Note: For references, I utilized the version of the cosmopolitan Tetrabiblos from the anthologist 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 – more specifically I will refer this article to the Book IV; Introduction (1), page 95 [London, Davis and Dickson; 1822].

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I. Introduction

Book IV is the last book of the astrological quadripartite/treatise. 

“The foregoing [previous topics/chapters] may be taken as what can be learned by investigation of matters antecedent to the nativity and contemporary with it [before and actual birth], together with such of those posterior to the nativity [post-natal] as properly apply to the constitution of the subject by disclosing the general quality of his temperament. Among external accidentals [the influence or not that you have over things we can’t control], which should be treated next in order, the discussion of the fortune of both riches and honor [rank] comes first; and as material fortune is associated with the properties of the body, so honor belongs to those of the soul.” – you can read more about the subdivision of the science in Book III, Chapter 3.

The antagonist first set together the topics of wealth & rank, employment, marriage & children, friends & enmities, abroad journeys, then the quality of death (which could easily be read as a continuation from Chapter 10 of Book III) and finally the general Chronocrators Division of Times. In this book, he also talks about Profections and Annual Solar Revolutions and monthly time lords, but won’t point out specifically what technique, leading me with no choice but to accept Ptolemy was aware of the various applications that the professional could be applying to.

At this final Book, Scientist Ptolemy finishes with order or sequence of predictions, and this is the first time in the manual that is cited the word Chronocrators (in the last Chapter), making general prognostics based on time lords, Hyleg and finnally transits/ingresses of the planets as last resource, which will indicate when such things/events from the natal promises will be quite evident to the native experiencing such chart/radix.

I have a final word for that, or a picture, a motion picture that you can create in your mind in order to vizualizy the importance of the sequence of prediction: imagine that the Moon is a big ballon that you want to touch and somehow that is possible, than you throw a hook with a with huge cord which you are holding to push it back to you. As you push the Moon towards you with a bit of a strenght, the more the Moon is closest, it becomes clear as crystal, all the details are now just right in from of you as you keep pushing it closer and closer, all that circle and its silhouette is now well visibiable enugh and you can even see the now all the deformation from the asteroids, the scars of the Moon throughout time. When it is finnaly down to earth, you can now touch the star and feel it with your own hand, and make the final words/claims from the result of all the sequence.

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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.)

Ptolemy’s Tetrabiblos, Or Quadripartite: Being Four Books Or The Influence Of The Stars. – Translated From The Greek Paraphrase Of Proclus