Twelve Easy Lessons for Beginners | 3. Planetary Prominence

Posted on July 30, 2012 by Anthony

And the changing of the planets must be understood, which has five parts: the first, if [a planet] were in the second or first station. The second, while it is being hidden from the Sun or goes out from being hidden […] (Abu Ma’shar, The Abbreviation of the Introduction to Astrology, Book IV, 34-36, Dykes trans., 2010, p. 233)

Digging Deeper into Planetary Prominence

In the introductory lesson, we looked into the history of astrology. Then we looked at the basic significations of the planets, how to pull up charts for free on the internet, and how to judge planetary prominence by “advancement”. Please read the first articles in this series and familiarize yourself with a few charts and the techniques before proceeding. The first lesson can be accessed by clicking here, and the second by clicking here. In this lesson, we will continue to explore some additional forms of planetary prominence.

Chart of Jesus Christ with a 12/25 midnight birthday (from Sibly’s Astrology of 1806). Was Jesus born at this time with Jupiter rising? Nah. He wasn’t even born on the 25th of December.

Distinguishing Planetary Prominence from Relevance and Benefit

Astrologers of the Perso-Arabic period, such as Abu Ma’shar and al-Qabisi, distinguished the strength or prominence of a planet from its tendency to signify benefit or difficulty (benefic/malefic). Additionally, both of these were distinguished from the matters in life which are relevant to the planet’s indications. The evaluation of a planet’s prominence relates to what’s called planetary strength. A planet may be mixed, being strong in some ways and weak in others. The benefic (beneficial) or malefic (challenging) indications of a planet may also be mixed, and in fact usually are. Additionally, all planets will have varying degrees of relevance to given life topics (i.e. planetary relevance).

Over-Reliance on Signs in Traditional Astrology

These are very important distinctions. It is too often the case that one or more of these distinctions is missing in an astrological system or that they are mixed together such that the sign a planet is in plays too much of a role determining all three. When I first got into traditional astrology, it was common for me to meet traditional astrologers who would determine both strength and benefit according to the sign of the zodiac a planet was in.

For instance, Venus, signifying young women, the arts, sexuality, and marriage, when in Scorpio might be considered in the sign of her detriment. In this view, her ability to bring about successful relationships might be hampered (poor strength). Similarly, other matters signified by the houses she rules or topics she is given responsibility for in the chart can’t be realized (poor strength). Some astrologers would even say that because of the so-called detriment she tends to signify bad quality women or relationships, such as malicious women, sexual problems, or misfortune through the arts (malefic). I do not use the sign as the main indicator of either strength or beneficence, and I have argued against this approach.

Over-Reliance on Signs in Modern Astrology

In modern astrology, there tends to be a strong focus on the quality of various aspects of the psyche (planets). These are again mainly determined by the zodiacal signs of the planets. For instance, one might assert that Venus, signifying the love nature, would in Scorpio make for an intense, passionate, jealous, and secretive sexuality. In this case, the planet itself is a stand-in for some important aspect of the individual’s character or pscyhe.

Does the Planet Connect to the Character?

Unfortunately, it is used in this way whether or not it actually connects strongly with the symbols for the individual and their character in the chart. Venus can provide indications pertaining to the native’s love life and sexuality on her own. However, those significations are not as significant if they don’t associate strongly with the native’s personality; if they don’t connect with the indicators for the self and character in the chart.

Is the Indication Strong or Superficial?

Similarly, the indications from Venus regarding relating may only apply superficially to some situations. If the indications from Venus are not reinforced by similar indications in the natal chart then they are just superficial. Such superficial indications may become relevant on rare occasions when timing factors strongly reinforce them but are not representative of typical circumstances. Reinforcement must come from other factors such as the twelfth-part of Venus, the 7th house and its ruler, relevant lots, and the houses of Venus.

Indications from a Planet Go Deeper than the Sign

When the essential quality of an indication is determined by the zodiacal sign this ignores other factors that might more directly influence the indications given by the planet. For instance, another planet in the same sign will often have a stronger and more direct impact on the significations of a planet than its sign. The sect of Venus, her prominence, the planets regarding her, the state of her ruler, and additional factors all should come into play when interpreting the significations of Venus.

Moving Away from Over-Reliance on Zodiacal Signs

The signs are rather abstract divisions of the sky. I believe that too much emphasis has been placed on the signs especially when it comes to strength and beneficence considerations. I will introduce the signs of the zodiac in the next lesson. In this lesson, I would like to focus on some additional significations of planetary prominence in a chart. As with advancement, discussed in the previous lesson, these factors don’t depend on a zodiac, a house system, or a system of planetary aspects. They have a greater sense of immediacy than such concepts, and are in my opinion the three most important factors for what I call “general prominence”.

General Prominence

The Luminaries, the Sun and the Moon, are naturally prominent.

Distinguishing Types of Prominence or Strength

Ancient authors tend to lump together both prominence and grit (or follow-through), under the label of strength. In my own experience, I’ve found that one should separate out these strength factors as pertaining to at least three different things.

General prominence pertains to loud or pervasive significations in the life.
Personal prominence pertains to personal importance to the individual, being influential over key areas of the life such as the character.
Grit or follow-through pertains to the stability or instability of what is signified.

In this way, it becomes possible for a planet to be strong in one sense but not in another. There can be a person who is constantly surrounded by artists (Venus generally prominent), who is an intellectual (Mercury personally prominent), and whose relationships tend to start out strong but lack staying power (relationship significators with weak follow-through).

Prominence Changes with Time

For predictive purposes, it is very important to evaluate the range or variance of a planet’s indications. We don’t just want to know the central tendency. For instance, a planet might be generally strong in one sense, such as strongly advancing, and generally weak in another, such as stationing retrograde. In such a case, I would likely judge the planet to be centrally prominent due to having a major prominence indication but for the fall from prominence to be triggered at times when a retrograde station of the planet was highlighted. There will be more on this in future lessons, but the main idea is that life is long and complex, so we must take inventory of both the tendency and the variance.

Three Indications of General Prominence

The three most basic indications of general prominence that I look at are:

Advancement – Covered in the last lesson. These are the approaching alignments of a planet with a location which happen 4 times each day.
Stations – This is when a planet appears to stop and reverse its direction of travel relative to the stars as observed from Earth. The direct stations mark out days when a planet is particularly prominent. Some planets station more often than others. For instance, Mercury stations multiple times each year.
Phasis or Appearance, also Combust and Cazimi – This is when a planet appears for the first time after emerging from the beams. Note that for Paulus Alexandrinus of the 4th century CE this condition only applies to planets emerging from the beams and not to those setting into them. A planet setting into them may be considered forcefully under the beams of the Sun. This also marks out days of planetary prominence which vary in frequency depending on the planet.

Stations

Spend a little time reading astrological chit-chat on the internet and you will surely encounter a lot of commotion about Mercury going retrograde. When a planet turns retrograde or back to direct, it must station. In order to understand the terms, “station” and “retrograde” we must talk a little bit about the secondary motion of the planets.

Secondary Motion

In the last lesson, we looked at planets moving clockwise around the chart, where they rise on the left side of the chart, culminate at top, set on the right side, and anti-culminate at the bottom. This is the “primary motion” of the stars caused by the Earth’s daily 24-hour rotation. However, the planets move much more slowly in the opposite direction, through the sky against the backdrop of the fixed stars (i.e. through the signs of the zodiac).

They follow nearly the same path followed by the Sun (as viewed from Earth). The path is called the ecliptic. Think “eclipse”, as an eclipse happens when the Moon conjoins or opposes the Sun while she’s on the ecliptic. The “secondary motion” of the planets is the motion of each planet going slowly counter-clockwise around the chart, from west to east, each at its own pace.

No Retrogradation in the “Solar System”

The secondary motion of the planets is the same motion that you would’ve studied in high school astronomy class when you observed the Earth and other planets traveling around the Sun. However, in astrology, we study it from the position of the observer, on Earth, as astrology is oriented to the observer on Earth.

