SOLAR WRITER REPORT

Lee Lehman's
Classical Astrology Report

for Michael Jackson

The Purpose of this Report

The purpose of this report is to present a view of the person that is helpful for the astrologer wishing to learn classical method, or for the practitioner wishing to explore the more deterministic aspects of the person's life. There is nothing in this report that says that one must act in the ways described. Rather, classical method shows the easiest pathway, namely, the path of least resistance - not the best possible road, the road most frequently taken.

Classical and Modern Astrology

This report is based on the methods of classical astrology. What is classical astrology? Historically, classical astrology encompasses the many styles of delineation practiced prior to 1700. Generally speaking, the word is restricted to those styles practiced in the West: Vedic Astrology, until recently mainly practiced in India, is a sister craft, and one that shared some methods with Classical Astrology at critical stages in the development of both.

Classical Astrology, unlike Modern Astrology, does not approach an astrological chart from a psychological point of view. The style is more predictive and pragmatic. There is less emphasis on motivation and evolution; more emphasis on how, when and what rather than on why. To the person schooled in Modern Astrology, Classical Astrology can seem harsh and dictatorial. But those of us who practice it prefer to think of this as liberating!

One clear example of the difference: consider the planet Saturn and its track across the heavens and its movement through time. This movement is called a transit. Transits of Saturn generally meant times of hardship. Are these times a "pain in the butt" or an "opportunity?" Maybe calling these crisis times an "opportunity" or a "learning experience" reminds us that we do have choices, and this is an important thing. But when you are getting kicked in the teeth, so to speak, you are probably more interested in when you can get back on your feet than on what the long term lesson is.

Because of the radically different viewpoint between classical and modern interpretation, it could be argued that both styles of astrology can give valuable insights. Understanding the strengths of each, we are in the position, as it were, of a martial artist confronting a religious practitioner. Both have skills and knowledge. But the martial artist could benefit from the centering abilities taught through meditation; while the religious practitioner could use some practical self defense skills taught by the martial arts.

Classical Astrology excels at prediction through time, whereas modern astrology focuses on tendencies. It is as if Modern Astrology is best at the Noun ("Who are you?"), while Classical Astrology is best at the Verb ("What do you want?). Classical Astrology is less agile at and motivational matters than her modern cousin. Likewise, Modern Astrology is less agile at recognizing genuine limits to action.

But this does not mean that Classical Astrology has nothing to say. The two most important candidates are firstly, matters concerning temperament, and secondly, something that Modern Astrology avoids like the plague: good and evil. This goes to the heart of the other great question, "What do you want?" This latter question is often by affected by temptation, greed, and other less than stellar desires.

The characterization of temperament or complexion is vital to the design of an effective lifestyle program for wellness. The idea is simple: we are each comprised of two sets of two qualities: hot and cold, and wet and dry. The relative ratios of these four components induce what we might call a field matrix: a cluster of temperamental and biological tendencies. This balance, in turn, can be threatened by stress, aging, or astrological transits or other dynamic indicators. The balance can be partially or completely restored through dietary and exercise practices. But this can only be done by understanding the original balance, and how it got out of equilibrium.

But this leaves some differences in the matter of health between ancient and modern practice. Consider a statement in my own report, "the body is subject to deformation as a result of illness." This is because I have Saturn square the North Node. When I was eight years old, I had an accident with a scooter. The resulting cut on my knee went all the way to the bone. Because of modern medicine, I was sewn up, given antibiotics, and limped around for about three months. But had this been 1648, without antibiotics, the whole leg could have been lost to gangrene. Even without infection, healing easily could have taken twice as long. During the years of childhood, a disability for that length of time could have had an effect on growth - resulting in a considerably shorter leg - and deformation! As it is, I have one leg shorter than the other - by half an inch. How much more it might have been without modern medicine can only be surmised.

With all the ancient statements of health, we need to be aware that many things which used to be life threatening are no longer so. But there are dangers. It's just that many dire outcomes can be prevented.

Now we get to the thornier issue of good and evil: words almost never heard in a modern reading of a birth chart, but common words among the ancients. Perhaps the greatest irony of this is that Modern Astrology has put itself into the camp of religious practice through its emphasis on spiritual growth and unfolding potential. Yet this old dichotomy of good and evil has been completely excluded from consideration, like a bad nightmare.

Are there evil birthcharts? Yes, there are, according to Classical Astrology. But what constitutes evil? Of course, we have a whole tool case of concepts, based on philosophical and religious experience, but let's simplify it down. Evil in the birthchart essentially results from one primary cause: egotism, and the greed it often provokes. If your chart shows that you value your comfort, your money, your family, and your desires as absolutely superior to those of others, then you have an evil chart.

Does this make you an evil person? Not necessarily. Self observation has long been a critical factor in spiritual practice. If you can curb your tendencies, then you can experience the struggle as the heat of true spiritual practice. The first step in this process is in understanding these tendencies, and that is where Classical Astrology comes in.

It is probably not too surprising that a cursory exposure to the classical astrological classification of evil looks stunningly like the Seven Deadly Sins. Hardly surprising, given the length of Christian domination, but also hardly surprising since the Church Fathers increased the four virtues of Plato to seven, just equaling the number of cardinal sins, and just fortuitously equaling the number of then known planets! Consider the following table:

Planet	Sin	Virtue	Faculty	Animal Nature
Saturn	Envy	Prudence	Retention	Memory
Jupiter	Sloth	Justice	Collection	Discernment
Mars	Anger	Fortitude	Expulsion	Irascible appetites
Sun	Pride	Temperance	Vitality	Appropriate appetites
Venus	Lust	Love	Generation	Sexual appetites
Mercury	Lying	Faith	Rationality	Imagination
Moon	Avarice	Hope	Instinct	Acquisitiveness

This table is not typical of the usual discussion of the qualities of the planets found in modern textbooks! This table is derived from the 17th Century astrologer Morinus (Astrologia Gallica), pp 304-307). However, they are not explicitly listed. The categories are taken from the descriptions of the qualities of the planets when well or badly placed. In other words, the "Sin" column is a capsule summary of the way a planet works when badly afflicted, what used to be called "evilly placed!"

And here we have our astrological theory of Good and Evil. A "good" planet acts like it is well placed; while an "evil" planet acts like it is poorly placed. Now the simplest explanation for "acting" well placed is for the planet to actually be well placed. However, the pairing of vice and virtue shows the method to strive to transmute Evil into Good. But notice: without a frank appraisal of the malefic nature of certain placements, there is no free will possible. Conscious choice is the way to bridge the gap from Evil to Good. Evading the uncomfortable merely exacerbates the problem.

Having gotten this far, how do we understand contradictory indicators? Suppose your chart shows both a tendency toward poverty and the ability to make money? The simple answer is that, over time, both statements will be true. Rare indeed is the person who can make money under all circumstances, with any product, any company, or any partners. The more indicators of wealth, the easier it is for you to lean in that direction. The more indicators of poverty, the harder it is to work your way out of debt if you get into it.

It is this frank discussion of tendencies which may be the most valuable part of Classical Astrology today. Consider financial matters. Classical Astrology breaks up the lifetime into three periods. For ease of expression, let's consider these three periods childhood (you're dependent on others for your finances), adulthood (you're dependent on your own work or that of your partner), and retirement (you live off of accumulated wealth from your adult period). Now: suppose that the adult period shows up as the strongest. This suggests that you really do need to pay attention to saving money for retirement, because your tendency is to underestimate your retirement needs. If your retirement period doesn't look good financially, then you shouldn't plan on becoming a Wall Street Maven when you have shown no talent in this vocation previously! You may not in fact find it easy to retire at all. On the other hand, if all three of these periods show as strong, then you can be one of those few people who really never need be concerned about how you're going to pay for tomorrow.

