Cardan First

This is a free excerpt from the
”Complete Seven Segments

of Girolamo Cardano”,
(in preparation)
All rights reserved
c
Valerie N. Livina & Anton L. Grigoryev
Published by
c Valerie N. Livina & Anton L. Grigoryev, 2009

Copyright
ISBN 978-0-9554751-3-9
All rights reserved. This book may not be used or reproduced without written
permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in
articles or reviews.
Complete Seven Segments
of Girolamo Cardano
Valerie N. Livina, Anton L. Grigoryev

First chapter published online, 24 September 2009
Livinalia Publishing
Dedicated to our devoted opponents
whose efforts helped us improve the book
Introduction
Imagination is more important than knowledge. For
knowledge is limited to all we now know and under-
stand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and
all there ever will be to know and understand.
Albert Einstein
The life of Girolamo Car-

dano spanned the period
from September 24, 1501
(Pavia) to September 21,
1576 (Rome), according to
the chart given in Cardano’s
’Libelli Duo’ [4].
Cardano wrote the aphorisms between 1546 and 1547 years.

They were first published in 1547 in Nuremberg [4], and later
repeatedly reprinted. For example, they were included in the
collections of astrological aphorisms [6] published in Ulm in
1641 and 1647, copying the version in the ”Opera Omnia”.
In 1647, a French translation appeared, and in 1676 in the
collection ”Anima Astrologiae” some of the aphorisms ap-
peared in the English translation by Henry Coley. In 1998, the
Italian translation by Renzo de Martino was published [7].
The present work is the first complete translation of the
5
Cardano’s First Segment c
V.Livina & A.Grigoryev
Cardano’s aphorisms in the English language performed from

the original Latin text. We used two editions of the aphorisms,
the section from the ”Opera Omnia” [5] and one of the Ulm
editions [6].
It is necessary to note the differences between these two edi-
tions. First of all, in the Ulm edition all the chart examples
present in the ”Opera Omnia” are missing. Furthermore, the
96th aphorism of the VI Segment is missing, and as a conse-
quence all the numeration of the aphorisms is wrongly shifted
up to the 132 aphorism of the same Segment. On the other
hand, the comparison of the texts of the aphorisms in both
editions allowed us to discover the defects of the text in the
”Opera Omnia” that were affecting the astrological sense of
some aphorisms.
In the examples of the charts, Cardano uses the system
of so-called equal houses, which is sometimes called Firmicus
system, because it often appears in the ”Matheseos Libri”
by Julius Firmicus Maternus. Moreover, this systems is also
called ”juxta gradus aequales” — according to the equal de-
grees. Equal degrees” were called the degrees of the ecliptics,
and the system of houses that corresponds to the equal degrees
contains 30 equal degrees of the ecliptics; the counting starts
from the ascendent. Therefore, in this system the medium
coeli does not coincide with the cusp of the 10th house. In the
charts of the examples, the coordinates of the MC (cor coeli)
are specifically mentioned in the central square of the original
chart.
At a mature age, or at least from the time of writing the
— 6 —
commentaries for the Ptolemy’s Tetrabiblos, which were first

published in 1554, Cardano used the Regiomontanus house
system.
We present original charts from the ”Opera Omnia” and
their modern equivalents with Regiomontanus houses. Note
that in the text Cardano mentions equal houses, and the plan-
etary positions are often mentioned as such. We have corrected
the dates of 12 charts, according to placements of the Moon
and given information about accidents and MC, with corre-
sponding footnotes in the text. Values of MC and ascendents
also allowed us to estimate locations of some charts. For con-
venience, we also present original and modern version of each
table in the text.
The time in the charts is mentioned in different systems.
Most common are the following two:
• in equal hours from the noon (hours and minutes after the
noon);
• time horologij, i.e. by clock — this is the common in that
period in Italy system of counting time in equal hours from
about sunset.
There are also other ways of mentioning time in the text,

such as ”at sunrise”, ”about sunset”, ”close to midnight”,
”6 hours of night”, etc. We also kept the medieval style of nam-
ing natural benefics ”fortunes” (that may be ”infortunate” by
placement or aspects with ”infortunes”) and using pronouns of
animated objects (”she”, ”he”) when mentioned the planets.
The genre of the aphorisms implies some mystique style
— 7 —
of writing requiring additional explanations. Certainly, Car-

dano had examples of aphorisms of his predecessors, in par-
ticular, the Centiloquium of Ptolemy. In the Cardano’s apho-
risms, there are unambiguous hints to the Ptolemy’s apho-
risms. Cardano was also familiar with the commentaries of
the Centiloquium assigned to Abu’l Hasan Ali ibn Ridwan
Al-Misri. Therefore, aphorisms for Cardano meant to be for-
mulated darkly and were expected to be interpreted.
This work originated from the free e-book of commentaries [9]
to the old, reduced and reorganized English translation from
the Latin by Henry Coley, which was included in the ’Anima
Astrologiæ’ [2] published in 1675. In place of Cardano’s seven
chapters, Coley and Lilly created nine topical ones, omitting
’irrelevant’ materials.
Thus, this is the first English translation of the complete
Seven Segments, written and commented by non-native En-
glish speakers. We started this work not due to vanity and
ambition, but due to sincere admiration of the Cardano’s tal-
ent and eagerness to learn and share the breadth of his genius.
The translation from Latin to Russian was performed by
Anton Grigoriev; the English translation was performed by
Valerie Livina; the final English version of the aphorisms was
repeatedly discussed. The commentaries were written by Va-
lerie Livina under supervision of Anton Grigoriev whose ex-
pertise in the mediæval astrology was most helpful.
We admit that our English and Latin are not perfect, yet
this is not the main reason for the occasional oddity of the text.
The speech of Cardano, itself, is odd at places, due to his natal
— 8 —
retrograde Mercury, cadent and combust. His mind was deep

and elegant; his speech, at times, was not. We did our best
to preserve his style, yet to make it readable (this means some
minor corrections deviating from the original, which we tried
to keep minimal and accurate). Hopefully, the commentaries
would clarify the rest.
Any suggestions/corrections that could help improve this
e-book are welcome.
Valerie N. Livina [email protected]

http://vlivina.googlepages.com
http://vlivina.blogspot.com
Anton L. Grigoryev [email protected]

http://www.antonblog.net
http://www.astromaster.info
http://www.anton-grigoryev.ru
— 9 —
Segment I
Here were seven things, of which it was

necessary that every one should fall out
exactly when and where it did for the
attainment of the required results.
Girolamo Cardano
I.1. Life is short, art long1, experience is obtained not due to our
will, judgement is difficult, and moreover, it is necessary not only
to exercise in own judgements, but also in judgements of others
who speak according to the reason; to study scriptures, and also
to discover the natural causes of appearing events; to consider
the true positions of stars and then their movement, and to be a
passionate lover of truth.
Life is short, do not waste it doubting the Divine knowl-

edge. Accumulate experience, learn from scriptures of
the wise, modernise your understanding according to the
evolving reality, but never discredit the basics, like ruler-
ships and dignities. The believers reach the truth.
I.2. The knowledge of events is achieved by three means: what will
the future events be, why will they happen, and why will they
happen that time. Therefore, it is very important to know what
1
See Aphorisms by Hippocrates [8] and Cardano’s commentary on them in the Opera.
10
is signified by these three.
What, why and when — three major questions of the Art.