In astronomy, an external abstract point is the center of reference with regard to the system. Not exactly the Sun as most assume, but the center of mass (barycenter) of the solar system. The barycenter usually resides within the Sun, so we think of the Sun as the center. In actuality, the barycenter can move up to about a full solar radii outside of its surface at times due to the massive gravitational pull of Jupiter. Using the Sun as a frame of reference, the planets appear to run their circuits around it, never reversing direction.

Geocentric Perspective

From the vantage point of the Earth, things are different. Planets farther out from the Sun than Earth appear to stop and move backwards when overtaken by the Earth, as seen in the video below.

Similarly, planets closer to the Sun (i.e. Mercury and Venus) appear to move backwards when on the opposite side of the Sun from Earth, as seen in the video below. The retrogradation is the backwards loop that appears to be traced in the sky when Venus is opposite the Sun from Earth.

Here is one more video in which you can see a real time-lapsed video of Saturn moving retrograde against the stars. The video includes a good look at the way that the 2nd century astrologer Ptolemy modeled these motions using the Earth as a static frame of reference. Ptolemy added a second cycle called the epicycle that would account for the retrogradation. In this way, astrologers could better predict planetary positions at any point in time.

You can read more about the mechanics of apparent retrograde motion and the frequency with which the planets are retrograde in the Wikipedia article on “Apparent retrograde motion“.

Stations in Ancient Astrology

Ancient astrologers attached a lot of importance to the points where a planet appears to stop and change directions. These points were called the “stations” of the planets. The “first station”, or “retrograde” station, was when the planet appeared to move backwards. In Hellenistic and Perso-Arabic astrology it was considered to signify a weakening of that planet’s significations. The “second station”, or “direct” station, was when the planet appeared to move forward again after a period of retrogradation. It was considered to signify a strengthening of the planet’s significations.

In the introductory works by Abu Ma’shar and al-Qabisi they discuss strengthening and weakening conditions. Both astrologers first point to the retrograde station as a major weakening condition. Some authors, such as Sahl quoted below, have also given helpful metaphors for understanding the stations.

“If a planet were to stand toward retrogradation (that is, if it were in its first station), it signifies the dissolution of a purpose, and disobedience; and if it were to stand toward direction (that is, if it were in its second station), it signifies forward direction after the slowness or duress of the matter. And every planet which is a significator and wished to go direct (that is, if it were in its second station) signifies the renewal of the actions of matters, and their action and strength or forward movement. And if it were in the first station, wishing to go retrograde, it signifies their destruction and slowness and dissolution.” (Sahl Bin Bishr, The Fifty Judgments, #48, Dykes trans., 2010, p. 107)

Effect of Stations and Retrogradation

While retrogradation is given a lot of hype in modern astrology and even in late traditional astrology, I think its importance is overblown. Retrogradation is very common. For instance, Saturn is retrograde about a third of the time and Mercury goes retrograde three-to-four times per year for about three-to-four weeks each time. Retrogradation itself is only a little bit weakening. A tendency toward contradiction and antagonism were often associated with the action of retrograde planets in ancient literature.

On the other hand, the stations are very significant. Typically, within about a week of the station, the planet may be considered as being more or less prominent depending on the nature of the station, and how close it is in time. For instance, someone born within a day of Mercury stationing direct would be considered to have a very prominent Mercury in their chart. Someone born within a day of Mercury stationing retrograde would have a very weakened Mercury. One born 6 days from a Mercury station would also have Mercury strengthened or weakened but to a lesser extent.

Finding Planetary Stations

Let’s pull up some charts to look for stations, and also look again at advancement.

Install Morinus

We are going to pull up charts in the free, open source, traditional astrology program called Traditional Morinus. I’ve previously discussed installation and pulling up charts in Morinus on this blog. My article discussing the installation of Morinus is here. Since that article, the program has undergone many updates. The newer versions are easier to use because they now have a location lookup, which I discussed here. Not only is Morinus a free program, but it is also one of the programs with the best traditional capabilities. It is open source, meaning that programmers are free to examine the code and improve upon it. Morinus is truly THE astrological program of the astrological community.

I recommend Morinus above all other astrological programs, even for advanced students Nearly all of the charts and charting examples on this site come from the program. Please take the time to download the program and familiarize yourself with it by pulling up a few charts and saving them before proceeding.

Settings in Morinus

Once you have the program installed and have a chart up, you should modify a few settings. Hold “Shift” and press “u”, or go to “Options” and make sure there is a check next to “Automatic save” so that changes that you make to settings will be saved for the next time you open the program. Hold “Shift” and press “F6”, or go to “Options” then “Housesystems” and select “Whole Sign”. For charts that look like mine, you will want your appearance options (Shift+a or Options>Appearance I) to be as in the picture below, where Terms is selected and the chart is black and white.

Week Before, Week After

The surest way to determine if a planet stationed within a week of someone’s birth is to compare the birth chart with the chart 1 week before the birth and that 1 week after the birth. Retrogradation is symbolized by a little symbol of an “R” with a line through part of it, which is next to the planetary glyph in the chart. Also, if one presses the F11 key, then a table of the planetary speeds appears in which negative speeds by longitude indicate retrograde motion. The Sun and Moon never have retrograde motion, so they are not examined in this respect.

Steve Jobs’ Chart

Let’s look at Steve Jobs’ chart (click here for chart data). First, you’ll notice that the Moon, followed by Jupiter and Venus, are the most advancing planets in the chart. You’ll also notice that the Sun and Saturn are retreating and that Mercury isn’t advancing much. In the chart below I’ve highlighted that Mercury and Jupiter are retrograde. It is important with any chart that you make an initial mental note of which of the planets are retrograde.

Natal Chart – Steve Jobs

In order to check if any planets stationed within a week of Steve Jobs’ birth, we change the day of birth to one week earlier, pulling up the chart to see which planets are retrograde, then we do the same for one week after the birth. If there are no stations then Mercury and Jupiter would be the only retrograde planets one week prior and one week after birth. If this is not the case then there has been some type of station and we’ll have to do some deeper digging.

A Week Before Birth

To start hold CTRL and press “d” or go to “Horoscope” and then “Data”. Jobs was born on the 24th so we’ll switch it to the 17th, which will show the chart below.

Steve Jobs – One Week Before Birth

One week before birth, Mercury and Jupiter were retrograde while Venus, Mars, and Saturn were not. This is just as in the natal chart, so there were no stations in the week prior to birth.

A Week After Birth

Seven days after his Feb. 24th birth would be March 3rd. So we put that date into the Data area and pull up another chart, again checking for some difference in retrogrades. This time we do find some differences. Jupiter was still retrograde a week after birth, but Mercury was no longer retrograde. Therefore, Mercury stationed direct at some point within the week following his birth. Additionally, Saturn is now retrograde, while it was not in the birth chart, so it stationed retrograde at some point in the week following his birth.

Steve Jobs – One Week After Birth

Mercury Retrograde or Mercury Stationing Direct?

Now, we know that Mercury is stationing direct in Steve’s birth chart and that Saturn is stationing retrograde, but we don’t know to what extent. How close were the stations to Steve’s birth? I like to start with one-day increments from the birthday. I look first at February 25th, then the 26th, and so on. Doing this I find that by February 25th, within 24 hours of the birth of Steve Jobs, Mercury had stationed direct. This is a very prominent Mercury direct station!

We initially noted that Mercury wasn’t really advancing much, so by advancement, Mercury didn’t seem prominent at all. However, we now know that Mercury is very prominent in the chart because it was stationing direct very strongly when Jobs was born. This means that the natural significations of Mercury have a type of prominent influence on his life. This is quite significant as Mercury is the planet of intellect, business, technology, and computing.

Saturn Stationing Retrograde

On the other hand, when we progress day by day, we don’t find Saturn retrograde until we get to March 1st, which is five days out, so Saturn stationed retrograde between four and five days after his birth. Saturn was weak by retreating, and here we see Saturn a little bit more weakened by the fact that it was gradually stationing retrograde at the time of birth. Therefore, we expect the significations of Saturn to be in the background in his life rather than prominent.

