lots of Children and Marriage, we’ll see quite a few alternatives which quickly increase the number of lots we’ll be handling. The lots addressed are those of Fortune, Spirit, Love, Necessity, Affliction/Injury, Father, Mother, Siblings, Children, and Marriage. I will also provide some tips on where to look for information on additional lots.
Le Giocatrici di Astràgali by Antonio Canova (1799)
Section I: Background
Lots to Miss
Lots were commonly used in the Hellenistic and Medieval astrology but tend to be ignored in modern astrology. Even among today’s traditional astrologers, the lots do not appear to be used regularly or extensively. This is because they were marginalized in European Renaissance astrology and are ill-understood today. By contrast, they were ubiquitous in ancient astrology of the first millennium.
For the reason mentioned above, the Lot of Fortune and Daimon have great influence on undertakings and their outcomes. The former gives information about matters concerning the body and concerning the work of hands. Daimon and its ruler give information about spiritual and intellectual matters and about the activities of giving and receiving. It will be necessary to examine the places and the signs in which their houserulers are located and to correlate their natures, in order to learn the type of activity and fortune and the quality of activity <to be expected>. (Valens, Book II, Ch. 20, Riley trans., 2010, p. 35)
Early and Ubiquitous
The earliest full texts of Hellenistic astrology make reference to lots. Additionally, their authors note that the lots were discussed in their earlier, now lost, source material. Therefore, the use of the lots predates our earliest surviving Hellenistic texts. Hellenistic astrologers of the first five centuries CE who favored lots tended to use about two to three dozen of them. Lots continued to be very popular in Medieval astrology. In the Medieval Perso-Arabic astrology of al-Qabisi and Abu Ma’shar (9th-10th century) it was not unusual for astrologers to provide formulas for more than six dozen lots.
Repeating Topics and Confirmation
As with the twelfth-parts of the zodiac (another ubiquitous feature of Hellenistic astrology), the neglect of the lots leads to an incomplete picture. Without the twelfth-parts, we miss seeing the more personalized and fine-tuned planetary placements. Without the lots, we miss seeing the more personalized and fine-tuned topical assignments. The places assign topics in the same order for every chart, while the arrangement of topics by lots is particular to each chart.
The key to delineation is confirmation. Too often astrologers read one indication in the astrological chart as if it strongly indicates a specific thing in the person’s life. However, without repeat indications from similar factors in the chart, that one factor is rather insignificant. For instance, we cannot accurately judge relationship matters on the state of Venus alone. Venus, her twelfth-part, the seventh place and its lord, the relationship between the Sun and Moon, the Lot of Love, the Lot of Spirit, and some of the Lots of Marriage may all figure into the delineation.
What’s a Lot?
A lot assigns a topic to a house (i.e. a sign). This is typically done by measuring the distance in the zodiac between two points and then counting that same distance from the Ascendant to end up in a certain sign of the zodiac. That sign is the house of the lot. For instance, the sign where we find the Lot of Fortune is the House of Fortune.
Most lots take the distance from one planet to another plant, and count that distance from the Ascendant. However, some lots take the distance from a lot to another lot, a lot to a planet, a planet to a lot, or a planet to the beginning of a sign, and count that from the Ascendant. There are also some lots in which the distance is counted from another planet or point rather than the Ascendant.
Winning the Lottery by Being Born
The name “lot” evokes lotteries and drawing lots. As the lots assign topics to signs in a more indirect and haphazard manner, they are more strongly associated with apparent “chance” circumstances. It is as if the chart is a roulette wheel. Your birth marks the end of the spin. Based on the position of the Ascendant at birth, topics get dropped into different houses of your chart.
Arabic Parts
Today, the lots are often called Arabic Parts. This is due to a misunderstanding in late traditional astrology. Ptolemy’s astrology was thought to be representative of astrology of the Hellenistic period (which is incorrect). He only made use of one lot, Fortune. Therefore, it was assumed that all of the other lots were invented by the Arabs.
The association of the lots with the Arabs coupled with European prejudice against all things Arabic led to the decline of the use of the lots. Today, the places are still frequently used in some form. By contrast, the lots are rarely examined. This is a shame as both were key methods of assigning topics in Hellenistic astrology. Without the lots you will miss many of the important indications in the chart.
Finding Lots
Let’s try finding a lot. The most famous one is the Lot of Fortune, also called the Lot of the Moon. It has special significance for circumstances of the body and things of a physical or substantial nature in general. We find Fortune by taking the distance from the sect light to the non-sect light (Sun to Moon by day; Moon to Sun by night). If the Sun is above the horizon in the chart then it is the sect light. If below the horizon then the Moon is the sect light. We then follow the same distance, in the same direction, from the Ascendant. We note the degree and house where it lands.
I show this below with Fortune in the 14th Dalai Lama’s chart. Fortune is typically pictured as a circle with an X inside it. This is a treasure map reference. Find the distance from the sect light (Moon) to the non-sect light (Sun), and then project the same distance, in the same direction, from the Ascendant. In this case, Fortune falls in Taurus, the 11th place, at 10° Taurus, ruled by Venus and in the bound of Mercury.
The Dalai Lama XIV’s Natal Chart
Lots in Morinus Software
Software programs tend to use algebraic formulae for lots, which can be a bit confusing. The key to reading a formula like that is to work backwards. For instance, the formula “Asc + Moon – Sun” means take the distance from the Sun to the Moon and project it from the Ascendant. This is the day formula for Fortune.
All of the major lots discussed in this article are covered. As long as you put Fortune as Lot 1 and Spirit as Lot 2, the formulae for Love and Necessity (shown as 4 and 5 in the screenshot) should work no matter where they fall on the list. You can get to the lot entry screen by clicking Option from the menu bar and then clicking Lots.
Options > Lots
Lots and Topics
The Hellenistic lots are similar to the places. They both are means of attributing life topics to the signs of an astrological chart. Both are also of ancient origin, appearing in the early strata of Hellenistic astrology. However, the places (houses) assign topics according to the order of the rising of the signs while the lots do so by projecting the distance between factors in the chart. The lots are not used instead of the places but rather in addition to them. They bring additional topical significations to a house.
The lots are used to assign topics to houses in all branches of astrology, not just natal astrology. Dorotheus used the lots in the earliest electional astrology. Hellenistic and Persian astrologers used lots in mundane astrology. Lots were used in horary astrology from the beginning. In fact, Dorotheus used the Lot of Fortune as a symbol of lost property in inceptional astrology in the 1st century CE.
How to Use the Lots
In the last two lessons, we explored the way in which planets modify the significations of other planets and houses. This happens through planetary relationships by rulership and configuration. To review, a planet in a house has a direct influence on the characterization of the house. Planets regarding the house will have varying degrees of influence. Influence is stronger from the right side (i.e. the one further clockwise), especially right side squares. Similarly, a house (and planets in it) will be influenced by and somewhat dependent upon the rulers of the house.
Delineate Like the Places
While the degree of the actual lot can be significant, lots are best analyzed like the places. In fact, as with the places, houses are named for the topic of their lot. Firmicus Maternus (4th century CE) introduced a coupled dozen lots in Ch. XXXII of Book VI of his Mathesis. Each lot in that chapter is referred to not as a lot or a part, but as a house. In this way, there is a house of the father assigned by the places (the 4th house) while there is another more particular house of the father assigned by the lot.
If you want to collect the House of the Father by the method of degrees, and it is a diurnal nativity, you should compute the whole number of degrees from the degree of the Sun up to the degree of Saturn, viz. of all the signs which are from the Sun up to Saturn, and when you have made the complete sum of the number, then beginning from the degree of the ASC, you will divide that number, which was obtained, among all the signs, assigning thirty degrees to the individual signs; and in that sign in which the last degree has fallen, that same sign shows you the House of the Father. (Maternus, Book VI, Ch. XXXII, Holden trans., 2011, p. 387-388)
Rulers and Aspects Revisited
Review the discussion about the delineation of the places in the last lesson as well as the lesson on configurations. Rulership and aspects from the lights are indicative of power. Benefics indicate benefits and malefics adversity. A planet in a house will have a more direct bearing on matters of the house. The rulers will show responsibility and support, so they can contextualize and indicate stability or lack of it. It is best to see the rulers of the lot strengthened. A weakened or malefic ruler, or hard aspects from malefics, bring difficulty. The nature of the sign is also important, as discussed in the lesson on the signs.
For example, an out of sect Mars in the house of Fortune would signify adverse material circumstances. If the same Fortune and Mars are dominated by Jupiter (i.e. Jupiter squares from the right side) then this signifies positively regarding material circumstances. In such a case, one indication may be that an activation of Mars can directly upset the health or other material circumstances. A subsequent activation of Jupiter may intervene to set things back on good footing.
neither the tropic nor the solid nor the bicorporeal signs will have the same overall effects. It is therefore necessary to examine the aspects or the conjunctions of the stars relative to the Lot: for example, a benefic in conjunction or in aspect with the Lot will be a sign of good and a giver of property. A destructive star <in conjunction or in aspect> will be responsible for loss of goods and sickness of the body. (Valens, Book II, Ch. 18, Riley trans., 2010, p. 34)
The Place of the Lot
Some Hellenistic astrologers also looked at the place occupied by the lot. For instance, Dorotheus considered Fortune in the difficult 6th or 12th house to be particularly bad. He noted it as an indication of slavery (Book I, Ch. 10) and poverty (Book, I, Ch. 28). Valens similarly associated difficulty with a lot in a bad place or a cadent one.
First of all it is necessary to determine the Lot of Fortune and to see in what part of the cosmos it is located: at an angle, just following an angle, or just preceding an angle. Likewise look for the ruler of the Lot. If it is in the Ascendant during the day or is in some other operative place, with the sun, the moon, or benefics in aspect, it will make the native noble, distinguished, and fortunate. Its effects are more moderate when it is found at the other angles or just following an angle. When it precedes an angle, assume <the nativity to be>
stillborn or abandoned—these are the disagreeable places which bring crises and ruin. (Valens, Book II, Ch. 18, Riley trans. 2010, p. 34)
Notes on Using the Place of the Lot
To begin with, use the place significations only in terms of power (the stakes), good (good places), and bad (dark places). Keep indications from getting too muddled by holding off on combining the topic of the lot with the topic of its place. However, as you get more experienced with using lots, you will find times when the lot topic does connect significantly with the topic of the place.
Side Note on Lot Place in Elections
Dorotheus also used the place of Fortune in elections regarding legal cases (Book V, Ch. 34). Fortune in I or II indicated success in the matter to the one seeking (plaintiff). Fortune in VII or VIII indicated success to the one sought (defendant). In this usage one sees a combination of the material indications of Fortune with those of the I (self) and VII (other) and their succeedent houses.
Predicting with Lots
One of the most effective ways to use the Lots in predictive work is to profect them. In fact, Vettius Valens (2nd century) provided extensive commentary on how to analyze profected lots. For more on this see my article on Valens-style profections and my article on the four principal lots of Valens. Lots are also used in solar returns, transits, planetary years, and other predictive techniques in a manner similar to the places.
Lots in Mundane Astrology
One reason the number of lots greatly multiplied in the Medieval period is the increased interest in mundane astrology. Mundane prediction can involve using lots specific to particular weather patterns, commodities, and political activities in charts of equinoxes, solstices, and lunations. For more on the mundane use of lots see the Astrology of the World series of translations by Ben Dykes.
Names Can be Misleading
The key to using lots rests in understanding what they signify. In order to do this, you need to be familiar with the ways that the ancient astrologers used the lots. Studying source texts and comparing what different astrologers said about an identical lot is the best means of doing this.
Often multiple lots go by the same name. Sometimes the different lots actually signify different but related things. In that case, it helps to look at the way astrologers actually used each lot. However, sometimes there’s a difference of opinion among astrologers as to the best lot to use for a specific topic. In such a case, you must come to your own conclusion about which lot is best for a topic through experience with the lots. There are also times when the same lot is used by different astrologers but they appear to be different due to a writing or scribal error.
Example: Love and Necessity
Take for example the lots of Love and Necessity. Valens (2nd century CE) heavily stressed the importance of these lots. The Lot of Love also appeared in excerpts of material attributed to Dorotheus. However, in the 4th century, Paulus Alexandrinus (4th century CE) used different Love and Necessity lots (i.e. different formulas) said to come from a (now lost) text by Hermes. Firmicus Maternus (4th century CE) also used lots for Love and Necessity, which are consistent with the Valens lots but have reversed formulas. The Maternus case is likely due to a scribal error, as he reversed many lots including the Lot of Spirit in the same text. Later medieval astrologers tended to adopt the Love and Necessity lots used by Valens despite awareness of those of Paulus.
Therefore, we have a situation of two different sets of lots for Love and Necessity, as well as formula variants for one of the sets. By reading only the later Hellenistic astrologers, Paulus and Maternus, we could end up with lots that are unusual (and less effective) or those with reversed formulas. Through an analysis of the earlier authors (Valens and Dorotheus) and of Medieval authors, we come to understand the more typical of the alternatives and the correct formula.
Start Small
Too many astrologers try to use lots based on their names alone. Software programs can dump every conceivable lot onto a chart. It is tempting to do so and let the names guide the way. However, the names often do not adequately capture the significations of the lot, so please avoid this approach.
Start with a manageable set of 4-12 lots for general chart work. Reserve other lots for deep analysis of specific topic areas. In this article, I’ll provide you with information on the most important lots of Hellenistic astrology.
Understanding Lot Formulas
It can be helpful to understand how lots relate to the significations of the planets and why the order can matter. Chris Brennan’s paper “The Theoretical Rationale Underlying the Seven Hermetic Lots” (2010) explores the rationale of lot construction. He does this by examining the “Seven Hermetic Lots of the Planets” as discussed by Paulus (4th century CE).
Brennan (2010) focused on these planetary lots in his analysis. I don’t address the use of most of these lots in this article because they are not as significant. However, Brennan’s paper on the rationale of these lots is required reading for serious students of the lots. This is because the patterns Brennan explored are relevant to understanding the rationale behind many lots used in Hellenistic astrology.
The Approached Planet
The Lot of the Sun (Spirit) by day is from the Moon to the Sun. Notice that it is named for the approached planet. Also, it is from the non-sect light to the sect light; from darkness to light. The Lot of the Moon (Fortune) by day is from the Sun (sect light) to the Moon (non-sect light). It is from light to darkness. The Lot of the Sun has to do with “lighter” topics as well, things of a mental or social nature. Physical and tangible matters are signified by the Lot of the Moon. The planet one moves toward in these cases has a greater sense of finality or importance.
Associative Clusters
The lots of the other 5 planets also display an interesting rationale. Brennan (2010) explained that the lots of the benefic planets involve the benefic and Lot of the Sun. Those of the malefic planets (and Mercury) involve the malefic (or Mercury) and the Lot of the Moon. In this way, the more active and mental Lot of the Sun relates more to the nature of the benefics. By contrast, the more passive and physical Lot of the Moon relates more to the malefics. This shows two sets of loose associations. There is on the one hand an association between day, sect, the benefics, and more mental and social circumstances. On the other hand, night, being out of sect, the malefics, and more physical and tangible circumstances coalesce.
Ancient dice and game pieces from the Museo de Albacete, Spain.
Section II: The Most Important Lots
There are dozens of lots mentioned in Hellenistic texts. Where does one begin? The number of lots can be overwhelming. It can also be confusing when there are alternative lots which pertain to the same or similar topics. About two dozen lots were popular in the Hellenistic period. Most of them pertain to family members and more general significations about life. Those lots continued to be used routinely in later Medieval astrology. We will focus on the most important of those lots.
A Note on Lot Formulas
In what follows, I will refer to the formula of a lot as “from A to B”. Unless otherwise noted, this means that the lot is taken from point A to point B by day, with the reverse distance taken by night. The distance is always projected from the Ascendant to find the place of the lot, unless otherwise noted. In other words, “From A to B” projected from the Ascendant is the “diurnal” formula for the lot.
Fortune: From Sun to Moon
The Lot of Fortune is mentioned in the earliest Hellenistic texts, including Manilius and Dorotheus (1st century CE). Techniques involving Fortune were well-established in earlier now-lost foundational texts which early astrologers reference.
To my knowledge, all of the Hellenistic astrologers used Fortune. It is the most widespread lot. The only texts that seem to lack its mention are some that are fragments and some focused on a specific special topic. For instance, the Treatise on the Fixed Stars by Anonymous of 379 may not have mentioned Fortune (though an explanatory annotation to the text does mention it).
Sources
Manilius used only Fortune and eleven other “lots” which are actually the places relative to Fortune (Astronomicon, Book III, 77-202). Dorotheus of the same century used Fortune throughout Carmen (see Book I, Ch. 28). Valens (2nd century) used Fortune throughout the Anthology (see Book II, Ch. 3).
Ptolemy (2nd century) expressed a disdain for lots in the Tetrabiblos (Book III, Ch. 3) but still used Fortune for the delineation of a few matters (Book III, Ch. 4-5 & esp. Book IV, Ch. 2). Porphyry’s Introduction to the Tetrabiblos (3rd century) included Fortune as a significant factor when finding the chart ruler (Ch. 30) and in judging physical ailments (Ch. 50).
Firmicus Maternus (4th century) used Fortune throughout Mathesis (see Book IV, Ch. 17). Paulus Alexandrinus of the same century used Fortune in a few places in Introductory Matters (see Ch. 23), including analyses of occupation (Ch. 26) and length of life (Ch. 36).
Hephaistion of Thebes (5th century) used Fortune throughout Book II of the Apotelesmatics (see Ch. 11). Rhetorius (7th century) used Fortune throughout his Compendium (see Ch. 47-48).
Formula and Variations
The typical formula for the Lot of Fortune is from the Sun to the Moon, projected from the Ascendant. That formula is clearly evident in Manilius, Dorotheus, Valens, Ptolemy, Paulus, Maternus, and Rhetorius (example charts at end of Compendium). This formula is also typically reversed by night, though Ptolemy did not reverse it.
There are some conflicting accounts and confusing passages in some Hellenistic authors, namely Serapio, Valens, and Hephaistion. Valens noted that the source for Fortune’s formula came from a particularly confusing passage in a text attributed to Nechepso. Therefore, some of the conflicting accounts may have arisen from the lack of clarity in the source text. However, the most commonly used formula, reversed by night, was already clearly and thoroughly expressed early in the 1st century in Manilius (Book III, #176-202) and Dorotheus (Book I, Ch. 28, #11-12).
Meaning and Use
Of all the lots, Fortune has a meaning that is most closely associated with the Ascendant (1st Place) and its significations of the body and personal circumstance. For instance, it figures strongly in Hellenistic treatments of longevity, upbringing, illness, overall chart ruler, and professional aptitude. However, there are some ways in which its significations differs from those of the 1st Place. The 1st Place does figure into character and personality, whereas Fortune typically does not. Also, Fortune is a significant factor in the delineation of wealth and property, as well as status, matters typically related more to the 2nd and 10th Places. It is also called the Lot of the Moon, connecting it with the Moon’s importance and sense of physicality. The common denominator to all significations is material circumstance.
Hellenistic Astrologers on the Lot of Fortune
Dorotheus used Fortune for the start of life (Book I, Ch. 4), bodily development (Book I, Ch. 9), and longevity (Book III, Ch. 2). These uses are consistent with Fortune’s connection with the body and health. He also used Fortune in looking at slavery (Book I, Ch. 10) and particularly in relation to material fortune, assets, and personal property (see Book I, Ch. 28; also inceptions Book V, Ch. 34 & 36). These uses reflect Fortune’s other primary significations of wealth and personal property. These are the primary associations of Fortune which persisted throughout the Hellenistic and Medieval periods.
The Part of Fortune shows the quality of life, the amount of inheritance, and the course of good and bad fortune. Also love and the affection of men toward women, the effects of child-care, and all desires. It shows the fatherland in an easy way. Abram called in the Place of the Moon. (Maternus, Book IV, Ch. 17, Bram trans., p. 136)
And Fortune signifies all things about the body and actions throughout life. It becomes indicative of acquisition, reputation, and privilege. (Paulus, Ch. 23, Greenbaum trans., p. 42)
Places Relative to Fortune in Valens
The similarity between Fortune and the Ascendant is evident in a number of authors. Fortune often comes up as a type of lesser Ascendant in signification. For instance, Dorotheus mentioned that if the triplicity lord of the Ascendant were weak by place (in the 12th, 6th, or 3rd) then one should look to the triplicity lord of Fortune for the matter of upbringing (Carmen, Book I, Ch. 4).
