Cazimi, a Case Example

The rare status of “cazimi” or being “in the heart of the Sun” is considered a great fortitude for a planet. In this state, from the perspective of viewers on Earth, the body of the planet and the body of the Sun join together corporally in the sky. As ibn Ezra described it, a planet in cazimi is like a subject sharing a seat with its king. The life-affirming nature of the Sun intensely imbues the planet with which Sol is merged during the cazimi state, and the cazimi planet feels strong, protected, energetic, vigorous and full of vitality.

In previous posts I have reviewed some of the literature on cazimi. There is some disagreement about whether cazimi applies only to the projected position of the planet on the ecliptic, or whether it refers to the actual body of the planet in space. My own view is in agreement with the definition given by Henry Coley in his 1676 textbook (which was praised by William Lilly), namely, that cazimi is “when a Planet is in the heart of the Sun, which is, when he is within 16 minutes of his Body, in respect of Longitude and Latitude.”

In other words, Coley is quite clear that cazimi applies to the actual body of the planet in space and that both the planet’s ecilptic latitude and longitude must be taken into account. Because most planets travel with an ecliptic latitude greater than 16′ of arc, the state of being cazimi is a rare phenomenon. In contrast, planets exactly conjoining the Sun in zodiacal longitude is a common occurrence.

Recently I watched a YouTube video in which the natal chart of a woman was discussed. She appeared to have her Asc-ruler Venus conjunct the Sun within 3′ of arc. Venus would certainly be considered cazimi, if being in the heart of the Sun were measured only along the ecliptic. However, in this case the Sun lies at 15 Aries 19′ with 0 latitude, and Venus lies at 15 Aries 21′ with a latitude of 1 degree 15′ South of the ecliptic. Hence, taking latitude into account, there is more than a full degree between the body of Venus and the body of the Sun. Rather than being cazimi, Venus in this chart is combust the Sun, which is a great debility. Since Venus is the Asc-ruler, we would expect this woman to feel weak, afflicted, overburdened, depleted of energy, etc. Here is her chart, which I cast with Alcabitius cusps, the house system in vogue when the concept of cazimi was popular in the medieval literature.

Woman with chronic low energy from childhood. Venus appears to be cazimi along the ecliptic but is combust the Sun in latitude. This chart has Alcabitius cusps. In the Regiomontanus system, Pisces was on the 5th cusp and Aries on the 6th cusp.

In fact, this woman reports suffering chronically from low energy, starting in childhood. Even as an adult she has difficulty pursuing her interests because “it’s an ongoing struggle” and it’s an effort just to “keep stuff up around the house.” Medically, she reported, that as an adult she lost her menstrual period for a two-year stretch.

Delineating the Ascendant of this chart, we see that Venus rules her Libra Ascendant (body, health, vitality, personal motivations, etc.). Venus occupies the 6th house of sickness, servants, subservient positions, small animals, etc., which suggests that such 6th house themes may play a major role in her life. Venus also rules the 8th, an unfortunate house, and is co-ruler of a large part of the unfortunate 12th house because most of Libra falls in the 12th. Traditionally, therefore, Venus would be considered an accidental malefic planet through its rulership of unfortunate houses. In addition, Venus is square to malefic Saturn and is closely conjunct the 12th-ruler Mercury, which signifies confinement, suffering and hardship in this chart. The planet Jupiter, which rules the 6th of illness, occupies the 8th and is square to the Moon’s Nodes, which reinforces her sense of chronically being in ill health.

Venus is quite afflicted, being combust the Sun, because the body of Venus lies more than a degree away from the Sun in latitude. Venus in the 6th house occupies Aries, the sign of her Detriment, and is also without any essential dignity and thus considered peregrine. Based on the afflicted and peregrine state of Asc-ruler Venus, it is no surprise that she has felt an overwhelming lack of energy and difficulty accomplishing household tasks throughout her life. If Venus were cazimi in this chart, one would expect the afflicting influences to be readily overcome, which has not been the case according to her own report.