I.3. However connected the arts and their subjects, it is impossible to
tell anything definite about the future, and astrologer should not
say about future anything undoubtedly.
There is the main reason forbidding precise predictions:

the Will of God keeping the secrets of the Nature, so the
final knowledge is ever slipping away from the man.
Yet, since the subject of the art is ourselves, and the judge-
ments depend on ourselves, this connection does influence
the result. By the Will of God.
I.4. Strong positions of stars, which are mediocre in nature, you will
interpret as misfortunes for paupers and as bright deeds for the
powerful. But if they are good or bad and in strong positions,
they signify either luck or disasters.
Planets of mediocre (neutral) nature are Mercury, Moon

and Sun, and their strong positions (accidental strength)
promise different future according to the status of the na-
tive. The good planets (benefics) are Jupiter and Venus,
and in strong (accidentally) positions they promise un-
conditional luck, whereas malefics (Saturn and Mars), be-
ing accidentally strong, would give unconditional disaster.
Therefore, judge significations of planets according to their
nature and accidental/essential strength.
I.5. There will be no trust to what contradicts reason, and there is
— 11 —
no hope it could last long.
The rational is stable, the irrational is not.

I.6. Whoever suddenly achieves great luck, those suddenly suffer great
disasters.
The destiny pattern has a certain amplitude of extremes,

both good and bad. Astrologically, the stronger the chart,
the stronger rise, as well as downfall. Hence, do not envy
the lucky.
I.7. The positions of stars should be carefully studied before you come
to a judgement on the basis of an assumption, such as we, for in-
stance, we know the placement of the Moon by means of an added
argument of latitude and by Dragon’s Head, and [the places] of
the other planets — by means of the Sun.
Cardano compares usage of inaccurate positions of planets

with a judgement by assumption or guess in opposition to
a confident judgement according to carefully checked exact
positions of planets. Apparently, he wants to draw a par-
allel between coming to judgement from a supposition and
from the exact positions of planets by means of corrections
to a mean position, as it was done in his time.
I.8. Mathematics cannot be known completely. Hence the movement
of star can never be perfectly known, nor the judgements based
on them. Therefore, it is necessary to correct the movement of
stars periodically after new observations.
Astrologers of the past did not have computers, so their

— 12 —
routine work was harder, their efforts were more diligent,

and their faith guided them properly. Nowadays, we are
equipped with better and faster instruments, our life is
easier — this creates illusions. Keep the faith!
I.9. It is better to know less but correctly and firmly than more mixed
and with mistakes.
And the best is to know more and firmly.

I.10. It is good to know how much each planet can move in a single
year, and on the other hand, their revolutions, as well as those of
fixed stars and Dragon’s Head.
Average speed of planets should be known, from degree

per day for the Sun to one sign per 2.5 years for Saturn.
Table 1 (original).
— 13 —
years days hours minutes seconds

stars 49000 0 0 0 0
S 29 157 22 43 0
j 11 311 23 0 3
h 1 321 22 40 18
s 0 365 5 48 41
g 0 365 5 48 41
f 0 365 5 48 41
d 0 27 7 43 7
k? 18 224 8 0 0
Table 1a (modern). Revolutions of stars and planets.
degrees minutes seconds thirds (sec/60)
stars 0 0 32 14
S 12 13 53 5
j 30 21 35 18
h 191 24 31 54
s 360 0 0 0
g 360 0 0 0
f 360 0 0 0
d 132 34 12 7
k? 19 20 29 33
Table 1b (modern). Annual movement.
I.11. Besides the known seven planets, there are stars in the 8th sphere:
15 of first magnitude, 45 of second, 208 of third, 474 of fourth,
217 of fifth, 49 of sixth, 9 obscure and 5 nebulous, therefore, 1022
in total.
Modern astronomers can add a little, but it is better to

— 14 —
use the table from Ptolemy’s Almagest in the Book VII,

Chapter 5.
I.12. Empty parts of the 8th sphere partly correspond to the nature of
the signs, partly to the nature of the neighbour stars.
8th is the stellar sphere, its empty areas inherit quality of

zodiacal signs and stars nearby.
I.13. There are three Principles of the Art: reason, sense and experi-
ence. There are four Principles of Operation: planets, sky de-
grees, fixed stars and houses.
Whereas the Principles of Operations are clear (they com-

prise a chart and are objects of analysis), the Principles of
Art stress the importance of both analytical and sensual
components of astrology, and this needs to be reminded to
many astrologers.
Astrology is a science, because it requires wit and logic
(these can be developed by effort), but it is also an art,
because it flourishes by personal talent and intuition which
are gifts. Purely analytical approach would not work in
astrology: the human brain is a too weak tool on the edge
of the stellar sphere.
I.14. In conjunction and square, direct the place and the body of the
planet, but in opposition, trine and sextile, directions are always
done for the place calculated with the latitude of the beam.
It seems that Cardano, as many other astrologers, in us-

ing directions accepts the doctrine of aspects by Giovanni
— 15 —
Bianchini. According to this doctrine, the aspects of a

planet at certain latitude, too have latitude. The opposi-
tion has the lattitude opposite to the latitude of the planet,
in value and sign. Trine aspect has latitude of the oppo-
site sign and half in value. Sextile has latitude the same in
sign and half in value. Square does not have latitude, i.e.
is placed on the ecliptic. Andrea Argoli explains the Bian-
chini doctrine as follows [1]: ”Giovanni Bianchini... in
the great circle passing through the centre of the star,
having some latitude and inclined with respect to the
ecliptic, establishes uniform distribution of all aspects.
And shows that the square is always calculated on the
ecliptic and without latitude. The opposition will keep
the same latitude as the body of the star, although with
the opposite denomination. Trine and sextile — half
of the latitude; sextile of the same and trine of the
opposite denomination.”
He gives the following example: ”In this scheme one can
— 16 —
see that Venus has 4 degrees of northern latitude. Her

opposition is 4 degrees of southern latitude, because she
falls into the opposite side. Trine — 2 degrees of the
southern latitude, because it also gets on the opposite
side. Sextile — 2 degrees of the northern latitude, be-
cause it gets on the same side with the body of Venus.
Whereas both squares are on the ecliptic and void of
latitude.”
— 17 —
Therefore, Cardano says that for squares we have to takes

the place of the ecliptic, whereas for other aspects to con-
sider the latitude.
I.15. You will know equality and inequality of days, because Sun moves
faster in opposition to abside than in abside, and because the arcs
from the beginning of Capricorn to the end of Gemini ascend
faster than on the other half.
The abside is ”that highest part of circle, when the planet

is at the farthest position from the Earth, in opposition to
the lowest position when the planet is at the closest point
to the Earth. The farthest point is called apogee (Aux in
Arabic), the other one is perigee (opposite of aux), and
the planet there is called by Greek Hypaugus (neighbour
of the Earth). Moreover, these points are considered in
both eccentric circles and epicycles. Certainly, they move,
although very slowly, and change their position in the Zo-
diac, and each planet has its absides in particular degrees
of the Zodiac” [13].
— 18 —
In the Seven Segments, Cardano mentions absides several

times, and he means rather apogee, calling the opposite
place perigee. Sometimes he says that considers absides of
epicycles.
In the geocentric system, the Sun does not have an epicy-
cle, but moves along the circle whose centre is shifted with
respect to the world centre (the Earth), in the eccentric
circle. This explains different speed of the Sun along the
ecliptic in different seasons. Being in the most remote from
the Earth point of its circle (apogee), the Sun is slowest.
In the opposite point, the Sun moves fastest.
— 19 —
Cardano gives two arguments explaining inequality of the

days of the year. First, the Sun moves with different speed
in different parts of the ecliptics, therefore in different days
the ecliptic distance between the Sun positions at rising
and setting are different. Second, the ecliptics has two
parts with signs from Capricorn to Gemini rising faster
than the part from Cancer to Sagittarius. These two fac-
tors explain the inequality of the days in the year.
I.16. When you wish to know, on the basis of the star location obtained
with an instrument, the hour distance from some initial place,
each degree will be given four minutes of an hour, and do this
along the circle.
— 20 —
One day, which is 24 hours, gives full circle of 360 degrees.

