Anthony Louis's Blog, page 23

Lilly’s Considerations before Judgement in Horary

Recently Chris Brennan on his Astrology Podcast interviewed one of my favorite horary astrologers, Sue Ward, about Lilly’s Considerations before Judgement. I thought it would be useful to post Lilly’s comments in one place so I went through Christian Astrology (1647) and compiled the following. I modernized the English to make it more readable but have not altered the meaning. Occasionally I have added an explanatory comment of my own. If you notice any error in my transcription from Lilly, please leave a comment so I can correct it.

William Lilly (1602 – 1681)

CONSIDERATIONS before Judgment (CA 121-123)

All the Ancients that have wrote of Questions, do give warning to the Astrologer, that before he deliver judgement he well consider whether the Figure is radical and capable of judgement; the Question then shall be taken for radical, or fit to be judged, when as the Lord of the hour at the time of proposing the Question, and erecting the Figure, and the Lord of the Ascendant or first House, are of one Triplicity, or be one, or of the same nature.

As for example; let the Lord of the hour be Mars, let the Sign of Scorpio, Cancer or Pisces ascend, this Question is then radical, because Mars is Lord of the hour, and of the watery triplicity, or of those signs Cancer, Scorpio or Pisces.

Again, let the Lord of the hour be Mars, and Aries ascend, the Question shall be radical, because Mars is both Lord of the hour and the Sign ascending.

Let the Lord of the hour be Mars, and let the Sign Leo ascend, here, although the Sun is one of the Lords of the fiery Triplicity, and the sole Lord of the Sign Leo, yet shall the Question be judged; because the Sun, who is Lord of the Ascendant, and Mars who is Lord of the hour, are both of one nature, viz. Hot and Dry.

When either 00. degrees, or the first or second degrees of a Sign ascend (especially in Signs of short ascensions, viz. Capricorn to Gemini), you may not adventure judgement, unless the Querent be very young, and his corporature, complexion and moles or scars of his body agree with the quality of the Sign ascending.

If 27, 28, 29 degrees ascend of any Sign, it’s no ways safe to give judgement, except the Querent be in years corresponding to the number of degrees ascending; or unless the Figure be set upon a certain time, viz. a man went away or fled at such a time precise; here you may judge, because it’s no propounded question.

It’s not safe to judge when the Moon is in the later degrees of a Sign, especially in Gemini, Scorpio or Capricorn; or as some say, when she is in Via Combusta, which is, when she is in the last 15 degrees of Libra, or the first 15 degrees of Scorpio.

All manner of matters go hardly on (except the principal significators be very strong) when the Moon is void of course; yet somewhat she performs if void of course, and be either in Taurus, Cancer, Sagittarius or Pisces.  [“A Planet is void of course, when he is separated from a Planet, nor doth forthwith, during his being in that Sign, apply to any other” — CA 112]

You must also be wary, when in any question propounded you find the Cusp of the 7th house afflicted, or the Lord of that house Retrograde, or impedited, and the matter at that time not concerning the seventh house, but belonging to any other house, it’s an argument the judgement of the Astrologer will give small content, or any thing please the Querent; for the seventh house generally hath signification of the Artist.

 —————-

The Arabians, as Alkindus and others, do deliver these following rules, as very fit to be considered before a Question be judged.

Viz. if Saturn be in the Ascendant, especially Retrograde, the matter of that Question seldom or never comes to good.

Saturn in the seventh either corrupts the judgement 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, or 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 judgement.

When the testimonies of Fortunes and Infortunes are equal, defer judgement, it’s not possible to know which way the balance will turn: however, defer you your opinion till another question better inform you.

 —————-

William Lilly’s 43 Aphorisms and Considerations for Better Judging any Horary Question (CA 298-302)

