CHAPTER XI

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ON FORMING A GENERAL JUDGMENT ON A NATIVITY

Respecting the distribution of the doctrine of nativities, we are to consider first the _parents_, then the duration of life; the shape and figure of the body; after these the quality of the mind; then as to fortune in regard to honours as well as wealth. In succession to these the character of the employment; the questions relative to marriage, children, and friendships; then that concerning travel; and lastly, that concerning the _kind_ of death which awaits the native from the configuration of the heavens at his birth.

_The Parents._--In conformity with nature, says Ptolemy, the Sun and Saturn are allotted to the person of the father, and the Moon and Venus to that of the mother; and the mode in which these luminaries and planets may be found posited, with reference to each other as well as to other planets and stars, will intimate the situation of affairs affecting the parents.

If Mars should be in bad aspect to the Sun, the father will receive some injury to the face or die suddenly; but a long life is presaged if Jupiter or Venus be in any mode whatever configurated with either the Sun or Saturn.

If Mars be succedent to the Moon or Venus, or in quartile or opposition to them, or if Saturn be similarly aspected to the Moon only, and both of them be void of course or retrograde, or cadent, adverse accidents and disease will attend the mother; should they, on the other hand, be swift in motion and placed in angles, they portend that her life will be short or grievously afflicted.

Should the Sun be configurated, in any mode whatever, with the Moon or Venus, or should Venus herself be harmoniously configurated with the Moon, either by the sextile, the trine, or the conjunction, the mother will live long.

Concerning the duration of the native's own life, the Hylegliacal[9] places are, according to Ptolemy, the sign on the angle of the ascendant from the fifth degree above the horizon to the twenty-fifth degree below it; the thirty degrees in dexter sextile thereto constituting the eleventh house; also the thirty degrees in dexter quartile forming the Mid-heaven above the earth; those in dexter trine making the ninth house; and, lastly, those in opposition belonging to the angle of the west.

[9] Hyleg is the word used for that body or point which is the giver of life.

Among these places, the degrees which constitute the Mid-heaven are entitled to preference, as being of a more potent influence; the degrees in the Ascendant are next in virtue; then the degrees in the eleventh house, succedent to the Mid-heaven; then those in the angle of the west; and, lastly, those in the ninth house, which precedes the Mid-heaven.

He also holds that "the Sun, the Moon, and the Ascendant to be considered as the four principally liable to be elected to the office of prorogator"--or HYLEG.

These views are not adopted by the modern astrologers, but as this is a book _setting forth the ancient methods_ it is needless to discuss the various objections made by them to this, as to some other of the theories laid down by Ptolemy.

Among the four prorogators already given, the Sun by day is to be preferred, provided he is placed in one of the Hylegliacal places, and if not, the Moon; but if the Moon also should not be so posited that planet is to be elected as Hyleg which may have most claims to dominion in reference to the Sun, the Moon and the Ascendant, which means that the planet should have dominion, in any one of the places where these are situated, by at least three dignities. If, however, no planet should be so circumstanced the Ascendant is then to be taken as Hyleg.

By night the Moon is to be elected as prorogator, provided, in like manner, she should be in some prorogatory place; and if she be not, the Sun; if he also be not in any prorogatory place, then that planet which may have most right of dominion in reference to the Moon, and the antecedent full Moon, and the Part of Fortune. But if there be no planet claiming dominion in the mode prescribed the Ascendant must be taken; in case a new Moon had last preceded the birth; but if a full Moon, the Part of Fortune.

If the two luminaries and also some ruling planet of appropriate condition should be each posited in a prorogatory place, then, provided one luminary may be found to occupy some place more important and influential than the others, that luminary must be chosen; but should the ruling planet occupy the stronger place, and have prerogatives of dominion suitable to the conditions of both luminaries, the planet must then be preferred to either of them.

