Calculating Lifespan
Ptolemy outlines a method for calculating an individual''s lifespan based on astrological principles. The four primary elements considered are the Sun, Moon, Ascendant (Rising Sign), and the Part of Fortune. When analyzing a natal chart for lifespan, special emphasis is placed on the Sun if the birth occurred during daylight hours. If the Sun is not in a favorable position, the Moon is given more weight. If neither the Sun nor Moon are in favorable positions, the planet with the most "lordship" aspects to the Sun is prioritized.
In Greek astrology, certain signs are considered to have "long" or "short" ascensions. For Greece, the "long" ascendant signs are Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, and Sagittarius — these require a relatively longer time to rise compared to the average. The "short" ascendant signs are Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, Taurus, and Gemini, requiring less time to rise.
The "favorable" point (Apheta) is typically the Sun or Moon, and in some cases, the Ascendant or the Part of Fortune. In rarer instances, another planet may be designated as the Apheta. Following the identification of the Apheta, the "detrimental" planet (Anareta — the one that subtracts from life) must be identified. This is usually one of the two malefics: Mars or Saturn.
In addition to the detrimental planets, the natal chart also contains detrimental degrees. When analyzing a daytime chart, the only detrimental degree is found on the western horizon, as this is where the planet of life sets. Any planets encountered or receiving aspects from this planet simply add or subtract years from the lifespan already calculated up to the setting of the planet of life.
When the Apheta in the natal chart is the Moon, the location of the Sun is considered "detrimental" (harmful to life). All other planets, besides the Apheta and Anareta, function according to the circumstances and can either harm or protect the individual''s life.
To predict the lifespan of an infant, first identify if any planets are located in "favorable" (aphetic) or "detrimental" (anaretic) positions. Aphetic positions are considered to be within 30 degrees of the Ascendant (5 degrees above the horizon and 25 degrees below), as well as the 30 degrees of the "Good Fortune" point, the Midheaven, and the Nadir. To determine the primary aphetic point, the hemisphere below the horizon is disregarded, except for the 25 degrees of the Ascendant.
The Mother''s Fate
Ptolemy explains how to infer information about the mother''s life and death by studying the individual''s own natal chart.
If Mars forms an aspect with Venus, Mars can indicate the mother''s death due to unknown or mysterious fevers, or from a sudden illness.
Saturn in aspect with the Moon can signify illnesses and the mother''s death. When the Moon rises, it can bring about fever, chills, and even death, as well as ulcers on the neck and swellings.
Diseases and Afflictions
In the horoscope, one can identify the diseases caused by the planets. Ptolemy mentions specific planetary combinations that can cause blindness:
- When the Moon is in the Ascendant, Descendant, or the 6th house, and simultaneously makes a conjunction or opposition with the Sun, it can cause blindness in one eye.
- The Moon can also cause partial blindness when it makes a conjunction or opposition with the Sun and enters one of the nebular constellations — either the Crab Nebula, the Pleiades, or when it is at the tip of the Sagittarius arrow, or in the tail of Scorpio.
When the benefic planets "outweigh" the malefic planets — that is, when they are in strong positions within the horoscope, in signs they rule or where they have exaltation — the diseases will manifest in milder forms. They won''t disfigure the person, make them unattractive, or deplete their vitality. If the benefic planets are located on the eastern side of the horoscope, the diseases that affect the person will be relatively easy to treat.
When planets are in the last degrees of signs, and none of the benefic planets form aspects with the malefic planets or the angular "lights" (Ascendant, Descendant, Midheaven, Nadir), the diseases and chronic conditions will be painful and incurable. The same will happen when the benefic planets are "overwhelmed" by malefic planets that are in signs they rule or where they have exaltation.
When malefic planets are in the Midheaven and "overwhelm" the lights or are in opposition to each other, the person will have disfigurements from falls, attacks by robbers, or wild animals. If Mars is dominant, the disfigurements will come from fire, injuries from fights, or attacks by robbers. If Saturn is dominant, the disfigurements will come from collapse, spasms, or shipwreck.
Each planet can heal diseases in its own way. Venus, in a way, makes even the less serious diseases that affect the person beautiful and graceful. It also heals chronic conditions with treatments sent by the gods. If Venus makes a conjunction with Saturn, the healing comes through public exposure of the diseases, through confessions. If Venus makes a conjunction with Mercury, the healing comes through the help of others — and with this conjunction, the patient can benefit from their own illness.
