An Introduction
to the Astrology of William Lilly
Copyright © 2003 Sue
Ward All rights reserved
Introduction
This paper addresses
various points relating to the astrological system presented by
William Lilly during the mid- to late seventeenth century. Its
content is based largely on the Considerations Before Judgement,
and some points are treated broadly, while others are dealt with
in more detail. All have exercised the minds of the astrologers
of our present age.
William Lilly was
the last truly great astrologer of
the West; his influence within political circles during the English
Civil War was remarkable and where his influence ended, that of
his friends began. What makes this more notable is that he came
from a poor farming family in Leicestershire and, although landowners,
Lilly’s father could not afford to send him to university1.
It did not prevent him from becoming the confidante of, and adviser to, some of the most
powerful men of the time.
Lilly’s work ranks
alongside, and derives from, amongst others, Ptolemy, Dariot,
Cardan and Bonatti:
"It
remaines, that I give every Author his due, and deale plainly,
unto which of them I am engaged for such matter as they have
assisted me with in the Introductory part: verily the Method
is my owne, it’s no translation; yet have I conferred my notes
with Dariot, Bonatus,
Ptolomey, Haly, Etzler, Dietericus, Naibod, Hasfurtus, Zael,
Tanstetor, Agrippa, Ferriers, Duret, Maginus, Origanus, Argol."2
Regarding his sources
for the second book on horary he adds: "Dariot, Leupoldus,
Pontanus, Avenezra". He also mentions examining the work
of "Ancient and Reverend Professors in the Art",
as well as Alkindi. His nominated authorities are increased for
the third volume (nativities) by "Leovitius, … Origanus,
Junctine, Pezelius, Garceus, Schonerus, Albubater, Montulmo, Judeus,
Lindholt"3
For the third book
Lilly says that he drew heavily upon "Leovitius"
for method and content, but he also referred to "Origanus,
Junctine, Peælius, Naibod, Cardan, Garceus, Schonerus, Albubater,
Montulmo, Judeus, Ptolomey, Lindholt:"4
In Christian Astrology Lilly presents, what he calls, his own method, and this
should be interpreted as his method of ordering and classifying
the material. He does not present us with a new astrological system,
or a new "astrology". In his reference to "Leovitius"
above, he says: "part of the Method and much of the matter
I had from Leovitius, who was the first that methodized
the Art of Nativities, before his time extremely defective
in that point;".5 It is clear from his further
comments in that Letter, that
he has produced a new method of teaching the art; he has "framed
this De Novo". He is particular with respect to the Introduction (the first book) where he says that he "refused the Methods
of all former Authors" and yet the content of that book
holds no new material. When added to the fact that he had written
the first astrological book to be published in English, it is
obvious that his intentions are to make the art accessible and
"very convenient for Learners, it being my whole intention
to advance this Art, and make even a slender wit capable hereof."6
The quality of his
application of the theory has been developed from a high level
of astrological scholarship and research. He has then enhanced
this with the practical experience gained from his very large
practice, providing us with more evidence of the importance of
his work.
Lilly’s practice
is a development of ancient doctrines and before he could achieve
this he had to know and understand the work of his predecessors.
He disagrees with certain astrological techniques, but he never
attempts to change astrological symbolism, or break away from
its lineage as has been done in more recent times.
"Perhaps
some will accuse me for dissenting from Ptolomey;
I confesse I have done so, and that I am not the first, or
shall I that have done so, be the last; for I am more led
by reason and experience, then by the single authority of
any one man, &c. I have inserted many judgments of my
owne, I could have added many more: but who am I? being all
errour, that should contradict the sayings of so many wise
men, whose learning and paines I so much esteem and reverence."7
This should not lead
to conclusions of any revisionist tendency; in Lilly’s own view he was trying to rid astrology of bad practice and to reintroduce
a working system of astrology: "I am what I am, and Astrology
is in despight of her enemies restored, and must call him [Whitelock] her Restaurator " and "since which time [the publication of his almanac 1644], the Judicious of the
whole Kingdome had it [astrology] in better esteem;"
For him "to rectifie them according unto Art,"
is not the same thing as revising; restoration is the key word.
The result is that
he then passed on that legacy to others and indeed his decision
to ensure that his works were written in English should not be
underestimated. For by that act alone he was responsible for keeping
an important body of esoteric and practical knowledge in the English-speaking
world. Had he not, it is unlikely
that so many people would be studying astrology today, for the
alternative was to publish in Latin, the language of those who
had the benefit of an expensive education.
He systematised and
clarified the texts at his disposal, and often exhorted his readers
to use "art and discretion" – the rules and common sense
– that is, to apply reason and intellect; for example:
"This
Question fals not under the notion of vulgar rules, or must
the Astrologian expect particular Rules to governe his fancy
in every Question; it was well said, A te & a scientia for I doe daily resolve such Questions as come not into the
vulgar Rules of Guido or Haly; and yet I was never to seek
a sufficient reason in Art, whereby to give a good and satisfactory
answer to the Proponent, etc ."8
"...and
if my Judgments doe vary from the common Rules of the Ancients,
let the Candid Reader excuse me, sith he may still follow
their Principles if he please; and he must know, that from
my Conversation in their Writings, I have attained the Method
I follow."9
Clearly he is presenting
a method that has developed from a thorough scrutiny of the established
authorities. In Christian Astrology, he publishes a method
which has evolved from study and experience.
Horary Astrology
Horary astrology
answers specific questions using a
chart erected solely for that purpose. For it to be at its most
effective, the question itself needs to be carefully scrutinised,
the chart thoroughly examined and the prediction clearly put.
There is no room for fakery or creativity
and, simply speaking, the astrologer is either right or wrong.
Thus, horary astrology is a good test bed for a variety of techniques.
Astrology is a complex
and highly organised system; as such it can be difficult to isolate
a single configuration and by so doing prove
a point. In practice this is wholly
undesirable. What does happen is that in each chart we focus on
one particular argument that is the crux of the judgement.
If we focus incorrectly, but are convinced of its rectitude, then,
in effect, we have begun to dismantle the original system.
Horary became a pariah
because, among other things, its foundation had been eroded and
its techniques and correspondences supplanted – it would not work.
This became an argument that it could not work, followed
soon after by the conclusion that prediction as a whole could
not work, and even if it could, it was wrong for astrologers to
attempt it. The focus was incorrect and astrology was dismantled.10
Even today horary
is often looked upon as a separate
astrology with separate rules. In this way, some astrologers will
use Lilly’s astrological techniques for horary work, while using
others for natal work. The fact is, that horary is one application
of astrology, but it belongs to the whole of astrology. When we
move from one astrological application to another all we need
change is the context and our perspective, not the method or system.