The Lot of Fortune and The Ascendant <I> life and livelihood (Valens, Anthology, Book II, Ch. 16, Riley trans., p. 30)
The use of Fortune as an alternative Ascendant sees its strongest expression in the Anthology of Vettius Valens. Valens gave Fortune and the Ascendant the same signification at one point (see quote above). He also delineated the ruler of the Ascendant and that of Fortune in one section giving them the same indications (Book II, Ch. 4). Additionally, he used places derived from Fortune with a meaning similar to those from the Ascendant. For instance, the 11th place from Fortune is called Accomplishment or Acquisition pertaining to good fortune with property and gifts (natal 11th pertains to good social circumstances). Furthermore, the 8th from Fortune is used for delineating the manner of death.
Stakes of Fortune
Valens also considered the “stakes” of Fortune to be very important places, much like the stakes of the 1st Place. These stakes of Fortune were used in predictive techniques like Zodiacal Releasing as particularly active signs of the chart. In a more opaque passage, Valens stated that the stakes of the Ascendant were the cosmic ones while those of Fortune were the natal ones. My understanding is that Valens considered Fortune even more important than the Ascendant in that it is more particular to the individual.
In addition, after finding the Place which has been assigned to Fortune, examine the points square with it and the other aspects, just as with the angles in the natal chart. The Lot itself will be equivalent to the Ascendant and will mean “Life;” the tenth place from it will be equivalent to MC and will mean “Rank;” the seventh will be the Descendant; the fourth IC. The other places will have the same effects as the <original> XII Places. Some astrologers have mystically hypothesized that the astronomical Ascendant and the points square with it are the Cosmic Angles, while the Lot and the points square with it are the Natal Angles […] (Valens, Anthology, Book II, Ch. 18, Riley trans., p. 34)
Notes on Fortune-Derived Places
While the stakes of any position were influential on the position in Hellenistic astrology, the use of derived places from Fortune is atypical. Manilius assigned lots relative to Fortune, but these have very different significations from the places from the Ascendant (see below). In practice Valens did not seem to use specific significations of the places from Fortune much apart from the 8th and 11th. As far as I know, only Rhetorius, following Valens, also advocated the use of some places derived from Fortune, such as Acquisition (11th from Fortune).
Typically, Fortune has a distinct but related meaning from the Ascendant and is of a lesser importance when compared with the Ascendant. I don’t advocate treating the places from Fortune as having the same effects as with those from the Ascendant. However, I do use them when I’m applying techniques from Valens that employ them.
Manilius and Lots from Fortune
Manilius assigned a topic to every place relative to Fortune. Though these places are called lots by Manilius and have meanings unique to him. The meanings assigned to the places relative to Fortune in Manilius are given in Book III of the Astronomicon. I briefly summarize the significations below.
Fortune – home and property
2nd from Fortune – warfare
3rd from Fortune – business, friends and associates
4th from Fortune – relationship with the law and politics
5th from Fortune – marriage
6th from Fortune – financial resources and stability
7th from Fortune – grim danger
8th from Fortune – social status and fame
9th from Fortune – children and parenting
10th from Fortune – character, tradition, and custom
11th from Fortune – strength and health (of paramount importance)
12th from Fortune – the fruit of our labors
Example
On its own, Fortune is not a good indicator for wealth or health. As part of special techniques for delineating each topic it has its place though. However, even without a deep dive into the general state of those topics, Fortune can be used as a predictive factor. The predictive use of Fortune is very useful in relation to chance occurrences involving the body and/or finances. The key here when looking at Fortune is not to judge the overall wealth or success based on Fortune, but to note the pleasant and difficult associations of Fortune by configuration.
Overall wealth or success is a very complex matter to delineate and pertains strongly to the fixed stars, the lights, and additional factors, more so than the Lot of Fortune. For instance, while Fortune in the 12th was said to indicate slavery, Ted Turner has Fortune in the 12th and is a billionaire.
Ted Turner’s Natal Chart (AA-rated birth time)
MC Hammer
MC Hammer (AA-rated birth time) has had a successful but particularly topsy-turvy financial history. Hammer’s Fortune is in great shape overall as it is in the 11th place (a good place), its ruler is a benefic in a good strong place and in phasis (Venus in the 10th), and Jupiter (the sect benefic) also regards the lot from the right side. However, we see multiple indications of threats to Fortune also. Mars is the out of sect malefic and most closely aspects the degree of the lot from the right side, albeit by sextile. However, Mars is also the ruler of the Sun and Venus in the 10th (which pertain to artistic honors). Saturn dominates the lot from a relatively close right side square in the 8th house (Aquarius).
The twelfth-part of Saturn (outside of the wheel) is also in the House of Fortune, while the twelfth-part of Mars is square the House of Fortune from the 2nd House of money. Additionally, the twelfth-part of Jupiter is conjunct natal Mars. Therefore, the twelfth-parts confirm the danger to Fortune from Mars and Saturn.
MC Hammer’s Natal Chart with Twelfth-Parts
Shortly after Hammer’s 27th birthday (1989) he signed a multi-record deal that was to make him millions over the next few years. However, by 1996, at age 34 things had taken a drastic turn for the worse. Hammer had overextended himself and was forced to file for bankruptcy. Additionally, he didn’t pay his taxes that year (and the next). The tax burden from that year would continue to haunt him over the next 15 years, as the government filed suit against him for it in 2011.
Distributors of Fortune
There are many approaches to those years in his life. We have not yet explored the use of predictive techniques in this series of lessons, but I would like to highlight one interesting predictive use of Fortune. In my article on the use of distributors in early primary directions, I discussed how different planets were activated as time lords by primary directions in Hellenistic astrology. Directing the Ascendant through the bounds is the most traditional approach, but other significant points in the chart were also directed through the bounds, including the Lot of Fortune. By directing Fortune through the bounds, a planet becomes the active time lord pertaining to Fortune for the period. A table of the time lords from 1984 to the present can be found below.
Hammer – Fortune Distributors
We see that the build up to the record deal and its signing occurred during a time when Jupiter was the distributor of Fortune. His peak success and peak income came when Venus was the distributor of Fortune. However, he faced some serious financial setbacks and consequences (including bankruptcy and tax problems) when Mars was the distributor. Interestingly, some of those problems resurfaced when Mars was distributor again (from late 2009 to mid 2017) in 2011 when he was sued by the government for his unpaid taxes.
As noted, Mars is the out of sect malefic. It not only most closely aspects Fortune but it also opposes the 2nd Place, has its twelfth-part in the 2nd Place, and connects with Jupiter in multiple ways. Has Mars really made Hammer poor during its periods? No. Hammer has lived a privileged life throughout the ordeal, which is why his bankruptcy had to be a Chapter 11 rather than a Chapter 7. However, the fact that Mars is an out of sect malefic and associates readily with money matters makes it a key planet to watch when problems crop up.
Spirit: From Moon to Sun
The Lot of Spirit is also called the Lot of Daimon (or Daemon), Lot of Religion, Lot of Faith, Lot of the Sun, and Lot of Absence. The Lot of Spirit is well established in many early Hellenistic texts, including Dorotheus (1st century CE) and Valens (2nd century CE). It was used by most of the notable Hellenistic astrologers.
The formula is from the Moon to the Sun, projected from the Ascendant (reversed by night). It is the inverse of that for the Lot of Fortune. The formula is consistent across sources, though Maternus has unintentional inversions of many lots including Spirit. These inversions are clearly errors as Maternus has Fortune and Spirit with identical formulas which would not make sense for his delineations.
Sources
Dorotheus of the same century used the Lot of Religion on a similar footing as Fortune in delineation of bodily development (Carmen, Book I, Ch. 9). Interestingly, Dorotheus also used it in synastry, where having Spirit in the same sign across charts is seen as an indication of harmony and suitability (Book II, Ch. 5).
Valens (2nd century) considered Daimon to be one of the 4 lots which are powerful enough to make a sign an “effective” sign of the chart (see Book IV, Ch. 11). He used Spirit throughout the Anthology and often as the more social and mental counter-part to Fortune. For instance, one of the predictive techniques of Valens, now called Zodiacal Releasing, involves moving Fortune and Spirit through the zodiac (see Book IV, Ch. 4). Valens also called the lot, “Intelligence” (Book II, Ch. 9), and “second Fortune” (Book II, Ch. 15), names which make clear its mental association and its importance.
Abram
This use of Spirit as a counter-part to Fortune may have originated with an astrologer named Abram. Firmicus Maternus (4th century) introduced Daemon right after his introduction to Fortune (Mathesis, Book IV, Ch. 18). He noted that it was known by Abram as the Lot of the Sun and is of similar importance as the Lot of the Moon (Fortune). Paulus Alexandrinus (4th century) also referred to Spirit as the Lot of the Sun and considered it in relation to character and capability (Introductory Matters, Ch. 23).
Others
Spirit also has bit parts in other early astrological texts and some later ones. For instance, Porphyry’s Introduction to the Tetrabiblos (3rd century) included Spirit in judging ailments (Ch. 50), along with the lots of Fortune and Injury. Rhetorius (7th century) also used Spirit for some physical ailments (Ch. 4; Ch. 14).
Meaning and Use
Like Fortune, Spirit has a meaning that is associated with the Ascendant (1st Place) but particularly its significations of the character and capability. These significations were sometimes more associated with its house ruler of the 1st than the place itself. Spirit figures into Hellenistic treatments of character, temperament, and professional aptitude. It also sometimes figures into the analysis of bodily ailments, and even for mental ailments (in Valens). The common denominator to all significations is mental and social circumstance, though with possible consequences for health as well. In the Middle Ages, the associations with the soul, intentions, and body persisted.
Hellenistic Astrologers on the Lot of Spirit
Our best early sources for exploring Spirit are Valens, Maternus, and Paulus who all linked it with the mind and character.
Daimon mental activity (Valens, Book II, Ch. 16, Riley trans., p. 30)
For the reason mentioned above, the Lot of Fortune and Daimon have great influence on undertakings and their outcomes. The former gives information about matters concerning the body and concerning the work of hands. Daimon and its ruler give information about spiritual and intellectual matters and about the activities of giving and receiving. It will be necessary to examine the places and the signs in which their houserulers are located and to correlate their natures, in order to learn the type of activity and fortune and the quality of activity <to be expected>. (Valens, Book II, Ch. 20, Riley trans., p. 35)
This place is also called the essence of the soul; from this place we find professions and material goods; it shows the affection of women toward men. But also this place shows the fatherland clearly. (Maternus, Book IV, Ch. 18, Bram trans., p. 137)
Spirit happens to be the lord of soul, temper, sense and every capability, and there are times when it cooperates in the reckoning about what one does. (Paulus, Ch. 23, Greenbaum, p. 42)
Rhetorius also notably used Spirit for character analysis.
But if the Lot of the Daemon falls in Capricorn, it makes the native forbearing and changeable, but if in Aries or Leo or Scorpio irascible and stubborn. (Rhetorius, Ch. 48, Holden trans., p. 27)
Example
For an example of the use of Spirit in delineation and prediction, see my article on the four principal lots of Valens. In that article, I provided an example of Spirit in the chart of the 14th Dalai Lama.
Love: From Fortune to Spirit
The Lot of Love is also called the Lot of Eros, Lot of Desire, Lot of the 7th, and Lot of Venus. The Lot of Love is not the third most common lot of Hellenistic astrology, but appears third on this list as it is one of 4 lots which Valens considered most effective. It is probably present in Dorotheus (more on that below) but is clearest in Valens and Maternus.
The formula is from Fortune to Spirit, projected from the Ascendant (reversed by night). The formula is found in Valens, but is inverted in Maternus. As noted, Maternus has unintentional inversions of many lots. Paulus provided a different Lot of Eros (from Spirit to Venus) attributed to Hermes which was not as widespread. The Valens lot prevailed in the later Middle Ages.
Note that the inverse of this lot is the Lot of Necessity. Necessity has a special relationship with the Lot of Love and together with it and Fortune and Spirit, rounds out the 4 lots which Valens noted as “effective” houses. I explore all four lots and how they relate to each other in the article on the four principal lots of Valens.
Sources
Dorotheus made a reference to the Lot of the 7th in relation to configurations indicating that one’s death will involve friends (Carmen, Book IV, Ch. 3). In an excerpt attributed to Dorotheus (Excerpts XVI, #6; from Hephaistion), it is noted that the rulers of Eros are representative of one’s friends and the same formula is given for Eros as is found in Valens. These uses by Dorotheus are interesting because friendship and alliances are important associations of the lot.
Valens (2nd century) considered Love to be one of the 4 principal lots (including also Fortune, Spirit, and Necessity) which are powerful enough to make a sign an “effective” sign of the chart (see Book IV, Ch. 11). Its importance is also highlighted by its inclusion in the chapter naming the places, of which the only lots are the 4 principal lots (Book II, Ch. 16). Similarly, when discussing profections, he specifically advised to also profect the 4 principal lots (Book IV, Ch. 11 & Ch. 25).
Firmicus Maternus (4th century) referred to the lot as the House of Desires (Mathesis, Book VI, Ch. 32). Hephaistion claimed that Dorotheus used the “Lot of Eros” for synastry, but Hephaistion doesn’t define it (Book II, Ch. 23). Rhetorius (7th century) discussed a Lot of Venus or Love, but like most of his lots, he didn’t formulate it, so it’s unclear which Love was referred to (Ch. 47).
Meaning and Use
Love’s significations are most strongly connected to those of the 7th Place and to Venus. It pertains to desire, friendship, enjoyable alliances, and the arts. We see this in the use by Dorotheus (especially via Hephaistion) of the lot for matters concerning friends and synastry. Hephaistion also stated that sympathy between signs of equal ascension in synastry is stronger if this lot is found in those sympathetic signs across charts. For instance, Love in Pisces in the man’s chart and in Aries in the woman’s (or vice-versa) is an indication of harmony as the signs are sympathetic by equal ascension.
Love’s strong association with desire is present in Valens and Maternus. It was used in delineating sexuality (nature of desire, homosexuality, etc.) as well as friendship and what one does for pleasure (past time). In the late Middle Ages, it retained all of these associations. It is the most important lot for the delineation of relationship matters.
Hellenistic Astrologers on the Lot of Love
Our best early sources for exploring Love are Valens and Maternus. Maternus only noted it pertaining to all types of desires. Valens briefly defined Love as pertaining to desire, but best described it when discussing profections.
Love transmitting or receiving in operative signs, with benefics in conjunction or aspect, brings about moral desires and makes men lovers of the good: some turn to education and physical or artistic training; they are softened by their delight in their hopes and they do not consider their forethought/goal a matter of difficulty<?>. Others are enchanted by love and intimacy with men and women, and they consider <this life> to be good. Mars and Mercury in aspect or in conjunction with this place (especially if they are in their own signs) make homosexuals, men criticized <for affairs> with both sexes, or those who are fond of weapons, hunting, or wrestling. Venus <in aspect or conjunction brings> intimacy with women; men when loved will sometimes love in return.
In the same way each star, when allotted this place <Love>, when in aspect, or when receiving the chronocratorship, will bring about the type of desire appropriate to its nature. In general, if malefics are in conjunction or aspect, desires will result in torment, penalties, and danger. Specifically, if Saturn is in conjunction or aspect with Venus and the moon, men will have shameful and unnatural loves, will be criticized for affairs with men and women, will suffer under scandal, or (even though repenting) will return to their old practices, overcome by passion. If Jupiter is also in aspect, what happens will be respectable, powerful, or religious. But if Mars and Mercury are in conjunction or aspect, or are receiving the chronocratorship, men will love wicked, criminal deeds: they become forgers, robbers, burglars, gamblers, and have a savage character. If Venus is also in aspect, they become poisoners, lechers, suicides, and so (according to the applicable chronocrator) they are entangled in loans, debts, and villainy, experience imprisonment and trials, and live in danger. This place is strong in many respects, and so pay much attention to it. (Valens, Book IV, Ch. 25, Riley trans., p. 90)
Example
For an example of the use of Love in delineation and prediction, see my article on the four principal lots of Valens. In that article, I provided an example of Love in an anonymous chart and that of Bill Clinton.
Necessity: From Spirit to Fortune
The Lot of Necessity is also called the Lot of Mercury. In the last Middle Age, it was sometimes also known as the Lot of Poverty or of Small-mindedness. The Lot of Necessity is the counter-part to the Lot of Love. It is also not among the most common lots of Hellenistic astrology, but appears fourth on this list as it is one of 4 lots which Valens considered most effective. It doesn’t appear to have been mentioned by Dorotheus but it was significant for Valens and Maternus.
The formula is from Spirit to Fortune, projected from the Ascendant (reversed by night). The formula is found in Valens, but is inverted in Maternus. As noted, Maternus has unintentional inversions of many lots. Paulus provided a different Lot of Necessity (from Mercury to Fortune) attributed to Hermes which was not as widespread. The Valens lot prevailed in the later Middle Ages.
Note that the inverse of this lot is the Lot of Love to which it is related. Necessity and Love, together with Fortune and Spirit, are the four principal lots of Valens.
Sources
Valens (2nd century) considered Necessity to be powerful enough to make a sign an “effective” sign of the chart (see Book IV, Ch. 11). Its importance is also highlighted by its inclusion in the chapter naming the places, of which the only lots are the 4 principal lots (Book II, Ch. 16). Similarly, when discussing profections, he specifically advised to also profect the 4 principal lots (Book IV, Ch. 11 & Ch. 25).
Firmicus Maternus (4th century) referred to the lot as the House of Necessity (Mathesis, Book VI, Ch. 32). However, Maternus says nothing of the meaning of the lot when introduced. Later, in Book VII, Ch. 24, Maternus reveals that it pertains to the fairness of sentencing in legal proceedings.
Rhetorius (7th century) discussed a Lot of Mercury or Necessity pertaining to war, anguish, hatred, and legal sentences (Ch. 47). However, like most of his lots, he didn’t formulate it, so it’s not clear which Necessity was referred to.
Meaning and Use
Necessity’s significations are most strongly connected to more negative associations of the 7th Place to challengers and open enemies, as well as to the 12th Place’s associations with enemies. It is also linked with Mercury. It pertains to how one deals with competitors, challengers, enemies, and other adversaries. When it is in a good state it shows a general state of prevailing in disputes and competitions, as well as fair treatment by the law. When it is in particularly bad state then it can show attack from enemies, condemnation, legal ruin, and unfair treatment by the authorities. Its associations with hatred, contentions, and legal troubles persisted in the late Middle Ages. While Love pertains to relationships we pursue, Necessity pertains to those relationships we have to deal with which we’d rather avoid.
Hellenistic Astrologers on the Lot of Necessity
As noted, Maternus only noted Necessity in relation to fair treatment in court cases. Valens briefly defined Necessity as pertaining to enemies, but best described it when discussing profections.
Necessity transmitting or receiving in operative signs, with benefics in conjunction or aspect, brings family ties, associations with the great, and the downfall or deaths of enemies. If malefics are in conjunction, it brings lawsuits, judgements, and expenses. As a result men fail in their goals and live miserably. If the configuration is afflicted, men are condemned or ruined. (Valens, Book IV, Ch. 25, Riley trans., p. 90)
Note on Basis
While I don’t consider it one of the most important lots to consider, it is worth noting that either Love or Necessity will also be the Lot of Basis. Namely, whichever of Love or Necessity is below the horizon, this lot will be Basis. Valens discussed a Lot of Basis which pertains to personal power and leadership skills. Basis is examined with Fortune and Spirit, and another lot, the Lot of Exaltation. When these lots and their rulers occupy each other’s places it indicates personal power and social mobility. In the late Middle Ages, Basis was identified as being identical to Love and said to pertain to the physical appearance.
Example
For an example of the use of Necessity in delineation and prediction, see my article on the four principal lots of Valens. In that article, I provided an example of Necessity in the chart of Bill Clinton.
