The Beginnings of Natal AnalysisMajor Components

I. Analysis of the Planets.The various conditions of the planets in themselves.

II. Analysis of the Houses.The rulers or almutens of houses and their relationship tothe house.

III. The Questions, or CategoriesThe major questions one asks of a natal chart.

An Important Distinction:Essential Dignity and Rulership

This distinction exists in modern astrology. Essential dignity has to do with a particular kind (see next slide) of goodness (dignity) or badness (debility) of planetary condition depending upon its relationship to the sign or portion of a sign that it is in.

When a planet is essentially dignified in a sign or portion of a sign, it has an effect upon that sign or portion even when it is not in it. When referring to an entire sign or house, it is called rulership. When it refers to a portion of a sign or a degree it is more commonly called disposition.

The Almuten – I● Originally 'al-mubtaz' in Arabic. Means the

“winner”.● It is the planet that has the most points of disposition

in a single degree, group of degrees, or range of degrees.

● The concept, if not the actual technical term, is found in Prolemy.

● If there is an almuten of a degree or house cusp that is not the same as the domicile ruler, it is usually more important than the domicile ruler for the affairs of the house.

The Almuten – II● Almutens may be derived from the degrees of many

different points in the chart. A system of signi-ficators was derived from this method that goes back at least to the 8th century. This will be demonstrated in later material in this workshop with a few of the simpler ones.

I. Analysis of the Planets1. Essential Dignity and Reception.

Essential Dignity or Debility arises from the relationship of the planet to the sign it is in. It affects the ability of the planet to express its authentic nature on its own. All other dignities/debilities are accidental dignities/debilities.

Reception is technically an accidental dignity but it has a similar effect to an essential dignity but it is a borrowed dignity. Reception exists when a planet makes a major aspect to one of its major rulers. A planet's condition is improved when it is received.

I. Analysis of the Planets 2. Planetary Sect – i

All planets belong to one of two sects.

The Solar or Diurnal Sect is led by the q and includes y, and uin that order. It also includes ewhen rising before the q or aspecting another diurnal planet.

The Lunar or Nocturnal Sect is led by the w and includes t and r in that order. It also includesewhen rising after the q or aspecting another nocturnal planet.

The modern planets have no known sect.

I. Analysis of the Planets 2. Planetary Sect – ii

Diurnal planets work better in diurnal charts.Nocturnal planets work better in nocturnal charts.This is the most important principle.

Diurnal planets work better when on the same side of the horizon as the q.

Nocturnal planets work better when on the opposite side of the horizon as the q.

Diurnal planets work better in diurnal (odd numbered) signs adgzcb.

Nocturnal planets work better in nocturnal (even numbered) signs sfhxvn.

I. Analysis of the Planets 2. Planetary Sect – iii

A peculiar sect issue with the w.

The waxing w (going from new to full) is more benefic when aspecting diurnal planets.

The waning w (going from full to new) is more benefic when aspecting nocturnal planets.

Finally, dignity of sect is an accidental dignity.

I. Analysis of the Planets 3. Aspects – i

1. Only the traditional “Ptolemaic” aspects are used.These are the A S D F &G.

2. In addition the Antiscion (pl. antiscia) and Contra-antiscion are used.

3. In general the traditional doctrine of the F & G as“good” and the S & D as “bad” were followed.The Acould be either. However, a caveat is in order aboutthese distinctions.

I. Analysis of the Planets 3. Aspects – ii

4. “Good” aspects by benefics were regarded as anaccidental dignity

5. “Bad” aspects by malefics were regarded as anaccidental debility.

6. Aspects with reception promoted the “goodness” ofthe aspect one level (Bonatti). S → D → G → F(Conjunctions were neutral.)

I. Analysis of the Planets 4. Solar Phase – Oriental – Occidental

1. Oriental with respect to the q.A planet rises before the q in the morning and setsbefore it in the evening. e&r are referred to asmorning stars in this phase.

2. Occidental with respect to the q.A planet rises after the q in the morning and setsafter it in the evening. e&r are referred to asevening stars in this phase.