Changing Your Perspective on Retrograde Planets

What about your chart? Were any planets stationing at your birth? If so, how do the indications of the stations compare with the indications from advancement?

One of the interesting things about this technique is that a planet that seems retrograde often is revealed to be stationing direct, as with Steve Jobs’s Mercury. Unfortunately, little attention is paid to planetary stations near one’s birth in astrology today, even in traditional circles. Additionally, too much stress is placed on retrogradation. In this way, it happens that prominent planets are often thought to be weak from retrogradation. Get in the habit of checking the week before and the week after a chart, with every chart, and you won’t make this mistake.

Station Meanings

In terms of meaning, the retrograde station has significations of drifting out of reach, being involved in delays and so forth. The direct station has significations of a pioneering and determined start, such as with forceful resolve. A retrograde station is like someone coming to the party and saying, “oh wait, I’m sorry, I forgot something, and I need to go home to get it”. The direct station is like someone who had been tied up for some time and now can move forward with some established plans.

Appearances or Phasis

Just as famous celebrities and politicians make important appearances, so do the planets. Their appearances pertain to meetings with the Sun, the king of the chart.

The Sun on his throne from a Persian Manuscript 373 CE

Under the Beams

The Sun is like the king of the astrological chart, signifying powerful authority and leadership. When a planet appears close to the Sun in the sky it becomes obscured by the light of the Sun. In ancient astrology, the standard distance is typically 15 degrees from the Sun. When a planet is within 15 degrees of the Sun it is “under the beams” or “combust”. Planets under the beams can be weakened in the sense of being more hidden or covert. You could think of this as akin to a person who is employed in some special government operation. The agenda (Sun) outshines their own personal expression, forcing them to come under a more restricted code of conduct and more limited communication.

Cazimi

An exception to this rule of planets under the beams being “hidden” is when planets are within about 1 degree from the Sun, which is called “cazimi” or “in the heart of the Sun”. This is like being able to rule in the king’s stead or taking on the authority of the throne. A planet in such a position becomes much more prominent, but planets which are cazimi are rather rare. A particularly forceful cazimi would be an occultation of the Sun, such as the “Transit of Venus“. In the article on the 2012 Transit of Venus, I explored the history of the concept of cazimi.

In Phasis

Many astrologers are aware of combustion and cazimi, but another very important solar-related doctrine, that of “appearance”, has been forgotten. A planet makes its appearance (or is “in phasis”) just when it comes out from the beams of the Sun. For some, phasis is also when a planet is about to go under the beams (disappearance). These phenomena are also known as the heliacal risings and settings of the planets. Think of it like the planet having an important visit with the media either right before its going to have to encounter the authorities or immediately after it has.

A planet coming out of the beams (making appearance) is more prominent. There is more controversy regarding whether a planet going into the beams is. Such a planet may be regarded as more prototypically and forcefully under the beams. After all, it is is actually going under them around the time of birth. However, a planet in its own bound, domicile, or exaltation it was sometimes considered to be made more powerful under the beams. Therefore, this may sometimes be weakening and sometimes strengthening.

Ancient Mesopotamian tablet giving dates (columns 1,2) and positions (column 3) of consecutive reappearances of Venus as the evening star, for 24 years – Oriental Institute Museum, University of Chicago

Phasis and Profession

A planet making an appearance is called “in phasis”. A consideration of phasis tends to be included in ancient techniques for finding professional significators. It seems that its link with the Sun ties it to a sense of what someone becomes known for.

We, then, looking out for the topic of injury, entered into the type of action in this way: the givers, then, of actions are Mercury, Venus, and Mars; the effective houses are the ascendant, the midheaven, the IC, and the [houses] succedent to these, but also indeed the sixth houses, and the Lot of Fortune, and the application of the Moon, and the [star] making its morning appearance or its evening rising seven days before or seven days after. (Rhetorius, Astrological Compendium, #82, Holden trans., 2009, p. 134)

Rising and Setting Relative to the Sun

The passage above is from Rhetorius. Paulus Alexandrinus (4th century CE) also discussed the phases of the stars and the terminology associated with phasis. A planet in phasis which is coming out from the beams is called rising or arising, as it is in its heliacal rising (rising out from the beams). A planet which is going into the beam is also called setting (occasionally called disappearance), as it is in its heliacal setting. Be cognizant of these other uses of the terms “rising” and “setting”. There are times when rising and setting planets are discussed in the literature where an unknowing reader might assume it is relative to the horizon but it is actually relative to the beams of the Sun.

Variation in Terms of Heliacal Setting

Paulus Version

For some ancient astrologers, only the heliacal rising is viewed as strengthening for professional matters. Paulus Alexandrinus of the 4th century CE advised to look at heliacal rising as a factor making a planet more significant for signifying the person’s actions (profession), but did not advise to look at heliacal setting in that sense.

Porphyry Version

However, Porphyry (3rd century CE) advised to look at both in the context of finding the lord of the nativity. This suggests that possibly in an earlier doctrine both phases marked out prominence. The Porphyry passage highlights how stations and phasis were both associated with prominence and thus relevant to finding the lord of the nativity.

And the first, the Lord of the ASC or the one that is posited on it in the domicile and the terms, either the one of the Moon, or the one of the MC, or the one of the [Lot of] Fortune, or the one 7 days before birth, or within 7 days making a phase of the rising or the setting or of a station. (Porphyry, Ch. 30, Holden trans., 2009, p. 24)

In Practice

In practice, I’ve found consistently that both can confer prominence and both can be relevant for the professional significator. For instance, in the example of Hitler given in this post, the planets in phasis are Venus then Mars, both setting into the beams, but both very significant for his professional development and aspirations in his life, first to be an artist, then to be an aggressive conqueror. However, planets setting into the beams do seem to take on many of the significations associated with being under the beams, so it is something of a mixed bag. Valens associated a planet going under the beams with troubles, interruptions, and possible secret difficulties.

Under The Beams and its Modification

I personally associate being under the beams with the sense of something powerful causing things to go underground, into hiding, but not necessarily good or bad in a blanket sense. For instance, do you feel that you can fully and entirely be yourself with your parents, grandparents, or boss? This seems to be analogous to the behavior of a planet under the beams.

Under the Beams but with Rulership

I think that this helps to explain why planets in a place where they held some authority or power (a house or bound they had some rulership over) were thought to be strengthened or made more benefic rather than weakened by being under the beams. Such planets are under the influence of the Sun but also have a type of independence as they are in their own place. It is like a person visited by a king but without a need to subjugate oneself to that king.

“The planets are in their own chariots when they are found in their own domicile or exaltation or terms; and they rejoice in these places even when they are found under the Sun beams, for the benefics increase their good and the malefics are changed into a good influence.” (Rhetorius, Ch. 43, Holden trans., 2009, p. 25)

Morning and Evening Stars

A related distinction to know is that between morning stars and evening stars. Those rising (above the horizon) before the Sun are said to be to the “right” of the Sun, oriental the Sun, or morning stars. They are seen in the morning before the Sun rises. Those rising (above the horizon) after the Sun are said to be to the “left” of the Sun, occidental the Sun, or evening stars. They are seen in the evening after the Sun has set.

Morning stars were thought to have quicker and more outgoing significations. For intance, they are viewed as bringing about their significations quickly when activated and pertaining to events earlier in life. They also indicate proactive rather than lazy people or things. Evening stars were thought to have slower and more progressive significations. They can signify things that are lazy or develop slowly as time goes by, such as things realized only later in life.

Star of Ishtar, representing Venus, 12th century BCE, from a kudurru of King Melishipak I of Mesopotami.

Checking for Appearances

We are interested in appearances within about a week from birth. Therefore, our habit of checking one week before and one week after birth has a dual purpose; we check for stations and appearances.

When looking for appearances, we are concerned with the degree position of the Sun and that of the planets near the Sun. Mercury and Venus always stay pretty close to the Sun, so they are in phasis most often. The degrees of the planets are shown in the chart (as well as the minutes in smaller type). Each sign has 30 degrees, so if the Sun is at exactly 25 degrees of one sign, and Mercury is at 10 degrees of the next sign, then Mercury is 15 degrees from the Sun (in phasis). We are not concerned with the Moon when it comes to phasis. The combustion of the Moon is significant though, lending a sense of covertness to the Moon’s significations.

