Astrology of Profession or Calling - 1. Technique - Seven Stars Astrology
Astrology of Profession or Calling - 1. Technique - Seven Stars Astrology
Astrology of Profession or Calling - 1. Technique - Seven Stars Astrology
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Medieval European authors, such as Bonatti, deviated even further. After years of exploring the Astrology on Astrological Predictive
technique, I nd Paulus the most reliable. Techniques | Returns | 1. Hellenistic Basics
The 10th place of the chart is the one that pertains most to this reckoning. It dominates the 1st place Biography (8)
(i.e. it is in a right-side square to the place representative of the person themselves, like an authoritative Character (7)
in uence). The 10th place is sometimes called the house of actions. It also pertains to status,
Current Events (4)
recognition, achievement, and rank. The 1st place is also relevant because it pertains to temperament,
talents, and self-identi cation. In addition, the Lights (Sun and Moon), the planets most representative Death (10)
of power, are important. Profession (9)
Lessons (9)
I break the technique into three steps. My rst step is to identify planets with relevance to actions,
Other (1)
closely following Paulus. Secondly, I nd the strongest planets in the chart. The third step is to delineate
Prediction (12)
the nature of the profession or calling based on the strongest indications from Mars, Venus, and
Mercury from the other two steps. This is just to assess the basic nature of the profession or calling. Principles (52)
Beginners (14)
Mars is indicative of violent, dangerous, or highly competitive callings. Venus is indicative of aesthetic,
artistic, or sensual callings. Mercury is indicative of intellectual, analytical, or highly transactional Elections (4)
callings. All 7 planets are relevant to this matter but these three are the focus. Rhetorius (Holden, 2009, Lots (5)
p. 134-145) does give indications for all of them, but he too stresses the importance of Mars, Venus, and Mundane (3)
Mercury.
Philosophy (4)
Mercury will show a developmental stress along intellectual lines. Whether it is in academics, business,
or mystical study, there will be intense mental development.
Many of the typical Mars professions appear to apply to those of lower social standing. Those of higher
social stnading are more likely to channel that competitiveness into political strategy (e.g. many popes
have Mars connected with profession). Along this vein, Rhetorius does make a statement connecting
the signs of Mars with “weapons or re or iron or iron-working or public a airs” (Holden, 2009, p. 135).
Similarly, in the commentary on Paulus by Olympiadorus, he associated Mars with positions of Good Sites
command, especially military ones, like generals and professional soldiers, when it is made more
The Hellenistic Astrology Website
authoritative (Greenbaum, 2001, p. 124). When very male c, however, Mars can show those who
The Horoscopic Astrology Blog
engage in criminal acts for a living.
Astrologer/Translator Ben Dykes
Jupiter, Saturn, and the Lights Project Hindsight
Jupiter will tend to show development of a quest for truth. Law may also be indicated. If Jupiter is
prominent then there may be more development along religious lines. In either case, there is a sense of
Digital International Astrology Library
AstroDataBank
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Saturn is associated with land, farmers, sailors, the soil, natural resources, the dead, misery and Skyscript
poverty, as well as discipline, control, and management. Rhetorius also associated a strong Saturn with
Cielo e Terra
public service and management (c.f. Greenbaum, 2001).
Heaven Astrolabe – Margherita Fiorello
In my opinion, both the Sun and Moon in relation to profession show publicity or prominence, as the
Lights are associated with power. The Sun is associated with things being more heroic, public, or Arhat Media – Rob Hand
publicized. The Moon is associated with things being more idiosyncratic, natural, subjective, nurturing,
Altair Astrology
and/or group-oriented (counseling is something I often see strongly connected to the Moon).
Stars and Stones – Peter Stockinger
Paulus Alexandrinus (4th century CE) presented the best early explanation for how to nd the Beyond the Heaven
professional indicator. While Ptolemy’s exposition is earlier (2nd century) and provides many useful
Astrologia Medieval – Paulo Silva
pointers, he also did not use houses and his method is not as reliable. Therefore, let’s examine Paulus’
method in some detail. Classical Astrologer
Mars, Venus, or Mercury in the E ective Places The Lost Horoscope X-Files
out which places provide better indication. Paulus appears to view the 10th (status, rank, actions) and
Constellations of Words
2nd (income, possessions) places as the most authoritative.
