Fifth Aphorism: The Three Familiarities

5. Non potest facere astrologus commixtionem stellarum significationum, antequam cognoscat amicitias & inimicitias earum. Amicitia quidem & inimicitia earum est triplex, una quidem secundum naturam, alia secundum domos, & tertia secundum aspectus. 

"The astrologer cannot make a mixture of the significations of the stars, until he understands their friendships and enmities. Their friendship and enmity, moreover, is of three kinds: one indeed in accordance with their natures, another in accordance with their domiciles, and a third in accordance with their aspects."

The Centiloquium here makes reference for the first time to the astrologer. It is the task of the astrologer, it says, to “make a mixture” (facere commixtionem) of the various significations of the stars. By implication, this sort of judgment or interpretation admits of some degree of flexibility. This sort of evaluation of the combined effects of the stars is not just a matter of implementing interpretive rules; in fact, three different sets of familiarities must be weighed and considered.

The first of these three familiarities (secundum naturam) reflects the intrinsic sympathies or antipathies that exist among the planets themselves, apart from any consideration of their placement or configuration in the chart. These are the so-called Planetary Affinities.

The various extant schemes of planetary friendships and enmities all appear to derive from attempts to classify the planets according to Temperament, Disposition (i.e. benefics and malefics), Gender, and Sect; sometimes also considering the relative configurations that exist among their Domiciles, Exaltations, and Trigons.

The most important of these considerations is Temperament. The usual classification of the planets according to temperament goes like this:

            Hot & Dry: Sun, Mars

Hot & Wet: Jupiter

Cold & Dry: Saturn, Mercury

Cold & Wet: Moon, Venus

The most commonly cited scheme of Planetary Affinities can be traced back to Albumasar (9^th century), and is transmitted by Junctinus, Dariot, and (with slight variations) by Bonatus, Alcabitius, Leopoldus Austriacus, Naibod, and Lilly. This is clearly a matter of direct textual transmission, since the unusual order of presentation (beginning with Jupiter), as well as certain comments about the strength of the enmities, are consistently repeated by all of these authors.  Here is the table of Planetary Affinities as presented in Albumasar’s Introductorium majus, III.30, with supplemental details drawn from some of the later writers:

                        Friends                                                  Enemies

Saturn               Jupiter, Sun, Moon, (Mercury)¹                  Mars & Venus², (Mercury)¹

Jupiter               Saturn, Sun, Venus, Mercury, Moon           Mars    

Mars                 Venus                                                    Saturn, Jupiter², Sun², Mercury, Moon       

Sun                   Jupiter, Venus³                                        (Mars)⁴, Mercury, Moon              

Venus                Jupiter, Mars⁵, Sun, Mercury, Moon           Saturn              

Mercury             Saturn⁶, Jupiter, Venus                             Mars, Sun, Moon           

Moon                Saturn, Jupiter, Venus                              Mars, (Sun)⁷, Mercury     

¹Bonatus includes Mercury here, with the explanation that Mercury is a friend of Saturn when applying to planets which are friends of Saturn, but an enemy of Saturn when applying to Saturn’s enemies.

²Most authorities include statements here that Venus is especially hateful to Saturn, and that Jupiter and the Sun are especially hateful to Mars.

³Bonatus and Junctinus both follow most MSS of Albumasar in omitting Saturn (even though the Sun is listed above as a friend of Saturn); Lilly lists Saturn among the Sun’s enemies.

⁴Some MSS of Albumasar include Mars here, as do Alcabitius, Bonatus, Junctinus, Naibod, and Dariot; Lilly notes that Mars is “especially” hateful to the Sun.

⁵Lilly comments that “Mars hath only Venus for his friend; yet Venus loves him not.”

⁶Bonatus diverges from the tradition in listing Saturn among the enemies of Mercury.

⁷Some MSS of Albumasar include the Sun here, as do Bonatus, Junctinus, and Lilly; Dariot states that the Sun is “partly” inimical to the Moon.

It will be seen that (apart from the interesting omission of Saturn as a friend to the Sun) these affinities are all reciprocal.

This table readily lends itself to the creation of a point-system, which I have devised as follows:

1. Moon & Mercury                - 2

2. Moon & Venus                   +2

3. Moon & Sun                       - 1

4. Moon & Mars                     - 2

5. Moon & Jupiter                   +2

6. Moon & Saturn                   +2

7. Mercury & Venus               +2

8. Mercury & Sun                   - 2

9. Mercury & Mars                 - 2

10. Mercury & Jupiter             +2

11. Mercury & Saturn             ±2

12. Venus & Sun                    +2

13. Venus & Mars                  +1

14. Venus & Jupiter                +2

15. Venus & Saturn                - 3

16. Sun & Mars                      - 3

17. Sun & Jupiter                    +2

18. Sun & Saturn                    +1

19. Mars & Jupiter                  - 3

20. Mars & Saturn                  - 2

21. Jupiter & Saturn                +2

The reasoning behind this is quite simple. Relations of amicitia are scored (+2), while relations of inimicitia are scored (- 2). The relation of Mercury & Saturn is scored ±2, depending on the application(s) of Mercury to Saturn’s friends and enemies (the score will be 0 if Mercury is involved in no applications, or if it applies to one of each; but ±2 will be assigned if the number of applications to one side exceeds the number of applications to the other). In three cases, I have assigned (- 3) to inimicitia to reflect statements that these antipathies are especially strong. In two cases of amicitia, I have assigned (+1) to reflect ambiguities in the description of these relations. In the case of Sun & Moon, I have assigned (- 1) to reflect Dariot’s statement.