The astrological system should have the flexibility to be applied
to all perspectives whether they be horary,
natal, mundane or election.
The Horary Question
Astrological analysis
is based on a single moment and deciding which moment to accept
for horary judgement can be difficult. However, no matter what
the circumstances, the horary moment (when the chart is
erected and from which the answer to the question is found) is
the moment at which the astrologer is clear about the querent’s
intention.11
Bonatti12 is a good source for clear explanation about the horary moment:
The First [Consideration] is to observe what it is that moves a person
to propose or ask a question of an Astrologer; where we must
take notice of three motions: the First, of the mind, when
a man is stirred up in his thoughts and hath an intent to
enquire; a Second, of the superior and celestial bodies; so
that they at that time imprint on the thing inquired after,
what shall become of it; the Third, of the free will which
disposes him to the very act of enquiring; for although the
mind be moved to inquire, ‘tis not enough, unless the superior
bodies sympathize therewith; nor is such motion of the stars
enough, unless by the election of his will the person does
actually enquire.
This instruction
helps to explain the nature of horary astrology: there should
be an "intent to enquire", and the person
actually does make that enquiry. The querent must have
perfect accord between the thought and the deed; intention and
action.
The questioner should
intend that their question is to be investigated as a horary question,
and he or she should approach the astrologer and pose the problem
as a horary matter. The astrologer requires permission from the
questioner to look into the matter astrologically and the querent
must be sure in his mind and by his action that he grants this. Moreover, by the act of articulating the question to the
astrologer, the querent is making plain his or her prayer to the
Divine. We should not wonder at this, since astrology remains
a sacred art, even though it might have become separated from
its philosophical mother – the Hermetica. Evidence of this view
abounds in ancient astrological literature and we need only take
William Lilly’s address "To the Student in Astrology"
as an example of his drawing from older authorities on this theme.13
"How
many pre-eminences, priviledges, advantages hath God bestowed
on thee? thou rangest above the heavens by contemplation,
conceivest the motion and magnitude of the stars; thou talkest
with Angels, yea with God himself;"14
Bonatti himself carries
this forward in his Second Consideration where he exhorts the
questioner "with a devout spirit, pray unto the Lord,
from whom proceeds the success of every lawful enterprise, that
he would grant him the knowledge of those things the truth of
which would be resolved;" The querent should have a serious
intent and the question should not be on some light or trivial
matter. Except where events demand immediate action, "the
matter should have disturbed his [the querent’s] mind for
the space of a day or night or longer;".
Clearly, the foundation
and construction of the question is of the greatest importance.
Lilly emphasises it:
"Those
that take this sober course, shall find the truth in what
they enquire after; but whosoever do otherwise, deceive both
themselves and the artist; for a foolish Querent may cause
a wise Respondent to err, which brings a scandal upon the
Art amongst inconsiderate people, whereas the Astrologer is
not blameable, but the ignorant, silly Querent."15
Once the astrologer
is convinced of the sincerity and honesty of the question and
its subject matter, it must be confirmed by the heavens. Bonatti
says that the heavenly bodies must "imprint"
on the matter the future course of events and that the planets
should "sympathize" with the enquiry. In this
he might be alluding to what are usually termed the Considerations Before Judgement; that list
of astrological conditions which should be fulfilled before proceeding
to judge the chart. It is also possible that Bonatti demands that
the descriptions offered by the chart, of the matter and the parties
involved, should correspond. Such correspondences have great practical
import, since the future cannot be described if the past and present
have not been. In the following, the notion of description is
raised repeatedly.
The Considerations
Before Judgement
These are matters
that the astrologer must consider before proceeding to judge a
horary question. Sometimes they are termed ‘strictures’, implying
a prohibitive statement precluding judgement. Research and practice
shows, however, that few prevent judgement, although they often
herald difficulties, and, in fact, assist in discovering those
vital descriptions mentioned earlier.
The Considerations
appear to serve two main purposes, those same two that Bonatti
explains: to confirm that the querent has a serious intent about
an honest and lawful matter and that the heavens sympathise with
that intent. Within these is perhaps a third: the protection of
the astrologer and the art itself, echoing Lilly’s comments relating
to the unsound question bringing disrepute to the art and to the
artist.
Each of the Considerations
describes a possible, or potential, shortcoming in the question,
as will be explained in detail with examples from Christian
Astrology. Lilly includes some thirty-nine example charts
and there is no better way to understand a principle than to see
how it is applied in practice. Lilly’s workbooks for parts of
the years 1647 and 164916, will also assist by extending
our investigations into Lilly’s daily practices.17
Before judging a
chart it was Lilly’s custom to ascertain the physical description
of the party or parties concerned from that chart. He was meticulous
in this respect, and his workbooks offer strong evidence for his
regular use of this test for radicality. Moreover, when a Consideration
is found to be operating in a chart, it can often provide its
own answer which might add to that found elsewhere; examples are
presented below.
These workbooks,
numbering some 219 charts, show, from the time sequences, that
at the same time that some Considerations were in operation Lilly
suspended work. There is no way of knowing the reasons for that,
but there is a pattern suggesting that he did not judge just anything
at any time (See Figure K).
Not all horary questions
can be answered. The horary art assumes in most cases that the
querent has some control or influence over the matter asked about.
It assumes that there is choice. It is pointless asking if the
house is a good purchase if the deal has progressed beyond the
point of no return. It is clear from his published work that Lilly
does not restrict himself to personal matters, but also deals
with political questions, that is, questions over which the querent
has no personal control. His question regarding William Laud,
Archbishop of Canterbury,18 is impersonal in this respect;
however his genuine concern regarding the struggles between the
King and Parliament, and his sorrow in this particular case are
clear enough. He goes to some lengths to justify his use of this
chart, relying on its descriptive qualities. In attempting to
understand Lilly’s publication of such horaries as this, we should
keep in mind historical context so that we should not fall into
the trap of considering them idle questions. Furthermore, Lilly
produced Christian Astrology as a primer so it is unlikely
that he would have included examples of dubious radicality.
Caution is also advisable
where the main issue of the question does not relate to the querent,
for example, enquiring about a neighbour’s relationship. ‘Third
party’ questions are notoriously complicated to judge, and besides,
prying is inexcusable. On the other hand, the querent might justifiably
ask about his or her child, or parent; nevertheless it is wise
to be cautious.
"…yet
sometimes men propound such questions as put the poore Artist
to his trumpes; amongst these one propounds, if he shall enjoy
such a woman for his wife, his own wife, the quesiteds husband
being all alive, its impossible to resolve this, for I see
not how the lives of so many can be included in one question,
two at least not consenting to the Quere;"19
Referring back to
Bonatti’s instructions regarding the asking of the question, it
is interesting to note Lilly’s words summing up exactly the same
point: "two at least not consenting to the Quere".
