An Introduction to Astrology (16-20)

CHAPTER XVI.

TEACHING WHAT USE MAY BE MADE OF THE FORMER DISCOURSE OF THE TWELVE SIGNS.

IF one demand of the artist, what condition, quality, or stature the person inquired of is, then observe the sign of that house whereby he is signified, and the planet in it, the sign wherein the lord of that house is, and wherein the Moon is; mix one with another, and by the greater testimonies judge; for if the sign be humane, viz. ♊, ♍, ♒, or the first half of ♐ that ascends, and the lord of that sign, or the ☽ in any sign of the same nature, you may judge the body to be handsome, and the conditions of the party to be sociable, or very courteous,

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[paragraph continues] &c. If the query be concerning a disease, and ♈ be either on the cusp of the ascendant or descending in the sixth house, you may judge he has something in his disease of the nature of ♈, but what it is, you must know by the concurrence of the other significators.

If a person has lost or missed any cattle, or any material thing, let him observe what sign the significator of the thing is in; if in ♈ and it be a beast strayed, or the like, let him see what manner of places that sign directs into, and let him repair thither to search, considering the quarter of heaven the sign signifies; if it be a piece of goods that without hands cannot be removed, then let him look into such parts of or about his house, as ♈ signifies.

If one asks concerning travel, whether such a country, city, or kingdom will be healthful or prosperous unto him, see in the figure what sign the lord of the ascendant is in: if the significator be fortunate in ♈, or if ♃ or ♀ be therein, he may safely travel or sojourn in such cities or countries as the sign ♈ represents; which you may easily perceive in the above-named catalogue. Those countries subject to the sign wherein the infortunes are posited, unless they themselves be significators, are ever unfortunate. Remember, that a gentleman inquires, usually, if he shall have his health and live jocundly in such or such a country or city; the merchant wholly aims at trade, and the increase of his stock; therefore, in the merchant's figure, you must consider the country or city subject to the sign of the second house, or where the part of fortune, or lord of the second house is, and which is most fortified, and thither let him trade. 1

 

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Footnotes

68:1 This implies, that you must judge by the sign on the house which rules the particular subject of inquiry; as if it be, where he may gain a good wife, look to the seventh house.

 

CHAPTER XVII.

OF THE ESSENTIAL DIGNITIES OF THE PLANETS.

THE exact way of judicature in astrology is, first, by being perfect in the nature of the planets and signs; secondly, by knowing the strength, fortitude, or debility of the significators, and well poising of them, and their aspects and several mixtures, in your judgment; thirdly, by rightly applying the influence of the figure of heaven erected, and the planets' aspects to one another at the time of the question, according to natural and not enforced maxims of art; for by how much you endeavour to strain a judgment beyond nature, by so much the more you augment your error. A planet is then said to be really strong when he has many essential dignities, 1 which are known by his being either in his house, exaltation, triplicity, term, or face, at the time of erecting the figure. As, for example, in any scheme of heaven, if you find a planet in any of those signs we call his house, he is then essentially strong; as ♄ in ♑, or ♃ in ♐, &c.

Essential Dignity by House.--In judgment, when a planet or significator is in his own house, it represents a man in such a condition, as that he is lord of his own house, estate, and fortune; or a man wanting very little of the goods of this world; or it tells you the man is in a very happy state or condition: this will be true, unless the significator be retrograde, or combust, or afflicted by any other malevolent planet or aspect.

Exaltation.--If he be in that sign wherein he is exalted, you may consider him essentially strong; whether he be

 

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near the very degree of his exaltation, or not; as ♂ in ♑, or ♃ in ♋.

If the significator be in his exaltation, and no ways impedited, but angular, it represents a person of haughty condition, arrogant, assuming more to himself than his due; for it is observed, the planets in some part of the zodiac do more evidently declare their effects than in others.

Triplicity.--If he be in any of those signs which are allotted him for his triplicity, he is also strong, but in a less degree.

A planet in his triplicity shews a man modestly endued with the goods and fortune of this world; one well descended, and the condition of his life, at present time of the question, to be good; but not so much so as if in either of the two former dignities.

Term.--If any planet be in those degrees we assign for his terms, we allow him to be slightly dignified.

A planet fortified, only as being in his own terms, rather shews a man more of the corporature and temper of the planet, than any extraordinary abundance in fortune, or eminence in the commonwealth.

Face.--If any planet be in his decanate, or face, he has the least possible essential dignity; but being in his own decanate or face, he cannot then be called peregrine.

A planet being in his decanate or face, describes a man ready to be turned out of doors, having much to do to maintain himself in credit and reputation and in genealogies it represents a family at the last gasp, even as good as quite decayed, hardly able to support itself.