When the Hyleg has been determined by the foregoing rules, then note whether it is supported by benevolent planets in good aspects towards it and free from affliction--that is, from evil aspects from evil planets--if so, the life is likely to continue and the constitution to be strong; but if the Hyleg, whether it be the Sun, the Moon, or the Ascendant, be afflicted with evil planets and there be no assistance from good planets, the child will die in infancy: if there be some assistance from good planets, but yet the evil aspects exceed the good, the constitution will be weak and the first train of evil directions will destroy the life.

Concerning the disposition and quality of the mind, we must look principally to the planets in the Ascendant, the influences of which over mind and body have already been given in the chapter on the seven planets. We must, however, always bear in mind that Mercury has chief dominion over the mental faculties, whilst the sentient passions are governed by the Moon and the planet in the ascendant. The Moon well-aspected, that is, in trine, sextile, or conjunction to Mercury at birth, will give to the native excellent abilities, ingenuity, versatility and wit. Even the evil aspects of the square and opposition are better than no aspects at all, though these sometimes produce a cynical and obstinate nature.

The abilities of those born when Mercury is in "cazimi" (that is, within seventeen minutes of the Sun's centre) are of the highest order.

Mercury in conjunction with Saturn at birth gives clear judgment and a love of occult subjects.

Venus in good aspect with Mercury gives love of music and an artistic nature.

If Mercury and the Moon throw no aspect to each other and are afflicted by Mars and Saturn, the native will be liable to become insane.[10]

[10] This was the case at the birth of George the Third of England; at that of the Emperor Paul of Russia; Maria, Queen of Portugal; Charles the Second, King of Spain; and Murad the Fifth, Sultan of Turkey; and all these sovereigns, as is well known, became insane.

The fortune of wealth is determined by the Sun and the Moon; if they are in good position, that is, angular and well-aspected by the two luminaries, the native will be rich. If the Sun and the Moon are well placed, and if there be benefic stars in the Mid-heaven, the native will rank high in the world. If the contrary, the native never rises above mediocrity; and if Saturn afflicts the Mid-heaven, he meets disgrace. If Mars is strong and in good aspect to the Sun and Moon, he will gain military glory. Jupiter on the Mid-heaven and the Sun and Moon in trine to each other, the Moon, having the trine of Jupiter, is one of the best positions for rising in the world. Jupiter in the tenth house will cause the native to do fairly well in the world; but Saturn in that house, if not extremely well-aspected, will bring him to shame and beggary.

Concerning the nature of employment, the dominion of the employment is claimed by the Sun and by the planet on the Mid-heaven. If Mercury should rule alone he produces writers, teachers of science, merchants and bankers; also, if well-aspected to Saturn and the Moon, astrologers and students of all occult matters; if Jupiter is in conjunction, then the native will be an orator, actor, or painter and his pursuits will lead him into the society of persons of rank.

Venus ruling makes wine-merchants, dealers in colours, dyes, perfumes, drugs, garments or apparel, &c.; if connected with Saturn, she makes persons have to do with amusement, players, jugglers, &c.; if with Jupiter, persons attending exhibitions and priests who have much personal decoration such as Catholic priests, bishops, &c. and they will gain by women. Mars ruling alone makes martial men and, if in Scorpio, Cancer, or Pisces, naval men.[11] The Sun joined with him, being near the Mid-heaven, or in aspect, makes persons dealing with fire or metals, the latter especially if in Taurus or Leo. If Mars be separated from the Sun, he makes shipwrights, smiths, agriculturists, stonemasons and carpenters.

[11] At Admiral Nelson's birth Mars was rising in the sign Scorpio.

