Astrology and Sex

Vivian E. Robson, B.Sc.

 To my friends
Harry and Ella Elliott-Ball
Under whose roof this book was written
 Table of Contents
Foreword
Chapter I: Introduction
Chapter II: The Sex of the Astrological Factors
Chapter III: The Sex of the Native
Chapter IV: The Sex Outlook of the Signs
Chapter V: The Houses and Marriage
Chapter VI: The Seventh House
Chapter VII: The Influence of Planets in the Seventh House
Chapter VIII: Sexual Abnormalities
Chapter IX: Ftomosexuality
Chapter X: Sadism
Chapter XI: Masochism and Other Abnormalities
Chapter XII: Marriage
Chapter XIII: Irregular Unions
Chapter XIV: Marriage or Celibacy
Chapter XV: Determining the Date of Marriage
Chapter XVI: The Marriage Partner
Chapter XVII: How to Read Details
Chapter XVIII: How to Compare Horoscopes
Chapter XIX: The Effect of Aspects Horoscopes
Chapter XX: Mundane Comparison
Chapter XXI: Directional Comparison
Chapter XXII: The Hindu Method of Comparison
Chapter XXIII: Choosing the Wedding Date
Chapter XXIV: The Consummation of Marriage
Chapter XXV: Classified Rules and Aphorisms
 Foreword
A few years ago 1 published a book entitled Your Affinity, which dealt with
the subject of love and marriage from an entirely popular point of view.
The present work, however, is an attempt to cover the whole field of
astrology in its relation sex to the problems of sex in as much detail as possible
in a book of this size. It is intended primarily for the astrological student, but I
have tried to render it intelligible to the lay reader also.
In order to avoid overburdening the text with a mass of rules I have taken
the unusual step of collecting these in a separate chapter. This has the advantage
of allowing a more critical and general treatment of the main issues, and at the
same time places all the special rules and aphorisms in a form in which they
are readily available for reference and use by the practical worker.
Vivian E. Robson
 Chapter I: Introduction
It is usual when writing a book upon any special subject to begin by defining
that subject and describing its general nature and principles. In the case of sex,
however, we face an insuperable difficulty at the outset, for we are concerned
with the most fundamental principle in nature. Sex is a manifestation of the
principles of “pairs of opposites” that form the basis of the created universe as
we know it.
I do not propose to embark upon a metaphysical study of the subject, but
it would be necessary to do so in order to obtain some grasp of the meaning of
sex. Briefly we can imagine a primordial state of affairs in which time and space
are non-existent and there exists some mysterious Universal Consciousness, or
perhaps Unconsciousness, such as is postulated in the conception of Parabrah-
man. The act of creation, or the genesis of evolution, at once necessitates duality
—the Creator and the Created. With the extreme conservatism of nature, every
aspect of life reflects this duality. The existence of every material object, attrib­
ute, or idea implies the existence also of its opposite. Thus we have night and
day, heat and cold, good and bad, black and white, positive and negative, and
male and female, all of which are merely complementary aspects of an under­
lying unity, and to be understood as the terms of a polarity.
It is therefore quite useless to expect that astrology can furnish an
explanation of sex differences, for that is entirely beyond its province. It can,
however, throw a great deal of light upon the problems of daily life that are
directly due to the existence of such differences, and it is with this aspect of the
science of astrology that I am concerned in the following pages.
 Chapter II: The Sex of the Astrological Factors
The principles of duality and sex are exhibited to a marked extent by the
factors which go to a marked extent to make up an individual horoscope,
namely planets, signs, and houses. Each factor possesses an influence of a
positive or negative kind, and has a definite relation to one sex or the other, the
positive factors being of a masculine nature, and the negative of a feminine. It
does not need a very deep study of astrology to make one realize that this
classification is by no means merely one of convenience. To be told that one
particular sign or house is masculine and another one feminine strikes one as
somewhat fanciful, but in the practical judgment of a horoscope such consid­
erations become of great importance, when one is dealing with the sexual life
of the native, or subject of the horoscope.
The Planets
The ancient astrologers exhibited a confusion in regard to the sex of the
planets that is rather surprising in view of the essential simplicity of the
problem. Most of their contradictions, however, arose from a failure to distin­
guish between the natural sex of the planet, and the sex of the position it
occupies in the horoscope, while a further cause of trouble was their habit of
trying to fit everything into a neat apple-pie order, which, however satisfying a
process it may be, is a most prolific source of error in astrology.
