THE PLACES AND DEGREES OF EVERY PLANET
The signs have been subdivided by some persons into parts still more
minute, which have been named places and degrees of dominion. Thus the
twelfth part of a sign, or two degrees and a half, has been called
a place, and the dominion of it given to the signs next succeeding.
Other persons again, pursuing various modes of arrangement, attribute
to each planet certain degrees, as being aboriginally connected with
it, in a manner somewhat similar to the Chaldaic arrangement of the
terms. But all these imaginary attributes cannot be herein detailed,
for they receive no confirmation from nature, are not capable of being
rationally demonstrated, and are, in fact, merely the offspring of
scientific vanity.
The following observation, however, deserves attention, and must not be
omitted.
The beginnings of the signs, and likewise those of the terms, are to
be taken from the equinoctial and tropical points. This rule is not
only clearly stated by writers on the subject, but is also especially
evident by the demonstration constantly afforded, that their natures,
influences and familiarities have no other origin than from the tropics
and equinoxes, as has been already plainly shown.[59] And, if other
beginnings were allowed, it would either be necessary to exclude the
natures of the signs from the theory of prognostication, or impossible
to avoid error in then retaining and making use of them; as the
regularity of their spaces and distances, upon which their influence
depends, would then be invaded and broken in upon.
[59] _Vide_ Chapters xii and xiv of this Book.