Study Notes: Valens Anthology

Minderwiz

Yes, may or can, not necessarily will.
 

RohanMenon

Valen's First Example of a Horoscope Analysis.

Horoscope # 1
Ascendant in Libra
Sun in Scorpio
Moon in Cancer
Saturn in Aquarius
Juiter in Sagittarius
Mars in Scorpio
Venus in Libra
Mercury in Scorpio
Nocturnal Birth

Step 1: Note the sect lord: Since night birth, sect leader == Moon.
Step 2: Note triplicity leaders of the sect lord: Moon in Cancer. Water Sign. So triplicity leaders in order: Mars, Venus, Moon.
Step 3: Evaluate first triplicity lord: Mars in Scorpio - so in its own sect (night sect), domicile (Scorpio), triplicity (water). So very well situated (though, I note, in the 2nd, so inconjunct Ascendant)
Step 4: Evaluate 2nd triplicity lord): Venus in Libra, in the ascendant
Step 5. Evalaute Moon (the 3d triplicity lord). In Cancer.

So all 3 triplicity lords are well situated and so this is a distinguished nativity.

Step 6 . Locate the Lot of Fortune. Since Ascendant is Libra, Sun is in Scorpio , Moon is in Cancer, and this is a night birth,

LoF = ASC + Sun - Moon = Asc + (Scorpio - Cancer) = Asc + 4 = Libra + 4=
Aquarius.

Lot of Fortune is in Aquarius, with Saturn there. (LoF is in the 5th, so a succedent house)


Step 7. Evaluate the Lord of The Lot of Fortune

Saturn is in Aquarius - domicile lord, in its own triplicity (since Air sign => trip lords are Saturn(day) Mercury (night), and Jupiter(supporting)) , and in the fifth house of Good Spirit (not as good as being angular, but ok)
(also Saturn is out of sect, and the out of sect malefic, but Valens seems to ignore that here)

Step 8: Look at the 11th place from LoF. This is Sagittarius, with Jupiter in it.

_Step 9: Look at the exaltation of the nativity. Moon is in Cancer, and from there to the beginning of Taurus is 11 signs. The 11th sign from the Ascendant in Libra is Leo in the 11th place of the Good Daimon. The Sun is the ruler of this place and in Scorpio the MC *with respect to the Lot of Fortune*

This is the end of Valens's analysis of the chart.

I note that he didn't look at the Lot of Spirit. So let us do that This would be Libra - 4 = Gemini. This is trine the Lord of Fortune, with Mercury in Scorpio, the tenth from the Lord of Fortune. This is yet another indicator of eminenence.


Extracting an algorithm from the process Valens follows in the above analysis (and some earlier suggestions from previous sections of Vol 2) we get

1. Which of Sun/Moon is the sect leader?
2. What are the triplicity lords of the Sect Leader?
3. Analyze each triplicity lord with respect to angularity, own trigon or not, domicile, exaltation (?), rising or secting, in/out of sect, aspects from benefics or malefics (actually this can be done for all planets?)
5. Evaluate tenor of earlier and latter half of life using the above. The 'state' of the first triplicity lord (diurnal lord or nocturnal lord as the case maybe) shows the state of the first half of life, and the state of the second triplicity lord shows the state of the second half of life. The third/'helper' triplicity lord is a lifelong background influence.
6. Calculate Lots of Fortune, Spirit, Exaltation.
7. Analyze each via place, and situation of Lord, and angular relationship to ASC, and again with respect to Fortune
8. Evaluate 11th place from Lot of Fortune, wrt count from 1st, Lord, aspects received

[EDIT] 9: Specifically note Full Moon and New Moon births, these bring Lots of Fortune and Spirit together in the same (angular) house. These are powerful nativities (other things being equal)

This will need to be expanded to take into account planetary combinations etc but should serve for a 'first cut' 'eminince evaluation' of a chart
 

Minderwiz

Valens' Charts

Valens is, like a good teacher, only interested in illustrating the methods that he has talked about in the book/section. Admittedly here, he expects his readers to do one step by themselves, and that is to project the Sun/Moon distance from the Ascendant in the opposite direction to Fortune, in order to secure the Lot of Spirit (Daimon).