Or consider your ability to hire people. You may think this doesn't apply because you are not a manager at work, but this tendency applies to any work you contract: babysitting, lawn work, household repairs, gardening, or plumbing. Classical Astrology distinguishes between your ability to find and hire people of good character, versus your ability to get good work out of them! Thus, you could hire the biggest scoundrels on the block, but they do good work for you! Or you could hire the nicest people around, but somehow, they never seem to get the job done.

These are pretty specific cases. And so back to our question of Classical and Modern. Is knowing your tendencies from a financial point of view stifling your free will, or a basis for sound financial planning?

One more point. Classical Astrology never used the Outer Planets Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. However, most modern Classicists do use them in a manner somewhat different from Modern astrologers. Most Classicists use them for their aspects and house placements, but not as rulers of signs or houses. While I personally use them, I have chosen not to include them in this report in order to keep this closer to the style of delineation that was practiced in classical times.

The information presented in this report is one way to characterize a person. Like any report writer, this cannot be considered to be a complete or ultimate description. There is little likelihood that I would ever make this text the major portion of a delineation I gave to a client - any more than this would be true of other report writers! This report hopefully provides a bridge between a way of viewing life unfoldment in a culture which lacked much belief in the ability for self improvement, to a culture in which self improvement has become an obsession. Both viewpoints have their validity. To believe that everything that happens to the Native is a result of her or his Free Will is to end up blaming the person when things go wrong. But to stand by when action is needed to change one's lot is folly.

Thus, I have chosen to translate much of the ancient descriptions into a more modern parlance. It is not my choice for Classical Astrology to remain pure in dogma, but dead in application. In the words of Ken Wilbur, "If by 'ancient' we mean 'timeless,' then ... our culture is in desparate need of such wisdom.... But if by 'ancient' we mean 'past forms of Truth,; then I believe nothing but a reactionary, antiprogressive, antiliberal, anti-evolutionary stance could ever result from such an importation." (The Eye of Spirit, p 61).

House Placements

Astrology groups themes under twelve areas, known as houses. These encompass the arenas of life in which it is possible to classify circumstances. The difference between a planet and a house is this: a planet represents a state of being, or an activity. A house shows where that planet is most likely to manifest. When we talk about placement, we are talking about houses.

Planets do two things with respect to houses: they occupy houses, and they rule houses. Modern Astrology for the most part has played down the importance of house rulership, while Classical Astrology considers both situations as nearly equal in value. The other thing that these two concepts provide is linkage between themes.

For example, having your 9th House ruled by a planet in the 1st House links issues of the 9th and the 1st. This would mean that travel is very important to you, as is education, and religious, philosophical or spiritual ideas. Travel, education, and religious, philosophical or spiritual ideas are all 9th House matters: the 1st House shows those issues which are most important for your happiness.

In all these examples, the outline is provided by the placements, but then this is in turn modified by quality considerations. So you enjoy travel. But suppose your 9th House ruler in the 1st House is blocked or inhibited. You still enjoy travel, but you may get sick on trips. Education is important to you, but you get into arguments with your instructors, and they mark you down for it, and so you find it difficult to get ahead. You might be very attracted to religious matters, but all the religious types you meet seem to be frauds, looking for a profit or some easy sex.

On the other hand, suppose your 9th House ruler in the 1st House is especially strong. Now, you really seem to be able to have the time to travel, and to enjoy it without too much worry. You encounter few obstacles to your educational pursuits - except those you create for yourself!

In this fashion, we can evaluate difference slices of life from the standpoint of how easy it is, where the obstacles occur, and when we have to really work to achieve a goal. Much of the inspiration for these ideas comes from the 17th Century English astrologer William Lilly's book, Christian Astrology, in the natal section.

Sources for text are shown as an abbreviation after each paragraph. Note that the text is derived from these various classical sources, and does not represent exact quotations.

C = Coley

GC = Gadbury & Coley

GF = Gadbury & Firmicus

iE = ibn Ezra

P = Partridge

Affairs of the 1st House:
Health, Vitality, Happiness

It's funny: we almost never talk about happiness, as if it's somehow taboo to go through life happy. The ancients didn't think so. By linking health, vitality and happiness in the same house, they said something at once simple and profound: it's easiest to be happy or satisfied with life when one doesn't have to think about health, and very difficult to enjoy life in the midst of pain.

What is vitality? One simple explanation given by the ancients was the ability to live a long life. This is easier to do if the following conditions apply: you are basically healthy, not subject to a series of debilitating diseases, not accident prone, not vindictive enough to put yourself into violent situations voluntarily, and not weighed down so much by life that you passively roll over and play dead. We can see this quality working in studies of older patients, in which the more demanding or obnoxious outlive the more passive or meek.

But another level of vitality is a zest for living. The 1st House shows you those matters which hold your interest: what intrigues, seduces, and tempts you to stay around, like the teaser at the end of the cliffhanger that brings you back for the sequel. If you are not engaged by life, not only are you not likely to enjoy it, but you won't fight very hard to retain it.

The next component of this vitality/happiness cluster is the quality of mind and manners of the Native. No, not Miss Manners. The 1st House tells in part the filter used when we react to circumstances: is there a hair-trigger temper, or do we ponderously weigh all alternatives before making a move? Are our reactive patterns based on cold logic, or hot passion?

Mercury

Mercury and the Moon were believed to be the planets which most clearly delineated the "wit of the Native." Thus, Gadbury could say:

"When Mercury is well dignified, the Native is of a sharp and subtle Fancy, and hath a penetrating Brain, curious in the search of occult Knowledge, an admirable Logician and Disputant, very eloquent, apprehensive and witty in any thing, learning (almost) every thing without a Teacher: he is naturally desirous of Travelings, and willing to see strange Countries: he is of an unwearied and strong Imagination, and of many witty Inventions.

"But when ill dignified, the Native then usually proves a Liar, a prattling Fellow, a Boaster, a Busie-body, an Author of many strifes and contentions, a Pretender to all manner of Knowledge, but guilty of no solid Learning."

And he goes on! So: if your Mercury isn't well dignified, are you an idiot? Not exactly! Here we first see a clear case that any planet ill dignified has tendencies that are generally not encouraged by one's culture. For example, since Greek times at least, the West has fostered an attitude that Rationalism is the Right Way: Reason above all. Not only is a particular type of thinking encouraged, but particular ways of learning as well. If you don't find these methods to work, tough!

Mercury is in Leo

You are a hasty, proud, conceited person, ambitious for honor, a boaster, and often subject to contention.

Venus

Venus was called the Lesser Benefic, because overall, she was considered an asset. However, more than any other planet, the difference between Venus Hesperis, the Evening Star, and Venus Lucifer, the Morning Star, was obvious. Venus rules pleasure. However, as we know, Society is often nervous about its members experiencing too much pleasure! Gadbury said:

"When Venus is well dignified, the Native is of a merry and cheerful Disposition, loving and delighting in pleasures, cleanly and neat in his Apparel, always going neat and spruce, often entangles in Love-matters, zealous in affections, nothing mistrustful, or suspicious, a right virtuous person, either man or woman.

"But if Venus shall be ill dignified, the person or Native she signifies, is given to incestuous courses, to rioting and lewdness, not regarding his Faith, Credit, or Reputation, a mere spendthrift, a haunter of Taverns, Alehouses, and the company of lewd people, a lazy prattling, busie-body, atheistical, immodest Creature."

Clearly, we see that the balance here between good and bad is pleasure versus excess. It might be better to say that an ill dignified Venus results in the Native finding it difficult to draw the line: a person who just cannot say No.

Venus is in Leo

You are moderately passionate, soon angry and just as soon over it. You are generous and a bit addicted to pride, but not to the extreme. You are often indisposed in body, but not much prejudiced as a result. You are a social good-humored person in general.