3. we&r are dignified when occidental, ty&uare dignified when oriental.

I. Analysis of the Planets5. Speed

1. When a planet is moving faster than its average, it isdignified, when slower, debilitated.

w13` 10' 36” q 0` 59' 08”e 0` 59' 08” t 0` 37' 00”r 0` 59' 08” y 0` 04' 52”

u 0` 02' 01”

2. A planet is also dignified when it is increasing inspeed. Speed is measured forward in the zodiac.Retrograde is negative speed.

I. Analysis of the Planets5. (cont.) Direction, Light, Number

1. Planets should be moving forward in the zodiac, i.e.,direct.

2. Retrograde (moving backward) is said to be animpediment.

3. Planets moving away from the q are said to be“increasing in light”, moving toward the q, they“decreasing in light.” The former is a dignity, thelatter a debility.

4. A planet is said to be “increasing in number” if it is being carried away from the earth on its deferentor epicycle.

II. Analysis of the Houses – A Preliminary Comment

According to both Hellenistic and Medieval sources if two houses have the same domicile rulers and/or almutens, the affairs of those two houses interact with each other. See especially

Ibn Ezra, The Book of Nativities and Their Revolutions.

II. Analysis of the Houses

1. What is the condition of the ruler or almuten of thehouse?

2. Does the ruler or almuten of the house aspect thehouse by major aspect?

3. What planets are in the house?4. Do malefics aspect by hard aspect?5. Do benefics aspect by soft aspect?6. Does the ruler of the house aspect the ruler

(almuten) of the Ascendant?7. Does the ruler or almuten of the house aspect the

Ascendant?

The Idea of the Interrogatory Method

The distinction between natal and horary astrology, which is quite strong in modern astrology was not very strong in medieval astrology. A natal analysis consisted of asking a series of questions about the natal chart and answering them based on the structure of the natal chart.

The main difference is that a bit less emphasis is placed on applications and separations of aspects in natal astrology but these still play a significant role. Also, of course, there is the entire setup of predictive systems which were not used in horary.

III. The Areas of Inquiry – Part 1

1. Parents2. Brothers and Sisters3. Those Who Have Not Grown4. Form, Figure and Constitution of the Body5. Impediments and Infirmities of the Body of the

Native6. Qualities of the Soul of the Native7. Impediments of the Soul8. Fortune and Wealth of the Native

III. The Areas of Inquiry – Part 2

9. Honor and Dignity of the Native10. Native’s Magistery and his Work11. Sexual Unions12. Children and Their Relationship Toward the

Parents13. Native’s Friends and Enemies14. Native’s Foreign Travels and Journeys15. Religion and Faith16. Qualities of the Native’s Death

IV. The Questions – The Father1. The fourth house and its ruler or almuten. We would

also use the sign of the I.C. separately if the I.C. isnot in the fourth house.

2. The sign and house of the q in a daytime birth, thesign and house of u in a nighttime birth and theirrulers or almutens.

3. To a lesser extent we look at the q at all times ofday.

4. The sign, house and ruler or almuten of the Part ofthe Father.Day Part = Asc. +u-qNight Part = Asc. +q-u

IV. The Questions – The Mother1. The tenth house and its ruler or almuten.We would

also use the sign of the Midheaven separately if theMidheaven is not in the tenth sign from theAscendant. This is the same situation as with theI.C. sign for the father.

2. The sign and house of r in a daytime birth, the signand house of the w in a nighttime birth and theirrulers or almutens.

3. The sign, house and ruler or almuten of the Part ofthe Mother.Day Part = Asc. +w-rNight Part = Asc. +r-w

IV. The Questions – Siblings

1. The third house, and its ruler or almuten.2. Both medieval and Hindu Astrology say that the

planet which is the general significator of siblings is t. This will not be used much here. I just list itfor the sake of completeness.

3. The sign, house, and ruler or almuten of the Part ofSiblings.Sources vary. I recommend the following:Day Part = Asc. +u-yNight Part = Asc. +y-uAll sources use some combination of y and u.

