Signification, Resources, Strength and Favourability

[astrojin]

Hello,
In light of the many posts (both public and private posts that I received) on the subject of planets as significators, strong vs. weak planets, favourable vs. unfavourable planets, essential vs. accidental dignities, I would like to say a few things in these matters.

Planets as significators:
The determination of significators of certain areas of life (relationship, finance, career, etc.) is usually determined from three candidate significators:

1. Universal/Natural significators e.g. Venus as universal/natural significator of relationship, Jupiter for finance/wealth, etc.

2. Accidental significators by house e.g. the ruler(s) of seventh house for relationship, the second for finance/wealth, etc.

3. Accidental significators by Lot e.g. Lot of unions for relationship, Lot of Fortune and Substance for finance/wealth, etc.

The candidate significator must be activated before it can actually signify the matter under investigation. I also believe that there is a hierarchy amongst the three different levels of significatorship and there are methods to find which significator is given more emphasis if many candidates are activated. As an example the ancient Arab astrologers established the Almuten technique specifically to tackle this problem. Almuten and Compound Almuten formulae were established to determine which planet has the greatest say in signifying a matter/topic of life. It is possible to have more than one planet governing a topic in life as the topic itself could be subdivided further. Whatever the case, if a universal/natural significator is activated in a chart, delineating it means delineating the overall description of the matters governed by the planet. If an accidental significator by house is activated, it represents your direct involvement in the matter (what you do). If an accidental significator by Lot is activated, it represents things that befall you (what happens to you).

Once the significator of a topic of life has been determined, we will then have to delineate the significator (the planet that has the greatest governorship of the matter/topic under investigation). Now we come to the delineating the planet itself whether it is full of resources to act (or acting under limited resources), strong or weak in its action, favourable or unfavourable in its outcome. Sometimes when an astrologer delineates a planet, he/she may see a strong malefic which then translates to unfavourable (which I find not true because the strength and favourability of a planet are derived from different considerations!). A planet can be full of resources yet weak, a planet can be weak in resources but strong, a planet could be weak but favourable, a planet could be low on resources to act and weak but still favourable. There are basically three dimensions to explore here i.e. resources, strength and favourability. Each dimension requires different methods of delineation and has different level of derivation. Levels of derivation here refer to the derivation from planet’s nature, zodiac (including essential dignities), luminaries (sun and/or moon) and some of the accidental dignities (including houses).
Let’s talk about the first dimension i.e. Resources.
We’ll discuss the first derivation (resources derived from planetary universal nature itself). The planets that are naturally full of resources are the luminaries. So much so that they are almost always considered the starting point for the determination of Hyleg. Hyleg is the planet/point that is loosely translated as life giver. Life is the first thing that a native must have (duh!) and the natural planets that have the resources would be the luminaries (especially the main luminary). This is of course judging from the planet’s nature (ceteris paribus or other things being equal). To be more precise and natal specific, we have to consider other things as well.
Resources can also be derived from zodiacal conditions and the most important is of course the essential dignities. Following Bonatti, a planet in its own:

i) domicile is like a king in its own castle (man in its own house)
ii) exaltation is like an honoured guest
iii) term (Bounds) is like a man amongst his kith and kin
iv) triplicity (trigon) is like a man amongst allies
v) face is like a man in an alien society but possess a skill required by that society.

Reading between the lines and through the metaphors, we can surmise that the essential dignities can be correlated to resources. A planet in its own domicile has all the resources he needs (he is in own house!). A planet in its own exaltation has his need provided for by the host. A planet in its own term has his kith and kin to provide for him. A planet in its own triplicity has his allies to back him up. A planet in its own face has his skills to offer in exchange for the things he needs.
A planet in detriment is like a man furthest from his own home and hence, very far from his own resources. A planet in fall is practically in a pit. A peregrine planet (a planet that has no essential dignity) is like a wanderer – an alien with nothing to offer, hence very low on resources. A planet in its essential debility (peregrine, detriment or fall) can still call upon their backup resources. Where does he get this from? From the planet’s dispositor. If a planet is peregrine (low on resources) but its dispositor is in its own domicile AND the dispositor aspects the planet – then the planet’s can turn to his rich backup resources. Almost all ancient astrologers seem to agree that in order for the dispositor to help the planet, it must aspect the planet. Some add that the dispositor and the planet must be sect mate (but I don’t think this is necessary). It would be better if the dispositor’s aspect with the planet is applying. If the dispositor (in good essential dignities) is in applying aspect to the planet, the dispositor pushes his resources to the planet (pushing dignity) – which results in a better backup resources. Imagine Jupiter is in Pisces and Venus is in Taurus in applying sextile to Jupiter. Jupiter is already high on resources (in its own domicile), yet having more resources pushed onto him by Venus (Jupiter’s exalted dispositor) who herself is high on resources! (also in her own domicile).