The planets may be strong in another way; viz. accidentally; as when direct, swift in motion, angular, in △ or ✶ aspect with ♃ or ♀, &c., or in ☌ with certain notable fixed stars, as shall hereafter be related. Here follows a table of essential dignities: by only casting your eye thereon, you

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may perceive what essential dignity or imbecility any planet has.

There has been much difference between the Greeks, Aranians, and Indians, concerning the essential dignities of the planets: I mean, how to dispose the several degrees of the signs suitably to any planet. After many ages had passed, and until the time of Ptolemy, the astrologians were not resolved hereof; but since Ptolemy's time, the Grecians unanimously followed the method he left, which the other Christians of Europe to this day since retain as most rational: but the Moors of Barbary at present, and those astrologians of their nation who lived in Spain, do somewhat vary from us to this very day: however, I present thee with a table according to Ptolemy.

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Footnotes

69:1 These apply not to nativities where the angular position and good aspects received by a planet constitute its strength.--ZAD.

 

CHAPTER XVIII.

TABLE OF THE ESSENTIAL DIGNITIES OF THE PLANETS

Signs

Houses

Exaltations.

Triplicity: Day. Night.

Terms

Faces.

Detriment.

Fall.

♈

♂ D.

☉ 19

☉ ♃

♃ 6

♀ 14

☿ 21

♂ 26

♄ 30

♂ 10

☉ 20

♀ 30

♀

♄

♉

♀ N.

☽ 3

♀ ☽

♀ 8

☿ 15

♃ 22

♄ 20

♂ 30

☿ 10

☽ 20

♄ 30

♂

♊

☿ D.

☊ 3

♄ ☿

☿ 7

♃ 14

♀ 21

♄ 25

♂ 30

♃ 10

♂ 20

☉ 30

♃

♋

☽ D. N.

♃ 15

♂ ♂

♂ 6

♃ 13

☿ 20

♀ 27

♄ 30

♀ 10

☿ 20

☽ 30

♄

♂

♌

☉ D. N.

☉ ♃

♄ 6

☿ 13

♀ 19

♃ 25

♂ 30

♄ 10

♃ 20

♂ 30

♄

♍

☿ N.

☿ 15

♀ ☽

☿ 7

♀ 13

♃ 18

♄ 24

♂ 30

☉ 10

♀ 20

☿ 30

♃

♀

♎

♀ D.

♄ 21

♄ ☿

♄ 6

♀ 11

♃ 19

☿ 27

♂ 30

☽ 10

♄ 20

♃ 30

♂

☉

♏

♂ N.

♂ ♂

♂ 6

♃ 14

♀ 21

☿ 27

♄ 30

♂ 10

☉ 20

♀ 30

♀

☽

♐

♃ D.

☋ 3

☉ ♃

♃ 8

♀ 14

☿ 19

♄ 25

♂ 30

☿ 10

☽ 20

♄ 30

☿

♑

♄ N.

♂ 28

♀ ☽

♀ 6

☿ 12

♃ 19

♂ 25

♄ 30

♃ 10

♂ 20

☉ 30

☽

♄

♒

♄ D.

♄ ☿

♄ 6

☿ 12

♀ 20

♃ 25

♂ 30

♀ 10

☿ 20

☽ 30

☉

♓

♃ N.

♀ 27

♂ ♂

♀ 8

♃ 14

☿ 20

♂ 26

♄ 30

♃ 10

♃ 20

♂ 30

☿

☿

 

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EXPLANATION OF THE TABLE.

Every planet has two signs for his HOUSES, except Sol and Luna; they but one each. ♄ has ♑ and ♒; and ♃ has ♐ and ♓; ♂ has ♈ and ♏; ♀ has ♉ and ♎; ☿ has ♊ and ♍. One of these houses is called diurnal, noted in the second column by the letter D; the other is nocturnal, noted by the letter N. The planets have their EXALTATIONS, as the third column points out: thus ☉ in 19 ♈; ☽ in 3 ♉; ☊ in 3 degrees ♊, &c. are exalted. These twelve signs are divided into FOUR TRIPLICITIES. The fourth column tells you which planet or planets, both night and day, governs each triplicity; as over against ♋, ♏, ♓, you find ♂, who governs by day and night in that triplicity; and over against ♈, ♌, ♐, you find ☉ and ♃, viz. that ☉ has domination by day, and ♃ by night, in that triplicity: the first six degrees of ♈ are the TERMS of ♃, from six to fourteen, the TERMS of ♀, &c. &c. Over against ♈, in the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth columns, you find ♂ 10, ☉ 20, ♀ 30; viz. the first ten degrees of ♈ are the FACE of ♂; from ten to twenty, the FACE of ☉; from twenty to thirty, the FACE of ♀, &c.