So you won't get any issues relating to the other planets, merely the Sect, Trigon Lords and Fortune plus the places and domiciles they fall in. All three Trigon lords are in their own Domiciles, Venus lies in the Ascendant, the Moon in the Place of Action (Culminating Place) and only Mars is poorly placed in the second.

Fortune lies in the fifth (which is the Place of Good Fortune) and is conjunct its ruler Saturn. Jupiter is in the eleventh place from Fortune - things couldn't get all that much better.

Incidently, watch out for Valens' own chart, which he uses 21 times throughout the Anthology.

Ascendant in Virgo
Mars in Virgo
Jupiter in Libra
Moon in Scorpio
Fortune in Capricorn
Venus in Capricorn
Spirit in Taurus
Saturn in Cancer

The best estimate for this is 8th February, 120 CE around 7pm and probably Antioch in present day Turkey.

I had to juggle a little, to get things to fit - using the date and place, I got 7:35 pm before everything was in the same place. However, it's not clear where Valens was actually born. Although described as being of Antioch, what is now Antikaya actually lies a short distance from the ruins of the old city and what the hinterland of the old city was, I don't know. Valens could have been born several miles away and still been a citizen.
 

RohanMenon

Valens Horoscope # 2

Horoscope #2
ASC Cancer (day birth)
Sun, Mercury in Taurus (11th)
Moon in Aries (10th)
Venus, Mars, Saturn (Cancer,1st) -- corrected originally said 2nd
Jupiter (Capricorn, 7th) -- -corrected, originally said 8th
Lot of Fortune *and Lot of Exaltation* in Gemini (12th)
(so Lot of Spirit should be in Leo - (2nd))

Before getting into the analysis, proper, what instantly "catches the eye" so to speak is that the Lot of Fortune is in the 12th. Valens made rather dire predictions for such a combination

From Book 2 Section 5.

"If the Lot of Fortune is present in this Place (the 12th) and some [star] rules it, there will be no help, not even during transits. They have become enemies from the beginning, from the moment of birth. In the same, way benefics found in this Place will not bestow their benefits. Whenever these three stars fall in this sign (the rulers of the Ascendant, of the Lot, and of Daimon), they make men unfortunate and disgraced, those lacking their daily bread. Many will hold out their hands [for alms]"

And yet, Valens says

"The native rose from mediocre origins to become a prefect and a governor."

So the native somehow overcame the deleterious effects of Lot of Fortune landing in the 12th. *And* Lord of Exaltation landing in the 12th

Valens' analysis is very brief.Let's do the full analysis (as per the extracted algorithm, see previous post)



Applying the algorithm we have

1. Sect Lord is the Sun, since it is a day birth.
2. Since the Sun is in Taurus, the triplicity Lords are, in order Venus, Moon, Mars
3. First Triplicity Lord is Venus, which is in its own triplicity, and in the ascendant, so angular.
Second Triplicity Lord is the Moon, which is not in its own triplicity, but is in the 10th, so angular, and is the Lord of the ascendant to boot.
Third Triplicity Lord is Mars, which is in its own triplicity, in the ascendant (so angular). Also there is a mutual reception by domicile between Moon and Mars (not sure Valens considers reception etc, but it is quite evident looking at the chart.)

So all three triplicity lords are very strongly placed. The Moon is not in its own triplicity, but it is the lord of the ascendant, angular(Placed in the 10th), in mutual reception by domicile with Mars, *and* in the 11th from the Lot of Fortune, (as we'll see)

So far we have a very eminent nativity, with triplicity lords governing both halves of life being very strongly placed.

5. The first and second half of life are likely to be eminent (this clashes a bit with the 'mediocre beginnings' history of the native, but Venus the first trigon lord ruling the first half of life is quite strong, so not sure what corresponds to "mediocre beginnings" in the chart - the malefic effect of Saturn?)

6. The Lots of Fortune is in the 12th. This is very bad, as per Valens. The Lot of Exaltation is in the 12th. The Lot of Spirit is in the 2nd.

7. The Lot of Fortune is in Gemini (the 12th) the worst possible place. This has some dire interpretations, as quoted above. However Its ruler Mercury is in the natal 11th which is good

(but 12th from the Lot of Fortune. Hmm I've seen this configuration before - Lot of Fortune in the natal 12th + Lord of Lot of Fortune in the natal 11th, so 12th from Lot of Fortune itself. no idea how to inerpret this.)

