notes on Ben Dykes astrology text

7/25/2019 notes on Ben Dykes astrology text

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/notes-on-ben-dykes-astrology-text 1/20

Benjamin Dykes - Short Notes

PrefacePart 1 = basic periods in astrology, need to know astrologers, traditional outlooks on life, values theory, counselling strategiesPart 2 = special terms and practical techniques

you don't have to abandon your present methodology to use traditional techniques, just a shift of emphasis and priorityAssumptions of Modern Astrology

1. a belief in indeterminate free will positive thinking2. positive thinking3. being able to create your own reality to a high degree4. using the chart in constructive ways to show alternative and possibli

ties

all ok with the traditional astrology perspective as long as it is not "Anything goes"

Assumptions of Traditional Astrology1. Moral and Spiritual Values and Concepts(a)Sympathy for the human condition

we live in a complicated world we don't absolutely control or understand. So there is a lot of misery whose source lies within us, and is reinforced by denial and wishful thinking

(b) cultivation of patiencea kind of positive thinking that means we have to unders

tand how our goals fit into the ebb and flow of things around us.We can't get what we want right away, but must rely on g

ood timing (e.g electionally predicted moments and opportune times predicted from the nativity)

(c) Realistic choice, as opposed to indeterminate free will

- we all have our characters that are very difficult to change or go against

- we live in a web of events - mostly not absolutely good or bad - which present limited or ambigous choices

(d) Constructively *managing* who we are, vs absolute self creation and absolute spontaneity.

We have certain natural gifts and benefits, and certaindrawbacks to our characters and lives, and both interpretation and prediction can help us manage these as per our understanding of gain and loss and our spiritual paths.

2. Traditional astrology relies on rigorous and organized methods t

hat help us train our thought and identify what is astrologicaly important at any point in our interpretations and predictions

3. Via the theory of temparements (?) T.A is connected to herbal and holistic medicine. Neoplatonic (?) and other metaphysical approaches to astrology emphasise not only chart reading but practical engagement with higher levels of being.

Chapter 1Mostly history and names of ancient/medieval astrologers and their books

The four branches of horoscopic astrology

1. Natal astrology with its annual predictive techniques2. Elections - concerning times to choose to do or avoid doing s

omething and overlaps with "event charts"



3. Questions - the astrloger casts a chart to analyze problems of the moment posed to him at a specific hour (hence "horary)

There were originally two sides to this branch(a) the interpretation of thought using special signific

ators (including the prediction of outcomes) and(b) answering specific questions

4. Mundane - covers politics, history, weather (including disast

ers) and commodity prices

Chapter 2: A few schools of thought. Boring, skimmed.

Chapter 3:In a sense, modern astrology is more subjective, traditional astrology is more objective.In modern astrology, the chart is taken as a picture of your mind.In traditional astrology, the chart is taken as a picture of your place in the whole world, only part of which is your mind.Thus the 11th house is the house of friends and experiences of friendship, not just attitudes/feelings towards friends

A key difference between Modern and Traditional astrology is that in the latterwe don't assume that the things signified by the house are all about the native's mental state.

To repeat, as per Traditional Astrology, most things in your chart are not in your mind. They are part of your life and you experience them but they are not you.Seventh House is (about) your partners and spouse, not your feelings about them.Eleventh House is about your friends and friendships, not your feelings about them. And so on.

This leads to something that is traditional but common sensical. We can be objective about people's subjective lives.

When a friend asks us for advice she is often seeking an objective perspective about a subjective life experience.It is then irresponsible to tell her that nothing is good or bad and every apparently negative thing is really a positive experience.We can *treat* a bad thing as a learning experience, but first we should recognize a bad thing for what it is.

There is another problem with treating a chart as a chart of the mind. since a mind is something we carry around with us,we can interpret a problem in the 11th house as a constant problem with friendships(say), because it is a feature of your mind.But, traditionally this 11th house problem will manifest only at certain times,which can be predicted. (by transits etc)

Technical term: Two planets are in reception when they are in aspect (by degreeand not sign) and one is in the domicile or exaltation of the other.e.g: if Mars is aspected by Mercury and Mars is in Virgo (which is Mercury's domicile/exaltation) then Mars is received by Mercury and some of his normal martial qualities would be tamed and civilized.

B.D's client had a chart in which every planet was in detriment, but also aspecting each other to bring about reception.Interpretation: The native's life would be full of events and affairs in which he would be successful (because of reception) but things did not last very long or were full of changes (because of detriments)

Advice: (1) Work hard to overcome this tendency towards change and disintegration or (2) Embrace it and see it as a chance to get varied experience and do many different things.



In either case do not blame character etc. (Trad Ast's focus on objective vs subjective)

concept of 'critical distance' - the ability to distance ourselves from emotionally from the chart and question our assumptions.

With cd, we avoid situations where we see a difficult situation in a chart, but

we talk only about evolutionary potential etc instead of pointing out somethingobjectively difficult.Likewise when we interpret an event chart without letting our political biases get in the way.

Chapter 4: Values - Good and Bad in Traditional Astrology.

Traditional astrologers speak of specific parts of charts indicating good and bad or planets being benefic or malefic, which turn off modern astrologers.'good' and 'evil' deal with important philosophical and ethical concepts.

Questions:

1. What is the nature of good and evil?2. Are some 'goods' and 'evils' only apparent?3. Do some 'true' goods/evils affect our ability to be happy?4. How do we apply these notions in a counselling context?

In this chapter two broad approaches to think about good/evil, benefic/malefic

I. 'Functionally good' == something functions *well*, need not be morally good.Any functionally good dynamic or person will be

1. Knowledgeable2. Unified/coherent3. Consistent4. Present (?)

5. Balanced

A functionally bad dynamic/person will manifest the opposing qualities. - ignorant/incoherent/inconsistent/absent?/imbalanced etc

Thus we look to see if a planet is in good or bad *functional* condition. Theseshow whether the people and events (remember objective, not subjective) events they indicate will be consistent, smooth and helpful, or unruly, full of extremes and so on.

