OF THE NATURES OF THE SEVEN PLANETS AND OF THEIR ESSENTIAL AND
ACCIDENTAL DIGNITIES
Of the seven planets Jupiter and Venus, because of the heat and
moisture predominant in them, are considered by the ancients as
benefics or causers of good. The Moon is so considered for the same
reasons, though in a less degree.
Saturn and Mars are causers of evil or malefic; the first from his
excess of cold, and the other from his excess of heat. The Sun and
Mercury are deemed of common influence--that is, either of good or
evil, according to the planets with which they are connected.
The planets have particular familiarity with certain places in the
zodiac by means of parts designated as their houses, and also by their
_triplicities_, _exaltations_ and _terms_.
The nature of their familiarity by _houses_ is as follows:--
Cancer and Leo are the most northerly of all the twelve signs; they
approach nearer than the other signs to the zenith of this part of the
earth, and thereby cause warmth and heat; they are consequently
appropriated as houses for the two principal and greater luminaries;
Leo for the Sun, as being masculine; and Cancer for the Moon, as being
feminine.
Saturn, since he is cold and inimical to heat, moving also in a
superior orbit most remote from the luminaries, occupies the signs
opposite to Cancer and Leo; these are Aquarius and Capricorn, and they
are assigned to him in consideration of their cold and wintry nature.
Jupiter has a favourable temperament, and is situated beneath the
sphere of Saturn; he, therefore, occupies the next two signs,
Sagittarius and Pisces.
Mars is dry in nature and beneath the sphere of Jupiter; he takes the
next two signs, of a nature similar to his own, viz., Aries and
Scorpio, whose relative distances from the houses of the luminaries are
injurious and discordant.
Venus, possessing a favourable temperament, and, placed beneath the
sphere of Mars, takes the next two signs, Taurus and Libra. These are
of a fruitful nature and preserve harmony by the sextile distance; this
planet is never more than two signs distant from the Sun.
Mercury never has greater distance from the Sun than the space of one
sign, and is beneath all the other planets; hence he is nearest to both
luminaries, and the remaining two signs, Gemini and Virgo, are allotted
to him.
The "houses" of the planets are readily shown by the following table.
It is exactly the same as that found in the mummy-case of the Archon of
Thebes, in ancient Egypt, as may be seen at the British Museum:
[Leo] [Sun] [Moon] [Cancer]
[Virgo] [Taurus] [Gemini]
[Libra] [Venus] [Taurus]
[Scorpio] [Mars] [Aries]
[Sagittarius] [Jupiter] [Pisces]
[Capricorn] [Saturn] [Aquarius]
It will be seen, at once, from this table that the Sun and Moon have
each only one house assigned them. All planets are most powerful in
that sign which constitutes one of their houses. Planets receive
detriment in the signs opposite to those of their houses. Thus, Saturn
would receive detriment in Cancer and Leo, which are the signs opposite
to his houses, Capricornus and Aquarius. There are some signs in which
the planets are found to be very powerful, though not to the same
extent as when in their own houses; these are called the "exaltations"
of the planets, and the signs opposite to these are those in which they
receive their "fall" when they are considered to be weak in power.
Saturn has his exaltation in Libra; his "fall" would therefore be in
Aries. He governs the airy triplicity, which is composed of the signs
Gemini, Libra and Aquarius by day, and in all the twelve signs he has
these degrees (zodiacal signs) allotted him by Ptolemy for his Terms:
In Aries 27, 28, 29, 30.
In Taurus 23, 24, 25, 26.
In Gemini 22, 23, 24, 25.
In Cancer 28, 29, 30.
In Leo 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
In Virgo 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.
In Libra 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
In Scorpio 28, 29, 30.
In Sagittarius 21, 22, 23, 24, 25.
In Capricornus 26, 27, 28, 29, 30.
In Aquarius 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
In Pisces 27, 28, 29, 30.
The meaning of which is that if Saturn should rise in any of these
degrees it is a sign that he is not void of essential dignities; or, if
he is posited in any of the following degrees (which he is allowed for
his Face or Decanate) he is still not devoid of dignities. This is to
be understood of all the planets.
Saturn is allotted for his Face these degrees:
In Taurus 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30.
In Leo 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
In Libra 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.
In Sagittarius 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30.