Affliction: From Saturn to Mars
The Lot of Affliction is also called the Lot of Injury, Lot of Chronic Illness, Lot of Accusation, or Crisis-Producing Place. I call it the Lot of Affliction after a translation of Rhetorius (by Holden) as that name seems to best encapsulate the many malefic associations of the lot. Its use was moderately widespread in Hellenistic astrology. It is most closely associated with the themes of the malefics and the 6th and 12th Places.
The formula is from the malefic in sect to the one out of sect (i.e. Saturn to Mars, reversed by night), projected from the Ascendant. The movement from the sect malefic to the malefic out of sect evokes a sense of going from bad to worse. Its formula is consistent in Hellenistic astrology. Associations with physical injury persisted in the Middle Ages, and the lot was also used as a Lot of Enemies. However, some of its other associations became tied to a Lot of Origin and the Oppressive Place which were projected from Mercury rather than the Ascendant.
Sources
Dorotheus (1st century) called it the “Lot of Chronic Illness” and judged the area of the chronic illness by the sign occupied by the ruler of the lot (Book IV, Ch. 2, #11-12). Maternus (4th century) similarly used the lot for delineating and predicting physical ailments and defects (Book VI, Ch. 32). The same technique was also discussed by Hephaistion (5th century; Book II, Ch. 14) and Rhetorius (7th century; Ch. 14 & 61).
Valens (2nd century) considered Affliction to pertain to crises and dangers of many sorts (Book V, Ch. 1). His lot name may be translated as the Causal Lot, the Lot of Accusation, or the Crisis-Producing Place. In addition, to his Dorothean use of the lot for health, Rhetorius also followed Valens in a discussion of the “Lot of the House of Afflictions” (Ch. 129, Holden trans.). In that discussion, Rhetorius associated the lot with general peril and danger, including exile.
Meaning and Use
The Lot of Affliction pertains most strongly to the most dangerous and difficult of circumstances. Traditional astrologers typically would look to the malefics and the 6th and 12th Places to better understand difficulty and unpleasantness. Affliction is particularly important because it can indicate harsh circumstances which are not otherwise obvious. The sign, its ruler, and the influences on the sign can help us to understand particularly touchy areas in life as well as potential health problems. Malefics afflicting this house and/or its ruler can show significant dangers. Benefics associating with this house can show considerable capability in handling crises.
Hellenistic Astrologers on the Lot of Affliction
In relation to injury, Dorotheus provided a succinct approach which was elaborated upon by Maternus, Hephaistion, and Rhetorius.
There were men among the ancient scientists who calculated by day from Saturn to Mars and by night from Mars to Saturn, then they cast their number from the ascendent; wherever their counting reached or the number was used up, they saw what was the lord of that sign, then they said to what limb of the body this sign belonged, then they predicted that the chronic illness [would be] in such and such a limb of the body according to what was named fro that sign. Aries is the head, Taurus the neck, Gemini the two shoulders, Cancer the two hands and the chest, Leo the two sides and the heart, Virgo the belly and the tube of the back [spine], Libra the bladder which is between the two hips, Scorpio the male [organ] and the two testicles and the buttocks, Sagittarius the two thighs together, Capricorn the two knees, Aquarius the two shanks, [and] Pisces the two feet. (Dorotheus, Book IV, Ch. 1, #75-76, Pingree trans., p. 251)
Valens provided a good exposition of the associations of the lot with general danger.
With this having been established, it is necessary to prove by experience <the effectiveness of> still another place which I will demonstrate most abundantly: this is the Crisis-Producing Place, the place causative of terrors, dangers, and chains. Consequently this place is strong; for day births it is found by determining the distance from Saturn to Mars (for night births, from Mars to Saturn), then measuring the same distance from the Ascendant. It will be necessary to examine the location of this place to see if the sign of a malefic, or malefics themselves, are in conjunction or aspect. If they are, the nativities will be precarious, endangered, and easily destroyed. The nature of each star and sign will cause the particular type <of trouble>. Benefics in conjunction or aspect will cause a lessening of the evil or an escape from crises. (Vettius Valens, Anthologies, Book V, Ch. 1, Riley trans., 2010, p. 95)
Example
For examples of the use of Affliction in delineation and prediction, see my article on the Lot of Affliction. In that article, I provided examples involving Affliction in the charts of Jeffrey Dahmer, David Carradine, and an anonymous individual.
Mother: From Venus to Moon
The last five topics we will look at pertain to specific familial relationships. These are the lots of the Father, Mother, Siblings, Children, and Marriage. Many of these lots, especially those of the parents, were even more widespread than the lots of Love and Necessity in the Hellenistic period.
The Lot of the Mother is taken from Venus to the Moon (reversed by night), projected from the Ascendant. The lot is relatively uncontroversial across authors and is one of the most widespread lots after Fortune.
Sources
Dorotheus (1st century) introduced the Lot of the Mother in Book I, Ch. 15, after his discussion about the Lot of the Father. He didn’t state how it is used but the suggestion is that it is used like the Lot of the Father. Firmicus Maternus (4th century) did state that it is used exactly like that of the Father (Book VI, Ch. 32, #21-22). As both authors discussed the many uses of the Lot of the Father, they are the best sources for the use of both lots of the parents.
The Lot of the Mother has only a couple bit parts in the Anthology (Book II, Ch. 32 & 38). He used the same lot as other astrologers by day, but the text is corrupted concerning reversal.
Paulus Alexandrinus (4th century) defined the lot but said nothing about its use (Ch. 23). The lot is not discussed by Hephaistion (5th century) who instead relies heavily on the Moon for matters concerning the mother (Book II). Rhetorius did not define the lot but mentioned it in determining which parent will die first in the native’s life (Ch. 48).
Meaning and Use
As noted, our best sources for the use of the lots of the parents are Dorotheus and Maternus. Dorotheus looked at the condition and character of the parent by the the ruler of the lot. Placement of the ruler in the 6th, 8th, 3rd, or 12th was considered bad in this analysis. If the ruler of the lot was not regarding the lot or was opposed to the lot, then it was said to indicate that his assumed mother is not his real mother.
Maternus devoted the bulk of his chapter on the lots (Book VI, Ch. 32) on describing configurations involving the Lot of the Father. In the section on the Lot of the Mother, he noted that these indications apply to that lot in the same way. Maternus judged the wealth of the parent by the nature of the sign and whether benefic or malefic stars are in it or aspect it. The bulk of the section is devoted to examining the state of each possible house ruler of the lot. The character and status of the parent is tied to the nature of the ruler and its state.
Hellenistic Astrologers on the Lot of the Mother
Therefore you will collect this House with a degree method, looking for everything thus, just as we have said that you ought to search for it in the House of the Father, namely the aspects of the benefic and malefic stars, also the powers of the houses and signs, and also the mixtures and proper blending of the aspects. Which, when you have brought together everything with an even-handed comparison, you will be able to explain the House of the Mother with true opinions. (Maternus, Book VI, Ch. 32, #22, Holden trans., p. 392)
See the quotes in the next section on the Lot of the Father, as the lot is used in the same way as that for the father. Also, see the quote below from Valens on step-parents.
Valens on Step-Parents
Valens has an interesting passage on step-parents. He takes the point opposite the Lot of the Mother or Father as like a Lot of the Stepmother or Stepfather. The corresponding step-parent is indicated if the ruler of the parent lot is in opposition to the lot (i.e. in the house of the step-parent) or the ruler of the lot of the step-parent is in the lot of the parent.
Concerning a stepfather, take the point directly opposite the Lot. If the ruler of the Lot of the Father happens to be at the point in opposition or if the ruler of the point in opposition happens to be at the Lot, this indicates a stepfather. Likewise if the <ruler of> the Lot of the Mother is found in opposition and the ruler of the point in opposition to the Lot of the Mother is found at the Lot of the Mother, this will correspondingly indicate a stepmother. (Valens, Book II, Ch. 32, Riley trans., p. 44)
Example
Barack Obama (AA-rated birth time) was raised by his mother and grandparents, as well as a stepfather. His parents divorced when he was 2 and his dad moved back to Kenya at that time. His father visited him only once (when he was 10) and passed in a car accident when he was 21.
Obama’s Natal Chart with Parent Lots
The character of the parent is usually shown by the nature of the ruler. The Lot of the Mother is ruled by Jupiter in the 1st House, a benefic placed in a strong house. This accords well with his relationship with his mother and her status. The Lot of the Mother is ruled by Mercury in the 7th House, which also accords well with the father’s status as a student. Note that Jupiter and Mercury are in opposition suggesting tension between the mother and father. Note also that Mars is on the Lot of the Father in the 8th Place of death. The divorce at age 2 happened when Mars was activated as lord of the year by profection of the Ascendant to Aries (see the intro article on profections). The death of the father when Obama was age 21, also happened when Mars was activated as lord of the year, this time by profection of the Ascendant to Scorpio.
The Lot of the Stepfather is in early Pisces. While there is not the interchange that Valens spoke of between the ruler of Father and Stepfather, note that the Lot of the Stepfather is with that of the mother, and its ruler is also the 1st House Jupiter. His mother was married to his stepfather for a long time, 15 years, and his stepfather had a strong influence on his life. Of course, this is just scratching the surface.
Father: From Sun to Saturn
The Lot of the Father is typically from Sun to Saturn (reversed by night), projected from the Ascendant. This formula was used by Dorotheus, Valens, Paulus, and Firmicus Maternus. Note that this lot is identical to the Lot of Power, Kingdom, or Supremacy of the Middle Ages, indicating an association with eminence.
While this lot is very widespread and the formula is uncontroversial, there is a special case variant. Dorotheus and Paulus suggested one should use an alternative formula if Saturn is under the beams of the Sun (i.e. Saturn within 15° of the Sun). In such a case, one is to go from Mars to Jupiter, by both day and night (i.e. not reversed by night). Valens and Maternus did not mention this special case and its variant formula.
Sources
Dorotheus (1st century) introduced the Lot of the Father in Book I, Ch. 14. He described how it is used to judge the father’s character and condition. Firmicus Maternus (4th century) explored the lot in great detail in his chapter on the lots (Book VI, Ch. 32). As both authors discussed the many uses of the Lot of the Father, they are the best early sources for its use.
Valens (2nd century) does mention that some use an alternative formula which is from the Sun to Jupiter, projected from the Ascendant (Book II, Ch. 32). At one point he also suggested that by night one takes Venus to Moon instead of Sun to Saturn, though that appears to be a corruption given the significations of those planets. Overall, the lot has only a bit part in the Anthology (Book II, Ch. 32). See the above section on the Lot of the Mother for how Valens dealt with stepfathers.
Paulus Alexandrinus (4th century) introduced the lot but said nothing about its use (Ch. 23). The lot is not discussed by Hephaistion (5th century) who instead relies heavily on the Sun for matters concerning the father (Book II). Rhetorius (7th century) did not define the lot but mentioned it in determining which parent will die first in the native’s life (Ch. 48). Like Dorotheus and Valens, Rhetorius associate the lord of the lot in opposition to the lot as an indication that the father is not by blood (such as a stepfather).
Meaning and Use
As noted, our best sources for the use of the lots of the parents are Dorotheus and Maternus. Dorotheus looked at the condition and character of the parent by the the ruler of the lot. Placement of the ruler in the 6th, 8th, 3rd, or 12th was considered bad in this analysis. If the ruler of the lot was not regarding the lot or was opposed to the lot, then it was said to indicate that his assumed father is not his real father.
Maternus devoted the bulk of his chapter on the lots (Book VI, Ch. 32) to describing configurations involving the Lot of the Father. He noted that his procedure there (examining the aspects to the lot and state of its ruler) are applicable to all lots generally. Maternus judged the wealth of the father by the nature of the sign and whether benefic or malefic stars are in it or aspect it. The bulk of the section is devoted to examining the state of each possible house ruler of the lot. The character and status of the father is tied to the nature of the ruler and its state.
Hellenistic Astrologers on the Meaning of the Lot of the Father
[…] for if you found its lord in a good position, it indicates the good of his father, and the condition of the father is known according to its place […] (Dorotheus, Book I, Ch. 14, Dykes trans., p. 83)
For if there were benefic stars in that very sign, or if they aspected it with a fortunate aspect, the good fortune of the father is found. But if malefic stars did that same thing, proclaim to us [that] everything about the father is contrary. (Maternus, Book VI, Ch. 32, #4, Holden trans., p. 388)
Example
Marvin Gaye (birth time A-rated) was killed by his father. The chart is interesting in that Saturn is under the beams of the Sun, so it invokes the need to use the alternative lot from Mars to Jupiter (name cut off but it is at 8°47′ in the chart below). I have written about Marvin Gaye’s death and the predictive indicators that accompanied it in a previous article. I will just briefly touch on the lot here and suggest reading the article to come to your own conclusions about how the lot may have also figured into that timing.
Marvin Gaye’s Natal Chart with Parent Lots
I have left in the typical Lot of the Father (in early Leo) for reference, but it should be ignored in this case. We are looking a the Lot of the Father from early Libra (the Combust one). The lot is afflicted by both malefics (square from Mars, opposed by Saturn) while both benefics are in aversion to it. The lot is also very closely opposed to Marvin Gaye’s Sun, the significator of his life and vitality. His death by the hand of his father occurred right on a New Moon solar return opposed to that lot and conjunct Saturn (lord of the 8th of death) with a profection that activated the planets in the 10th and Mars as lord of the year.
Siblings: From Saturn to Jupiter (not reversed)
The Lot of Siblings is also sometimes translated as the Lot of Brothers, but it pertains to both genders. Its formula is more controversial than those of the other lots we have looked at so far. This is because Valens and Maternus both reversed the formula by night, but Paulus explicitly advised not to reverse it. Dorotheus did not mention if the lot was reversed or not.
Between Paulus and Valens, I would normally take Valens as the more reliable source. However, Valens appeared to have only a passing familiarity with the lot, and Medieval authors citing Hermes as the source noted that it should not be reversed. Additionally, the lot is the inverse of the Lot of Children so if one should be reversed than the other should as well. Valens and Maternus did not use the Dorothean Lot of Children, and Dorotheus did not note whether it should be reversed. Paulus stated that the Lot of Children is not reversed, so I assume neither lot should be reversed.
There is a second lot of Siblings used by Dorotheus (from Mercury to Jupiter) which doesn’t appear to have been as widespread.
Sources
Dorotheus (1st century) introduced the lot to judge the number of siblings and the benefit or harm associated with them (Book I, Ch. 21 Dykes trans., Ch. 19 Pingree trans.). Dorotheus also used a second Lot of Siblings which is from Mercury to Jupiter, reversed by night (Book I, Ch. 23 Dykes trans., Ch. 21 Pingree trans.).
Valens (2nd century) briefly mentioned that some astrologers use the lot and they reverse it by night (Book II, Ch. 4). Firmicus Maternus (4th century) also reversed the lot by night but explored its delineation in more depth (Book VI, Ch. 32, #23-26).
Paulus Alexandrinus (4th century) stated the Dorothean formula for the lot but stated that it should not be reversed and said nothing about its use (Ch. 23). Hephaistion (5th century) mentioned a Lot of Siblings but did not define it (Book II, Ch. 6). Rhetorius (7th century) did not define the lot but in the example he used it can be inferred that the formula is the usual one by day (Saturn to Jupiter).
Meaning and Use
Dorotheus seemed to chiefly consider the planets in and regarding the Lot of Siblings. My impression is that a sterile sign (traditionally Leo, Virgo, or Capricorn) is indicative of a lack of siblings, while water signs are indicative of many siblings. The benefit or harm associated with the siblings comes from the regards of the benefics and malefics. The lord of the lot does not appear to be emphasized in relation to these delineations. The second Lot of Siblings is also used by Dorotheus for determining the number of siblings, as well as for finding their gender and the good associated with them from aspecting planets.
Firmicus Maternus reversed the formula by night. He similarly looked at planets in or aspecting the lot. For him benefics signified many siblings and good from them, while malefics signified the contrary. Masculine benefics confer male siblings while feminine ones confer female ones. If both benefics and malefics aspect the lot in an equally powerful way then Maternus suggests there will be siblings which will be lost.
Hellenistic Astrologers on the Meaning of the Lot of Siblings
If you find a planet in it or aspecting it, then from this the matter of brothers will be made clear to you. If the lot happens to be in a sterile sign, then there is no good in his brothers (sterile are Leo, Virgo, Capricorn, and Aquarius, while great in number are Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces because some of them are signs of water and the rest of them keep the middle). (Dorotheus, Book I, Ch. 19, Pingree trans., p. 11)
If you wish to know what of love and other than that there is between him [the native] and his brothers, then look from the lord of the lot of brothers. If its lord aspects it from trine, it indicates love between them, and if it aspects from quartile, it indicates a medium amount of that love. If you find it in opposition to the lot, then it is an indicator of enmity and separation. If it [the lord] does not aspect it [the lot], it indicates the estrangement of one of them from the other. (Dorotheus, Book I, Ch. 20, Pingree trans., p. 11)
For if benefic stars are either found in that same sign, or if they are posited in fortunate houses of the nativity and in those signs in which they rejoice, or win which they are exalted , or in their own domiciles, they denote a group of many and good brothers. But if malefic stars do that same thing, devoid of the testimonies of benefic stars, they do the contrary. (Maternus, Book VI, Ch. 32, #25, Holden trans., p. 392)
And if the Lot of Brothers chances to be in those signs {water signs}, it gives, many brothers; but if the Lot chances to be in a sterile sign (that is, in Leo or Gemini or Sagittarius or Capricorn), it will make a scarcity of brothers, but in the rest [of the signs] a moderate number. And if the benefics aspect the Lot, they bestow life, but if the malefics aspect it, they bestow death. (Rhetorius, Ch. 108, Holden trans., p. 155, {} bracketed entry is mine).
Example
My mother (PA – birth time from certificate) is the oldest of 8 kids. She had 2 sisters and 5 brothers. Her closest sister in age died in a car accident in her twenties. She has had a relatively good relationship with her siblings but there have been clashes with her other sister and one of her brothers has struggled with mental illness.
PA’s Birth Chart with Lot of Siblings
The Lot of Siblings is in a water sign, which is indicative of many siblings. 4 planets aspect the lot and two of those are in the 3rd Place, which also pertains to siblings. Both benefics are in aversion to the lot while both malefics dominate it. We clearly see that the number of siblings is not determined by how well the benefics vs. malefics are configured to the lot. The fact that the ruler of the lot is with Saturn (ruler of the 8th), and Saturn dominates the lot (right side square) is consistent with the death of the oldest sister. It is worth noting that the twelfth-part of Jupiter is on the lot, which may be another indication of the multitude of siblings.
Children: From Jupiter to Saturn (not reversed) + Additional Variants
There are multiple variants of the Lot of Children. The most popular Lot of Children is that of Dorotheus which is from Jupiter to Saturn and is not reversed by night. Dorotheus does not mention a reversal. Paulus Alexandrinus insisted the lot is not reversed. The lot was not used by Valens or Maternus (both used different lots) so it is assumed that Paulus is correct. Therefore, I would not reverse the lot by night. However, this is controversial as many Medieval astrologers (including al-Qabisi and Abu Ma’shar) did explicitly reverse the lot by night.
Valens used two different lots, one for sons and one for daughters. I believe both should be considered. The Lot of Sons is from Jupiter to Mercury (not reversed). The Lot of Daughters if from Jupiter to Venus (not reversed). Maternus had a variant in which it appears that the shortest distance between Venus and Mercury was used. I won’t be considering the Maternus lot.
Sources
Dorotheus (1st century) introduced the lot but did not specify whether it should be reversed by night or not. It is assumed that it should not be reversed, following Paulus.
As noted, Valens (2nd century) used two different lots, one for sons and one for daughters.
Paulus Alexandrinus (4th century) stated the Dorothean formula for the lot but said nothing about its use (Ch. 23). Hephaistion (5th century) mentioned a Lot of Children and did not define it but did provide some pointers to its use (Book II, Ch. 22). Rhetorius (7th century) also didn’t define the lot but provided some pointers to its use (Ch. 48).
Meaning and Use
Dorotheus (Book II, Ch. 10) used the number of signs between the Lot of Children and its ruler to indicate the number of children. Malefic planets between them indicate bad things for the child. Generally planets in the stakes of the lot (except Saturn on the lot) indicate children. The Sun and Moon in stakes increase male or female children respectively. If no planet is in or regarding the lot then it indicates that the first child dies before birth or shortly after. The place of the lot is generally indicative of the good or bad from children (6th and 12th are worst). The sign type is important for number of children also (see quote below).
