Robert Zoller.

MEDIEVAL ASTROLOGY FOUNDATION COURSE

LESSON THREE:
DELINEATION OF THE ASTROLOGICAL HOUSE

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MEDIEVAL ASTROLOGY FOUNDATION COURSE

LESSON THREE:
DELINEATION OF THE ASTROLOGICAL HOUSE
© copyright Robert Zoller and New Library Limited 1995 – 2000 All rights reserved

(Transcript of audio lecture file: rz-fc-3.mp3)

Welcome to Lesson Three of Robert Zoller’s Foundation

Course on Medieval Astrology. This lesson is called The
Delineation of the Astrological House in which we will study
the basic delineation of an astrological house using medieval
astrological methods.

In Medieval Astrology two operations are used by the

astrologer to read the chart. These are delineation and
prediction. The two operations are distinct. By delineation we
read what the chart promises with regard to the various
affairs of life signified by the houses (e.g. life, wealth,
siblings/communications, family, children, servants/skills,
work, partnerships, death, religion, profession, friends, secret
enemies/ institutionalisation). Once we know the natal
promise, by having systematically read what the chart has to
say about these areas of life, only then can we proceed to
Prediction.

Prediction is nothing more than the application of timing

techniques to the natal promise. They indicate when what is
promised in the natal chart will come forth as an event in the
life of the native. Be very clear about this: Delineation tells us
"what." Prediction tells us "when." You cannot honestly or
reliably predict anything astrologically which is not
promised in the natal chart.

1
This having been said, it will be apparent that, in order to
predict we must first delineate. We must have a thorough
understanding of the natal figure's promise. In order to do this
we must understand how the planets are operating both
universally as per their natures and specifically as relates to
the chart in question as per their local determination {their
house position, rulership(s) and aspects as well as per their
dignity or debility}. The way a planet operates, its quality, is a
function of its dignity or debility. You were introduced to this
concept in a previous lesson and now you will see it more
concretely spelled out.

The quantity of a planet's influence depends upon its house

st
position. Angular planets (planets in 1 , 10th, 7th, 4th
houses) give 100%. Succedent planets (in the succedent
nd
houses (2 , 11th, 8th, 5th) give 50%. Both angular and
succedent planets are considered strong. Cadent planets
th
(houses 12 , 9th, 6th, 3rd) are regarded as weak, even
afflicted and give only 25%. Angular planets and succedent
planets tend to realise what they promise, although, if they
are severely afflicted, they may bring forth what they promise
accompanied with trouble of a sort indicated by the afflicting
causes. Cadent planets are weak and afflicted. By
themselves they cannot realise what they promise. In order to
do so they must receive assistance.

In the business of delineation, Medieval Astrology offers two

approaches: General and specific. Abu `Ali al-Khayyat, in his
Judgement of Nativities, (translation by James Holden,
published by American Federation of astrologers, Tempe, AZ,
USA), sets forth this method in a short paragraph which is
easy to miss in Holden's excellent translation. Unfortunately,
neither the author nor the translator give examples as to how
to apply the method, so that's what we will do in this
foundation course. Combined to Abu `Ali's suggestions we will
join some tips from Guido Bonatti and Morinus, plus the fruit
of experience.

2
The Specific approach entails a battery of delineation
techniques for judging specific interests pertaining to the life
of the native {Longevity, Social Status, Profession, Finances,
Marriage/sex life, Children, Spiritual Life, Death, etc}. These
specific techniques are not always restricted exclusively to the
consideration of the house we would normally associate them
th
with. For instance, Medieval Astrologers did not use the 7
House much in the delineation of women's marriages.
Instead, they looked at configurations of the planets and
Almutens {this is explained a little later} and they identified
Significators of the things they were concerned about.

Although the two approaches, the General and the Specific

overlap at times, they are both necessary for accurate
delineation and were used in tandem. Actually, the General
Approach often gives a level of specificity the Specific
Approach does not. The Specific Approach involves the
learning of a number of discreet techniques for delineation of
the various areas of life the native may desire elucidation
upon. These are outside the scope of this Foundation
Course and are examined in detail in the full Medieval
Astrology Course. We will focus here on the General
Approach in Delineation of a house in the natal figure. In the
next and final lesson in this Foundation Course we will
examine Prediction.

The General Approach guides us in the delineation of any

house of the astrological figure (or natal chart) enabling us to
read the affairs of life corresponding to the house in question.
In good Medieval Aristotelian style we want answers to the
questions: Whether it is, What it is, How it is and Why it
is?
th
Let us say that we are interested in the 11 House. The
General Approach guides us to see a) If the affairs of the
house will be realised or not (i.e. whether the native will have
friends?) b) What kind of friends the native will have c) How
the affairs associated with the house will manifest (e.g. what is
the quality of the interaction between the native and his
friends) and d) Why this is so.