Jupiter helps people with financial problems because, as a benevolent planet, it provides them with money, recognition, and status. In this way, Jupiter can heal people from the illnesses they suffer. If Jupiter forms a conjunction with Mercury, people may be healed through medication or with the help of science.
The Quality of the Soul
By analyzing someone''s astrological chart, we can learn about the qualities of their soul. Claudius Ptolemy explains how each planet influences the soul of a person when it is in a strategic position in their chart. Note that the signs in which Mercury and the Moon are located — as well as the planets that "dominate" those signs — carry particular weight.
The mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces) make people complex, adaptable, superficial, prone to instability and flightiness, ambiguous, romantic, lovers of art, sensitive, and inventive, but also prone to regret.
The cardinal signs — Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn — generally give people''s souls a "democratic" quality. They push them towards politics and interaction with the masses. They make them ambitious, deeply religious, intelligent, and dynamic. They encourage research and make them particularly insightful. They also give them intuition and encourage them to pursue astrology and divination.
If the planets that govern a person''s soul are located in "places" in the chart that are naturally friendly or related to those planets, or that belong to the same "sect," then they give the person an open and free character, with the ability to achieve great things and succeed. Conversely, if the planets are located in places that are not related to them, they will exert their influence on the person''s soul in an incomplete and ineffective way, creating confusion.
When planets in a person''s chart are stationary in the western part of the chart, and Mercury and Venus are setting (for those born during the day) or rising (for those born at night), these elements predispose the person to explore the hidden and the invisible. These planetary positions give rise to magicians, people who research the esoteric, astronomers, manufacturers of instruments and machines, miracle workers, astrologers, philosophers, diviners, and dream interpreters.
Mercury: When Mercury governs the soul and is in a challenging position in the birth chart, it can make the individual cunning, deceitful, forgetful, impulsive, fickle, superficial, reckless, sinful, a liar, indifferent, unstable, unfaithful, opportunistic, unjust, and generally indecisive, prone to making wrong judgments.
Venus: When Venus strongly influences the soul and is simultaneously in a challenging position in the birth chart, it can make the individual particularly lazy, overly emotional, sentimental, flirtatious, and effeminate (in men), cowardly, insensitive, corrupt, judgmental towards others, insignificant, and blameworthy in many ways.
Mars: When Mars "rules" the soul and is in a favorable position in the birth chart, it makes people brave, glorious, passionate, lovers of weapons, robust, versatile, daring, rebellious, sharp-witted, stubborn, arrogant, disdainful, tyrannical, energetic, angry, and assertive. In a challenging position, it can make people harsh, brutal, abusive, prone to chaos and violence, impulsive, greedy, ruthless, merciless, malicious, disturbed, manic, enemies of their parents, and atheists.
Jupiter and Venus: When Jupiter forms an aspect with Venus and is simultaneously in a favorable position in the birth chart, it gives the person a love of beauty, elegance, pleasure, children, music, and singing. It makes them loyal and affectionate towards their caregivers, with good character, willing to do good, compassionate, kind, empathetic, respectful of the gods, pious, innocent, athletic, modest in love, charming, magnanimous, wise, generous, lovers of knowledge and justice, connected to their parents, and generally full of virtues.
Jupiter and Mars: When Jupiter forms an aspect with Mars and is simultaneously in a favorable position, it makes the person rough, combative, organized, hot-tempered, rebellious, restless, bold, honest, open, practical, questioning, capable of achieving, boastful, arrogant, cunning, dynamic, a victor, but also magnanimous, ambitious, passionate, insightful, and capable of achieving their goals.
Eastern aspects that form on the Ascendant predispose the individual to be free, simple, confident, dynamic, faithful, and intelligent, giving them an open and insightful personality. Planets located stationary in the eastern part of the birth chart and on the Midheaven bestow the individual with high reasoning abilities, a good memory, perseverance, magnanimity, and the ability to achieve their goals. They also make individuals rigid, harsh, distrustful, prone to punishment, and with scientific aptitude.
Planets located to the west of the Ascendant, and those that are retrograde, make people changeable, unstable, weak, easily fatigued, emotional, cowardly, cunning, impudent, foolish, and clumsy. Planets that are stationary on the western side of the birth chart and in the "Underworld," along with Mercury and Venus setting (for those born during the day) or rising (for those born at night), give the individual intelligence, temperance, a poor memory, and make them avoid things that are strenuous.
