Introduction to Primitive Cabalistic Science

One paid attention to those planets and stars that are closest to them in a conjunctionan alignment where two celestial bodies appear close together in the sky or oppositionan alignment where two celestial bodies are on opposite sides of the Earth, and their properties were investigated. For example, Mars symbol: ♂ in the signs of Aries symbol: ♈, Leo symbol: ♌, and Sagittarius symbol: ♐ pointed to drought or dry years. As proof of this is the conjunction of Saturn symbol: ♄ and Jupiter symbol: ♃ that occurred in 1782 in Sagittarius, which was preceded by a very hot summer as a forerunner. But if the nearest planet is Venus symbol: ♀ or the Moon symbol: ☾ in the signs of Pisces symbol: ♓, Scorpio symbol: ♏, or Cancer symbol: ♋, then great wetness, foul air often referring to "miasma," which was historically believed to spread disease, and a cooling of the earth will precede the conjunction or opposition.

If Mars stands in a fiery sign or near one, then terrible thunder and hailstorms result. If Mercury symbol: ☿ is near them in an earthly sign, earthquakes follow; if he is near them in an airy sign, then storm winds come.

If Mars and Mercury meet near an opposition, then murders, thefts, and betrayals occur.

If Mars and Mercury are near an opposition, there are many unfortunate deliveries and many premature births.

The scholars applied themselves to observing the effects that the temperature of the air—at or between the oppositions of Saturn and Jupiter—had on individual humans, on animals, and on plants, depending on whether such occurred in the fiery, the earthly, the airy, or the watery trigonsgroups of three zodiac signs belonging to the same element, with the difference in sensation among choleric, melancholic, sanguine, and phlegmaticthe four 'humors' or temperaments once thought to dictate human health and personality constitutions.