Sharon Knight
Tania Daniels
These are the places which are useful when these [three] are
International Society of Classical Astrologers
present: all the pivots, the post-ascensions of these and the sixth
from the Hōroskopos, but of course the culminating zōidion
being preferred among the pivots, and the second for the
Hōroskopos among the post-ascensions. (Alexandrinus, Ch. 26,
2001, Greenbaum trans., p. 57)
However, the point about the quality of the profession being indicated by the authoritative nature of
the place may be overstated. As I noted above, I would rely more upon the judgment of eminence or
social mobility in the chart to assess the upper or lower class nature of the profession.
Rhetorius on Actions
Rhetorius (7th century CE) provided a lengthy treatment of actions (chapters 82-96 of his compendium),
incorporating information from Paulus, Ptolemy, Anubio, and others. He recounted the technique of
Paulus, provided some notes from Ptolemy’s technique, gave another technique and some pointers
from Anubio, and a thoroughly discussed speci c con gurations.
The discussion of profession in Rhetorius is placed after that of general good fortune. This implies that
a delineation of general good fortune (eminence or social mobility) is important to contextualizing
indications regarding profession.
Rhetorius also presented a technique from Anubio in which we examine the prenatal syzygy (the new
or full moon which preceded the birth, depending on whether the birth followed a new moon or a full
moon) to examine to which planet (Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Venus, or Mercury) it was applying an aspect.
However, I have not had luck with this particular technique and nd it much less e ective than that of
Paulus.
Look to Rulers
Rhetorius suggested that it is important to examine the con gurations and domicile ruler of the lords of
action. A planet in its own domicile will pertain to professions characteristic of the planet, while one in
another planet’s domicile will blend the signi cations with things associated with its ruler: Jupiter makes
for delightful and splendid activities; Saturn makes for di cult or dirty ones; Mars makes for
dangerous, hot, or political activities; Venus makes for sensual or artistic activities; Mercury makes for
intellectual or commercial activities; the Sun makes for public or hot activities; and the Moon makes for
personal or self-taught activities.
Look to Aspects
Rhetorius spends a lot of time analyzing planetary aspects to the lords of action. In this he follows
Ptolemy relatively closely. The aspects are very important so I advise one to read over Ptolemy’s
treatment of actions from Book IV, Ch. 4 of the Tetrabiblos (available free online by clicking the link).
Ptolemy treats of aspects as well as combinations of two planets in the same sign as lords of action.
arts, while earth and water signs tend to indicate concerning earthy or watery activities. I nd this to be
less reliable than the ruler and aspects, but it is worth a mention.
On the other hand, the quadruplicity of a sign can be very important to professional indications.
Cardinal signs tend toward swiftness, impact, change, extraversion, and turning points. Fixed signs tend
toward the opposite, as in long-term progress, introversion, steadiness, writing instead of speaking,
depth, and so forth. Mutable signs tend toward a mix of the two and to duality, interaction, back-and-
forth, and mingling.
If none are in these places then, and only then, see if any are in the sign of the Lot of Fortune.
2. Rulership:
Among the planets that are in e ective places, a planet will be more relevant to the profession if it
has some dignity at the 10th place or the Ascendant (especially the 10th). If the planet does not
have any dignity at either place, consider it less important. The domicile ruler of either, and/or a
planet with some minor rulership in both places (especially if the term ruler of the Ascendant) is
preferred.
If none of the potential lords of action have dignity at the 10th place or Ascendant then see which
have dignity at the Lot of Fortune.
Orientality/occidentality considerations, particularly relative to the Sun, also often show up in the
literature, although I don’t stress them here, as I haven’t yet found them to be consistently strong
indicators in this matter.
1. Advancing/Retreating:
Look at the Ascendant, Descendant, MC, and IC. If a planet is more than 1/3 of the distance from
one to the next it is “advancing” and strengthened. The closer the planet is to the angle (Asc, MC,
Dsc, or IC), the more it is as if the volume is turned up on the planet. By contrast, when a planet
passes the angle it is as if the volume quickly turns down on the planet. A planet that is
approaching the angle within about 15 degrees should be considered “strongly advancing”. If a
planet is conjunct an angle within about 5 degrees (even if separating, I use about 10 degrees for
considering a Light to be conjunct an angle) then that is also extremely strong. Remember that
the planets move clockwise in this regard, rising in the east and setting in the west.