Mars

Mars was called the Lesser Malefic, as Venus was called the Lesser Benefic. This meant that Mars was seen as marginally less obnoxious than Saturn. Gadbury listed its properties as being "the Author of Strife, Quarrels, Controversies and Contentions." The ills of the world were generally attributed to the malefics, although other planets in poor condition could produce evil. However, the generally agreed upon mischief-making capabilities of the two malefics was so strong that in mundane work, the conjunctions of Mars and Saturn every three years or so were interpreted to see which of the two was more likely to cause harm over the period of that conjunction. If Mars was stronger, droughts, war, contentions, fevers, and fires would predominate. If Saturn were the stronger, then famine, plague, starvation, and poverty would be more likely. What a choice!

But not everything about Mars is bad. As Gadbury continued, "When Mars is well dignified, then is the Native of a prudent Behavior in every thing. In War, none excels him: he is confident, bold, and unmovable, challenges all honor to himself, he will obey no-body willingly, a large Reporter of his own acts - slights, derides and condemns all things in comparison of Victory. Yet is he one that is of a prudent and excellent Behavior in his own Affairs.

"But when Mars is ill dignified, then is the Native a Prattler, without modesty or honesty, a Broacher of Quarrels, a Thief, a perjured or turbulent Fellow, a Promoter of mischiefs, a rash, inhumane, treacherous Fellow - a mere Incendiary, one that neither fears God, nor cares for honoring or reverencing Man."

We see that Mars is great to have on your side during a war, but not the best companion in peaceful times. There is courage, but cruelty - and the inability to "turn if off" once the need for the fight-or-flight approach has passed.

Mars is in Taurus

You are a glutton, because you give yourself complete liberty with regard to eating, drinking, gaming, and sex. You are a very treacherous, ill-natured, unfortunate person when crossed.

Jupiter

Jupiter is the Greater Benefic, the planet potentially capable of providing the greatest good. In Gadbury's words, Jupiter is "the Author of Moderation, Justice, Temperance and Sobriety." Justice is a very good thing. The watchword for Mars is vengeance, rather the eye-for-an-eye mentality. Jupiter lacks these bloodthirsty traits. Jupiter knows that Divine Justice, the only really important kind, does not require much in the way of human intervention. Thus, Jupiter is not quick to condemn, where Mars would have already executed!

Gadbury says: "When Jupiter is well disposed, the Native is magnanimous, generous and faithful, aiming at honorable and lofty matters: he is wonderful fair in his delaying, and desirous to advantage and benefit others: he is of an excellent Conversation, doing many acts of charity - a very faithful, serious, constant and untainted Friend. He is just, nobel and prudent, and a perfect Hater of all unworthy and sordid persons and actions.

"But when Jupiter is ill disposed, then is the Native a mere prodigal or spendthrift: he wastes and consumes his Patrimony. A Hypocrite in matters of Faith and Religion, an ignorant, careless Fellow, and a gross, dull Capacity - a cringing, dissembling Companion, a skeptic or Atheist."

Observe the difference between dignified or debilitated. It's not that Jupiter dignified is "good" and Jupiter debilitated is "bad," but Jupiter dignified is generous, while Jupiter debilitated is wasteful.

Now about the teeth. For some reason, the sign of Jupiter was associated with the condition of the teeth. Why? Teeth are normally assigned to Saturn, occasionally to Aries, since Aries rules the head. However, Coley notes, "Jupiter, usually signifies good Teeth, (as Saturn doth the contrary,) and sometimes produces some notable and apparent mark in the fore-Teeth." By fore-teeth, we would specify incisors or canines.

Jupiter is in Libra

You have a mild, winning disposition, and delight in noble exercises and recreations. You are obliging to all, and gain much honor and esteem thereby. You have broad fore-teeth. (C)

Saturn

Saturn is the Greater Malefic. Saturn represents Father Time, a concept that most of us do not enjoy. Saturn generically rules aging and older people. What Jupiter gives, Saturn takes away.

Gadbury says: "If Saturn be well dignified, the Person or Native represented by him, is grave and sober: he performs all his Actions with Judgement and Discretion: he hath a sharp Fancy, and strong Imagination, and is very studious.

"If Saturn be ill dignified, then the Native is malicious, envious, covetous, jealous, timorous, a meet lying, repining, and dissembling Fellow, and of a mistrustful, sordid, sluggish and suspicious disposition."

Notice that the difference in the description of Saturn dignified or not is the most extreme of all the planets. It was generally credited by Medieval times that a malefic dignified is less malefic, while a malefic debilitated is more so. Saturn dignified is merely serious and discrete; Saturn debilitated is sordid and envious.

Saturn is in Sagittarius

You are obliging, but not covetous; moderately frugal, rarely profuse, but somewhat choleric. You cannot bear an affront, although you are willing to do good to all, including your enemies. You can be talked into complying with the will of others too easily and rashly. You are a true friend. (C)

The Alcocoden

The Alcocoden, in addition to having various spellings, is a calculated planet related to the Hyleg, or Giver of Life. Called the Giver of Years, the Alcocoden is usually the Almuten of the Hyleg. The difficulty is that the Ancients had multiple methods of computing the Hyleg. The method we use here is that of Henry Coley. Traditionally, the Alcocoden was used as the basis for the calculation of the length of life. However, it appears that the Alcocoden may also indicate certain disease proclivities.

Mercury is Conjunct The Sun

...and The Sun is the Significator

You are adorned with wit, ingenuity, learning, arts, sciences, policy, understanding of languages, and the power of words. [Because Mercury delights to be under the Sun beams, not being there by hurt, as are the other Planets,] You get an excellent education and prove a good rhetorician and logician. (SA)

Saturn is Trine Venus

Age meets beauty. What happens? With the "easy" aspects, at least we have a chance of a May-December romance!

...and Venus is the Significatrix

You are modest, shamefaced, yet loving your belly well, very affable and courteous, and inclinable to few vicious actions. You gain from the dead, from Ancient people, and from the fruits and profits of the Earth. You have good repute and conversation, and scarcely marry until after thirty years of age.

Anyway, that's what they say. But I disagree. I find that modesty may be thrown out the window, while hedonism rules. You can be quite creative in your sexual drive, or other appetites.

Saturn is Trine Mercury

Curiosity is your strong suit. You have the ability to pursue your interests exhaustively. You are so tenacious about this that you may be perceived as a bore by others, wrapped up in your own private world.

...and Mercury is the Significator

You are peevish, discontented and dejected in your own mind. You have strange fancies, and are very willful, even sometimes to your own undoing, yet given to the study of Arts and Sciences, and finding out about many curious inventions.

Jupiter is Sextile The Sun

Honor, glory, and justice: personal or universal? The King, after all, was the dispenser of Justice - and mercy. You find it easy to combine these concepts, but don't forget that the negative manifestation of this combination is what used to be called vainglory - the quest for glory for the ego's sake. Do you know your mind well enough to sort out when you are just reaching for reputation?

...and The Sun is the Significator

You are born to honor and glory, and arrive at the highest of all worldly felicities. You are of great spirit, performing magnificent and honorable actions. You are endowed with treasure, and so your liberal spirit makes you waste it by excessive generosity. You are truly religious.

Jupiter is Sextile Mercury

Philosophically-inclined Jupiter meets topically-inclined Mercury. Jupiter sees only the forest, while Mercury sees only the trees. Together, perhaps they can see the bigger picture.

...and Mercury is the Significator

You are very ingenious, and your wit is mixed with virtue and honesty, of a deep understanding, profound wisdom, and sound judgment. You are successful in any enterprise, fit to be counselor of a top banana, or manager of the affairs of a company or country. You are generous, free spirited, and truly trustworthy.

Jupiter is Antiscion The Moon

Philosophically-inclined Jupiter meets instinctually-inclined Moon. Higher Mind meets Lower Mind.

...and Jupiter is the Significator

You are naturally good, just and virtuous, but of a very mutable mind, changing your opinion with the greatest of ease. You are popular. You become famous in your generation, and draw after you the love of the common people. You are loquacious, high conceited of yourself, fortunate by water and women.