3
Once you understand the procedure for the delineation of
any house you can apply it to all the houses of the chart. The
General Approach permits you to be quite precise in your
delineation of the affairs of life corresponding to the house
under examination and is an important step in the process of
coming to understand how the planets are working in the
chart. As you will see, the process of delineation of one
house usually leads to the consideration of the position of
one or more of its rulers in other houses. This in turn entails
the delineation of these other houses and so, step by step,
we are led to an understanding of the entire chart. It is this
understanding that we need in order to be able to predict.

The General Approach consists of examining:

1. any planets in the house under examination
2. the significator of the issue under examination
3. the ruler of the house under examination
4. the Almuten of the house under examination
5. the Arabic Part (or Parts) relating to the meaning of
the house under examination.

And finally reaching a conclusion by synthesising the above

testimonies as per the 4-fold Aristotelian considerations of
Whether it is, What it is, How it is and Why it is. This is easier
than it may sound at first. We will be led inevitably to the
correct conclusion by the method - not by our own innate
genius, associative thinking, angelic voices or "messages."
Simply by reading the Chart.

Let's look at this Approach more closely and use it to

th
delineate the 11 House in Figure 9

Rule 1: Examine any planets in the house under

examination

This rule rests upon the general rule that "Position is

stronger than rulership." By “position" is meant a planet's,
node's, Part's or a star's position in a house in the
astrological figure.

4
Figure 9 Example Chart
Firdaria Planetary
‚ 25 Jan 1947 10 yrs †00à04 24 Hours
‚ ‚ 25 Jan 1947 san01à29 Ý Day Hours
‚ … 30 Jun 1948 13°
‚04à46 34
…17Þ58 20° 1 7:17 am ˆ
‚ „ 3 Dec 1949 à spirit06à07 ß 20° ¢10Þ07R 2 8:05 am ‡
‚ ƒ 10 May 1951 31 Þ ‡24Ý12 3 8:54 am †
„06à16 16° ¨20Þ46
‚ ˆ 12 Oct 1952 faith07à38 46 4 9:42 am ‚
‚ ‡ 17 Mar 1954 5 10:31 am …
‚ † 22 Aug 1955 11 10 9 6 11:19 am „
… 25 Jan 1957 8 yrs ƒ11á17 12 8 7 12:07 pm ƒ
… … 25 Jan 1957 8 12:56 pm ˆ
… „ 18 Mar 1958
… ƒ 10 May 1959
Natal Chart 9 1:44 pm ‡
10 2:33 pm †
38 17°
… ˆ 1 Jul 1960
á
Robert Zoller Ü
11 3:21 pm ‚
… ‡ 21 Aug 1961 12 4:09 pm …
… † 13 Oct 1962 12°
25 Jan 1947 AD GC 20
Night Hours
… ‚ 5 Dec 1963 1 4:58 pm „
„ 25 Jan 1965 13 yrs 8:59:00 AM 2 6:09 pm ƒ
„ „ 25 Jan 1965 3 7:21 pm ˆ
„ ƒ 4 Dec 1966 §12á38 1
EST +05:00:00 7
4 8:32 pm ‡
„ ˆ 13 Oct 1968 38 5 9:44 pm †
„ ‡ 22 Aug 1970 Mount Vernon Û 6 10:55 pm ‚
„ † 30 Jun 1972 7 12:07 am …
„ ‚ 9 May 1974 17° United States 12°
8 1:19 am „
„ … 18 Mar 1976 Ö 73w50'15, 40n54'45 9 2:30 am ƒ
ƒ 25 Jan 1978 9 yrs 20 10 3:42 am ˆ
ƒ ƒ 25 Jan 1978 11 4:53 am ‡
ƒ ˆ 10 May 1979 £19Ö09 12 6:05 am †
2 6
ƒ ‡ 21 Aug 1980 hyleg22Ö26 3
4
5
Day Hours
ƒ † 4 Dec 1981 1 7:16 am ‚
20°
ƒ ‚ 18 Mar 1983
ƒ … 30 Jun 1984 Ø Parts
ƒ „ 13 Oct 1985 46 13° Fortune 19 Ö 09
24 necess25×32 34
ˆ 25 Jan 1987 11 yrs subst29×54 Ú Spirit 06 à 07
ˆ ˆ 25 Jan 1987
× Ù ˆ05Ú30R 31 Substance 29 × 54
ˆ ‡ 21 Aug 1988
20° ¡10Ø07R 16°
Faith 07 à 38
ˆ † 18 Mar 1990 Hyleg 22 Ö 26
ˆ ‚ 12 Oct 1991
ˆ … 9 May 1993 Traditional Chart, Geocentric, Tropical
ˆ „ 4 Dec 1994
ˆ ƒ 30 Jun 1996 House House Calculation Parameters Chart Results
‡ 25 Jan 1998 12 yrs Cusps Almutems House Sys: Alchabitius Semi-Arc Chart is Diurnal
‡ ‡ 25 Jan 1998 1. 12 á 38 1‡ Almut Trip: Day+Night+Partic PL Day Saturday ˆ
‡ † 13 Oct 1999 2. 17 Ö 20 2‚ Trip Ruler: Dorothean PL Hour of birth †
‡ ‚ 30 Jun 2001 3. 20 × 24 3… Term Ruler: Egyptian Almutem of Chart ˆ
‡ … 18 Mar 2003 4. 20 Ø 46 4„ Decan Ruler: Chaldean No Final Dispositor
‡ „ 4 Dec 2004 5. 16 Ù 34 5ƒ Orient Defn: Ori/Occ to Sun Moon 1st Quarter Waxing
‡ ƒ 21 Aug 2006 6. 13 Ú 31 6‚ Tropical, True Node Hayz ‚
‡ ˆ 9 May 2008 7. 12 Û 38 7„ True Sunrise Financial Sig †
† 25 Jan 2010 7 yrs 8. 17 Ü 20 8ˆ Ang houses offset 8 degs Prof Sigs ƒ…
† † 25 Jan 2010 9. 20 Ý 24 9† Suc houses offset 5 degs PS Class … Artisan
† ‚ 25 Jan 2011 10. 20 Þ 46 10 ‡ Cad houses offset 3 degs SAN 01 à 29
† … 26 Jan 2012 11. 16 ß 34 11 † Chart is Conjunctional
† „ 25 Jan 2013 12. 13 à 31 12 ˆ Mutual Receptions
† ƒ 25 Jan 2014 ‚-ˆ by Rulership
† ˆ 25 Jan 2015 Source: Government Record ‚-ˆ by Triplicity
† ‡ 25 Jan 2016 Birth Certificate ‡-ˆ by Term
¡ 25 Jan 2017 3 yrs
¢ 25 Jan 2020 2 yrs