The approach of Valens (Book II, Ch. 39) to his Lot of Sons and Lot of Daughters is different than the approach of Dorotheus. Valens emphasizes the ruler of each lot and the aspects to that ruler (rather than to the lot itself). Benefic aspects to the ruler indicate children while malefics ones do not or may even indicate their loss.
Hephaistion (Book II, Ch. 22) noted that it is better if the lot is in a good place. In the 6th or 12th Place it is said to indicate a lack of children or hardship due to children. A lack of planets in the lot can also be indicative of a lack of children. Conversely, if the lot does indicate children then the sex of the sign may be indicative of the sex of one or more of the children.
Hellenistic Astrologers on the Meaning of the Lot of Children
If the lot happens to be in a sign of few children, then it indicates a small number of children. If Saturn is with it, then it indicates that he will be sterile or will have few children or will be grieved with an intense grief on account of [his] children.
Jupiter and Mercury indicate children if they are in good places, but deny [it] if they are in the sterile signs, which are Gemini, Leo, Virgo, Capricorn, the beginning of Taurus, the middle of Libra, Aries, and Sagittarius. As for Aquarius and what is like this, it abounds in children, but Scorpio abounds in children and in deaths for them. (Dorotheus, Book II, Ch. 10, Pingree trans., p. 29)
Therefore, it is necessary to examine the houseruler of this Lot of Children, which is found as follows: for male nativities, this Lot is found by determining the distance from Jupiter to Mercury (for female, from Jupiter to Venus), then counting this distance from the Ascendant. If the ruler of the Lot of Children has malefics in aspect, it destroys children; if it has the Givers of Children in aspect, it is indicative of fine offspring. (Valens, Book II, Ch. 39, Riley trans., p. 54)
The gives of children referred to by Valens are Jupiter, Venus, and Mercury when unafflicted (according to Petosiris per Valens).
If the Lot of Children falls in a domicile of Saturn and a malefic aspects the lot, it destroys the first-born [children]; and if the Lot of Children falls in [either of the] domiciles of Mars and a malefic aspects the lot, it destroys the middle-born; but if the Lot of Children fall in [either of the] domiciles of Mercury, and a malefic is in aspect, it destroys the youngest-born. (Rhetorius, Ch. 48, Holden trans., p. 27)
Example
Adrienne Barbeau (AA-rated birth time) is an American actress, singer, and author. She was married to filmmaker John Carpenter in the early ’80’s with whom she had a son. She re-married, to Billy Van Zandt, later in life (at age 47) and gave birth to twin boys at age 51. I have included the Lots of Children from Dorotheus and Valens. I have also included the female marriage lots for those interested.
Adrienne Barbeau’s Birth Chart with Child and Marriage Lots
The Dorothean lot is complicated. It is in a water sign (Cancer) and in a good place (11th), while the ruler (the Moon) is in the lot, all of which is indicative of many children. However, Saturn is also there, indicative of lack of children. In this case, Saturn is suggestive of the advanced age of Barbeau at the time of the birth of her twins.
The lot and its ruler are in a feminine sign, and the Moon being feminine in the place is suggestive of daughters rather than sons. However, we know that is not the case. The Valens Lot of Sons is much more prominent than the Lot of Daughters though. Interestingly, the Lot of Sons is in the sign of the twins (Gemini) and conjunct Mercury. Therefore, the symbolism of twin sons is very clear from the Valens lot.
Marriage: Saturn to Venus for Men, Venus to Saturn for Women (not reversed) + Many Variants
Now we come to the least certain lot. There are many variants to the Lot of Marriage. Dorotheus provided five different lots related to marriage. The most important of those is from Saturn to Venus for male marriage (Lot of the Wife) and Venus to Saturn for female marriages (Lot of the Husband), neither of which are supposed to be reversed by night. These are the lots which were also used by Paulus Alexandrinus. These lots continued to be popular for marriage delineation through the Middle Age.
Valens provided three totally different marriage lots. His general Lot of Marriage is from Jupiter to Venus (reversed by night). His Marriage-Bringer Lot for men (Lot of the Wife) is from the Sun to Venus. His Marriage-Bringer Lot for women (Lot of the Husband) is from the Moon to Mars. Presumably, these marriage-bringer lots are not to be reversed by night. The marriage-bringer lots of Valens continued to be popular marriage lots through the Middle Ages.
Sources
Dorotheus (1st century) introduced his lots of marriage which I term the Lot of the Wife and the Lot of the Husband (Book II, Ch. 2-3). He also used a Lot of Pleasure and Wedding which is from Venus to the degree of the sign of the seventh, and is not reversed (Book II, Ch. 5). An additional Lot of Wedding is introduced as well which is from the Sun to the Moon but projected from Venus (for women) or Mars (for men), and is not reversed by night (Book II, Ch. 6).
Valens (2nd century) introduced his various marriage lots in a thorough discussion of all things related to marriage delineation (Book II, Ch. 38).
Maternus (4th century) also used Saturn to Venus for the male Lot of Marriage by day, but reversed it by night. He used a different lot for female marriage (from Mars to Venus, reversed by night). The reversal of the Lot of Marriage for men and the unique formula for the female lot of marriage appear to only be found in Maternus (Book VI, Ch. 32, #27-32). Maternus also mentioned a Lot of Marriage from the Sun the Moon from the Ascendant by day or night (Book VI, Ch. 32, #28)
Paulus Alexandrinus (4th century) stated the Dorothean formula for the lot but said nothing about its use (Ch. 23). Hephaistion (5th century) mentioned marriage lots at the very end of his treatment of marriage delineation but did not define any (Book II, Ch. 21). It really is not clear if Hephaistion was referring to “lots” at all. He may have been referring to positions relevant to marriage that were previously discussed. Rhetorius (7th century) did not define the lot so it is not clear which one he used (most likely Dorothean). However, he provided numerous indications concerning the placement and configurations of the lot in Ch. 48 (see p. 28 of Holden trans.; also see Ch. 66-67).
Meaning and Use
The use of all the many marriage lots is beyond the scope of this article. Such a discussion could probably fill a book of its own. The most influential sets of lots are the pair noted by Dorotheus and Paulus (Saturn to Venus; Venus to Saturn) and the pair noted by Valens (Sun to Venus; Moon to Mars). Let’s look at some of the ways that Dorotheus and Valens used these lots.
Dorotheus used Saturn to Venus for male marriage (i.e. wife) and Venus to Saturn for female marriage (i.e. husband) – neither is reversed by night. A planet in the lot or the stake of the lot is an indicator of marriage. If the indicator is in the 6th or 12th or a malefic is in a stake of the lot then there will be grief associated with the marriage. Mars in the stake of the woman’s lot (husband lot) indicates a woman who marries many times or sleeps around with men. The ruler of the lot is indicative of the character and condition of the marriage partner.
Valens used Sun to Venus for the male Marriage-Bringer Lot (i.e. wife) and Moon to Mars for female Marriage-Bringer Lot (i.e. husband) – neither is reversed by night. Interestingly, Valens puts a lot of stock into weather the male Marriage-Bringer is in harmony with his Lot of Spirit and the female Marriage-Bringer is in harmony with her Lot of Fortune. The nature of the rulers of the two lots and their relationship to each other figure heavily in his approach to marriage. Many stars in or in aspect to the lot show many marriages. The aspects of the planets to the lot also describe the nature of the marriage. The delineations are very complex for Valens, involving numerous related factors, so I recommend a study of his Book II, Chapter 38.
Hellenistic Astrologers on the Meaning of the Lot of Marriage
Look at the place (which I shall tell you) of the lot of wedding. Count from the degrees of Saturn to Venus and add to it the degrees of the ascendent [by day] or subtract it thirty at a time from the ascendent [by night]; wherever it reaches, then there is the lot of wedding. If you find any of those planets in this place or in quartile to it [the lot], then this is the indicator of the wedding. Look: perhaps then a malefic or a cardine of the lot is in the sixth or the twelfth so that this happens to be in a sign full of grief [and] scanty in benefit.(Dorotheus, Book II, Ch. 2, Pingree trans., p. 24)
For men the Place of Marriage should accord with Daimon; for women it should accord with the Lot of Fortune, because of the conjoining and uniting of the sun and moon. <If the Places do accord with the Lots>, the marriage will be judged harmonious and legitimate. If many stars are in conjunction or in aspect with the Marriage-bringer, there will be many marriages. (Valens, Book II, Ch. 38, Riley trans., p. 52)
The Lot of Adultery in Valens
As with his treatment of step-parents, Valens derives an additional lot by the point opposite to one of his marriage lots. His marriage lot from Jupiter to Venus has the Lot of Adultery as its point of opposition. The ruler of the Marriage Lot in the Adultery Lot and vice-versa are indications the native is an adulterer.
Calculate the Marriage Lot as follows: for day births, determine the distance from Jupiter to Venus (for night births, from Venus to Jupiter), then count this distance from the Ascendant. The point in opposition to this Lot is indicative of Adultery. If the ruler of the Marriage Lot is found in opposition, and if the ruler of the Lot of Adultery is in the Marriage Lot, the native will constantly commit adultery, then be reconciled, then having reconciled, be separated, then again rejoin his mate in the course of his adulteries. If the ruler of the Marriage Lot is at morning rising, the native will marry at an early age; if it is at evening rising, he will marry late. If the ruler is operative while setting, the native will have a jealous or an illegal marriage. The ruler of Marriage causes the first marriage, the benefics in harmony with the Marriage-bringer or its ruler also cause marriages, especially if the signs of the stars in aspect or of the Marriage-bringer itself are bicorporeal. (Valens, Book II, Ch. 38, Riley trans., p. 52)
Example
The delineation of marriage is complex, especially given the great number of marriage lots available. The Lot of Love is also very important in relationship matters. For general relationship considers it is often more important than the marriage lots.
I leave you with the chart of Elizabeth Taylor (AA-rated birth time) who was famously married 8 times to 7 husbands. The female lots noted by Dorotheus and Valens are shown. Your task is to think about how indications from these lots, Venus, and the 7th house pertain to the number of marriages. Read a bio of Taylor online to better understand the circumstances of different marriages. If you are familiar with predictive techniques, try applying them with consideration of the lots. You can report on your findings in the comments.
Elizabeth Taylor’s Birth Chart with Marriage Lots
Going Further
I suggest that one starts with just the lots noted in this article. Work through charts you are familiar with and look at each lot in turn. Don’t just take things that ancient astrologers said about the lots for granted. Think critically and you can learn to make the most of these lots. When you are ready to explore additional lots, I have some recommendations for doing this.
Exploring the Literature
In the “Sources” section for each lot I have noted the sections of Hellenistic texts which comment on each lot. You can refer to these sections for more ideas. When a lot is used throughout a text you have your work cut out for you in tracking down more information.
All of the lots discussed by Dorotheus are important ones. The new English translation of Carmen by Ben Dykes includes a table of the lots used in the work, as well as a convenient index. Some of the books of the Pingree translation have also been made available online, as I discussed in my article on free texts. Dykes also has a nearly 3 hour lots lecture available for purchase in which he discusses lots with examples involving 6 of them.
Vettius Valens was also particularly influential in his use of lots. You can download a free copy of the only full English translation of his text. As it is a PDF, you are free to use CTRL+F to search for mentions of lots within the text. Maternus largely followed Dorotheus and Valens in his use of the lots. Book VI, Ch. 32 of the Mathesis is particularly important on account of the numerous lots (called part or house) discussed. An English translation of the Mathesis in PDF is also available for free online.
Getting Medieval
For those looking for a more comprehensive late Medieval accounting of the lots, I recommend Introduction to Traditional Astrology, a compilation of translations by Ben Dykes. The work brings together introductory material by 9th and 10th century Perso-Arabic astrologers Abu Ma’shar and al-Qabisi. Book VI is dedicated to the lots and provides descriptions of over 6 dozen lots used by these two notable astrologers. As of this writing a Kindle edition is also available and that edition is free to read for Kindle Unlimited subscribers. This text is not just a great reference for the lots, but is all around the most indispensable reference on Medieval astrology in all its aspects.
References
Dorotheus of Sidon, & al-Tabari, U. (2017). Carmen Astrologicum: The ’Umar al-Tabari Translation. (B. N. Dykes, Trans.). Minneapolis, Minn.,: The Cazimi Press.
Dorotheus of Sidon. (2005). Carmen Astrologicum. (D. Pingree, Trans.). Abingdon, MD: Astrology Center of America.
Manilius, M. (1977). Astronomica. (G. P. Goold, Trans.). Cambridge, MA: Loeb Classical Library.
Maternus, J. F. (1972). Mathesis: A fourth-century astrological treatise. (J. R. Bram, Trans.). NY, NY: New York University.
Maternus, J. F. (2011). Mathesis. (J. H. Holden, Trans.). American Federation of Astrologers.
Paulus Alexandrinus & Olympiodorus. (2001). Late Classical Astrology: Paulus Alexandrinus and Olypiodorus. (D. G. Greenbaum, Trans.). Reston, VA: Arhat.
Porphyry, & Serapio. (2009). Porphyry the Philosopher. (J. H. Holden, Trans.). Tempe, AZ: American Federation of Astrologers.
Featured image is cropped from image of a box of game pieces of the Ancient Egyptian game Senet at the King Tut Exhibit at Seattle’s Pacific Science Center (2012) by Dave Nakayama from Palo Alto, USA (King Tut’s Toys) [CC BY 2.0 ], via Wikimedia Commons
The image of the painting Le Giocatrici di Astràgali by Antonio Canova (1799) is in the public domain.
The image of various dice and game pieces from the Museo de Albacete, Spain by Enrique Íñiguez Rodríguez (Qoan) [CC BY-SA 4.0 ], from Wikimedia Commons
The Hellenistic technique for finding the professional indicator is the best approach to the astrology of profession that I’ve come across. I’ve explored the technique in a series of articles on profession. In challenges in which one must match a chart with a profession, it is a good guide.
You can find a discussion of the technique, which draws heavily upon the work of Paulus Alexandrinus (4th century CE), in the article: Astrology of Profession or Calling | 1. Technique. Please familiarize yourself with the technique before proceeding.
Difficult Cases
There are two types of charts that prove very challenging in relation to this technique. Charts where multiple planets are good candidates make it difficult to decide just where someone’s professional focus lies. Those with no planets in one of the 9 most eligible places also make it difficult to find the focal planet.
Bruce Lee’s 12th House Cluster
Bruce Lee (AA-rated time) has a birth chart that presents both problems. On the one hand, none of the three planets of actions are in one of the 9 most eligible places. All three are in Scorpio, the 12th house. Yet, when we look to see if any planets are with Fortune, we find all three of them there, as Fortune is in Scorpio. Therefore, none of the three provide really strong initial testimony, while all three provide testimony through Fortune.
Bruce Lee’s Natal Chart
Many Significant Planets
Mars rules Fortune and has bound rulership of the MC so it is significant.
Mercury appears to be even more significant as Mercury rules the MC and 10th place, has the application of the Moon, and rules the bound of Fortune and the Moon, and is actually in that bound with them. Additionally, Mercury left the beams (i.e. is in phasis) and stationed direct within the week before birth.
Venus is the most advancing of the three planets and she has triplicity at the MC and at Fortune.
None of the three planets appears to connect with the Ascendant and 1st house. Jupiter, the Sun, and Saturn have dignity there, while the Sun is in the place, and no other planets regard it. The Sun and Jupiter contribute strongly to the character, and the Sun is significant to profession also.
Dominance of Mars, or Mercury?
Mars (martial arts), Mercury (teaching), and Venus (show business), as well as the Sun (publicity, leadership), all did have relevance to Bruce Lee’s skill development and professional direction. However, what’s missing is the clear indication that Mars is more important than the rest in singling out the dominant factor (martial arts).
One could argue that the fact that all three professional indicators, and two planets important for character (Mercury and the Moon) are ruled by Mars provides that indication. Mars also most closely aspects the ruler of the Ascendant (Jupiter). However, with Mercury ruling the bound of the Moon, Mercury, Fortune, and Jupiter, while ruling the 10th house, it provides similar indications. Mercury is also stronger due to phasis, a station, and the application of the Moon.
In short, I think that the technique as we have it would correctly indicate Mercury, Mars, Venus, and the Sun as relevant for profession, but would incorrectly indicate Mercury as most important.
Enter Twelfth-Parts
I have written extensively on the use of the twelfth-parts. The twelfth-parts are a division of the zodiac that is almost as old as the zodiac itself. This division originated in Babylonian astrology and was prevalent in Hellenistic astrology. They are a micro-zodiac in each sign which provide an additional placement for each chart point, like a “secret second chart“.
I recommend the use of twelfth-parts in all types of astrology and all types of chart analysis. Twelfth-parts can even enhance special techniques such as the one for the professional indicator.
Bruce Lee’s Twelfth-Part Chart
When we look at Bruce Lee’s chart with the twelfth-parts, things become clearer. Without the twelfth-parts, it appeared that none of the three action planets connected strongly and directly with the person themselves (Ascendant). Mars, Venus, and Mercury all connected with its ruler (Jupiter) by rulership and aspect, but none connected with the Ascendant itself.
Bruce Lee’s Natal Chart with Twelfth-Part Positions
The twelfth-part of Mars puts its position in the 1st house. This connects the significations of Mars strongly to the person’s personal identification, character, and skill. The twelfth-parts of Venus (12th house) and Mercury (6th house) don’t show that additional strong personal connection. This is one of many cases in which the twelth-parts are necessary to provide the crucial missing information.
Bruce Lee Conclusion
We know that there is personal identification with Mars due to its twelfth-part in the 1st, as well as rulership of Mercury and the Moon, and it has the closest aspect to the Ascendant lord (Mars is also the exaltation lord of the lot of Spirit). We can say that this person is personally very invested in fame/publicity/leadership (the Sun), very physical and/or aggressive activities (Mars), and spirituality (Jupiter). This is a choleric personality (Sun-Mars-fire) with an air of joviality (Jupiter rulership).
There is a stress on physical strength or aggression (Mars) in the profession. Communication and analysis are also very strongly emphasized (Mercury) suggesting a teaching component, and this links back to the Mars significations (Mars rules Mercury). The arts (Venus) are also relevant but are linked very strongly to the significations of Mars (Venus is conjunct and ruled by Mars).
Jean-Claude Van Damme
Van Damme is another martial artist and actor for which an AA-rated birth time is available. We won’t look as deeply at Van Damme’s chart but there are some interesting parallels we can quickly observe.
Van Damme’s Natal Chart with Twelfth-Parts
All Action Planets in Eligible Places
Van Damme has all three planets of action in eligible places. Mars is in the 10th so Mars emerges immediately as the best candidate, even prior to looking at twelfth-parts.
However, Mercury and Venus are both also in an eligible place (the 2nd) and Mars has only minor dignity at the MC and 10th house (triplicity), and no dignity at the Ascendant. Venus rules the 1st house and has minor dignity at the MC.
Similarities and Differences with Bruce Lee
As with Bruce Lee, Mercury and Mars are with Fortune and all are in Scorpio, a house of Mars. Significantly, both have the Sun in the first house very near the Ascendant.
Mercury is not as emphasized in Van Damme’s chart and Venus is more emphasized. Van Damme’s career has seen more of a stress on acting and image (Venus) and less on teaching (Mercury).
Beyond the career significator, for personality indications Venus and the Sun are both very significant for self-identification. The Venus component has related to his personal life where womanizing and substance abuse problems have been significant issues at times (note that Venus is in a dark house – the 2nd. rules the 8th, and has her twelfth-part in the 12th).
Van Damme’s Twelfth-Parts
The twelfth-parts of Venus and Mercury are not in eligible places (12th and 9th) while that of Mars is eligible (2nd). This provides another indication for Mars. Additionally, we find the twelfth-parts of the Sun and Moon with Mars, further emphasizing the connection of Mars in the chart with publicity and importance.
Van Damme’s twelfth-part Mars is also conjunct Venus, a parallel with Lee’s Mars-Venus conjunction, emphasizing the art and aesthetics connected with Mars.