See the Question be radical, or fit to be judged; which is, when the Lord of the Ascendant and hour be of one nature or Triplicity.
Be not confident of the Judgment if either the 1st degrees or later of any Sign be ascending; if the later degrees arise, the matter of the Question is elapsed, and it’s probable the Querent hath been tampering with others, or despairs of any success; however, the Heavens advise you not to meddle with it at that time.
The position of Saturn or Mars in the 10th, and they peregrine or unfortunate, or the South Node in that house, the Artist hardly get credit by that Question.
Judge not upon every slight motion, or without premeditation of the Querent, nor upon slight and trivial Questions, or when the Querent hath not wit to know what he would demand. [Note: Lilly warns against attempting to answer witless (foolish, brainless) questions via horary astrology.  Many such questions appear in internet forums on horary.]
Have special regard to the strength and debility of the Moon, and it’s far better the Lord of the Ascendant be unfortunate than she, for she brings unto us the strength and virtue of all the other Planets, and of one Planet to another.
Behold the condition of Saturn in every Question, he is naturally ill by his excess of cold; Mars is of ill influence, because of his too much heat: in very truth, neither of them is cold or dry, but signifies so much in their virtue and operation, and therefore in all Questions they show tardity and detriment in the Question, unless the Moon and they receive each other in the Signification.
See the condition of Jupiter and Venus be observed, who naturally are Fortunes and temperate, and never import any malice, unless by accident: where they are Significators without reception, they put forward the matter, but they best preform the matter in question when they apply by Trine or Sextile, and to purpose when in Essential Dignities.
In every Question where Fortunes are Significators, hope well; but in Infortunes, then fear the worst, and accordingly order your business.
Generally consider the state of the Moon, for if she be void of course there’s no great hopes of the Question propounded, that it shall be effected; yet if she be in Cancer, Taurus, Sagittarius or Pisces, your fear may be less, for then she is not much impedited by being void of course.
See from what Planet the Moon is separated, that Planet shows what has already been done: if from a Fortune good; if from a malevolent, ill; according to the nature of the house, &c.
The Application of the Moon shows the present condition of the thing demanded, viz. her applying by a good aspect, and in a good house, to a good Planet, intimates the strong hopes of the thing intended.
The Application of the Moon to a Planet in his Fall, signifies anguish, trouble and delays in the thing demanded.
A Retrograde Planet, or one in his first station, Significator in Question, denotes ill in the Question, discord and much contradiction.
We ought warily to consider if evil Planets be Significators in any thing, for if they predict evil in the thing quesited, the vengeance is more heavy; if they foretell of any good, it’s less then what it expected, it’s imperfect, and nothing therein comes, without infinite solicitation and affliction, &c.
A Planet that is slow in motion, prolongs the thing quesited after, so that it’s hardly performed; the nature of the Sign wherein the Planet is, doth herein much advantage the judgment.When Infortunes are Significators of any evil, do you well consider if the Fortunes, viz. Jupiter of Venus, cast not any aspect unto them, then the evil intended formerly is lessened; doe so when the Fortunes are Significators.
If the Fortunes signifies any thing, and are cadent, or ill placed in Dignities, or behold not the Ascendant, or are Retrograde, then are they impedited, and shall perform little, if not received.
Notwithstanding Reception, if he be an Infortune, he performs but little; but if the same happen when the Fortunes are Significators, the thing is perfected.
A Planet Peregrine, viz. having no essential Dignities where he is, he is malicious beyond expression; if he be in essential Dignities, the less; for then he is like a noble soul that hath his enemy in his clutches, but scorns to hurt him.
And yet generally, if Saturn or Mars be in House [domicile], Exaltation, Triplicity and Angles, and then have Signification in a Question, they perform the thing desired.
Confide not too much in the assistance a Fortune lends, unless he be in essential Dignities; for then he performs matters wholly, else but by halves.
When in a Question wherein both the Fortunes and Infortunes are either weak or equally ill places, promise no success upon that demand; defer the Judgment until the Heavens have a better Position.
Beware in all Judgments, when the Significator of the question is either Combust, or in Opposition to the Sun, he will then signify nothing of the matter, no good, nor is he able to bring anything to perfection.
One Infortune joined to another, if good be signified by their aspect, yet will it have no effect, or come to any thing: If they signifies evil, it’s probably that it may fall out with more malice than expected.
The Lord of the Ascendant out of his essential Dignities, Cadent, &c., shows the Querent is out of all hopes in his business.
A Planet within 12 degrees of the Sun, is said to be under his Beams, and then hath no fortitude, let it be in what Sign it will; when a Planet is within 16 minutes of the Sun, he is said to be in Cazimi, or heat of the Sun, and then it’s an addition of fortune, and he is wondrous strong.
See to what Planet the Significator commits his disposition, and if Oriental or Occidental; if it be to Saturn, Jupiter or Mars, and they Oriental, the matter is sooner performed; later, if Occidental, doe the contrary in Venus and Mercury.
Observe if the Planet that is Significator of the thing desired, be in a fixed Sign, moveable, or common: fixed Signs show stability, and that the thing shall continue, whether it be begun, or is to be begun: common [mutable, dual] Signs show the oft probability of perfecting the thing, and yet not its conclusion: moveable [cardinal] Signs show a sudden resolution or conclusion of the matter one way or other. From hence we being Foundations of Houses and Towns when Significators are fixed; short Journey when they are moveable: but in things wherein we define mediocrity, we elect common Signs.
The Lord of the Ascendant or the Moon with the Head or Tail of the Dragon, brings damage to the Question propounded; see in what house they are in, and receive signification from thence.
Look whether the degree of the Ascendant, or place of the Sign the Significator is in, be the then place of any Eclipse at hand; though the matter propounded be in a fair way to be concluded, yet shall it insensibly receive prejudice when least is expected, and hardly be concluded.
If you find the Moon impedited in any Question, be it what it will, there will be the like stay, demur or hindrance in the thing quesited; and indeed there’s seldom good end comes of the Question where the Moon is impedited; if it be in going to War, you may fear the life of the Querent; if in a Journey, ill success, if Marriage, an ill end of Wooing, &c.
If the Lord of the question or the Moon be in a Sign opposite to his own house, as Mercury in Sagittarius or Pisces, &c., the Querent hath no good hopes of his demands, he despairs, nor doth he delight in it, nor doth he care whether it can be performed or not.
Consider diligently the Planet impediting the Signifier of the thing demanded, and what house he is either Lord of, or is posited in; from the nature or person of that house require the cause obstructing.
The nearer your Significator is to an Angle, the more good you may expect; less, if placed in a Succedent house; little if in a Cadent.
In all Questions, know there’s not so great an affliction to the Moon, as when she is in Conjunction with the SUN; the ill aspects of the infortunes doth much afflict her, but none so powerful as her Combustion.
In any Question, see if an Infortune aspect your Significator, and whether they be both Peregrine, Retrograde, Cadent, or in Signs contrary to their own nature, it may then be doubted they infer such a mischief in the question, as is inevitable, according to natural causes.
Planets that are Significators in any thing, if they are in Conjunction, and in a Sign agreeing to their own nature, then the thing quesited after is brought to perfection with much ease and facility, else not.
Have special regard to the Significators, and whether any frustration or prohibition be before the perfect aspect: the Planet frustrating describes the party or cause hindering the matter demanded.
Ever consider the Part of Fortune, which if well dignified in any house, the Querent gets by men, or things denoted by that house; and so, if ill dignified, damage from thence.
In questions of Marriage, an unfortunate Planet in the 7th threatens ill agreement in Marriage, unless the same Planet be a Significator at the Birth.
If the Lord of the 8th be impedited or unfortunate in the 8th, the Querent shall receive prejudice by the death of some woman, or concerning some debts due unto him from men deceased.In what house you find Jupiter and Venus well dignified, you may expect benefit from such men and things as are Signified by that house; as if in the 3rd, from Kindred; in the 4th, from Father, or by Lands, &c. in the 5th by Play, &c. and so in other houses.
Beware of men and things appertaining to that house wherein South Node is in; it seldom fails, but the Querent shall receive damage, scandal or slander from men and matter[s] signified by the house he is in.