If Saturn bear testimony in addition to Mars, persons become mariners, workers in mines, wells, vaults, &c., underground, keepers of cattle, cooks, butchers. If Jupiter join with Mars, they will be soldiers, innkeepers, tax-gatherers, mechanics. If Mercury and Venus become joint arbiters of employment, they produce musicians, dancers, poets, weavers and painters, &c. Jupiter in connection with them makes magistrates and senators and also teachers of youth. Mercury with Mars makes surgeons, statuaries, boxers. If Mercury be more powerful, they will be scientific; and if Mars be stronger, they will be more violent and cruel in their practices.[12] If Saturn join these two, they will be thieves (especially if the Moon be in ill aspect to Mercury); if [Moon] be in ill aspect to [Mars], they will be robbers or assassins. If Jupiter join [Mercury] and [Mars], they engage in honourable warfare and are industrious. If Venus and Mars rule together, persons will be dyers, workers in tin, lead, gold, silver and medical drugs.

[12] Probably vivisectionists.

The Moon regulating the employment and, separating from the Sun and forming an aspect with Mercury, inclines to the pursuit of astrology, spiritualism and magic.

_Concerning Marriage_, Ptolemy has laid down some very clear rules. He advises persons about to marry to have a care that the luminaries--that is, the Sun and Moon in their respective nativities--are in concord. It is of happy augury if the Moon in the bridegroom's nativity is in good aspect--that is, in trine or sextile to the Sun in the bride's nativity. The Square or Opposition aspects formed between the luminaries in the two nativities indicate discord and separation, and very evil effects follow if the malefic planets, Saturn and Mars, have a bad aspect to the Sun and Moon in both nativities. If Venus be with them the separation will be caused by adultery. Good planets, such as Jupiter and Venus, placed between the luminaries in both nativities, show much happiness.

In men's nativities the Moon must be chiefly considered in regard to marriage. Should she be in her first or third quarter at birth, the man will marry under thirty, or if older his wife will be a very young woman.

If the Moon be configurated with Saturn, she entirely denies marriage. If she should be in a sign of single form, such as Libra or Taurus, the native will marry only once, but if she should be placed in a double-bodied sign, such as Pisces or Sagittarius, the man will marry more than once.

If the Moon make application to the benefics, the wives will be good and true; but if she make application to evil planets, the wives will prove either bad or of a quarrelsome disposition. For example: If Saturn receives the Moon's application the wife will prove troublesome and morose, yet constant and industrious; if Jupiter receive it, the wife will be decorous, good and economical; if Mars, bold and refractory; if Venus, cheerful, handsome and agreeable; if Mercury, sensible, prudent and clever.

Women in whose nativities Venus is configurated with Jupiter or Mercury are virtuous and well-conducted; but, when Venus is with Mars and no other planet is there, women born under such aspects are liable to become licentious. Mars in square to Venus shows adultery.

For women the Sun is to be chiefly regarded in estimating their chances of marriage and happiness. If the Sun be oriental (_i.e._, between the Ascendant and Mid-heaven, or between the Descendant and Nadir) the native will marry in her youth; or when old, to a young man. If the Sun be occidental, the native will marry late in life; or when young, to an old man. If the Sun be in a sign of single form, she will marry but once; if in a double-bodied sign, or configurated with several oriental planets (in one sign) she will marry more than once. If Saturn be configurated with the Sun, the husband will be steadfast, prosperous and industrious.

Jupiter configurated with the Sun gives a good, benevolent and honourable husband. "Mars," says Ptolemy, "gives a severe husband, void of affection and intractable." Venus gives an amiable husband of handsome appearance. Mercury gives one who is provident and expert in business and of a lively and cheerful temperament.

If Mars be separated from Venus and Saturn, yet have the assistance of Jupiter, men will lead virtuous lives. If Mars be configurated with Venus _only_ men are of a licentious temperament.

Saturn, when in the 7th house of a nativity, brings either unhappiness in marriage or early death of one or other of the married people. The Sun badly aspected by Saturn in the nativity of a woman and the Moon afflicted by the same planet in the nativity of a man, will bring trouble in love and marriage.

_Description of the wife or husband._--The planet with the sign in which it is placed, which is posited near the cusp of the 7th house, must be taken to describe the person. If no planet should happen to be so placed, then we must go by the sign alone. Benefic planets in the 8th house show that the wife or husband will be rich; unfortunate planets show the reverse.