The Lot of Exaltation is also in the 12th natally, which would seem to be bad but first from Lot of Fortune, which is very good.

Valens says (emphasis mine) "If it is found to be in the Ascendant or at MC,*** especially at an angle relative to the Lot***, it indicates a royal chart, provided the other stars and procedures point to a basis of greatness for the nativity"

So even though Fortune is in the natal 12th, Lot of Exaltation is in the same place, which is very good as regards eminence (how to interpret placement of Exalatation Lot in the natal 12th though?)

The Lot of Spirit should be in the second, so Leo. This isn't necessarily a very grate place to be, but note that its Lord Sun is in the 10th and trines it, which should be very good.

8. The 11th from the Lot of Fortune (in Gemini) is Aries. Which has its Lord in the Ascendant, and the Lord of the Ascendant Moon, in it. So this is a *very* nice placement.

Net, net, except for the Lot of Fortune being in the natal 12th(and its Lord being in the 12th relative to the Lot) this is a chart that screams "eminence".

so, not surprising that the native became a governor. I'd be interested in which part of the chart shows mediocre beginnings. Except Saturn possibly squaring the Lord of the Ascedant, or possibly conjuncting Lord of the 10th, I can't think of anything.

Then Valens goes on to say "the Lot of Fortune and the exaltation in Gemini, just preceding an angle (hence the beginning of his life was humble), and its ruler [Mercury] in [the XI Place of] Good Daimon."

Hmm so even if the Lot of Fortune is in the natal 12th (very bad as per Valens) if its Lord is in the natal 11th, then it means "humble beginnings" but eventual success?

I have a friend whose chart shows this configuration, Lot of Fortune in the 12th, Lord of Lot of Fortune in the natal 11th. His beginnings are 'humble', true enough, but his life also shows some evidence of the predicted effects for having Lot of Fortune in the natal 12th.

Also natal 11th is 12th from the Lot of Fortune when it is in the natal 12th. So this house should explain the role of fortune in matters relating to the natal 12th (see Minderwiz's post above explaining the intepretation of the places from the Lot of Fortune) so should be about confinement, enmities etc. How does this relate to 'humble birth'?

any tips, Minderwiz?

(Thanks Minderwiz for Valens's chart. I'll do an analysis in a future post)
 

Minderwiz

Horoscope #2
ASC Cancer (day birth)
Sun, Mercury in Taurus (11th)
Moon in Aries (10th)
Venus, Mars, Saturn (Cancer,2nd)
Jupiter (Capricorn, 8th)
Lot of Fortune *and Lot of Exaltation* in Gemini (12th)
(so Lot of Spirit should be in Leo - (2nd))

Before getting into the analysis, proper, what instantly "catches the eye" so to speak is that the Lot of Fortune is in the 12th. Valens made rather dire predictions for such a combination

From Book 2 Section 5.

"If the Lot of Fortune is present in this Place (the 12th) and some [star] rules it, there will be no help, not even during transits. They have become enemies from the beginning, from the moment of birth. In the same, way benefics found in this Place will not bestow their benefits. Whenever these three stars fall in this sign (the rulers of the Ascendant, of the Lot, and of Daimon), they make men unfortunate and disgraced, those lacking their daily bread. Many will hold out their hands [for alms]"

And yet, Valens says

"The native rose from mediocre origins to become a prefect and a governor."

So the native somehow overcame the deleterious effects of Lot of Fortune landing in the 12th. *And* Lord of Exaltation landing in the 12th

Firstly, note that Valens gives the Ascendant as Cancer, which you correctly report at the start of your analysis. But then you swap it to Gemini, and assign Mars, Saturn and Venus to the second, and Jupiter to the eighth. Thus you switch angular planets into averse places. The fault is partly mine because the text breaks over a paragraph and I can see you read;

Since this was a day birth, I found the Sun in the triangle of the Moon [Taurus Virgo Capricorn] and its partners, Venus and Mars, at an angle

[Ascendant], the Lot of Fortune and the exaltation in Gemini, just preceding an angle (hence the ....


to get the Ascendant into Gemini. Just close up that paragraph break so that it reads more easily.

