Ancient Astrology in Theory and Practice: A Manual of Traditional Techniques, Volume I: Assessing Planetary Condition

DEVELOPED UNDER THE SHADOWS of the Egyptian temples, Hellenistic astrology is an ancient form of divination inherited from Mesopotamian wisdom traditions. Distilled in Græco-Roman antiquity, and refined in the fires of philosophy and astronomy, it forms the bedrock of traditional western astrology (while also bearing profound similarities to Jyotish or Vedic astrology). Drawing on a body of Greek texts that have remained largely untranslated for almost two-thousand years, Demetra George brings the contemporary practice of astrology back to its ancient roots. Scholar, translator, and practitioner, her work reveals the potent cosmological veins that bear the lifeblood of traditional astrology. Ancient Astrology in Theory and Practice is, in essence, a training manual for the study and practice of Hellenistic astrology. In two volumes, it provides the complete foundations and detailed dynamics of ancient chart-reading techniques. Each volume and each technique is richly illustrated with diagrams, example charts, and practical exercises. Volume 1: Assessing Planetary Condition In ancient cosmology, the planetary divinities symbolised the hierarchy of forces that shape our lives in the sublunary world. Not all planets are created equal in a given nativity, however, and so the first step of the practicing astrologer is to assess the condition of each planet in a chart in order to determine its effectiveness (or lack thereof) in the native’s life. To this end, this volume provides a series of rigorous methods for evaluating the condition of each planet in a birth chart through the lenses of classification (sect, gender, benefic/malefic), signs and rulerships (residences, reception, exaltation, trigons, bounds), the solar phase cycle (speed, direction, visibility, phase, phasis), lunar considerations (course, phases, bonding, nodes, bending, eclipses, prenatal lunation), and aspects (configurations, witnessing, testimony, bonification, maltreatment, adherence, overcoming, rays). Finally, it brings all of these factors together in a powerful synthesis that unlocks the layers of a chart with unrivaled precision. Front Contents List of Figures List of Tables Symbols and Abbreviations used in this book Dedication Acknowledgements Foreword, by Chris Brennan Preface. My Long and Winding Road to Hellenistic Astrology Introduction and overwiev Introduction. A Brief Historical Overview Babylonian Astrology Hellenistic Astrology Persian Astrology Arabic Astrology Medieval/Byzantine Astrology Renaissance Astrology Seventeenth-Century England Modern Astrology Further Reading 1. The hierarchy of the cosmos Hierarchy of Planetary Condition 2. The first five steps in learning Traditional Astrology Step One: Suspend Use of the Twelve-Letter Alphabet Step Two: Use Only the Seven Visible Planets Step Three: Use Traditional Rulerships Step Four: Use Whole Sign Houses Step Five: Planetary Condition A Remark on Fate and Free Will Part One : Planets and Sect 3. The planets : Their Names, Significations, and Classifications The Names of the Planets The Traditional Significations of the Planets The Two Lights: The Sun and the Moon The Five Planets 4. Classification : Benefic and Malefic Elemental Qualities of the Planets Benefic and Malefic Nature of the Planets Exercise 1: Characteristics of the Planets 5. Gender of the planets Planets and Gender Example Charts Example Chart One: Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Example Chart Two: Pablo Picasso Exercise 2: Gender Modifications of the Planets 6. Sect of the planets Diurnal and Nocturnal Sect The Sun and Moon as Sect Leaders Sect Mates Exercise 3: Sect Determinations Interpretation Using Sect Considerations Exercise 4: Identifying Benefics and Malefics by Sect 7. Planetary Joys and Sect rejoicing Rejoicing by Hemisphere Exercise 5: Sect Rejoicing by Hemisphere Rejoicing by Zodiacal Sign Exercise 6: Rejoicing by Zodiacal Sign Sect Rejoicing