Find Phasis in Steve Jobs’ Chart

Natal Chart – Steve Jobs

You’ll notice that Steve’s Sun is at 5 degrees of the sign numbered VII (Pisces). Besides the Moon, Mercury is the fastest planet and moves up to about 2 degrees per day. Therefore, if a planet is more than about 30 degrees from the Sun it won’t be in phasis.

Mercury Presents a Possibility

Mercury is the only planet within about 30 degrees from the Sun. It is at 14 degrees of the prior sign, Aquarius. The Sun and Mercury are a little bit over 21 degrees from each other. Mercury is moving backward and is in a sign before, so they are moving away from each other. Given this, we know they won’t be within 15 degrees of each other at any point after birth. The question is whether Mercury and the Sun were ever within 15 degrees the week before birth. To answer this question, we’ll look at the chart from a week before birth.

A Week Before Birth

Steve Jobs – One Week Before Birth

Look at the chart from a week before birth. We find the Sun at 28 Aquarius and Mercury at 17 Aquarius. This is a distance of about 11 degrees, which is less than 15 degrees. Therefore, Mercury was under the beams within the prior week then made an appearance.

Now we need to find out when. So starting with the 23rd, we move back one day in the birth data, pulling up charts until we get to the point that Mercury ends up being less than 15 degrees from the Sun. Doing this you’ll find that it is on February 19th, 5 days before Steve’s birth, that Mercury is under the beams (i.e. within 15 degrees from the Sun). Therefore, Mercury made its appearance four-to-five days prior to Steve’s birth.

General Prominence in Steve Jobs’ Chart

We have looked at all three of the general prominence factors in Steve Jobs’ chart. While the Moon was strongly advancing, Mercury, mildly advancing, was strongly stationing direct and was in phasis. Therefore, Mercury indicates very prominently concerning the life circumstances of Steve Jobs. Recall that it is particularly relevant to the profession due to both stationing and being in phasis.

General Prominence Chart Examples

I’m going to run through a number of examples very quickly. I’ll note the important information obtained from the three general prominence factors. The data for all examples are from Astro-Databank.com. If you have any questions, please comment and I will do what I can to assist.

Adolf Hitler

Adolf Hitler’s Natal Chart (Ctrl-Click to enlarge)

Hitler has a very complicated chart. Mercury, the Sun, and Saturn are the most prominent planets by advancement. Jupiter and the Moon are retreating. Looking at stations, Saturn is even more prominent due to a direct station about 6 days before birth. Additionally, Jupiter is even more weakened by a retrograde station about 4 days after birth.

Mercury is somewhat weakened (or at least hidden/covert) due to being deeply under the beams and not in phasis. Mars and Venus are both between 15 and 16 degrees from the Sun. They are strongly in phasis, but going into the beams. Venus goes into the beams within 24 hours and Mars within 3 days.

Saturn is Most Prominent and Jupiter is Most Weakened

Hitler’s chart has many prominent planets but Saturn (lack, hardship, loss, darkness, discipline, and control) is most prominent. The Sun, planet of leadership, authority, and influence is also very prominent. Saturn and the Sun pertain very strongly to Hitler’s ability to rise to power and his dictatorial style.

Venus and Mars are prominent in their own ways as both are advancing and very strongly in phasis. Venus goes very quickly and deeply under the beams while Mars slowly descends into them. These pertain to his career aspirations, from trying to be an artist (Venus) to trying to be a conqueror (Mars). Mercury is very important in the life, but covert, which may indicate secretive activity of an intellectual nature. Jupiter, the planet of opportunity, abundance, generosity, goodwill, friendship, kindness, and spirituality is very weak.

Kurt Cobain

Kurt Cobain’s Natal Chart (Ctrl-Click to enlarge)

In Kurt Cobain’s chart, Mercury is conjunct the Descendant. With Mercury, Venus and Saturn are also strongly advancing, while the Sun is retreating. Therefore, we expect Mercury (voice, writing, intellect, cleverness, business), Venus (the arts, love, women, sensuality), and Saturn (hardship, darkness, loss, obligation) to all be quite prominent in the life. We expect the Sun (leadership, authority, honors, power, confidence) to be backgrounded in the life, at least in a general sense.

Mercury is in phasis, though setting into the beams, within 2 days after birth, so very strongly. However, Mercury also stations retrograde within 3 days after birth, which is strongly weakening. Therefore, Mercury’s significations in the life are complex. It is very significant but with a potential for a reversal. It’s setting under the beams can signify covert action.

Alfred Witte

Alfred Witte’s Natal Chart

Witte was an early 20th-century astrologer who pioneered a new system of astrology. His Uranian astrology is very different from other modern forms of astrology. It is based on symmetrical relationships of planets to each other. Witte ended up committing suicide after being targeted by the Nazis.

Jupiter Prominent with Mercury-Venus Prominent in Another Manner

Notice that Jupiter, the planet of wisdom, spirituality, abundance, generosity, and elevation is strongly advancing, conjunct the IC. Mars, Mercury, and Venus are also advancing, while Saturn is retreating and under the beams.

There are no stations in his chart. Saturn is barely in phasis, setting under the beams about 7 days before birth. Mercury and Venus are very close to each other in the same degree. Both are about 15 degrees from the Sun, so they are strongly in phasis. Venus is morning rising, rising out from the beams, while Mercury is morning setting, falling under the beams. Therefore, it is Venus, Mercury, and Jupiter which are the most prominent planets in Witte’s life by these basic methods.

It is interesting that Mercury and Venus are so strongly joined to one another. Witte’s astrology, dependent upon symmetry, has a sense of mathematical harmony to it. It has a visual elegance which shows a fusion of the intellectualism of Mercury combined with the aesthetics of Venus.

Frida Kahlo

Frida Kahlo’s Natal Chart

Kahlo was born with the Moon very strongly advancing toward the Midheaven. Venus is the next most advancing planet, while Mercury was retreating. Jupiter was under the beams. Mars was retrograde but not stationing. Saturn stationed retrograde within 4 days of birth. Mercury stationed retrograde within 5 days of birth.

The Moon Above All

Overall, we would judge Mercury to be weakened and placed in the background, both from retreating and the retrograde station. We’d also judge Saturn to be somewhat weakened.

The Moon, the power of irrationality, subjectivity, nurture, ubiquity, mothers, instincts, the wild, and vivid depth, is extremely prominent. Venus is also quite prominent. She is advancing toward the Midheaven (and rules the Midheaven; rulership will be addressed in a future post).

Where Do We Go From Here

It’s my hope that you’ve found in this post some new and valuable techniques for evaluating planetary prominence. If you are a beginner and are having any trouble with this material please comment below.

In future lessons, we will start to explore the signs, houses, and configurations. These form the core elements of the Hellenistic system of astrology. However, it is good to get in the habit of initially checking the indications of general prominence. They will tell you which planets are loudest and have something important to say about the life as a whole.

Solid Footing

Unfortunately, it is much easier to identify which sign a planet is in than to check for stations and appearances. However, we are looking at something much more concrete when examining advancement, stations, and appearances.

Most considerations in ancient astrology are based on abstract mathematical divisions of the ecliptic into signs. Here we have dealt with more basic observations of wandering stars rising, culminating, setting, changing direction, appearing and disappearing. These things have been observed for thousands of years, including in astrological systems which predate Hellenistic astrology.

Practice Makes Perfect

Practice with these three basic techniques on your own chart and as many charts as you can (visit Astro-Databank). Feel free to expand upon them with the other distinctions we discussed (combustion, cazimi, morning vs. evening stars). Discuss your findings in the comments.

Critical thinking is very important. For instance, why is it the case that Kahlo’s Venus was under the beams rather than in phasis? Ancient astrology is very vast and we are still only dealing with general prominence. Prominence relative to the self and specific topics such as profession bring in additional considerations and concepts. The complexity and vastness of ancient astrology is a good thing because human life is even more complex and vast.