A note of the concept of Void of Course in horary

Sue Ward recently appeared on The Astrology Podcast with Chris Brennan. One of the topics they discussed was her seminal paper on Lilly’s understanding of a void of course moon or planet. Sue mentioned that the definition had changed since Lilly’s time and wondered whether Sibly was responsible for the shift to the modern understanding. Sue’s comments prompted me to look up how Sibly in the 18th century and Rupertus Stella in the early 19th century had defined VOC.

Here is Ebenezer Sibly‘s definition from page 145 of his book on the Celestial Science of Astrology, the 1826 edition which was published posthumously. He died in 1799.

From page 145 of Sibly’s text.

I then checked the definition in the 1832 book on horary by Rupertus Stella:

The definitions are identical. It looks like the person who wrote under the pen name “Rupertus Stella” simply copied verbatim from Sibly’s text without giving Sibly credit. I haven’t yet checked whether R.Stella simply plagiarized the entire contents of his text from Sibly.

It looks like R. Stella, who copied Sibly, defined void of course in a manner consistent with Lilly’s understanding:

Lilly writes: “A planet is void of course, when he is separated from a planet, nor doth forthwith, during his being in that sign, apply to any other.”

The difference is that Lilly explicitly states that the VOC planet not APPLY to another planet before leaving its sign. In contrast, Sibly states that the VOC planet not FORM any aspect to another planet before the change of sign. One could argue that by “form an aspect” Sibly meant exactly what Lilly did when he wrote “apply to” an aspect. It appears that modern astrologers read Sibly’s definition and understood him to mean “perfect” an aspect when he wrote “form” an aspect. Nonetheless, an aspect forms when the two planets are within orb of one another, and it perfects when the planets are the exact number of degrees apart as specified by the aspect.

Raphael in his 1917 text on horary (p. 50) states that the Moon is VOC “when she forms no aspect with any planet before she leaves the sign, and especially if she is just about leaving it. I have found that in a case like this, the querent relinquishes his object, alters his mind, etc., so that nothing come of the matter.”