PL Long Rul Exn Tri Trm Fac Det Fal Dig Ori Sun Antisc Decl Vel F/S
‚ 04à46 ˆ ˆ „ … ‚- 5 25 Ý 14 19s04 +01 01 F
ƒ 11á17 ‡ … … … ‡ „ „ prg ori 18 Ü 43 12s02 +12 34 S
„ 06à16 ˆ ˆ „+ … ‚ 2 ori cmb 23 Ý 44 20s43 +01 43 F
… 17Þ58 ‡ ‚ „ ƒ „ prg occ 12 ß 02 19s10 +00 59
† 00à04 ˆ ˆ „ … ‚ prg ori cmb 29 Ý 56 21s07 +00 47 F
‡ 24Ý12 † … ˆ … … ƒ prg ori 05 à 48 17s49 +00 08 F
ˆ 05Ú30R ‚ ‚ ‡ ˆ+ ˆ- 6 ori 24 × 30 19n29 -00 04 S
¡ 10Ø07R „ ˆ ‡ † ‡ 19 Ù 53 21n58
¢ 10Þ07R ‡ ‚ ‡ ƒ „ 19 ß 53 21s57
§ 12á38 ‡ … … ‡ ‡ „ „ 17 Ü 22 06s48
¨ 20Þ46 ‡ ‚ „ ˆ „ 09 ß 14 23s06
£ 19Ö09 † ‚ ‚ „ ‚ … ˆ 10 Û 51 07n30
 th
Thus, in the example figure, Mars' position in the 11 House
is more important than Saturn's rulership of the 11h house.
"More important" means that Mars contributes more to
shaping the experience of the 11th house -friends- than
Saturn does. The planets actually in the house (if there are
any) have a dominant effect in shaping the objective structure
of the native's life as pertains to the house in question, in this
case the 11th house. So, having Mars, Sun and Mercury in
th
the 11 is more important than Saturn's rulership of the 11th.
When no planets are found in the house under examination,
you rely upon the testimony of the Sign on the cusp and the
ruler of the house. If a Sign is intercepted within a house, the
Sign on the cusp takes precedence along with its ruler.

Knowing this, we can proceed to the first level of delineation

th
of this 11 House in Figure 9. The planets Mars, Sun and
th
Mercury are in the 11 House. Each planet promises things in
accordance with its nature. Mars is wrath, courage, initiative,
and contentiousness. The Sun is brilliance, authority,
generosity, and creativity. Mercury is science, communication,
and interpretation. Note that these qualities characterise the
native's friends. We have no reason to think that the native is
characterised by any of these traits. None of the said planets
are the ruler (by Sign) of the Ascendant. None of them
aspects the Ascendant. If they did, they would characterise
th
the native, but they don't. They are in the 11 House. They
characterise the native's friends. These three planets also tell
us that the native's social life (interaction with friends) will be
marked by contention (Mars), brilliance (Sun) and
communication (Mercury). Eventually, when we get to
Prediction, it is these kinds of events we will seek to predict.