Thus astrological factors and what they indicate in terms of planetary functioning.

1. Configured (= aspected?) = in communication, able to manage and be seen(opp) aversion = out of communication, being invisible

2. Angular or succedent = being prominent or strongCadent = Being obscure or weak

3. Aspected by benefics - encountering balanced and growth bearing influencesAspected by malefics - Often encountering extremes

4. Domiciled - in a state of unity, competence and controlDetriment = In a state of disintegration and disunity

5. Exaltation - being prominent and confidentFall - Being obscured, ignored , fading away



6. Free of the Sun - being able to work on its own, visibleCombustion = being overwhelmed, destroyed

7. In any dignity = In a place of belonging, being able to depend on its own resourcesPeregrine = Not belonging, dependent on external influences

8. Direct = Moving forward, consistent, openRetrograde = Repetition, detours, hiding motives

The idea is that every planet is trying to do its thing well - rule a house, stand out and be prominent, have a sense of competence and ownershig, advance its agenda and so on.But if it is in a functionally bad situation, it is somehow hindered.

Most of the time, conventionally bad placements result in conventionally bad events, or they prevent good events.

In life we consider it good if we are confident, visible, well known, can move f

orward etc.And we consider it bad if we are sick, unknown, weak, incompetent, insecure, badly resourced etc.

The functional condition of the planets is meant to reflect this intuition.

Benefic planets are those whose natures normally show patience, kindness, helpfullness, balance, growth, fun and things that are easyMalefic planets are those whose natures tend towards extremes and functionallydifficult things - hindrances, pushiness, imbalances, extremes, burdens, serious things, threats

Of course a malefic planet in a good condition can perform well , show leadershi

p and authorityA benefic planet in bad condition can be lazy and erratic and so on.The point is that this vocabulary enables us to link chart conditions to life conditions.

Chapter 5 Happiness and Astrological Counselling

Essentially two important philosophies of happiness that can be used to understand a chart and help clients.

Very important. Happiness is not primarily a mood or emotion, though it involves moods and emotions.Rather happiness is a state of affairs in which a person is able to flourish: living well and doing wellIrrespective of the possession of conventional goods - wealth, children etc - you need an excellent *state of character* to be happy, in which we demonstrate certain psychological skills as humans and in society.

The meanings of houses show some conventional goods and evils - wealth, sickness etc.As per Aristotle, we must maximize the goods and minimize the evils to be happy. Homeless, anonymous, sick people are less likely to be happy than people with a home,status and wealth.But we don't have complete control on whether we can acquire the goods and minimize the evils, since we are subject to fortune.

When we look at the chart in this spirit, we can see the extent to which the chart exhibits these conventional goods and evils.



e.g: Does the chart show many good friends?Are there disruptions in the home?

We can also look at the lords of the houses. If the lord of a typically good house is in a poor condition it can show a problematic area of life.e.g: the Lord of the 10th (a conventionally good house) is in the sixth (a conventionally evil house and thus in somewhat poor condition)

A possible interpretation: The native will have a stable career, but it will come about through obscurity, labor and little recognition.

Step 2:Aristotle makes it clear that possession of goods and avoidance of evils is notsufficient to make a person happy.An additional factor - the quality of character - is also important. Happiness results from managing choices and emotions about the possesion or absence of these goods.

Thus, a rich person maybe unhappy because her character is chaotic and immature,

while a relatively poor person with a strong character can be happy.

A key Aristotelean notion is "mean" , a state of balance between extremes == wemust (ideally) , when confronted by a good/evil and emotions about them,(1) use rational judgement to reach(2) an appropriate mean (aka virtue) in our emotions(3) and (key) do so *habitually*. It is not enough to occasionally make a good choice or feel appropriate emotions.

The best state of mind wrt some emotion or situation is called a 'virtue'. Thus there are virtues concerned with money, pleasures, anger etc

E.g: Drinking with friends. Considering another drink.

1. Having fun when drinking with friends can be considered a good, which is being confronted.2. Balance pleasure and pain = You must not be pained (excessively) if you can't have the additional drink, and you must not be swept away be the pleasure of having it.3. Choice of Drinking or not drinking should take place in a rational context - if you are driving tomorrow don't. if you are sleeping in at a once-in-a-year resort stay, do.The combination of not being swept by pleasure and pain and situating the decision in rationality gives rise to the virtue of temperance, which indicates a 'mean' that is ideally hit wrt issues of dealing with sensual pleasures and pains.

Wrt the virtue of courage in fighting.If you can balance fear and bravery, and fight on (in spite of fear) and retreat (in spite of blood lust) as rationally appropriate, you have the virtue of "courage", which is demonstrated by *acting skillfully* in spite of emotions pulling you this way or that.

There are two contrasting conditions in which you do not hit the correct mean wrt emotion and action.1. You consistently hit one extreme. This is a 'vice'.

e.g: The soldier who is consistently foolhardy and always fights on. The soldier who is consistently fearful and always runs away.

2. You wildly and inappropriately oscillate between one extreme and the other,a real inconsistency, a lack of self control.Thus occasionally you throw caution to the winds and drink more ( in spite of ha



ving good reasons not to) and pay the price the next day.Someone who wildly swings between fear and foolhardiness is an example.

So in Aristotle's philosophy, we have stable means - virtues, stable extremes -vices, and unstable oscillations.