It is not clear whether Raphael means “apply to” or “perfect” when he writes “form” an aspect.

To conclude, let me quote Alan Leo‘s definition of VOC from 1907:

Void of Course. Forming no aspect in the sign the significator then is. That is, the significator passes out of the sign occupied without encountering the aspect of any planet.

It appears that Alan Leo is restating Sibly’s definition but he has misunderstood Sibly and created a new and bastardized understanding of VOC, which differs significantly from the way Lilly and proably Sibly conceptualized it. There may have been other authors preceding Alan Leo who also misunderstand and promulgated an incorrect understanding of void of course.

Planetary hours and the 12-letter alphabet of astrology

Back in the 1970s astrologer Zipporah Dobyns popularized the “12-letter alphabet” of astrology, which consisted of equating the 1st house with the first sign, Aries, and its ruler Mars. Each subsequent house was paired with its sign in the same order as in the Aries-rising chart and with that sign’s ruler. Dobyns did not originate this idea. A version of it appears in William Lilly’s 1647 Christian Astrology in which he discusses “con-significators” of each of the houses based on their correspondence with the Aries-rising chart and the Chaldean order of the planets beginning with Saturn in first place.

Such pairings were common in the Renaissance literature. Body parts, for example, were assigned in the same order to signs, starting with Aries, and the 1st house, which each could signify the head. Similarly, Scorpio and the 8th house could each signify the genitals, and Pisces and the 12th house were each assigned to the feet.

While such bodily pairings between houses and signs were widely accepted, at least some authors objected to the wholesale equivalence of signs and houses. For example, Culpepper, a contemporary of Lilly, wrote:

“Some authors hold an opinion that the signs carry the same signification in order that the houses of heaven do, and Aries should signify life, Taurus estate, Gemini brethren and short journeys, you know the rest. Truly, my own opinion is that many authors invented whimsies, and when they had done, set them down to posterity for Truth; who taking them up without trial, clothed tradition in plush and left poor reason to go in rags. An author said so; ergo ’tis true, right or wrong.” (Nicholas Culpeper, Astrological Judgement of Disease, x.iv)

I’m not sure when the pairing of Aries with the 1st house, Taurus with the 2nd, etc., first appeared in the astrological literature, but it was certainly present in English-language texts of the 17th century.. Regarding the pairing of planets with houses, Abu Ma’shar discusses such associations as underlying reasons for house significations. For example, in Dykes recent translation of Ma’shar’s Great Introduction (p.390), he asserts that the significations of the houses derive from “(1) the order of the planets spheres, and their (2) indications, (3) natures, and (4) conditions.” It is important to note that Ma’shar does NOT use the rulers of the 12 signs, starting with Aries, but instead uses the planets in the Chaldean order of their orbs in the Ptolemaic system, in which Saturn is the first planet and is therefore paired with the first house. This system is quite different from the modern “12-letter” alphabet.

In Willaim Lilly’s 17th-century system of consignificators, the signs are linked to houses in the same numerical order, starting tiwht Aries as the 1st sign. Planets are paired with houses according to their Chaldean order, with Saturn as the first planet being associated with the first house.

In the Ptolemaic universe Saturn is the first planet and it travels in the outermost sphere. Planets are arranged in Chaldean order from the slowest to the fastest (or from the outermost to the innermost): Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Sun, Venus, Mercury and the Moon:

Abu Ma’shar (9th century) gives an elaborate explanation of how each house got its significations from the associated planetary orb. Saturn, the first and outermost planet, has to do with the relative darkness inside the womb and the baby’s eventual emergence into the world at birth. In addition, Ma’shar notes that Saturn, which rules gravity, has something to do with the male sperm falling into the female womb and causing conception.

Jupiter, the 2nd planet, symbolizes wealth, which is a meaning of the 2nd house. Mars, the 3rd planet, is linked to siblings and in Jyotish, to courage and bravery, which are attributes of the 3rd house. The Sun, the 4th planet, is a father symbol. Venus, the 5th planet, is related to the pleasures and love affairs of the 5th house, which can produce offspring.

Mercury, the 6th planet, because of its proximity to the Sun is constantly getting burned by the Sun’s rays and is analogous to a person who is constantly succumbing to various illnesses. The Moon, the 7th planet, is a symbol of women and marriage (as the consort of the Sun).