The next dimension is strength
Strength can be derived (like resources) from the natures of the planets themselves (ceteris paribus). The Superior planets (Mars, Jupiter and Saturn) are stronger than the Inferior planets (Venus, Mercury and Moon). This can change depending on the position of the planets (zodiacally and terrestrially). What we say here is that, (all things being equal) if there is a head on competition between Saturn and Venus – Saturn will win as he is stronger (not a very good conclusion because as we shall see later, power can also be derived elsewhere).

Strength can also be derived from the zodiac i.e. essential dignity. A planet in its own exaltation has more power/strength than those that are not. A planet approaching the degree of exaltation is increasing in power and a planet separating from the degree of exaltation is decreasing in power. A planet in its fall is in a pit (hence, very weak!). A planet approaching the opposite degree of exaltation is falling further into a deeper pit and a planet separating from the opposite degree of exaltation is crawling out of the pit. Hence, exaltation has the added meaning of strength (and not only resources). If planet A is in its own domicile and planet B is in its own exaltation, planet A has more resources than planet B but planet B is stronger than planet A. For competition, sports, war, authority (power base), we prefer the significator to be in exaltation than domicile. You can have all the sophisticated weapons in the world (high on resources) but you do not have the strength/power to wield them – you’ll still loose. In horary charts concerning legality, the one who has more power/strength is likely to win even though he is actually guilty (truthfulness is better gauged through essential dignities). What if a planet is low on power/strength? Again we look at the dispositor of the planet. If a planet is fall (weak) but its dispositor is strong (in exaltation) AND the dispositor aspects the planet, the weakness of the planet is alleviated by the dispositor. Again if the strong dispositor is in applying aspect to the weak planet, the dispositor pushes his strength/power to the weaker planet (pushing power) – which results in the planet gaining power from another.

Strength can also be derived from a planet’s relative position from the sun. Planet’s directional motion (apart from sun and moon) has a strong correlation with its position relative to the sun. Planet is retrograde when it is in certain position relative to the sun. A planet that is direct is stronger than a planet in retrograde. A combust planet or planet under the sun’s beams is weakened by the sun. A planet in cazimi is extra strong as he is beside the king. The ancients did say that a planet that is combust and in its own domicile/exaltation/term (high on resources) are protected from combustion. This is because the planet is travelling under shaded chariot. I guess the planet high on resources can afford a shaded chariot and not travelling naked under the sun! A planet combust in the domicile or exaltation of the sun (with sun also in the same sign) is also protected – protected by the sun itself because the planet’s domicile or exaltation dispositor is the sun and hence, will protect the planet (planet can use the resources of the sun instead).

Strength is also derived (and I dare say most of the time) from the position relative to ascendant (i.e. houses). Planets in angular houses are strong and planets in cadent houses are weak. Having said this, do not forget that a planet’s dispositor can push its strength or power (if the dispositor is strong – see above). So, an applying aspect from a planet’s dispositor (who is in an angular house) to the planet (who is in a cadent house), will push dispositor’s power to the weak planet. Cadent is also associated with “turning away”. Hence, cadent planets have their strength/power turned away from them.

The third dimension is favourability.
Again we look to the first derivation, the planets themselves. Both Jupiter and Venus are benefics (greater and lesser benefics respectively) – hence are more favourable to the native (other things being equal). Both Saturn and Mars are malefics (greater and lesser malefics respectively) – hence are more unfavourable to the native (other things being equal).

Favourability is derived mainly from sect (other than nature of the planets). The main consideration is the planetary sect. Diurnal planets (Sun, Jupiter and Saturn) are more favourable for day charts and more unfavourable for nocturnal charts. Nocturnal planets (Moon, Venus and Mars) are more favourable for night charts and more unfavourable for diurnal charts. So, everyone will have one “better” benefic (the benefic in sect) and one “worse” malefic (the malefic out of sect). An additional consideration is the rejoicing condition (sect as defined in medieval astrology). Diurnal planets are more favourable when they are in the same hemisphere of the sun and more unfavourable when they are opposite the hemisphere of the sun. Nocturnal planets are more favourable when they are in the opposite hemisphere of the sun and more unfavourable when they are in the hemisphere of the sun. One more is the agreement of the sect of the planet with the sign it is in. Diurnal planets are more favourable in diurnal signs and unfavourable in nocturnal signs. Nocturnal planets are more favourable in nocturnal signs and unfavourable in diurnal signs. Again a native has an unfavourable planet but is aspected by a benefic in sect, the planet is modified to bemore favourable especially if the aspect is also benevolent (sextile and trine). We can immediately see that the nature aspects modify favourability of planets (sextile and trine are “flowing” and square and opposition are “difficult”). Conjunction is neutral because it adds strength (not favourability). Hence, the nature of conjunction (whether favourable or unfavourable) must be judged according to nature of the conjuncting planets.

Favourability is also derived from the position relative to ascendant (i.e. houses). Planets in the houses that see (aspect) ascendant are more favourable. (especially if the planet is in its own house of Joy). Planets in the houses that are in aversion (not aspecting) ascendant are more unfavourable. So, Sun in the 9th house (trine to ascendant and in the house of his Joy) is definitely more favourable than sun in the 10th house but sun in the 10th house is more powerful (angular!) than sun in the 9th house (cadent house – or house where the power of the sun is turned away from native).