Conclusion
The special technique for identifying professional significators can be a messy affair. Not only is it often the case that multiple planets are significant for the person’s main career, but it’s also the case that people often have multiple types of careers, sometimes simultaneously. Twelfth-parts provide some additional valuable insight when working with this technique. As we’ve seen with the lot of Fortune, lots can also provide important information. Hopefully, with timing techniques we can also gain a clearer understanding for important shifts of emphasis that occur in one’s occupational development.
Featured Image
Featured image is cropped from a stencil of Bruce Lee by Giga Paitchadze (originally posted to Flickr as Bruce Lee) [CC BY 2.0 ], via Wikimedia Commons
In the fourth lesson, we discussed the houses of the planets (their domiciles). The houses of the planets are the signs of the zodiac. Additionally, we looked at the notion of “stakes”. The stakes are the 1st, 4th, 7th, and 10th houses of the chart. You’ll recall that planets in a house, ruling a house, or in the stakes of a house have a strong influence on the house. In the last lesson, we looked at relationships that planets and houses have with each other based on angular distances. We also discussed how these configurations interact with rulership. In this lesson, we will look at the most important and common method of assigning life topics to houses, the places.
Finding Your Place
The Primacy of the Rising Sign
Planets signify whole categories of things in themselves. Signs signify in relation to their feature bundles and the planets ruling and regarding them. However, there is still more to the significations in a chart. Ancient astrologers had ways of associating the affairs of earthly life to signs and planets. This was done by a system of places and by special assignments called lots. The most important system assigned topics to the signs themselves based on their place in order from the rising sign.
The rising sign was the most important sign of the chart in ancient astrology. The system of places is based on the rising sign and the order in which signs rise. The rising sign is the 1st place. The next sign to rise is the 2nd place, the third sign to rise is the 3rd place, and so on.
The rising sign is relevant to the topic of the individual person, including their body, character, temperament, and preferences. The other signs are assigned topics to represent other matters or circumstances in the life of the person based on their relationship to this 1st place of the individual.
Order
The places of the chart are numbered in a counter-clockwise manner. It is as if the signs are runners and the Ascendant is the finish line. For instance, if Pisces is rising, then it is the first place (first to rise). The next sign, Aries, would be the second place, and so on until we get to the twelfth place (Aquarius).
I usually won’t number the places in the charts. They are obvious enough after some use. Beginners should count forward or backward from the 1st house (rising sign; left side of the chart) and the 7th house (the setting sign; right side of the chart).
First House Example: Jimi Hendrix
For instance, see the chart below (natal chart of Jimi Hendrix, AA-rated). We see that Sagittarius is rising, as it is on the left side of the chart straddling the boldline (i.e. the Ascendant). Therefore, Sagittarius is the first place, or first house, signifying the self.
We look to Sagittarius, the planets in Sagittarius, the ruler of Sagittarius, and those planets regarding Sagittarius (especially those in its stakes). These are particularly relevant to Jimi’s appearance, character, preferences, basic skills, etc. (i.e. “who he is”). Consider the significations of Sagittarius, Venus, the Sun, and Mercury. These directly characterize Hendrix’s self. Also, consider Jupiter (ruler; conjunct the Moon in Cancer) and Saturn (in a stake in Gemini) as characterizing more indirect but important influences on the nature of the self.
Jimi Hendrix’s Natal Chart
Quadrant Houses = Different First House
Note that with quadrant houses (as in the chart on the Astrodatabank site) Venus, the Sun, Mercury, and Saturn all become relatively insignificant to the matter of the self. This is because they fall into the 6th and 12th houses in that system (because they are retreating). In whole sign houses a planet may be extremely prominent for the topic of the self (such as a planet in the first), or over some other specific topics (through occupation, rulership, or regard of a place) while not prominent over life circumstances in a more general way (i.e. it may be retreating). This is very apparent in assessing career significators (Jimi’s career significators are dealt with here in another article).
Sidereal Zodiac = Different First House
Hendrix’s natal chart in the sidereal zodiac is below.
Hendrix – Sidereal Natal Chart
Notice that Sagittarius is still the 1st house using the sidereal zodiac. However, Venus, the Sun, Mercury, and Saturn become much less significant in relation to the individual as they are now in Scorpio, the 12th house.
Find the Remaining Places
Let’s return to Hendrix’s chart in the tropical zodiac. The next house after the 1st would be Capricorn (2nd house), then Aquarius (3rd house), then Pisces (4th house), then Aries (5th house), then Taurus (6th house), then Gemini (7th house). I want to pause here because it should be pointed out that the 7th house is always opposite the 1st house, and is always straddling the setting point (Descendant or western horizon; shown by the bold line on the right). After Gemini, there is Cancer (8th house), then Leo (9th house), then Virgo (10th house), then Libra (11th house), then Scorpio (12th house).
Hendrix – Natal Chart with the places labeled.
Topics Associated with the Places
The places above the horizon (upper half of the chart; above the earth, in the sky) pertain particularly to matters of “spirit”. These are mental and social matters, such as friends, religion, and career. Those below the horizon (lower half of the circle; below the earth) pertain particularly to matters of “fortune”. These are more physical circumstances like family, wealth, and health.
Stakes of the Chart
The 1st house (rising sign) straddles both worlds, as does the 7th house (marriage, partnership; which symbolically stands directly across from the self). The 10th is in the social realm above the earth. It pertains to career, goals, authority, and recognition. The 4th is in the material realm below the earth. It pertains to father, family, home, and ancestry. These four signs (1st, 4th, 7th, and 10th) form the main cross of the chart (the stakes), encompassing matters of the self, family, partner, and social standing. They are the most personally significant life areas.
The Four Aristotelian Causes
I personally associate the four stakes of the chart with the four Aristotelian causes. For instance, in a natal chart, what causes or defines the identity of the self? The effective cause (agent) is the character and will (1st place). The material cause is the family and origins (4th place). The formal cause is the close relationships and partnerships with other people (7th house). The final cause is our calling and achievements (10th place). There is no evidence that the Hellenistic astrologers thought of the stakes this way, but I find it helpful. If it works for you, use it. If not, don’t worry about it.
Topics of the 12 Places
According to Valens
Vettius Valens (2nd century CE) noted numerous significations of the places so we will follow his lead in this (from Anthology, Book IV, Ch. 12, Riley trans., 2011, p. 80):
I the Ascendant, life, steering-oar, body, breath.
II Life, the Gate of Hades, shadowy, giving and receiving, association.
III Brothers, travel abroad, kingship, authority, friends, relatives, rents/revenue, slaves.
IV Rank, children, one’s own wife and older individuals, activity, city, home, possessions, lodgings, alterations, change of place, dangers, death, confinement, religious matters.
V The Place of Children, friendship, association, slaves, freedmen, the completion of some good deed or benefaction.
VI Slaves, injuries, hostility, disease, sickness.
VII The Descendant, marriage, success, an affair with a woman, friendship, travel.
VIII Death, benefits from the deceased, the Inactive Place, law, sickness.
IX Friendship, travel, benefits from foreigners, God, king, magnates, astrology, oracles, appearances of the gods, mystic and occult matters, associations.
X Occupation, rank, success, children, women, change, innovation in business.
XI Friends, hopes, gifts, children, slaves, freedmen.
XII Foreign lands, hostility, slaves, injuries, dangers, tribunals, disease, death, sickness.
My Take on Key Significations
I would summarize the key significations of the places in a few words as follows:
I – body, skill, temperament
II – finances, personal property, income
III – siblings, neighbors, trips
IV – family, home, elders
V – children, works, philanthropy
VI – illness, injury, labor
VII – marriage, sexuality, partners
VIII – death, stagnation (wasted time), inheritance
IX – religion/mysticism, advanced learning, travel/foreigners
X – occupation, achievements, status
XI – friends, assistance, rewards
XII – enemies, dangers, exile
Good and Bad Places
The Relationship of Places and Regards
The positive and negative associations of the places are consistent with the Hellenistic aspect system. Those places signifying the greatest difficulty are the houses that the self (Ascendant) does not see (regard). These places are also called the “dark” places. By contrast, fortunate places regard the Ascendant.
Cadent Houses
Additionally, houses retreating from the stakes (places 3, 6, 9, and 12) have a sense of weakness and removal associated with them. They are called the cadent places.
Ordering the Places in Terms of Benefit
Dorotheus (1976, Pingree trans., I.5, p. 164) noted the following (emphasis and bracketed info are my additions):
“…the best of the places is the ascendent [1st house], then the midheaven [10th house], then what follows the midheaven [11th house], which is the eleventh from the ascendent, then the opposite to this eleventh place from the ascendent [5th house], which is the fifth from the ascendent which is called the house of the child, then the opposite to the ascendant [7th house], which is the sign of marriage, then the cardine of the earth [4th house], then the ninth place from the ascendent [9th house]. Thus these are the seven places which are preferred to the places which are not recognized as good [good places in order from best are 1, 10, 11, 5, 7, 4, 9]: the third from the ascendent [3rd house] because it is said that it is the place of the joy of the Moon, and the second from the ascendent [2nd house], then the eight from the ascendent, which is the sign of death [8th house]. Of these places which I told you, the first is the strongest [mediocre places in order from best are 3, 2, 8]. There remain equal to this two places which are the worst of the worst, and they are the sixth and the twelfth [6 and 12 are the “bad” houses].”
Notice the combination of the ideas of regard and the stakes in the above schema. All of the stakes are good houses. The two worst houses don’t regard the Ascendant and are cadent from the stakes. Astrologers differ in terms of how they order the houses in between, but the 4 houses that don’t regard the ascendant are most associated with unfortunate matters.
Understanding Dark Houses
The symbolism connected with the dark houses (places 2, 6, 8, and 12) is that of something disconnected from the person and in the dark or shade. This comes through in their symbolism as they tend to pertain to things which can impair our ability to live our lives (money, illness, death, imprisonment). When they crop up in a configuration they can point to hostile or secret things. The dark places tend to symbolize things we worry over and may try to keep suppressed or secret.
Together with natural planetary signification and sect, the symbolism of good and bad places points to fortunate and unfortunate states of affairs. As in life, there is room in ancient astrological symbolism for a whole lot of nuanced grey area and mixed sentiments. This is part of the expressive power of ancient astrology.
The Joys of the Planets
Each planet is said to rejoice in a place in the chart. These are called the “joys of the planets”. The joys of the diurnal planets are above the horizon while those of the nocturnal planets are below the horizon, opposite those of their diurnal counterparts. Here is a diagram of the joys. For further reading, I recommend the article by Chris Brennan, The Planetary Joys and the Origins of the Significations of the Houses and Triplicities.
Mercury’s Joy: 1st Place
We have previously looked at Mercury’s association with the self and the mind. Additionally, Mercury is neither diurnal nor nocturnal, so it has its joy in a house that is on the horizon, both above and below it. Its joy is the first house of the self.
Diurnal Joys: Sun, Jupiter, Saturn
The diurnal planets have their joys above the horizon. The Sun, the sect light, has its joy in the 9th place, that of God and revelation. Jupiter, the sect benefic, has its joy in a good place, the 11th place, that of friendship and reward. Saturn, the sect malefic, has its joy in a bad place, the 12th place, that of enemies and exile.
Nocturnal Joys: Moon, Venus, Mars
The nocturnal planets have their joys below the horizon. The Moon, the sect light, has its joy in the 3rd place, that of Goddess and siblings. Venus, the sect benefic, has its joy in a good place, the 5th place, that of children and works. Mars, the sect malefic, has its joy in a bad place, the 6th place, that of labor and injury.
Interpreting Planetary Joy
Planetary joy is a type of strength condition. The planet’s significations are made stronger by way of analogy with what is signified by the house. This is not a condition in which the planets are made more benefic, as is clear from the interpretations given for a malefic in the 6th or 12th (where they have their joys).
Rhetorius on the 6th house (Ch. 57, 2009, Holden trans., p. 75):
“The malefics there make sicknesses or injuries involving the feet and the loss of money.”
Valens on the 12th house (Book II, Ch. 5, 2010, Riley trans., p. 27):
“If the malefics happen to be in this place, they will cause great wounds and traumas […]”
I give these examples to illustrate that a malefic in its joy is not expected to provide benefit. Rather its natural significations are reinforced. However, note that you should not interpret a chart based on stray factors such as these. These indications are given by the Hellenistic astrologers, and shared by me, to illustrate the type of thing symbolized by the isolated factor. In an actual chart, there are other factors that can mitigate and modify the indication.
Character Analysis with Places
As you might suppose by its significations, the 1st place is the most important place for character analysis. Planets in or ruling the sign are very important for the character. I personally consider planets ruling the 1st house to be ones for which there is a personal identification. Those planets in or regarding the 1st place are those with the most direct signification describing character, skill, body, temperament, and influences on the self.
Character Analysis in Persian Astrology
I recommend the study of medieval Persian astrology because the Persian astrologers were like us. They were looking at a variety of Hellenistic principles and techniques but coming away with their own preferences and approaches.
There are two main approaches to character analysis in medieval Persian natal astrology. The prominent planet approach of Abu Bakr and the Lord of the Ascendant approach of Masha’allah and Abu’Ali Al-Khayyat.
Prominent Planet Approach
The approach of Abu Bakr (On Nativities, Book II) is to examine the most prominent or dominant planets in the chart, especially those occurring in the 1st or 10th places. By this approach, Saturn strongly advancing in the 10th place would signify Saturnine character traits, whether or not it had rulership at the Ascendant.
I don’t recommend this approach. While prominent planets say much about the life circumstances, it is too often the case that a very prominent planet in the chart has little to say about the character of the individual. However, a prominent planet that also has rulership at the Ascendant is a planet that is very influential and connected to the individual’s character.
Lord of Ascendant Approach
In the approach Masha’allah (On Nativities, Section 5) and Abu’Ali Al-Khayyat (The Judgment of Nativities, Chs. 5 and 34), the Lord of the Ascendant and Mercury are the two primary significators of the quality of mind.
“If you wished to know the character of the native’s mind, look at [1] the Lord of the Ascendant and [2] Mercury (who is the significator of the intellective power, speech and oration). […] And these signify the matters of the soul, and the morals of the native, just as the Moon and the Ascendant signify the body.” (Abu’Ali Al-Khayatt, Ch. 5, 2009, Dykes trans., p. 236)
Abu’Ali’s approach appears to come straight from Masha’allah who recommended the same in his On Nativities. As mentioned previously, the use of Mercury for the rational mind comes from Ptolemy. Mercury also has natural significations related to the intellect and speech which make it an important planet to look at in regards to skill in those areas.
The Lord of the Ascendant is the dominant ruler of the 1st place. The 1st place signifies the body, skill, and temperament. Its rulers direct the affairs of the house, so it follows that its main ruler symbolizes the mind, that which directs the body and temperament.
Example Charts
Let’s review a number of the principles we’ve learned so far by briefly analyzing some charts. Many articles could be written on any one of these charts, so we’ll just look at a few salient factors. Note that I’m going to be looking at the zodiacal twelfth-parts, as it is important to take a look at them in every chart. I mentioned them in the lesson on the signs as being a twelve-fold division of each sign into a micro zodiac. I use them as projections of the planets into other signs and houses. Their position shown in the following charts is from placing the planetary position in the micro zodiac on the outside of the chart.
Jimi Hendrix
First Place
Hendrix was born during the day, so the chart is diurnal. The Sun is the sect light and is in the 1st house, signifying a very powerful and dynamic persona. There is a strong sense of the hero and leader tied with the persona (Sun in 1st). The Sun is in its own triplicity (it rules fire signs by day). Overall, the Sun plus the fire element of Sagittarius makes for a persona that is driven to influence.
The Sun is joined by Mercury (dexterity, voice, ingenuity) and Venus (arts, sensuality, drugs) in the same bound, so they have their significations mixed together. Note that Mercury-Venus has associations with fingered string instruments (Mercury pertains to digits). The Sun is also associated with stringed instruments (see Apollo). All three are in the bound of Jupiter, pertaining to fortune, benefit, and faith.
Hendrix’s Natal Chart with Twelfth-Parts (outer wheel)
Prominence
There were no appearances, disappearances, or stations within a week of birth.
Jupiter is the most advancing planet in the chart and is a lord of the Ascendant (house ruler, second triplicity ruler). So there is a sense in which Jupiter is met in many spheres of life and many forms. Jupiter is also identified with due to its rulership of the 1st. This two things together can convey profound faith and spiritual experience. Jupiter’s prominence and the fact that it is in sect and exalted connect it with good fortune and opportunity. Note also that the twelfth-part of the MC is conjunct Jupiter, symbolic of elevated status.
Jupiter with the Moon in the 8th
Jupiter is with the Moon and in her house (Cancer), so their significations can be blended. The Moon signifies the mother, the body, the irrational mind, and audiences, among other things. However, they are both in the 8th place of death and stagnation, so the benefits are attended with difficulties. They are in a cardinal sign so changes come in bold and sweeping ways. Hendrix’s mother died when he was 15. Interestingly, he acquired his first guitar the same year.
Saturn and the Twelfth-Part of Mars
The Ascendant is in the bound of Saturn and Saturn opposes the 1st house. Saturn rules the 2nd of money and the 3rd of siblings. Hendrix grew up in poverty (ruled by Saturn) and was deeply affected by it. All of his younger siblings were given into foster care. Saturn very closely opposes the 1st house Venus, and Saturn is in the 7th of sexuality. Saturn is in sect and in a good place, but the out of sect malefic (Mars) also has its twelfth-part in Gemini (7th place). So there are multiple indications of sexual difficulty. Hendrix was reportedly sexually assaulted by someone in uniform at a young age.
Out of Sect Malefic
Typically, the greatest difficulties will be symbolized by the out of sect malefic. In this case, it is Mars. Mars is not only out of sect but also in the dark 12th house which it additionally rules. Therefore, Mars, while not prominent in the life in general, rears its head in terms of difficulties with enemies and undoings. Mars has its twelfth-part in the 7th house so it can pertain to relationship and sexual problems. As the ruler of the 5th of children and works and the exalted lord of the 2nd of money Mars may show problems with children and works, as well as monetary issues.
Mars, Jupiter, and Age 15
Rather than coming up with blanket conclusions, such as Jupiter is good and Mars is bad, we need to examine the good and difficult possibilities. Life is mixed. Indications from any given planet will also be mixed. When we recognize this then we can determine what type of indications are forecasted by predictive techniques. For instance, Jupiter has the immense symbolism of success, fortune, and expansiveness in the chart. However, it is also in the 8th place of death which is a vulnerable place, one in which benefits can stagnate and be attended by difficulty. Additionally, the twelfth-part of Jupiter is in Aries, which is ruled by Mars, the out of sect malefic.
Volumes can be written on Mars and Jupiter in the chart, but I just wish to point out some interesting activations at age 15. The twelfth-parts of Mars and that of the Moon are together in the 7th place. Additionally, the Moon and Jupiter overcome Mars from the 8th place. One activation of Mars is at age 15, due to the fact that the planetary years of Mars are 15. Age 15 is also the activation of the 4th house by the annual profection, which is Pisces, making Jupiter the lord of the year for that year. As noted, at age 15, Hendrix’s mother died (Moon in 8th; Mars twelfth-part with Moon twelfth-part) and Hendrix bought his first guitar (Jupiter overcoming Mars; twelfth-part of Jupiter in the 5th of performance ruled by Mars; Jupiter rules the 1st place of self). This is a life-changing year with negative and positive developments.
A Note on the 8th
Elements of Hendrix’s death are symbolized vividly in the chart. The cause of death was asphyxiation from vomiting while intoxicated on sleeping pills. The ruler of the 1st is in the 8th possibly signifying being the cause of one’s own death. Jupiter signifying abundance both pertains to the fact that he took 18 times the recommended dose of sleeping pills and the fact that he had probably been lucky in the past with overconsumption of drugs. The Moon in the 8th is interesting given that sleeping pills were the cause of death. The cardinality of the sign indicates suddenness. Water can symbolize drowning (asphyxiation). Additionally, Hendrix was buried in the same cemetery as his mother (lord of 1st in 8th with the Moon).
Hendrix died at age 27. The annual profection comes to the same sign every 12 years, so he also died during an annual profection to Pisces, with Jupiter as lord of the year. In fact, it was the first profection back to Pisces since his mother died and he bought his first guitar. Additionally, Jupiter was transiting in Scorpio (Jimi’s 12th house, ruled and occupied by Mars) both when his mother died and when he himself died. Age 27 involves the sum of the planetary years of Mars (15) and those of Jupiter (12), so it is yet another activation of their combination.
