The Minor Works of Marsilio Ficino

The Sun, acting through the four ages, represents the four seasons of the year. And as often as a planet joins with the Sun, the nature of the coming month is declared by that very degree of conjunction and the configuration of the heavens. Furthermore, when any of the planets reach the "heart of the sun" original: "cor solis." In astrology, this is known as Cazimi, a state where a planet is within 17 minutes of the Sun's center and is considered highly fortified and protected by the solar king., they stand apart from the others at that time, though they are distant by only a tiny amount. Otherwise, when they merely approach the Sun, they are meanwhile vacant of their usual office This refers to the state of "combustion," where a planet's individual power is overwhelmed or "burnt up" by the Sun's brilliance.. Indeed, when Saturn meets with the Sun, he is judged to set aside his former rigidity, and Mars likewise his usual ferocity.

The superior planets The "superior planets" are those with orbits further from the Sun than Earth's: Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. ascend as far as the Sun approaches them; conversely, as it departs, they descend. When joined with the Sun, they are at the highest point of their epicycle original: "epiciclo." In the Ptolemaic system of astronomy, an epicycle is a small circle whose center moves around the circumference of a larger one called the deferent; this was used to explain the varying distances and speeds of planets.; when in opposition, however, they are at their lowest. In quadrature original: "quadratura." A 90-degree angle or "square" aspect between two celestial bodies, often associated with tension or challenge., they are at a middle altitude. The Moon, in both positions That is, at both the New Moon (conjunction) and Full Moon (opposition)., exists sublime in its deferent. In quadrature it descends. As for Venus and Mercury: if they join the Sun while moving forward, they are exalted; if while moving backward original: "regredientes." This refers to retrograde motion, where a planet appears to move in reverse from the perspective of Earth., they are at their lowest. Nor is it permitted for planets to complete the circuit of their epicycle until they have revisited the Sun, as if their Lord, through a conjunction.

In these matters we have described, the superior planets certainly seem to revere the "royal aspect" of the Sun when they change their course while in the Sun's trine view original: "trino." A trine is a harmonious 120-degree aspect between celestial bodies.. When joined with the Sun, they are therefore at their highest and moving directly, because they are for a time in concord with the King; conversely, when they are in discord—that is, in opposition—they are retrograde and at their lowest. When Venus and Mercury reach the Sun, if they are then proceeding directly (that is, obedient to their Lord), they emerge sublime. But if they are moving obliquely—like rebels—they are meanwhile cast down.

If the Moon is sublime even when opposite the Sun, it should cause us no wonder. For what is the light of the Moon but that very same light of the Sun, reflected here and there by the lunar mirror? And at the full moon, it is reflected back toward the Sun from our view. However, the Moon seems to descend in quadrature, because she then looks upon her Lord with a grim original: "torua." Suggesting a stern, piercing, or sideways glance, metaphorically describing the harsh nature of the 90-degree square aspect. gaze. Again, just as the Sun