2. Relationships to Lights:
The following relationships to the Sun or Moon will make the planet more relevant to profession:
the planet the Moon is separating from or applying to, a planet in phasis, and to a much lesser
extent a planet regarded by a Light (more so by trine or sextile, and/or if from the sect light, and/or
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if closer to exact). There are other relationships to the lights that are sometimes looked at but I
think these are most important. It is rare, but if a planet is cazimi the Sun it may be extremely
strengthened. By contrast, a planet within 8 degrees of the Sun at birth, which is not in phasis, is
likely to be quite weakened.
3. Stationing:
Look 7 days before the birth and 7 days after to check for planetary stations. This is very
important. A planet stationing direct within about 7 days of the birth will be extremely
strengthened. The closer the station is to the time of birth, the more powerful. By contrast, a
planet that is stationing retrograde is quite weakened, particularly if the station occurs closer to
the birth.
Put it Together
It is most important to know which planets are relevant to actions and to what degree. Of the planets in
the proper places, which have important dignities at the 10th place and to a lesser extent at the
Ascendant. Also, are any in phasis or some other strong relationship to the lights.
There will typically be one planet that is much more relevant to actions than others. You will want to
explore that planet in more depth in terms of its natural signi cations, con gurations, rulers, and so
forth to get a better sense of what it signi es for actions. All planets with relevance to actions, especially
if they also have dignity at the Ascendant will pertain to some type of skill development.
Prominent planets will in uence many areas of life. They will often impact the profession and actions.
As there is overlap between general prominence and relevance to actions, prominent planets will also
often be lords of actions. Quickly spotting the prominent planets will reveal strong in uences in the life
overall and they will be in uential upon actions. When there are multiple planets equally relevant to
actions, then the more prominent one will typically take the lead in characterizing the type of
profession.
Note: this article was thoroughly updated and revised in April of 2018. Among the changes, there is now
a detailed exploration of the technique of Paulus Alexandrinus.
References
Alexandrinus, P., & Olympiodorus. (2001). Late Classical Astrology: Paulus Alexandrinus and
Olypiodorus. (D. G. Greenbaum, Trans.). Reston, VA: Arhat.
Rhetorius of Egypt, & Teucer of Babylon. (2009). Rhetorius the Egyptian. (J. H. Holden, Trans.).
Tempe, AZ: American Federation of Astrologers.
Featured image of the Labor mural from the North Corridor of the Great Hall of the Library of
Congress by Charles Sprague Pearce (1896) is in the public domain.
Anthony
Blogger interested in all things astrological, especially Hellenistic, medieval, Uranian, and
asteroid astrology.
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Adam C. Madison
December 13, 2018 at 7:56 pm
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Incredible.
Reply
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Ile
May 20, 2012 at 9:13 pm
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Antohony, this is such a great article. Thank you for your share of knowledge with us. This is the rst
time I was able to correctly and with con dence identify the signi cator of profession in my chart
without calculating Almutens “Victors” and etc..
Reply
Thanks, Ile! I’m glad it was helpful. I had a detailed explanation of the sources on an ancient
astrology wiki I was working on, but it needed some work and was a bit much for me alone so I took
it down temporarily. I’m planning on putting the wiki back up this summer and working on a bit
more. As I’ve worked with the techniques more, I think the key changes that I’d make include: 1.
eliminating the process of looking at planets advancing toward the MC in the relevance section, as I
think that is more of just a strength consideration, 2. paying particular attention to close aspects to
the MC and Asc as well (which I think I did add in this article), 3. paying attention to twelfth-parts (I
also added that here – twelfth-parts are one of the most ubiquitous features of Hellenistic astrology
and were widespread in pre-Hellenistic Babylonian astrology as well, in addition to spreading to
India- I consider them important for everything), and 4. clarifying what I mean by relationships with
the Lights a bit more, as close aspects with the Moon and things of that sort are also very important.
The Lots of the Sun and Moon (Spirit and Fortune) are also good starting points for further research.
Best wishes,
Anthony
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nancy
January 9, 2012 at 10:24 am
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Amanda
November 23, 2011 at 10:41 pm
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