We ought to take note of the dignity of these three planets in

th
the 11 House. Mars is peregrine and disposed {in a Sign
ruled by another planet} by a malefic, Saturn, itself in poor
zodiacal state (detriment). We cannot expect great good from
Mars. The Sun is in detriment, but, while opposed to Saturn, it
is in mutual reception with Saturn. That is, they are in each
other's Signs. This was held by some Medieval Authorities to

6
be a great good thing. It was held to be similar to having the
two planets in dignity, working together. So, employing this
opinion, we can expect the Sun to be brilliant and powerful
and Saturn to be reserved, knowledgeable and indicating a
taste for ancient, arcane studies. Mercury has both honour of
triplicity and honour of term in its position, but it is combust
and opposed to Saturn. This indicates laborious study,
carefully thought out opinions and prudent communications.
th
Now, there are three planets in the 11 House. Morinus tells
us that "when several planets are in a house that planet
which is closest to the cusp of the house is the most powerful
over the affairs of that house unless the ruler by Sign of
the house is also in the house." That is not the case here.
th th
Saturn, the ruler of the 11 (Capricorn is on the 11 House
cusp) is not in the house by position. Mars is closest to the
cusp. Therefore Mars dominates the affairs of the house. As
Mars is in Aquarius, a position known from experience to be
associated with crusading zeal for some ideal or other, we
can say that the native's friends are people who have strong
opinions zealously expressed.
th
Noting that Mars is the ruler of the 9 House permits you to
say that the native's contentious friends have some sort of
religious, educational or foreign connection i.e. they will be
religious zealots or haters of religion, educators with zealous
philosophical opinions or aggressive or courageous persons
of foreign birth, possibly persons met during foreign journeys.
Notwithstanding that some of the native's friends are
aggressive, feisty Martians, they are friends of the native and
will seek to help him in accordance with their nature and
th
condition. This is because planets in the 11 House are
determined towards befriending the native.
th
As there are three planets in the 11 there are three kinds of
friends or perhaps just three friends Martian, Solar and
Mercurian. That is, belligerent, authoritative/creative and
learned. More can be learned about the native's friends by

7
studying the rulerships of the other two planets in the 11th
house. In this way you begin to get the picture of the objective
th
facts of the basic structure of the native's social life (11
House). This relates to the question, "What is it?"

Now, it ought to be pointed out that Mars, the first planet in

the house is opposed by Saturn, the ruler of the house.
Saturn effectively opposes all three 11th house planets in this
figure although its primary effect is upon the Sun and Mercury
0
because Saturn's opposition falls at 5 30' Aquarius, right
0 0
between the Sun at 4 46' and Mercury at 6 16' Aquarius.
This indicates social problems early in life and a tendency for
the native's friends to be embroiled in bitter controversy
throughout his life. Why, "early in life?" We will see below that
the planets in a house represent a temporal ordering of the
house's expression - a given evolution of the affairs of the
house.

Rule 2: Examine the Significator of the issue under

examination

Medieval Astrology is fond of "Significators." A Significator is

something which signifies or indicates. Bonatti's Liber
Astronomiae states that the planets which we, as modern
astrologers, might think are significators of this or that were
not so regarded by Medieval Astrologers.

For instance, according to Bonatti, Mercury, not Jupiter, is the

Significator of the 9th house. This was probably due to the
fact that Mercury's association with Hermes was known and
the root of the name Hermes in Greek has to do with
interpreting. In the Middle Ages, only the clerics and people
educated in the Church could read and interpret the Latin
scriptures to the populace who spoke vulgar tongues. At any
rate, there was a collection of Significators signifying various
things which were used frequently. Unfortunately, I do not
have a complete list of such Significators and various authors
disputed the precise correspondences.

8
Morinus criticises the promiscuous use of Universal
Significators as too broad. It offends his reason that in every
chart, the Sun is simultaneously the Universal Significator of
Men, men in authority, the father, the right eye in a man, the
heart and fame. Likewise, the Moon is the Universal
Significator of the mother, women in general, their breasts,
the stomach in men and women, the right eye for a woman,
the public (everybody, men & women), etc. His practice was to
restrict the Universal Signification of planets by relying more
upon the rulership of the signs although he uses what he
calls the "analogy" of the planets. For example Morinus felt
the Sun had analogy with fame, but it promises fame only
th th
when determined to it by being in the 10 or 11 or when
th th
ruling the 10 or 11 or when aspecting the MC.