Saturn is Square The Moon

You are likely to be sterile. Accordingly, if you wish to have children, consider adopting. Your body is subject to deformation as a result of illness. You are subject to stomach pains. Don't even think about intercourse unprotected for venereal disease. Your mother will likely outlive your father.

...and Saturn is the Significator

You experience travel and discontent. You are of an indifferent stature, dark or black hair, a disproportioned body, sometimes crooked, a traveler, wanderer, vagabond, one having the ill will and reproach of all people, and not undeservedly. You are a mere liar, forger, deceiver and subject to many manifold misfortunes from the vulgar.

Jupiter is Contra-Antiscion The Sun

Honor, glory, and justice: personal or universal? The King, after all, was the dispenser of Justice - and mercy. You find it difficult to combine these concepts because of the negative manifestation of this combination: what used to be called vainglory - the quest for glory for the ego's sake. Do you know your mind well enough to sort out when you are just reaching for reputation?

...and The Sun is the Significator

You waste your patrimony, and you are proud, lofty and pragmatic, scandalous, a despiser of Church and religion, and a great lover of pleasures and delights, to your own infamy and ruin.

Well... it's not just this. You have an acute sense of the rightness of things, but often accompanying it is unwillingness to go to the block to change things. What often develops is more of an ironic - but accurate - assessment of the situation. Are you willing to rise above your own best interest when you see that the status quo is wrong?

Jupiter is Contra-Antiscion Mercury

[Philosophically-inclined Jupiter meets topically-inclined Mercury.] Jupiter sees only the forest, while Mercury sees only the trees. You may have some speech impediment, or you may speak with great deliberation. A baseline effect of this configuration is that you may have difficulty being understood, and not necessarily from lack of verbal skills. It is more like you have a sign on your back that says, "Misinterpret me!"

...and Mercury is the Significator

There is a theme of folly and impudence in your life. You are overseen in all you undertakes, making silly resolves, and as foolishly repenting to your prejudice. You are a repining simple creature, given over to simplicity, and madness, to your own utter undoing.

Mars is Square Venus

You are guilty of many vicious, unworthy actions, not fit to be named.

My, sounds interesting, doesn't it? Generally if they say something like this in our Renaissance sources, then we moderns want to know exactly what that means - just the blow-by-blow, please! Well, there are two possibilities. [When Venus and Mars war within us, as this aspect represents,] It means that the sexual nature is often out of synch with societal expectation for sexual expression. This often means an especially lively sex life, possibly of a somewhat piquant persuasion, but it can also represent a complete blockage of sexual energy.

...and Venus is the Significatrix

Without effort, you are infinitely wicked, a thief, felon, or murderer, highwayman, taking to all manner of vice and mischief, unfortunate both to yourself, and all others, given to strife, contentions and every kind of debauchery, so abominable, it is a shame to relate.

Mars is Square Mercury

At the very least, you would be expected to have an acerbic tongue. The essence of this condition is that you find it difficult to avoid expressing yourself exactly as you feel, without regard to how others will react. Since you tend to react verbally without forethought, people will accuse you of shooting from the hip.

...and Mercury is the Significator

You are likely to be guilty of many crimes, because you find it easy to descend into a very wicked and evil nature. Without thought, you commonly engage in practices that make you guilty of murder, sorcery, or witchcraft, lying, stealing, making of debate and mischief, and following almost every dishonorable action.

Lying, cheating? Well... sometimes. You are capable of considerable self justification. In modern political parlance, you would make a good spin doctor. What is difficult for you is to remember the concerns of others in the moment of acting or speaking.

The Sun is Opposite The Moon

Don't expect your life to be one smooth highway with no entrances or exits! You find it difficult to be truly satisfied with any situation, because you are acutely aware that life is full of trade-offs. The grass may not be greener elsewhere, but being different, it's enticing in its own way.

...and The Sun is the Significator

Your fortune is mutable, and unstable. You fall easily into contempt and reproach among the common people, and merit the hatred or displeasure of some eminent or politically connected person. You are a cheat, deceiver, or impostor.

Perhaps a little strong. It might be better to say that one solution to your sense of disaffection with present circumstances (which happens easily because of your conviction that life could be better) is self-aggrandizement, and if you go this route, you will be thoroughly put down. In fact, you may be so badly put down the first time you try this that you are traumatized forever by the reaction. However, if you get away with it, you become insufferable to others.

Planets in Peregrine

The Moon is Peregrine

You could really use a tech manual for matters of the heart! The ebb and flow of daily life is a complete mystery to you, and you may find it very hard to be perceived of as being consistent, or constant, because you find it difficult to establish regular routines.

The Humors

There is an ancient theory of wellness and illness that speaks directly to lifestyle questions. This medical model can still be used today to understand temperament, not only from a psychological standpoint, but also from the perspective of body type, susceptibility to certain types of conditions, and even obesity. It is a type of understanding which can be equally at home in New Age circles, and in health practitioners' offices.

The classical medical model was given by Hippocrates a century before astrology had been incorporated into Greek thought. This model incorporated four basic qualities: Hot, Cold, Wet, and Dry. These four qualities varied by season, gender, age, and person. The ideal of Hippocrates was to lead a balanced life. If the body is balanced, then disease is less likely to take hold. The method of creating balance was diet and regimen.

I have written extensively on the philosophical underpinnings of this model in my book, Classical Astrology for Modern Living. This introduction reviews some of the more pertinent points as they apply to lifestyle issues.

The entire ancient scheme was based on the four qualities: Hot, Cold, Wet and Dry. "Hot" and "Cold" were one pair - "Wet" and "Dry" the other. From a behavioral perspective, "Hot" is exactly what you would expect from the common parlance: someone who reacts vigorously to anything even remotely perceived as an attack. "Hot under the collar" is exactly on target. A "Cold" type is basically lethargic, or slow to react, often perceived as being unemotional, but "slow to react" would actually be closer. The expression "cool under pressure" is also a good fit.

"Wet" and "Dry" don't have quite the linguistic familiarity. "Dry" represents anything with a discrete shape or structure, while something "Wet" adapts its shape to the container. "Dry" thinking is characterized by making distinctions, while "Wet" thinking sees connections. A new example of Wet thinking is "hyper-linking:" the World Wide Web is definitely Wet! A Dry thinker is more easily swayed by intellectual argument than by passion. A Wet thinker fits emotion into the picture. Dryness is the position that this moment is unique, that reality can be "objectively" known. "Wet" thinking takes the position that separate concepts are interconnected. Without Wet thinking, we could not be astrologers, because it is Wet thinking that sees the interconnections of microcosm and macrocosm. Without Dry thinking, there would be no technique, because we couldn't distinguish signs, planets, or houses from each other. The danger for Dry thinking is that, confronted with something new, the Dry thinker has no solution: the pieces are incompatible, and there is no way to bring them together. Each moment is unique, and unconnected to what came before. To the Wet thinker, connections lie everywhere, right down to the involvement of the Knights Templar in the assassination of Martin Luther King and JFK, and let's not forget that the Templars have connections back to Ancient Egypt and Atlantis! Submergence and drowning is the danger of extreme Wet thinking. There is nothing for the Wet thinker to grasp for support. Yet one other way to contrast the two is to say that the epitome of Dry thinking is clarity and the epitome of Wet thinking is ambiguity. And yes! The very process of attempting to explain the concept is Dry!

Each of the four qualities actually represents a cluster of concepts, and their opposites. For example, the qualities Hot and Cold do not represent extremes of a temperature continuum, as we would define them. They represent qualities of energy, where Hot represents high energy or physical heat, and Cold represents low energy or physical Cold. But these qualities are opposites in a critically different way from the way we normally envision them. Take temperature. From a purely chemical perspective, molecules in a hotter gas vibrate more rapidly on average than molecules in a colder gas. Mixing Hot and Cold gases will produce an intermediate result. In other words, in our thinking the "Cold" portion is completely canceled out by a portion of the "Hot" component. But this is not how it works - at least as far as the qualities, and not chemistry, is concerned! People are, in fact, more than capable of expressing opposite qualities without one canceling the other. In psychological testing there is often an index of consistency, which is actually a measure of to what extent an individual will give the same answer to the same question. If such an index is deemed necessary, it becomes clear exactly how capable we are of expressing "incompatible" ideas and emotions! Opposites do not cancel each other out!

