The Power of the Planets
INTRODUCTION
A few years ago a friend of mine questioned the technical construction of the horary rule
collection of light. She pointed out that it was fundamental to horary astrology that only
major aspects are used, yet in William Lilly’s definition of collection of light this
did not appear to be the case. Her questioning prompted me to investigate the matter and
attempt an understanding of the special powers and abilities of collecting planets. Later
I extended this study into translations of light.
In the first place Lilly’s definition stated that "Matters are also brought to
perfection, when as the two principal significators do not behold one another, but both
cast their aspects to a more weighty planet than themselves, and they both receive him in
some of their essential dignities; then shall that planet who collects both their lights
bring the thing demanded to perfection." It seemed to my friend that the phrase
"do not behold one another" clearly meant that the planets were not in aspect.
If they were not in aspect, she argued, how could this rule possibly work? In horary
astrology separating aspects do not have the ability to show the outcome to questions, it
is applying aspects that show the future.
It should be made clear that the title of this article does not refer to essential
dignity, instead it alludes to an entirely different kind of power. It means the ability
of any one planet to create aspects or bring together the energies of two other planets
where no aspect originally existed between them. It also refers to situations where
separation has already taken place or where two planets have not as yet perfected their
aspect. In other words planets have the power to create, manipulate and control aspects
and dominate other planets. In my opinion this long forgotten power is to be found in the
moiety of the orbs of the planets, a much neglected area of astrology.
THE ORIGINS OF THE ASPECTS
Recently a mathematician friend of mine suggested what is probably the most plausible
explanation for the origins of the aspects. He said that the answer was to be found in
triangular trigonometry. In all likelihood the ancient astrologers first discovered the
aspects when they measured the apparent distances between planets. They discovered that
the square root of one produced the sextile, the square root of two the square, the square
root of three the trine and the square root of four the opposition, which happens to be
the whole number two. Since the conjunction could not be measured in this way it was not
considered to be an aspect, instead it was often referred to as a bodily conjunction. This
had been the thinking throughout the ages until the end of the 19th century.
This explanation is a much more credible one than the generally accepted version which
states that the 360-degree circle was divided by the numbers 2, 3, 4 and 6. Dividing the
circle by numbers, in some cases ad infinitum, as advocated by many astrological writers
and thinkers, and interpreting those numbers has much more in common with numerology than
it has with astrology.
If the theory of triangular trigonometry is indeed the true reason for the origins of the
aspects, and it is the most logical to date in my opinion, then coupled with the fact that
it is only the major aspects that consistently work in horary, we arrive at the conclusion
that minor aspects are invalid.
ORBS
The orbs of the planets as presented by William Lilly are 17 degrees for the Sun, 12.30
for the Moon, 7 for Mercury and 7.30 for Mars, 8 for Venus, 12 for Jupiter and 10 for
Saturn. Although other ancient authorities varied slightly, I am in favour of using
Lilly's list, the reason being that he was a working astrologer who observed these orbs
produce results on a regular basis.
The method for calculating the moieties is to add the orbs of two planets and divide by
two. The result is the moiety of the orbs of those two planets. For instance, by adding
the orbs of the Sun which are 17 degrees and Venus which are 8 degrees the result is 25.
Divide 25 by 2 and the answer is 12 degrees and 30 minutes. Therefore when the Sun and
Venus are within 12 degrees and 30 minutes of a conjunction or any major aspect, they are
within the moiety of orbs.
THE 5 BASIC PLANETARY MOVEMENTS
All horary rules are founded on these 5 basic movements. The following examples are in
their simplest form and all three planets are within moiety of orbs. The dotted line
(.......) represents separating aspects, the straight line ( _______ ) applying aspects
and the broken line ( _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ) where the aspect is prevented from perfecting.
Later, when describing the 3 versions of collection and translation of light, planets
which are not in aspect will be represented by having a blank space set between them, for
example (A B). A and B may be taken to represent the two significators.
1. A.............C_________B
C having already separated from A applies to B.
This is the basis of the rule translation of light.
2. AB________________C
A and B both apply to C. This is the basis of the rule collection of light.
3. C_______A_ _ _ _ _ _ B
C applies to A therefore preventing A from
perfecting with B. This is the basis of the rule prohibition.
4. A_ _ _ _ _B_________C
B perfects with C before A can perfect with B.
This is the basis of the rule frustration.
5. A________ _ _ _ _ _ _B
A applies to B but due to retrogradation fails to
perfect the aspect. This is the basis of the rule refranation.
These 5 movements are what may be termed cosmic laws.
DEFINITIONS OF COLLECTION AND TRANSLATION OF LIGHT
In order to understand the relevance of this article it is necessary to explain the three
versions of the horary rules collection and translation of light. Unfortunately, Lilly was
not thorough enough in his definition of collection (and translation for that matter) as
he only explained one version. Two other variations existed of which he was either unaware
or simply neglected to include in his book.
