Aphoristic Astrology of Ptolemy, Hermes, and Others

47. In a birth chart original: genitura; a calculation of the positions of the stars at the moment of birth, when a malefic planet original: malefica; planets considered naturally difficult, specifically Saturn or Mars falls into the same position where a benefic planet original: beneficæ; planets considered naturally helpful, specifically Jupiter or Venus is located in another person’s chart, the one who has the benefic planet will be harmed by the one who has the malefic.

48. When the highest point original: culmen; the Midheaven or 10th house, representing authority and career of the Master (that is, the Ruler) is the Ascendant original: horoscopus; the sign rising on the eastern horizon of the subject, or if their rulers are arranged in a favorable configuration, they will remain inseparable for a long time. The same is true when the sixth house the house of service and health of a servant is found to be the Ascendant of the Master.

49. When the Ascendant of a subject is the highest point in the Master's birth chart, the Master will have such great faith in that subject that the Master will be commanded by him.

50. Do not overlook the 119 conjunctions this refers to a traditional calculation of the various ways the seven classical planets can pair or group together; for in these is placed the knowledge of those things which happen in the world, and of generation and corruption.

51. Take the sign in which the Sun [☉] is located at the time of birth and make that the Ascendant at the time of conception; and whatever sign was found to be the Ascendant at conception (or its opposite), make that the Ascendant at birth. This refers to the "Trutine of Hermes," a traditional method used to calculate the exact moment of conception based on the birth chart.

52. The rulers of the birth charts of men of tall stature are in "sublimities" original: sublimitatibus; high-altitude or high-honor positions in the sky, and their Ascendants are at the beginning of the signs. However, the rulers of those who are of short stature are found in "humilities" original: humilitatibus; low-altitude or weakened positions. In addition to this, examine whether the signs are

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straight or oblique. original: recta, an obliqua; "straight" signs take longer to rise over the horizon, while "oblique" signs rise more quickly, affecting the physical appearance.

53. The rulers of the birth charts of thin men have no latitude original: latitudinem; the distance of a planet north or south of the ecliptic, or the sun's path, while those of fat men do. If the latitude is southern, they will be agile; if northern, they will be sluggish.

54. Rulers in buildings referring to planetary rulers of a construction project where "underground" stars planets located below the horizon or in the 4th house are joined together, hinder the raising of the building.

55. The harmful power of Mars [♂] against ships is diminished when it is neither in the middle of the sky the Midheaven nor in the 11th house. For in these places it destroys the ship, with pirates seizing it by force. The ship will be burned, however, if the Ascendant is afflicted by any fixed star that is of a mixed nature with Mars [♂].

56. When the Sun [☉] is in the first quadrant—that is, from the point it moves away from its conjunction with the Moon—the moisture of bodies flows out until the second quadrant; in the remaining quadrants, however, it decreases.

57. When you see the seventh house the house of the "other," here representing the physician and its ruler afflicted during an illness, change the doctor.

58. Look at the place of the conjunction the meeting of the Sun and Moon and where it sits in relation to the Ascendant of the year; if the profection term: profection; a system where the chart is "rotated" by one sign for every year of life reaches that place, then the event will occur.

59. Regarding an absent person, do not pronounce what has happened to them before you see the...