Hence one hour corresponds to 15 degrees, or one degree
per four minutes. This is the conversion of the arc of the
equatorial degrees into time and vice versa.
I.17. Therefore it is obvious that the complete possible difference which
can be achieved is 1 hour, 5 minutes, 28 seconds, although Ptolemy
found it a bit bigger, but without significant difference.
In [7], this is commented as the estimates of the value of

the precession.
I.18. Besides, one should know revolutions of single planets in a small
circle and how long can they take.
Cardano says that one should know the time required for
the planet to make a complete circle in epicycle.
I.19. It is better to know less about the superior things than more
about the inferior.
Multiple knowledge of insignificant things is useless. As-

trologically, this is about Mercury loves details and is de-
void of understanding.
I.20. Astrology is the most superior among the sciences, because the
knowledge of celestial bodies and of the future is not only Divine
but also most useful.
Divine — no doubt. Useful — for knowing and accepting

the Will of God.
— 21 —
I.21. Something is perfectly known, like ascensions of circles; some-

thing is known closely, like the revolution of the Sun; something
is unknown but can be known, like revolutions of superior plan-
ets. Some things are within the bounds of the knowledge, but
can never be known, like ingressions of the Sun into the equinox
point. Other things are not known and cannot be known, like
mixtures and powers of stars.
There will always exist things remaining unknown to man,

however advanced might be his tools and knowledge. When
the science faces unpredictable results crashing contempo-
rary theories, for some it is yet another intellectual chal-
lenge in the infinite hunt, for others it is a manifestation of
the borders imposed onto humans by means of the short
life span, physical weakness, and limited mental capacity.
I.22. But there is something super-celestial which helps the man to
predict.
This is the divine power which is above the stars.

I.23. Except to the Sun, none of the planets would return to the initial
place in the whole eternity, and even in an incredibly long time
to the previous place, according to the human understanding.
Cardano is probably talking about the origin of the world,

which is hardly reproducible in the nearest future.
I.24. Fools ignore astrology and do not pay attention; one who con-
tradicts is conceited, one who abuses is stupid. The mystery is
indeed Divine. Therefore, those who refused the natural causes
— 22 —
are hardly attached tight, but rather flippant; hence buttress is

required.
The buttress of the astrology is the natural philosophy and

faith in particular. In the mediæval times, faith was an
integral part of science and was rationally embedded into
the body of knowledge, according to the scientific criteria
of the time of Cardano.
Table 2 (original).
— 23 —
Degrees 3o 6o 9o 12o 15o 18o 21o 24o 27o 30o

x 1o 550 1o 400 1o 240 1o 090 0o 550 0o 400 0o 260 0o 120 0o 010 0o 110
c 0o 230 0o 320 0o 410 0o 490 0o 550 1o 000 1o 030 1o 060 1o 050 1o 040
v 1o 020 1o 000 0o 550 0o 490 0o 420 0o 350 0o 270 0o 190 0o 100 0o 000
b 0o 110 0o 200 0o 290 0o 370 0o 450 0o 580 0o 580 1o 030 1o 050 1o 070
n 1o 100 1o 100 1o 080 1o 050 1o 010 0o 530 0o 460 0o 370 0o 280 0o 160
m 0o 030 0o 090 0o 220 0o 370 0o 520 1o 070 1o 220 1o 380 1o 540 2o 100
X 2o 250 2o 400 2o 540 3o 070 3o 190 3o 300 3o 400 3o 460 3o 550 4o 010
C 4o 050 4o 080 4o 070 4o 050 4o 030 3o 580 3o 510 3o 420 3o 310 3o 190
V 3o 040 2o 480 2o 310 2o 130 1o 520 1o 310 1o 090 0o 470 0o 240 0o 000
B 0o 250 0o 460 1o 070 1o 290 1o 490 2o 090 2o 280 2o 450 3o 000 3o 150
N 3o 260 3o 380 3o 460 3o 540 3o 580 4o 010 4o 020 4o 030 4o 000 3o 560
M 3o 510 3o 450 3o 360 3o 270 3o 160 3o 050 2o 520 2o 380 2o 240 2o 100
Table 2a (modern). Equating time. Red colour marks

values to add (’adde’), blue colour marks values to sub-
tract (’minue’) in Table 2.
Planets years days hours minutes

S 1 12 20 24
j 1 33 15 24
h 2 49 10 47
g 1 218 16 26
f 0 115 21 5
d 0 27 13 8
Table 2b (modern). Revolutions of planets in a small
circlea.
a
The epicycle.
I.25. It is difficult to judge by means of the scriptures; more difficult

to hand down the Art; the most difficult to discover the Art.
Studies are difficult, teaching is more difficult, and most

difficult is research, which is an essential part of the tra-
dition. Tradition is not about rigidity and repeating the
— 24 —
known; tradition is about following the canon and preserv-

ing the structure while moving forward and adjusting to
the reality.
I.26. The child is then called born when starts breathing the first gulp
of air with own lips outside the mother’s womb.
The first breath is the beginning: it signifies physical in-

dependence.
I.27. When you double the distance of the mean place of the Moon
to the place of the Sun, this becomes the mean argument of the
Moon. Each time when you count degrees of the distance from
Sun to a superior planet according to mean movement, you get
distance from the planet to the abside.
This aphorism gives the technical method of calculating

absides using the old-fashioned ephemerides.
I.28. And the method of casting a chart for the direction that shall
happen is that not only the planets, but also with the fixed stars
could be written according to their magnitude - 246 fixed stars
of the signs and 27 out of them.
While considering directions, one should take into account

not only planets, but also fixed stars, because there will
be directions to the fixed stars. There are 246 big stars in
the zodiacal belt and 27 outside it.
I.29. You should have an instrument like a planisphere, very large,
divided into 3600, with which you can calculate directions at
ease, both direct and converse. The same for genitures, you with
— 25 —
all care place into a big table the positions of all fixed stars of the
signs and the rest big ones outside the zodiacal belt, and in the
outside limb — degrees and minutes, opposite to the printed.
Planisphere might be helpful even in the computer age:

understanding the spatial dynamics is essential. Manual
filling the chart is helpful as well; especially for those who
are earthy and watery.
I.30. Besides, each planet should be directed along the line where it
moves, like the Sun along ecliptics, and others — along the circles
of their latitudes; similarly we understand the fixed stars, which
move according to the bodies — however, the direction of the
place is always along the degrees of the ecliptics.
Technicalities about directions of Sun, planets, stars, and

ascendent.
I.31. Thus, when this happens, it is necessary that all rays should be
considered this way on such a circle, hence the opposing to the
Sun follow the Bianchini method. In this case, it is necessary to
know the maximal latitudes of planets and the places where the
latitude circle intersects the ecliptic that time, and then to find
rays and directions according to tables of primary motion or with
help of an instrument.
Table 3 (original).
— 26 —
Planets southern northern

S 3o050 3o020
j 2o080 2o040
h 7o070 4o210
g 7o220 7o230
f 4o130 4o050
d 5o000 5o000
Table 3 (modern). Maximal latitudes of planets.
I.32. Also, it is necessary to consider not just maximal latitude, but

the one which is maximal when the planet moves along its own
circle.
One should consider the particular latitude circle, because

a planet can be not reaching the maximal latitude (planets
have variable latitude deviation, especially Mars, Venus
and Mercury).
I.33. Therefore, it is obvious that the astrology is based on the known
science of movement and natural philosophy, which are not pos-
sessed by many, and nothing miraculous that nobody knew this
before, so that one should not increase the ill fame of the art of
our predecessors.
A reasonable observation preventing from complacency.

