CHAPTER VII

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AN EXPLANATION OF VARIOUS TERMS USED IN ASTROLOGY

_Ascension, Right._--The distance any body or point in the heavens is from the beginning of the ecliptic or first point of Aries. It is measured in degrees and minutes of a degree. It is thus abbreviated, A. R.

_Ascension, Oblique._--If a star be not on the equator, it will, when it rises, form an angle with that part of the equator which is rising at the same time, and this is called its

_Ascensional Difference._--This, added to its right ascension (A. R.) if it have _south_ declination, but subtracted from it if it have _north_ declination, gives its oblique ascension.

_Application_ signifies the approach of two planets and is of three kinds: first, when a planet, swift of motion, applies to one of slower progress: for example, we will suppose Mercury posited in 16 degrees of the sign Gemini, and Mars in 21 degrees of the same sign (_both being in direct motion_), Mercury being swifter would overtake and form a conjunction with Mars, which is termed a _direct application_. The second kind of application is formed by two retrograde planets: thus we will suppose Mercury in 16 degrees of Gemini and Saturn in 15 degrees of the same sign, both retrograde. Mercury being the swiftest planet, applies to Saturn, a more ponderous planet, by retrogradation, and this is called a _retrograde application_. The third kind of application is when one planet, being direct in motion, meets another which is retrograde: for instance, we will suppose Mercury retrograde in 16 degrees of Gemini, and Saturn _direct_ in motion in 12 degrees of the same sign; here Mercury, being the higher planet, _applies to a conjunction_ of Saturn by a retrograde motion. These two last are considered _evil_ applications. It should also be remembered that the superior planets, Saturn, Jupiter and Mars, never apply to the inferior planets, Venus, Mercury and the Moon, except by retrograde motion; but the inferior planets apply in both ways.

_Besieging_ signifies a planet situated between the two malevolent planets, Saturn and Mars: thus, if Saturn were in the 12th degree of Aries, Jupiter in the 14th, and Mars in the 16th, Jupiter would then be _besieged_ by the two malefic planets, Saturn and Mars. This is, of course, an evil position.

_Cazimi._--A planet is said to be in _cazimi_ when it is in the heart of the Sun: that is, only 17 minutes before or after the Sun. All astrologers agree that a planet is fortified by this position, but a planet when _combust_ is very evil in its influences.

_Direct motion_ signifies that a planet is moving on its natural course, according to the succession of the signs of the zodiac: thus a planet is _direct in motion_ when it moves from Aries to Taurus, or from Taurus to Gemini.

_Frustration_ means the approach of a swift planet to an aspect with one of slower motion; but before it can approach near enough to join that aspect the more weighty planet is joined to some other, by which the first aspect is frustrated.

_Hayz_ is when a masculine diurnal planet is situated above the horizon in the daytime, or when a feminine nocturnal planet is placed below the horizon in the night-time; this is fortunate in its influence.

_Node._--That part of the ecliptic where a planet passes out of north into south latitude is its south node; that where it goes into north latitude is its north node.

_Oriental and Occidental._--A planet, when oriental, rises before the Sun; when occidental sets after him and is seen above the horizon when the Sun is down; consequently, when a planet is oriental it is posited in the east, and when occidental, in the west.

From the fourth house eastward to the tenth is oriental and from the tenth westward to the fourth is occidental. But [Sun] or [Moon] are _oriental_ between the first and tenth and its opposite quarter and are _occidental_ between the tenth and seventh and its opposite quarter.

_Void of course_ is when a planet is separated from another planet, and does not, during its continuance in the same sign, form any aspect with any other planet. This most usually happens with the Moon. The effect of this is

[Illustration: _To face Chapter VIII ._]

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