Considerations
concerning the Moon
The Moon holds great
potency for the horary chart. Through its speed of motion and
proximity to the Earth the Moon transfers the qualities of all
the planets to the sublunary world. It is the queen of the heavens, as the Sun is the king; nothing can happen without the permission
of the rulers of the heavens. Hence the Moon is held to be the
natural significator of the question.
The Moon has a variety
of roles to play in any chart, but its main purpose is to describe
the events surrounding the matter under investigation, past, present
and future. It is said that the Moon shows "the action",
and to an extent that is true, but other planets participate,
too. This role has given it the name of ‘co-significator of the
querent’, and while this too has validity, it rather oversimplifies
its operation.
The querent might
present their question as one in which they have control, choice
or influence, but the Moon’s condition will confirm or deny that
and should be closely scrutinised. In a 7th house matter,
say to discover if a business partnership will go ahead, and Cancer
descends on that cusp, the Moon thus signifies the quesited (that
person or matter about which the querent is enquiring). In this
case, it shows that the issue of partnership depends on the quesited,
the person signified by the 7th house. For example,
the querent might ask if he will marry his lover and Cancer is
on the 7th, thus the quesited is signified by the Moon.
This indicates that the querent must wait for his lover to approach
him on the matter, he must wait for her to ask him. The querent
has less choice, control or influence than he or she supposes.
The action lies with the quesited, not the querent, a condition
which would also be shown by the Moon’s position in the 7th house.
If the Moon is afflicted
or impedited, particularly by combustion, the matter will come
to no good because its ability to perform is overcome by the Sun’s
power. The Moon’s operation is also impeded when it is void of
course, which is discussed later. For the business of the horary
question to proceed smoothly, it is essential that the Moon is
performing well.
Considerations
concerning Planetary Hours
Planetary hours reflect mythology of great antiquity. It is part of the
story of the Sun God’s journey into the Underworld at the end
of each day. His progress throughout the night was achieved one
hour at a time and the gate leading into each successive hour
was guarded. In some versions, Re (Ra) must
know the names of the Guardians of the Gates to gain entry to
the next stage of the journey. On giving the correct password,
the Sun God would be allowed through the Gate, until being born
again into a new day.20
The Sun is reborn
in its rising, at the Ascendant, and progresses to its height
of vigour at its zenith (about midday). As it passes the zenith
it falls towards death beginning at the 8th house cusp
and manifesting at the 7th house cusp (the Descendant,
the point in the horoscope opposite the Ascendant – which marks
the physical horizon) and sunset, whence it journeys towards the
end of death at the 4th house cusp and begins its rise
to rebirth.21 In order to achieve that, the Sun, must
fulfil the demands of the Gatekeepers of the Hours.
This provides an
intense image of how to use the planetary hours. Its accord with
the Ascendant (the querent), demonstrates a harmony between them:
they should be of the same nature. So, if Gemini rises, it being
ruled by Mercury, a planet with a cold and dry nature, we would
find such accord if the planet ruling the hour was Mercury itself,
or Saturn, the only other planet with a cold and dry nature. Both
Mercury and Saturn would also agree with the rising sign because
Saturn rules the air triplicity in the day and Mercury rules it
at night. The querent is not attempting to go against the tide
of events, but is moving with the flow. Clearly, a lack of accord
would not necessarily prevent a positive outcome, but it would
make it more difficult and require more effort. It also offers
advice on the querent’s approach to the matter. For example, in
an economic recession, when a question is asked about a new business
venture, the planetary hour disagreeing with the Ascendant suggests
that the querent’s timing is wrong and that what is proposed is
not workable.
There is the same
image of a gate being opened for the querent, when permission
to proceed has been granted. Without this agreement, then the
querent has to go to the extra effort of opening the gate for
him or herself without being able to see what is on the other
side and without the reassurance that it is safe to move forward,
perhaps even forcing a way through.
To find accord between
the hour and the Ascendant, Lilly provides three criteria:
-
that the ruler
of the hour and the ruler of the Ascendant are the same
planet;
-
that the ruler
of the hour and the ruler of the Ascendant triplicity are
the same planet;
-
that the ruler
of the hour and the ruler of the Ascendant are of the same
nature. (Not, as has been said, the ruler of the hour and
the ascending sign.)
If there is no accord
by these three methods, then the chart is not radical: it is unsuitable
for judgement. Lilly’s examples demonstrate how radicality can
be extended, although such charts hold difficulties for the querent
in achieving the desired goal. So, in our analogy, it is possible
for the querent to open the gate, but as yet the astrologer cannot
tell how much effort will be needed to do that, or whether that
effort is worthwhile.
Considerations
concerning Early and Late Degrees Rising on the Ascendant
Another Consideration
concerns the degree on the Ascendant. Where
0, 1 or 2 degrees ascend, especially in signs of short ascension22,
judgement should not be given. However, where the querent is very
young and his or her physical description and moles, marks and
scars23 match the Ascendant then judgment may still
be given.
So,
generally an early degree on the Ascendant shows that the question
is premature. For example, a man asked if his wife was pregnant
and the chart produced an early Ascendant. It showed that his
question was premature, other factors led to the conclusion that
his wife was not pregnant and that he should await the test results.
It transpired that she was not pregnant.
Often an early Ascendant indicates the querent’s failure to put
anything in motion. A question regarding winning a lottery would
be premature if the querent had not yet bought a ticket. The same
applies to a question of marriage when the querent has yet to
form any kind of romantic relationship. In some cases there might
not be an early Ascendant, and the chart will produce an answer
such as that once the ticket is bought the querent will indeed
win the lottery, but this is rare and might only arise in a question
prefixed by "will I ever…?". A significant planet (a
significator) or the Ascendant in early degrees could also be
describing a new situation, or a recent change in circumstances.
When the early Ascendant cannot be explained in any of these
ways, it becomes necessary to check the querent’s physical descriptions.
A significant factor in the querent’s nativity might reflect such
an early Ascendant. (‘Significant’ here means a natal connection with
the horary which must be important and relevant to the question.)