As you say, Valens' analysis is brief. However, it's a day birth. The Sun is in Taurus (ruled by Venus) and Venus is the Trigon ruler for a day chart. Furthermore, Venus is in the Ascendant, so we have a very impressive beginning to the analysis.

The second Trigon ruler is the Moon, and she is in the tenth place and she is also the ruler of the Hour Marker (Ascendant). This is the e second best place in the chart (and Venus is in the best place). Mars is the third Trigon ruler and he too is in Cancer in the Ascendant. (not second place as you said above). All three triplicity Lords are angular and in the best two places in the chart. True, being a day chart, Mars is the out of sect Malefic and being in Fall (Depression as it was called by Hellenistic Astrologers) but as you point out, the Moon is in a dominating square to Mars, and also has a mutual reception (exchange of domiciles. Mars malevolence will be reduced.

So with the Ascendant ruler angular, with the Sect Light ruler angular, and all three Trigon rulers angular. This chart screams eminence. Does such a nativity depend on chance to succeed? One might argue that with these placements the ship of life will reach it's destination.

Yes the Lot is badly placed in the chart. But it's ruler is in the Eleventh Place, the Place of the Good Daimon and sextiles the Ascendant. What's more the Lot's ruler is with the Sect Light.

The Lot of Spirit is ruled by the Sect Light and is sextile to the Lot of Fortune and angular to its own ruler and to the ruler of the Lot of Fortune. Incidentally, the ruler of the Hour Marker (the Moon) sextiles the Lot of Fortune and trines the Lot of Spirit.

Spirit here is the stronger of the two Lots; being in a post ascension place, being ruled by the Sect Light and being the Lot of the Sun. So this person is likely to make a fair amount of his own luck.

Note: Fortune, Spirit and Exaltation are not good places, but the rulers are in the eleventh place - the Place of the Good Daimon.

Only two planets have not been mentioned. Saturn is not an outright malefic in a Day chart, It is in its Detriment in the first (Exile for Hellenistic Astrologers) and it too is dominated by the Moon, its ruler.

Jupiter, the Benefic of Sect is also angular in Capricorn (the Descendant), so every planet (Venus, Mars, Saturn, Moon, Jupiter) is either angular or in the eleventh place (Sun, Mercury). Indeed many Hellenistic Astrologers, rated the eleventh, above the seventh and the fifth above the fourth place. By Lilly's time the rating had changed so that eleventh and fifth followed the four angles in importance. But even for Lilly, this chart would have been very impressive in its placements.
 

RohanMenon

Valens horoscope # 3

Firstly, note that Valens gives the Ascendant as Cancer, which you correctly report at the start of your analysis. But then you swap it to Gemini, and assign Mars, Saturn and Venus to the second, and Jupiter to the eighth. Thus you switch angular planets into averse places.

Thanks MInderwiz for catching this. I seem to have used the correct places in the analysis itself, while placing them wrongly in the horoscope 'listing'. I'll correct this now.


Spirit here is the stronger of the two Lots; being in a post ascension place, being ruled by the Sect Light and being the Lot of the Sun. So this person is likely to make a fair amount of his own luck.

What is a 'post ascension place'? Below the horizon? (post -after, ascension - the ascendant, just a guess) What is the significance of something being post ascendant?

And now the next example chart.

Example 3:

Day Birth
ASC in Leo
Sun, Mars, Venus, Mercury in Aquarius
Moon in Scorpio
Jupiter in Scorpio
Saturn in Aries

Sect Lord is Sun
Who is in Aquarius, so trigon lords are Saturn, Mercury, Jupiter

Saturn is in the 9th in Aries (mutual reception with Mars). Not in its own triangle, but 9th is a good place.

Mercury also in Aquarius. In its own triangle. Angular (7th).

Jupiter is in Scorpio. Not it own triangle. Angular (4th)

Second half of life would seem to be more 'eminent' than the first (which isn't bad imho since 9th house , but Valens rightly says this is a cadent place,so the native's 'first years were ordinary)

Lot of Fortune is in (since day birth, ASC + Moon - Sun = Leo - 3 = Taurus (the 10th. This is excellent). Ruler Venus is in Aquarius, 10th from Fortune, 7th from ASC. Angular by both counts. Very well placed.