Morinus' criticism of the Medieval use of Significators may

have been directed at Bonatti. But Bonatti had two ways of
identifying Significators. The first was what Morinus called
Universal Significators which may have been too general. But
the second way is more specific. It calls a Significator of a
house the planet in the house closest to the cusp of the
house, or the ruler of the house or the Almuten of the house.
He has an hierarchy of choice here. 1st the planet in the
house closest to the cusp. 2nd the ruler of the house (by
Sign) or 3rd the Almuten of the house. We are to see which is
more powerfully placed.

In Figure 9 Mars is the planet in the house closest to the

cusp. Saturn is the ruler by Sign. And Mars is the Almuten.
Now, I know that I haven't told you what an Almuten is yet, nor
shown you how to find it, but we are coming to that. The point
that I need to make here & now is that in this chart, Mars is
th
the Significator of the 11 House.

What this means will be appreciated more fully when we get to

Prediction. Suffice it to say here that part of what Mars is
doing in this chart is signifying friends and social interaction.
Using Morinus' terminology we say that it is "Locally
th
Determined" to 11 House affairs in the following three ways:

9
1. by being in the 11th house (because position determines
the influence of a planet towards the affairs of the house it
is in)
th
2. by being the Significator of the 11 House

3. by being in aspect with, albeit an opposition, the ruler of

th
the 11 (Saturn). This is because Local Determination
occurs by position, rulership and aspect. Mars actually has
th
all three since, in addition to being in the 11 and being in
th
aspect to Saturn {the ruler of the 11 by sign}, Mars itself
th
rules the 11 cusp by exaltation (see your notes from the
Rulership Lesson).

In practice what this means is that Mars, in all its transits,

progressions, direction, firdaria {explained in next lesson},
profections {explained in next lesson} or indeed the transits
etc of other planets to the natal Mars, will bear with it a
social/friends dimension. If you want to know about the
native's social life - what objectively takes place then you
have to understand this Mars. This Mars signifies the native's
social life. It does more as well, but this is as far as our
analysis has taken us. An understanding of this Mars
contributes to the answer to the question, "How is it?" - What
is his social life like? Given what we have seen so far we can
answer this question. The native's social life will be at best,
loud (Martians like to make noise, slap each other on the
back), magnanimous (Sun) and learned (Mercury) and at
worst, violent, egotistical and critical.

10
Rule 3: Examine the ruler of the house

An extremely important rule, implicit in the writings of Medieval

Astrologers but first explicitly expressed by Morinus, states
that "The good or bad signified by an house emanates
from the ruler of the house." You will recall from Lesson
One that this rule may be applied literally to the ruler of a
house by Sign (e.g. in Figure 9 to Saturn, ruler of Capricorn),
to the Almuten of the house cusp (Mars in the example) or to
the dispositor of a planet or Arabic Part. In the first case, the
house is the effect of the ruler. In the second case, the house
is the effect of the Almuten. In the third case, the planet or
Part is the effect of the ruling planet.

By "the good or bad signified by a house" is meant first,

st nd
whatever good or bad the house itself promises. The 1 , 2 ,
rd th th th th
3 , 5 , 9 , 10 & 11 houses are good in themselves. The
primary meanings of these houses have to do with good
th th th th
influences in life. The 12 , 8 , 7 and 6 houses are bad.
The primary meaning of these houses have to do with
th
contrary influences in life. The 4 House can be regarded as
good as indicating family, or bad as indicating the end of life.
A house, be it good or bad, is powerfully conditioned by the
planets in i t or ruling it. Thus a good house with benefics in it
or ruling it produces good in accordance with the nature of
the house. A bad house with malefics in it or ruling it
produces wretchedness in accordance with the nature of the
house. A good house with malefics in it or ruling it, the good is
lessened. A bad house with benefics in it or ruling it, the bad
is lessened. A house with benefics and malefics in it or ruling
it gives a mixed experience.

"The good or bad signified by an house emanates from the

ruler of the house." This rule does two very important things.
It allows us to see connections and it permits us to answer the
question, "Why it is?" By virtue of the fact that the ruler of a
house is often in another house, we can see a connection
between the affairs of one house with those of another.
Houses where the ruler of the house is in the house are self-
sufficient. Such houses indicate areas of life that generate
11
 th th
their own activities. Thus, the ruler of the 11 in the 11
would indicate that the native's social life is unconnected to
st
any other area of his life. The ruler of the Ascendant in the 1
shows the native to be self-sufficient, relying on his own
person to get what he seeks in life.

Usually, however, the ruler of a house is in some other house.

th
Thus, in Figure 9 the position of Saturn, the ruler of the 11
th th th
in the 5 links the 11 & 5 Houses. By itself this indicates
something relating to the "How" question e.g. "How does the
native enjoy himself? Answer: "With friends."