The three versions of collection of light which
are based on figure 2 above, are:
C1. (A...B)_____________C
Two significators having separated from each
other by major aspect apply to a third planet. This third planet is normally a slower
moving planet than either of them.
C2. (A___B)____________C
A fast moving significator applies to a slower
moving significator and both apply to a third planet much slower than either of them.
C3. (A B)_____________C
When the two significators are in no form of
major aspect but both apply to the same planet moving slower than themselves. This was
Lilly’s version.
The three versions of translation of light based on 1 above, are:
T1. (A...B) A.........C___________B
If two planets have already separated from each
other by major aspect, a third planet separating from one and applying to the other has
the ability to reunite them.
T2. (A___B) A.......C___________B
When a fast moving planet applies by major aspect
to a second planet a third planet, the translator, which is faster than both of them
separates from one and applies to the other. The translating planet has the power to bring
the two together even before the aspect is perfected in the ephemeris.
T3. (A B) A........C_____B
Two planets which are not in aspect can be
brought together because of the action of a third planet. They may either be outside the
moieties of their orbs or in signs adjacent to each other or five signs apart . In this
case a third fast moving planet has the power to unite them by separating from one and
applying to the other.
Astrologers may wonder why in examples 2 of each
rule it is necessary for collection and translation to take place at all since the two
planets will eventually aspect each other anyhow. The reason is that two planet aspects
are more vulnerable to attack from other planets as seen in the rules frustration and
prohibition. Three planet aspects protect each other by bonding together in translation
and collection of light. This means that they are not affected by frustration, prohibition
or refranation which are illustrated by examples 3, 4 & 5 above of the 5 basic
planetary movements. Number 3 represents prohibition, 4 frustration and 5 refranation.
TRANSMISSION OF ENERGIES - A TWO WAY FLOW
The following theories are pure speculation on my part based on ideas expressed by
astrologers from the past. This is my own way of attempting to understand how transmission
occurs between planets so that collection and translation can take place. These theories
should not necessarily be accepted as the definitive answer.
It is possible that two planets in aspect transmit their power in a two-way flow. The fast
planet allowing its power to flow towards the slow planet and the slow planet allowing its
power to flow back towards the fast planet, the energies flowing back and forth between
them. Furthermore, when three planets are involved as in collection, the slowest of the
three gathers the power and energy of the others into its own body or aura and unites both
their energies as if in aspect. This seems to be what the older astrologers were saying.
For instance Al Biruni described collection as "When an inferior planet and an
intermediate one both apply themselves to a superior planet, the latter is called a
collector... because it assembles the light of the others."
Bonatti wrote that in collection the two planets
in question "commit to that third planet their virtue".
He also wrote: "Venus, which was the
significatrix of the querent’s uncle’s goods, committed her disposition to
Mercury and Mercury carried it to Mars which was the significator of the querent."
Claude Dariot, the French astrologer writing at
the end of the 16th century about the various means of perfection said "...it is
brought to perfection by translation of light and nature...for then he transports the
force and nature which he took of the one unto the other."
Remember that Lilly described something similar in his definition of collection
"...then shall that planet who collects both their lights bring the thing demanded to
perfection."
It appears that the older authorities were well
aware of the ability of planets to transmit energies from one to another, even when no
aspects existed between them. Unfortunately they never attempted to offer any explanations
or even to make astrologers more aware of this important phenomena. Had they done so there
may have been a greater understanding as to why transits and progressions work splendidly
on occasions and miserably on others. In the early part of this century astrologers were
aware of the uncertainty of transits but could offer no reasons.
It is regretful that the power of the planets and
their ability to transmit energies was not discussed fuller. Planets in a birth chart were
often ignored because there appeared to be no aspect between them, rather there was no
connection between them. A knowledge of collection and translation of light and the
ability of the transmitting planet would have helped the astrologer to take account of
these invisible connections. The transmitting planet allowed energies of two or more
planets to vibrate, these were overlooked not only in the natal chart but when being
transited, transits to transmitting planet could set off energies between two planets that
the astrologer was unaware of. That was why transits were so difficult to understand and
why they sometimes worked and at other times didn’t.
CONCLUSION
Since horary rules are based on 5 simple planetary movements it follows that these
movements apply to all other branches of astrology and not just to horary alone. Whether
involved in the study of natal, mundane, medical or electional astrology, the planets will
continue in their orbits heedless of astrologers’ particular specialities,
dispassionately influencing the horoscopes of individuals and events alike.
First appeared on UAC'98
webpage. Published in Réalta. vol. 4 no 2. May 1997.
© Maurice
McCann. 1997.
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