by Solar Phase Exercise 7: Rejoicing by Solar Phase Summary of Main Points Concerning Sect and Sect Rejoicing Judging the Nativity Exercise 8: Final Judgment for Sect and Sect Rejoicing 8. Summary and Source Readings Primary Source Readings for Part One: Planets and Sect Part Two : Signs and Rulerships 9. Zodiacal Signs In the Heavens The Zodiacal Constellations and Zodiacal Signs Sidereal and Tropical Zodiacs and Precession Which Zodiac to Use? 10. Functions and Classifications of the Zodical Signs Zodiacal Signs as Images Characteristics of the Twelve Zodiacal Signs Exercise 9: Characteristics of the Zodiacal Signs 11. Zodiacal Signs as Configurations The Hexagon: Polarity and Gender Exercise 10: Gender of the Planets Zodiacal Sign The Square: Quadruplicity and Modality Exercise 11: Quadruplicity (Modality) of the Planet s Zodiacal Sign The Triangle: Triplicities, Elements, and Winds Exercise 12: Gender, Quadruplicity, and Element of a Planets Zodiacal Sign Other Classifications of the Signs 12. Signs and Residences of the Planets Domicile Rulerships Thema Mundi: The Creation Chart of the World 13. Planetary Reception Planetary Guest and Host Mutual Reception Summary of Important Points Exercise 13: The Planet and its Domicile Lord 14. The Exaltation Lords Exercise 14: The Exaltation Lord 15. Triplicity Rulerships Other Uses of the Triplicity Lords Rationale for Triplicity Lords and the Joys of the Houses Exercise 15: The Triplicity Lord 16. Bound Rulerships Other Uses of the Bound Lords Summary Exercise 16: The Bound Lord 17. Decans Interpreting the Decans 18. The Judgement Exercise 17: Final Judgment of the Planets Condition Based upon its Zodiacal Sign 19. Summary and Source Readings Primary Source Readings for Part Two: Signs and Rulerships Part Three : The Solar Phase Cycle 20. Special Solar Considerations : An Overview Diurnal and Zodiacal Motion 21. The Synodic Solar Phase Cycle The Synodic Cycles of the Superior Planets: Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn The Synodic Cycles of the Inferior Planets: Mercury and Venus 22. Planetary Speed, Direction, and Visibility Planetary Speed and Direction Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn Mercury and Venus Determining Speed and Daily Motion Interpreting Speed and Direction Interpreting Retrograde Motion Fast and Direct versus Slow and Retrograde Exercise 18: Speed, Direction, Station 23. Visibility at the Horizon Interpretation of Visibility Summary Exercise 19: Solar Phase Conditions 24. Planetary Phases Interpreting the Phases Determining Phasis Interpreting Phasis Exercise 20: Phase and Phasis 25. Final Overview of the Solar Phase Cycle Superior Planets: Mars, Jupiter, Saturn Inferior Planets: Mercury and Venus Exercise 21: Final Evaluations for Solar Phase Conditions 26. The Synodic Cycle and the Minor Years of the Planets 27. Summary and Source Readings Primary Source Readings for Part Three: The Solar Phase Cycle Part Four : The Lunar Phase Cycle 28. Special Lunar Considerations Lunar Applications and Separations Moon Void in Course Interpreting Lunar Applications and the Void in Course Moon Exercise 22: Active or Void Moon 29. The Lunar Phases Determining the Lunar Phase Lunar Rejoicing Exercise 23: Lunar Phase and Rejoicing by Sect 30. Bonding and the Moon under the Bonds Loosening the Bond Interpreting the Moon under the Bond Exercise 24: Moon under the Bond 31. Phases and Illnesses of the Moon 32. Nodes, Bendings, Eclipses Bendings of the Moon Eclipses Exercise 25: the Moons Nodes and Eclipses 33. The Lot of Fortune : The Special Lot of the Moon Lot of Fortune and Illness Exercise 26: The Lot of Fortune 34. Zodiacal Releasing from the Lot of Fortune The Days of the Moon 35. The Prenatal Lunation Exercise 27: The Prenatal Lunation 36. Final Judgement of the Influence of Lunar Concepts Exercise 28: Final Judgment on Lunar Concepts 37. Summary and Source Readings Primary Source Readings for Part Four: The Lunar Phase Cycle Part Five : Aspects 38. Aspects : The Cosmic Dance of the Planets Historical