Stoics believe

1. The Universe *is* the Divine Mind.2. All things are connected by the Divine Mind and everything that happens is an expression of the DM.3. Everything happens inevitably as a result of it expressing its inner nature.There is nothing that happens that is "not supposed to happen"4. (key) The Universe is set up that different things expressing themselves create clashes. The cloud pours forth rain. You desire not to get wet. Clash. (but maybe you can carry an umbrella)5. In the human case, these clashes are particularly stark, because humans usually have mental distortions about who they really are and what they are trying to do.6. Therefore the Stoic's 'way to happiness' == live in alignment with who we tru

ly are, and with the Universe, without getting upset with what happens when other things act according to their natures.

Contrast between Aristotelean and Stoic p.o.v1. Aristotles says that things like wealth are goods, and we should strive to maximise it, though he also says that happiness actually derives from our abilityto manage wealth (and our emotions about it) well.Stoics take a stricter view and say *only the state of your mind and emotions is responsible for happiness* and that external things - like wealth - are not good or evil.I.e they don't have moral value. But they do have selectional value in that in normal circumstances, you *select* wealth, and in some circumstances, you deselect wealth.

How it works in practiseIf you think Wealth is good (vs the Stoic position of 'wealth is neither good nor evil')then you are making the possession of it a pre requisite for your happiness.You want and desire it, and when you get wealth you are pleased, and when you lose it or don't have it, you despair.In either case, you are assigning moral value ( ie good/evil) to things that are not you and don't really belong to you. You become emotionally invested in them and act as if they should belong to you.This, besides being a false view of what belongs to you, puts you on an emotional roller coaster where you have to balance opposing emotions - here happiness and despair - which brings you to the Aristotelean 'mean' approcah to managing emotions.

So if you deprive wealth of moral value and assign it only selectional value, you feel more calm and centred, both when you get wealth, and when you lose it.

Beloved car as something good + discover dent in it example.An aristotelean approach is to try to balance anger with the importance of the car. The car is a good, but not a supremely important one. Likewise the dent is an evil, but a minor one. So he keeps his anger and sadness to minimal levels.For a Stoic, the Aristotelean has allowed an inanimate object to control his mind. The Stoic 'selects' to do what he can to keep his car safe, but does not believe this is ultimately in his power, or his success or failure to do so should

control his state of mind.

Unlike most people, Stoics don't believe that there are fully pre given emotions



like anger,fear and lust. Instead all emotions derive from value judgements.Behind every emotion is some value judgement that makes us go for something, avoid it, or react in our soul when we either have it or lack it.But since value judgements can be true or false, emotions can be true or false.Any value judgement hinging on the possession of something external to self is false.Therefore, find sources of happiness in yourself, assign selective values to oth

er things, embrace your life as something integrated with the cosmos. Thus you spiritually rise above conventional valuesDetaching from things not in your control allows you to be confident and engaged in the world, having sympathy and generosity for other people, and not gettingthrown by what life presents.A Stoic embraces *and tries to improve* the world we live in, selecting certainthings, while deselecting others, even if these might not be what conventional people consider good or bad.

The two main differences between Aristotelean and Stoic emotions are that the former consider emotions irrational and pre given, the latter believe emotions arise from value judgements, and also where Aristotle focuses on managing and balan

cing emotions, Stoics focus on transforming them.

Both aristotilean and stoic ethical systems are compatible with astrological prediction.Both are able to see the same events and feelings in an astrological figure.BUTtheir understanding of human nature, values and happiness, causes them to see those events on a different moral plane, and so the kind of counsel offers differs.Both (a) offer paths of action to clients (b) help clients prepare for events but each do so in a different way, and with different expectations of how the clients will fare.

Aristoteleans identify things that are cruical to our happiness and counsel balancing of related emotions.Stoics counsel the transformation of our values and wise selection or deselection of the same things.

Dykes suggests(1) Evaluate conventional goods and evils using normal interpretation techniquese.g: What is the clients' social status? How will the clients children fare? How will his relationships fare?This includes doing electional charts for important events, so as to maximise conventional goods.

(2) Evaluate typical mental and emotional abilities.NB: Both traditional and modern astrology have techniques for this, usually involving the ascendant, ascendant lord, Mercury and moon.(aristotelean) what balance exists between the clients emotions and appetites and his rational facilities?(Stoic) What values does the client have and how do his or her beliefs trigger emotional reactions and affect his or her abilities to cope with life?

(key) Here we identify the default emotional and rational responses to life andcounsel a moderation in goods and emotions (aristotelean) or switching to selective values or emotional transformations (Stoic)

We NEVER counsel passivity and claims of victimhood. We encourage clients to make conscious choices about things, owning and strenthening their power with respe



ct to emotions, and their sense of confidence and self integrity.

Part 2.Techniques and other concepts.

Chapter 6.Basically some old schemes of planetary assignments for politics etc. Skipped.Dykes advises use of Uranus + planets and asteroids only when they are conjunct

key points. Otherwise use traditional planets.

Chapter 7. SignsDifferences in treatments of signs between traditional and modern astrology.1. Signs are not treated in psychological terms2. There is an expanded and rich array of categories for signs, for use in certain circumstances.

Extensive list of Capricorn signified things.

In traditional astrology, signs are primarily background structures for planetsand houses i.e it refers to the style of energy in light of which the planets a

nd houses operate.But sometimes they also indicate a physical place - useful in horary and mundane astrology.

