Of the Degree Ascending

The astrologer but not exactly practitioner of the art Ptolemy, now wants us to give attention to the old instrumentation of the hour of any genethliacal horoscope [Ascendant]: “Difficulty often arises with regard to the first and most important fact, that is, the fraction of the hour of the birth; for in general only observation by means of horoscopic astrolabes at the time of birth can for scientific observers give the minute of the hour, while practically all other horoscopic instruments on which the majority of the more careful practitioners rely are frequently capable of error, the solar instruments by the occasional shifting of their positions or of their gnomons, and the water clocks by stoppages and irregularities in the flow of the water from different causes and by mere chance…” – These kind of instruments are no longer necessary in modern society of astrologers, due to techonology evolved.

Although he won’t say there are at least 3 considerations soon after the birth hour is given, I could count at least 3 overall considerations he wrote below before he digs deeper into the reading of a genethliacal chart through the Ascendant’s degree. Read it by yourself and take your own conclusions:

The Horoscope (Asc): “… It would therefore be necessary that an account first be given how one might, by natural and consistent reasoning, discover the Degree of the Zodiac which should be rising, given the degree of the known hour nearest the event, which is discovered by the method of ascensions [Ecliptical Degrees on the Celestial Equator].”

The Syzygy: “We must, then, take the [lunation] syzygy  most recently preceding the birth, whether it be a New Moon or a Full Moon; and, likewise having ascertained the degree accurately, of both the luminaries if it is a New Moon, and if it is a Full Moon that of the one of them that is above the earth [choose the Luminary “above” Earth], we must see what stars rule it at the time of the birth.”

The Dominating Planet: The dominating planet may not be necessarily the Ruler of the Ascendant, but the one with trine, in domicile or exaltation, in its own term, position relative to the Asc as well as to the degrees of the Syzygy. Ptolemy own words:“In general the mode of domination is considered as falling under these live forms: when it is trine, house, exaltation, term, and phase or aspect [to the Asc and/or the Syzygy’s Degrees]; that is, whenever the place in question is related in one or several or all of these ways to the star that is to be the ruler [choose the one with more of the aforesaid].

I am pretty sure Ptolemy just talked about the Almudebit, or the Victorious of the chart.

– If, then, we discover that One star is familiar with the degree [of the Asc and/or the Syzygy’s Degrees] in all or most of these respects [and thus, the dominating Planet], whatever degree this star by accurate reckoning occupies in the sign through which it is passing, we shall judge that the corresponding degree is rising at the time of the nativity in the sign which is found to be closest by the method of ascensions.

When it is a Tie: – But if we discover two or more co-rulers [he means two to more planets tie up as the Dominator of the Radix], we shall use the number of degrees shown by whichever of them is, at the time of birth, passing through the degree that is closer to that which is rising according to the ascensions [choose the planet closer (partile/assembly)  to the degree of the Ascendant].

Mind the Sect: – But if two or more are close in the number of degrees, we shall follow the one, which is most nearly related to the centres and the sect [suppose many planets show the same respect towards the Asc and all of them show equivalence to be dominating planet, chose the one which is actually in Sect]. 

– If, however, the distance of the degree occupied by the ruler from that of the general horoscope [Ruler/Lord of the Asc] is greater than its distance from that of the corresponding mid-heaven, we shall use this same number to constitute the midlevel and thereby establish the other angles [is this last part Ptolemy talking about quadrant house system?].”

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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.)