_Children._--As regards the probability of having children, the 10th and 11th houses must be consulted and, should there be no planets in them, then the opposite, the 4th and 5th houses, must be considered. The Moon, Jupiter and Venus are said to be givers of children; the Sun, Mars and Saturn deny children, or give very few and those either die early, or are a source of trouble to their parents. Mercury either gives or denies according to the planets with which he may happen to be posited.

If the Sun and malefics be in barren signs or in masculine signs and in the before-named houses, there will be no children; but if they be in fruitful or feminine, or common signs, there may be children, but they will be delicate and short-lived.

If Jupiter, the Moon and Venus, are well-dignified in the 10th and 11th houses, the children born will attain rank and distinction in the world.

_Friends and Enemies._--Persons born under the same sign of the zodiac are likely to be sympathetic; so also if the planet in the ascendant of one person's nativity is one which is friendly to that which rises in the ascendant in the other's. Thus, a person whose ruling planet is Venus would be attracted by one in whose ascendant Mars is dominant and a person whose ruling planet is the Moon rarely contracts a warm friendship with one who has Mars in the ascendant of his nativity and _vice versâ_. The friendships and enmities of the planets have already been given in the chapter on the influences of the seven planets.

Mars in bad aspect to the Sun or Moon in the 7th house causes quarrels in married life.

_Travelling._--The position of the Moon and Mars are here to be considered. If they should be in a cadent position the native will travel a great deal. The Moon in a watery sign causes much travelling by water. Ptolemy tells us that Mars in square or opposition to the Sun or Moon will cause much travelling in foreign countries. If the benefics are conjoined with the Moon, the journeys will be safe and pleasant; if with the malefics they will produce mischances and ill-health in travelling. Mercury ascending at birth, in a double-bodied or moveable sign, shows a great disposition to travel. If a malefic affecting the Moon should be in the watery signs of Cancer, Scorpio, or Pisces, shipwreck and even death by drowning may ensue during travelling.

_Of the Manner of Death._--If the Hyleg and Ascendant should be well-aspected and if either Jupiter, Venus, Mercury or the Moon well-dignified should appear in the eighth house the native will die a natural death. If either the Sun or Moon should be badly aspected by Mars or Saturn in the eighth house it is significant of a violent or remarkable death. Saturn causes lingering deaths and Mars those which are sudden.

_Saturn_ indicates death by chronic diseases, rheumatism, ague and paralysis.

_Jupiter_ (when not well-aspected at birth) may become a promittor, or cause of death, by apoplexy, inflammation of the lungs, spasms, or gout.

_Mars_ indicates death by acute or eruptive fevers, small-pox, all kinds of hæmorrhage, burns, suicides and wounds from iron, over which metal he presides.

_Venus_ produces death by cancer, scurvy, dysentery, or wasting away and putrid diseases. If violence attends she causes death by poisoning.

_Mercury_ kills by madness, epilepsy, coughs and obstructions. If violence concur he brings death by accident in sport or by robbers.

_The Moon._--When the Ascendant or [Sun] be Hyleg, the Moon will assist in causing death by cold phlegmatic diseases and if she be placed in [Cancer], [Scorpio], or [Pisces], by drowning.

_The Sun_ will assist to cause death by his ill aspects to the Ascendant or [Moon] if they be Hyleg and then he acts like Mars, and if in _Leo_, will produce death by fire, if other testimonies agree.

The benefics cannot cause death of _themselves_; and even their [Opposition] aspects will frequently save life when they fall amidst a train of evil directions. But if the malefic influence is too powerful for them to avert, then they cause death in the various manners above described.

[Illustration: _A Dogge Missing--where?_

_FACSIMILE OF A MAP OF A HORARY QUESTION FROM LILLY'S ASTROLOGY._

_To face Chapter XII ._]

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