I.34. Therefore, the astrology is the most beautiful as well as the most
difficult, requiring tremendous efforts.
Very correct, even with modern software which simplifies

the calculations.
— 27 —
I.35. From the round figure, we obtain the place that direction may
reach, the nature of degrees found in houses, the image of the
whole sky, and confluence of revolutions.
Cardano probably talks about the sphere representation of

the sky (not just flat projection on circle), which helps to
understand directions. The division of the sphere produces
houses. It is not sufficient to consider only a chart, but to
keep in mind the entire celestial sphere.
I.36. It is possible to find minutes by instrument by means of drawn
lines between two circles.
Table 4 (original).
Planets sign absides

S V 13o390
j m 23o530
h n 15o280
s b 1o410
g b 1o410
f X 0o550
Table 4 (modern). Absides of planets in 1540. Moon’s
abside revolves within one month.
Unfortunately, the modern ephemerides do not provide
information about absides.
— 28 —
I.37. Changes in absides influence the royal power, countries and re-
ligions. Planets or ascendent in absides or their opposite places
gain power according to the nature of the planet whose abside
it is — pure power in the abside and non-pure in the opposite
place. Therefore, one should know them.
Among ”changes in absides”, most and foremost the changes

of signs were considered. These changes (especially of the
Sun) denoted significant changes in mundane astrology.
I.38. Imprints of the geniture which remain in the body part until the
time in which they should complete, are partly in the body matter
that is changed, partly in the matter that is changed, and they
define the gyre of the diseases.
This is about material manifestation of the astrological

significations relevant to health.
I.39. And it is known that superior planets return to the same positions
with Sun: Saturn in 59 years, Jupiter in 71 years, Mars in 79
years, which is called greater years of planets.
The return to the same position in longitude and latitude.

For example, for Venus such cycle has period of 8 years.
I.40. The Moon is called situated with a Node each time when it is
within boundaries of an eclipse.
The diameter of the Earth shadow through which Moon

can move and the visible diameter of the Moon are varying
depending the current distance between Earth and Moon.
Given the mean values, the zones of the Moon eclipses
— 29 —
may move away for up to 11 degrees in both sides from

the nodes.
I.41. The luminary of the time: Sun during daytime and in the morning
twilight; Moon in the night above the Earth and in its morning
rise. Therefore, sometimes there are two luminaries of the time,
sometimes none.
The luminaries are givers of light and strength, their physi-

cal appearance in the sky is symbolic and helps understand
a chart.
I.42. Additions of 360 degrees above the days of the year, up to 69
degrees, always can transfer the judgement of directions into the
next year; in 70 degrees, necessarily transfer; and also to the next
year each time when the direction happens at the end of the year.
This is about directions of planets in a solar chart.

I.43. It is useful, as well as necessary, to know beginnings and ends
of figures of the sky, with what degrees they would occupy cor
coeli2, rise and set.
One should certainly know parameters of a chart for the

analysis. The figures of the sky are constellations and as-
terisms, and one should know their placements and bound-
aries, the times of rising, culmination and setting (the
degress of ecliptics with which they co-rise, co-culminate
and co-set).
I.44. In particular degrees of their signs, planets are more exalted; on
2
Medium Coeli, heart of heaven or midheaven.
— 30 —
the other hand, in those which are opposite, they feel worse, hence
one should know this.
There are particular degrees, where planets are especially

strong (for instance, the Moon in the 3rd degree of Tau-
rus). In the opposite places they are especially weak (as
Moon in the 3rd degree of Scorpio).
I.45. One should know not only the number of days corresponding to
certain degrees, but also how many degrees correspond to years
and days.
These are necessary for estimation of average planetary

dynamics.
Table 5 (original).
— 31 —
days of year degrees minutes seconds thirds

1 0 59 8 20
2 1 58 16 40
4 3 56 33 20
8 7 53 6 40
16 15 46 13 20
32 31 32 26 40
64 63 4 53 20
128 126 9 46 40
256 252 19 33 20
Table 5a (modern). Ecliptic arcs versus days.
Planets sign degree

S X 21
j b 15
h B 28
s x 19
g M 27
f m 15
d c 3
Table 5b (modern). Exaltations.
I.46. Figures are called isosceles if they are limited by the same par-
allels of the equinox circle. Indeed, on equal sides, there can be
placed all planets with equal latitude3, if equal arcs are marked
from the pole of the zodiac4. Those equal that are drawn from
the intersection of the meridian circle and horizon, cannot form
3
The same sign and value.
4
i.e., poles of the ecliptic.
— 32 —
an isosceles figure since those stars by none movement could be

carried in the same circle. Therefore, those without latitude form
an isosceles figure when they are in antiscia, equally distant from
tropics. And others in the same way.
An isosceles figure is mentioned by Ptolemy in the III book

of Tetrabiblos in the Chapter 9 ”Of Children that are not
Reared”): ”For it is merely the case that if one of the
luminaries is angular and one of the maleficent plan-
ets is in conjunction with it, or in opposition, both in
degrees and by isoscelesness (κατ 0iσoσκλiαν), while
no beneficent planet bears any aspect, and if the lord of
the luminaries is found in the places of the maleficent
planets, the child that is born will not be reared, but
will at once come to its end”5 Ptolemy himself does not
provide explanations what isoscelesness is, and astrologers
of later times invented several interpretations of this term.
Cardano in his Commentary to Tetrabiblos explains this
as follows: ”He describes three cases when the native
is not reared. First of them — when the luminary is
in an angle and an infortune in conjunction with it
or in opposition by degree and in an isosceles figure,
i.e., when in the conjunction the latitude is the same,
whereas in opposition of the Sun the infortune is on
the ecliptic, or in opposition with the Moon it has an
opposite latitude. Namely, when the Moon is in the
10th degree of Aries with 3 degrees of North latitude,
either Saturn or Mars is in the 10th degree of Libra
5
Translation by Robinson.
— 33 —
with 3 degrees of South latitude, because in this case

the infortune, the Moon, and the places of the ecliptic
of the infortune and the Moon form two isosceles and
equal triangles. Of which one side will be a quarter of
the ecliptic, the other one is the quarter of the great
circle passing through the centre of the Moon and the
infortune. And this isosceles figure is as you see in the
figure:
Otherwise, one can say isosceles when the latitude is

the same up to a degree, because the arcs from the poles
of the zodiac are equal.”
I.47. It is also necessary to mention the Lunar month, the Moon return
to the same place, counting days by means of Moon returns to
the horizon circle. In this case, it constitutes 26 days, 9 hours, 30
— 34 —
minutes, and 5 second. Hence, the basis of judicial days is differ-

ent from what was mentioned in the beginning of the objections.
Cardano gives the rule of the calculation of judicial days
in decumbitures.
I.48. You should know that many will boast of the written, what you
will know from predictions. On the other hand, nobody knows
everything, and you should know that one cannot know even a
small part of oneself.
Lilly and Coley somehow omitted this aphorism in the

Anima. It is not about calculation, but it is about the
core of astrology.
I.49. Truth is desirable in itself, whereas knowledge is definite good.
On the other hand, we enjoy awaiting welfare, avoid future dis-
asters, make them softer or easier pass.
Provided that prediction was correct, which is not always

the case. One can hardly avoid the foreseen evil, and
the bitterness of obtaining the knowledge is comparable
with sufferings of unknown future. However, the force
that pushes an astrologer to learn is far stronger than any
wise reasoning.
I.50. From the experience, one needs many genitures to achieve the
ease of calculations. Therefore, the art consists of its intense
practice.
Working hard is indeed useful. The easy of calculations is

not the main aim nowadays, therefore this should be re-
— 35 —
lated rather to readings. Lots of readings — lots of experi-

ence. This is less about horary, which is generally routine.
The natal and mundane readings are most fruitful in this
sense.
I.51. Lives of people follow from completed rotations. Those that are
spoilt and not finished due to opposing stars and variety of ob-
stacles are fulfilled only in part.
The ideal life is completed as a full circle of evolution.