So, a similar rising sign and degree would be acceptable, or the
early Ascendant found to be repeated on a relevant house cusp
in the nativity is acceptable. For example, in the horary, "If
I should purchase Master B. his houses."(See
Figure B) Lilly says:
"The
Signe ascending is Libra , the degree of the Signe is the
same wherein j was in my Radix; I looked upon this as a good
Omen in the first place. [On the same subject:] …and usually I have found that whoever
propounds a Question to the Astrologer, I meane in their first
Question, they have a Signe of the same Triplicity ascending
in their Question, agreeable to the nature of the Ascendant
in their Nativity, and many times the very self same Signe
and degree is ascending upon the an Horary Question which
was ascending in the Nativity."24
Where a horary question
has 27, 28 or 29 degrees rising, it is unsafe to proceed. Late
degrees in general indicate that a change is imminent and might
describe a change that will make the question irrelevant. Experience
has shown that late degrees rising
in questions about missing or absent people offer an argument
of death. These degrees can also show that the matter is settled,
or has progressed beyond recall.
It is clear from
the foregoing that an answer is being produced, but whether or
not it should be given to the querent depends on other factors.
Thus, as an example, in a case where a loved one is missing and
the horary shows a late Ascendant, it might be helpful to advise
the querent to make an official missing persons report, or take
other professional advice. If you are convinced
of the querent’s sincerity and capacity for a true, if unwelcome,
answer, then it might be useful to give an answer.
Where an early Ascendant
is in evidence, the astrologer might want to reassure the querent
that they are worrying too soon, or that they do not have enough
information. Much depends on what else the chart has to offer,
but should the astrologer decide to proceed with early and late
degrees rising, as is the case with most of the Considerations,
the condition should be allowed to modify the judgement.
Considerations
concerning the Moon in Late Degrees
When the Moon is
in late degrees, especially when in Gemini, Scorpio or Capricorn,
it bodes ill. In Ptolemy’s Table
of Dignities all of the terms of the
planets in late degrees (that is, at least the last three degrees) in all signs belong to one of the malefics, Mars or Saturn.
The Moon has her fall in Scorpio and detriment in Capricorn and
in both cases is disposited by a malefic. The Moon itself can
indicate change and fluctuation, so in late degrees in the signs
and/or terms of malefics, the nature of that change is made more
disadvantageous to the querent. In Gemini the Moon is cadent from
its own sign, that is it is in the 12th sign from its
own of Cancer, weakening its action.
Considerations
concerning the Moon in Via Combusta
When the Moon is
in the Via Combusta, Lilly says that "some say" that it is not safe to judge the chart when the Moon is so placed,
that is, between 15° Libra and 15° Scorpio. It seems to describe
a restrictive or oppressive situation, such as illness, imprisonment
and difficulties generally. It might be an indication of the querent’s
lack of choice, influence and control. Its descriptive value maintains,
though.
Lilly’s chart examples
provide little evidence that he took account of this condition,
and none that it prevented his judging the chart.
Consideration
concerning the Moon when Void of Course
This Consideration
requires closer attention because its understanding has become
corrupted over time.
Lilly states the
definition like this:
"A Planet
is voyd of course, when he is seperated from a Planet, nor
doth forthwith25, during his being in that signe,
apply to any other:"26
The Moon27 is void of course when, having separated from a
planet, it does not henceforth28 apply to another while in its current sign.
In recent times this
has been interpreted as allowing all the possible major aspects
the Moon can make to other planets in its current sign. However,
that requires that the word "aspect" is used interchangeably
with the word "apply" and that is incorrect. Research
shows that the true definition of the term "to apply"
or "application" is found repeatedly in sources predating
Lilly. Dariot, an established authority for Lilly and his contemporaries,
and one of Lilly’s quoted sources in Christian Astrology,
puts it clearly:
"The
Application happeneth when as the Circles or beames of the
Planettes come to joyne togeather by a corporall Coniunction,
or by aspecte of the one halfe of their Deamiters."29
Application occurs
when the orbs of the planets come into contact through conjunction
or aspect by half of their orbs (moiety). So, unless the moieties
of the planets touch whilst moving towards an aspect, there is
no application. This is what is commonly known as the planets
" being within orb of aspect"30.
The Western astrological
system is based upon the issuing of light or rays by each planet.
Light equals life and the more light a planet (or other celestial
body) shows, the greater its life force or vital spirit, or in
more modern terms, the greater its energy. The nature, or virtue,
of each planet is carried on its light or rays which it transmits
to other planets; this notion of transmission of light is central
to the astrological scheme and explains the principle of aspecting.
When two planets meet by application, their rays intermingle and
from that the astrologer can deduce an action or event. However
for that meeting to occur, account needs to be taken of the amount
of light each planet ‘emits’, in other words, the distance the
planets’ orbs traverse.
Each planet has its
own orb of influence, which extends from the centre of the planet
and extends to surround it. When seen in two dimensions, that
orb is divided in two with half projecting in front of the planet
and half behind it. These halves are known as ‘moieties’ and those
provided by Lilly31 are:
Saturn 4.5° to 5°
Jupiter 4.5° to 6°
Mars 3.5° to 3.75°
Sun 7.5° to 8.5°
Venus 3.5° to 4°
Mercury 3.5°
Moon 6° to 6.25°
To repeat: the above
moieties extend before and behind each of the named planets, so
that although Saturn’s overall orb is between 9° and 10°, only
4.5° to 5° extend before and behind it on our two-dimensional
chart wheel.
The reason for the
range of values is that there was some disagreement, but the only
planets that this makes any notable difference to are the Sun
and Jupiter. It is possible that some astrologers allowed a greater
orb when the planet was shining more brightly. So it is unsurprising
that the luminaries should have such wide orbs. It is also possible
that there were ideological differences where some preferred to
allow a greater orb for the Lord of the Heavens and the Greater
Benefic. Lilly himself is undisturbed by these differences and
tells us that he used whichever he remembered.32
The following diagram
demonstrates the operation of application.
The diagram provides
a simple impression of Mercury applying to Saturn and Mercury moving towards Saturn.
Application begins
in the upper diagram because the orbs of the two are in contact.
In the lower diagram, application has yet to begin. Mercury has
a moiety of 3.5° and Saturn, about, 4.5°, so when these two are
8° apart, if they are in the correct signs, application to major
aspect33 has begun.
Returning to the
matter of the void of course Moon, let us look again at the definition:
"A Planet
is voyd of course, when he is seperated from a Planet, nor
doth forthwith, during his being in that signe, apply to any
other:"
Once the term "application"
has been defined, it is clear that it is that operation which
must have begun whilst the Moon is in its current sign in order
to prevent the Moon being void of course. The application must be operating at the moment of the chart.
Furthermore, it does
not matter whether or not that application is completed (perfected)
in that sign, and we find many examples of this in Christian
Astrology which will be demonstrated later. To use the analogy
of two people instead of two planets, A and B, are in the same
room, but they are too far away to touch. A is faster than B and
moves towards B. Both have their arms extended towards each other,
as their fingertips touch an application has begun. When they
are fully embraced it is equivalent to an exact conjunction.
