Aphoristic Astrology of Ptolemy, Hermes, and Others

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To the Reader.

It has always been the custom of those who have handed down Aphoristic Doctrine This refers to teaching through "aphorisms"—short, pithy statements of truth or principle rather than long essays. to set out sentences that are scattered here and there and not connected to one another. In this same way, the authors of this small book, wishing to present their astrology in an aphoristic style, observe no specific order in the statements they provide. However, because a proper arrangement and systematic order of teaching is required to make astrological judgments—whether for a birth chart genitura; a chart cast for the moment of birth, a solar return revolutio; a chart cast for the anniversary of a birth to predict the year ahead, or a decumbiture decubitus; a chart cast for the moment a person first takes to their bed with illness (as well as other astrological figures)—it was necessary to organize these scattered sentences and aphorisms back into their proper chapters. The subjects treated by these authors primarily concern human Nativities (births); and therefore, since this treatise is of such high quality, the aphorisms relating to births have been organized into chapters following the order used in Ptolemy's Claudius Ptolemy was a 2nd-century scholar whose work formed the foundation of Western astrology. Tetrabiblos original: "Quadrip[artitum]"; literally the "Four-Part Book," the standard textbook of astrology in the 17th century.. Furthermore, because the analysis of solar returns (revolutions) contributes greatly to the understanding of a birth chart, the aphorisms regarding these yearly charts have also been arranged in their own section. Additionally, since the study of decumbiture charts is essential for understanding matters of life and death...

...knowledge, a series of aphorisms concerning these medical charts has been compiled in this book. However, because many aphorisms might have been overlooked if they did not fit into a specific chapter—specifically those that could not be reduced to any of the categories mentioned above—they have been collected under the title of "Notable Aphorisms." Through your knowledge of Ptolemy and a careful study of these aphorisms, you, diligent reader, will be well-equipped to judge birth charts with the greatest skill.