Thus, people have Hot and Cold qualities simultaneously. In fact, having "half and half" would be to manifest equal quantities of each, not to have a "zero-sum state" in which "Hot" cancels "Cold," perhaps producing lukewarm. It may be useful to envision Hot and Cold as being like two different colored marbles, red and blue. Having more blue marbles doesn't take away the red ones: it just means that, if you were to draw one marble out of a box at random, you would more likely draw a blue one, but you could draw a red one.

The balanced state should not be lukewarm. Rather, it is the ability to be high energy (Hot), or completely at rest (Cold) as the moment and the circumstances require. Being merely Hot is to approach all circumstances as a Type A personality: everything is a challenge to be conquered. To approach things from a Cold perspective is to be motionless: to wait for the problem to go away or resolve itself without having to do anything: living life as a couch potato.

Finally, this is where Astrology comes in. Hippocrates put forward a workable theory of qualities, but other than general distinctions of age, gender, and physical appearance, he had no way to classify a person as having a particular make-up. We do. By using the chart, we can actually calculate the temperament type. Further, this result can then be used in a host of ways, including to establish a diet and exercise plan that truly supports well being.

We finally get something we can sink our teeth into, because Astrology eventually became the preferred mode for distinguishing the constitution from its components, or humors.

There are several possibilities for the computation of the temperament type. The general definition includes the following components. The method of computation comes from Gadbury, pages 249-258; and more specifically in Lilly, pages 531-534 and 742-749.

1. Sign of Ascendant

2. Planet ruling Ascendant

3. Planets aspecting Ascendant

4. Moon sign and phase

5. Planets aspecting Moon

6. Quarter of Year

7. Lord/Lady of Geniture

8. Lord/Lady of Moon

Each component is assigned qualities as follows:

1. Signs:

Fire	Hot and Dry
Air	Hot and Wet
Earth	Cold and Dry
Water	Cold and Wet

2. The Moon is classified by phase.

New to 1st Quarter	Hot and Wet
1st Quarter to Full	Hot and Dry
Full to last Quarter	Cold and Dry
last Quarter to New	Cold and Wet

3. Seasons are classified as follows.

Spring	Hot and Wet
Summer	Hot and Dry
Fall	Cold and Dry
Winter	Cold and Wet

4. Lord/Lady of the Geniture: this is a compound Almuten for the hylegical points and angles: the Sun, Moon, Part of Fortune, Ascendant and Midheaven.

This actually gives nine temperament types, not four. The reason is that often two of the qualities are often in balance, or so close as to have little dominance. These nine types are:

Hot and Wet	sanguine
Hot and Dry	choleric
Cold and Dry	melancholic
Cold and Wet	phlegmatic
Hot	sanguine-choleric
Cold	melancholic-phlegmatic
Wet	sanguine-phlegmatic
Dry	choleric-melancholic
all	balanced

What may appear to be the simpler states, the single quality ones, are actually more complex. The reason is that the single quality types are in fact mixtures, because, as we have seen, qualities don't cancel out. Having close to an even ratio of Hot and Cold, or Wet and Dry, means that it is easy to become out of balance: stress, the change in season, or even too much to drink. Astrologically, the transit of an Outer Planet brings an effect of the nature both of the transiting planet, and of the transiting sign. People with these combinations may also experience them as being simultaneously present: such as having different parts of the body that are Cold, while other parts are Hot.

Hippocratic medicine is basically allopathic: this means that if you have become out of balance because your body is experiencing too much heat (that Mars transit to your Sun?), then you need to take a Cold herb, Cold food, Cold exercise, or literally experience Cold temperatures in order to cool yourself down. These means of adjusting the qualities experienced by the body fell under the rubric "regimen," which included such components as the following:

(1) The season of the year: "In winter eat as much as possible and drink as little as possible, and food should be bread, with all meats roasted. During this season take as few vegetables as possible, for so will the body be most Dry and Hot." By the way, the reason for this recommendation is because Winter is classified as Cold and Wet. Thus, to compensate for the seasonal qualities, food is used to heat up and Dry out the seasonal effect.

(2) The age of the person: "Young people also do well to adopt a softer and moister regimen, for this age is Dry, and young bodies are firm. Older people should have a drier diet for the greater part of the time..."

(3) The gender: "Women should use a regimen of a rather Dry character, for food that is Dry is more adapted to the softness of their flesh..."

(4) The constitution: "Those with physiques that are fleshy, soft and red, find it beneficial to adopt a rather Dry regimen for the greater part of the year. For the nature of these physiques is moist."

In food, this is represented by cooked (Hot), raw (Cold), soft food (Wet), or hard food (Dry). In exercise, Hippocrates distinguished two types: wrestling (Cold and Wet) and running (Hot and Dry), but we may extend this considerably by considering the following classification:

Classification of exercise:

Hot is represented by aerobic activities, with an emphasis on strength. Cold emphasizes agility: the pinpoint application of force with a minimum of effort.

Wet is given by either team or contact sports and Dry by either solo sports, or one-on-one, with the opponents preferably separated by a distance.

Examples of Sports by Type:

Hot & Wet: football, basketball, soccer, hockey, rugby, lacrosse.

Hot & Dry: track, men's professional tennis, racing in any medium or on any equipment, weight lifting and training, aerobic classes (although the classes introduce a Wet component through social interaction), skiing, jai alai.

Cold & Wet: wrestling, martial arts.

Cold & Dry: archery, fencing, shooting.

Dry: woman's professional tennis (it is still possible to win by either power or precision), figure skating (definitely Dry, but is it power and jumps [Hot] or precision [Cold]), biathlon (skiing is aerobic, while shooting is Cold, but both are Dry), ski jumping (power helps, but position is critical).

Mixed or variable: baseball, softball and cricket, where a successful player ranges from team play (defense) to solo play (batting), and where either strength of finesse can work, decathlon and heptathlon, which test the balance of all four qualities, gymnastics (different apparatuses test strength vs. flexibility and balance, and competitions run by both teams and single competition).

We can also classify the body type by these characteristics. The two most obvious are Hot and Dry (thin and wiry) and Cold and Wet (fat or endomorphic). In general, a Hot body shows muscular development, while a Cold body does not. A Wet body shows fluid retention or roundness, while a Dry body does not. Thinking in typical types of our Olympic athletes, a swimmer has a wetter body than a runner, yet both sports are Hot and Dry. However, swimming takes place in a Wet medium. A marathoner has a typically Dry body, but not especially Hot or Cold, since the muscular definition is less apparent that the thinness. A male gymnast is about as Hot and Dry as we can imagine: the muscular definition is combined with thinness. A weightlifter (or a football offensive lineman) is Hot and Wet: both strength and bulk. The female gymnasts are typically Dry, since the overall effect is anorexic in appearance. Probably the most aerobic sport of all is synchronized swimming: but here the body type is wetter: in fact, the only sport that is conducted in the water that doesn't have a substantial Wet component to the typical body type is water polo.

Notice that our current cultural ideal is the Hot and Dry body, although women are supposed to be wetter - at least from the standpoint of breast development. This corresponds to the choleric temperament type, which was not the preferred type. The traditionally favored body type was Hot and Wet, which does match the preferred temperament type, known as sanguine. The advantage from a social standpoint is that the sanguine type is friendlier: a social animal highly sensitive to the opinions of others. The choleric type is more standoff-ish, and given to anger.

This discrepancy between body type ideal and personality ideal has not always been as extreme: the voluptuous body preferred by Runin and his school is wetter, and thus closer to the sanguine personality ideal. While it may be observed that there is not a one-to-one correspondence between body type and personality, neither is the distribution random. The correspondence is closest in youth, when mind and body have not had ample time and opportunity to diverge. For most people, the basic personality type is set by adulthood, while the body continues to change, at the very least becoming colder with age. But after adulthood, the personality does not necessarily change with the body, and this in turn can produce dissonances of its own.