Dykes thinks there are 4 major traditional ways of approaching the signs1. They act as places of dignity for certain planets2. They indicate external qualities (fire thru Earth) and styles of those energies (Cardinal thru Movable). These *can*, but need not be translated into psychological characteristics in certain situations3. They have specialized indications which are relevant only for specific circumstances, - being four footed, royal, prolific etc4. How they rise and set provides a structure for certain predictive techniquessuch as ascensional times and primary directions

e.g:A planet in Capricorn may or may not be in one of its dignitiesIn a horary chart for a conflict it may be important that Capricorn is a cardinal signFor a (chart for a ) lost object that it is an Earthy sign and it indicates certain locationsFor interpreting an eclipse or comet, Capricorn's relationship to certain partsof the worldWhen Capricorn is the ascendant, it resonates with personality traits

Ancient astrologers rarely used the elements, but did use the modes.Cardinal/Active = "Movable" because they show quick changes and movementFixed/Stable = "Fixed" because "(planets in) fixed signs shows the firmness andstability of matters concerning the question"Mutable/Reactive = "Changeable" because the signs show a sharing of two qualities held together in common by the sign

Ptolemy explains these via the seasons.The first month of a season shows a dramatic change (hence Cardinal)The second month of the season shows a solidification and intensification of the season's weather and temperaturesThe third month wobbles back and forth between indications of this season and the next one

So the quadruplicities were used to show a structural kind of energy within each element and for each planet.This was used by traditional astrologers to delineate whether the native's life



implies more changes, stability or wavering.e.g if the primary planets of a chart (luminaries, ascendant, ascendant lord, and perhaps angular planets) were in mutable signs this shows someone whose life encounters a lot of repetition, going back and forth, indecisiveness (perhaps because they can see more than one perspective) etc

Chapter 8: Using Dignities

A dignity is a kind of ownership or rulership, and when a planet is in a place of dignity it shows some kind of competence and consistency in what it does.Debilities show different ways in which affairs become less organized, obscure,unsteady, or uncertain

The two main dignities are1. domicile rulership - planet ruling a sign. Mars is the 'domicile lord' of Aries2. exaltation - The Sun is the "exalted lord" of Aries.

Traditionally there are three more kinds of dignity

3. Triplicity: All 3 signs of an element are ruled by a set of three planets, which may not be their domicile lord4. Bounds/Terms: Each sign is divided into five unequal bits, each one of whichis ruled by a planet. The Sun and Moon do not rule any bounds5. Face/Decan: Each sign is divided into three equal parts, each of which is ruled by a planet

(key) The main idea behind a dignity is that a planet has a management responsibility for the areas of the zodiac it rules.Thus, Mars is responsible for ruling Aries, no matter which house is "in" Aries, ie Mars is responsible for whatever Aries "means" in a horoscope.So if Aries is the tenth house, Mars manages 10th house affairs and so on. Likewise the Sun is the 'exalted lord' of Aries and has his own management responsibi

lity

ExaltationsSun - AriesMoon - TaurusMercury - Gemini and VirgoVenus - PiscesMars - CapricornJupiter - CancerSaturn - Libra

Imagine that a sign is a household. If you are the head of the household, you are responsible for supporting and managing your household.If you are sick, away on vacation, or something happens to you, that affects the life of everyone living in the household (and you, since you are not in "your" house anymore)

If Aries is your tenth house, then Mars manages your career and reputation, andwhat he is doing in your chart affects those things.Mars will be in some sign or the other, in/out of aspects, in beneficial or difficult condition.Much of what happens when we analyze a chart is understanding what is happeningto a house and its domicile lord.

How well a domicile lord (or any planet) does in his horoscope - how organized,

confident, or efficient he is - depends to a great extent on whether or not it is in any of its dignitiese.g: as above, Mars. Mars is the domicile lord of Aries and will manage the affa



irs of the house Aries 'falls in'.If Mars is in a sign he rules by domicile (say Aries or Scorpio) he will be more comfortable and you'll see more efficient and constructive Martian qualities come out.If he is in detriment, or fall or peregrine, (or a combination of this) we get more disorganized and troubled effects in the area of the house indicated by Aries.

Detriment - A planet's detriment is always in the sign opposite its domicile. Thus Mars is in detriment in Libra and Taurus.The core meaning of 'detriment' is 'corruption' and has the following basic meanings - disintegration, disunity, lack of control, discomfort, enemity, or moralcorruption (at least in the eyes of the community)It can also show something countercultural or 'alternative' because it represents the dissolving of standard norms.So if Mars is in the sign of its detriment, his Martial activity and Martial events will have these characteristics.Disciplined soldier vs one who is lashing out/antagonistic/clumsy etc.

Exaltation: - analogy to Executive assistant, who actually gets the work done (domicile lord) vs executive who makes decisions (exalted lord) this is confusing.

Fall - The basic image of a planet in fall is of someone who has fallen down a deep well. They my shout and cry, but no one hears themIn social situations, a planet in its fall represents someone disrespected, or of low status.It may indicate things of low quality.Or psychological impulses that are hard to access and express well.Because it represents something overlooked and not in the mainstream, public eye, a fallen planet may represent socially unusual or alternative.An interesting feature of a fallen planet is that since each planet is trying to express itself, the fallen planet can represent a difficulty that the native is

trying to overcome, sometimes with unpleasant resultse.g of a fallen Mars resulting in loud and boorish behaviour

So, we cannot always take these counter dignities at face value, because what manifests in a person's personality and life often represents their attempts to overcome these underlying problems.

Peregrine - a traveller, pilgrim, stranger, - a planet is in a place where it has no positive dignity at all - e.g: Sun in Taurus - like being in a foreign land where you have to depend on the good graces of others to get along.You might get lost, or land in the right spot, but it depends on the goodwill of others and you have no control of the type you are used to at homeLikewise when a planet is peregrine, its condition depends on what is going on with the domicile lord.If the domicile lord is in its own dignity, or some other favorable situation, the peregrine planet does better, as if someone is taking care of them.If domicile lord is in bad condition, then the peregrine planet will be less enjoyable, constructive and so on.

Peregrine = lacks all positive dignity, can have additional negative detriment.

A hint for interpreting a planet in a dignity or counter dignity.Imagine the most organized and constructive (domicile) or exalted and self confi

dent (exaltation) expression of that planet is.Then ask yourself what would it be like for that planet to be disorganized (detriment), or low grade and marginalized (fall).