The Map is not the Territory

Of course, no astrological system can ever predict the full complexity of any human experience. No communication can ever fully convey an experience. The map is not the territory. Nevertheless, by learning more and honing our skills in ancient astrology we may defy what is generally considered possible. We observe that the sky speaks volumes about the past, present, and future. The language of the heavens, arranged by some intelligence beyond our own, highlights our humble place in a brilliantly intelligent universe.

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.

Rhetorius of Egypt, & Teucer of Babylon. (2009). Rhetorius the Egyptian. (J. H. Holden, Trans.). Tempe, AZ: American Federation of Astrologers.

Image Attributions

Featured image of four elements from Isidore of Seville’s De natura rerum is in the public domain.

Sibly’s chart of Jesus Christ image is in the public domain.

Illustration of the Sun and the Moon with a lion by Jaroš Griemiller (Prague 1578) is in the public domain.

The Sun on his throne image from a Persian manuscript 373 CE – See page for author [CC BY 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Tablet of Venus evening appearances image is in the public domain.

Star of Ishtar image is in the public domain.

Twelfth-Parts | 2. The Secret Second Chart

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Anthony

Secret Charts

For, if you want to explain the entire substance of the astrological significations from the efficacy of the dodecatemories and from the terms in which they are found, you will not be mistaken; for the Babylonians attribute the supreme power of [astrological] decrees to the dodecatemories, but Ptolemy to the antiscions, [and] we to both. (Maternus, Book III, Ch. 9, #14, Holden trans., 2011, p. 170)

So, you thought you just had one astrological chart, but in Hellenistic astrology you have two. Then again, maybe three. The secret charts are found by examining some projected positions for chart factors.

Twelfth-Parts

The second chart I allude to is the chart of the twelfth-part positions. Twelfth-part positions were noted as a fundamental basic of astrological technique by nearly every Hellenistic astrologer. Their use was urged most strongly by Julius Firmicus Maternus. These are typically marked along the natal chart to keep a reference to natal chart houses. I explored what the twelfth-parts are and how they are calculated in the introductory article.

Antiscia

The third chart that I alluded to is something that appears to be more idiosyncratic to Maternus. It is the use of antiscia positions as yet another chart body-double. I explored this use of antiscia by Maternus very briefly near the end of my article on sign symmetry.

Maternus attributes this use of antiscia chart positions as secret positions to Ptolemy, though this is a false attribution. Maternus is the only Hellenistic source I know of that uses this third set of positions. On the other hand, the dodecatemoria or twelfth-parts are indeed Babylonian in origin, and their use was widespread among Hellenistic astrologers.

Paulean Twelfth-Parts

In the last article, I expressed that Paulus presented an idiosyncratic variety of twelfth-parts in which the position in degrees and minutes are multiplied by 13 rather 12. I was recently confronted by a footnote by James Holden (footnote #2, p. 18, 2009) in his translation of Rhetorius in which he noted that there is evidence in surviving cuneiform tablets that the two different methods of projecting twelfth-parts existed in Babylonian astrology. In other words, according to Holden multiplying by either the more common 12 or the 13 as used by Paulus, then projecting from the beginning of the sign, were both used (Holden cites “Mesopotamian Astrology” by Koch-Westenholz).

If it is in fact the case that the 13-fold variety does also have Babylonian origins, then at least among the Hellenistic astrologers, it was a less popular variant. Manilius, Dorotheus, Ptolemy, Valens, Maternus, Hephaistio, Porphyry, and Rhetorius (as well as later astrologers) employed or expressed preference for the 12-fold variety.

The Importance of the Twelfth-Part Positions

I was originally skeptical about the use of the twelfth-part positions. I didn’t think they represented an important or informative addition to the natal chart positions. I’m sure many readers initially feel the same way. Therefore, I want to stress that the twelfth-parts were mentioned as a basic of astrological technique by nearly every Hellenistic astrologer. Many of them, including Manilius, Maternus, and Rhetorius, felt it necessary to stress how important they are despite how easy it is to overlook them.

… the genitures differ in a single constellation, because the individual signs vary on account of the distribution of their divisions and modulate their respective powers in the dodecatemories. (Manilius, Book II, #710-712, Goold trans., 1977, p. 139)

And the method of dodecatemories is a necessity in nativities; and I also put down the astrological significations of these so that some might use them not just as in a secondary work. (Rhetorius, Ch. 18, Holden trans., 2009, p. 18)

Now I shall show briefly how you may inquire about the dodecatemories, for some think that they can find the entire substance of the nativity from them, and they intimate that whatever is concealed in the delineation can be discovered from the dodecatemories. (Maternus, Book II, Ch. 17, #1, Holden trans., 2011, p. 59)

Basics of Use

The twelfth-part positions are used just like natal positions. They give additional information and reveal significations that might be missed from looking at the natal chart alone.

Cognition Usage Isn’t Just About Cognition

Even the interpretation of cognition usage (discussed in the last article) is along these lines, though it is for horary or consultation charts. Masha’allah (in On Hidden Things) discussed multiple signficators for the querent’s thoughts or intentions. One of them was the ruler of the Ascendant. However, Masha’allah expressed that the best significator is the twelfth-part of the Ascendant and its ruler. In other words, the twelfth-part Ascendant and its ruler are used just as the Ascendant and its ruler to give information about the querent and the matter itself.

Hellenistic Astrologers Using Twelfth-Parts as the Secret Chart

Paulus: Twelfth-Parts Also Show Benefic/Malefic Indications

We get a sense of this all-purpose use in Paulus, even though he used the 13-fold ones. In Ch. 22 of his Introduction, he noted that the twelfth-parts of benefics occurring in important places signify very good things for the person. By contrast, twelfth-parts of malefics occuring in such places indicate bad things. Benefics produce fortunate circumstances where they occur, and malefics produce difficulty, and it is the same with the twelfth-parts of each.

Maternus: Delineation of a Planet or Point Includes Delineating its Twelfth-Part

Maternus laid out the use of twelfth-parts in Book II of the Mathesis. There he instructed us to look at numerous things but stressed the place, the ruler, and the bound ruler of the twelfth-part. We are are also to look at sect and the interactions between planets in ways that he discussed for regular planets (for instance that there is greater harmony between the waxing or full moon and diurnal planets). All in all, it seems that Maternus wants us to look at twelfth-part positions as on an almost equal footing as natal positions, examining things like place, sign ruler, bound ruler, regards/aspects, and special configurational indications.

This is further stressed in Book III, when each chapter on a planet ends with Maternus admonishing the reader to also check out the planet’s twelfth-part. Apparently, we are to look at the same factors discussed with reference to the natal planet. In this way we will not miss some important indication that is in the twelfth-parts but not the regular natal chart, as everything should be in one or the other. Maternus even advised to check the twelfth-part of the Lot of Fortune after discussing Fortune’s delineation (Book IV, Ch. 4) . Again, the clear lesson is to delineate the twelfth-part as you’d delineate the planet.

Rhetorius: Twelfth-Part Positions Signify in Configurations Too

But what of the relationship of a twelfth-part to its same natal point, such as the twelfth-part of the Sun to the natal Sun? Rhetorius treated of this in Ch. 60 of his Compendium. A twelfth-part trine its natal position increases the beneficence or fortune signified by the planet, but one opposed to its natal position increases the maleficence or difficulty signified by the planet.

Rhetorius also discussed how the twelfth-parts of malefics falling in places can make things more difficult and the twelfth-parts of benefics easier, similar to what Paulus mentioned above. He put particular stress on the twelfth-part of the Moon in relation to the nature and social standing of the person. In his delineations of twelfth-parts he particular stressed the influence of the ruler of the twelfth-part. Some delineations also involve regards/aspects from natal planets and even the qualities of the signs, such as human and quadrapedal. That the twelfth-part delineations of Rhetorius encompassed all these things lends support to the idea that delineation of the twelfth-part is very much like delineation of a natal planet or point.