Now if A is outside that room with B just inside it, A is still the
faster and they both still reach towards each other. Their fingertips
touch while A is before the threshold; A must enter the room to
embrace B. In so doing A moves from one environment, or set of
circumstances, into another in order to fulfil the promise of
that application. Unless A turns around and walks away (retrograde
motion34), A will continue the application across the
threshold and into B’s arms. (Notice how this refers back to the
earlier explanation of early and late degrees.)
So, as the Moon is
the prime mover in a horary chart, its lack of applications, which
can occur anywhere within the sign, might show that nothing can
happen or that the querent is not able to affect the situation.
Lilly says, that the Moon is not so ineffective when void of course
and in the signs of Taurus (the Moon’s exaltation), Cancer (the
Moon’s sign of rulership), Sagittarius or Pisces (both signs ruled
by the greater benefic, Jupiter). The Moon when void of course is impedited because it cannot carry out its
task of transferring planetary virtues. But, as Lilly’s examples
will show, this does not necessarily preclude judgement. It might
show, though, that the querent has less influence unless the other
significators are strong and active.
Considerations
of the 7th House and its Ruler
The following Considerations
only take effect where the question is not about 7th house matters.
Since the 7th house represents the astrologer (where the querent is not the
astrologer), attention should be paid to any afflictions of the
7th house or its ruler.
The 7th house signifies, among other things, our associates, those that
we deal with (it is not the "unknown other"). Lilly
notes that if the cusp is afflicted, or the ruler retrograde or
impedited, the astrologer will be unable to please the querent.
Whatever judgement the astrologer
gives, the client will be dissatisfied.
Considerations
of the Arabian Rules
The following are
the so-called Arabian Rules. It is unclear why they are called
such but it is assumed that they were thought to originate from
the astrological texts written in the Middle East. When we examine
Lilly’s example chart we will see just how much weight he gave
to them.
If Saturn is in the
1st house, especially if retrograde, Lilly says that
the matter seldom produces benefit. If in the 7th it
corrupts the judgement of the astrologer or indicates that the
matter will degenerate. If the ruler of the 7th is
unfortunate, in fall, or the terms of the infortunes, it will
affect the astrologer’s ability to give a sound judgement. So,
if the 7th house or its ruler is afflicted, impedited
or unfortunate the astrologer is at risk.
If the ruler of the
Ascendant, that is, the querent’s significator, is combust, the
question is unsound or the querent will not heed the judgement.
Combustion often shows stress, lack of clarity of thought, illness
or even secrets, so it would be unsurprising in these circumstances
for the question to be wholly reliable.
Equal Testimonies
In horary, the astrologer
collects testimonies for or against a desired outcome. Sometimes
these arguments are equal and when this happens then judgement
should be postponed until a later time when the question can be posed again. Lilly is not suggesting that the querent should keep asking the same
question until he or she obtains the answer they like best.
Where Considerations
arise, particularly in combination, the likelihood of the querent
obtaining a beneficial answer is reduced. It is for the astrologer
to decide whether or not to proceed with the judgement and declare
it to the querent.
Lilly’s Chart Examples
The following charts
are taken from Christian Astrology and Lilly’s workbooks
as indicated on each chart.
Planetary Hour
The following examples
demonstrate the ruler of the hour when it disagrees with the Ascendant
in the three orthodox ways.
Figure
A: If he should be rich, or subsist of himself without
marriage?
Ascendant: Libra.
Triplicity ruler: Saturn.
Hour ruler: Sun.
The Sun is hot and
dry, the ruler of the Ascendant, Venus, is cold and moist. The
Sun is, however, trine Saturn and is angular35. The
result was positive, but not without difficulty and worry.
Figure
B: If I should purchase Master B. his houses?
This question is
Lilly’s own.
Ascendant: Libra.
Triplicity ruler: Saturn.
Hour ruler: Sun.
The Sun is trine
Saturn and conjunct Venus, ruler of the Ascendant. Also, the Sun
is angular. This chart had a good outcome, but there were short
and long term difficulties.
Figure
C: If the Querent should ever have children?
Ascendant: Virgo.
Triplicity ruler: Venus.
Hour ruler: Jupiter.
There is no mitigation
in this chart other than that Jupiter is the natural ruler of
pregnancy and fertility36. The result was that the
querent was incapable of having children.
Figure
D: A sick doctor, what was his disease? If curable?
Ascendant: Scorpio.
Triplicity ruler: Mars.
Hour ruler: Venus.
Venus is angular.
The doctor died.
Figure
E: A lady, if marry
the gentleman desired?
Ascendant: Leo.
Triplicity ruler: Sun.
Hour ruler: Saturn.
Saturn is angular
and is in an applying sextile from the Sun, both of which are
primary significators. The lady got her man, but with some difficulty.
Figure
F: A Dogge missing,
where?
Ascendant: Capricorn.
Triplicity ruler: Venus.
Hour ruler: Mars.
Mars is in the 6th
house of the quesited. The dog was found, but did not return of
its own accord, so effort and a degree of difficulty was involved.
Figure
G: Money lost, who stole it? If recoverable?
Ascendant: Scorpio.
Triplicity ruler: Mars.
Hour ruler: Jupiter.
There appears to
be no mitigation. This chart had a positive outcome, but Lilly’s
dislike of the querent is made obvious.
Figure
H: A woman of her husband
at sea, if alive ...?
Ascendant: Virgo.
Triplicity ruler: Venus.
Hour ruler: Mars.
This is a chart directly
connected with the Civil War, and Mars is the natural significator
of war. He did return but only after great dangers and being imprisoned
by the King’s forces.
Figure
I: What manner of death Canterbury should die?
Ascendant: Taurus.
Triplicity ruler: Venus.
Hour ruler: Sun.
The Sun is placed
in the 8th of death. He was beheaded, which was considered
to be a more noble method of execution than hanging, which had
been threatened.
Figure
J: If bewitched?
Ascendant: Gemini.
Triplicity ruler: Saturn.
Hour ruler: Mars.
Mars rules the 12th house of witchcraft. The querent was not bewitched, but was sick
and it took some time for him to recover.
Of these ten charts,
eight show an important link with the ruler of the hour, but a
degree of difficulty is shown. In the two with no planetary hour
connection at all, the matter ended unfortunately.
Lilly did not ignore the planetary hour, since it is included in so many
charts. The fact that it is not included in all of them is not
material, as the charts in his workbooks illustrate, where none
was shown. However, a lack of strict radicality did not prevent
him from judging those charts.
