Jenny Dusky Considerations

In Book III of Tetrabiblos, the geographer Ptolemy jumps from Universal Prognostications to Genethliacal Doctrine. However, Ptolemy thinks that Universal happening are always superior to what happens individually, simple because we are ought to feel the effect of Astrology in mass. 

In the Book III of Tetrabiblos, we’ll learn the Ptolemy’s way of reading and judging a native’s Radix.

I. Introduction

That what is Universal/Mundane: At the introduction of Book III of Tetrabiblos, the sharp antagonist wanted to make sure we learn that Universal and Genethliacal divisions can be quite distinctive from another, to the point of not having the same starting point to investigate qualities at from mundane to individual/genethliacal level, but still reminds us that universal/mundane conditions are “greater and independent”, and they share many starting points as we have seen in Book II since “we have no single one for the universe” – That is, global events that affects it all “for we investigate practically all the starting-points presented by the more complete [total?] eclipses and the significant passages of the planets.”

That what is the Genethlialogy: “…In predictions affecting individual men, however, we have both one and many starting-points. The one is the beginning of the temperament itself, for this we have; and the many are the successive significances of the ambients which are relative to this first beginning, though to be sure the single starting-point is naturally in this case of greatest importance because it produces the others. As this is so, the general characteristics of the temperament are determined from the first starting point, while by means of the others we predict events that will come about at specific times [Time Lords] and vary in degree, following the so called ages of life [the last chapter of last Book IV of the Treatise].”

– The Conception, and the Parturition, or Birth; by which latter Event the Animal quits the Womb, and assumes another State of Existence

Animals have no intentions and act purely on instincts, they have no ideas or thoughts like humans, nevertheless they are also creatures in sync with what is above. We, on the other hand, we are not things or a tornado – we are people with intelligence, consciousness and intentions. Humans therefore, different from animals, have the gift to rationalize and put things into order, immitating actions and intentions of the planets in a sublunary format.

The world directs itself to us and we direct ourselves to the world, it is now a matter of intuition followed by observation & results. Whatever is born or idealized here on Earth, shall have its permanent diversed quality marked in a moment in time and space. 

Now, should we take the chart of the moment something is idealized or when commenced?

Ptolemy seems rather confused what to prefer: should one prefer the genethliacal chart date & time of conception [the time of ejaculation/impregnation] instead of firth independent breath a baby takes out of the womb?

Although the author recognized the Chart of the moment of Birth holding similar power, he would still point how important it is to first have the Radix of Conception if time is ascertained. Such chart (of conception) will indicate how the birth (chart) will take place.

At the end, he tells us he will write the Book III as if the Birth Time is known. 

Primary Beginning; The Time of Conception: “(…) For to the seed [sperm into the egg] is given once and for all at the beginning such and such qualities by the endowment of the ambient [that is, the position of the stars and planets at the moment of conception/inception]; and even though it may change as the body subsequently grows, since by natural process it mingles with itself in the process of growth only matter which is akin to itself, thus it resembles even more closely the type of its initial quality.”

Secondary Beginning; The Time of Birth: Ptolemy knows this may be a difficult task and says to use the alternative chart of the moment of birth instead. If you don’t know the time of conception “we must follow the starting point furnished by the moment of birth and give to this our attention, for it too is of great importance and falls abort of the former only in this respect that by the former it is possible to have foreknowledge also of events preceding birth.” – Now, if the conception is the source, the moment of birth is the true beginning of an independent soul and yet secondary “but it is equal [similar] or rather even more perfect in potentiality [because we take our first independent breath, instead of a project of a person], and with reasonable propriety would the former be called the genesis of human seed and the latter the genesis of a man. For the child at birth and his bodily form take on many additional attributes which he did not have before, when he was in the womb, those very Ones indeed which belong to human nature alone”.

The Date/Time of Generation or Date/Time of Birth are essential for astrologers wanting to see peculiars and potentials in someone’s future. It is from such radixes the professional can be more assertive, study possible varieties and what is or will be in store. It is the mark of the stars at the moment of conception or time of birth into this world apart from the mothers’ warm womb, screaming like Mars in a winning battle, a victory has taken place, a person has been born and will soon be ready to fight with ones’ own voice, image and intentions. When we are born, others’ proprieties are necessary in order to live, there is no womb protecting and doing things for us anymore.

Holding Potential: I think now Ptolemy explains that Genethliacal division is not much causative like the weather and the universal prognostications, but rather a form of potential to be explored and experienced: “… not for the reason that it is causative in the full sense, but that of necessity and by nature it bas potentially very similar causative power.”

A Manifold System: Since humans are in an “infinite” journey through the skies (while playing & resting in this Earth ship), and unknownlingly they are influenced by the universal/mundane conditions, the combination of the stars are too vast, and accuracy may be a laborious work for the astrologer “…because it is manifold and well-nigh infinite, if One wishes to recount it with accuracy.” – however, I would add, most of the time an overall picture can be clear as crystal even for those ignorant on the subject, becoming rather too obvious, and people may disregard it as “myth” then a real phenomenon, even on the face of evidence let’s put it. “Besides, it depends much more upon the particular attempts of those who make their inquiries directly from nature [just from observation?] than of those who can theorize [make a conjecture or postulate] on the basis of the traditions…”

A Sytem that Points: Ptolemy ends the introduction of Book III of Tetrabiblos talking about denotation, that is, it points without actually affecting [?] (as opposed to Mundane Astrology as he made it clear in Book II) and yet what it points out, simple holds a potential to be experienced and explored, saying that “Our preface shall be an account of the places in the heavens to which reference is made when particular human events are theoretically considered, a kind of mark at which One must aim before proceeding further…”

The Skillful Archer: He continues talking about going further with astrology along with the operation of the planets in the Zodiac and the need of mastering the art by the archer/astrologer that must have in mind to always try to “hit the mark”, while utilizying methodology and a certain order concerning prognastications: “…to this we shall add a general discussion of the active powers of the heavenly bodies that gain kinship with these places by dominating them – the loosing of the arrow, as it were [as if the planets were shooting/setting something free towards the signs]; but the predicted result, summed up by the combination of many elements applied to the underlying form, we shall leave, as to a skilful archer [the astrologers who understand these shootings let’s say it], to the calculation of him who conducts the investigation…”

The Horoscope Point & The Major Mark: The Book III begins with the degree of the Horoscope point [point as the Asc]: “First, then, we shall discuss in proper sequence the general matters the consideration of which is accomplished through the time of birth taken as the starting-point, for, as we have said, this furnishes an explanation of all natural events, but, if One is willing to take the additional trouble, by the same reasoning the properties that fall at the time of conception will also be of aid toward ascertaining the peculiar qualities that apply directly to the combination.”

—

References

Go back to Ptolemy’s Way and read the references