Delineation Example: Steve Jobs

In the next several posts on twelfth-parts, I’ll be digging back to analyses from older posts on the blog and showing how twelfth-parts add valuable information. I will kick this off by taking a brief second look at the chart of Steve Jobs for the rest of this post.

In one my first posts, in October 2011, I discussed the natal chart of Steve Jobs and some of the most important general planetary strength considerations, showing that his Mercury is much stronger than one might think from a cursory glance. Before reading on, I urge the reader to give that post a quick review by visiting it here. While stations and phasis may not be appropriate to twelfth-parts, the twelfth-parts can tell us additional information about the strength of Mercury.

Steve Jobs’ Natal Chart with Twelfth-Parts on Outer Wheel

In the original analysis I noted that Mercury is probably the strongest planet in the chart in terms of having a generally pervasive influence over the life in a broad way, as it is strongly stationing direct, making an appearance (in phasis), advancing, and ruling the 1st.

Twelfth-Part MC Conjunct nMercury; Twelfth-Part Mercury Strong

Looking at the twelfth-parts we find further indication of the significance of Mercury by the twelfth-part of the MC being conjunct Mercury. This and the fact that Mercury’s twelfth-part is advancing in the 11th which is a strong and fortunate place. It is in a sign of a light (Cancer, home of the Moon, which is the sect light of the chart), while actually with the twelfth-part of the sect light. These are all additional indications of the strength of Mercury.

Twelfth-Part Mercury Fortunately Conjunct nJupiter

The twelfth-part of Mercury is in the bound of Jupiter (as is the natal Mercury), and is very tightly conjoined to Jupiter, in the place of Jupiter’s Joy, and in the sign of Jupiter’s exaltation. These things all connect Mercury with fortunate and lofty Jupiterian themes, but are not as strongly expressed in the natal chart itself.

Mercury posited in the 11th house from the ASC will make talented persons, indispensable for all activities, and those to whom the conduct of great business affairs is entrusted; but then it denotes greater duties if it was conjoined to Jupiter by a favorable aspect. (Maternus, Book III,Ch. 3f, #23, Holden trans., 2011, p. 147)

More Twelfth-Parts

The twelfth-part of Venus, the sect benefic, occupying Virgo, a house of Mercury, further emphasizes this fortunate quality of Mercury. Also note that the twelfth-part of Jupiter falls right onto the Sun in the chart. The twelfth-part of the Sun is in the place of the Sun’s Joy with the twelfth-part Ascendant. The Moon’s twelfth-part is strongly advancing toward the MC. She is also with the lord of the Ascendant and Jupiter (as well as Saturn). Additionally, the twelfth-part of Fortune is conjunct the Moon, the sect light.

Key Information

As one can see, the twelfth-parts not only help us to get more information out of the chart about the prominence of Mercury, but also showcase fortunate circumstances connected to Mercury. These are important features of this person’s life that are reflected in the chart with the twelfth-parts but would be easy to miss from the natal chart without them. We see many additional indications that the chart is of someone with great social mobility and very fortunate circumstances linked to Mercury.

Conclusion

Twelfth-parts are not a trivial matter. In chart delineation, it is vital to see which indications are repeated in many different ways. Such indications are stronger and more important, allowing us to say something meaningful about the life. The twelfth-parts are a vital and important part of chart delineation. If you’re looking at a chart without the twelfth-parts, you are missing a huge chunk of the information in the chart. Without this important information, you can rest assured that you will reach the wrong conclusions. Similar indications of something in the chart may be repeated without your knowledge while other indications you might think are important may be contradicted by the twelfth-parts. If you’re serious about accurately reading a natal chart add the twelfth-parts to your chart readings today.

References

Manilius, M. (1977). Astronomica. (G. P. Goold, Trans.). Cambridge, MA: Loeb Classical Library.

Maternus, J. F. (2011). Mathesis. (J. H. Holden, Trans.). American Federation of Astrologers.

Rhetorius of Egypt, & Teucer of Babylon. (2009). Rhetorius the Egyptian. (J. H. Holden, Trans.). Tempe, AZ: American Federation of Astrologers.

Astrology of Profession or Calling | 3. Steve Jobs & Bill Gates

Posted on November 23, 2011 by Anthony

The Astrology of Two Tech Titans

Let’s look at the astrology of tech entrepreneurs Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. Their operating systems, Apple and Microsoft, continue to dominate the world computer market and made them both billionaires. Given the similarity of their professional paths and their rivalry, it seems fitting to analyze profession in both of their charts together.

I apply an ancient astrological technique for delineating profession. It originated in Hellenistic astrology. The reader is referred to the brief outline of the technique in the first article, “Astrology of Profession or Calling | 1. Technique“. Please read through that article so you understand the delineation process. Also, see the last article on the analysis of profession in the chart of musician Trent Reznor.

Mercurial Occupations and Martial Strategies

Technologists, businessmen, and scholars all share a strong emphasis on Mercury. Mercury is the planet of intellect, reason, speech, technology, and symbolism. We often (though not always) see a lot of overlap between academic prowess, technological proficiency, and financial acumen. For instance, the founders of Google, Larry Page and Sergey Brin are tech scholars turned business leaders. Entrepreneurship pertains to Mars, due to the heavy emphasis on strategy. Therefore, tech entrepreneurship is a matter that pertains to both Mercury and Mars.

Steve Jobs

A brief biography for Steve Jobs can be found on Wikipedia. His chart is given a Rodden Rating of AA for accuracy on Astro-Databank. His chart is pictured below (CTRL-Click to open an expanded version in a new tab).

Natal Chart – Steve Jobs

Relevance to Actions

Places:

The Sun is the only planet in a “stake” being in the 7th. Mercury is in the 6th. Jupiter and Venus are in the 11th and 5th respectively. Less pertinent are the Moon and Mars in the 8th. All three planets of action are in relevant places, so all have some thing to say about professional skills.
Rulership:

Mercury is the house ruler of both the 10th and the 1st, the 1st triplicity ruler of the 10th, and the exalted ruler of the 1st. Mars is bound ruler of both the Ascendant and MC. The other planets have less relevance as they all have only triplicity rulership in either the 1st or 10th, but not both. As both the 1st and 10th are houses of Mercury, Mercury has the most relevance. Mars has secondary relevance.
Phasis and the Lights

Mercury is in phasis, coming out from the beams less than a week before birth. Mercury is the planet receiving the next application of the Moon. Mars is assembled with the Moon. Again we see a particular emphasis on Mercury, with a lesser emphasis on Mars.

Relevance Conclusion

Mercury has the most relevance to actions. Of the three “actions” planets, Mars is next most significant. The Sun is also significant in terms of professional matters. Venus, Jupiter, and the Moon are significant to a lesser degree.

Prominence

Advancing/Retreating:

The Moon is just about strongly advancing, while Jupiter and Venus are also advancing pretty forcefully. Mars is also advancing, while Mercury is just barely advancing.
Relationships to Lights:

Mercury is in phasis and is being applied to by the Moon. Mars is assembled with the Moon. Both Lights regard Jupiter and Venus.
Stationing:

Mercury is very strong, as it is stationing direct within 24 hours of birth.

Prominence Conclusion

Mercury is the strongest planet. Mercury is stationing direct, in phasis, and is advancing. The Moon is also very strong, while Jupiter and Venus are to a lesser extent.

Steve Jobs Professional Indications

Mercury has the greatest testimony in matters of occupation and is the strongest planet of the chart in a general way. Intellectual development is most relevant to the occupation. This emphasizes technology and business.

An element of publicity (the Sun) is also extremely relevant to the profession. Competitiveness and public affairs are very relevant (Mars). There is also an important role that subjective experience plays (the Moon), which is reflected in his software and hardware design choices (ease of use). There is additionally pretty relevant development in terms of aesthetics (Venus).