Those that are interrupted by the celestial indications re-
main unfulfilled.
I.52. When in diseases the Moon is approaching planets which are op-
posite to the sickness, especially benefics, the diseases turns for
recovery.
A disease which has a particular significator will turn for

better if Moon applies to a planet of the opposite nature:
for instance, if the disease is Saturnine (dry and cold), then
Moon applying to Jupiter (warm and moist) would signify
the cure caused by the balanced humours.
I.53. It is highly obvious that more prominent effects are due to the
Sun, then due to the Moon, then due to fixed stars, those which
are bigger and brighter. Thus, where there is order, there is the
reason of the order as well.
Yet another omitted — and precious — aphorism. The

meaning and order of planetary influence. With this, the
hierarchy of dignified planets in the chart might be esti-
mated.
— 36 —
I.54. As the stars are bigger than the Moon and can move and enlighten
the more inferior by beams, it is also necessary that they could
sometimes produce a bigger effect in these more inferior.
The power of the Moon influence is defined: it is submis-

sive to superior planets.
I.55. Those which act slower provide more abundant effects. Indeed,
one cannot escape the power of the stars, and they cannot be
eliminated. The same is shown by the nebulae near the Aselli.
Hints regarding the particular influences of slow planets

and fixed stars.
I.56. Whereas the particulars depend on the generals, the generals, on
the other hand, are ruled by the stars, as tides by the Moon. Also
it is necessary that each particular was ruled by their mixture.
Probably Cardano builds a kind of philosophical hierarchy

of the events, where general and repeatable phenomena
are ruled by movement of the planets and cause particular
and unusual ones. There is a kind of uncertainty in this
system, which admits that peculiar events might be out of
the influence of stars6.
I.57. The effects of the stars show own meanings, like the Hercules’
stone is always directed towards north, and [the effects] of Pleiades
is in the birth and death of herbs.
The Hercules stone is a metaphor for magnet, and as the

6
This is rather a manifestation of the duality of the Cardano’s chart, with three planets, in-
cluding the night-ruling luminary, in double-bodied signs.
— 37 —
magnet is always oriented towards North, so the celes-

tial bodies inevitably signify what is attributed to them.
Cardano probably connects the vegetative period of herbs
with the morning rising and morning setting of Pleiades,
which according to the ancient authors happened in the
beginning of May and end of October.
I.58. Therefore the sky is a tool of Supreme God, by means of which
He rules the more inferior, sets in motion and reigns.
And whatever happens is all by the Will of God.

I.59. The cases of Tiberius, Claudius, Neron, Domiciane, Hadrian and
Hordian show the rightfulness of the art, as long as the Piccinino7,
and this happens in our times as well.
Cardano possibly means the strength of genitures of the

mentioned persons whose charts proved their high status,
and thus the art.
I.60. If one could obtain the strength of the art from the final outcome
of any geniture! From which many who practiced a little predict
own upcoming death, as Giovanni di Bergamo did.
An astrologer, however skillful he is, cannot obtain the

complete geniture of his own life, but many attempted to
predict own death, being driven by scientific perfectionism.
Cardano did the same, according to the legend. Once an
artist approached the secret of life, he is tempted to reach
the final truth, which is unreachable, and thus the mistake
is inevitable. Pride worsens this.
7
Niccolo Piccinino (1386 - October 15, 1444), an Italian condottiero.
— 38 —
I.61. The Moon, when eclipsed, gives reddish light, from this it pos-
sesses double power.
Moon eclipse happens when the Earth is between Sun and

Moon and Moon is on the ecliptic. The light of Sun reach-
ing Moon is dispersed by the shadow of Earth and be-
comes reddish at its surface. This red colour, though ex-
plained by the properties of light, has symbolic meaning:
red colour signifies fire, danger, activity, and enhancement
of the power.
I.62. Most of the stars that are located in the signs are sometimes
eclipsed by more inferior planets. This will be considered if hap-
pens in the nearest time to the eclipses of the luminaries.
This is about occultations of stars by planets. Since the

planets do not move beyond the zodiacal belts, hence only
the stars inside it can be occulted.
I.63. Sickly genitures bring learning to great men, from which, in the
most cases, also the shortness of life, like Giovanni Pico; this
also brings fame to poor, like Erasmus. Lucio Bellanti of Siena,
who wrote against Giovanni Pico Mirandola, predicted him from
revolution 34 year as the last and deadly, and he was not wrong.
Two points here: difference in fruits of sickly charts for the

poor and for the great — and shortness of life (obviously
in both cases). Sickly charts give heavy physical restric-
tions, thus spurring some other human activity. Great
(i.e., prosperous) people turn this for focusing on studies
which bring learning. Poor people first have to achieve ma-
— 39 —
terial status, so their initial activity is primarily focused

on deed which manifest socially and bring fame.
I.64. For weather changes, one should consider greater, medium and
lesser conjunctions, then of luminaries, as well as changes of signs
by slow planets, and conjunctions with fixed stars.
If you are in astrometeorology, you should have a diary

with main changes of planetary constellations. Conjunc-
tions of luminaries are New Moons.
I.65. The lesser conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter occurs once in 19
years, 315 days and 19 hours. From here, there is movement
through 242 degrees 56 minutes 9 seconds, which, on the other
side, equals to 8 signs 2 degrees 59 minutes 9 seconds in the zo-
diac. And this in the signs of the same triplicity, like from Aries
to Sagittarius. From this we know that they pass the nature of
signs from fiery to earthy, and then to airy, the watery, by ten
full circles in signs of the same nature and quality. Therefore,
they remain in the same triplicity for 198 years and 236 days. On
the other hand, the beginning of the middle conjunction was in 6
years 67 days after Navuhodonosor when the middle conjunction
occurred in 12 degrees 23 minutes of Aries. As a result of this, the
great conjunction happened 53 year 148 days before the Navy-
hodonosor’s coronation in 3 degrees 21 minutes of Aries. Then
the great conjunction started 800 year 98 days before Christ, and
this repeats in 794 years 214 days.
Here Cardano starts a series of aphorisms on the mundane

predictions based on the cycles of conjunctions of Jupiter
and Saturn.
— 40 —
I.66. From this, it is easy to obtain places and times of lesser conjunc-
tions by constant addition of 19 years 315 days and 242 degrees
59 minutes 9 second.
Or look into software.

I.67. Conjunction is called great when it shifts from a watery sign and
enters Aries, from where it is not the same as before, or preceding
in Leo.
The conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn preceding their con-
junction in Aries may happen in Leo. Such case is not the
change of the triplicity which is the requirement for the
great conjunction.
I.68. Thus, it is obvious that the Mohammed’s law begins under Scor-
pio, according to the birth of the founder in Pisces. Almost the
same with Luterans.
The first grand conjunction in the watery series was the

one in Scorpio in 1425. Then close to the Luther’s birth
there was a watery conjunction in 1484, and it was con-
sidered as connected with his birth. This is why Cardano
connects these two confessions as related to watery grand
conjunctions.
I.69. The Ptolemaic tables are quite wonderful for calculation of move-
ment of planets in the past; ephemerides – for the modern time.
Zacuto’s tables and Elizabeth’s tables are difficult due their short-
ness and are not thoughtfully made. Alfonsean’s tables are mediocre
between ephemerides and Ptolemaic. Tables by Jean de Ligneres
and Hipparhus are now out of use due to difficulty and lack or
— 41 —
precision. The tables of perpetual ephemerides are approximate.