Early degrees
on the Ascendant
Early degrees on
any significant cusp show immaturity or newness, so on the Ascendant
they suggest that the matter needs to develop further before the
question becomes relevant, if it ever does. Such a condition can
also show a recent change of circumstances. While this does not appear to be the case with the chart in Figure
H, Lilly is at pains to provide a detailed physical description
of the querent and the conditions of the quesited. It is an important
feature of Lilly’s judgements, both published and unpublished,
that he obtains a physical and/or temperamental description of
the querent before proceeding.
Late degrees on
the Ascendant
Late degrees can
show just that: lateness, and this position is often indicative
of an imminent change of circumstances that could affect the relevance
of the question. This in itself can give an answer, depending
on context. It can also show that the querent is being frivolous.
Where the question relates to it, say in the case of a missing
person, a late Ascendant is an argument of death.
There are a few charts
in Lilly’s workbooks with late degrees rising, one of which was
entitled, "One at Twickenham, of her sweetheart" (Figure K). The chart is generally afflicted,
so whatever the circumstances, the outcome would have been unfortunate.
The Moon in late
degrees
Although there are
no charts in Christian Astrology with the Moon in late
degrees of Gemini, Scorpio or Capricorn, there are in the workbooks:
on 18 September 1649 there are three horary charts with the Moon
at 27°, 28° and 30° (as noted by Lilly) in Gemini. Then there
are four charts with the Moon in late Scorpio in November 164937.
Again, this does not mean necessarily that Lilly disregarded this
rule, but perhaps judged accordingly. In life and death questions
you would not reject a chart simply because of late degrees. In
fact, the first of these charts has the inscription: "A
woaman of her husband on Hisp..."38 (Figure
L), suggesting that the husband was away at sea.
Figure
C: If the Querent should ever have children?
In this chart the
Moon is at 29° 53’ of Virgo in the 2nd house. Lilly
notes that Virgo is a sign of barrenness and that the Moon is
in the terms of Mars, but does not comment on the lateness of
the position. As previously noted, the querent was judged to be
incapable of having children.
Figure
D: A sick doctor, what was his disease? If curable?
The Moon is at 27°
57’ Aquarius in the 4th house. Again, Lilly makes no
mention of the lateness of the Moon’s position. The doctor, in
fact, died.
Figure
E: A lady, if marry the gentleman desired?
In this chart the
Moon is at 28° 09’ Sagittarius and again he mentions nothing about
its lateness. She did achieve her desired aim, but not without
problems.
As mentioned before,
these areas of the signs are the terms of the malefics and afflict
the Moon when it is so placed. However, this can be descriptive,
much depends on the context of the question.
Via Combusta
Lilly does not allow
this Consideration to prevent him judging a chart and in the following
examples he makes no mention of the Via Combusta.
In Figure
N a question is asked about which of the husband or wife would
die first. Lilly advises us that there were many serious reasons
why the question was asked. He uses the Moon to show the wife’s
conditions, which are commensurate with those of the Moon: she
died soon after.
The other horary
where the Moon in the Via Combusta (Figure
J) is that of bewitchment. The querent was ill and in fear
of being attacked by witchcraft.
In his workbook for
1 March 1647, Lilly judged six charts while the Moon was so placed.
The last, asked by a woman, was about the life or death of her
husband (Figure L).
When the 7th cusp or its ruler is afflicted
Here we are dealing
directly with the safety of the astrologer, but not in those cases
where the astrologer asks his or her own question. So, an element
of personal control can be put into effect here. Also, questions
about 7th house matters are exempt from this rule.
It seems from the examples in Christian Astrology that
Lilly conforms with this Consideration in all but one example:
Figure
N: The 7th ruler Moon
is in fall, so it is unfortunate. However, in this case – and
remember that we are dealing with the astrologer’s position –
the Moon is trine the 7th cusp, as is the Sun. The
Moon is also in trine with an exalted Jupiter, which is considered
protective.
Saturn in the
1st house
The chart in Figure
O, has Saturn retrograde in the
1st house. This question, "If he should obtaine
the parsonage desired?", was distasteful to Lilly, since
he disliked the priest and his reasons for asking. Nonetheless,
he judges the chart and, in fact, uses Saturn’s position to describe
the querent’s conditions: "Saturn is impedited in the
Ascendant, and by his presence infortunates the question, causing
the querent to despaire in the obtaining of it" So, he
agrees that Saturn here is afflicting the chart as a whole. The
priest did not obtain the parsonage and was advised by Lilly not
to proceed with the matter. The matter ended unfortunately because
the priest did proceed and was subsequently reported anonymously
for some liaison with a woman, ruining his chance of getting the
post.
This matter ended
badly for the querent, but that does not mean that it should not
have been judged. Suppose Saturn represented a lost or stolen
item; found in the 1st and retrograde it could be said
that the item would be recovered or
returned39. Saturn is often found in the Ascendant
in charts about kidnap and other serious crime, where it can show
someone in fear for their life. Saturn also describes worry and
old age, so any of these descriptions can be useful in finding
radicality rather than denying it.
Saturn in the
7th house
Again, it is not
clear whether Lilly actually advocated the use of this rule or
not, but each of these 7th house considerations can
only apply when it is not a 7th house matter under
scrutiny. In each of Lilly’s charts, where this condition is apparent,
the questions relate to 7th house matters.
Ruler of the Ascendant
combust
Combustion is used
to show hidden matters and secrets, so getting description from
the chart is vital to ensure you are not being duped or misled.
However, it can describe the querent as ill, overwhelmed or imprisoned.
Figure
B: If I should purchase
Mr. B his houses?
This was Lilly’s
own question, and his significator is combust in the 7th house.
However, these are the two primary significators and it was the
perfection of their conjunction which successfully completed the
deal after some problems. He makes it plain that as a matter of
business it was not beneficial to him, but he overlooks this for
emotional reasons.
Figure
G: Money lost, who stole
it? If recoverable?
In this horary it
is the Moon that is combust, rather than the ruler of the Ascendant,
although it is possible that Lilly was using a strict 8° orb and
this falls just outside of that. All he has to say about it is:
"…but more young, because the
Moon was so neer the Sun, and scarce separated from him, I said
that he was of reasonable stature…"
Ruler of the 7th unfortunate
As this Consideration
is more or less the same as having Saturn in the 7th and the 7th cusp or its ruler afflicted, the same arguments
apply.
Equal testimonies
Lilly’s charts were
not checked for evidence of this criterion because since he was
able to draw a conclusion in all of them, we must assume that
he found no equality of argument.
Void of Course
The Modern method
of deciding when this rule is in effect is when the Moon has no
more major aspects to perfect in its sign. So, at first glance
there are five charts in Christian Astrology which have
the Moon void of course, but when the correct definition is applied
to them, it becomes clear that this is not the case.