Lot of Spirit = Leo + 3 = Scorpio (4th). This is good since (a) angular with respect to ASC, *and* angular with respect to Fortune. Lord Mars is also 7th from ASC, 10th from Fortune. Very well placed, again. (however it does oppose the Lot of Fortune - not sure this is good news)

Lot of Exaltation is in Libra, so 3d from Ascendant and 6th from Fortune (not so great). However its Lord is well placed (10th from Fortune, 7th from ascendant)

The place of accomplishment, 11th from the Lot is Pisces. There are no planets here, and is 8th from the ASC(not so good) . The Lord Jupiter is in Scorpio, angular to both ASC and Fortune, which is *very* good!

So overall, again a very eminent nativity.

(Note: The Exaltation Lord can't be calculated exactly without the degrees of Sun, Moon, Ascendant, so it is important, when giving charts in this form, to explicitly give it,as Valens does here)

(Note 2: In these analyses I'm ignoring aspects etc which would be important in a real world chart. But here I'm just learning the skeletal 'eminence' framework so it all works)
 

Minderwiz

What is a 'post ascension place'? Below the horizon? (post -after, ascension - the ascendant, just a guess) What is the significance of something being post ascendant?

It's difficult to be consistent in terminology. If I use the appropriate terminology, then, as above, I'm using terms which are no longer in use. So I try to use modern terms, in this thread and introduce relevant terms as appropriate. This one slipped past the net LOL. So I'd better explain

Hellenistic Astrologers viewed the chart as four angular triads (Schmidt's term, I think). Each triad consisted of three places, so the four triads are: 12th, Asc, second; 3rd IC, 5th; 6th, DSC, 8th; 9th MC, 11th.

Using the Ascendant triad as an example, each triad consists of:

Decline: The Place that was at an angle but has now passed - 12th in this case

Pivot: The angle itself - the Ascendant. The Decline can be considered as what has already happened (the Past) so the Pivot, is the Present. As it's name suggests it's a place where things are in balance but can change. The Pivot is also seen as being concerned with action: One of the meanings of the Greek word is a goad; something that stimulates action.

Post Ascensional; The place that will become the Pivot (and therefore lies in the Future) - The second in this case.

The therefore correspond to the Modern, Cadent, Angular, Succeedent houses but note that they are considered in order starting with the Decline and working through to the Post Ascensional, with the angle or Pivot in the middle.
 

RohanMenon

Oh please use pre modern terminology

I'm learning a lot from you. So no problem with unfamiliar terminology!

I'm exhilarated by Valens (and thanks to your *very generous* help, not getting stuck as I would have if I couldn't have anyone to ask questions of). Still only on Book 2. So much to learn!! (hooray!)

Today I learned post ascensional (and 'angular triads') ! All good!
 

Minderwiz

I'm learning a lot from you. So no problem with unfamiliar terminology!

I'm exhilarated by Valens (and thanks to your *very generous* help, not getting stuck as I would have if I couldn't have anyone to ask questions of). Still only on Book 2. So much to learn!! (hooray!)

Today I learned post ascensional (and 'angular triads') ! All good!

OK will do!

To me, Valens is an Astrologer, talking about both the theory and practice of Astrology and enjoying it. There are others that fall into the same category throughout history, including Lilly and Morin (though Morin is more into the theoretical side). Their Astrology is rigorous, grounded in a philosophical approach and much more focused than what passes for Astrology today.

Traditional approaches aren't easy - mainly because the authors wrote to supplement their teaching and didn't need the sort of text that is pushed out today. Many of their terms and methods have been stripped out, often with nothing better (or even nothing at all) to replace them. Therefore the modern reader is faced with an almost alien discipline. However, what Valens and his era produced is, still with us: Charts, the Ascendant and angles, aspects, signs and the zodiac, houses and house meanings. It's just that they make so much more out of it than the modern Astrologer.
 

RohanMenon

Valens: Horoscope # 4

(yes I plan to work through every single chart in the book. And a few more from friends and family)

Not stated explicitly this is a day birth chart, but ASC is Leo, and Sun is in Taurus, so it is.

