Aphoristic Astrology of Ptolemy, Hermes, and Others

21. If the Lord of the ascendant the planet ruling the sign rising on the eastern horizon is joined to a Star placed under the earth, it is a good time to use purgatives medicines to induce bowel movements. If, however, it is joined to a Star positioned above the earth, whoever takes the potion will instead vomit.

22. You should neither put on a new garment for the first time nor cut the fabric when the Sun [☉] is located in the Dragon's Tail original: ☋; the South Node of the Moon, traditionally considered a point of depletion or bad luck. It is even worse if the Sun is otherwise poorly afflicted in a weak or difficult astrological position at that time.

23. The configuration of the Moon to the Stars makes the native the person for whom the chart is cast quite agile. If those stars are powerful, they indicate an effective impulse to act; but if they are weak, they indicate a sluggishness in action.

24. An eclipse of the Luminaries the Sun and Moon occurring in the angles original: cardinibus; the four most powerful points of a chart of a birth chart or of annual revolutions is harmful. The timing of the effect is taken from the distance between the ascendant and the place of the eclipse. Just as you count years from the hours of a Solar Eclipse, you count months from the hours of a Lunar Eclipse.

25. Calculate the progression of the Ruler the planet in charge of a specific life area by the ascensions of the sphere when it is positioned in the Midheaven original: medio Cæli; the highest point in the sky; however, when it is located in the ascendant, do so by the ascensions of the climate the specific latitude of the location.

26. A matter remains entirely hidden when the Star signifying it is joined to the Sun either under the earth or in a foreign place a sign where the planet has no traditional dignity or strength; conversely, the matter is revealed when the star is raised from a low point to a height

and is placed in its own proper place.

27. Venus brings pleasure to that part of the body ruled by the sign in which she is located. The same principle applies to the other Stars planets.

28. When you are unable to join the Moon to two [benefic] Stars, manage at least to join her to a Fixed Star that possesses the combined nature of those two.

29. The Fixed Stars bring about irrational and marvelous successes, yet they often mark these with great calamities unless the Planets also agree with the success.

30. Examine the inaugurations original: creationes; the moment a king's reign begins of the first Kings of a lineage. For if the ascendant of that inauguration agrees with the ascendant of the birth chart of the King's son, that son will be the successor to the Kingdom.

31. When the ruler of a Kingdom falls into a climacteric place original: locum climactericum; a critical or dangerous degree, often associated with ages 7, 9, or their multiples, then either the King or someone great among the Princes of the Kingdom will die.

32. A suitable configuration of Stars—representing the nature of the matter from which goodwill is established in the birth charts of both—creates concord between two people.

33. Love and hatred arise both from the concord and discord of the luminaries the Sun and Moon and from the ascendants of the birth charts of both parties...