Take planetary natures into account. A disorganized Mars behaves differently from a disorganized Jupiter.

Chapter 9: Houses

Houses, signs and planets are distinct. i.e the first house does not have the nature of Aries etc.

The order of houses does not match an evolutionary developmentThere are three useful and important features of traditional houses

1. some differences in meanings2. the use of whole sign houses3. places that are said to be "strong", "advantageous", "busy", and "con

ducive to business"

Traditional House meanings1. Body/Life2. Assets3. Sibling/Kin4. Parents/Real Estate

5. Children/Pleasure6. Slaves/Illness (modern: "work")7. Spouse/Contentions8. Death/Fear (modern: "sex", "transformation")9. Religion/Travel10. Work/Fame11. Friends/Hopes12. Enemies/Sorrow (modern: "spiritual enlightenment")

The four houses with the greatest differences are the second, fourth, eighth, twelfth.All four are "in aversion to" the ascendant.

Traditional astrology uses Whole Sign Houses and not quadrant systems (including Placidus). "Using whole sign house systems helps understand traditional thought"

Advantageous places/housesScheme 1: 3, 6, 9, 12 (the cadent houses) are disadvantageous. Planets is the angular houses are strongest, planets in the succedent, not quite as strong. planets in the cadent houses are considered weak and obscure in spite of any dignities etcScheme 2: 2,3,6,8,12 are disadvantageous. Essentially the ascendant + houses inaspect by classical aspects are advantageous. Others are "in aversion" One possible reconciling idea: Scheme 2 is based on whole signs, and shows planets that are especially available to and working for the native, but scheme 1 isbased on quadrant systems and shows planets that are busy in and of themselves and with respect to the whole chart(WTF does this even begin to mean?)Second reconciling idea: use whole signs as 'houses' and the quadrant based 'houses' as strong/middling/weak 'areas'.

So in a given chart, Jupiter is in (by whole sign) the sixth house, where he pertains to illness, slavery, stress, small animals, pets etc, and not a 'good' house since does not aspect (by sign) the ascendantbut since he is in a (by Placidus) in a 'fifth' house -> succedent -> "of middling strength"

Similarly The Moon is in the (Whole Sign) 10th house and close to MC, so advantageous to the native but in the (Placidus) 9th (and so cadent) house, so weakly s



timulated.Venus is in the (Whole Sign) eighth house, and so not advantageous to the native, but being in the Placidus 7th house (and so angular) she is prominent in the chart By this philosophy, just because a planet is advantageous, available and busy for you, does not mean it is powerful

Likewise, just because a planet is powerful in the chart, does not mean it is good for you. Chapter 10: Aspects and Aversions- Sights and Blindness.

Modern astrology uses orbs to calculate aspects.Traditional astrology

1. distinguishes whole sign aspects from degree based aspects2. does not allow out-of-sign aspects

whole sign aspects == (the idea that) signs as a whole are the basis of aspects, So Leo squares Scorpio.

Since the sign themselves are treated as distinct units, any planets in a sign are considerd to aspect any other planets in an "aspected" sign.

a whole sign aspect is (key) *one of* many attitudes or 'bearings' that one planet can take to another.By analogy, a whole sign square (for example) is like sitting next to people you feel uncomfortable with.you don't have a direct relationship, and are not trying to debate important issues, but there is still an unspoken undercurrent/relationship between you.A whole sign sextile or trine is like having a neighbour who you don't know well, but you admire her garden, or how she works hard for her children.

Whole sign aspects have these flavors.

So if Moon square Mars by sign in your horoscope, then this can indicate friction and discomfort between what these planets mean in your chart BUTthis (key) will NOT be become obvious till activated by a predictive technique (transit?) and even then won't be as intense and direct as an aspect based on degrees or orbs.

Aspects proper = aspects by orbs as usual, with orbs.In modern astrology, orbs are attached to the aspect. Thus trines have an aspect of say 6 degrees.In traditional astrology, orbs are attached to the planets.ThusSaturn and Jupiter have an orb of 9 degrees, Venus and Mercury have an orb of 7degrees.Mars has 8, Sun has 15, Moon has 12.The degree of orb extends on each side.Overlapping orbs are enough to consider the planets in communication.These orbs seem wide, but remember that planets aspected by sign only are already 'communicating' if less intensely.Orbs just add direct communication.

For many traditional astrologers, there are no out-of-sign aspects, But there are out of sign *conjunctions* (by degree).

Concept of aversion.

Traditionally planets can be assembled only in the same sign (exception: conjunction by degree), or can regard or aspect each other by a sign based classicalaspect.



This leaves four signs, the two adjoining the sign, and the two adjoining the sign opposite, i.e, the 2nd, 12th, 6th and 8th signs from a given sign unaspected

So for (say) Mars in the tenth whole sign house, any plant in the 9th,11th, 3d and 5th houses cannot form aspects to him and are said to be "in aversion" or "turned away" from Mars.In modern astrology, these houses can be aspected via the semi sextile, and inco

njunct.

The verb aspect means "to look at".When planets aspect each other they are thought to cast rays of light.Looking, seeing, and light are understood in terms of knowledge and control, aswhen people say "I see what you mean" or "let's look at that issue" or "enlighten me".When things are in darkness and not seen, they suggest things that are not known, ignored, out of reach, and inaccessible.

So planets in aversion to each other have the same meanings as 'things in darkness' above.

If a planet is in aversion to the sign it rules, it shows there is a disconnect, some estrangement, ignorance, not seeing. In some contexts, it can mean traveling so 'not present'

Consider the ascendant. The houses in aversion are the 2nd, 12th, 6th and 8th.Dykes suggests that all these houses represent things that are "in the dark" tosome degree.12th because "hidden enemies", 8th because of ignorance and denial of death, 2nd (a bit strained) because "in a poor economy we can't be sure of our assets" (WTF) and like wise for vassals (6th)

So, places in aversion show people and places in our lives, but we are not sureabout the truth about them.