ASC - Leo
Sun, Mercury - Taurus (10th)
Moon - Aquarius (7th)
Venus, Saturn - Aries (9th)
Jupiter - Virgo (2nd)
Mars- Pisces(8th)

Lot of Fortune - Taurus (10th)
Lot of Exaltation - Cancer (12th)
Lot of Spirit (not given, but most likely Scorpio 4th)

Place of Prosperity = 11th from the Lot == Pisces (with Mars in it)

Slinging our algorithm
1. Sect Leader - Sun
2. Trigon Lords (day birth in Taurus,so, in order): Venus, Moon , Mars)
3. Trigon Lord 1: Venus (in Aries, not in its own Trigon, and the 9th. Cadent, but still a good house, and (Lord of Fortune) in the 12th from Fortune - not so good.Though Valens doesn't use this, Venus is also in detriment.So, overall quite weak.
Trigon Lord 2: Moon (in Aquarius, not in its own trigon, the 7th, Angular. 10th from Fortune. Very good)
Trigon Lord 3: Mars (natal in Pisces, in its own Trigon, natal 8th, not so good, in 11th from Fortune, good)
4. So the first half of the native's life is likely to be worse than the excellent 2nd half. (here we finally find a good indicator of 'mediocre early life)

5. The lot of Fortune is in the natal 10th (Taurus). This is an excellent position. A sign of eminence. Sect Lord ,who is also Lord of Ascendant, conjunct Fortune. *very* good. Lord of Fortune (Venus) is in the natal 9th (which is good) but 12th from Fortune (not so good). Trined by Jupiter. Very good.

Lot of Exaltation is in the natal 12th (Cancer), third from Fortune. Not so great, but there is a sextile aspect to Fortune. Lord of Lot of Exaltation (Moon) is in Aquarius the natal 7th (and tenth from Fortune) . so angular from both reference points, but not aspecting the Lot.

Lot of Spirit is tentatively in Scorpio (natal 4th) which is angular both with respect to ASC and Fortune, and trined by its Lot. If this is a correct placement, this is a very powerful Lot Of Spirit, and to quote "Minderwiz" the native is likely "to make his own luck"

6. Place of Prosperity (11th from Fortune) is Pisces (natal 8th, not a good place) but with Mars (lord of Spirit) in it, (and trining Lot of Spirit).

Ok, so in the absence of other information, I'd judge this to be a native who is very lucky in the second half of his life, but perhaps no so much sheer eminence, thanks to 11th place from Fortune holding Mars, and ruled by a Jupiter in detriment, and Lord of Fortune in12th from Fortune. But Lord of Spirit (assuming correctly caltulated to be in Scorpio) is trined by its Lord Mars. A martian 'action hero' - possibly a warrior.

Now Valens' judgment
"So the native’s life was at first burdened and lowly, but since the Moon is at an angle [1], later he came into governmental and advantageous circumstances.

Likewise the Lot of Fortune was found in Taurus, the exaltation in Cancer. The Moon, the ruler of Cancer,(so Lord of Lot of Exaltation) was found at MC relative to the Lot of Fortune therefore the native came into great fortune and governorship [2] Mars is found in the Place of Accomplishment, [which gave to him] property from plunder, stealing, and violence, property which after his death was plundered most abominably [3]"

[1] because Moon is second Trigon Lord, the latter half of life is good.
[2] I missed this 'royal' configuration. Drat! "If (Lot of Exaltation or its Lord) is found to be in the Ascendant or at MC, especially at an angle relative to the Lot, it indicates a royal chart"
[3] Ahh this is the effect of Mars in 11th from Fortune.! Mars also rules the 4th - the place of post death legacacies/reputation if I remember correctly.

Note to self: I suspect, after this 'eminence check' a 'normal' evaluation of the chart, with which planet is in domicile, exaltation etc, aspected by whom, etc would give a fuller picture
e.g Mercury Lord of the 2nd is in the 10th, with Jupiter in the 2nd, and though in detriment is trined by the Ascendant Lord from the 10th, so the native is (will become) rich etc.

Today was a busy day and I did this in a very short time. Hopefully didn't get anything too wrong.