How To Judge A Nativity. Alan Leo

will doubtless be asked as to how we are to interpret those aspects or directions that coincide with events which seem to be mere fate, good or evil, and not directly brought about by any operation of character in this life. The probability is that such events are really fewer than it is natural for astrologers to suppose; nevertheless it cannot be denied that they exist. An eldest son may inherit an entailed estate; another man may be killed in an earthquake; a third may suffer through the negligence of a parent or nurse in infancy; and none of them may be in the slightest degree responsible for the event. Here we must see the result of action in a state of existence preceding birth, and in the aspects found in the horoscope merely the methods adopted by the superhuman Controllers of human evolution to ensure that the adequate effect should follow the cause that had previously been started, so that the soul may reap as it has sown and learn the right lesson. That many such lessons cannot be understood and finally appreciated until after death, when the whole life is impartially summed up from the point of view of the onlooker instead of the actor, does not detract from the reasonableness of this interpretation, but only shows how long drawn out is the evolution of the soul, and how impossible it is to compress that evolution into a few years of existence on this physical plane.

      To return to the table of aspects at the beginning of this chapter, it may be noted that the Trine is by far the strongest of the good aspects; it stands for progression and harmony, and may be compared to Jupiter, the greater benefic. It seems to bring even better fortune than a conjunction with a benefic planet. The Sextile aspect is appreciably weaker, but is nevertheless good, and may be compared to Venus. The Semi-Sextile is extremely weak and may be compared to Mercury, the ‘convertible’ planet; not much is lost if it is omitted from consideration.

Of the evil aspects, the Opposition and Square may be compared to Saturn and Mars respectively. The opposition separates, and causes rivalry, antagonism, duality, in this respect being not unlike the mutable signs in its influence. The square acts somewhat like the fixed signs; it alternately crystallises and limits into a settled habit, and disrupts and shatters by a sudden shock. The Semi-Square and Sesquiquadrate are weaker than the square and not so lasting, but are similar to it in nature, and may be compared to the cardinal signs as being disintegrative or dispersive; or to continue our planetary illustration they may be likened to a blend of Saturn and Mars, the former by square and the latter by opposition.

      We have next to consider the question of ‘Orbs.’ In ancient times it was taught that each planet had an ‘orb’ or ‘sphere’ of influence which extended beyond its own body out into space in all directions; in fact, it might be termed the ‘aura’ of the planet; and that the influences or ‘rays’ of the planets were mingled as soon as the peripheries of these ‘orbs’ came into contact—or into aspecting distance, as the case might be. The latest researches in scientific Astrology seem to be approaching an actual physical explanation of this statement, and there can be little doubt that it is the true basis of the ‘orbs’ employed by astrologers, and will thus explain why orbs should differ for each planet, as well as for every aspect. But we are here concerned with the practical application of the term, which indicates how many degrees of ‘approach’ and ‘departure’ may be allowed before and after any aspect becomes technically complete. In this, experience can be the only real teacher and the following hints must be accepted as such, and not taken as hard and fast rules.

      For conjunction or opposition allow 12° when the Sun aspects the Moon, about 10° when either luminary aspects a planet, and about 8° for planets aspecting each other.

      For square and trine about 8° all round may be allowed. For sextile about 7°. For semi-square and sesquiquadrate 4°. For semi-sextile and quincunx 2°. For the parallel of declination 1°.

      These are the outside limits. In all cases the closer an aspect is, the stronger it is, and vice versa. An aspect that is only just within orbs is very weak. In some cases two planets that are widely apart by aspect may be brought closer together by a third planet; for instance, if the Sun is at 0° and the Moon at 10° the aspect is a wide opposition and not very important; but if Mars were at 5° it would not only be in square to both but would render the opposition worse than it otherwise would be.

      If three planets are so arranged that two of them are equally distant from the third, the effect seems to be much the same as a parallel and is therefore good or bad according to the nature of the planets. Whether there is any limit to this kind of influence by position is uncertain. Of course, if the three are in some recognised aspect to each other, good or bad, the effect will be according to the nature of that aspect.

      The general character of the various positions and aspects will now be explained. Before judging the nature of each aspect it should be noted which planet is the ‘significator’; that is, whether the planet aspecting, or the planet aspected, is ruler of the horoscope—or of the special house under consideration as the case may be.

      The influence of the planets when in conjunction is shown in the accompanying list, which is arranged in the following order, . This is the order of their distance from the Sun and hence their rate of movement; Neptune, of course, being the farthest and slowest; and it is the order that will be adopted throughout this volume.

The first column shows the influence when the significator is the slower planet of the two: the second column shows the influence when the significator is the quicker planet of the two.*

      To avoid needless repetition each aspect is only given once, namely under the heading of the slower of the two planets between which it is formed, and this should be remembered when the book is used for reference. Thus suppose we want to find the effect of an aspect between Mars and Jupiter, we look under Jupiter, since that is the slower of the two; and there we find the effect, both when Mars is significator and when Jupiter is significator. Similarly if we want to find an aspect between Mars and Mercury, we look under Mars, if between Venus and the Moon, under Venus, and so on.

      Although the influence of any given aspect will be shown out most strongly in the life when one of the two planets between which it is formed is the ruler of the nativity, yet the general nature of its influence upon the whole character will be much as here described, even when neither planet is ruler of any important house, or placed in any prominent position; so that the descriptions which follow will still serve as a guide, if taken in a somewhat modified sense. Only they will represent characteristics, or events, more or less latent in the life and awaiting suitable ‘directions’ to stir them into activity.

      CONJUNCTIONS

When slower planet is significator

When quicker planet is significator

NEPTUNE*

When slower planet is significator

When quicker planet is significator

URANUS*