To be clear, even places in aversion (here, to the ascendant) do mean something.

More important for traditional authors is a planet in aversion to his own sign,i.e, a planet not configured to its own domicile by a whole sign aspect.

Eg: Venus in Gemini.In aversion to Taurus. Thus Venus is trying to manage matters of the 11th housebut in aversion to it. What does this mean?

Quote from Sahl's "On Elections"A planet not aspecting its own domicile is like a man away from his house, who cannot repel or prohibit anything from it.Iow a planet aspecting its own domicile shows a connection to home and roots.On the one hand the lord aspecting his house shows protection of the house, providing for its signification and perfecting it. On the other the house supports the LordWhen lord and domicile are in aversion, both lord and house are in need and in danger of mischief.

Continuing the example, Venus in aversion to the 11th does not mean that there will be breaks, differences and so on in the native's friendshipsSometimes these things can only be seen in a time frame where this Venus or 11th house is activated by a prediction technique like profections - when such themes arise. Maybe a friendship is dissolved, breaks with old friends and make new f

riends, or the friends themselves have erratic experiences.

Likewise when the lord of the fourth house is in aversion to that house.



Then *when the house or the lord is activated by a prediction technique*, expect travel (? away from home?) miscommunication or misunderstandings in the native's relationship to his family.

TODO: Check this with my own horoscope after mastering profections.in my horoscope: unaspected houses.2nd - lord is in 7th

Chapter 11 LotsThere are many many lots, but you need 7 or so in practice depending on what you are interested in.What *is* a lot? Mechanically it is a proportion. Interpretively, it has to dowith concrete outcomes and the flow of events.

In modern astrology lots are calculated by X + Y - Z where X,Y,Z are various points in the chart.e.g Lot of Fortune in a diurnal chart = Moon - Sun + Ascendant.This procedure hides the rationale of the calculation.

In traditional astrology, lots are calculated by taking the interval in zodiacal order between two places and projecting the same interval from a third point, usually the ascendant.E.g in the given chartWe calculate the lots of fortuneThe planets involved are luminaries - Moon and SunIn a diurnal chart, start with the more diurnal of the two - the Sun, and calculate interval in zodiac order (counter clockwise, as per sign order)Here Sun is at 14 ' 30 Cancer. Moon is at 26 Scorpio 37. Moving from the Sun toMoon (rest of Cancer, Leo, Virgo till Moon) we have 72 degrees and 7 minutes.

The Ascendant is at 26 17 Scorpio. Therefore adding 72 degrees 7 minutes to it gives us 8 degrees 25 minutes Aquarius.

Calculating the lot in this way, only needs us to know the planets involved, whether the chart in diurnal or nocturnal, and the relative diurnality, nocturnality of the planets.

The whole sign angles, from the Lots, specifically the Lots of Fortune, and thenatal planets is such signs are more "energetic"In the example, the LoF is in Aquarius. So the sign itself (Aquarius 1) its twosquares (Taurus 4 and Scorpio 10) and opposing house (Leo 7) are more energeticas are the planets contained there in - Jupiter in Taurus, Mercury in Leo)

But what does this mean?

Before we answer this we need to find out what "Fortune" meant to ancient people

Fortune has the following characteristics1. It can't be something that usually or always happens2. It must serve a purpose for benefit or harm.3. Although the LoF is related to choice, the situation you are presente

d with is not initiated by your choice4. It is physically caused by many normal everyday causes.

e.g: you decide to go to the marketplace one day. While you are looking at vegetables and spices and chickens you bump into a man who owes you money, who then pays you.You don't live or trade in the market all the time. (1)

Getting paid money owed to you is a conventionally good (works for bad also) outcome (2)You didn't go looking for the man and bumped into him by chance (3)



You went to the market because you were out of food. He came to the market because the weather was good, and he'd just gotten his paycheck(4)

Therefore astrological principle - The Lot of Fortune indicates whether (and when) the native, within the flow of events, reaps conventionally good and bad things and enjoys or suffers from events he has not actively chosen, but which present themselves to him.

Since the signs and planets in angles to the LoF are energized, then transits and other predictive methods that partake of these angles are correspondingly energized and partake of these flows of events.

Traditional Astrologers use the LoF to describe a hierarchy of 'fortune', from highly fortunate people, to whom everything comes easily, to those who suffer tremendous amounts of bad luck.One of the indications for a poorer life is having the Lof in the twelfth house. Why is that?

We can look at this in two ways.

(1) If LoF is in the 12th, it is aversion to the ascendant, ie. the flow of (fortunate) events is not available to the native, or the native is rarely in the right place at the right time. (my addition:- native is in the wrong place most times), or even doesn't recognize the opportunities(2) the LoF is in the 12th, (mistakes, secret enemies, undoing, downfall) so the 'by chance' events the native encounters have this nature and so are not helpful.

does this mean that the native can't be successful in life? Not necessarily. But it does mean this.Natives with the LoF in the 12th *have to make their own luck* .While many conventionally negative things are more likely than not to be present in the native's life, she has to work *very* hard to succeed because good thing

s are not handed to her on a silver platter.Thus the native *could* be successful in spite of the LoF in 12th, but it requires tremendous personal effort to overcome obstacles.

Not everyone undertakes such an effort, and even with effort the native may fail anyway.But as astrologers we can point this out and give our clients advance warning of the need for work and the constant presence of bad luck and difficulty being in the right place at the right time.

Chapter 12. Two Rules for Interpreting a Chart

When examining a chart, our eye moves from one feature to another in a random fashion and we get lost.We look at Venus, suddenly see an aspect, then look at the sign lord, an aspectto that and soon enough everything in the chart seems implicated in a simple issue

Traditional astrology has rules relating to chart interpretation.