In Pisces 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
Jupiter has his exaltation in Cancer and his fall in Capricornus. He
rules the fiery triplicity, Aries, Leo and Sagittarius, by night.
He has these degrees allotted for his Terms:
In Aries 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
In Taurus 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22.
In Gemini 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.
In Cancer 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.
In Leo 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25.
In Virgo 14, 15, 16, 17, 18.
In Libra 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19.
In Scorpio 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.
In Sagittarius 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
In Capricornus 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19.
In Aquarius 21, 22, 23, 24, 25.
In Pisces 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.
He has for his Face, or Decanate:
Of Gemini 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
Of Leo 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.
Of Libra 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30.
Of Capricornus 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
Of Pisces 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.
Mars has Aries for his day-house and Scorpio for his night-house. He is
exalted in Capricornus, and has his fall in Cancer.
He governs the watery Triplicity, viz., Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces, and
he has these degrees in each sign for his Terms:
In Aries 22, 23, 24, 25, 26.
In Taurus 27, 28, 29, 30.
In Gemini 26, 27, 28, 29, 30.
In Cancer 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
In Leo 26, 27, 28, 29, 30.
In Virgo 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30.
In Scorpio 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
In Aquarius 26, 27, 28, 29, 30.
In Pisces 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26.
He has allotted to him for his Face these degrees:
In Aries 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
In Gemini 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.
In Leo 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30.
In Virgo 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
In Pisces 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30.
The Sun rules the fiery Triplicity--Aries, Leo and Sagittarius--by day.
He is exalted in the sign of Aries, and receives his fall in Libra.
He has no degrees admitted him for his Terms, but in the twelve signs
he has the following degrees for his Face:
In Aries 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.
In Gemini 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30.
In Virgo 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
In Scorpio 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.
In Capricornus 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30.
Venus governs the earthy Triplicity--Taurus, Virgo and Capricornus--by
day. She is exalted in Pisces, and has her fall in Virgo. She has the
following degrees for her Terms:
In Aries 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.
In Taurus 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
In Gemini 15, 16, 17, 18, 19. 20.
In Cancer 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27.
In Leo 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19.
In Virgo 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.
In Libra 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.
In Scorpio 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21.
In Sagittarius 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.
In Capricornus 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
In Aquarius 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.
In Pisces 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
The following degrees are allowed for her Face:
In Aries 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30.
In Cancer 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
In Virgo 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.
In Scorpio 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30.
In Pisces 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
Mercury governs the airy Triplicity, viz., Gemini, Libra and Aquarius,
by night. He has his exaltation in Virgo, and his fall in Pisces. He
has the following degrees for his Terms:
In Aries 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21.
In Taurus 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15.
In Gemini 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
In Cancer 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.
In Leo 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.
In Virgo 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
In Libra 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.
In Scorpio 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27.
In Sagittarius 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.
In Capricornus 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.
In Pisces 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.
These degrees are assigned him for his Face:
In Taurus 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
In Cancer 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.
In Virgo 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30.
In Sagittarius 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
In Aquarius 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.
The Moon governs the earthy Triplicity, viz., Taurus, Virgo and
Capricornus, by night.
She is exalted in Taurus, and has her fall in Scorpio. The Sun and the
Moon have no terms assigned them.
In the twelve signs she has these degrees assigned her for her Face:
In Taurus 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.
In Cancer 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30.
In Libra 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
In Sagittarius 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.
In Aquarius 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30.
A planet in his fall is very weak in his influence. The Houses count
first in dignity, then the Exaltation; afterwards the Triplicity, the
Terms, and the Faces.
The meaning of this is, if a planet is in any of the signs we call his
house or houses, he is essentially strong, and he is allowed five
dignities.
If he is in the sign in which he is said to be exalted, he is allowed
four dignities.
If he should be placed in any of the signs allowed him for his
Triplicity, he is allowed three dignities.
If in any of the degrees in the signs which are given as his Terms, he
has two dignities.
If in any of the degrees of the sign given to him as his Face, he is
allowed one essential dignity. Accidental dignities are when a planet
is swift in motion, angular or in sextile aspect with Jupiter or Venus.
There was a great difference between the Arabian, Indian, and Greek
methods in the disposing of the degrees of the sign to each planet
until the time of Ptolemy. Since then almost all astrologers followed
the method he left, which is that which has been given in this chapter.