12
But applying the rule: "The good or bad signified by an house
th
emanates from the ruler of the house" to the 11 House in
the example we can see causality. The good or bad indicated
th th
by the 11 House is explained thus: the 11 House is a good
th
house. Friends are good to have. But this 11 House is
dominated by the malefic Mars which is combust and
opposed to the ruler, which is also its dispositor. As Mars is in
Aquarius, it may be said to be received by Saturn, which
mitigates the opposition somewhat, but we are left with a
th
combust malefic dominating the 11 House thereby spoiling
th
the perfect good of the 11 House by introducing unresolved
conflict into the House, an area of life in which we would want
th
to find harmony. Good can still come from such an 11
House but the native's friends will be contentious, litigious and
combative. Because Mars is combust and therefore afflicted,
their combats will often be inconclusive (because a combust
planet cannot fully realise what it promises). Again, note that
it is the friends who are fighting, not the native.

Now we ask, "Why is it so?" "The good or bad signified by an

house emanates from the ruler of the house" tells us that the
th th
contests indicated by the 11 House and from the 11 House
th
Mars, emanate from the Saturn in Leo in the 5 . Saturn in
Leo is in detriment. It is a malefic planet debilitated and nasty,
a troublemaker who overstates his worth because of a
profound sense of mediocrity. He aspires to be great but can't
get there. This quality of frustrated egotism and power drive
th
is operating in the native's 5 House. Once again, it is not the
th
native we are speaking about. Saturn in the 5 House in this
chart may characterise the native's children or entertainment,
but not the native himself. The key to understanding this
th
configuration lies in seeing it in reference to the 11 House.
This is done by what is called derived houses which we will
discuss shortly.
th st th
If you take the 11 House as the 1 then the 5 House, being
th th
7 houses away counting inclusively {of the 11 } is the 7
th
(Other People or Partnerships). Thus, Saturn in the 7 from
st th
the 1 (11 ) shows that the frustrated egotism and power
drive referred to above is operating in the context of the

13
friends partnerships or dealings with others. In other words,
the cause of the hostility marring the native's social life is
due to the native's friends either wanting to dominate others
or running into disputes in connection with partnerships.

Once again I wish to point out that there are three kinds of
friends indicated for this native. Not all will be contentious,
litigious and aggressive. Indeed, as the planet closest to the
cusp indicates the affairs of the house earlier in life, the
second the affairs in midlife and the third towards the end of
life, we can see that this pattern was typical of early
associations. It was followed by more glorious and brilliant
friends (Sun) and is followed after that by learned friends.

Still, this rule "The good or bad signified by an house

emanates from the ruler of the house" enables us to explain
th
the origin of the conflict indicated in the native's 11 House.
And since the Sun and Mercury are also disposed by Saturn,
the indication is that, at different times in the native's life the
th
same cause (Saturn in Leo) produces different 11 House
experiences.

In arriving at this delineation we have enlisted the assistance

of a technique called Derived Houses. If we forgo this and
employ only the primary meanings of the houses, we would
th
have to ascribe the cause of the native's 11 House
experiences to his entertainment (5th house). Saturn rules
the old, the old things, the old ways, the ancient occult
sciences (secretiora philosophia according to Henry
th
Cornelius Agrippa). The 11 House of the example chart and
th
its relation to the natal Saturn, its ruler, in the 5 certainly
says: "The native's Saturnian entertainments cause tumult
and upheaval (Mars) among friends. Recognition and
famous, powerful friends (Sun) and learning/ learned friends
(Mercury).

So far we have been using the ruler of the house to discover

"Why" something indicated by a house is. We can also use
th
the ruler(s) to discover "Whether" the native has an 11
House (or any other house). While it is rare, it is possible to
have a house "switched off" so that the native is denied that
14
area of life.