The cycle repeats beginning with the 8th house, associated with Saturn, a malefic planet connected with death and probably with miscarriages and maternal mortality in childbirth. Jupiter, a symbol of travel, religion and learning falls in the 9th house. Mars, a symbol of the forceful assertion of authority, is linked to the 10th. The Sun, a symbol of friendship, benevolence, and recognition falls in the 11th. Finally, Venus is linked to the 12th house “which withdraws from the Ascendant and does not look at it” (p. 394) and apparently Venus in this position can signify enemies, sorrow, envy, slander, cunning and riding animals (perhaps a patriarchal view of unsupervised women or the nature of Venus, which spends a lot of time close to, and hence burned by, the Sun). Interestingly, in Jyotish the 12th house (paired with Venus in the Chaldean order of the orbs of planets) is a house of the pleasures of the bed.

Tarot and Racism

Traditional tarot decks tends to have white European characters depicted on their cards. Only recently have decks appeared which attempt to depict scenes with a more diverse set of personages. This is a welcome trend since we live in a diverse society.

Against this backdrop I was quite surprised to come across a review of my book Tarot Plain and Simple (Llewellyn, 1996), which suggested that it had a racist bias. The review is reproduced below:

Raina 1.0 out of 5 stars Prejudiced Language From The Get Go. Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2019
Verified Purchase “When the author is trying to ‘make associations’ with the cards to people in the beginning, he connects dark skin and dark hair in a way that is stereotypical and alludes to those features as negative and haunting. However he attributes white skin to “light” and “pureness”. I can’t remember exactly what he said, but it was enough for me to close this book and return it. This is such a problem with new age folks! Biddy Tarot’s book is a lot better, and although she isn’t perfect, she regularly has Black readers on her Youtube Channel and featured on her Instagram.”

My first thought upon reading Raina’s review was that he or she must have confused another book with mine. Nowhere in my text do I state that dark skin and dark hair are “negative and haunting.” In fact, the only mention of dark skin and dark hair occurs in the associations to the suit of Coins or Pentacles, which some tarot texts use to describe a person with dark hair or a dark complexion. No value judgements are made or implied. It simply has to do with physical description. The same holds true for light skin, which some readers feel is associated with the suit of Wands or Swords. It is a matter of physical description without any implied or stated value judgment. There is a mention in the book that some tarot artists use the color black to imply danger or foreboding, as in “black magic” and fear of the dark, but this is intended as a comment on artistic style and not as a racist derision.

What disturbed me was that Raina was making a fairly serious accusation of racism without evidence and without quoting verbatim comments that he or she felt had a racist tone. Raina even states “I can’t remember exactly what he [the author] said” and then adds a stereotypical bias of his or her own, “this is such a problem with new age folks!” It seems that Raina either didn’t read my book or didn’t understand what I had written, and also had an axe to grind about “new age folks” and therefore saw racism everywhere when in reality none existed.

I don’t know why amazon.com allows such unsubstantiated and libelous attacks to be published in its reviews. The book has been in print for the past 25 years, and there has never been a review which suggested it had a racist tone. If Raina had quoted verbatim passages to substantiate the accusations of racism, that would be another story and the review would be worthy of publication. But to attack an author without evidence or because the reviewer misread or did not understand the text should not be allowed. Because I regarded Raina’s review as libelous, I clicked the “Report Abuse” icon to let amazon.com know my opinion.

The Essential Role of Dispositors in Horary

Masha’allah in his writings on horary astrology makes extensive use of dispositors of planets. The dispositor of a given planet is simply the ruler of the sign which that planet occupies in a chart. For example, if Mars is in Libra, its dispositor is Venus. Similarly, if the Moon occupies Leo, its dispositor is the Sun. Although dispositorship played an essential role in the development of horary astrology among the Arabic and Persian astrologers, I rarely see it mentioned in contemporary delineations of horary charts.

The theory behind dispositorship is anthropomorphic and straightforward. If I am a planet visiting your home, then I am dependent on you for the resources at my disposal to accomplish my aims. If you are strong and powerful and have kept your home in good order, I can more easily get my job done. If you are weak, disorganized and impotent, I may not be able to achieve what I desire. My ability to produce results consistent with my nature, and to manifest my own significations, will depend a great deal on your condition as my dispositor, the owner of the zodiac sign from which I am working. If the owner of the home is not in whole sign aspect to his own domicile, matters become even worse because the owner is like an absentee landlord who can’t see and has no idea what’s happening in his own home.

The people in this image might represent planets visiting the home (domicile) of a dispositor (the ruler of the sign) in a bad celestial state. How can they get anything done if their dispositor is not taking care of his own property?
(Image from https://www.thisoldhouse.com/21015238/break-these-bad-homeowner-habits)

William Lilly was aware of the importance of dispositors and used them in his delineations of horary charts. For example, the the chart of the tradesman who wanted to know if he would become rich (CA 177), which I discussed in the previous post, Lilly relied on dispositors to answer to horary question.