The most telling
example of how application was used and, perhaps, also an explanation
of how it became confused, is the well known horary 'If Presbytery
shall stand?' (Figure P).
Venus, ruler of the
9th house, is at 9°16’ Aries, Lilly says: "...
but before she fully get out of this movable signe Aries, she
first hath occurse to the sinister square of Jupiter, then of
Mars, …" Jupiter is at 28°54’ Cancer and Mars is at 25°40’
Cancer, both are out of orb, so Venus is not applying to aspect
either of them. He is acknowledging this by using the word "occurse",
meaning that Venus is moving towards them and will make these
aspects before leaving the sign. He is not saying that
Venus is applying to aspect these two.
This is further supported
in the same judgement: "We have the Moon separating from
Venus in the eighth, then going to be vacua cursus [void of
course] afterwards she squares with Mars, then with Jupiter:
... The Moon is at 13°37’ Libra, Mars is at 25°40’ Cancer
and Jupiter is at 28°54’ Cancer. Mars and Jupiter are out of orb
of the Moon and so the Moon is not applying, but because he feels
that these aspects are relevant he mentions them as occurring
later. This chart has been judged with the Moon void of course.
The following charts,
often cited as having the Moon void of course, are good examples
of the rule in practice.
Figure
Q: The Moon is at 26°43’ Pisces and the Sun is at 7°03’ Leo.
These two are within orbs of a trine (the Moon applies to a trine
of the Sun) and so the Moon is not void of course.
Figure
C: The Moon is at 29°53’ Virgo and is within orbs of a square
to the Sun at 0°31’ Cancer (the Moon applies to a square of the
Sun) and so the Moon is not void of course.
Figure
E: This is a good example, because Lilly has noted the Moon’s
progress as "a vac [from void of course] ad opposition
Sun [to the opposition of the Sun]". The Moon’s last
aspect was an opposition with Mercury over 12° before. The Moon
has a moiety of around 6° and Mercury has a moiety of 3.5°, therefore
at about 9° or 10° before, they were in aspect. Since then the
Moon has been within the orbs of no other planet and so was void of course. The Moon is at 28°09’ Sagittarius and the Sun
is at 5°31’ Cancer, so the Moon is applying to the opposition
of the Sun.
Figure
R: Lilly states again that the Moon is separating from void
of course, but in this case its application is to a sextile of
Mars. The Moon’s last aspect was by trine to Jupiter, but that
was more than 17.5° before and their combined moieties are about
11°. The Moon is at 27°33’ Leo and Mars is at 5°14’ Cancer which
constitutes an applying trine.
Figure
S: The Moon is at 29°10’ Aquarius and applies to sextile Saturn,
which is at 0°36’ Taurus and then to a trine of Jupiter at 5°53’
Cancer. Both are counted because both are within orbs, in fact,
if you needed to, you might also include the applying trine to
the Sun at 6°30’ Scorpio.
As for the interpretation
of the Moon void of course, astrologers tend to use one or two:
"nothing will happen" or "there is nothing that
can be done", but Lilly gives several: pages 190, 192, 299,
310, 377 and 448. The fact that he does this supports the other
evidence that he did not reject a chart because the Moon was void
of course. He accepts the interpretation it offers.
Conclusion
The Considerations,
are not strictures, but they should not be discarded. Radicality
must be found, but it is clear that the methods of finding that
allow a little more scope than the so-called strictures would
admit. The evidence, as far as can be ascertained, shows that
Lilly did acknowledge the Considerations. We know that he spent
a considerable amount of time finding description in the chart,
and this must be the ultimate test of radicality. Henry Coley
verifies this: "But when the sign ascending, and his lord
represent the querent, or a planet in the Ascendant signifies
him truly, you may safely venture to give your judgement."40
Furthermore, we need
to separate the charts we do for clients and those we do for ourselves.
If any of these rules are in operation with no descriptive reason,
then it would be better not to give judgement to a client.
No chart should be
rejected simply because one or other of the Considerations is
in operation, but a careful appraisal of the situation should
be made. Always find the description and if it fits go ahead,
but be careful, particularly if you have to give judgement to
a client. If you cannot find strict radicality it is likely that
difficulties can be anticipated. It would appear from Lilly’s
own work that the smooth and easy perfection of a chart sought
by the querent was obstructed or interrupted by the operation
of the Considerations. They might even provide a negative answer
to the question; we cannot always have everything we ask for.
An afflicted chart
is one which holds many unfavourable configurations, and under
the stricture regime would be discarded as being not fit for judgement.
But these charts are often about very serious matters: kidnappings,
murder, or war, and it would be unrealistic to expect a perfectly
straightforward chart in such circumstances. So, a certain amount
of discretion and common sense must always be applied within the
context of the question.
The matters dealt
with here demonstrate what can be achieved by meeting the source
material on its own terms, by asking questions of it, rather than
imposing answers.
References
CA : William
Lilly, Christian Astrology, Regulus 1985, facsimile of
1647, London.
1.Lilly’s
autobiography MS Ashm. 210.
2. CA, “Letter
to the Reader”.Ibid.
Ibid. Ibid. Ibid.
Ibid. CA p.452
9. CA p.142 See for example, Sue Ward, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto:
and investigation into the sources of their symbolism. www.sue-ward.co.uk
11.Lilly is clear about the matter and explains in CA p.166, emphasising the point regarding the astrologer’s
own questions on p.219.
12.Anima Astrologiae and originally, Liber
astronomiae
13. Firmicus Maternus, for example: “Now, you whoever you are
who try to read these books, since you have received the whole
knowledge of this divine science and are now endowed with the
secrets of the stars and have learned the first principles of
the art, shape yourself in the image and likeness of divinity,
so that you may always be a model of excellence. He who daily
speaks about the gods or with the gods must shape his mind to
approach the likeness of divinity.” Ancient Astrology Theory
and Practice, also known as The Mathesis, c. 334 AD, translator
Jean Rhys Bram, Noyes Press.
14. CA
15. “I have also erred, but it was in not heedfully observing
my Rules; or when the question was not radicall: I hold a Radicall
question like a perfect instrument in the hands of a workeman,
with which instrument if good worke be not made, he is no workeman
but a botcher:” William Lilly, Propheticall Merline, 1644,
London.
16. MS Ashm. 210 and 420.
17. The workbooks take the form of large ledgers, which he stamped
with chart squares as required. There could be up to six on a
page. It was not unusual for him to undertake eight charts a day,
beginning at around 7.00 am. These were mainly horaries, but also
included event and natal charts. He would see clients personally
and also deal with questions by post.Sometimes there are notes
about the querent, the question and, occasionally, the answer.
Sometimes he calculated the planets’ positions roughly, sometimes
more accurately – significators were dealt with more carefully.