Mental Illness
Claudius Ptolemy explains which elements in the birth chart cause mental illnesses and how they are treated. In general, the most severe illnesses are caused by the so-called "malefic" planets (Mars, Saturn), especially when they are in strategically important positions in the birth chart, such as the Ascendant, the Midheaven, etc. Conversely, the "benefic" planets (Venus, Jupiter) cause illnesses of moderate intensity, regardless of their position in the birth chart. The "Luminaries" (Sun, Moon) are capable of causing illnesses of great intensity.
When the Sun and Mars rule the same "place" in the chart, they cooperate to cause insanity in the individual. When Jupiter and Mercury rule the same "place" in the chart, they cooperate to cause epilepsy. Venus in that position brings prophetic tendencies and public confessions. Finally, Saturn and the Moon cause alterations in the body''s fluids and also demonic possession.
Certain specific planetary configurations are responsible for the mental illnesses of people. When Mars and Venus are in a masculine sign in a birth chart, they make the woman lascivious and lead her to same-sex relationships. When only Venus is in a masculine "space," women will behave in this way secretly rather than openly. However, if Mars is also in a masculine space, they will have no inhibitions.
Aspects that usually lead a couple to separation: When the Luminaries of the two members of the relationship form mutual aspects, in which some malefic planets also participate, then the cohabitation is harmful and painful for both, full of conflicts and disgust of one towards the other.
Wealth and Social Standing
Claudius Ptolemy addresses the issue of wealth in his 4th book. If the planets that "govern" the House of Fortune are in a good position in the birth chart, they bring great wealth, especially when they form favorable aspects with the Luminaries.
- Saturn enriches the individual through construction work, agriculture, or maritime activities.
- Jupiter brings wealth through financial credit, by caring for orphans and widows, and through clerical professions.
- Mars bestows wealth upon an individual when they pursue military professions and engage in warfare.
A person will be highly regarded socially and fortunate if both of their "luminaries" (Sun and Moon) are in masculine signs and are "surrounded" by the five planets that form a favorable aspect with the angles of the visible hemisphere. If the Sun is in a masculine sign and the Moon is in a feminine sign, and one of the luminaries is at an angle, the individual will become an influential leader, possessing the power to impact the lives of those around them.
The degree of social acceptance is also determined by the quality of the planets that "surround" the luminaries. If Saturn is the ruling planet of the surrounding planets, the individual will gain power through wealth, constant accumulation of money, and assets. If Jupiter or Venus are the ruling planets, the individual will gain power through honors, gifts, recognition from important figures, and generosity.
Professions
The zodiac signs that house the planets governing an individual''s career can influence the range of professional options available to them, depending on whether they are human-like, animal-like, etc. Tropical and equatorial signs lead individuals towards professions involving translation, trade, calculations, measurements, agricultural work, and religion.
If the zodiacal "location" indicating a profession is occupied by the Moon moving away from the Sun, and Mercury is in Sagittarius or Pisces, the individuals become necromancers and demon summoners. If Mercury is in Virgo or Scorpio, the individuals become magicians, astrologers, prophets, and mediums. If Mercury is in Libra, Aries, or Leo, the individuals become dream interpreters, exorcists, and generally individuals inspired by the divine.
When the planets significant for professional matters are located in the eastern part of the horoscope or generally at the "angles" of the horoscope, they favor independent professions. When they are located in the western part or generally at angular points, they lead the individual towards non-independent professions, making them an employee working for others, or employed in the public sector.
Regarding an individual''s professional inclinations, special attention should be given to the planets Mars, Venus, and Mercury. If Mercury forms an aspect with Saturn, the individual will manage the assets of others in a professional capacity, interpret dreams, or frequent temples, where they will interpret prophecies. If Mercury forms an aspect with Jupiter, the individual will become a lawyer, orator, or even a sophist, pursuing this activity in high social circles.
When Venus and Mars "dominate" this area, individuals become dyers, perfumers, metalworkers (especially of tin, lead, and gold), farmers, dancers with weapons, pharmacists, and doctors who use medicines for therapeutic purposes. When Venus and Mars form an aspect with Jupiter, individuals become temple administrators, interpreters of omens, carriers of sacred symbols in processions, guardians of women, mediators of marriages and partnerships.
Love and Marriage
Ptolemy examines what kind of husband a woman will marry based on the aspects formed by her Venus:
- If Venus forms a conjunction with Saturn, she will marry a taciturn and reserved husband who may be unwilling to fulfill his marital duties.
- If Venus forms a conjunction with Mars, her husband will have a passionate and impulsive character, but he may also be unfaithful.
- If Venus forms a conjunction with Mercury, this woman may frequently become the object of romantic desire, even for teenagers or children.