Trump’s Natal Chart with Twelfth-Parts (outer wheel)
First Place
How many ways can one have an out of sect Mars as a character factor? Let’s count the ways in Donald Trump’s chart. Trump was born with the last degree of Leo rising. Mars is with the Ascendant closely within 5 degrees so it has a very big direct influence on temperament. The Ascendant is also in the bound of Mars, so there is an identification with Mars’s significations in the chart. The Sun is the main lord of the Ascendant (by house and triplicity) and it is in the bound of Mars and closely with the twelfth-part of Mars, so Mars combines its significations with those of the Sun. The Sun is applying a sextile to Mars as well, with the Sun overcoming.
Thus repeatedly we find the Sun and Mars to dominate the character. Additionally, a fire sign rises. These planets make for a very fiery and choleric temperament that aims to influence and dominate. The Sun is the sect light and is in the fortunate 11th house of friendship in Gemini a mutable air sign. Therefore, the Sun orients the personality toward social and cultural power, influence, and popularity (11th place and mutable sign and air sign).
The strong influence and identification with the out of sect malefic, Mars, make for aggressiveness and competitiveness of an unpleasant sort. This can make him his own worst enemy. Additionally, the twelfth-part of the Ascendant and Mercury, the ruler of the lord of the Ascendant, are both in the 12th house of enemies; additional indications of causing oneself trouble.
A fixed sign rises so the temperament is persistent and the character can be stubborn. The twelfth-part of the Moon in the 1st place may be showing a more off-the-cuff, emotionally-driven, and informal element of the persona also.
Prominence
Mercury made an appearance just before birth and Jupiter stationed direct after birth, so both are prominent. Mars is prominent because it is so close to the Ascendant in the 1st house. The Sun and Moon are also prominent by advancement. Additionally, the twelfth parts of the Lights are prominent, as the Sun is near the Descendant within 10 degrees and the Moon is in the 1st house. The fact that the Lights are prominent can indicate power and influence.
The prominence of Jupiter and Mercury both can relate to income, as Jupiter naturally signifies wealth and Mercury rules the 2nd house and naturally signifies commerce. Jupiter is in the 3rd place and is in its own bound. The twelfth-part of Mercury is closely with Jupiter linking their significations.
Difficulties
The out of sect malefic, Mars, symbolizes plenty of difficulties. As a ruler of the Ascendant and located in the 1st house it makes his own character a big cause of such difficulties. Mars connects strongly with the 4th of home and family (as well as country) and the 9th of religion and travel (as well as foreign countries). Additionally, Mars is the exalted ruler of the 6th place so can pertain to health difficulties of that type and difficulties with servants (employees).
In this chart, the malefic in sect, Saturn, has just as many ties to difficulties but is less associated with his self and character. Saturn is in the dark 12th house of enemies and undoing. Cancer is the sign so Saturn symbolizes in very sudden and dramatic ways. Venus is close with Saturn, signifying problems with women and sexuality. Saturn is also with Mercury which can symbolize communication issues. As the ruler of the 6th of illness, injury, and servants, Saturn can pertain to health and employee problems. Saturn also rules the 7th, another indication of difficulty with relationships or sexuality. The twelfth-part of Saturn is in the 9th place, further emphasizing the potential for issues with foreign countries and with religion and spirituality in general.
The Name Game
In your studies, you will undoubtedly encounter the confusion that exists in relation to “house systems”. The more dominant house systems of the past 1,000 years in the western world have involved dividing (trisecting) the four regions of the sky between the horizons and meridians of the chart (i.e. the “quadrants”). These are the quadrant houses.
Advancement vs. Topics
There are many passages in ancient Hellenistic texts, especially in Ptolemy and Valens, which appear to imply the use of a quadrant system. These may have inspired the actual eventual adoption of the quadrant approach in the west. In India, the whole sign house system is still dominant. In the second lesson, we dealt with some of these passages and how these quadrant divisions were initially used in the context of the length of life technique to assess a type of planetary strength (advancement), rather than for topics.
Signs are Houses
Most of the confusion about early house division pertains to the term “house”. The terminology changed meanings over time. In Hellenistic astrology, a “house” is a sign of the zodiac, as every sign is a planet’s house (domicile). For instance, the houses of Jupiter are the signs Pisces and Sagittarius (i.e. the domiciles of Jupiter). Interestingly, modern astrologers still use the term “domicile” but the fact that it means “house” is overlooked. Hellenistic astrologers used the terms “2nd house” and “2nd sign” interchangeably.
Ancient Astrologers on the Equivalency of Sign and House
Porphyry (Porphyry, Ch. 5, 2009, Holden trans., p. 9):
Houses and zones of the stars [are what] they term the 12 twelfths of the zodiac, which they also call signs.
Ptolemy (Ptolemy, Book I, Ch. 17, 1940, Robbins trans., p. 80):
The system of houses is of the following nature. Since of the twelve signs the most northern, which are closer than the others to our zenith and therefore most productive of heat and of warmth are Cancer and Leo, they assigned these to the greatest and most powerful heavenly bodies, that is, to the luminaries, as houses, Leo, which is masculine, to the sun and Cancer, feminine, to the moon.
Dorotheus (Dorotheus, Book I, Ch. 1, 2005, Pingree trans., p. 162):
Know the houses of the planets: Cancer is the house of the Moon, Leo the house of the Sun, Capricorn and Aquarius the houses of Saturn, Sagittarius and Pisces the houses of Jupiter, Aries and Scorpio the houses of Mars, Taurus and Libra the houses of Venus, and Gemini and Virgo the houses of Mercury.
“House” evidently underwent a metonymic shift in meaning from referring to signs themselves (as domiciles/houses of the planets) to referring to abstract divisions of the sky. This was probably due to its heavy use in the context of referring to the places (2nd house, 3rd house, etc.).
Place as a Technical Term
In Hellenistic astrology, the assigning of topics is best referred to (and translated) as “the places”. The 1st place is the first sign/house to complete its rising. The 2nd place is the second sign/house to rise, and so forth. Throughout numerous Hellenistic texts, we see terms like “2nd sign”, “2nd house”, and “2nd place” used synonymously to refer to a sign in the context of topics.
“Place” is consistent with ancient usage in many Greek and Latin texts. Additionally, it avoids confusion with the so-called “houses” created by quadrant divisions. However, I continue to use the terms place, sign, and house interchangeably as the Hellenistic astrologers did.
Astrologers Referring to the Places as Signs and Houses
Valens (Book II, Ch. 9, 2010, Riley trans., p. 28):
“The VIII Place of Death. Various Views.
Benefics appearing in this place are innefectual and weak, and they do not bestow their proper benefits. […] If Mercury alone is in this Sign and is ruler of Intelligence (as Daimon is called), it makes fools, dullards, those handicapped in speech, illiterates.”
Maternus (Book II, Ch. 18b.3, 2011, Holden trans., p. 63):
“Goddess is the third house, i.e. the third sign from the ASC; that house is called Thea by the Greeks as we just mentioned. But the sign is called God That is located in opposition across from that [previous] sign–that is to say the ninth sign from the ASC. That house is called Theos by the Greeks.”
Rhetorius (Ch. 57, 2009, Holden trans., p. 43):
“The twelfth house is called Bad Daemon and “rising before the ASC” and metacosmic. It signifies things concerning enemies and slaves and quadrupeds, and all the things that transpire before the hour of birth, both to the mother and to the one that is about to be born, since this sign rises before the explusion of the fetus.”
Additionally, see the earlier quote of Dorotheus on the superiority of the places.
The Original System
Scholarship over the last 20 years has brought to light that the whole sign house system (signs as places) was the original house or place system. Major translators and scholars agree that whole sign houses are the original house system. This includes James Herschel Holden, Robert Schmidt, Robert Hand, and Dorian Gieseler Greenbaum. Additionally, Benjamin Dykes translations revealed that the early medieval Persians were routinely using whole sign houses for topics as late as the 9th century CE.
A Scholar on Whole Sign Places
To illustrate the current scholarly position on the importance and ubiquity of whole sign houses within the original system of horoscopic astrology, I provide a quote from Dorian Greenbaum on the places (2015, The Daimon in Hellenistic Astrology, p. 400, footnote 6):
“By far the most prevalent among Hellenistic astrologers is this ‘one place/one sign’ system (called ‘Whole Sign’ by modern traditional astrologers). This is not to say that astrologers were unaware of the earth’s inclination which put the ecliptic at about a 23.5° tilt and, consequently, often made for a less than 90° angle between the rising and culminating degrees in an astrological chart (depending on the rising time of the sign on the eastern horizon); what is now known as the Porphyry place-system is described in Valens, III, 2 (Pingree, 127.17-128.26). But the whole sign/place system showed areas of life, while the rising or culminating angles (and those that set and anti-culminated) described the relative strength or power of signs or planets within that system. Yet all of Valens’ chart delineations use a one place/one sign system (thanks to Robert Hand for bringing this to my attention). Paulus Alexandrinus (378 CE) showed he was aware of this in his Introduction, ch. 30, ‘On the Midheaven’: ‘But it is necessary to know that the Midheaven degree does not always fall in the tenth from the Hour-marker, on account of the inequality of the zodiac sign’s temporal ascension, but sometimes on the ninth, sometimes on the eleventh.’ […] Olympiadorus, Paulus’s 6th-century commentator, appears to be the first of the Hellenistic astrologers to suggest that the quadrant system (in this case, the one later ascribed to Porphyry) be used for the places as significators of areas of life […]”
Take It Further
Look at your chart and the charts of interesting celebrities. Which planets are the most prominent? With which houses do these planets associate by position and rulership? Which planets are the most relevant for characterizing the self? Don’t forget to consider the different types of rulership. Additionally, look to see if any planet is located in a twelfth-part that is the rising sign. In which houses are the rulers of the Ascendant?
Dig deeper into the significations of the houses by reading Valens, Book II, Chapters 4-15. Additionally, for those who possess a copy, I recommend reading Ch. 57 of Rhetorius the Egyptian.
References
Dorotheus of Sidon. (2005). Carmen Astrologicum. (D. Pingree, Trans.). Abingdon, MD: Astrology Center of America.
Greenbaum, D. G. (2015). The Daimon in Hellenistic Astrology: Origins and Influence (Lam edition). Leiden ; Boston: Brill.
Masha’allah, & al-Khayyat, A. ’Ali. (2009). Persian Nativities I: Masha’allah and Abu ’Ali. (B. N. Dykes, Trans.). Minneapolis, MN: The Cazimi Press.
Maternus, J. F. (2011). Mathesis. (J. H. Holden, Trans.). American Federation of Astrologers.
Paulus Alexandrinus & Olympiodorus. (2001). Late Classical Astrology: Paulus Alexandrinus and Olypiodorus. (D. G. Greenbaum, Trans.). Reston, VA: Arhat.
Porphyry, & Serapio. (2009). Porphyry the Philosopher. (J. H. Holden, Trans.). Tempe, AZ: American Federation of Astrologers.
Featured image of Horoscope from “The Birth of Iskandar” (14th century) by See page for author [<a href=”http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0″>CC BY 4.0</a>], <a href=”https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AUSE_L15229_Horoscope_from_'The_book_of_birth_of_Iskandar%22_Wellcome_L0025988.jpg”>via Wikimedia Commons</a>
Toda Hut image by Pratheep P S, www.pratheep.com [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Image of the painting Runners (1920) by Robert Delauney is in the public domain.
Earth symbol is in the public domain.
Image of etching Light Expelling Darkness (1795) by James Gillray is in the public domain.
Image of phrenology chart is in the public domain.
Jimi Hendrix image is in the public domain.
Official Portrait of Donald Trump is in the public domain.
Do you want to learn astrology but are put off by the different schools of thought, complex terminology, and vague explanations? Would you like to explore the original ways that the basic elements of astrology were used?
Hellenistic astrology is the name of the astrology from which all chart-based astrology descends, including Indian horoscopic astrology and modern Western astrology. While it is about 2,000 years old, it is still possible to learn its techniques today.
Why Learn Hellenistic Astrology?
If you feel drawn to astrology, the study of Hellenistic astrology will reward you as it is clearer and richer than most modern astrology. You will get the added benefit of connecting to astrology’s roots and learning the origin of elements of astrology still in use today, such as signs, aspects, and houses. However, skeptics of astrology can also benefit from its study, as they will learn the original rules of the game and can better evaluate practitioners of more sophisticated forms of astrology.
A Series of Lessons
This series will fill a strong need for a quick and dirty introduction to ancient astrology for beginners and intermediate students. In this series, I will attempt to present things in such a way that anyone will be able to very quickly start reading charts from a Hellenistic perspective. I hope to allow you to understand the other articles on this site and start exploring primary source material. In this lesson zero, I introduce how the astrology we will study fits into the history of astrology. If you want to dive into doing actual astrology, please feel free to skip this lesson and come back to it.
By ancient astrology, I mean the type which arose in the last couple centuries BCE, in the Mediterranean region, particularly around Egypt. Prior to the advent of this new system, astrologers had read omens in the sky. They had done this for thousands of years, with particular intensity in Mesopotamia. However, around the 1st or 2nd century BCE, a melding of Babylonian, Egyptian, and Greek knowledge resulted in a new astrology using charts of the sky to interpret all manner of inquiries.
Where the Sun Rises
One of the key innovations to come out of this revolutionary system was that it fixed the sky to a specific place and time according to the sign of the zodiac (section of the sky) that was rising in the east. This rising or ascending sign (Ascendant) was called the horoskopos (horoscope).
A chart of the positions of the signs and planets relative to this sign was drawn. These charts are also known as “horoscopes”, so this chart-based astrology is called “horoscopic astrology”. Topics were assigned to different areas of the chart and a specific new set of principles were used to interpret the chart. This astrology became very popular and widespread in Egypt, Europe, Persia, and even India. It transformed each culture’s omen lore tradition into a “horoscopic” tradition; an Astrology 2.0 if you will.
Speaking Greek
We refer to the original horoscopic astrology as Hellenistic astrology because it was practiced by people who wrote in Ancient Greek. Ancient Greek was the scholarly language of the time around Alexandria, Egypt and the Mediterranean due to the prior conquests of Alexander the Great. Texts quickly also appeared in other languages, especially Latin (and later Pahlavi and Sanskrit). However, even in these other languages, the early system is called Hellenistic astrology.
Greco-Roman
Therefore, Hellenistic astrology is not so much astrology performed by Greeks as one might presume by the name. Rather the designation refers to the language of the foundational texts of the period, not the ethnic identity or national origins of its practitioners. As its practice tended to actually rise and fall with the Roman Empire it may also accurately be called Greco-Roman astrology. Greco-Roman astrology refers to the Greek and Latin language astrology practiced within the Roman Empire during its heyday.
The system spread quickly to Persia and to India (see Yavanajataka). There it combined with sophisticated omen astrology that had existed in those regions and transformed them into horoscopic astrology strongly resembling Hellenistic astrology. In India the horoscopic tradition thrives as Jyotish.
Interestingly, the first mechanical computer is an astronomical clock to calculate planetary positions for astrological work. It dates back to the 1st-2nd century BCE, around the time that Hellenistic astrology was born.
A Rich Body of Text
One might expect that we’d have only scraps from this 2,000-year-old fringe field of study. We actually have many multi-volume ancient textbooks on the subject. There is a lot of material in Hellenistic astrology, and it is very diverse.
Despite a common foundation, different authors stressed different techniques and approaches from the beginning. They did not all agree.
While there are attempts at reconstructing an original or proto-Hellenistic astrology, one of the strengths of the period is its diversity. Not everything proposed works, but with multiple ancient astrologers expressing their take on a matter, and an abundance of chart data available today for analysis, we have plenty of approaches to test out and refine.
Recent Translation Wave
Most of the material did not see its first translation into English until the late 20th century. One of the largest and most important works, the nine-volume Anthology of Vettius Valens, was not completely available in English until 2010 (translation by Mark Riley).
Robust at the Start
The oldest surviving complete works date back to the 1st century CE. However, many of those works are already large, refined, and reference earlier source material. In fact, both of the surviving full works from the 1st century, those of Manilius and Dorotheus, are lengthy poems (verse), which is an indication of thorough prior familiarity with the material.
A reconstruction of the Antikythera Mechanism (click the photo to read a Smithsonian article about the mechanism).
The Most Important Hellenistic Texts
While there are over a dozen notable surviving texts from the Hellenistic period, there are fiveparticularly pivotal texts:
Dorotheus wrote the large and influential Carmen Astrologicumin the 1st century CE, which had 4 books on interpreting charts of birth time (natal astrology) and 1 book on choosing lucky times to start activities (electional astrology).
Ptolemy, a notable “scientist” (natural philosopher) of the day, wrote the large Tetrabiblos(2nd century CE). This text has material on birth charts and also material on interpreting charts for weather and political events (mundane astrology).
Valens wrote what is probably the most informative text of the era, the Anthology (2nd century CE). He cites a number of techniques from other ancient authors which would otherwise be unknown. The nine volumes deal with natal astrology (birth chart interpretation), especially methods for predicting important life events.
Maternus wrote Mathesis(4th century CE), which is another very large text on birth chart interpretation, but one less focused on predictive techniques than Valens.
A great reference text of definitions by an author named Antiochus (2nd century CE or earlier) is now lost but its important definitions were copied into the Introduction to the Tetrabiblosof Porphyry (3rd century CE) and the Compendiumof Rhetorius (6th or 7th century CE), making them important references for this lost text on the early rules of the game.
From Hellenistic Astrology to Persian Medieval Astrology
After the decline of the Roman empire, intellectual activity in the region strongly shifted from the Greeks (and Romans) to their neighbors. The Persians had translated Greek science and philosophy into their language, Pahlavi. Muslim Arabs conquered the Persians in the 7th century CE. They translated Greek and Pahlavi material on natural science and philosophy (including astrology) into Arabic.
Some of the greatest Persian and Arab minds of the age wrote on astrology. Working with Hellenistic texts, they developed ideas and sought to advance the art of astrology. In many ways, today’s Hellenistic astrologers are focused on the same task. However, the translation and transmission of the Hellenistic material resulted in some key changes and additions that transformed the way a chart was interpreted during this period.
Perso-Arabic Astrology
I refer to this early medieval astrology as Persian astrology or Perso-Arabic astrology, to distinguish it from the Hellenistic astrology that came before it and the European Medieval astrology that followed. The Carmen Astrologicum of Dorotheus was a major influence upon the astrology of the Persian period. This is particularly so in the development of the astrology of choosing lucky times (electional astrology) and the astrology of finding answers to questions in the chart of the time the question is asked (horary astrology).
The Persians had an existing system of omen-lore for predicting world events. Therefore, some of the most important developments in using charts to interpret and predict world events (mundane astrology) also occurred during this period.
Important Perso-Arabic Astrologers
In the last 15 years, we have seen the first English translations of many of the most important Perso-Arabic works. Dr. Ben Dykes is the most active translator of these works. His translations have been of the highest quality, with extensive footnotes relating the works to their Hellenistic sources, so I heartily recommend them, especially the Persian Nativities series.
The key figures in Perso-Arabic astrology include al-Andarzaghar (7th century), Mashallah ibn Athari (8th century), Umar al-Tabari (late 8th-early 9th century), Sahl Ibn Bishr (early 9th century), Abu ‘Ali al-Khayyat (9th century) Abu Bakr (9th century), Abu Ma’shar (9th century), Al-Kindi (9th century), Al-Qabisi (10th century), and Al-Biruni (10th-11th century). Interestingly, the writings of the astrologer Abu Ma’shar have also been argued to be the single greatest source for the recovery of the ideas of Aristotle in Europe prior to the middle of the 12th century.
Astrology Returns to Europe
During the High Middle Ages, Arabic material became translated into Latin, particularly in Spain. This translation wave saw a return of Hellenistic scientific and philosophical thought to Europe, leading eventually to the Renaissance.
While some of the greatest minds of the European Middle Ages and Renaissance worked on this astrology, it came to resemble a somewhat watered down version of late Perso-Arabic astrology, rather than a return to Hellenistic astrology. This was due to a combination of factors, including the selection, quality, and availability of the translated texts, as well as varying degrees of social pressure against astrology from the church and those in the intellectual community.