As we have become increasingly aware of the mind-body link again, the corollary needs to be spelled out: the whole organism can be affected by deliberate changes to either mind or body. Thus, begin an exercise program, and while the body is primarily affected, there is feedback to the brain. As we have seen, the equation is not absolute, but it is still of use.

Thus, we can use this system to deliberately change our energy level, emotional state, or physical condition, but changes have a price. For example, to lose weight, it would make sense to move to a hotter, dryer state. Obviously, exercising more raises the heat in the body. But dryness? Many diet programs encourage drinking a lot of water: this should increase the wetness of the body. Why? If the extra water is being used to flush metabolites from the body, this can work. But if the Native is naturally Wet to begin with, then fluid retention could consume the greater amount of extra water, thereby increasing instead of decreasing weight.

The underlying question is: how much can we really change the quality ratio of the body, and what is the cost of doing so? Through aging, seasonal change and transits, there are quite a few changes that we make unconsciously. So there is a range in which conscious redirection can occur. However, we may also understand this question in another way: to what extent can a Leo consciously operate as a Pisces? Or a Gemini? Obviously, the greater the change from one's natural state, the greater the effort needed to maintain it, and the greater the stress placed upon the body in the process.

We can still change our condition. But the challenge is to understand the possible: what is the goal, what is the means, and how can this goal be maintained? Then we can apply our knowledge of the qualities to program a new equilibrium. Once the body type is determined, then some suggestions concerning diet and exercise can be made.

The following description of your body type and its ramifications is based on performing a calculation for your complexional type, and then using specific Hippocratic ideas, translated into modern life styles. This should not be taken as a prescription or guarantee of a successful lifestyle or activity, but as consistent with understanding these principles as they have been applied historically.

Complexional Scores

Sign of Ascendant: Scorpio = Cold and Wet

Ruler of Ascendant: Mars (Taurus) = Cold and Dry

Aspect to the Ascendant: The Moon (Pisces) = Cold and Wet

Aspect to the Ascendant: The Sun (Summer) = Hot and Dry

Aspect to the Ascendant: Venus (Leo) = Hot and Dry

Sign of Moon: Pisces = Cold and Wet

Phase of Moon: Full Moon = Cold and Dry

Aspect to the Moon: The Sun (Summer) = Hot and Dry

Aspect to the Moon: Saturn (Sagittarius) = Hot and Dry

Season: Summer = Hot and Dry

Ruler of Geniture: Venus (Leo) = Hot and Dry

Ruler of Geniture: Jupiter (Libra) = Hot and Wet

Almuten of the Moon: Jupiter (Libra) = Hot and Wet

Your final complexional scores are:-

Hot: 8

Cold: 5

Wet: 5

Dry: 8

Complexional Type is Balanced

Balanced? She said balanced?!! "Balanced" is a technically correct word for having all four components, "Hot," "Cold," "Wet," and "Dry," in roughly equal proportions. What this means in practice is that, at any point in time, any, all or none of them may be dominant. This means that, in order to really stay in balance, you have to recognize symptoms of each of the four types, and see which combinations are active now. Then, you can adjust your diet and regimen to balance the temporarily dominant components, then wait for the next phase shift to occur!

Bear in mind that is it unlikely to have both active qualities, "Hot" and "Cold," or both passive qualities, "Wet" and "Dry," dominant at the same time. So what you need is to recognize the four qualities, so you can gauge your status.

Because you do not have a preponderance of either "Hot" or "Cold," this means you can go either way. If you see yourself flying off the handle at people, or into a manic pace of getting things done, you have moved into a "Hot" state. If you find yourself resisting getting up in the morning, or leaving the house, or even leaving the couch, you have moved into a "Cold" state.

Being of a single type, "Wet," instead of a compound type, means that you are likely to find your "Wet" tendencies fairly easy to adapt to, but that the fluctuation that you experience between "Hot" states and "Cold" states is much more difficult to monitor, and to integrate into your routines.

When you are "Hot", you react to things quickly: by expressing your anger strongly and immediately, you don't tend to harbor a grudge. This means that others merely have to come to grips with your tendency to blow, knowing that you will get over it.

The Hippocratic suggestion for the diet to balance "Hot" is to drink Cold liquids, preferably diluted. Foods should tend toward raw or boiled. In exercise, you do well with aerobic activities, although you are quite capable of carrying this to an extreme.

When you are "Hot," exercise is an effective component of your weight control system, and the more aerobic the better. For best effectiveness as a weight control system, it's better to minimize fluid intake before exercise, and to eat sparingly while still heated up from exercise. It's better to eat raw foods at this time: you basically want your body to shift its higher metabolism into the digestive process, and in effect, spend calories "heating up" your food. Being Hot, you will appreciate any exercise that emphasizes speed. Racing in all media, and with any toy, is a good kind of exercise.

When you are in a "Cold" state, you have an outward appearance of being unemotional. A "Cold" type is basically lethargic, or slow to react. The "problem" with "Cold" is that it makes it hard for you to forget slights. Because you don't tend to lash out immediately, it's hard for you not to allow your anger to build up. You can be a brooder. Because you wait to think things over before expressing yourself, when you do choose to express yourself, you can present a much more thoughtful approach. However, it is often tempting to say nothing at all, and if this is an issue that you consider at all important, then you are likely to build up resentment.

When you are in a "Cold" state, any symptoms of illness often appear gradually rather than suddenly, and may be very difficult to get rid of. You also need to watch for symptoms that you are "freezing up:" that your muscles are becoming locked from staying too long in one position.

The Hippocratic suggestion for the diet to balance "Cold" is to eat copiously. Fast walking is also recommended, and if weight loss is desired, then food should be taken immediately after exercise, when the body is still heated up. The difficulty you have with exercise is not the lack of discipline - but getting yourself started to do it. Cold people act strongly out of inertia - a body at rest stays at rest until forced to move, but a body in motion stays in motion as well. So the key here is to get into motion in the first place. You find it easier to stick to one repetitive system than to vary your patterns.

Because you do not have a preponderance of either Wet or Dry, this means you can go either way. If you see yourself retaining fluid, you are temporarily in a Wet state. If you see yourself getting circles around your eyes, or Dry skin or lips, you are probably in a Dry state. Since you are Cold, these changes from "Wet" to "Dry" will probably appear gradually, rather than quickly.

The Hippocratic suggestion for the diet to balance "Dry" is to drink copiously. If drinking alcohol, it is better to drink diluted forms rather than neat. Consider swimming as a good form of exercise. In any case, when you are in a Dry state, you are more likely to overdo on your exercise routines, if you do them at all, because you are not very observant in watching your body signals concerning such matters as fatigue.

The Hippocratic suggestion for the diet to balance "Wet" is to drink juices or alcohol undiluted, and to eat braised rather than boiled foods. You have a tendency to water retention that may mask other weight considerations. Any foods should tend to be raw or boiled, (rather than baked, grilled, or which would simply add to your abundant supply of heat). You would do well to do enjoy forms of exercise that emphasize muscle toning and muscular strength rather than aerobic exercises. This means favoring weight training with repetitions, rather than dance or movement exercise, and herbal treatments for water retention.

So what if your temperament type doesn't match your body type? There are still two things to consider. The first is the body type given by the ruler of your Geniture. This planet represents the greatest planetary influence that you personally express.

Ruler of the Geniture is Jupiter

Jupiter is always Hot and Wet. This means that the body type is high energy, but corpulent. Yes, you're going to have to count those calories as you get older. This is the person who, if the Jupiteran corpulence strikes early in life, says, I may be heavy, but I'm strong! Others don't experience the full impact of Jupiter until after their Saturn return.