Mercury in Depth

To keep things brief though, let’s focus on the primary planet of actions, Mercury. Mercury is in a human air sign, pertaining to social phenomena, like ideas, trends, news, education, and technology. Mercury is in a sign of Saturn and is dominated by Saturn (right-side square). Saturn is the out of sect malefic, so there are many negative associations with Mercury in terms of struggle, death, loss, oppression, and so forth, and Mercury is in the 6th of slaves (employees) and health issues, both of which were critical sore areas in Jobs’ life. Saturn pertains to solidity, industry, and management, while it is in the 3rd which pertains to communication and transportation. Mercury’s natural significance in terms of communication is increased and there is an increased association with business management and working with solid resources such as hardware.

Bill Gates

A brief biography for Bill Gates can be found on Wikipedia, and his chart is given a Rodden Rating of A for accuracy on Astro-Databank. His chart is pictured below (CTRL+click to open an expanded version in a new tab).

Natal Chart – Bill Gates

Relevance to Actions

Places:

The Moon is in the 10th, while Mars and Mercury are in a “stake” (the 4th). Jupiter is in the 2nd. The Sun, Venus, and Saturn are less relevant, being in the 5th.
Rulership:

The ruler of the 10th is Mars, while the Moon rules the 1st. Mars and Jupiter have dignity in both places, but Jupiter more so.
Phasis and the Lights:

Mercury is in phasis, coming out from the beams just under a week before birth. Mars is the planet receiving the next application of the Moon. Venus and Saturn are also in phasis and assembled with the Sun.

Relevance Conclusion

Mars, Mercury, Venus, the Moon, and Jupiter have relevance to actions. Of the three “actions” planets, Mars and Mercury are the most relevant and are together in the same sign. Both planets are in a stake of the 10th. Mars has dignity at the 10th and 1st, whereas Mercury does not, but Mercury is in phasis, so it is particularly highlighted. Venus is in appropriate place and in phasis so she has lesser relevance as well.

Prominence

Advancing/Retreating:

The Moon, Mars, and Mercury are strongly advancing. All other planets in the chart are advancing to a lesser extent.
Relationships to Lights:

Mercury, Venus, and Saturn are in phasis. The Moon applies to Mars. Venus and Saturn are assembled with the Sun. Jupiter regards both lights, and is in the home of the Sun.
Stationing:

Mercury is stationing direct.

Prominence Conclusion

Mercury is the strongest planet. Mercury is stationing direct, in phasis, and is very strongly advancing. Mars and the Moon are very strong in the chart. Venus is also quite strong.

Bill Gates Professional Indications

Mars has the greatest testimony in terms of occupation, while Mercury is stronger in the chart overall due to being in phasis, stationing direct, in a “stake” of the chart, and strongly advancing, all at the same. Jupiter in the 2nd of wealth and possessions, as well as strong, is probably connected in some part to both Bill’s immense financial acumen and development of philanthropic pursuits as a vocation. He is currently working full-time with his philanthropic organization, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The prominence of the Moon is very interesting, as Gates, like Jobs, worked primarily in adapting technology to natural human experience. The strength of the Moon and Mercury, and the strong connection of the Moon with the 1st, give strong indications of his mental acuity. The Moon and Mercury were the two most important planets for mind or soul in Ptolemy’s astrology. The Moon also pertains strongly to the brain, memory, and intuition.

Mercury in Depth

As with Jobs, Mercury is in an Air sign, pertaining to more social phenomena. Mercury is in a sign of Venus and is assembled with Mars. We might expect Mercury to pertain to design (Venus) and the military or domestic public affairs to some extent (Mars). In other words, we see a greater emphasis on involvement in meeting the demands of competitive business, military, and public affairs in this Mercury placement, and less on physical materials, than we do with the more Saturnine Mercury of Steve Jobs.

It is worth noting that the twelfth-part of Gates’ Mercury is in the Mercury bound of Aries, the 10th place. This further reinforces the importance of Mercury in his career and connects it with Mars.

Gates with Twelfth-Parts in Outer Wheel

Mars in Depth

Gates was able to secure great success for his company through aggressive strategy. At times his aggressive competitiveness became unethical as he sought to lock out competition, bringing on multiple controversial anti-trust suits. His management style was also known to be particularly harsh and abrasive. Mars is in Libra with Mercury, so many of the same associations with Mercury apply to Mars and they work together. He participated in the congressional Page program at age 17, so his involvement in public affairs came early and has persisted in his life. In whole, his career has been centrally about beating competition and coming out ahead in power struggles. He was the wealthiest person in the world for 14 years and has persisted as one of the most powerful.

This technique with the chart of Bill Gates shows similar results as those for many very high-climbing politicians and industry leaders. For very socially mobile people, Mars does not show “brawn” so much as a development of competitiveness, strategy, and the desire to make a powerful impact on the lives of others.

Interestingly, Gates had some political experience at a young age. He was a congressional page for the House of Representatives at age 17. That same year he graduated high school as a National Merit Scholar, scored 1590 out of 1600 on his SAT, and enrolled in Harvard the same year. It was the year when Mars directed to the Ascendant by sextile and the Jupiter directed to the sect light (the Moon) by trine. If you are not familiar with primary directions, then please check out the introductory article on them.

Bill Gates Important Aspectual Primary Directions at Age 17

A Key Year: Microsoft Windows

There are a larger number of stand-out events in Gates’ life. Let’s look at one particularly pivotal year for him, age 30, which saw the launch of the first retail version of the Microsoft Windows operating system (on 11/20/1985).

Mercury as Distributor

The event occurred during the first time in Gates’ life in which Mercury was the distributor. Mercury was the distributor from early 1984 to mid-1992. This period saw the development, launch, and ascendancy of Microsoft’s flagship product, Windows.

Bill Gates – Distributors Ages 0-100

Saturn as Lord of the Year Conjunct Mercury

In terms of annual profections, age 30 is a 7th house year. Gates’ 7th house is Capricorn, so the lord of the year was its ruler, Saturn. In his natal chart, Saturn is in the 5th house of good fortune, conjunct the sect benefic, Venus, and dominated by the 2nd house Jupiter. In his solar return chart of the year, we see that the year marked his first Saturn return and that return Mercury was conjunct return Saturn and natal Saturn. Additionally, return Venus was conjunct his natal Mercury. Therefore, we see an emphasis both on Saturn (responsibility, authority, challenge, maturity, solidity) and on Mercury (technology, intellect, commerce), with fortunate circumstances linked to Mercury through Venus (the sect benefic).

1985 Solar Return Positions Marked on Outside of Bill Gates’ Natal Chart

Timing by Degree-Based Profections

In the article on degree-based profections, I noted that they can be used to time out big events in the year within a couple weeks. There are a number of very interesting profections involved with the release of Windows on 11/20/1985.

We’ve already discussed how important Mercury and Mars are for Gates’ career. Mercury and Mars are strongly advancing together, Mercury’s twelfth-part is in the 10th, and Mars is the ruler of the 10th. Mercury is the distributor for the time period. We also must look at Saturn and Venus. The profection is to the 7th house ruled by Saturn, making Saturn lord of the year, and it is conjunct Venus. Saturn is also activated by planetary years at age 30, and Saturn was lord of days. The solar return emphasized those planets as well.

Bill Gates Natal Chart with Twelfth-Parts (outside wheel)

Take note of the following natal positions: Mars at 10 Libra, twelfth-part Ascendant at about 23 Taurus, and twelfth-part Mercury at 19 Aries. The rate of change for degree-based profection is 2.5 per month. About 3/4 of a month had elapsed since the solar return, amounting to just under 2 degrees. It was a 7th house profection, so the year starts with all points opposite their natal positions. Therefore, every point in the natal chart would have profected to the opposite degrees as its natal position plus about 2 degrees.

Bill Gates 11-20-1985 Profections

The following profectional conjunctions are within a degree at the time of Windows release: profected Moon conjoins natal Mars; profected Saturn conjoins natal twelfth-part Ascendant; profected Mercury conjoins natal twelfth-part Mercury.

Conclusion

Both Bill Gates and Steve Jobs have Mercury and Mars as the most relevant planets for actions. While both were technologists (Mercury), they were also both leaders engaged in highly competitive strategy and public affairs (Mars). The combination of Mercury and Mars is also evocative of electronics themselves. The emphasis on air signs in both charts gears things toward the more human and ephemeral (software) as well as the utilitarian and trendy.

