Morin miscalculates charts below the Equator

Recently, while reading Book 15 of Morin’s Astrologia Gallica, I noticed a couple of charts of men born in Brazil in which the Regiomontanus cusps of the houses are inaccurate. James Holden, the translator, notes that Morin must have calculated the intermediate cusps for a northern latitude rather than a southern latitude. Morin may have simply used the house cusps from the Regiomontanus Tables, which were calculated for locations North of the Equator, or perhaps he did not want to do the math involved in calculating accurate house cusps for a birth at a southern geographic latitude and opted to use the values for a northern latitude as approximations (but this seems unlikely since he was writing a treatise on the correct way to do astrology).

Book 15 contains the chart of Philippus Bandeyra de Mello (Latin name), aka Felipe Bandeira de Mello, a noted Brazilian solider of the 17th century. Morin tells us that he obtained the birth information from the Commander of the Fleet of the King of Portugal, an official source. Morin then used the birth chart of de Mello to show how the signs of the zodiac retain their nature and influence, regardless of whether the chart is cast for a location above or below the equator.

Felipe de Mello, born in Olinda, Pernambuco, Brazil, was the son of Antonio Bandeira de Melo and Jeronima de Mesquita de Azevedo. He had at least one sister (Maria) who was born before circa September 14, 1608. According to Morin’s source, Felipe was born on April 15, 1612 (Palm Sunday) one hour before sunrise. Here is the birth chart of de Mello, calculated by Solar Fire. Morin’s chart has intermediate house cusps which differ from this computer-generated chart because Morin apparently based his Regiomontanus cusps on the birth location as if it were north of the equator.

Birth chart of de Mello calculated by Solar Fire. The intermediate house cusps differ from those indicated by Morin, who appears to have calculated them for latitude 8N rather than 8S (below the Equator). Thus, Morin’s chart has intermediate house cusps that differ by up to 4 degrees from the ones in this chart.

Morin describes the native’s characteristics and some of his life history to show how the birth chart, using the tropical zodiac just as one does for charts above the equator, fits the personality and life events of de Mello. Felipe was always interested in arms and military matters. He frequently got into quarrels and, in 1635, at age 23, actually killed a man in a dispute on a riotous evening.

Although born in Brazil, he traveled to various parts of Europe. In his travels he experienced severe storms at sea and several shipwrecks, including one in 1638 (age 26) in which he was able to swim to safety. He was captured three times by the Dutch.

According to Morin, Felipe’s interest in a military career and his combative nature are indicated by Mars ruling Aries on the cusp of the 1st house, with the Sun exalted in Aries in the 1st house of one’s personality and temperament. In addition, Mars rules Scorpio which lies partly in the 7th and partly in the 8th houses — symbolizing quarrels, disputes, wars and the risk of death. Furthermore, Mars is exalted in Capricorn on the cusp of the 10th house of actions and career. Mars also applies to conjoin 10th-ruler Saturn.

The shipwrecks and danger of death at sea are shown by Mars ruling Aries on the cusps of the 1st and the 8th (danger of death) in the water sign Scorpio. Mars, the exalted ruler of Capricorn, and Saturn, the domicile ruler of the 10th house Capricorn, both occupy the water sign Pisces. The 10th-ruler Saturin lies in the 12th house of evils and misfortune. Felipe escaped death on his sea voyages because Jupiter rules the 9th of long journeys, disposes both Mars and Saturn, and trines the Sun in Aries in the 1st house. Felipe was captured several times, as indicated by the two Malefics, Mars and Saturn, conjunct the 12th house cusp of imprisonment and confinement.

Morin felt that Felipe would encounter perpetual difficulties throughout his life because the Sun and Moon were in opposition across the 1st (the native) and 7th houses (open enemies, conflicts). He also saw a risk of violent death because the 7th house Moon, ruling the cusp of the 4th house of the end of life, was besieged between the antiscions of Mars and Saturn in the 12th. The antiscion of Saturn lies in 16 Libra, and the antiscion of Mars in 28 Libra. Alternatively, one might say that the antiscion of the Moon, which lies at 9 Pisces 02′, is between Mars and Saturn and conjunct both cusp of the 12th house.

As Morin predicted, Felipe de Mello died in combat in the Captaincy of Pernambuco, Brazil, in October of 1655 at age 43.

(Note: this post is a revision of an earlier post from yesterday which contained some errors that are hopefully now corrected.)