Traditional texts proceed by identifying a problem, telling us what to look at, then listing a range of possibilities - often going from the easiest and most obvious things to note, to more obscure, second best etc indicationsThe goal of this approach is to rank and prioritize what you look for.

A planet does 4 things in a chart



1. Natural or General signification

1A. Nothing more than each planet trying to be itself, indicating something of its nature in the most general way.Some natural or general significations of the planet are - love, beauty, jewellery, a sister, and so on.1B. What we need to add to this is the condition of the planet - retrograde, det

riment etc. The quality of the planet's general significations is shown by its condition.

2. LocationEach planet tries to be itself, *modified by its condition*, but in a way thatis focused on a particular house. (SA: the planet becomes an adjective to matters of the house)So Venus in the 11th indicates Venusian friends.In the 7th, a Venusian partner or interpersonal relationships

3. Rulership.Each planet tries to be itself, modified by its condition, focussed on matters o

f the house it occupies, so that it also manages (?) the house it rules.Thus if a planet is in the 11th, but rules the 9th, it is managing 9th house matters (travel, spirituality and so on) by means of the house it is in (friendships). == what exactly? , in its own style, modified by its condition.

4. AspectsAspects are the last thing traditional astrologers examine.Aspects are like a partnership, but (before we can examine the nature of the partnership) we need to know the partners in detail - who they are, what they want, etc)The sextile of Mercury and Mars can be delineated to some extent on its own, but we need to know what Mars and Mercury are doing in the chart, their condition, where they are focusing their energy, and what areas of life they are managing,

before we can interpret the sextile.

Two basic rules of delineation

1. Location is more immediate than rulershipNote use of 'more immediate' than the more traditional "stronger than"i.e

(1) The planet acts more immediately and directly through the house it is in (2) When looking at a house, the planets in it are more immediate influencesvs the lord of the house. e.g: Chart in which Saturn is in Leo and the 11th house, and also lord of the 4th(Capricorn) and 5th (Aquarius)So Saturn is(a) first of all being himself (modified by his condition)

(b) in the 11th (c) managing affairs of the 4th and fifth house *through* the 11th So we ask "What is Saturn doing in the chart?"

The most immediate things he is doing is 11th house things (think abstractly like this so you don't get carried away by the possibilities)The 11th house is about friends and friendships. Therefore, Out of all areas oflife, Saturn is affecting friendships. Another way of saying this is that the na

tive encounters Saturnian friends and friendship experiences

OTOH if we ask "What is happening with the 11th house?" the answer is "Even thou



gh the Lord, Sun will also do something for friendships, the most immediate influence is Saturn's via his presence in the house"So what can we say about this?In general, if we think about what Saturnian friends are like, we find "Older, authoritarian, conservative, long lasting, limiting," etcBut note that Saturn is in Leo, and so in detriment, and planets in detriment show disintegration and corruption.

Thus the chart shows Saturnian friends, but it shows disintegrative/corrupt friends. Traditionally a Saturn like this shows dishonest, criminal friends, (or just because of the detriment) friendships that disintegrate.

In fact, one theme of this native's life is that he has had unreliable, low class friends, and friendships that are unstable (or involve unstable people) and fall apartThis is a general theme in his life, and his life will always have this theme. A timing technique (like profections) will indicate *when* this Saturn gets activated.Important: Saturn gets activated not only according to his locaton but (key) via the houses he rules. which brings us to

2. What is indicated by a house emanates from the Lord of the HouseThis is an extension of the "Lord has management responsibility for affairs of the house" concept.Lord of the House tries to bring about significations of the house

(a) via the house he is in(b) according to the various planetary conditions he is in(c) and aspects he makes.

e.g: Chart with Scorpio rising, with Moon in the Seventh (whole sign houses, soTaurus) and Cancer being the ninth house.We look at the ninth - We ask "What is going on in this person's ninth house? How are foreigners, travel, etc manifesting in her life?"

By 1st rule - location is more immediate than rulership. So we see if any planets are located in the ninth house. There aren't.(so second rule - what is signified by a house emanates from the Lord) So we look at the Lord of the House - the Moon.The moon is in the Seventh House (Taurus) and the seventh signifies marriages and partnerships among other things.So we can say foreigners and spirituality are in the form of , are brought by relationships.Somehow the native's relationships will be an important channel through which her experiences of foreigners, spirituality etc manifest.

A simple way to say this is " Her primary relationships will be connected to foreigners" or even "She will marry a foreigner"

We can look at it from the other direction "Who will the native marry?"Step 1. Look at 7th House. Taurus. Contains Moon. Located planets are more immediate than lords.So, An immediate effect on relationships will be spirituality and foreigners because the Moon rules the 9th.

Hmm I would have said, the marriage will be highly emotionally fulfilling, andsatisfying (Moon - emotions -exalted).*then* would have gone to (since Moon will use Seventh to satisfy 9th house imperatives) - Marriage will be to a spiritual person, a foreigner or someone who is

'culturally' very different.Ok this is dealt with in the next paragraph.



What can we say about partners?Partners will have some lunar characteristics - will be lunar type people - a refined, elegant, confident, respected person, or at least the native will have such experiences via her partner

Note: we have been able to say all this by looking at the lord of the *ninth*, without looking at Venus who rules the seventh.

Since the Moon as exalted lord is *in* the house, Dykes wouldn't look at Venus too much because, the Moon 'takes over' for VenusBut if we do look at Venus, we see she is in the third house (Capricorn)In Traditional Astology the third is also a spiritual house, and therefore is afurther indicator for spirituality.So perhaps (the native is?) someone who values the Earth and/or is involved in nature religionsor perhaps she meets her spouse through third house circumstances - siblings etc

(key) although different charts (natal, horary, electional) etc. have different

rules, these two rules are universal.