Tables by Giovanni Bianchini are based on wrong assumption
that maximal elongation of Sun in 11 degrees 32 minutes of Gem-
ini8 Christ, which precedes the Ptolemaic time for more than 140
years; and yet many others that do not correspond to Ptolemy’s
remarks. On the other hand, the Copernicus’ opinion has not
been considered properly yet, and indeed, he hardly expresses
what he means.
Table 6 (original).
8
Here is possible lacuna with a particular year of the event.
— 42 —
year day sign degree minute

800BC 98 x 3 21
621BC 177 c 0 14
422BC 306 N 0 5
204BC 120 b 2 56
5BC 249 x 2 47
192 352 B 2 39
391 223 X 2 30
590 94 b 2 22
788 330 x 2 13
987 201 B 2 5
1186 72 X 1 56
1384 308 b 1 48
1583 179 x 1 39
1782 50 B 1 31
1980 286 X 1 22
2179 157 b 1 14
2378 28 x 1 6
2576 264 B 0 57
2775 135 X 0 48
2974 6 b 0 40
3172 242 x 0 32
3371 113 B 0 24
3569 349 X 0 16
3768 220 b 0 8
3967 91 x 0 0
Table 6 (modern). Great and medium conjunctions
according to average movement.
— 43 —
I.70. If from Nebuchadrezzar to Christ one can count 746 ordinary

years and 310 days, according to Alfons’ opinion, there would
be an error for all planets with respect to the Ptolemaic tables.
Thus, for Saturn the movement is ahead for one year.
Cardano attempts to compare available planetary tables.

He shows that Alfons’ tables do not correspond to Ptolemy.
Fortunately, this is not that important in the modern
times.
I.71. From this, one can mistaken in the following four: wrong ba-
sis, wrong calculation, wrong observation, wrong time counting.
Ptolemy was wrong in the last two, or rather in the second of
them. Observations of his predecessors were wrong, but he him-
self was not wrong either in basis, or in observation, or in cal-
culation, but maybe only in time counting. Hence, one should
consider the observations of the Ptolemaic time, therefore the
Alfons’ table are more precise.
Whatever might be the authority, nobody can work with-

out mistakes.
I.72. The first month in womb is of Moon, second — of Mercury. Those
born in 7th and 9th months do not survive9 On the other hand,
those 7th and 9th are called by the philosopher and Hippocratus
eighth and sixth.
The pregnancy months are governed by the planets aligned

according to increasing speed. The philosopher is Aristo-
tle.
9
Cardano is talking about Moon siderial months.
— 44 —
I.73. The beginning of Romans is in fiery triplicity, the Alexander’s

empire — in airy, Persian power — in earthy, Mohammed — in
watery.
And so are the characters of their reigns.

I.74. The beginning of what happens occasionally is in the native’s soul
which pushes him to face the occasion. On the other hand, the
soul is pushed by the sky according to movement of Moon, and
this in not what is from the nature.
Beautiful aphorism demonstrating that free will is nothing

but an illusion.
I.75. What can oppress the strongly manifested, if happens to be weak,
it slows down and diminishes the effects.
The compactness of the deep thought.

I.76. Those which are positioned in a geniture as unavoidable, are de-
fined at birth by significators: for instance, death. Those which
are not unavoidable, appear and disappear again, like children,
riches, and friends.
The philosophical category of the unavoidable is not de-

fined in the Cardano’s work. Are children avoidable? If
not, aren’t they defined in the geniture and thus pre-
dictable? This is a tricky aphorism, which probably re-
flects Cardano’s philosophical doubts. After all, his life
was governed by the contemporary Catholic doctrine which
inevitably contradicted determinism of his art.
— 45 —
The so-called free will is a recent invention. Early Chris-

tians were mainly gnostics and believed in the pre-destined
pattern of life. Think about our art and its predictive
power. If free will existed, then after the first ”free choice”,
the further course of life would be completely different,
unexpected and out of reach of astrology with no chance
to estimate the life evolution. What would be astrology
then? Prediction upto the moment of the free will and
nothing further? The ”free will” arose together with mod-
ern science which naı̈vely claims infinite human power and
with modern ”psycho-astrology” which is unable to pre-
dict. This is the ”bipolar disorder” of the civilization: we
think about ourselves as gods, at the same time wandering
in the gloomy uncertainty.
I.77. Consider two or three conditions of life through revolutions of
Saturn; and conditions of expansion and development through
revolutions of Jupiter. Indeed, in its second revolution is the
beginning of aphrodisias10; consider deeds and activity through
revolutions of Mars; and course of years by means of Sun; and
course of months by means of Moon; and course of days by means
of movement of Sun in the sky; and hours and parts by means of
ascendent.
These divisions of life by means of significators of various

speeds provide the whole picture and allow to compare
and understand.
10
This was the name of celebrations of Aphrodite, but Cardano probably uses figurative meaning,
the second revolution of Jupiter in 12 years age starting the puberty and sexual interests of a
teenager.
— 46 —
I.78. It is worse to believe that you know what cannot be known than
to be ignorant of what is ought to be known11.
Poor knowledge is not an evil: studies remove it. Impu-

dence is an evil. It blinds.
I.79. Pleasures are of Venusian nature. When she is in the house of
Sun or Jupiter — from precious stones, in her own house —
from cloths. Similarly, Jupiter in ascendent makes people enjoy
precious stones, and Saturn in trine with the ruler of ascendent
— pleasures from carved stones.
The self (ascendent or Sun) connected with benefics in-

creases involvement with pleasures. Particular case of pos-
itive aspect with Saturn gives specific Saturnine interest
in carved stones.
I.80. In diseases, give the first to the sick, the seventh to the disease,
luminaries — to the strength of the sick, malefics — to the power
of the disease. The eight has some importance as well.
A straightforward aphorism, stressing relevance of the house

of death, as well as other houses, in consideration of a de-
cumbiture.
I.81. As an annual revolution might be for worse according to a direc-
tion in the geniture, so the beginning of disease for worse accord-
ing to the lunar direction of that revolution, as we showed in the
book ”On judgements”; so is the death in the comparison with
the position at the beginning of disease.
11
In the Anima, this aphorism appeared as 1.4 and was translated inaccurately.
— 47 —
One should consider a set of charts relevant to analysis,

not just separately one. When an unfortunate revolution
happens at the time of an unfortunate direction, this is
much worse than bad revolutions or directions alone. As
Cardano says in ”De Iudiciis Geniturarum” (”On Judge-
ments of Genitures”): ”Thus, under a present strong
significator, will not be cut by any revolution, unless
there will be a direction added; and by none direction,
unless it agrees with the revolution”. Disease is more
dangerious if the chart of its beginning agrees with the
direction of the Moon in the chart of the revolution. And
death comes when the positions of the planet agree in the
negative influence with the chart of the disease beginning.
I.82. See what pleases the person, and you will get the planet governing
the properties of the soul; the same regarding the body.
The natal chart might be derived from appearance, be-

haviour and interests of the native.
I.83. It is necessary to divide the arc of the sky ascending in one day,
which comprises 360 degrees 59 minutes and 8 seconds, by the
movement of Moon in one day, which comprises 13 degrees 10
minutes 35 seconds, and you obtain one true month, which being
divided by the same movement would give the part corresponding
to one degree. Thus, a lunar month is 27 days 9 hours 30 minutes
48 seconds, and the part of degree is 2 days 1 hour 54 minutes 3
seconds.
— 48 —
Table 7 (original).
— 49 —
degrees days hours minutes seconds