Lilly (CA 177): tradesman asks if he will get rich.
Mercury day. Sun hour.

Lilly writes that the querent’s wealth should be shown by Mars, the ruler of the 2nd house, and by the DISPOSITOR of the Part of Fortune, which is also Mars. Because Mars is in the 1st house closely conjunct the Ascendant degree, Lilly reasons that wealth will come to the querent largely through his own efforts.

In addition, Jupiter, which is a general or universal signifier of wealth, is prominently conjoined to the Angle of the M.C. and occupies Cancer, the sign of its exaltation. Jupiter is also strongly connected to the Ascendant by a square aspect.

Lilly goes on to say that the Moon is separating from a sextile to 2nd ruler Mars (his wealth) and from a conjunction to Mercury, and applying to a conjunction to Venus, ruler of the Ascendant and signifier of the querent. In other words, the Moon is transferring the light from Mars and Mercury to Venus. For some reason Lilly does not mention that the Moon is also separating from its trine to Saturn and transferring Saturn’s light to Venus.

Furthermore, the Moon, which “hath a general signification in every question,” is “DISPOSITED by the Sun, and he is strong and powerful” in Leo in the 10th house (CA 181). In other words, the strength of the Moon, which is related to her dispositor (the Sun) being strong and powerful, enables to Moon to effectively transfer the light from Mars, the ruler of the 2nd and of Fortuna, to Venus which signifies the querent. The Moon is able to do a good and effective job because of its dispositorship by the Sun in this chart. Presumably if the dispositor of the Moon were in bad celestial condition, the Moon would have a hard time manifesting its significations or bringing about an effective transfer of light.

On CA 186 Lilly summarizes his delineation of the question whether “the querent should continue rich”:

“This I resolved by the cusp of the 2nd, which being a Sign fixed [Scorpio], and the Part of Fortune in it, and Jupiter in his exaltation and Angular, and Venus the DISPOSITOR of Mars [2nd ruler], and the Moon in Leo, a firm and stable Sign, I judged he would continue in a plentiful estate …”

Note here that even though Mars is a malefic, which happens to be the nocturnal malefic in a diurnal chart, and Mars in Libra is in the sign of its detriment, the fact that Venus DISPOSES Mars means that the performance of Mars will depend heavily on the status of Venus in this chart. Fortunately, Venus conjoins the cusp of the benefic 11th house and Venus herself is DIPOSED by the Sun, which is powerful in Leo in the angular 10th house, so that the performance of Venus is closely tied to the status of the Sun in this chart. The very favorably placed Sun also happens to be the FINAL DISPOSITOR of this chart and, as such, has a great deal of say in the final outcome.

A hypothetical example:

Consider the following chart for the hypothetical question about whether the querent would marry her current boyfriend:

Will I marry him?
Jupiter day. Mercury hour.

Saturn rules the querent (Aquarius rising), and the Sun rules the potential spouse (Leo on 7th cusp). Sun and Saturn are separating from a square aspect, and there is no translation or collection of light reuniting them. Based on the primary significators, marriage appears highly unlikely.

We must next consider the Moon which “hath a general signification in every question” (CA 182). The Moon can co-signify the querent and applies to trine the Sun, ruler of the 7th. Moon trine Sun could indicate that the marriage will take place, but we must assure ourselves that the Moon has the ability to manifest its goals via this trine.

Things don’t look great for the Moon in this chart. First, she is in partile conjunction with Ketu, the South Node of the Moon, a point of loss and diminution where eclipses take place. Lilly writes in his Aphoriams (CA 301): “The Lord of the Ascendant or the Moon with the Head or Taile, of the Dragon, brings damage to the Question propouned; see in what house they are in, and receive signification from thence.” He goes on to caution: “Beware of men and things appertaining to that house wherein South Node is in; it seldome failes, but the Querent shall receive damage, scandall or slander from men and matter signified by the house he is in.” The Moon being so afflicted by Ketu in the 2nd house suggests that money problems may interfere with her hopes for marriage.

Next let’s look at the dispositor of the peregrine Moon (without any essential dignity). A peregrine planet is especially dependent on its dispositor. Here the Moon is disposed by Mars, the out-of-sect malefic, in the cadent 9th house and in Scorpio, the sign of fall of the Moon. Mars is afflicted by the greater malefic Saturn. In addition, Mars in Scorpio is “in aversion” to Aries, where the Moon resides. Even though Mars lies in his own domicile in Scorpio, he is unable to connect with the Moon in Aries, which he cannot see, and the Moon is left to her own devices, lacking any essential dignity and afflicted by Ketu and also by Uranus if we use the modern planets. Even though the Sun receives the Moon from the Sun’s sign of exaltation, Aries, the trine is not likely to effect a marriage because the Moon is so weak and afflicted in this chart. Mars, the out-of-sect malefic which disposes the Moon, is not at all inclined to help the querent get what she desires.