A 16th century Latin translation of Abu Ma’shar’s classic text of mundane astrology, On the Great Conjunctions.
Some Changes Were Not for the Best
Some of the distinct features of the late European tradition include assigning topics of life in the chart by dividing the chart spatially (quadrant houses). This is opposed to assigning the topics to the signs/houses themselves based on their order of rising starting with the first house (sign) rising.
There was also very little use of certain key features of Hellenistic astrology in late European astrology. For instance, the lots (see link for more details on lots) were neglected due to false suspicions that they were invented by the Arabs. At the same time, some features that were invented in the Perso-Arabic period, such as the use of pointing systems to assess a planet’s relationship to some area of the chart and the strength or quality of the planet’s indications, became key features of European traditional astrology.
These gradual changes in emphasis eroded Hellenistic astrology throughout the later traditional period. For instance, the point-based analysis ignores sect, a distinction made by many major figures in Hellenistic and Persian astrology. By contrast, the point-based system sees as significant more marginal distinctions like “detriment” (when a planet is in the sign opposite from the one it rules), a distinction ignored by most Hellenistic astrologers.
Bonatti (13th century) synthesized some of the Perso-Arabic material in his work. Bonatti is a favorite of 20th-century medievalist astrologer Robert Zoller.
Morin (17th century) wrote volumes on interpreting the natal chart and a few of those volumes became key texts of 20th-century traditional astrology (particularly those on interpretive principles and on solar returns).
Johannes Kepler, best known for his astronomical work, was a 17th-century astrologer who sought to reformulate astrology according to his own ideas.
William Lilly (17th century), an English astrologer, wrote primarily on answering questions (horary astrology). He continues to influence the practice of horary astrology today.
William Lilly and his birth chart.
The Changing Meaning of “Traditional Astrology”
While traditional astrologers originally focused on the late European tradition, this is changing as more people discover the earlier Hellenistic and Persian material. Traditional astrologers neglected Hellenistic and Persian astrology until recently due to a lack of texts in modern languages. We have translators to thank for today’s renewed interest in ancient forms of astrology.
From Renaissance to New Age Babble
From the late 19th century through the 20th century, astrology became reformulated under the influence of theosophy, modern psychology (especially Jungian psychology), and a number of self-styled gurus. The mainstream of modern astrology, including nearly all of the astrology books in popular bookstores, may be termed “psychological astrology” or “new age astrology”. Unfortunately, very little pre-modern astrology is readily available in bookstores. Popular astrology consists of re-inventing the wheel in order to promote a specific set of psychological or spiritual assumptions, often by distorting and oversimplifying a few of the original principles of astrology.
Ancient Astrology vs. Modern Astrology
You are probably familiar with newspaper horoscopes, Sun sign books, and maybe even more detailed modern astrological works. More detailed modern astrology looks at Moon signs, Rising signs, planets in signs, planets in houses, planets in aspect, etc. Such modern works claim to provide information about personal traits like character and compatibility. Clearly, the stress in modern astrology is on exploring the character, preferences, and “psyche”. The activity observed in the sky mirrors the functions of the soul. Different planets and chart factors represent distinct functions (modules) of one’s soul or psyche. In this view, an astrological chart reveals the unconscious changes taking place in the individual and collective psyches. These changes only sometimes materialize in actual events, but they are always “real” in some psycho-spiritual sense.
Marc Edmund Jones played a central role in guiding the reformulation of astrology in the early 20th century.
You’re Not your Sun Sign
As all factors are components of the psyche in such a system. The most powerful factors (Sun and Moon) come to represent the central components of the person’s psychology. Thus the Sun in modern astrology is the popular go-to factor for analyzing character (the Sun sign). Horoscope columnists even attempt large-scale prediction for all those born with the same Sun signs. Elaborate personality delineations based just on the Sun sign (such as Linda Goodman’s Sun Signs) continue to be very popular. However, the over-emphasis on the Sun’s sign and on a wholly psychological orientation, are inconsistent with ancient astrology.
A Whole New World
Contrast the focus on the personal unconscious in modern astrology with the focus on all facets of life in ancient astrology, not just psychology. The chart speaks of events that are internal and external, personal and impersonal, subjective and objective. For instance, in one person’s chart, the Sun may speak volumes about the personality, while in another’s it may say more about the person’s career, spouse, boss, or father. Not everything in the chart provides indications about the internal functioning of the person’s personality.
Psychology in Hellenistic Astrology
As ancient astrology has a lot to say about non-psychological circumstances, there is a myth that ancient astrology says little about personality, belief, spirituality, and fulfillment. Actually, many ancient astrological authors addressed the topics of personality, spirituality, and morality at great length. Additionally, the fuller feature-set of Hellenistic astrology allows for more complex and nuanced analysis which better captures the diversity of human experience than the 12 Sun Sign personalities and other over-simplistic approaches to character analysis.
A Dynamic Cast of Characters
In ancient astrological interpretation, there may be multiple planets with strong ties to the personality. Each may have different significations. They may even be in a tense conflict with each other. There may be indications for when one of those becomes more prominent than the others. For instance, a difficult or a beneficial psychological circumstance may be indicated for a period of time.
We can even find a 2nd-century Hellenistic astrologer (Ptolemy) distinguishing indications referring to the unconscious mind from those referring to the conscious mind. The wider vocabulary of ancient astrology is refreshing. It is a welcome move away from the type of astrology that insists that Walt Disney, Josef Stalin, Jimi Hendrix, Brad Pitt, Ted Bundy, and Miley Cyrus all have the same core personality (or main ego drives, etc.) because all were born with the Sun in Sagittarius.
Power vs. the Center of Circumstance
The signs of the Sun and the Moon are the primary factors for the character in modern astrology. By contrast, the planets themselves rather than their signs were the focus for traditional character analysis. The Sun and Moon are powerful in ancient astrology, but in a general sense. They signaled power, prominence, and influence generally. If the Sun and/or Moon had a strong influence over character then they’d symbolize a bolder and more vibrant character. However, the Sun and Moon are not always the central factors for determining the nature of someone’s character.
The rising point, called the horoskopos or Ascendant is the key symbol of the individual in the chart. This is the point where the vast infinite sky rises out from the finite Earth. The sky is a symbol of boundless potential or the soul of the universe. By contrast, the Earth is a symbol of the finite personal body. Therefore, the Ascendant is like a soul peering through a body. Infinite potential takes finite form – a life takes shape. Planets ruling or otherwise influencing this point access the symbol of the individual. They are particularly relevant for character and persistent physical circumstance.
The Unfolding Self
The degree of the Ascendant is based on the earth’s rotation. As such it is dependent on one’s specific location. Additionally, the degree of the Ascendant changes about every 4 minutes on average, or a sign every 2 hours. Compare this with the Sun sign which changes once per month. In this way, ancient astrology links the self with the most individual part of the chart. The Ascendant is dependent upon the particular moment and location of birth. It is not the same for any person born in one-twelfth of any year like the Sun sign.
The rest of the chart shows the circumstances of the individual’s life. Predictive techniques animate areas of the chart to symbolize the individual put into contact with those circumstances. A change in circumstances can even pertain to the personality. The symbolism for psychological change and development over time is available in ancient astrology.
Sunrise at the ruins of the Temple of Apollo at Side, Antalya, Turkey.
Let’s Learn Astrology
In this series, we will begin with the planets and work our way to full chart analysis and prediction. From the first lesson, we will begin thinking in the language of astrology. We will use this language to describe all manner of circumstances. The accurate application of this language to our daily lives is a key to reading charts. We will explore personality and a whole lot more. By the end of the series, you will be able to hone your craft on your own. You’ll do this by analyzing charts and critically testing techniques. In addition, you will be able to explore the neglected ancient source material for new ideas and perspectives.
Image attributions
Featured Image: Antikythera Mechanism fragments: By Therese Clutario [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Antikythera Mechanism: By Tilemahos Efthimiadis from Athens, Greece [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Antikythera Mechanism reconstruction: By Moravec (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Latin Translation of Abu Ma’shar: Public Domain
Lilly and his Birth Chart: See page for author [CC BY 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Marc Edmund Jones: Public Domain
Sunrise Apollo Side: By Saffron Blaze (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
But since the variety of the impulses of the soul is great, it stands to reason that we would make such an inquiry in no simple or offhand manner, but by means of many complicated observations. For indeed the differences between the signs which contain Mercury and the moon, or the planets that dominate them, can contribute much to the character of the soul […] (Ptolemy from the Tetrabiblos (Robbins trans., 1940, III.13, cam. p. 154)
Planetary Aspects and Configurations
This article is part of a series of lessons on the basics of horoscopic astrology as practiced in the first millennium. In this lesson, we’ll look at planetary relationships and configurations, including aspects. Sign relationships and rulers figure heavily in this discussion. We will also explore a method of character analysis from second-century astrologer Claudius Ptolemy.
Recap
Initially, in this series, we explored the history of astrology and the significance of the planets. The second lesson introduced free astrology charting software, as well as how planets advance to a location by way of the local horizon and meridian. We learned more planetary prominence considerations in the third lesson. The fourth lesson introduced the signs of the zodiac and their features. We will be drawing on the information from that last lesson a lot in this one.
Initially, we examined ways in which planetary significations can become more or less prominent in characterizing life circumstances. In the last lesson, we considered that signs contribute to this characterization. Signs are the houses of the planets. These houses have their own features but also have relationships with planets, including those which occupy the house or rule it. Let’s explore planet and house relationships.
Planets Influencing Other Planets
The significations of any planet are further characterized by its relationship with other planets. Consider this: different areas of life are not neatly separate but interact in interesting ways. These interactions differ from person to person, as well as over the course of one’s life. The way that planets influence the significations of other planets and houses, helps to characterize the complexity and nuance inherent in life.
Taking Stock of the Breadth and Depth of Influence
Planets will differ in terms of how forcefully they influence the significations of another planet. Additionally, many planets may simultaneously be influential, and timing techniques can help us determine when these different influences are highlighted. Therefore, we must take stock of both the breadth and depth of the influences on any planet or house. Considering all of the influences alerts us to what is possible. Considering the deepest or strongest influences helps us to understand the “status quo” or what is probable. Timing techniques alert us to when certain possibilities become the most probable.
Rulership and Aspect
The two primary ways that planets influence the symbolism of other planets is through rulership and aspect. We dealt with the basics of rulership in the last post on signs. Aspects are relationships that are based on mathematical angles. The aspectual system of ancient astrology has some advanced features, but at its foundation are whole sign aspects, called regards. The meanings behind the aspects are based on planetary rulership relationships and a sight metaphor. Let’s look at how the system works.
Ptolemy’s Predominator
Planetary regard (aspect), like sign rulership, is a fundamental part of astrological theory. Every major ancient astrologer considered these two factors. Even Ptolemy (2nd century CE), who made almost no use of topical assignment to the houses (i.e. places, as addressed in the next lesson), relied heavily upon rulership and regard. Before moving on to look at regards, let’s use the rulerships learned in the last lesson to start characterizing significations as Ptolemy would.
A Natural Significator Approach
Ptolemy analyzed topics in life from the natural significations of the planets. For instance, if he wanted to analyze someone’s mind (psychology) then he’d look at Mercury and the Moon (see the opening quote). Mercury naturally signifies the rational mind. The Moon naturally signifies the irrational (what we might term the unconscious today). In order to look at planets that “dominate” the characterization of these aspects of mind, we would look at which planets most influence Mercury and the Moon. The planet with the most influence is the predominator.
Five Factors for Predomination
As Ptolemy puts it (note”trine” in this 1940 translation is “triplicity”, as in triplicity lord):
In general the mode of domination is considered as falling under these five forms: when it is trine, house, exaltation, term, and phase or aspect; that is, whenever the place in question is related in one or several or all of these ways to the star that is to be the ruler. (Ptolemy, Robbins trans., 1940, II.2, p. 109)
Therefore, the five following relationships are considered to be important types of influence upon a planet. A planet with the more of these relationships will have more influence. The planet with the most is the predominator.
1. House/domicile lord
2. Exaltation lord
3. Main triplicity lord
4. Bound/term lord
5. Planetary regards
The house lord, exaltation lord, triplicity lord, and bound lord were introduced in the last post. We will discuss regards below, but for now let’s look at the first four influences.
Find Rulers and Predominators in Whitney Houston’s Chart
Let’s look at an example chart (Whitney Houston, AA-rated) and determine the rulers of a few planets.
Whitney Houston’s Natal Chart
Mercury’s Rulers
Mercury is at 10 degrees Virgo, in the bound of Venus.
House: Mercury. Virgo is the nocturnal home of Mercury.
Exaltation: Mercury. Mercury is exalted in Virgo.
Triplicity: The Moon. She was born at night, and the first triplicity lord of earth signs (of which Virgo is one) at night is the Moon. However, note that Venus is the second triplicity lord.
Bound: Venus. Mercury is in the bound of Venus.
Mercury Analyzed
Ignoring regards, we would consider Mercury, the Moon, and Venus to be influential in the characterization of Mercury. In this case, Mercury has the most influence on the position. However, in terms of the other planets’ influence on Mercury, the Moon and Venus have about equal influence by this method.
Ptolemy judged the characterization of the rational mind based on Mercury. Here we find the fundamental characterizations of Mercury to be reinforced (vocal, talkative, clever, flexible, dexterous, mobile, business-oriented). Mercury is in a mutable sign, so we might say there is an emphasis on social interaction and exchange (mutable moves toward mixing). Mercury is in an earth sign, so there is an emphasis on tangibility.
The Moon and Venus influence Mercury, both of which are feminine. As a luminary, the Moon is naturally prominent. She adds a sense of importance and publicity, while also showing that the rational mind is influenced by the instinctual, natural, and nurturing. Venus brings in significations related to the arts, aesthetics, and/or sexuality to the focus of the rational mind.
Whitney Houston’s Natal Chart
The Moon and Jupiter’s Rulers
These two planets also have the same rulers as they are found in the same bound of the same sign, so we can look at both together.
House: Mars. Mars is the house lord of Aries.
Exaltation: The Sun. The Sun is the exaltation lord of Aries.
Triplicity: Jupiter. Jupiter is the first triplicity lord of fire signs by night.
Bound: Mercury. Mercury is the bound lord of both planets.
The Moon Analyzed
Ignoring regards, we would consider Mars, the Sun, Jupiter, and Mercury to all be about equally influential over the characterization of the Moon and Jupiter by this method.
Ptolemy used the Moon to judge the characterization of the irrational mind. The Moon is in Aries, a cardinal sign. Cardinal signs are associated with confident bold expression and with sweeping sudden changes. Aries is a fire sign, so there is an unconscious pull to be influential.
The cardinality, masculinity, and fiery nature of the sign are all further reinforced by the influences of the Sun and Mars. The Sun greatly amplifies an unconscious pull for attention, importance, and influence. Mars brings aggression and competitiveness to this picture. Jupiter adds opportunity, generosity, and spirituality to the picture. Mercury brings in commerce, communication, the voice, and cleverness.
Whitney Houston’s Natal Chart
The Ascendant’s Rulers
The Ascendant is in the Venus-ruled bound of Pisces.
House: Jupiter. Pisces is the nocturnal home of Jupiter.
Exaltation: Venus. Venus is exalted in Pisces.
Triplicity: Mars. She was born at night, and the first triplicity lord of water signs (of which Pisces is one) at night is Mars. Note that the second triplicity lord is Venus.
Bound: Venus. Venus rules the bound that the Ascendant was in at birth.
The Ascendant Analyzed
Ignoring regards, we would consider the Venus, Jupiter, and Mars to all be influential over the characterization of the Ascendant by this method. Ptolemy did not use the Ascendant for the mind, but we are looking at it here because it is the primary significator of the self in the chart. Additionally, many ancient astrologers looked at the Ascendant and its ruler for characterizing the person and their personality. We may consider the predominator of the Ascendant to be particularly influential upon the character and skill of the person.
The Ascendant itself is more symbolic of the body and temperament. Here it is in Pisces, a mutable, feminine, water sign. This makes the body more phlegmatic (soft, feminine, watery) and the temperament quite easy going and malleable (yielding to influence).
The primary influence is that of Venus, the planet of the arts, aesthetics, and sexuality (also drugs). Additional influences include Mars (conflict, aggression, competitiveness) and Jupiter (spirituality, luck, opportunity).
Whitney Houston’s Natal Chart
The Sun and Venus’s Rulers
The Sun and Venus are in the same bound of the same sign, so they have all of the same rulers.
House: The Sun. The Sun and Venus are in Leo, which is the house of the Sun. A planet being in one of its own places of rulership is reinforcing to the significations of the planet. This is a type of planetary prominence or strength (in this case for the Sun).
Exaltation: None. There is no exaltation lord for Leo.
Triplicity: Jupiter. She was born at night, and the first triplicity lord of fire signs (of which Leo is one) at night is Jupiter.
Bound: Saturn. Both the Sun and Venus are in the bound ruled by Saturn.
Venus Analyzed
As the predominator over the Ascendant, Venus is central to understanding Houston. We see a Venus in a masculine, fixed, fire sign (Leo) and influenced by the Sun, Jupiter, and Saturn. Therefore, this is a very showy and outgoing (fire, masculine, Sun) sort of Venus who is progressive and focused (fixed). As we get to regards below we will find that the fact that Venus is with the Sun in the same house further amplifies the solar indications (showy, leader, important, influential). Jupiter (spirituality, opportunity, luck), and Saturn (challenge, loss, vice) are also both influential over Venus.
Note on Character Analysis
I think you’ll agree that there is quite a lot of information on the character in the natal chart. We still have not dealt with the aspects, topical places, and other important basics of ancient astrology. However, we already find a picture emerging that is intricate, nuanced, descriptive, and variable. Human beings are not static. They are very complex and dynamic. With this approach, we can actually time when various traits, interests, and influences are most likely to surface.
Regards and How They Relate to the House Rulers
With Each Other
Planets that are in the same sign together are particularly influential upon each other. They are said to be “with” each other. This is the most powerful type of regard or aspect. However, it is not specifically called a regard because the planets are literally in the same place, rather than “seeing” (regarding) each other. Note that in ancient texts, it is more commonly referred to as two planets “with” each other than “conjunct”. The term conjunction is often used for close aspects by degree, whether the bodies are in the same place (bodily joining) or aspecting each other (aspectual joining; see below).
For example, the Sun and Venus are with each other in Whitney Houston’s chart, as both are in Leo. In this way, their significations are very strongly tied together.
Aspects
There are 4 additional aspects between planets, and these are based on a visual metaphor. Examine the diagram of planetary domiciles/houses below. Also, see the diagram on The Astrology Dictionary’s entry on “aspect”.
Opposition
Note that the domiciles of Saturn (Capricorn and Aquarius) are opposite those of the Sun and Moon (Leo and Cancer). Signs that are opposite each other (180-degrees) are said to be in opposition. The opposition is a relationship of challenge, limitation, or obstruction, much like the nature of Saturn. The 7th sign from any sign is opposed to that sign.
Square
Note that each of the domiciles of Mars (Aries and Scorpio) are at a 90-degree angle from the domiciles of one of the lights (Sun or Moon). This relationship is called a “square”. The shape of a geometric square is composed of right angles. It is also sometimes called a “quartile” as the signs are a quarter of the zodiac apart. It is a relationship of intensity, competition, and clash, much like the nature of Mars. The 4th and 10th (i.e. 4th counting backward) sign from any sign is square to that sign.
Trine
Note that each of the domiciles of Jupiter (Sagittarius and Pisces) are at a 120-degree angle from the domiciles of one of the lights (Sun or Moon). This relationship is called a “trine” as there are always three signs which trine each other (i.e. those of the same triplicity). Together, the trines form a triangle, so they are also called triangles. The relationship is one of friendship, strong harmony, and opportunity, much like the nature of Jupiter. The 5th and 9th (i.e. 5th counting backward) sign from any sign is trine to that sign.
Sextile
Note that each of the domiciles of Venus (Taurus and Libra) are at a 60-degree angle from the domiciles of one of the lights (Sun or Moon). This relationship is called a sextile as it is composed of two signs 60 degrees apart (60 degrees is a 1/6th of the zodiac). The relationship is one of complement, much like the nature of Venus. The 3rd and 11th (i.e. 3rd counting backward) sign from any sign is sextile to that sign.