1 2 1 54 3
2 4 3 48 6
4 8 7 36 12
8 16 15 12 24
16 33 6 24 48
32 66 12 49 36
64 133 1 39 12
128 266 3 18 24
days hours minutes seconds
1 0 28 51
2 0 57 43
4 1 55 26
8 3 50 52
16 7 41 44
32 15 23 29
64 30 46 58
128 61 33 57
256 123 7 54
years degrees minutes seconds
1 303 2 30
2 246 7 0
3 189 10 30
4 132 42 51
8 265 25 42
16 170 51 24
32 341 42 48
64 323 25 36
Table 7a (modern).
— 50 —
June 3, 1537, 0.04 before noon. Revolution of the 5th

geniture of the book of 100 genitures, starting 43rd when
he died.
It can be seen that the ascendent, which signifies life,

that time came in Leo to square with Mars and Moon,
and ascending Saturn is malevolent, and Jupiter which
is the ruler of ascendent of the geniture came to the
cacodemon12 conjunct with unfortunate Mars, and the
ruler of ascendent is with Node and combust.
12
Usually cacodemon is used as one of the names of the 12th house, but Cardano uses this
term in another meaning. He gives definition in Aphorism II.68, ”The place of cacodemon is from
Saturn, Mars, Mercury, luminaries and malevolent stars conjunct together by beams or bodily”.
— 51 —
October 15, 1537, 5.20 before noon. Figure of the be-

ginning of disease which was hemoptysis.
The ascendent from the place of an infortune in the

geniture, its ruler is in square with Mercury which is
in cacodemon of geniture and of the ruler of 8th house.
And Sun has already passed the place of the infortune
approaching cacodemon. And Moon is in opposition
with Saturn and Venus, herself is in the place of Tail,
whereas they are with Head in the geniture. Thus, he
excreted in the night of October 22 and in the next one,
i.e., in 7th and 8th from the beginning of the disease,
and after that he seemed to grow stronger. Then in
the night of November 14, which was 31st from the
beginning of the disease, he excreted more than ever,
and again on 15th day and in the next night. Then
he got calmer, and again in daytime of 5th December,
then at 5am next night, and at 7am next night, again
in the daytime of 26th and 27th, and in the following
nights he had heavy excretions. Thus, it is obvious
— 52 —
that the blood was poured out on 52nd, 53rd, 74th, and
75th days of the disease. But died on the 77th day
from the beginning of the disease. Therefore, the order
of judicial days was not preserved. On the other hand,
in the death hour Moon entered the sunbeams, and Tail
was in the ascendent, and malefics in the midheaven in
Virgo, and Moon was cadent and in trine with Mars,
and Jupiter in 6th in cacodemon. Therefore you see
that better is the method which we presented, about the
correction of months and days according to the Moon.
December 30, 1537, 11th hour of the following night

according to the clock. The hour of his death.
I.84. Moon revolutions do not complete the entire circle in one year,
but also degrees of signs do not complete the entire circle during
the course of the human life.
Do not expect geometrical perfectness in real life.

I.85. It is also possible that moving forward occurs from the place of
the geniture every year in Moon revolutions.
— 53 —
A geometrical observation.
I.86. Expulsions and decrements in diseases are not only due to stars,
but also due to the general constitution and accidental events.
The course of the disease depends not only on the current

positions of the stars but also on the general constitution
of the patient and the circumstances and events (which
also depend on stars).
I.87. When in the beginning of a long disease Moon is either under
sunbeams or with Tail or Saturn or Mars, this signifies great
danger. For an old man, if she also in conjunction with Jupiter
or Mercury or Venus. If in their opposition or square, the same
but in easier form.
The weaker the patient, the less danger can harm him —
even by means of benefics.
I.88. If she is also found in these places in the geniture, he will certainly
die.
Similar affliction in the natal chart worsens the decumbi-

ture and confirms bad prediction.
I.89. Man does not fall sick because of the Moon coming to one of
those in that moment, unless a direction comes there.
Bad Moon transits happen more often than diseases. This

does not mean uselessness of transits, but rather that tran-
sits of slow planets are more important than the fast ones.
Consider conjunctions of transit Saturn with natal planets
— 54 —
— for these one can find a dozen of confirming directions.

On the contrary, dozens of Moon transit need a direction
for the event. Think and distinguish.
I.90. Thus, when these two gather, and one of them is powerful, the
man falls sick. If both are powerful, he gets heavily ill. If some
third appears, the man dies. In the old age, as we said, even only
two can kill.
In addition to Moon transit and direction, the required

third might be difficult firdaria or yet another bad transit.
I.91. Mars, Jupiter and Venus — blood; Mars and Sun — choler; Moon
and Venus — phlegm; Saturn and Mercury — melancholy; Atra
bilis — Mars and Mercury with the Sun.
By melancholy, Cardano denotes plain melancholic hu-

mour and assigns it to Saturn and Mercury - two cold
and dry planets which correspond to the nature of this
humour. Atra bilis literary translates as ”black choler”
and denotes a special, pathological form of the melancholic
humour. The process of humour forming in organism was
traditionally described as ”boiling”. In stomach, food first
transforms into phlegm and then, at body temperature,
boils/cooks till transforms into blood. Part of it, under
further warming, transforms into yellow bile, or choleric
humour, and part of yellow bile further transforms into
melancholic humour. However, if the heat is too high,
then melancholic humour can ”burn” and transform into
its abnormal state called ”atra bilis”. Atra bilis is de-
scribed as dry, and more hot than ordinary melancholic
— 55 —
humour, but yet not as hot as yellow bile. Cardano as-

signs rulership over atra bilis to Mars and Mercury with
Sun. On the contrary to melancholic humour, here two hot
and dry planets present, Mars and Sun; on the contrary
to yellow bile, there is cold in nature Mercury.
I.92. If Moon is in conjunction with Jupiter or Venus, the person may
be sick. If this happens in bad place regarding the geniture, the
patient will survive. If in a good place regarding the geniture,
the fortune is a significator of death.
A person can fall sick even if Moon is in conjunction with

a benevolent planet - usually when a seemingly good con-
junction falls into a bad place in the natal chart. In this
case, the patient will be saved, because the fortunes are
benevolent and the disease is just due to the bad place-
ment in the natal chart (accidental). However, it may
happen that the place with respect to the natal chart is
good, yet the person falls sick. This happens when the
benefic planet is a significator of death in the natal chart.
I.93. Saturn produces long diseases; Venus — medium, Mercury — var-
ious ones; the Moon — intermittent, such as dizziness, epilepsy,
gout; Jupiter — short ones, then Sun, and the shortest — Mars.
And when the principal places and cutters are both strong or
weak, the disease will be long; if one strong and another weak —
it will be short.
Here natural duration and character of diseases are ex-

plained, from chronic due to Saturn to variable due to
mutable Moon. To estimate correctly, one should take into
— 56 —
account not only the speed of the significator, but also the
strength and balance of all the parameter synthesised13.
I.94. On the other hand, everything said about the sickness is valid
regarding health and death. Indeed, people die when a direction
may come to an end, as well as when Moon approaches the worst
place of the geniture or applies to inimical infortunes. There, the
conjoining might state health not less than death.
Analogy by contrast.
I.95. The best use is of sphere, then planisphere, the last are tables. In-
deed, in infinite variability, the three-dimensional sphere provides
great advantage.
The sphere is much better than tables, because one would
need very many tables to understand what the sphere il-
lustrates visually at a glance.
I.96. Also, everything has something specific in comparison with the
part of the geniture, which should be considered.
This very general aphorism appears in the block of apho-

risms related to health, so probably Cardano borne in
mind some particular meaning of this in the context of
decumbitures.
I.97. For everybody who has in the beginning of disease the position
of the sky softer than the disease, the sickness moderates ferocity
becasue of the geniture, by falling of its principal places into the
bad places.
13
The second part of this aphorism was omitted in the Anima.
— 57 —
Soft decumbiture promises cure, and this happens when

the disease chart gets demolished by the natal chart (prin-
cipal places of the decumbiture fall into bad places of the
natal chart).
I.98. Also, we usually consider the conjunction of luminaries preceding
the disease, and judge the coming sicknesses from this as well.
In diseases, one also considers the chart of the preceding