Overview of Aspect Doctrines The Seven Visual Rays 39. Whole Sign Aspects : Witness and Testimony The Configurations The Nature of the Aspect Configurations Rationales for the Nature of the Aspect Configurations The Thema Mundi Another View Perfection 40. Interpretation of Whole Sign Configurations Guidelines for Interpreting Witnessing and Whole Sign Testimony Configurations Exercise 29: Whole Sign Testimony by Benefics and Malefics 41. Aspect Relations The Cycle of Aspect Relations: An Overview 42. Bonification and Maltreatment Maltreatment and its Modern Application Bonification 43. Coming Together. Adherence, Connection, Flowing Apart Coming Together Bodily: Co-presence, Assembly, Adherence, and Neighboring Maltreatment and Bonification by Adherence Maltreatment and Bonification by Aspect Rays Flowing Forth and Separating (aporroia): Emanation, Effluence Exercise 30: Maltreatment or Bonification by Connection or Adherence 44. Superior Aspects. Left- and Right-sided Figurations Right and Left Figures The Directions of the Rays Exercise 31: Right-sided Superior and Left-sided Inferior Aspects 45. Overcoming and hurling Rays Overcoming Hurling Rays 46. Maltreatment by Overcoming Maltreatment and Bonification by Overcoming Exercise 32: Maltreatment and Bonification by Overcoming 47. Maltreatment by striking with a ray Exercise 33: Maltreatment and Bonification by Striking with a Ray 48. The Opposition Maltreatment by Opposition Exercise 34: Maltreatment by Opposition from a Malefic 49. Enclosure, Containment, and Intervention Exercise 35: Maltreatment and Bonification by Enclosure or Containment 50. Maltreatment by Domicile Lords and House Locations Exercise 36: Maltreatment and Bonification by Domicile Lord and House Location 51. Final Judgement of a planet Based on Aspect Conditions Chart One: Onassis Chart Two: Picasso Exercise 37: Final Judgment of Planetary Condition based upon Testimony and Aspect Relationships 52. Doruphoria : Spear-bearing Bodyguards Unraveling the Source Texts Three Types of Bodyguards Exercise 38: Spear-bearing Bodyguards 53. Sign-Based Sympathies and Planetary Connections Signs Sharing the Same Ascensional Times Signs Sharing the Same Domicile Lord Planets in Signs that See and Perceive One Another Signs that Command and Obey One Another Summary of Signs Sharing Sympathetic Relations Exercise 39: Sign-based Planetary Sympathies 54. Summary and Source Readings Main Points of the Aspect Doctrine Conclusion Primary Source Readings for Part Five: Aspects Part Six : The Art of Judgement 55. The Celestial Condition of the Planetary Gods 56. Summary for final Synthesis Sect Zodiacal Sign Rulerships Solar Phase Lunar Applications Aspect Testimony, Maltreatment, and Bonification Mitigation, Counteraction, and Transmutation 57. Chart One : Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Sun in Leo Jupiter in Gemini Saturn in Sagittarius Mercury in Leo Moon in Aries Venus in Gemini Mars in Virgo Master Tables: Onassis 58. Chart Two : Pablo Picasso Sun in Scorpio Jupiter in Taurus Saturn in Taurus Mercury in Scorpio Moon in Sagittarius Venus in Libra Mars in Cancer Master Tables: Picasso 59. Final Evaluation of Planetary Condition Master Tables of Planetary Condition Ranking and Judgment 60. Afterword About the Author "Developed under the shadows of the Egyptian temples, Hellenistic astrology is an ancient form of divination inherited from Mesopotamian wisdom traditions. Distilled in Greco-Roman antiquity, and refined in the fires of philosophy and astronomy, it forms the bedrock of traditional western astrology. Drawing on a body of Greek texts that have remained largely untranslated for almost two-thousand years, Demetra George brings the contemporary practice of astrology back to its ancient roots. ... Ancient astology in theory and practice is, in essence, a training manual for the study and practice of Hellenistic astrology. ... Volume One: Assessing Planetary Condition provides a series of rigorous methods for evaluating each planet in a birth chart..."-- Back cover