Treatises on Arabic Astrology

...God. The strongest place in the sky is the AscendantThe zodiac sign rising on the eastern horizon at the moment of birth, representing the self and the physical body., and this line is the most worthy of all the signs. The planet that is there is the strongest of all planets, especially if that planet is in its own houseThe sign it naturally rules. or in its exaltationA sign where a planet's influence is particularly harmonious or elevated. or Almutenoriginal: "alphate" - from Arabic 'al-mubtazz', meaning the planet that holds the most dignities or 'victory' over a specific degree. or however one designates it.

And following this in strength is the Angle of the SkyThe Midheaven or 10th house, representing career and public reputation.. And after that, the Western AngleThe 7th house, where the sun sets, representing partnerships., which is the 10th The text says '10th' here, but the Western Angle is traditionally the 7th; this may be a scribal error or a specific counting method. from the Ascendant.

And next follows the Earthoriginal: "la tre" (la terre). This refers to the Imum Coeli or 4th house, the lowest point in the chart., which is the 5th The text says '.v.e' (5th), though 'the Earth' is traditionally the 4th house. from the Ascendant. And following this house in strength are the 11th house from the Ascendant, then the 9th house, and then the 5th. Both the 5th and the 9th are places that are praiseworthy and strong. The first place is better than the second, the second better than the third, and so on.

And after these, one chooses those signs known to be good: the 3rd sign from the Ascendant because it is the place of joyA traditional concept where each planet 'rejoices' in a specific house; the Moon's joy is the 3rd house. of the Moon; and then the 2nd place from the Ascendant because it is the one that rises next.

And misfortune is very great in the 8th sign from the Ascendant because it is the House of DeathAssociated with mortality, inheritance, and the resources of others., and it does not "look at" the Ascendant In traditional astrology, houses that do not form a geometric aspect to the 1st house are said to be 'in aversion,' making them difficult or 'blind'..

The other remaining signs of the sky—the 6th and the 12th—are the worst of all places, for they will be of no profit. For the 6th sign from the Ascendant is the place of various illnesses; it falls awayA 'cadent' house, which is traditionally considered weak because it is moving away from the powerful 'angles'. from the Ascendant and does not "look at" it; it is the place of the Joy of MarsMars, the planet of conflict, 'rejoices' in the 6th house of illness and toil..

And the 12th from the Ascendant is the place of enemies, of labor, and of sadness, and it "falls away" from the Ascendant and does not "look at" it; it is the place of the Joy of SaturnSaturn, associated with restriction and melancholy, 'rejoices' in the 12th house of hidden troubles., for Saturn rejoices in lamentation, complaint, and tribulation.

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This chapter concerns the science of the aspects of the planets,

and these are: conjunction, sextile aspect, square, trine, and opposition.

ConjunctionA meeting of two planets in the same degree of the zodiac. is when two planets are joined on one line and there are 4 degrees or fewer between them, for that is the sign of the conjunction.

A Sextile aspectoriginal: "Sixte reguart" - an aspect of 60 degrees, or two signs apart. is from the 3rd sign and from the 2nd [?]. The Square aspectoriginal: "quart reguart" - an aspect of 90 degrees, or three signs apart. is from the 4th and from the 10th. The Trine aspectoriginal: "tiers" - an aspect of 120 degrees, or four signs apart. is from the 5th and from the...