This is the type that has the greatest difficulty with weight control. Why? Because the "Hot and Wet" combination is less susceptible to "heating up" (exercising) as a means for weight control, because the body is already heated up. Aerobic activity is what this body is pre-adapted to: more activity will not necessarily spur the metabolism to greater heights, although that does not mean that exercise will do no good: it just may not help the person lose weight.

The Jupiter type is naturally expansive in all dimensions, waist or otherwise. You will, however, tend to put on proportionally more weight in the hips and thighs than with other planetary rulers. You can be generous to a fault. Jupiter-ruled types generally tend to work within whatever environment they find themselves in: probably in great part because you seem to adapt well. You do not tend to be the ones to initiate change, although you may pick up the banner and extend the march of others.

You are generally virtuous; just and honest in your dealings and actions; wise and prudent, liberal to those in need, with a desire to benefit all persons, and hating all unjust acts. (C)

Ruler of the Geniture is Venus

The word that comes to mind for the Venus body type is "voluptuous." Venus is Wet, like Jupiter, and thus weight gain is a distinct possibility. How easy it is to control that weight gain is in part a function of whether your Venus is Oriental (in which case, it's hotter) or Occidental (in which case it's colder).

About Venus. Venus can be wonderful and charming - unless you are crossed! Venus has zero tolerance for insult, and can turn into even more of a maniac than Mars can, because Venus not only doesn't play by the rules, she refuses to acknowledge the very existence of rules! Or: she comes up with a creative solution of how you play by her rules. Both Gandhi and Martin Luther King had Venus as the Ruler of their Genitures: two people who found a way to make a militant statement through pacifism - and love! But don't fool yourself - if you can achieve that level of moral commitment then you have indeed accomplished something, for it is far easier to lose your temper!

However: the concept of pacifism does point out something essential about your Geniture Ruler: when you do prefer action, you would rather affect the actions of others than to act alone. To take direct action yourself is a final act of fury.

...and Venus is Dignified by Term

You are inclined to mirth, and are generally virtuous, delighting in pleasure. You are neat in appearance, and often ensnared in love affairs, although you are constant in your affections, and remarkably free of jealousy. (C)

...and Venus is Debilitated by Aspect with Malefic

You are dominated by your desire for pleasure, and you don't much care if your reputation is hurt thereby. (C)

So: suppose your body type doesn't match either your complexion or your Geniture type? By now, it should be obvious that someone's "type" is a visual clue: corpulence is Wet, thin is Dry, muscular is Hot, undifferentiated is Cold.

There are two explanations for deviation from type. (We exclude the possibility of merely being wrong, you understand!) The first is that there is some component in your chart which is completely unrelated to the angles that is skewing your type. This planet or configuration in its particular is so strong that it dwarfs other factors, but, being unrelated to the angles, would not carry much weight in either the complexional calculation or the Ruler of Geniture calculation.

The second is that you have a medical condition which masks your "natural" body type. For example, if you have a metabolic disorder, such as hypothyroidism or diabetes, this can result in weight or water retention patterns completely apart from your natural patterns. In this light, if you observe yourself changing rapidly in your body patterns - rapid weight gain or loss (unexplained by dieting or supplementation), or changes in your water balance - it may be wise to seek a consultation with a health practitioner to determine whether you have a condition which needs attention. At the very minimum, a significant change from your normal body type may be indicative of stress that you are not handling.

References

Gadbury, John. 1658. Genethlialogia, or The Doctrine of Nativities Together with The Doctrine of Horarie Questions. Printed by J[ohn] C[oniers] for William Larner. In production: Regulus Publishing Co., Ltd.: London.

Jones, W.H.S., Translator. 1931, 1992. Hippocrates IV. Loeb Classical Library: Harvard University Press: Cambridge, MA.

Lehman, J. Lee. 1996. Classical Astrology for Modern Living. Whitford Press: West Chester, PA.

Conclusion

And so it ends. This report has been an example of Technique applied, but not Art. In the ancient world, it was recognized that knowledge and learning encompassed a whole range of gradations, far more than the styles of learning taught today. Technique essentially consists of the components of a field of knowledge that are the building blocks, the items that are fully reproducible from worker to worker.

If we were to make a table, technique lies in the cutting of the top and four legs of equal length, sanding the wood, fastening them to the table top, leveling the whole table, and then staining or varnishing the wood. At the end, we have a table. But is it Art?

Glossary of Terms & References Cited

What follows is a glossary of terms, based on classical sources. It is from the Election a Day 1997 Calendar, available from Just Us & Associates, 1420 N.W. Gilman Blvd., Suite #2154, Issaquah WA 98027-7001 USA http://www.horary.com.

Where a clear ancient source for the definition exists, I have quoted it verbatim, according to the following sources:

CO = Coley, Henry. 1676. Clavis Astrologiae, or a Key to the whole Art of Astrology. New Filed and Polished in Three Parts. Thomas Sawbridge: London. Available from Ballantrae.

FI = Maternus, Firmicus. 334. Ancient Astrology Theory And Practice. Matheseos Libri VIII. Translated By Jean Rhys Bram. Noyes Press: Park Ridge NJ. 1975. Available Ballantrae.

GA = Gadbury, John. 1658. Genethlialogia, or The Doctrine of Nativities Together with The Doctrine of Horarie Questions. Printed by J[ohn] C[oniers] for William Larner. In production: Regulus Publishing Co., Ltd.: London.

iE = ibn Ezra, Abraham. 1148. The Beginning of Wisdom. An Astrological Treatise by Abraham ibn Ezra. Edited by Rachel Levy & Francisco Cantera: The Johns Hopkins Press: Baltimore, 1939.

LI = Lilly, William. 1647. Christian Astrology. Reprinted in 1985 by Regulus: London. Also available: Just Us & Associates.

PA = Partridge, John. 1679. Mikropanastron, or an Astrological Vade Mecum, briefly Teaching the whole Art of Astrology - viz., Questions, Nativities, with all its parts, and the whole Doctrine of Elections never so comprised nor compiled before, &c. William Bromwich: London. Pages 19-25

RA = Ramesey, William. 1653. Astrologia Restaurata; or Astrology Restored: being an Introduction to the General and Chief part of the Language of the Stars. Printed for Robert White: London. Available from Ballantrae: Brompton, Ontario, Canada (http://www.globalserve.net/~ballantrae/) and Just Us & Associates.

SA = Salmon, William. 1679. The Soul of Astrology. Horae Mathematicae seu Urania: the Soul of Astrology, containing that Art in all its parts, in Four Books, &c. London. Available from Ballantrae. The section used in the aspect interpretations was pages 65-83.

Accidental Dignity: this is a mix of conditions, all of which relate to the strength of a planet being increased (or decreased, with accidental debility) because of the planet's placement, apart from its tropical zodiacal position. The kinds of factors which are included in the tables of accidental dignity include: house placement, whether oriental or occidental, in conjunction to fixed stars, aspects to benefics or malefics, closeness to the Sun, and speed.

Almuten/Almutem: There are five Essential Dignities for any degree of the zodiac: the rulership (+5), exaltation (+4), triplicity (+3), term (+2), and face (+1). If you take a particular house cusp, find the planet which rules each of the five essential dignities of the position, and assign the points to the planet. The planet with the highest point value is the Almuten. For example: for 8 Aries 15: Mars is the ruler (+5), the Sun rules the exaltation (+4), the triplicity (+3) and the face (+1) = +8, and Mercury the terms (+2): the Sun is Almuten. Arabic sources give the word as "Almutem," but by the 17th Century, the word was consistently being translated and used as "Almuten."