He would have been aware of the planetary hour and restrictive
phenomena, such as a void of course Moon, early and late degrees
rising, Moon in the Via Combusta or late degrees of a sign because
his charts often had only minutes separating them.
18. CA p. 419.
19. William Lilly, Propheticall Merline, 1644, London.
20. For example, E.A. Wallis Budge, The Book of Gates,
Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co., London 1905.
21. The houses are attributed their values and signification in
this order also. See the article The Houses in Traditional
Astrology at www.sue-ward.co.uk/articles for further explanation.
22.These are the signs of Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, Aries,
Taurus and Gemini all of which rise over the Ascendant within
two hours. It seems likely that these should be reversed in Southern
latitudes.
23. CA p.148, Lilly gives a method of discovering the
locations of skin marks. It works not only in horary charts, but
in nativities, too, and gives a quick method of checking the rising
sign.
24.CA p.219
25. “Immediately; without delay”, OED.
26. CA p.112.
27. Here we are dealing with the Moon, but planets can also be
void of course.
28. “From this time onwards.” OED.
29. Claudius Dariot, A Brief and Most Easy Introduction to
the Astrological Judgment of the Stars, (1583)
This view is differs from that of the Modern school of
thought. The Modern
view gives the orb to the aspect not to the planet. Thus, a sextile occurs
between any two planets when their longitudinal distance is about
sixty degrees. This distance varies more or less depending on
the orb an astrologer might want to allow – in the case of sextile commonly four degrees – planets placed between 56 and 64
degrees apart would be accepted as forming a sextile aspect.
31. CA p.107.
32. Ibid.
33. The major aspects are: conjunction, sextile, square, trine
and opposition. These are the aspects that both divide the circle
equally and form natural aspects to the Ascendant.
34. Or a number of other “prohibitions”.
35. Experience has shown that the planetary hour ruler being angular
is more important than any other of the extended arguments.
36. When the ruler of the hour is also the natural ruler of the
matter enquired after, it offers another firm extension of this
Consideration.
37. MS Ashmole 210, Bodleian Library
38. Illegible, but suggests the name of a ship.
39. On page 355 of CA Lilly gives this as a sign of recovery of lost or stolen goods:
“Lord of the second … in the Ascendant.” Also, on page 209 he
says: “But if an Infortune
be in the Ascendant (it’s no matter which of them) if the man
have taken the thing ere he come unto you, it now repents him;” and so on.
40.
Henry Coley, Key to the Whole Art of Astrology page 127.
Chart References
Figure
A
Christian Astrology page 177
16 July 1634
11.06 am
Day: Mercury
Hour: Sun
Moon separates from
conjunct Mercury and applies to conjunct Venus
Figure
B
Christian Astrology page 219
31 March 1634
6 pm
Day: Moon
Hour: Sun
Moon separates from
conjunct Mars and applies to square Saturn
Figure
C
Christian Astrology page 238
11 June 1635
2.30 pm
Day: Jupiter
Hour: Jupiter
Moon separates from
square Saturn and applies to square Sun
Figure
D
Christian Astrology page 286
8 May 1645
6.15 pm
Day: Jupiter
Hour: Venus
Moon separates from
trine Mercury and applies to square Sun and sextile Saturn
Figure
E
Christian Astrology page 385
16 June 1646
19.26 pm
Day: Mars
Hour: Saturn
Moon separates from
void of course and applies to opposition Sun
Figure
F
Christian Astrology page 392
29 August 1646
4.05 pm
Day: Saturn
Hour: Mars
Moon separates from
square Saturn and applies to sextile Mars
Figure
G
Christian Astrology page 395
24 May 1647
5 pm
Day: Moon
Hour: Jupiter
Figure
H
Christian Astrology page 417
15 April 1645
1.10 pm
Day: Mars
Hour: Mars
Moon separates from
conjunct Saturn and applies to conjunct Mercury and Sun.
Figure
I
Christian Astrology page 419
3 December 1644
2.24 pm
Day: Mars
Hour: Sun
Moon separates from
sextile Saturn and applies to opposition Sun and conjunct Mars
Figure
J
Christian Astrology page 468
13 March 1646/7
8.03 am
Day: Saturn
Hour: Mars
Moon separates from
square Jupiter and applies to opposition Saturn
Figure K
Lilly’s Workbook
1647: One at Twickenham of her sweetheart
3 June 1647
9.30 a.m.
Day: Jupiter
Moon separates from square Jupiter and applies to void of course.
Computer generated approximation (Janus)
Figure
L
Lilly’s Workbook
1648
2 March 1648
8.06 a.m.
Day: Jupiter
Hour: not noted
Moon separates from sextile Jupiter and applies to square Venus.
(Computer approximation and transliteration follows.)
2 March 1648
8.17 a.m.
London
Mulier an vir
erat in vivis [or vitis]:
Dixi mortuum quia U seperatira [?]
a # W et "
V et ! S domini 2d viz: 8th a 7th –.
Went away 1° Aprill
1645 to east India.
Vir erat full
faced, a sad haired and his Mate – angry, quarrelsome
cum U et T erunt [?] in ! shee
shall heare certaine newes of him. viz. may 1648.
Loose translation:
A woman: if her
husband is alive.
I said he is
dead because Mars separates from a square of Saturn and opposition
of Jupiter and a conjunction of Mercury, Lord of the 2nd,
that is the 8th from the 7th.
Figure M
Christian Astrology page 415
6 February 1644
9.10 p.m.
Day: Jupiter
Hour: not noted
Moon separates from
trine Sun and applies to trine Mercury
Figure
N
Christian Astrology page 196
7 November 1645
Midday
Day: Friday [Venus]
Hour: not noted
Moon’s separation
and application not noted.
Figure
O
Christian Astrology page 437
6 August 1644
8.24 p.m.
Day: Mars
Hour: not noted
Moon separates from
trine Mars and applies to opposition Mercury
Figure
P
Christian Astrology page 439
11 March 1646/7
4.45 p.m.
Day: Jupiter
Hour: Mercury
Moon separates from
opposition Venus and applies to void of course, then applies to
square Mars and Jupiter.
Figure
Q
Christian Astrology page 152
19 July 1638
23.45 p.m.
Day: Jupiter
Hour: not noted
Moon’s aspects not
noted
Figure
R
Christian Astrology page 401
17 April 1643
6.50 p.m.
Day: Moon
Hour: Sun
Moon separates from
void of course and applies to sextile Mars and trine Sun
Figure
S
Christian Astrology page 471
19 October 1645
7.20 p.m.
Day: not noted
Hour: not noted
Moon separates from
trine Mercury and applies to sextile Saturn and applies to trine
Jupiter.
13th December 2003