This happens when all the rulers {by dignity} of a house are
afflicted. Afflictions are of ten kinds according to Bonatti in
146 Considerations translated from the Latin by Coley and
published by Lilly in 1675) Of these ten, four are most
common: Planets are afflicted when retrograde, combust,
cadent and conjunct, square or opposed a malefic Planet. If
most of a house's rulers are afflicted and the few which are
not are minor rulers (decan, term), there is still danger that
the house affairs may not be operative or will operate with
difficulty. A healthy, operative house has 1. All rulers
angular, succedent and unafflicted. 2. The ruler(s) of the
house in the house. 3. The ruler(s) of the house in favourable
aspect to the benefics.
th
Let us analyse the 11 House of the example and see
whether the native has friends. First, we note that 16
th
Capricorn is on the 11 cusp (the example uses Alchabitius
cusps). The Sign ruler is Saturn which is in a succedent
house but opposed to Mars and therefore afflicted. Mars is
th
the ruler of the 11 by exaltation, but he is combust and
opposed to Saturn, hence afflicted (the benign effect of the
mutual reception can be debated). Capricorn is an earth sign
and its triplicity rulers are Venus, Moon and Mars. Mars we've
already
th
looked0at. Venus is angular (because though in the
9 it is within 5 of an angular cusp) and unafflicted. The
Moon is angular (for the same reason) and unafflicted. 16
Capricorn falls in the terms of Venus, which as we saw, is
strong and unafflicted. 16 Capricorn falls in Mars' decan.
Mars is afflicted. So, of 4 rulers, 2 are afflicted, but the 2 who
are OK are Venus and the Moon, triplicity rulers and
therefore major dignities. Once again the hierarchy of dignity
is rulership, exaltation, triplicity. These are major dignities.
Term & decan are minor.

Given what has been said, we can conclude that the native
th
has an 11 House, has friends and that these friends are
fighters, powerful and learned.

15
Rule 4: Examination of the Almuten of the house

An Almuten is a planet which has the most honours in a place

in the Zodiac according to a pointing system {Lesson One}
which gives 5 points to the ruler of the Sign, 4 points to the
ruler by exaltation (if there is one), 3 points to the three
triplicity rulers, 2 points to the term ruler and 1 point to the
decan ruler.

The Almuten is used like the ruler of the Sign, but because it
is occasionally different than that ruler and in a different place
from that ruler, it often indicates a second or even a superior
source for the good or bad indicated by the house. Often, if
things look bad or impeded from the ruler of the sign being
afflicted, they may be better through the Almuten. For
th
instance, the ruler of the 7 House (marriage) may be
afflicted in the 3rd indicating that the native might meet his
spouse at a neighbour’s house. Since the ruler is cadent and
afflicted, there will be problems with this. But if the Almuten of
the 7th is well disposed in the 9th, he will be more successful
looking for her in a church, college or foreign country.
th
Let's calculate the Almuten of the 11 House in the example.
th
The Sign ruler Saturn gives 5 points. Mars {ruler of the 11
by exaltation} 4 points. Capricorn is an earth Sign and its
triplicity rulers are Venus, Moon and Mars, each of which get
3 points. This gives Mars 4 + 3 = 7 points. 16 Capricorn falls
in the terms of Venus giving Venus 2 + 3 = 5 points. 16
Capricorn falls in Mars' decan giving Mars an additional point
(7 + 1 = 8 points). Mars totals 8 points, Saturn the Sign ruler
totals only 5 points, therefore Mars is the Almuten.

By the rule that position is stronger than rulership, since Mars

th
is the Almuten and is in the 11 House, whereas Saturn is
th
not, Mars more accurately shows what the native's 11 House
is about. The consideration of the Almuten, like the
consideration of the ruler of the house pertains to the cause
of the affairs of the house and therefore the "Why" question.

16
5. Examine the Arabic Part (or Parts) relating to the
house

Abu `Ali al-Kayyat tells us to consider the testimony of the

Arabic Part related to the house under examination.

There are twelve Arabic Parts all relating in some way or

th
another to the 11 House. We must choose one which is
th
relevant to the aspect of the 11 House we are concerned
with. As we are discussing friendship we should select the
pars amicorum, {Part of Friends which is the seventh Part of
th
the 11 House. It is found both by day or night, by taking the
distance between the Moon and Mercury and projecting this
distance from the Ascendant. In Figure 9 it falls at 7 Aquarius
38. This Part is the same as the Part of Faith in a diurnal
figure. Bonatti tells us regarding this Part, "If it is of good
condition and well disposed, and its lord is well disposed in
mobile (cardinal) signs, the native will have many friends. If
they are fortunate, his friends profit him and he them, and
they enjoy good things. If they are received he will be
considered praiseworthy among them and beloved by them. If
the contrary, judge accordingly."

In the example chart the Part of Friends is not in a cardinal

Sign. It is conjunct an afflicted Mercury, combust and
opposed to Saturn, yet Saturn receives it since it is in
Saturn's Sign. The Part and its lord are seemingly not of good
condition. Thus we would have to say that his friends do not,
for the most part, profit him, nor he them. Still, even though
the indications are for few friends who hold the native in high
regard, we should note that Saturn (ruler of the Part) and the
Sun are in mutual reception. This transforms the rather dour
circumstances of the Part and its ruler, Saturn, and improves
the reading considerably. The mutual reception is a
qualitative upgrade which ensures a wider circle of friends
than otherwise might be expected. Indeed, it seems that the
native does not know how many friends he has until he is in
real adversity. Then they make themselves known to him.