With Steve Jobs we see Saturn play a stronger role, both in terms of a greater focus on the physical (hardware) and in terms of the more pertinent career struggles. Bill Gates highlights the more important role of Mars, where the emphasis is more on the competitive advantage and being number one.

Image Attribution

Featured image by Joi Ito from Inbamura, Japan [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

2018 Update

Note that this article was updated in late 2018 (October-December) with some additional information on twelfth-parts in the charts and the addition of the example of the release of Windows.

Steve Jobs and Mercury | Strength in Ancient Astrology

Posted on October 18, 2011 by Anthony

Steve Jobs’ Mercury: Strong or Weak?

Steve Jobs was a famous business person and technologist. Mercury is the planet that pertains most to business and technology. So we might wonder about the planetary strength of Mercury in Jobs’ natal chart. Take a look as we explore a more well-rounded traditional way to assessing planetary prominence and strength.

According to Astro-Databank, it is stated on his birth certificate that Steve Jobs was born on Feb. 24, 1955 at 7:15 pm in San Francisco, California.

Weak? Mercury is Cadent and Retrograde

This chart poses a dilemma for traditional astrologers, in that Mercury is in a weak place, the 6th sign from the Ascendant. It is also retrograde.

This man was a thinker, a technologist. To claim that Mercury was weak or not a pervasive influence in this man’s life would be preposterous. Mercury is the primary planet of technology, commerce, and communications, all things central to his life story. It does not play a minor role.

Appearances can be Deceiving

Astrologers tend toward an over-reliance on what is immediately apparent when reading charts. That approach can cause problems. Signs are easy to spot so the sign a planet is in will often be given too much significance as to whether the planet indicates positive or negative things (see issues with dignity scoring). Retrogradation is easy to spot so it retrograde planets easily get blamed for all manner of things which they do not indicate. Cadency is often overused by traditional astrologers in the same manner, preferring its quick-and-dirty indication to a more comprehensive examination of the factors pertaining to strength.

This is a good time to introduce two major conditions that make a planet quite strong from Hellenistic astrology. These are easily missed and mistaken for mild weakening conditions.

Stationing Direct

While Mercury appears to be retrograde, and therefore some may regard it as somewhat weakened, the truth is that the Rx here is deceiving. Mercury is stationing direct, which is considered one of the major factors that strengthens a planet. Merely being retrograde is not a substantial impediment to a planet. Stationing retrograde, that is turning retrograde within about a week of birth, does weaken the planet’s influence, especially the more proximal it is to the time of birth.

However, stationing direct (within about a week of birth) is extremely fortifying to the planet. It indicates that significations are stronger, more pervasive, more widespread in the life. This is especially so if the planet stations direct very close to the birth time.

In the case of the chart of Steve Jobs, Mercury stations within 24 hours of birth, so this is a very strong direct station. The indication is that Mercury is strong, which is exactly the opposite of what appears to be the case by a cursory observation of retrogradation.

Natal Chart – Steve Jobs

Week After Birth of Jobs

One Week Before Birth of Jobs

Making an Appearance: Phasis

Another fortifying condition in Hellenistic astrology is making an appearance, or being in phasis. A planet is in phasis when it is passing into or out of the Sun’s beams. Note that most ancient authors identified it as only being when passing out of the beams, though in my observation both hold but with more strength when passing out of them. The Sun’s beams are standardized to 15 degrees for this condition, and it should occur within about 7 days of birth – the closer in time, the more powerful the effect.

This again marks out a planet as more significant and of more pervasive influence. A planet going into the beams made its last appearance before disappearing for some time. One coming out from the beams makes a first appearance after being shrouded under the beams for a time. Unfortunately, when a planet is under the beams at birth, this condition is confused for the mildly weakening situation of being under the beams. Like with stationing direct, the mildly weakening situation really does not apply if the planet is in phasis.

Phasis and the Occupation

Phasis was particularly important when it came to the planet signifying the occupation in the chart. When Mercury, Venus, or Mars were in phasis they were more likely to indicate the nature of the occupation. For more information on the use of phasis (as well as other prominence considerations) see the lesson on planetary prominence.

Jobs was born with Mercury at 14 Aquarius and the Sun at 5 Pisces. They are about 21 degrees from each other, though Mercury has no apparent motion as it is stationing. Five days earlier, on Feb. 19, 1955, Mercury was at 16 Aquarius and the Sun at 0 Pisces, so they were 14 degree apart, with Mercury under the beams, passing out of them to make its first appearance.

Mercury is in phasis in his chart, making its first appearance about 4-5 days before his birth. Without specifically checking for phasis we would miss this important additional indication of planetary strength. Mercury is not only strong, but some of that strength pertains directly to the occupation.

Natal Chart – Steve Jobs

Ruling the First Place

The planet ruling the 1st will have some special topical signification over the person themselves, their preferences, and their personality. Jobs has Virgo rising, so Mercury is the ruler of the 1st place, the place of the character and inclinations.

Mercury so far has three powerful conditions making it significant. It is stationing direct, in phasis, and rules the 1st (additionally, it is the 1st triplicity ruler of the sign it is in).

Advancing and Retreating

It was customary to use the place/house position (i.e. which ordinal sign a planet is located in as counted from the rising sign which is the 1st place) as a factor in strength consideration in Hellenistic astrology. While I also use the whole sign houses for topics and for assessing dark/light houses, I prefer the later Persian use of Advancing and Retreating (see Abu Ma’Shar and al-Qabisi) for planetary strength. Please refer to the lesson on advancing for a more thorough treatment of this topic.

Natal Chart – Steve Jobs

To find whether a planet is advancing or retreating you take the distance between the horizon and the meridian on either side of the planet and divide by three. If a planet is less than one-third the distance from one to the next one (moving clockwise), but not very close to an angle (i.e. not within a few degrees, more might be allowed for luminaries), then it is retreating (weakened). A planet more than one-third of the way to that next “angle” is advancing (strengthened). One that is very close to an angle or approaching an angle within about 15 or 20 degrees is strongly advancing, i.e. very strengthened.

The Logic of Advancement

Advancing/Retreating is easy to conceptualize. The volume is being turned up on a planet as it is lining up with the horizon or meridian of a specific locale on Earth, and quickly turned down as it “retreats” from that location. It is truly a continuum, with a planet getting stronger (or louder, if you will) as it advances closer to the angle. I consider it to be the easiest strength consideration to spot in a chart, but also a very significant one.

In Steve’s chart, Mercury has already set, passing the Descendant at 22 Pisces and approaching the IC at 21 Sagittarius. The distance between the two is 91 degrees, but we’ll round off to 90, as precision is not important in this. One-third the distance is about 30 degrees. Mercury is more than 30 degrees past the Descendant at 22 Pisces, so it is not retreating. Mercury is at 14 Aquarius, which is 38 degrees from 22 Pisces, so it is considered Advancing, albeit just barely.

Wrapping Up

A careful look at Steve Jobs chart reveals that Mercury is the strongest, most pervasive, planet in the chart. While the Moon is strongly advancing, and Jupiter, Mars, and Venus are all three advancing more strongly than Mercury, Mercury is not only advancing but also stationing direct, in phasis, and the ruler of the 1st. There are only very minor weakening conditions.

Considering additional factors, such as twelfth-parts we see more confirmation of this. The twelfth-part of the MC is conjunct Mercury. Mercury’s own twelfth-part is in the strong 11th house conjunct Jupiter. As the ruler of the 10th and the 1st, located in the 6th, Mercury is particularly relevant for the career.

Steve Jobs’ Natal Chart with Twelfth-Parts on Outer Wheel

Take a look at your own chart and the charts of others that you know, including celebrities. Experiment by weighting advancing/retreating, direct/retrograde stations, phasis, and rulership of the 1st. Personally, I rank them in the order given in the previous sentence, and consider all of them, particularly the first three, as giving powerful general indications regarding the pervasiveness of a planet’s influence.

Remember, a strong planet will express more of its nature in more places. Prominent planets spill out indications well beyond the houses they occupy and rule.