A little bit about houses:
There are two ancient doctrines about houses; the doctrine of the effective (read powerful) houses and beneficial (read favourable) houses. The doctrine of effective houses state that angular houses are very effective (powerful), succedent houses are effective but less so than angular houses (say 50% effective) and cadent houses are weak. The doctrine of beneficial houses (read favourable) state that houses that aspect the ascendant are beneficial and houses in aversion to ascendant are not so beneficial. Combining these two doctrines create slightly different lists of good/bad and strong/weak houses by different astrologers. This happens because the favourability consideration has been mixed with strength/effectiveness doctrine. Hence, the 3rd house (cadent) is weaker than the 8th house (succedent) but the 8th house is less beneficial than the 3rd.

It is sometimes difficult for astrologers to differentiate these subtleties. Sometime we say that a planet is very good (favourable) when what we really mean is the planet is very powerful (a matter of strength not favourability). I strongly suggest that astrologers use (or at least qualify) their statements when they say that a planet is strong, good or whatever.

[Jogi]

Hi Astrojin,

thank for this very interesting and valuable summary!

If you allow, I would ask one question so far. You wrote:

[astrojin]

Hello Jogi,

The concept of strength and house i.e. angular 100% strong, succedent 50% strong and cadent 25% strong is Medieval. The concept of angular house = directed fully towards the native, succedent house = directed away from the native but somehow redirected (50%) to the native, cadent house = directed away from the native is Modern Hellenistic. A moment's reflection tells us that they are related.

There are 4 cadent houses i.e. 3rd, 6th, 9th and 12th. The 6th and the 12th are also bad houses for planets to be located in (except for Mars and Saturn who rejoice in the 6th and 12th respectively). Remember that the 6th and the 12th are not bad houses because they are cadent, they are bad because they are in aversion to the native. The ancients also say that the cadent houses are correlated to slaves. The 6th house is literally the house of slaves (which in modern times correlate to services and service provider). The 6th house is also the house of bad fortune and the 12th is the house of bad spirit. Not all planets located in the 6th and 12th would be totally bad (Mars is good to have in the 6th and Saturn is beneficial in the 12th). Planets can still be beneficial in the 6th and 12th if they happen to be favourable according to other ways. From the 4 cadent houses, 2 are generally bad (the 6th and 12th - because they are in aversion to ascendant) and 2 are good (the 3rd and the 9th - because they aspect the ascendant). However, all cadent houses turns a native away from the position of power (this is why they are generally weak houses). The ancients would not say that a native is powerful when he/she is a slave, afflicted by bad fortune, afflicted with disease, etc. (6th house - slave of bad fortune) OR the native is afflicted by bad spirits (demons), imprisoned, hospitalized, etc. (12th house - slave of bad spirits), OR temple priestess, dream interpreter (3rd house - slave of moon goddes), foreigner, religious clerics, prophet (9th house - slave of sun god).

I have also seen others who associate angular planets to being very busy, succedent being relatively busy and cadent planets being non-active. Another association: angular represents one who leads, succedent represents one who follows and cadent represents the one who serves.

So, planets in cadent houses can have their effects turned away from the native, weak, non-active or the one who serves. Which is which depends on the signification of a planet. If the cadent planet governs your life, you might involve in giving service to others and yet your life is not conscpicuous. If the cadent planet represents your job, it might mean a career where you become the one who serves others (succedent a team member and angular the head/leader). Just remember that a cadent planet can still get its strength/power from other ways (e.g. if it is exalted, in aspect with its dispositor who also has power, etc.).

I will try and find an example for you later.

[Jogi]

Thank you Astrojin!
I`m looking forward to your future explanations

Jogi

(I hope you don`t mind me asking further questions).

[Ed F]

astrojin,

Whole sign or quadrant system for angular, succedent and cadent? I assume the latter.

Thanks,

- Ed

[astrojin]

Hello,

To Ed,

[librafeng]

Thank you very much astrojin!!!

Your articles and posts are alwasy very helpful for those astrology learners.

English is not my first language,so i do not know extactly how to express my feelings of appreciations.

Thanks again astrojin!

[Ed F]

Thanks astrojin. Our thinking about whole sign vs quadrant houses are similar.

- ed

[Olivia]

Thanks, Astrojin, for doing such a good categorisation of this.

In my experience, the person with the Sun - or another planet - on the 12 side in the same sign as the ascendant but off by a few degrees is often the one who seems the most driven towards some kind of success or even fame - and often gets there. Kinda understand that - the 12th house seems the one people are most anxious to escape. But that 12th house horror seems to stay with them one way or another.

I always look for the whole sign story as well as the quadrant story, and the terms the planets are in - put that together and - again in my experience - it seems to tell the narrative of the native quite well.

[jerd]

[astrojin]

Hello Jerd,

[jerd]

[Estebon_Duarte]

[handn]

Just adding my voice to the chorus of appreciation for taking the time to write all this so lucidly and fully.

Regards

H.
_________________
To be or not to be? Are they the only options?

[Rodd]