A Classical Horoscopy

In response to a request from a correspondent who had noted the several astrological posts on these pages the author has prepared a brief summarised account of his personal approach to the gentle arts of horoscopy. His method is largely gleaned from classical Hellenistic sources and quite deliberately deviates from many of the established norms of modern astrological practice. Each of the points below could warrant a lengthy rationale, but they will suffice for the time being, together constituting a coherent praxis based in a certain symbolic conception that the author regards as exceedingly ancient. 

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A CLASSICAL HOROSCOPY

1. There are seven and only seven planets, namely those known to the ancients and visible to the naked eye. They are, in order of velocity along the ecliptic: Luna, Mercury, Venus, Sol, Mars, Jupiter, Saturnus.

We take no account of the so-called “modern” or trans-Saturnian planets. 

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2. The seven planets have certain established relationships as recounted in many traditional sources and are to be considered according to such relationships. The most important of them are the following pairings, noting the complex relations between Luna, Sol and Saturnus:

Luna – Saturnus

Mercury – Jupiter

Venus – Mars

Luna – Sol

Sol – Saturnus

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3. The aforementioned pairings of the seven planets is reflected in the traditional rulerships of the twelve signs of the zodiac, according to the following diagram (Thema Mundi):

Note that Sol and Luna rule one half of the circle each, which is to say day and night respectively, and that each of the other five planets have a diurnal rulership and a nocturnal rulership. The most basic determination in the analysis of the powers of the planets is according to this binary division. That is, it is of fundamental importance, in any given case, whether a planet is in a diurnal or nocturnal phase.

Note that, contrary to modern attributions, the sign of Aquarius is ruled by the nocturnal Saturnus and is Saturnine in quality. 

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4. The structure in which the seven planets are considered is the fourfold matrix of the geocentric cosmos. The four points of definition are:

The Ascendant (where the ecliptic meets the eastern horizon),
The Descendant (where the ecliptic meets the western horizon),
The Medium Coeli (the highest arc of the ecliptic in the sky, and
The Immum Coeli (the lowest arc of the ecliptic in the underworld. 

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5. There are thus eleven steps on a ladder of determinations extending from the lowest of chthonic regions to the highest of supernal regions, as follows:

Medium Coeli – Supernal
Descendant – Stellar/Extra-Saturnine
Saturnus – Ring-pass-not
Jupiter
Mars
Sol
Venus
Mercury
Luna
Ascendant – The Sub-lunary/Terrestrial
Immum Coeli – Chthonic

Note that the four coordinates (two axes) of the geocentric cosmos are co-related to vertical determinations, as follows:

Ascendant - The Sub-lunary/Terrestrial, the Earth
Descendant – Stellar/Extra-Saturnine, the realm of fixed stars
Medium Coeli – Supernal, the dark light beyond the stars
Immum Coeli – the Chthonic realm, the underworld

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6. For practical purposes, and according to an important order of symbolism, the horizontal axis of Ascendant/Descendant is considered both in itself and in terms of two other markers, namely:

Pars Fortuna, a synthetic point representing the Sol/Luna/Terra relationship marking, as it were, a “pot of gold”, the Ascendant realized in its geocentric potential.

The star Sothis, representing the essence of the stellar realm. Sothis as ‘The Star’ par excellence.

Thus, as well as the seven planets we also take account of the Pars Fortuna (an essentialization of the terrestrial realm and an extension of the Ascendant) and Sothis (an essentialization of the fixed stars and an extension of the Descendant).

(Note that these determinations are reflected in the three tarot cards Star/Moon/Sun.)

The calculation for the Pars Fortuna differs according to diurnal and nocturnal events. The calculations are:

Diurnal: Ascendant + Moon - Sun

Nocturnal: Ascendant - Moon + Sun

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7. A diagram of the heavens – called a Theme (Thema)– is constructed according to the above dterminations. It is foursquare, it is defined by Ascendant/Descendant, Medium Coeli/Immum Coeli and within those axes are marked the seven planets along with the Pars Fortuna and Sothis.

The foursquare structure of a Theme is located on the tropical ecliptic with the zodiacal coordinates of Ascendant/Descendant, Medium Coeli/Immum Coeli marked thereupon. We take account of the zodiacal significances indicated by these four points. 

The zodiacal positions of the seven planets are assessed in terms of their rulerships as indicated in the diagram (Thema Mundi) above, taking account of diurnal and nocturnal determinations. 

An example: The horoscope of mad rocket boy Jack Parsons.

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8. All factors, the seven planets, Pars Fortuna and Sothis, are considered in terms of the risings, settings and culminations indicated by the Ascendant/Descendant and Medium Coeli/Immum Coeli axes. The nearer a planet (or star or other factor) to rising, setting or culminating, the more amplified its importance in any given Theme. 

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9. We do not take account of the twelve so-called ‘Houses’ or ‘Temples’ often used in Occidental astrology. Our scheme is fourfold, as already described, and thus a so-called ‘Quadrant’ system. But of the twelve divisions marked in a Theme – which we calculate using the method of Ptolemy – we determine the various “Faces” (or “Aspects”) of each planet (or star or other factor) in relation to the others. The “Aspects” therefore are: semi-sextile, sextile, square, trine, quincunx and opposition.

Note that we do not give heed to the modern system of “Bodily Aspects” and their “orbs”. 

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10. The Ruler of a Theme, in the first instance, is the planet that rules the zodiacal sign marked by the Ascendant. Particular attention is given to this planet in terms of risings, settings and culminations, and the Faces it makes in regards the other planets and especially its complementary pair. 

In addition to the Ruler of a Theme – the significance of which is terrestrial - particular attention is given to the Ruler of the Heaven (which is to say the ruler of the vertical or celestial axis, the significance of which is spiritual) this being the planet that rules the zodiacal sign marked by the Medium Coeli. It is assessed in terms of risings, settings and culminations, and the Faces it makes in regards the other planets and especially its complementary pair. 

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11. Analysis of the seven planets, additional to the framework of the Theme, may be made in terms of the following schemes:

The sequence of the seven planets (crossing the Ascendant following their proper motion) commencing with the Ruler of the Theme.

The shape and complexities of the heptagram formed by the seven planets in order of their velocity from Luna to Saturnus.

The shape and complexities of the heptagram formed by the seven planets in order of the arrangement preserved in the days of the week and the planetary hours, namely: Luna, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturnus, Sol, this heptagram being complementary to that taken from the order of velocity as active is to passive according to the following model:

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12. In any given Theme there is a key, this being the peculiar and unusual feature of the celestial configurations depicted. The first and most crucial task of the astrologer is to discern this feature and place it at the centre of his analysis and prognostications. 

Yours,

Harper McAlpine Black