In the thirteenth column, over against ♈, you find ♀ DETRIMENT, viz. ♀ being in ♈, is in a sign opposite to one of her own houses, and so is said to be in her DETRIMENT. In the 14th column, over against ♈, you find ♄, over his head FALL, that is, ♄ when he is in ♈ is opposite to his exaltation, and so is unfortunate, &c. Though these things are expressed in the nature of the planets already, yet this table makes it appear more evident to the eye, and is useful for reference.

 

CHAPTER XIX.

CONSIDERATIONS BEFORE JUDGMENT.

ALL the ancients that have written of questions do give warning to the astrologer, that before he delivers judgment he well consider whether the figure is radical 1 and capable of judgment: the question then shall not be taken for radical: 1st, when either the first or second degrees of a sign ascend, (especially in signs of short ascensions, viz., ♑, ♒, ♓, ♈, ♉, ♊). You may not then adventure judgment, unless the querent be very young, and his corporature, complexion, and moles or scars of his body, agree with the quality of the signs ascending. 2d. If 27 or more degrees of any sign ascend, it is not safe to give judgment, except the querent be in years corresponding to the number of degrees ascending, or unless the figure be set upon a time certain, viz. any event happening, such as a man went away or fled at such a time precisely; to learn the result: here you may judge, because it is no propounded question. 3d. It is not safe to judge when the ☽ is in the later degrees of a sign, especially in ♊, ♏, or ♑; or, as some say, when she is in via combusta, which is, when she is in the last 15 degrees of ♎ or the first 15 degrees of ♏.

All manner of matters go hardly on (except the principal significators be very strong) when the ☽ is void of course; yet sometimes she performs it void of course, if in ♉, ♋, ♐, or ♓. You must also be wary, when in any question propounded you find the cusp of the seventh house afflicted, or

 

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the lord of the house retrograde or impedited, and the matter at that time not concerning the seventh house, but belonging to any other house: it is an argument that the judgment of the astrologer will give little content, or nothing please the querent, for the seventh house generally has signification of the artist. The Arabians, as Alkindus and others, do deliver the following rules, as very fit to be considered before a question be judged:--viz. if ♄ be in the ascendant, especially retrograde, the matter of that question seldom or never comes to good: ♄ in the seventh either corrupts the judgment of' the astrologer, or is a sign the matter propounded will come from one misfortune to another. If the lord of the ascendant be combust, neither question propounded will take, nor the querent be regulated. The lord of the seventh unfortunate, or in his fall, or terms of the infortunes, the artist shall scarce give a solid judgment.

When the testimonies of fortunes and infortunes are equal, defer judgment: it is not possible to know which way the balance will turn; however, defer your opinion till another question better inform you.

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Footnotes

74:1 This term signifies, like the radix or root, the figure of birth; for when a person asks his first question of an astrologer, it will generally be found that the same sign, and often the same degree, will ascend that ascended at his birth.

 

CHAPTER XX.

WHAT SIGNIFICATOR, QUERENT, AND QUESITED, ARE; AND AN INTRODUCTION TO THE JUDGMENT OF A QUESTION.

THE querent is he or she that propounds the question and desires resolution; the quesited is he or she, or the thing sought and inquired after.

The significator is no more than that planet which rules the house that signifies the person or thing demanded; as if ♈

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is ascending, ♂ being lord of ♈, shall be significator of the querent, viz. the sign ascending shall in part signify his corporature, body, or stature: the lord of the ascendant, according to the sign he is in, the ☽ and planet in the ascendant, equally mixed together, shall shew his quality or conditions; so that let any sign ascend, what planet is lord of that sign shall be called lord of the house, or significator of the person inquiring, &c.

So that, in the first place, when any question is propounded, the sign ascending and his lord are always given unto him or her that asks the question.

Secondly: You must then consider the matter propounded, and see to which of the twelve houses it does properly belong: when you have found the house, consider the sign and lord of that sign, how, and in what sign and what part of heaven he is placed, how dignified, what aspect he has to the lord of the ascendant, who impedites your significator, who is a friend unto him, viz. what planet it is, and what house he is lord of, or in what house posited; from such a man or woman signified by that planet shall you be aided or hindered, or by one of such relation unto you as that planet signifies; if lord of such a house, such an enemy; if lord of a house that signifies enemies, then an enemy verily; if of a friendly house, a friend.

The whole natural key of astrology rests in the words preceding, rightly understood. By the examples following, I shall make all things more plain; for I do not desire or will reserve any thing whereby the learner may be kept in suspense of understanding what is useful for him, and most fit to be known. In every question we do give the ☽ as a consignificator with the querent or lord of the ascendant. Having well considered the several applications and separation of the lords of those houses signifying your questions, as also

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the ☽, her situation and quality of the aspects she has, and each significator has to each, you may begin to judge and consider whether the thing demanded will come to pass, yea or nay; by what or whose means, the time when, and whether it will be good for the querent to proceed further in his demands. yea or nay.