IV. The Questions – Those Who Do Not Grow.

We will not cover this in depth because it is an extremely murky area. But there are traditionally four categories of life expectancy.

1. Born dead or takes no nourishment before dying.2. Dies before being weaned.3. Dies by the age of 12.4. All others.

IV. The Questions – Form, Figure and Constitution of the Body

1. The rising sign and its rulers or almutens.2. Planets in the first house.3. Planets which aspect the Ascendant4. The Moon sign.5. Planets which closely aspect the Moon.6. The season of the year.

IV. The Questions – Impediments and Infirmities of the Body of the Native

1. The Ascendant and its ruler or almuten.2. The sixth house and its ruler or almuten.3. The seventh house, and planets in the seventh which

either aspect the Ascendant or planets in the first.4. The Part of Azemene also known as the Part of

Inseparable Infirmities and its ruler or almuten.Day Part = Asc. +t-uNight Part = Asc. +u-t

5. Many sources add the twelfth and its ruler oralmuten for chronic as opposed to acute illnesses.

IV. The Questions – Qualities of the Soul of the Native

1. The almuten of the Ascendant. (Vegetable Soul)2. The almuten of the Moon. (Animal Soul)3. The almuten of Mercury (Intellective Soul)

and/or1. The almuten of all three (Almuten Spiritus)2. Planets which closely aspect #1 just above.

Other factors include, the dominance of cardinalfixed or mutable signs, the solar phase of the almutenspiritus, etc.

IV. The Questions – Impediments of the Soul

This category refers to what we would call mental illnesses. The traditional methods for this do not seem

to be very effective.

IV. The Questions – Fortune and Wealth of the Native

1. The second house and sign, and its ruler or almuten,and any planets in it.

2. The house and sign of the ^and any planets in thatsign. Also, the almuten of the ^.

3. The eleventh house or sign counted from the ^ alsoknown by Valens as the “Place of Acquisition,” andits ruler or almuten, as well as any planets in thatsign.

4. The eleventh house or sign from the Ascendant, itsruler or almuten, and any planets in that sign.Day Part = Asc. +w-qNight Part = Asc. +q-w

IV. The Questions – Honor and Dignity of the Native

1. The tenth house and its ruler or almuten.2. The sign of the ^ and its ruler or almuten.3. The tenth sign from the ^ and its ruler or almuten.4. The eleventh sign from the ^.5. The house of the Part of Spirit, not so much its ruler.6. The sixth house from the Ascendant and its ruler or

almuten.

IV. The Questions – Native’s Magistery and his Work

See the two previous slides.

IV. The Questions – Sexual Unions

1. In a woman’s chart, the q, its aspects, and its ruleror almuten. In a man’s chart, the w, its aspects, andits ruler or almuten.

2. Also in a woman’s chart, t, its aspects, and itsruler or almuten. In a man’s chart, r, its aspects, itsruler or almuten.

3. The seventh house and its ruler or almuten.4. In all charts the general condition of r.5. The Part of Marriage and its ruler or almuten.

Men Part = Asc. +u-rWomen Part = Asc. +r-u

IV. The Questions – Children and Their Relationship Toward the

Parents1. The fifth house, its occupants, and its ruler or

almuten.2. The Part of Children, its sign and ruler or almuten.

Day Part = Asc. + y-uNight Part = Asc. + u-y

As with the Part of Siblings sources vary but all make the Part out of y&u, and reverse the pattern of the Part of Siblings.

IV. The Questions – Native’s Friends

1. The eleventh house, its occupants, and its ruler oralmuten.

2. The Part of Friends and its ruler or almuten.Day and Night Part = Asc. +e-w

3. r and its ruler or almuten.

IV. The Questions – Native’s Enemies

1. The twelfth house, its occupants and its ruler oralmuten.

2. The seventh house, its occupants and its ruler oralmuten.

IV. The Questions – Native’s Foreign Travels and Journeys, and Religion

and Faith

1. The ninth house, its occupants and its ruler oralmuten.

2. The third house, its occupants and its ruler oralmuten.

IV. The Questions – Qualities of the Native’s Death

See comments on “Those Who Do Not Grow.”