A remarkable multi-translation of light

William Lilly defines “translation of light and nature“(CA 111) as “when a light Planet separates from a more weighty one, and presently joynes to another more heavy.” He gives the example that Mercury at 16 Aries “translates the virtue of Mars [at 15 Aries] unto Saturn [at 20 Aries.”

Most examples in the literature are similar to this one and involve three planets: a lighter planet which translates the light between two heavier ones. Lilly makes it clear, however, that the lighter planet can translate the light involving multiple heavier planets. For example, in his discussion of a tradesman who wanted to get rich (CA 177), Lilly notes that the Moon at 19 Leo translates the light from Mercury at 17 Leo and also from Mars at 16 Libra unto Venus at 25 Leo (CA 182). Lilly does not mention that the Moon also translates the light of Saturn at 15 Sagittarius to Venus at 25 Leo. Here is the chart for Lilly’s tradesman horary:

CA 177 Tradesman horary. The Moon translates the light of Mercury, Mars and Saturn to Venus.

Lilly writes (CA 181-182): “I also found the Moon separated from a sextile of Mars, lord of the 2nd and significator of the thing demanded, and immediately after separated from a conjunction of Mercury, then instantly applying to the conjunction of Venus, significator of the Querent, transferring thereby both the virtue and influence of Mercury and Mars to the proper significator of the Querent.”

In other words, because the Moon is within orb of major aspects to Mercury and Mars and is separating from both of them, it transfers the light of both planets to Venus, to which Luna is applying within orb at the time of the question. The Moon is also separating from a trine to Saturn and carrying the Saturnian light to Venus, to which the Moon applies.

A similar but more striking situation occurred in February of this year. See the following chart:

A multi-translation of light by the Moon., which is separating from conjunctions with planets earlier in Aquarius and applying to Mars and then to the Sun.

In the above chart the Moon is separating from conjunctions with Saturn, Venus, Jupiter and Mercury and translating their light to Mars via its sinister square. Shortly after the Moon perfects its square to Mars, it will translate the light of Saturn, Venus, Jupiter, Mercury and Mars to the Sun.

Another VOC example from Lilly — Is my son at home?

The querent was consulting with William Lilly and asked about the whereabouts of her son (CA 152). Was the boy with this master, or was he at her own house? Here is Lilly’s chart for the question:

Where is my son? at my house, or with his master?
Venus day, Mars hour.

Libra rises, making Venus the ruler of the querent. Jupiter rules the 5th cusp, signifying her son. Jupiter occupies the angular 1st house, which is a place the mother most frequents, so her son is most likely at home. Venus in Gemini applies to trine Jupiter is Libra, showing mother reuniting with son.

The Moon, which can co-ruler the querent and shows the general flow of events in the situation, occupies the 5th of children and will next perfect a sextile to Saturn (ruler of the 4th of the querent’s home) when the Moon changes sign and enters Aries. The Moon is also a general signifiers of fugitives, that is, of persons or animals which are wandering about.

Lilly does NOT say that the Moon is void of course in this chart. Instead, he writes “I observed further that the Moon did apply to a sextile dexter of Saturn, lord of the 4th house, which signifies the house or dwelling place of the querent.” (Lilly defines a VOC planet as (CA 112): “A planet is void of course, when he is separated from a planet, nor doth forthwith, during his being in that sign, apply to any other.” Note that Lilly only requires an applying aspect within orb.

Clearly, in this chart Lilly judges the fact that the Moon applies to sextile Saturn across sign boundaries as significant, he allows for out-of-sign aspects which are within orb, and he does not regard the Moon in this chart as VOC.

An interesting horary about a promotion at work

On March 10th of 1930 a woman asked astrologer Robert DeLuce whether she would be promoted at work. She was apparently in a temporary position and hoped to be promoted to a more permanent post. Here is the chart:

Will I get the promotion at work?
Moon day, Mercury hour

The question was asked on a Moon day during a Mercury hour, the 7th hour of the day.

Cancer rises, making the Moon in Cancer in the 1st the ruler of the querent. This is a strong and dignified Moon in an angular house and in her own domicile.

The job promotion is signified by the Aries 10th house, ruled by Mars which is peregrine in Aquarius in the 8th house. Cancer and Aquarius are in aversion, so the Moon and Mars cannot see each other.