Chapter 13 Predictive Techniques

Most modern astrologers, when asked to name a predictive technique, say 'transits'Traditional Astrologers also use transits, but with two differences1. Use of 'time lords'2. Prioritizing of predictive techniques

Modern astrologers often experience noticing a nice transit say Jupiter-Venus an

d then they wait anxiously and nothing happens.In traditional astrology there is an explanation for this.

Time Lord - A planet that 'governs' your life/some area of your life for a longer period of time.Note: *Several* traditional techniques assign such 'time lords'.e.g: In the method called "profections" one planet rules one year of your life,from birthday to birthday.In a method called "distributions" two planets cooperate to rule your life for periods of upto 12 years or so.

Using these time lords is like looking to the president or prime minister to see how the nation is doing, or what themes the nation is going through.Time lords set themes for your life in their periods, they don't control day today events.These themes are activated during his rulership *often by a transit *of or to* the time lord*.

So in traditional astrology first we identify the time lord, then transits of or to the time lord.So if you were waiting for a transit and nothing happened, it is likely that neither of the planets was a time lord during that period.(key) Transits are like activating influences but they activate only what was already indicated by a time lord.

Following is a list of traditional predictive methods



1. Distribution : This involves directing a point (like the Ascendant) or the planet through the bounds and judging such periods based on the lord of the boundand any planets encountered in it.2. Firdariyat: This system involves assigning periods of years to the seven planets + nodes, with subperiods in each period.3. Profection: Advances a point by one sign (or house or 30 degree increment) per year looking especially at the planet ruling the place one arrives at

4. Primary Directions: Moves a point through the zodiac but based on the celestial equator rather than zodiac5. Solar Revolutions: Also called solar returns. Traditionally solar returns are never examined in isolation, but always in conjunction with a natal chart. Older authors consider the solar revolution as a set of transits to the nativity.6. Transits: coordinated with Time Lords

Profection Example:Essentially we pick a point in the chart that means something, then advance it one sign per year from birth, and track (?) what houses and planets we encounter along the way.Most traditional authors say we can advance any point (e.g: the Sun for professi

on (?) and recognition etc) but here the Author chooses to advance the ascendant as indicative of life in general.There are three ways to advance a point

1. By whole sign2. By 30 degree increments3. By house cusps

Diagram showing age of native and where the ascendant is at each birthday. Remember starts from *zero* in house 1, so 1-11, 12-23 etc. 0 and then multiples of 12 in 1st House . Multiples of 6 in the 7th.

Example of profecting ascendant by whole sign.When the ascendant reaches each house, the lord of that house is "The Lord of th

e Year".By this logic, when I'm 44, profected ascendant reaches the 10th House (remember Whole Signs, not Placidus), in Aries, so the "Lord of the Year" is Mars

(continuing example)

At age 30 profection of ascendant reaches Aries , the Seventh House.which makesMars the 'time lord' for the year.The Lord of this house is responsible for the themes of this year. We have to look at what house, as well as natal planets for the year, plus where the lord of the house is.But in general the year will proceed according to the nature and activities of Mars and whatever else he is doing in the chart.The seventh house indicates controversies, partnerships and so on.In the horoscope Mars is in aversion to the seventh, so there is something unsteady, or even unconscious or unwitting about what the native is doing.Mars in detriment means his plans are disorganized or erratic or will not come to full fruition.In this year the native was trying very hard to have a relationship and he mademissteps because he was trying too hard and realized only later that he was undoing himself.

Essentially the rules are never given. It is all by inference from the specificexample.In general it seems to be "look at the house, (the sign if not using Whole House

s) the planets in it, and the lord of the house (and possibly the aspects he ismaking?). " And then fit to the narrative.e.g: age 20 Ascendant moves to 9th House Gemini (Whole Sign)



9th house so travel (possibly also Gemini?)Venus in 9th House and rules ascendant . So self initiates travel.Jupiter also in 9th, and rules the sixth. Therefore sixth house matters brought to bear. Dealt with 'lowbrow' people. (note Jupiter will rule TWO Houses)Lord of the year == Mercury who is in 11th , so 11th house issues are connectedto travel. He traveled for friends, and made more friends.My big problem with this is that it indicates that every single human ever born

will deal with 1st house issues in the 12th year, second house issues in the 13th year etc.

Note: that if you use absolute 30 degrees, you get the same degree of the ascendant in the next sign.

Chapter 14: A Case StudyStep 1: Look at the benefics. House location. In the 9th. Advantageous for the native (i.e not in 2,6,8,12). But in cadent house (so weak).Step 2: Look at condition of benefics. Both are peregrine, and in mutable (bothGemini) signs. So restlessness and a feeling of being out of place.Step 3: Likewise malefics. Mars located in 8th, Saturn located in 11th. Both hav

e good *dynamic* strength (since succedent houses), but Mars is not in an advantageous position (8th). And Saturn is destructive in the 11th (so friendships etc as seen)Step 4: Look at cardinality of angles, Sun, Moon, LoA. Angles are all cardinal.Sun is Cardinal (Cancer) Moon is mutable (Gemini). Lord of Ascendant (Venus) in mutable sign (Gemini)

Therefore the native has a lot of change and shifting about in life.Cadence of benefics and Succedents of malefics indicate that overall conventional goods will be more fleeting (but not nonexistent)

Note: The analysis of the chart, while it all 'hangs together' is very "rabbit o

ut of a hat" -ey.I think the right thing to do is to calculate the dignity of all the planets, (and possibly the elemental and mode balance) and then systematically go house byhouse.Then use profections (or transits or progressions or whatever) to lay out what is coming up in the near future.

notes on Ben Dykes astrology text

Documents

Transcript of notes on Ben Dykes astrology text