The second of these three familiarities arises from a consideration of the zodiacal sign each planet occupies. Unless a planet is in one of its own domiciles, it will be in the domicile of another planet (comparable to staying as a guest in someone else’s home). Why are exaltation and trigon not considered? This may reflect an assumption that domicile is the principal essential dignity; it is interesting to note, however, that Porphyry appears to accord first place to Exaltation, while Dorotheus stresses the importance of Triplicity.

The third of the three familiarities has to do with the aspects that exist among the planets themselves. Since the Centiloquium uses the word aspectus (not configurationes), we may assume that testimonial relationships are to be excluded.

Let us analyze the Inception Chart for Beltrano’s Parlour in terms of these Three Familiarities. To refresh your memory, here are the planetary positions:

Moon              4 Scorpio 44

Mercury          29 Virgo 22

Venus              28 Cancer 12

Sun                  2 Virgo 06

Mars                29 Gemini 39

Jupiter             20 Aquarius 43 (retrograde)

Saturn              22 Virgo 05

Let’s begin with an examination of the familiarities secundum naturam and secundum domos (we will consider the aspects later on).

Ptolemy makes it sufficiently clear (Quadripartitum I.17) that the rulerships of the domiciles are derived from the configuration of the zodiacal signs in relation to Leo (the domicile of the Sun). According to this profound and elegant scheme, the domiciles of Mercury are the ones closest to those of the luminaries, while the domiciles of Saturn are those farthest away. The Sun is thus the dispensator of the planetary domiciles, which are distributed as follows:

Sun:                 Leo

Moon:             Cancer

Mercury:         Gemini & Virgo

Venus:             Taurus & Libra

Mars:               Aries & Scorpio

Jupiter:           Sagittarius & Pisces

Saturn:             Capricornus & Aquarius

In our Inception Chart, we find that the Moon is in the domicile of Mars, its enemy (Scorpio is also the sign of the Moon’s casus or detrimentum, but our aphorism recognizes domicile only). Mercury is in its own domicile. Venus is in the domicile of the Moon, its friend. The Sun is in the domicile of Mercury, its enemy. Mars is in the domicile of Mercury, its enemy. Jupiter is in the domicile of Saturn, its friend. Saturn is in the domicile of Mercury; if we apply the doctrine of Bonatus, we find that Mercury is in applicatio to two planets (Venus and Mars), both of which are enemies of Saturn; therefore, Mercury must also be counted among Saturn’s enemies.

We must now consider the aspectus among these planets. According to the Hellenistic definitions (Antiochus, Porphyry, et al.), such a relation exists if there is an applying aspect between the two planets within 3º of partile (13º if the Moon is involved). This means that the two planets must be within a 4º range (the 3º preceding the degree of the aspect, plus the degree of the aspect itself); in the case of the Moon, it is a 14º range (the 13º preceding the degree of the aspect, plus the degree of the aspect itself). As with configuratio, the aspect does not count if it will never perfect. However, unlike configuratio, an aspect can extend across the boundary between two signs (as long as it will eventually perfect). In the case of bodily conjunction, the same rules apply, but the conjunction must perfect before either planet leaves its current sign. 

Based on these definitions, we can identify the following aspects:

1. Moon is separating from a square to Venus (within 13º)

2. Moon is separating from a sextile to the Sun (within 13º)

3. Moon is separating from a trine to Mars (within 13º)¹

4. Mercury is separating from a sextile to Venus (within 3º)

5. Mercury is applying to a square to Mars (partile)¹

6. The Sun is separating from a sextile to Mars (within 3º)

¹Note that the Moon does not aspect Jupiter because it is outside the 13º range; likewise, there is no conjunction between Mercury and Saturn because there are more than 3º separating them.

We are now in a position to “make a mixture” (facere commixtionem), that is, to evaluate the combined effects of the stars. We must evaluate each of the 21 possible interplanetary relationships:

1. Moon & Mercury: only one familiarity exists (they are enemies secundum naturam)

2. Moon & Venus: although they are friends and Venus is in the Moon’s domicile, there is a (hostile) square aspect between them.

3. Moon & Sun: although the two luminaries are (at least partly) inimical to each other, there is a (friendly) sextile aspect between them.

4. Moon & Mars: the two planets are enemies, and the Moon occupies the domicile of Mars; there is a (friendly) trine aspect between them.

5. Moon & Jupiter: (friends secundum naturam)

6. Moon & Saturn: (friends secundum naturam)

7. Mercury & Venus: the two planets are friends, and there is a (friendly) sextile aspect between them.

8. Mercury & Sun: the two planets are enemies, and the Sun occupies the domicile of Mercury.

9. Mercury & Mars: the two planets are enemies, and Mars occupies the domicile of Mercury; moreover, there is a (hostile) square aspect between them.