Ptolemy on the Aspects
Read how Ptolemy describes the 4 aspects in Ch. 13 of Book I “Of the Aspects of the Signs” by clicking into this link. Note that Ptolemy sought a physical explanation for astrological phenomena. For him the nature of the aspects is derived from musical harmony rather than ruler-based sign relationships. He sought an explanation based on sign features also, but he erroneously stated that signs in opposition and square/quartile are less harmonious due to being of opposite gender. Opposing signs are actually of the same gender. Only the square involves signs of opposite gender.
Signs Not in Aspect
Signs that are not in one of the above 4 relationships with each other are said to be “not in concord”, “disjunct”, “inconjunct”, or “alien”. As Serapio of Alexandra put it, “Not in concord are those that are in no way aspecting each other” (Holden trans., 2009, p. 61). However, some astrologers, including Ptolemy and Porphyry, considered planets not to be disjunct if they have some other type of sign sympathy (see my article on sign symmetry for some of these types of sympathy).
Regarding is Seeing
In any case, planets may be said to regard (to see) those signs that they aspect. Those that are not aspected are not as directly influential as they are out of sight. The signs that are not in aspect are the 2nd, 6th, 8th, and 12th sign from any sign. This concept of areas out of sight is important, as we’ll see, in the next post on places. Ancient astrologers associated those signs that the rising sign can’t see with topics in life that tend to be the most problematic (the “dark” or “bad” places). This is because the rising sign symbolizes the individual person and the signs that they can’t see are akin to “alien” influences.
Overcoming and Domination
When looking at regards, we should also take into account which planet has the upper hand. Sometimes astrologers do this by seeing which planet is more reinforced, such as by being in a position it rules. However, in Hellenistic astrology, this was often done by looking at which planet was to the right (clockwise from the other planet) in the relationship.
Overcoming from Behind
Planets normally progress forward through the zodiac, so the planet in an earlier position zodiacally (i.e. to the right or clockwise) is figuratively behind the other planet. The planet in front is in a more vulnerable position. The planet on the right is referred to as “overcoming” the planet on the left.
Domination by Square
Overcoming is strongest for the “square” aspect. In a square, the planet on the right is said to “overpower” (Dorotheus) or “predominate”/”dominate” (Porphyry). It may be that the distinction is most relevant for the square because of the Mars-like nature of the aspect. It is helpful to know which planet is dominant when planets are in a relationship of conflict.
And the [star] that is in the tenth sign is said to be predominant and to prevail over the one in the fourth [sign from it], e.g. the star that chances to be in Libra is dominant over the one in Capricorn, and the one in Capricorn is dominant over the one in Aries. (Porphyry, Holden trans., 2009, Ch. 20, p. 17)
Overcoming by Trine or Sextile
The right planet in the trine or sextile was also mentioned by some astrologers as “overcoming” or “prevailing”. See the Porphyry quote below in which “prevailing” is the more general term used for the trine, square, or sextile, in contrast to “predominating” (the above quote) which only pertains to the square.
Every star prevails when it is posited in a dexter trine or square or sextile to one on its left, for that one goes toward it. For example, one that is in Capricorn prevails over one in trine aspect in Taurus […] They say that prevailing is more powerful when [the planets] are in trine or square. For the prevailing star is thus stronger […]. (Porphyry, Holden trans., 2009, Ch. 21, p. 17)
Overcoming While With a Planet
So far, we see that planets on the right side are more influential in the aspect relationship and that this is especially so for the square. The concept is not used at all for the opposition. However, for at least for one Hellenistic astrologer, Serapio of Alexander, overcoming applied to planets with each other in the same sign as well.
whenever two stars are present in the same sign, and the one having fewer degrees prevails over the one having more degrees, e.g., the star of Mercury in Aries around the 10th degree, that of Saturn in the same sign around the 25th degree–it is evident that the [star] of Mercury prevails over that of Saturn by degrees. (Serapio, Holden trans., 2009, p. 63)
Degree-Based Aspects
In addition to sign-based aspects, there are degree-based aspects. Degree based aspects are more dynamic and intense relationships than the sign-based aspects. Additionally, there are occasions when two planets may be in a degree-based aspect even if the signs are not in aspect. These aspects come about when planets are in the same degree or those 60, 90, 120, or 180 degrees apart. For instance, two planets exactly 60 degrees apart would be in an exact degree-based sextile. There are special guidelines and terminology related to degree-based aspects. In general, the closer the degree-based aspect, the more eventful the significations related to it.
Joining
Named after the term for glue or binding in ancient Greek (kollesis), these are very tight and applying degree-based aspects. For most of the planets, they must be applying to an exact degree-based aspect within 3 degrees to be considered “joining”. However, for the Moon, she is joining the next star she will exactly encounter by aspect within a days travel from her position (i.e. applying to another planet within about 13 degrees). A joining aspect is the most intense type of aspect.
They say that an application is a kollesis whenever they apply partilely, according for example to a configuration at some particular time, or even when they are about to come together within three degrees. It is was also said if it was thus: it is a kollesis whenever one star moves toward another star, the swift one moving to the slow one that is not distant more than three degrees. And in the case of the Moon, some say within thirteen degrees; that is, in both her day and night course to observe the conjunction when she applies to one of them. (Porphyry, Holden trans., 2009, Ch. 11, p. 13)
I would consider planets joined together in this manner to be in aspect even if they don’t regard each other by sign. However, this is the only exception.
Separation
For the most part, the planets separate as soon as the exact degree-based aspect has been completed. Some ancient astrologers consider this to be after one leaves from the same numerical degree as the other. Occasionally, the bound is given significance, especially for the conjunction, and the aspect is separated when one planet leaves the bound that they shared. Note that the planets also still regard each other by the given aspect until one leaves a sign. Again, the Moon should be considered separating from the last planet that she has not yet left behind by a day’s journey (about 13 degrees).
In short, regards are intensified as planets get closer, and are particularly intense when they are joining, becoming much less intense after they separate. While a separating aspect lacks the immediacy of an applying aspect, separating aspects, especially those of the Moon, were very important for some techniques in Hellenistic astrology (primary directions and electional astrology for instance).
Scrutinizing
Following the visual metaphor, we will use the term “scrutinizing” for any aspect within 3 degrees, whether applying or separating, as these aspects are particularly intense regards. When applying, these planets are additionally joining to each other (conjoining).
Casting Rays
We noted that planets to the right (i.e. clockwise) overcome those to the left. By contrast, the planet on the left “casts a ray” to the one on the right in an aspect. Additionally, planets in opposition are said to cast rays to each other. Rays casting from a square or opposition were considered to be destructive.
However, this may only relate to close degree-based aspects and may pertain to primary directions primarily. Porphyry’s comments regarding casting rays appear to relate to the length of life technique. Note that by primary directions, planets to the left are directed to planets on the right by aspect.
And Thrasyllus says that casting a ray is a destruction, and those are anaeretic that are occupying a position in the square configurations or in the oppositions in the interval between the ASC degree and the testimony of the trines that are not incurring destruction. And the one they carry from anywhere, it will not carry the ray across, he says, whether from the right or from the left into the succedent of the ASC or of the star holding the rulership of the Moon, then it will be the aphetic place. (Porphyry, Holden trans., 2009, Ch. 24, p. 19)
Additional Configurations
There are many additional specific planetary configurations noted by Porphyry and Rhetorius. These definitions are assumed to have been copied from an early book of definitions by Antiochus. These configurations have been explored in some depth by Robert Schmidt and Chris Brennan in their respective work on reconstructing the full aspect doctrine of Antiochus. I will not explore these additional configurations here because they are seldom if ever referenced by the other major figures of Hellenistic astrology, such as Dorotheus, Valens, Ptolemy, Maternus, and Paulus Alexandrinus.
For more information on the full aspect doctrine of Antiochus check out the existing translations of Porphyry’s Introduction to the Tetrabiblos and Rhetorius the Egyptian. Also, see Project Hindsight and Chris Brennan’s course on Hellenistic astrology.
Putting Things Together
Let’s put it all together by analyzing the “irrational mind” of Jeffrey Dahmer (AA-rated) using Ptolemy’s technique.
Jeffrey Dahmer’s Natal Chart
Moon is Prominent
The first thing to notice about the Moon is its loudness. It is strongly advancing. In fact, she is conjunct the descendant (western horizon) and in a stake of the chart (the 7th house). The Moon is by far the most prominent planet in the chart. One reading is that the irrational mind is at the forefront of major life circumstances.
The sign (Aries) is masculine, fiery, and cardinal. This sign conveys confident action, impulsiveness, and broad sweeping changes, with an urge to influence.
Mars
The Moon is at 19 degrees Aries. She is in the bound of Mercury, the house of Mars, the exaltation of the Sun, and the triplicity of the Sun. From looking at aspects, it is my opinion that Mars is the most influential of all these rulers as Mars is “with” the Moon in the same sign, and is also of an earlier degree (“overcoming”). Mars is additionally reinforced by being in its own house (Aries).
While Ptolemy lists regard as just one factor, we should look at regard in a more insightful manner. Being with a planet in the same sign is the most powerful type of influence, and is greater than any rulership. On the other hand, some regards are less influential than rulership.
Saturn’s Domination
Jupiter and Saturn regard the Moon by square from the right side, so they “dominate” the Moon. The Sun and Mercury regard the Moon by sextile, but they are in the weaker position (the Moon overcomes them). Of the two planets that dominate the Moon, neither has any form of rulership, but Saturn dominates most closely, being at 17 Capricorn while the Moon is at 19 Aries (i.e. scrutinizing regard). Additionally, Saturn is in its own house, so Saturn is the more influential of the two (between Jupiter and Saturn).
In fact, Saturn is the last planet the Moon aspected, so it is the planet that the Moon separates from. The Moon’s separation and application are very significant in Hellenistic astrology. Among other things, they were important planets for assessing psychology. They were noted by Ptolemy as something to investigate.
Major Influences
Therefore, by close examination of the Moon we find that Mars has the most direct and strong influence over its symbolism (irrational mind subject to violence, turmoil, or anxiety). This is because Mars has domicile rulership and is with the Moon, overcoming her in a strong way.
Saturn and the Sun have the next most significant influence on the Moon’s significations. Saturn dominates the Moon closely and is the planet of its separation. Think of the symbolism of Saturn as pertaining to death, as well as darkness. The Sun has multiple forms of rulership as well as a weak sextile aspect. The Sun and its symbolism of fame, accomplishment, exposure, father, truth, recognition, authorities, and so forth is relevant. However, the Moon may be said to prevail over the Sun.
Five Significant but Unequal Factors
One Point Regard
Note that in the modern period, those rediscovering the techniques of Ptolemy often apply the predomination technique using rulership and regard in a mechanical fashion. Typically, a point is given to each planet for each type of rulership and regard that it has over the planet (or point) being considered. For example, if we were looking at just the Moon, as we have, then we’d give the Sun 3 points (exaltation, triplicity, regard by sextile), Mars 2 points (house, with), and Saturn, Jupiter, and Mercury one point (regard). This approach fails to take into account the varying influence of different types of regards and rulerships.
Weighted Rulership (Dignity Points)
The later medieval approach to find a predominator (the almuten, al-mubtazz, or “winner”) tended to drop regard out of the picture altogether. That approach looked at the type of rulership or combination of rulerships a planet had over a position. Different types of rulership were given different point scores.
This approach also fails to account for the fact that a planet “with” another planet or closely dominating another planet may have a much stronger influence over a planet than one that it is just its ruler. I’ve provided some critiques of this approach in the past.
Diversity of Influence
Understanding both the breadth and depth of planetary influence is more helpful than simply finding a single planet with the most points. We do want to know the strongest influence or influences. However, there are situations of competing influence, of blended influence, and of influences taking on varying degrees of prominence at various stages of life. These are important things to consider.
Returning to Dahmer’s chart, Mars has the strongest and most constant influence on the Moon in Dahmer’s chart. Mars strongly characterizes the nature of what the Moon signifies due to their being so strongly tied together. This characterization is modified by the features of Aries (fire sign; cardinal).
Saturn represents a conflicting and challenging influence on the irrational mind. Saturn is able to “dominate” the irrational mind with its significations. It also emphasizes the cardinal feature as Saturn is in a cardinal sign.
The Sun’s symbolism then relates to the irrational mind in a way that is less direct. Though the Sun is important nonetheless.
Take It Further
In this post, we looked at ways in which planetary influences combine to yield more complicated symbolism. The interpretation of planet and sign combinations is very difficult as the possibilities are numerous. It follows that astrological prediction, especially of particulars, is difficult.
Ancient astrologers would devote large portions of texts to giving some examples of possible indications from the planet, sign, aspect, and rulership combinations. Often they would give extreme examples so that one would stay open-minded to the range of possibilities. Please take some time to study these. Some texts are available free online, including translations of Ptolemy, Valens, and Maternus. Search online for these. Look at a chart and think about what sorts of possibilities and probabilities could be symbolized.
In the next post, we’ll relate some of these significations to specific areas of life. We’ll explore the main strategy of assigning life topics to signs, called the “places”.
Note on Psychology
The fact that Ptolemy used the Moon to symbolize the irrational mind was brought up strategically. Modern astrologers often assume that ancient astrology had nothing to say about psychology; that it was just about trying to predict events. Ptolemy’s treatment of the Moon and Mercury as relating to rational and irrational aspects of the mind or soul was written in the 2nd century CE. It shows that ancient astrologers did indeed concern themselves with psychology (despite it not being called psychology at that time). In fact, they had a more sophisticated toolset at their disposal for symbolizing the nature of influences and disturbances upon the mind than found in modern psychological astrology today.
References
Porphyry, & Serapio. (2009). Porphyry the Philosopher. (J. H. Holden, Trans.). Tempe, AZ: American Federation of Astrologers.
Featured image of eye is derivative work: Laitr Keiows (talk) Iris_-_left_eye_of_a_girl.jpg: Laitr Keiows (Iris_-_left_eye_of_a_girl.jpg) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Whitney Houston image by Asterio Tecson [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0) or CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Source for Planetary Domiciles Image: “Fig.3 Planetary Domiciles” by Meredith Garstin commons – Own work. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fig.3_Planetary_Domiciles.jpg#/media/File:Fig.3_Planetary_Domiciles.jpg
Dahmer’s yearbook picture is in the public domain.
The image of the painting Contemplation (1919) by Horace Weston Taylor is in the public domain.
The Roman astrologer-poet, Marcus Manilius, wrote a poem in five books called the Astronomica (1st century CE). It is one of the oldest complete astrological texts that has survived. It contains many techniques that are not found in other authors.
Neptune’s First Association with Pisces?
In the work, the signs of the zodiac are ruled by the classical planets in the typical fashion. However, there is also an aside in which Manilius assigns additional Roman gods to signs, possibly for the purpose of religious practice or to teach them by analogy. Interestingly, in the passage, we find what is likely to be the first association of Neptune to the sign Pisces. Modern astrologers assert that Neptune is a ruler of Pisces, in addition to, or instead of, its traditional ruler, Jupiter.
Neptune Doesn’t “Rule” Pisces
Neptunian rulership of Pisces would break with the established scheme and rationale of planetary sign rulership, so I don’t advocate it in this sense (see my lesson on the signs). However, many modern astrologers struggle with understanding the relationship between signs and newly discovered bodies such as modern planets. There are plenty of new planets these days if we include the “planets” of the Kuiper Belt recently downgraded to dwarf planets by some astronomers (including Pluto). If you also work with asteroids, then you have a set of thousands of more bodies to work with.
Analogical Strength
Morinus
I remember a passage in a work by the 17th-century astrologer, Morinus, in which he discussed another type of planetary strength called “analogical strength”. Analogical strength involves a planet being in a sign with similar significations. For instance, Saturn, which signifies earthly resources, signifies it strongly in the 4th house, as that house also signifies earthly resources.
Fruitful Associations
The Neptune-Pisces association and some of the other god-sign associations named by Manilius have a similar “analogical strength” to them. For instance, Manilius associated Pallas with Aries. The asteroid Pallas, named for the goddess known for her military strategy (Pallas Athena), may be analogically strengthened in the sign Aries, a fire sign of Mars. Manilius associated Ceres with Virgo. The dwarf planet Ceres, named for the goddess of agriculture, could be analogically strengthened in the sign Virgo, an earth sign whose constellation is a virgin holding a plant (palm frond or sheaves of wheat). Associations of Vesta to Capricorn, Diana to Sagittarius, Apollo (Phoebus) to Gemini, Vulcan to Libra (as Vulcan made the scales), and Juno to Aquarius, may also have some use.
Less Fruitful Associations
Less interesting are associations of Venus (Cytherean) to Taurus and Mars to Scorpio. They are the same as the natural rulerships.
Manilius also associated the god Mercury with Cancer and Jupiter with Leo. These are more puzzling associations, especially in the Mercury-Cancer instance.
The Text
I recount the complete passage below (Manilius, Astronomica, 2.433-452, Goold trans., 1977, p. 117-119):
What step must one take next, when so much has been learnt? It is to mark well the tutelary deities appointed to the signs and the signs which Nature assigned to each god, when she gave to the great virtues the persons of the gods and under sacred names established various powers, in order that a living presence might lend majesty to abstract qualities. Pallas is protectress of the Ram, the Cytherean of the Bull, and Phoebus of the comely Twins; you, Mercury, rule the Crab and you, Jupiter, as well as the Mother of the Gods, the Lion; the Virgin with her sheaf belongs to Ceres, and the Balance to Vulcan who wrought it; bellicose Scorpion clings to mars; Diana cherishes the hunter, a man to be sure, but a horse in his other half, and Vesta the cramped stars of Capricorn; opposite Jupiter Juno has the sign of Aquarius, and Neptune acknowledges the Fishes as his own for all that they are in heaven. This scheme too will provide you with important means of determining the future when, seeking from every quarter proofs and methods of our art, your mind speeds among the planets and stars to that a divine power may arise in your spirit and mortal hearts no less than heaven may win belief.
References
Manilius, M. (1977). Astronomica. (G. P. Goold, Trans.). Cambridge, MA: Loeb Classical Library.
Image Attributions
Featured image attributed to 3268zauber, titled “Neptunbrunnen (1885) in Baden-Baden”
I recently had the pleasure of seeing two of Peter Weir’s beautiful early films. Weir is an Australian director best known for “Dead Poet’s Society” and “The Truman Show”. His film “The Last Wave” is an apocalyptic thriller involving aboriginal lore which I caught on the recent winter solstice. That film didn’t grab my interest until halfway through but I loved its finale. “The Last Wave” prompted me to watch “Picnic at Hanging Garden”, an earlier and more influential film of Weir’s. I was lured in by the visually stunning images from the cover and booklet art. I was pleasantly surprised to find the film to be an exploration of the Venusian mysteries.
Picnic at Hanging Rock
The main events of the film take place on Valentine’s day. It starts with beautiful young girls in white flowing and lacy outfits preparing at the college. There are valentines, poetry, romantic intrigue between two of the girls, and numerous objects of beauty. Most of them go on a trip to a million year old volcanic formation called Hanging Rock. Their mannerisms and speech brim with feminine mystery, intriguing two boys picnicking nearby.
The rock also radiates mystery. The rock causes the watch to stop of one of their head mistresses. She believes it is due to magnetic disturbance. Another lady is glancing at a book of Botticelli paintings opened to Venus. She says something strange about the main figure of intrigue, Miranda, calling her a “Botticelli angel”. Three girls follow Miranda up and up the rock. Eventually, three of the four girls are barefoot climbing higher, unresponsive to the pleads of the heavy unattractive girl, who freaks out and runs down from the rock.
An Incommensurable Mystery
That is where the mystery truly begins. The girls in some sort of sexual excitement trot up the rock and truly disappear. I would rather not give away all the plot points, but needless to say there are other points of contact with Venus and much to be appreciated in this film. The beauty, sensuality, romanticism, mystery, and incommensurability showcased in the film all lead me to conclude that it is one of the most Venusian pieces of cinema ever made. Those looking for a taste of the essence of Venus, look no further than “Picnic at Hanging Rock” and its Venusian savior, Miranda.
Featured image (cropped) is the painting At the Hanging Rock Mt. Macedon by William Ford (1875) which is in the public domain.
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.
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