In the Tetrabiblos, Ptolemy explains the astrological factors that govern a person''s romantic behavior. When the planet Mars forms an aspect only with Venus, or with Venus and Jupiter simultaneously — without forming an aspect with Saturn — and both Mars and Venus are in the western hemisphere of the horoscope, men are exclusively attracted to women. However, if the aforementioned planets are in feminine signs, men develop excessively feminine traits and become passive.
In the case of women, we should observe Venus. If a woman''s Venus forms an aspect with Jupiter or with Mercury, she will be chaste and pure in the romantic sphere. If Saturn does not form an aspect with her Venus, but Mercury does, women develop desires, but they are generally cautious and sensible, avoiding anything that is base. If Saturn also participates and is simultaneously in a feminine sign, it can lead to indecent behavior.
Venus in conjunction with Mars creates a strong romantic attraction. However, if Venus, Mars, and Mercury all form aspects together, scandals may occur. When Venus and Mars are in "compatible" and related signs (such as Capricorn and Pisces), relationships may form within the family environment, and often between siblings or other relatives.
Children and Friendships
When the planets that favor the birth of children are isolated in the 10th and 11th houses, it indicates one child. In mutable and feminine signs, it indicates two children. When they are in the "fertile" signs — namely Pisces, Scorpio, and Cancer — it indicates more than two children.
Ptolemy explains which astrological factors create friendships and how these change over time. Friendships often begin according to the planetary transits in the individuals'' horoscopes. When the planets Jupiter and Saturn transit important points in the horoscopes, friendships may develop through introductions by others or through issues related to agriculture or inheritance.
Venus and Mars, when transiting important points in their respective horoscopes, can lead to relationships driven by romantic attraction, infidelity, or improper connections. These relationships often involve risk and a lack of ethical restraint.
Ptolemy also explains how astrology influences the relationship between superiors and subordinates. In such cases, examining the sign of the 12th house (the "Bad Daemon") and the planets making aspects to it — both at the time of birth and during transits — is essential, particularly when the ruling planets of this house form aspects to the important "places" in the horoscope.
Travel
In the 8th paragraph of the 4th chapter of the Tetrabiblos, Ptolemy discusses travel. If the "lights" (Sun-Moon) of an individual are located in the eastern quarter of their horoscope, their travels will primarily be towards the east or south (provided there are inhabited areas in those directions).
If the lights are in the western quarter or transit over the western sign, their travels will primarily be towards the west or north.
If the signs related to travel in a person''s horoscope are ruled by Saturn and Mars (both considered unfavorable planets) — especially if these two planets form an opposition to the lights — the individual''s travels will not yield positive results. Instead, they will be filled with adventures and dangers.
Death
Chapter 9 of the 4th book analyzes the type of death an individual will experience, based on the indications in their horoscope.
If Mars is responsible, death may occur due to prolonged fevers, fevers occurring every day and a half, sudden wounds, nephritis, nosebleeds, hemorrhages, miscarriages, difficult childbirths, erysipelas, epidemics, or generally diseases that lead to fever and a high body temperature.
Meteorology
According to Ptolemy, when cloud formations — such as the manger constellation or similar patterns — are difficult to distinguish in the night sky, or are completely invisible, or are visible but appear "swollen," rain should be expected. Conversely, if these cloud formations are unusually bright or pulsating and trembling, strong winds are likely.
In addition to eclipses, comets are also significant omens, as they bring about important events. If the shape of a comet resembles a bean, trumpet, or basket, the results will be similar to those of Mars and Mercury. Major droughts and atmospheric disturbances may occur, as well as wars. The direction of the comet''s tail and the zodiac sign it is in play a significant role.
Another method of weather prediction according to Ptolemy: For each New Moon or Full Moon, we create the corresponding horoscope, using the exact time of occurrence. This horoscope contains indications of the type of weather that will prevail during the following month. If the New Moon or Full Moon occurs immediately after the equinoxes or solstices, then we must also consider the horoscopes of the next three New Moons or Full Moons.
To accurately predict the weather, in addition to the theoretical study of horoscopes, we must observe the Sun each morning to form a picture of the weather that will prevail during the day. Observing the Sun at sunset gives us an indication of the weather that will prevail during the night. These direct observations should also take into account the phase of the Moon.
When the Moon is dark, greenish, or "swollen," it foretells rain and storms. If there is a halo — a bright ring around the Moon — that is clear and gradually fades, then the weather will be calm. If there are two or three halos around the Moon, it foretells a storm. If the halos are red and "broken," it foretells strong winds and storms.
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