10. Mercury & Jupiter: (friends secundum naturam)

11. Mercury & Saturn: the two planets are enemies (in this case), and Saturn occupies the domicile of Mercury.

12. Venus & Sun: (friends secundum naturam)

13. Venus & Mars: (friends secundum naturam; but see Lilly’s comment)

14. Venus & Jupiter: (friends secundum naturam)

15. Venus & Saturn: (enemies secundum naturam)

16. Sun & Mars: the two planets are enemies, yet there is a (friendly) sextile aspect between them.

17. Sun & Jupiter: (friends secundum naturam)

18. Sun & Saturn: (Sun is friendly to Saturn secundum naturam)

19. Mars & Jupiter: (enemies secundum naturam)

20. Mars & Saturn: (enemies secundum naturam)

21. Jupiter & Saturn: the two planets are friends, and Jupiter occupies the domicile of Saturn.

To evaluate these relationships in terms of the Three Familiarities, we will use the point-system already presented for the Affinities.

For domicile, we will assign ±2 points (+2 if the two planets have an affinity of amicitia, - 2 if they have an affinity of inimicitia). In cases of mutual reception (where the two planets occupy each other’s domiciles), we will assign an additional two points (+2); this will generally have the effect of canceling enmities secundum naturam).

For aspectus, we will assign points as follows:

Sextile             +1

Square             - 2

Trine                +3

Opposition      - 4

Conjunction     ±5 [+5 if the two planets are friends secundum naturam, - 5 if they are enemies]¹

¹Ptolemy (Quadripartitum I.24) maintains that a Conjunction is only valid if both planets are on the same side of the ecliptic. If we choose to observe this rule, then we will ignore conjunctions where one planet has North latitude and the other South latitude (assigning no points in such cases); if both planets have North latitude or South latitude, then we will assign ±5 points. However, Ptolemy’s rule appears to be an innovation—there is no evidence from earlier writers that latitude was used to evaluate conjunctions.

When all of this is done, it yields the following result:

                                                affinity             domicile           aspectus

1. Moon & Mercury                - 2                                                                    =          - 2

2. Moon & Venus                   +2                    +2                    - 2                    =          +2

3. Moon & Sun                       - 1                                            +1                    =            0

4. Moon & Mars                     - 2                    - 2                    +3                    =          - 1

5. Moon & Jupiter                   +2                                                                    =          +2

6. Moon & Saturn                   +2                                                                    =          +2

7. Mercury & Venus               +2                                            +1                    =          +3

8. Mercury & Sun                   - 2                    - 2                                            =          - 4

9. Mercury & Mars                 - 2                    - 2                    - 2                    =          - 6

10. Mercury & Jupiter          +2                                                                    =          +2

11. Mercury & Saturn            - 2                    - 2                                            =          - 4

12. Venus & Sun                     +2                                                                    =          +2

13. Venus & Mars                   +1                                                                    =          +1

14. Venus & Jupiter              +2                                                                    =          +2

15. Venus & Saturn               - 3                                                                    =          - 3

16. Sun & Mars                      - 3                                            +1                    =          - 2

17. Sun & Jupiter                    +2                                                                    =          +2

18. Sun & Saturn                    +1                                                                    =          +1

19. Mars & Jupiter                  - 3                                                                    =          - 3

20. Mars & Saturn                  - 2                                                                    =          - 2

21. Jupiter & Saturn                +2                    +2                                            =          +4

It is important to keep in mind that these numbers reflect the strength and valency of the relationships between the planets; they indicate nothing about the relative strengths of the individual planets. This scheme could easily be expanded to include a consideration of the planets’ relationships by Exaltation, Trigon, and Term, as well as their Testimonial and Concurrent relationships. However, in order to remain consistent with the language of the Second Aphorism, I am favoring a narrow interpretation of the words domos and aspicitur.

This sort of Arithmetical computation will appeal to those who favor an analytical and quantitative approach to Astrology. By contrast, those whose approach is more intuitive are likely to favor the Narrative Mode. This approach is well-documented and has a long history; instead of attempting to quantify individual factors, one uses those factors to develop a kind of story or scenario. If we apply this to the case of Mercury & Mars (the strongest set of familiarities we have identified in the present example), we note that the two planets are enemies secundum naturam, that Mars is posited in Gemini (one of the domiciles of Mercury), and that the two planets are involved in a partile square, indicative of intense hostility. How can we picture this? First, we must consider the contrast between the two planets secundum naturam: Mercury is cold and dry, an intellectual with ascetic tendencies. Mars, by contrast, is crude, brutal, and violent. As to their domicile relationship, that could be likened to a difficult rental situation: to the dismay of the landlord Mercury, Mars has trashed his house, broken all the rules, and gotten behind in the rent. The partile square aspect between the two planets suggests that things have come to a crisis: Mercury is seeking to evict Mars from the property, and the situation has become extremely ugly. However, Mars in the 30^th degree of Gemini is clearly on the way out! 

BELTRANO