17
6. Conclusion:

We arrive at this by synthesising the above testimonies as

per the 4-fold Aristotelian consideration of Whether it is, What
it is, How it is and Why it is?

Again by reference to the example we answer the question

"Whether the native will have friends?" by a Yes! We answer
the question, "What is his social life like?" by saying, "The
native has argumentative, abrasive, brilliant, authoritative,
communicative and learned friends. They are zealous in their
opinions and familiar with conflict. The native's social life will
be at best, loud, magnanimous and learned; at worst, violent,
egotistical and critical." We answer the question, "How is his
th nd
social life?" by observing that Mars rules the 9 and 2
(Religion/educational/foreign & financial) thus pointing to
shared finances and philosophy or religious connections. The
th
Sun is the ruler of the 6 indicating that the native's social
circle includes people he works with and who help him.
th th
Mercury as ruler of the 7 and 4 links the friends to partners
and dwellings. He rents his apartment from friends. Since
th
Mars is the Significator of the 11 House as well as the
th
Almuten of the 11 , we can be certain that there will be
explosive episodes with his friends; especially as Mars is
combust and opposed to Saturn. As mentioned above, the
native's friends enjoy battling with each other. There are
court cases, slanders, debates, and controversies.

We answer the question, "Why is his social life in such

upheaval?" by noting the natures of the Almuten and the ruler
th
of the 11 and their house positions. We point out that Mars,
th
the Almuten of the 11 , loves strife and that Saturn, the ruler
th th
of the 11 in the 7th from the 11 , indicates ego battles and
difficulties in the native's friends' partnerships.
th
The delineation of the 11 House of this example chart is
th
quite close to the general experience of the native of 11
House affairs. Things change somewhat in time but the
th
general features of the native's life re: 11 House affairs are
accurately depicted by this approach to delineation.
18
So, as we said above, if you simply follow the method, the
conclusion writes itself. Admittedly, you must conform your
thinking to the method, but this is no more than to say you
must be systematic and methodical in your thinking. In other
words, you just read the chart, not the person, still less your
presuppositions of what is or should be. Once you've
delineated a couple of houses of even one horoscope, the
procedure will become easy and natural and you will breeze
through the delineation.

This, then, is an example of the General Approach to the

delineation of an astrological house in Medieval Astrology. It
can be successfully applied to any house in a horoscope.. All
you need to do is to keep in mind the different meanings of
the houses. If you use this method for delineating all the
houses you will acquire a profound understanding of the natal
chart and know how all its parts are working. Armed with such
in depth understanding, you will find it easier to make correct
predictions.

This ends this lesson. Please now proceed to the Test.

19
MEDIEVAL ASTROLOGY FOUNDATION COURSE

LESSON THREE TEST:

DELINEATION OF THE ASTROLOGICAL HOUSE
© copyright Robert Zoller and New Library Limited 1995 – 2000 All rights reserved

Please answer the following questions. When doing so you

should not refer to the audio or text.

Questions:

1. What are the six steps of the General Approach to

delineating a house in Medieval Astrology?

2. What are the four Aristotelian considerations?

3. What is an Almuten?

4. How is the Almuten used?

5. What is a Significator?

6. How is a Significator of a house to be found?

7. Which are the good houses?

8. Which are the bad houses?

9. From where does the good or bad signified by a house

emanate?

10. Fill in the blank: Position is stronger than …………

20
ANSWERS

1. 1 Examine any planets positioned in the house under

consideration.

2 Examine the Significator of the issue under consideration

3 Examine the ruler of the house under consideration

4 Examine the Almuten of the house under consideration

5 Examine the Arabic Part (or Parts) relating to the house

under consideration.

6 Conclusion

2. Whether it is, What it is, How it is and Why it is.

3. An Almuten is a planet which has the most honours in a

place in the Zodiac according to a pointing system which
gives 5 points to the ruler of the Sign, 4 points to the
ruler by exaltation (if there is one), 3 points to the three
triplicity rulers, 2 points to the term ruler and one point to
the decan ruler.

4. The Almuten is used like the ruler of the Sign.

5. A Significator indicates or signifies something.

6. The Significator of a house is the planet in the house

closest to the cusp of the house, or the ruler of the
house or the Almuten of the house.
st nd rd th th th th
7. The 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 9 , 10 & 11 houses.
th th th th
8. The 12 , 8 , 7 and 6 houses are bad.

9. From the ruler of the house.

21
10. Rulership.

If you got eight or more answers correct you have done well
and should now go onto LESSON FOUR. If you got less
than eight answers correct you should thoroughly revise the
Lesson before proceeding.

Lesson Four transcript: rz-fc-4.pdf

Lesson Four audio: rz-fc-4.mp3

22
Robert Zoller.
http://www.new-library.com/zoller/