Antiscion: "Some of the learned in this Art do hold that the Antiscions of the Planets be equivalent unto a Sextile or a Trine-aspect, especially if they were beneficial Planets; and their Contrantiscions to be of the nature of Quadrate or Opposition. How to know the Antiscions is no more than this; first, know the Antiscions of the signs, which is no more but a sign being equally distant with another from Cancer and Capricorn the two Tropicks; as Gemini hath its Antiscion in Cancer, Taurus in Leo, Aries in Virgo, Pisces in Libra, Aquarius in Scorpio, and Capricorn in Sagittary; for when the Sun is in 1° of Gemini, he is as far from the Tropick point of Cancer as when he is in 29° of Cancer; and in the 5° of Taurus, as when the 25° of Leo, &c.... The Contrantiscion is known thus; look in what sign, degree and minute your Antiscion falls, and your contrantiscion will be in the same degree and minute as your opposite sign to your Antiscion. [RA]

Application, "is when two Planets approach each other, either by Body or Aspect; and this may be three several ways: First, when both Planets are direct, for Example, Jupiter in 11 deg. of Aries, and Mars in 9 degrees of Aries, both of them direct; here Mars apples to a conjunction of Jupiter.

"The second is when two Stars are Retrograde, and apply to each other by a Retrograde motion; thus Jupiter in 9 degrees of Aries. Retrograde, and Mars in 11 degrees of the same Sign Retrograde also, here Mars applies to the body of Jupiter by Retrograde motion.

"Thirdly, when one Planet is Retrograde in more degrees of a Sign, and another direct in fewer; as suppose Mars in 12 degrees of Aries Retrograde, and Venus in 10 degrees of Aries, here Mars applies to Venus and Venus applies to Mars, and this kind of application is of great force and efficacy in all manner of Astrological Resolutions; but this must be remembered also, that a Superior Planet cannot apply to an Inferior one, unless he be Retrograde. "[PA]

Beholding: This word has shifted somewhat over time, but it refers to two planets which are either in ptolemaic aspect (conjunction, opposition, trine, square or sextile) or antiscial, or contranticial relationship.

"The Bendings": the points square the Nodal axis. If a planet square the Nodes is zodiacally between the North Node and the South Node (i.e., start counting at the North Node), then it is at the Northern Bending; if between the South Node and the North Node, it is at the Southern Bending.

Besieging: "this I think need no Explanation, for every Souldier understands it; as suppose Saturn in 10 deg. Jupiter in 1 deg. and Mars in 13 deg. of Leo; here Jupiter is besieged by Saturn and Mars." [PA]

Cazimi: "is when a Planet is in the heart of the Sun; that is, not distant from him above 17 min. as Mars in 10 deg. 30 min. of Aries, the Sun in 10 deg. 15 min. of Aries; here Mars is in Cazimi." [PA]

Combustion: "A Planet is Combust when he is not distant from the Sun 8 deg. 30 min. either before or after him; for Example, Jupiter in 10 deg. of Aries, the Sun in 14 deg. and Mars in 18, here both Jupiter and Mars are Combust; and observe that a Planet going to Combustion is more afflicted than when departing from it." [PA]

Essential Dignity: Essential dignity was a system for assessing the strength of a planet by its placement in the zodiac alone. There were five essential dignities: by sign, exaltation, triplicity, term, and face. A planet with dignity can act or do as it wants, whereas a planet without dignity has difficulty getting from Point A to Point B except by a very circuitous route.

Face: One of the minor dignities, also called Chaldean decanates. The faces are 10° slices of the signs, marked by planetary rulers falling in the sequence known as the Chaldean order. The Face is given +1 point.

In a House; the 5° rule: Consider the movement of the planets diurnally. For example, the Sun "rises" by going from the 1st House to the 12th House. A planet on the 12th House side of the Ascendant may be said to be angular if it is within 5° of the Ascendant: this is the so-called 5° rule. Depending on the source, this may actually entail anywhere from 2° to 7-8°, depending on the source, and whether the House moved into is Angular, Succedent, or Cadent (largest for Angular; smallest for Cadent).

Joys: This word was used two ways, which can lead to some confusion. One use was as a synonym for "exaltation." The second was an indicator of which house would be the top choice for a given planet. The joys by house are: Mercury = 1st House, Moon = 3rd House, Venus = 5th House, Mars = 6th House, Sun = 9th House, Jupiter = 11th House, and Saturn = 12th House.

Occidental: "is when a Planet or Star sets after the Sun is down." [PA]

Oriental: "is when a Planet riseth before the Sun." [PA]

Partile: within the same degree number. Notice that this is not an orb size. The Moon at 6 Leo 01 is partile Mars at 6 Leo 59, while the Moon in the same place, and Mars at 5 Leo 59 is within a degree, but not partile. Any aspect may be called either partile, or plactic, for those that are not partile.

Peregrine: "a Planet is Peregrine when he is in a Sign and degree where he hath no Essential dignity, as Mars in 26 degrees of Gemini is Peregrine, because he hath no dignity there, &c." [PA]

Quality: the Greek system of components that underlaid their elemental and physical systems: the qualities are hot & cold (active), and wet & dry (Passive). Please refer to the table shown under "temperaments" to see how these qualities corresponded to the system of elements.

Reception "is when two Planets are in each other's dignities, as the Sun in Aries, and Mars in Leo, here is a Reception by House, it may be also by Exaltation, Triplicity, Term and Face." [PA]

Sect: whether diurnal or nocturnal. The primary sect of a chart is whether the chart itself is by day or night. A night chart has the Sun posited in the 1st through 6th Houses; a day chart has the Sun in the 12th through 7th Houses: right on the Ascendant-Descendant is anyone's guess! In addition, planets were considered to have intrinsic sect (Sun, Jupiter and Saturn: diurnal; Moon, Venus and Mars: nocturnal; Mercury: mixed); signs had intrinsic sect (Masculine = diurnal, Feminine = nocturnal), and planets had sect placement, according to whether they were diurnally or nocturnally placed in the chart in question.

Sect Light: The Sun, for a day chart; the Moon for a night chart.

Separation: "is when two Planets have been in Conjunction or Aspect and are going from it as Jupiter in 6 degrees of Aries and Mars in 7 degrees; here Mars separates himself from Jupiter; but yet he is not quite separated from him till they are distant from each other 8 degrees 30 minutes, which is the moiety of both their Orbs; what their Orbs and Aspects are." [PA]

Temperament: This was a system that Hippocrates used for relating a number of common conditions found in people. He described four temperaments, and each type was characterized by a similar psychology, metabolism, and pattern of illnesses. The four types are given in the following table, taken from Classical Astrology for Modern Living:

Air	Libra, Aquarius, Gemini	Sanguine	Wet, becoming Hot
Fire	Aries, Leo, Sagittarius	Choleric	Hot, becoming Dry
Earth	Capricorn, Taurus, Virgo	Melancholic	Dry, becoming Cold
Water	Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces	Phlegmatic	Cold, becoming Wet

Sanguine types are the jolly glad-handers; choleric type fly off the handle; melancholics are morose, and phlegmatic are lethargic.

Term: One of the five essential dignities. The Term ruler was said to be "of the body" of that planet, so if the Ascendant is in the Terms of Saturn, it would represent a person serious, older, in a saturnine profession, etc. - primarily physical or outward appearance. The Term was given +2 points, and is considered a minor dignity.

Triplicity: One of the five essential dignities. Triplicities run by element, so there is one set of rulers for the fire signs, another for earth, etc. Triplicity is worth +3 points on the scale of essential dignities. The trick is that there are three different systems. Two of them utilize a day, night, and mixed ruler; the third, which was in common use by English astrologers in the 17th Century, used only day and night. Among the most obvious differences between the two that will be seen in this work is Jupiter being the mixed Triplicity ruler of Air: thus, for a year with Jupiter In Aquarius, Jupiter will often be the most dignified planet, and will virtually always be a contender for use because of the dignity.

Under the Sun's Beams: "a Planet is said to be under the Sun's beams, till he is full 17 degrees distant from him." [PA]

Via combusta: zone from 15 Libra to 15 Scorpio. Considered a dangerous area of the sky.

Void of Course: "is when a Planet is separated from one, and doth not apply to any other while he is in that Sign, and it is most observable in the Moon." [PA]