New Moon.
I.99. It is a worse beginning of disease when at severe sickness Moon
and ruler of ascendent, which are not with malefics, are coming
to malefics.
Non-malefic Moon and ruler of ascendent signify the pa-

tient. Malefics to which they apply are external circum-
stances of the disease that promise worsening condition
— the dynamics of the Moon and the ruler of the ascen-
dent coming from better to worse state (not with malefics
in the beginning and then coming to malefics) show the
increasing disease.
I.100. As a lover of riches derives riches almost by himself, so the lover
of truth derives truth.
Cardano’s wisdom is incomparable. It all starts by itself,

true.
I.101. There is a bigger difference between writings of Ptolemy and all
others after him than between emerald and mud. On the other
— 58 —
hand, the same is possible regarding centuries-old amazing writ-

ings of chaldeans and babylonians, as well as egyptians.
The followers are never as good as the founder: be they

capable, they would be founders themselves.
I.102. The genitures of princes are most true, because they are not under
power of either general conditions or orders of private persons.
The genitures of nobles are true, but under the power of the
sky. Of poor and slaves — not that true, because they are under
power of the sky, i.e., laws, as well as genitures of rulers and
general conditions. Therefore, as some rightly said, offsprings of
rulers are not under power of stars as they are pure.
There are two truths in this aphorism. Firstly, the charts

of powerful people promise and bring at bigger scale and
with less material obstacles, therefore one can call them
true: their predictions are more prominent and easier to
observe. Secondly, the princes are not under the influence
of the mundane laws, their life is governed purely by as-
trological influence. The nobles are governed by both, and
the poor are governed by the mundane influence and the
power of others, and in their case the astrological influence
is most blurred.
— 59 —
Bibliography
[1] Andreae Argoli, Tabulae primi mobilis, Patavii, 1644.

[2] The Astrologer’s Guide. Anima Astrologiæ, Edited by
William Lilly (1675), republished by C. Eldon Serjeant, Lon-
don, 1886.
[3] Jerome Cardan, The Book of My Life: De Vita Propria
Liber, Kessinger Publishing, 2004, 352p.
[4] Hieronymi Cardani, ”Libelli quinque, quarum due priores
iam denuo sunt emendati, duo sequentes iam primum in
lucem editi et quintus magna parte auctus est. I, de sup-
plemento almanach, II, de restitutione temporum, III, de
iudiciis geniturarum, IV, de revolutionibus, V, de exem-
plis centum geniturarum, additis insuper Tabulis ascen-
sionum rectarum et obliquarum eclipticae et stellarum
et radiorum ad latitudinem octo partium. Eiusdem an-
tea non edita Aphorismorum astronomicorum segmenta
septem”, Nuremberg, 1547.
[5] Hieronymi Cardani, Opera Omnia: Tam Hactenus
Excusa, Huguetan/Ravaud, Lyon, 1663. The aphorisms,
”Aphorismorum astronomicorum segmenta septem”, are in
Part V.
60
[6] Hieronymi Cardani Medici Mediol. Aphorismorum Astro-

nomicorum Segmenta Septem, in ”Atrologia aphoristica
Ptolomaei, Hermetis, Lidovisi de Rigiis, Almansoris,
Hieronymi Cardani et autoris innominati”, Ulm, 1641.
[7] Gerolamo Cardano, Aforismi astrologici, Xenia Edizioni;
trans. Renzo de Martino, ed. Giuseppe Bezza; Milano, 1998.
[8] Hippocrates, Aphorisms, Kessinger Publishing, 2004.
[9] Livina V., Commentaries on the Seven Segments of
Girolamo Cardano, Livinalia Publishing, 2006, ISBN 0-
9554751-0-4, ESN 18091-061124-980450-88
[10] Firmicus Maternus, Matheoseos Libri VIII, Astrology
Classics, 2005.
[11] Henry Morley, The life of Girolamo Cardano, of Mi-
lano, Physician, Chapman & Hall, 1854, 328p.
[12] Ptolemy, Tetrabiblos; Ptolemy, Centiloquium; Ptolemy,
Almagest.
[13] Hieronymi Vitali, Lexicon mathematicum, astro-
nomicum, geometricum, Parisiis, 1668.
— 61 —

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This is a free excerpt from the

”Complete Seven Segments

All rights reserved

c Valerie N. Livina & Anton L. Grigoryev, 2009

Valerie N. Livina, Anton L. Grigoryev

The life of Girolamo Car-

Cardano wrote the aphorisms between 1546 and 1547 years.

Cardano’s aphorisms in the English language performed from

commentaries for the Ptolemy’s Tetrabiblos, which were first

There are also other ways of mentioning time in the text,

of writing requiring additional explanations. Certainly, Car-

retrograde Mercury, cadent and combust. His mind was deep

Valerie N. Livina [email protected]

Anton L. Grigoryev [email protected]

Here were seven things, of which it was

Life is short, do not waste it doubting the Divine knowl-

is signified by these three.

What, why and when — three major questions of the Art.

There is the main reason forbidding precise predictions:

Planets of mediocre (neutral) nature are Mercury, Moon

no hope it could last long.

The rational is stable, the irrational is not.

The destiny pattern has a certain amplitude of extremes,

Cardano compares usage of inaccurate positions of planets

Astrologers of the past did not have computers, so their

routine work was harder, their efforts were more diligent,

And the best is to know more and firmly.

Average speed of planets should be known, from degree

years days hours minutes seconds

degrees minutes seconds thirds (sec/60)

Modern astronomers can add a little, but it is better to

use the table from Ptolemy’s Almagest in the Book VII,

8th is the stellar sphere, its empty areas inherit quality of

Whereas the Principles of Operations are clear (they com-

It seems that Cardano, as many other astrologers, in us-

Bianchini. According to this doctrine, the aspects of a

He gives the following example: ”In this scheme one can

see that Venus has 4 degrees of northern latitude. Her

Therefore, Cardano says that for squares we have to takes

The abside is ”that highest part of circle, when the planet

In the Seven Segments, Cardano mentions absides several

Cardano gives two arguments explaining inequality of the

One day, which is 24 hours, gives full circle of 360 degrees.

In [7], this is commented as the estimates of the value of

Multiple knowledge of insignificant things is useless. As-

Divine — no doubt. Useful — for knowing and accepting

I.21. Something is perfectly known, like ascensions of circles; some-

There will always exist things remaining unknown to man,

This is the divine power which is above the stars.

Cardano is probably talking about the origin of the world,

are hardly attached tight, but rather flippant; hence buttress is

The buttress of the astrology is the natural philosophy and

Degrees 3o 6o 9o 12o 15o 18o 21o 24o 27o 30o

Table 2a (modern). Equating time. Red colour marks

Planets years days hours minutes

I.25. It is difficult to judge by means of the scriptures; more difficult

Studies are difficult, teaching is more difficult, and most

known; tradition is about following the canon and preserv-

The first breath is the beginning: it signifies physical in-

This aphorism gives the technical method of calculating