Considerations

Curious enough, in only a few lines and in a single paragraph, Ptolemy resumed Decans, Chariots and Planetary Joys. It is now more of planetary configuration involving the Zodiac Signs than vice-versa which he couldn’t care less to describe which I can’t comprehend why. 

This is about attributing familiarities in the Zodiac, that/those which is/are familiar to a Planet in a particular Zodiac Sign.

Of Faces, Chariots, and the Like [According to Egyptian Ptolemy]

Faces – “Such, then, are the natural affinities of the Stars and the Signs of the Zodiac. The planets are said to be in their “proper face” when an individual planet keeps to the Sun or Moon the same aspect which its house has to their houses; as, for example, when Venus is in sextile to the luminaries, provided that she is occidental to the Sun and oriental to the Moon, in accordance with the original arrangement of their houses.”

Now, I don’t know why geographer Ptolemy gave such an exotic explanation for the Faces, but they are simple the Decans of the Zodiac Signs – Let Jupiter be the first 10° degrees of Capricorn, or, the last 10° degrees of Libra which ‘contain’ the “Face of Mars”, etc. there are the divisions part where Jupiter rules by Decans. It was in the fourth century CE that Paulus Alexandrinus matched the “Faces” to the Decans meaning, two centuries later Ptolemy’s – accordingly to Porphyry.

However, Ptolemy does add an intersting information about Faces, which is when a planet is in a house (Zodiac Sign) which resembles their aspect to the Sun-Moon. For example, Jupiter is said to be in his own Face when in Trine to the (3 signs apart from) Sun or Moon, provided it is occidental to the Sun while oriental to the Moon. Mars 4 signs apart, Venus 6 signs apart and Mercury 1 sign apart while Saturn 5 signs after the Sun and/or before the Moon.

Chariots – “They are said to be in their own “chariots” and “thrones” and the like when they happen to have familiarity in two or more of the aforesaid ways with the places in which they are found; for then their power is most increased in effectiveness by the similarity and co-operation of the kindred property of the signs which contain them.”

This is how powerful a Star can be according to criteria thus far presented in Book I of Ptolemy, if a Star/Planet is in domicile, Triplicity or mainly in Exaltation and at the same time in its own Terms, shall the Star than be in her own Chariots, or its own Throne, the star than is said to be in triumph. 

In addition, also, let the planet be at the Heart of the Sun [Cazimi] no more than 17’ minutes [conjunction to the Sun], there you have quite a boosted and powerful planet. Now, accordingly to Porphyry, if the planet is oriental to the Sun and aspects the Moon at the same time, the native will have power and something to rule about.

Planetary Joys – “They say they “rejoice” when, even though the containing signs have no familiarity with the stars themselves, nevertheless they have it with the stars of the same sect; in this case the sympathy arises less directly. They share, however, in the similarity in the same way; just as, on the contrary, when they are found in alien regions belonging to the opposite sect, a great part of their proper power is paralyzed, because the temperament which arises from the dissimilarity of the signs produces a different and adulterated nature.”

The author gave a simple explanation for the Joys of the Planets in the Houses of the Zodiac [Mercury in the Asc, Moon in the 3rd, Venus in the 5th, Mars in the 6th, Sun in the 9th, Jupiter in the 11th and Saturn well hidden in the 12th place] –  while pointing out the obvious, saying that for example, Mars could be in any sign as long as it is below the horizon and more so in the 6th house, where because of its Sect, its malefic energy is somewhat “paralyzed” and re-directed. But, let Mars be above the horizon in a diurnal chart with the blazing Sun, it shall encourage destructiveness while inclined to troubles, it simple enchances its corrupted qualities.

Conclusion

Ptolemy omitted so many things in this chapter which is quite disappointing actually. Was he in a hurry to jump to Book II? Didn’t he buy the Joys and Decans? What happened in here?

Well, I am a fan of Planetary Sects and Joys; they are simple conditions which makes the initial judgment easier and ‘right to the guts’ some way or another. 

What about you? Do you work with what kind of division rather than just the usual 12th Zodiac signs? Do you prefer Decans or Terms Lords? Should there be a preference? Shouldn’t we utilize both?

I confess I am not a user of Decans, and although I know how great and aiding they can be to an investigation, I prefer to use the Terms as the second main division in the astrological wheels I work with, the first being the Zodiac wheel and its sign in order from the Asc to the 12th place. Perhaps in the future I will begin using the Decans, never know!

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References

Tetrabiblos Ptolemy’s four books of the influence of the stars [or the Quadripartite Mathematical Treatise] translated from the Greek paraphrase of Proclus by j. m. Ashmand – [London, Davis and Dickson; 1822]

Ptolemy. Tetrabiblos. Translated by F. E. Robbins. Loeb Classical Library 435. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1940.

Porphyry The Philosopher – Introduction To The Tetrabiblos & Serapio Of Alexandria; Astrological Definitions (Translated from the Greek by ] James Herschel Holden, M.A.)

A History of Western Astrology; Tester, S. J. [page 64; Boydell Press, 1999]