The Moon’s last major aspect was to the Sun, the exalted ruler of the 10th cusp and thus a potential ruler of the job promotion. The Sun is also the 1st triplicity lord of the tenth house sign Aries and, as such, can signify career advancement.

The Moon’s next aspect is a trine to Venus, exalted in Pisces. Thus, the Moon is transferring the light from the Sun (exalted in the 10th) to Venus (ruler of the 11th and the 4th, of her hopes and wishes and the end of the matter, respectively). This trine will perfect without prohibition, indicating that her wish to be promoted is likely to be fulfilled. The fact that the Moon is a participating triplicity ruler of Pisces, and Venus is a triplicity ruler of Cancer, indicates that a mutual reception by triplicity exists between the Moon and Venus, which further testifies to the likelihood of her being promoted.

About a month after this horary question the querent received the promotion which she so desired.

Dariot on Triplicity Rulers

Triplicity rulers have been used in traditional astrology to further refine the significations of houses by assigning particular planetary lords of triplicities to particular meanings belonging to a house. Dariot explains that the first triplicity lord of the 4th house signifies the parents, the second triplicity lord signifies all things related to castles and cities, and the third triplicity lord signifies the endings of matters. For example, suppose Taurus where on the 4th cusp in a day chart. Then, the first triplicity lord Venus would rule the parents, the second lord Luna would signify the home or lands, and the third lord Mars would represent endings.

In 1598 Claudius Dariot’s introductory book on astrology was published in English translation in London, and it included a chapter which discussed triplicity rulerships, repeating much of what had been written by previous authors. I thought it would be interesting to present Dariot’s chapter here to make it more readily available to modern readers.

Is astrology really ‘bunk’?

Recently I watched a series of lectures from Great Courses Plus on The Black Death. The teacher for the course was Dorsey Armstrong, who is Associate Professor of English and Medieval Literature at Purdue University. According to the biographical notes, she is “editor-in-chief of the academic journal Arthuriana, which publishes the most cutting-edge research on the legend of King Arthur.”

At this point in her lecture Ms. Armstrong states that “astrology is, for lack of a better word, ‘bunk’.”

While the material was generally informative, I was quite taken aback when professor Armstrong made the statement that “astronomy is science; astrology is, for lack of a better word, ‘bunk’.” She went on to discredit the astrological teachings of the 14th century, which were enlisted by scholars of the period to account for the Plague. She was totally unaware that several modern astrologers had studied the astrology of prior pandemics and had used that knowledge to accurately predict the current Covid-19 crisis.

Interestingly, Ms. Armstrong also explains that Christians at that time regarded the Black Death as a punishment from God for their sins, a view which she also discounts, but she does not go on to draw the obvious conclusion, based on her earlier discussion of astrology, that “Christianity, for lack of a better work, is also ‘bunk’.”

Since her logic would require classifying both astrology and Christianity as forms of ‘bunk’, one has to wonder why Ms. Armstrong would so unflinchingly denigrate astrology while going out of her way to be politically correct in discussing Christianity, especially when millions of people worldwide believe in the tenets of both belief systems (astrology and Christianity). An article in Smithsonian Magazine notes that a 2009 Harris poll found that 26 percent of Americans believe in astrology. Why would professor Armstrong want to insult some 86 million of her fellow Americans?

Or, to use an analogy closer to home and following a similar line of reasoning, Ms. Armstrong’s major academic interest is “cutting-edge research on the legend of King Arthur,” which many people might regard as a waste of time and a lot of “bunk.” I don’t agree with the point of view stated in the previous sentence; rather, I feel that we should respect other people’s interests and areas of expertise, especially if we know little about them and have never seriously studied such matters ourselves.

Unfortunately, it has become fashionable for some academics to discredit astrology while knowing almost nothing about it, thereby simply spreading their unexamined cultural biases to their students. If Ms. Armstrong had bothered to inform herself, she might have discovered the large number of contemporary scholars, many with Ph.D.s, who have devoted themselves to uncovering and advancing astrological knowledge in the modern world.

Perhaps the time has come for astrologers to form their own “Astrological Lives Matter” movement, patterned after “Black Lives Matter,” to challenge such cultural biases and harmful denigrating statements about a belief system which they have found to be of value in their lives. If Ms. Armstrong had made negative comments about black people and used the “N-word” in her lectures or if she had singled out a particular religion for her attacks, would the university have allowed such expressions of bias to continue unchecked? Obviously not! Why, then, should her biases against astrology and her attack on the belief system of millions of people worldwide be allowed to enter her teaching without feedback from those who find such statements offensive.

Just as I would not say that research on the legend of King Arthur is a lot of “bunk,” I would expect professor Armstrong to be respectful of my area of expertise in astrology and not classify what I do as mere “bunk.”