According to Ptolemy those planets with a dry influence are masculine,
and those with a moist influence are feminine, while according to Placidus the
masculine planets are the hot and cold ones, and the feminine are the dry and
moist ones. These are attempts, and conflicting ones at that, to bring the sex of
the planets into line with their humors or temperaments, which is really an
unnecessary and artificial method of distinction. The most natural course is to
consider the positive or negative nature of a planet’s influence rather than its
relation to medieval physiological theories.
Ihe heads of the respective sexes among the planets are the Sun and Moon,
the former being the chief masculine planet and the latter the chief feminine
one. Of the remaining bodies, Venus and Neptune are feminine, while Mars,
Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus are masculine. The recently discovered planet Pluto
can, I think, also be included among the latter.
The planet Mercury cannot be definitely assigned to either sex and is usually
called an hermaphrodite planet, or one which can take on the attributes of
either sex. The nature of Mercury alone is chiefly masculine, but as it assumes
the nature of the planet with which it is in strongest aspect or the planet that
rules the sign containing it, the sex characteristics it displays will vary in
different horoscopes, being masculine in some, feminine in others, and occa­
sionally dual in cases of physical or psychic hermaphroditism.
The planets in a horoscope represent not only the qualities and
characteristics but also the people with whom the native comes into contact,
and by whom he is influenced. The masculine normally represents the male
relatives, friends, and acquaintances, and the feminine ones the women. I use
the word normally, because it sometimes happens that a male planet represents
a woman of a very masculine type, and a female denotes an effeminate man,
but these are exceptional cases with which I am not at the moment concerned.
In a general way the Sun denotes men of mature years and those who are
in an influential or authoritative position, or exercise some control over the
native or his affairs. Thus the Sun stands for royalty, the father, the employer,
and the nobility, and, in a woman’s horoscope, the husband.
Mars denotes younger men, typically those in the thirties or late twenties,
when the physical powers and energies are at their height.
Jupiter represents men of middle age and assured position, professional
men in the forties or fifties, and among relatives, the natives uncles.
Saturn rules elderly men in the sixties or over, whose habits are set and
whose thoughts dwell in the past rather than the future.
Uranus is usually said to indicate very aged people, grandparents, and
others whose age is beyond the limits of Saturn. In practical astrology, however,
it will be found that while Uranus undoubtedly rules grandparents, it does not
usually indicate people of advanced age. It more frequently denotes those of a
Uranian type such as occultists, inventors, aviators, electricians, eccentrics, and
sometimes homosexuals.
Mercury represents youths and young people of either sex, as well as writers,
clerks, messengers, and others who follow Mercurial occupations. Among
relatives it typically denotes contemporaries, or in other words, brothers, sisters,
and cousins.
Among the feminine planets the Moon is the chief signifkator of women
in general and the whole female sex. If very strong in the horoscope it greatly
increases the feminine qualities such as sensitivity, imagination, and intuition,
and is one of the factors making for effeminacy in men, provided, of course,
that other influences agree. Among relatives the Moon rules the mother and
the wife.
Venus normally indicates a more refined and artistic type of woman than
the Moon, though if Venus is badly placed and afflicted it can denote women
of the lowest type. There is, however, usually rather more charm about the
woman indicated by Venus than attaches to her lunar sister, no matter to what
stratum of society she may belong. Among relatives Venus rules younger
women than the Moon.
Neptune, the other planet whose nature is a feminine one, does not appear
specially to indicate women in the horoscope at all, and quite as often represents
men. The sex indications here seem to point much more directly to the mental
and psychic nature of the person represented than to the physical sex. Those
whose nature is receptive, psychic, or effeminate are among the people indicated
by Neptune, and so are passive homosexuals, masochists, drug addicts, and
others of a markedly negative type.
The Signs of the Zodiac
The signs of the zodiac are alternatively of a positive and negative nature,
the positive or masculine ones being the odd signs, Aries, Gemini, Leo, Libra,
Sagittarius and Aquarius, and the negative or feminine ones the even signs,
Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn, and Pisces.
 This is simplicity itself, as to a lesser extent was the question of the sex of
the planets. But when we come to combine these two factors, a very complicated
problem can arise, such as the exact sex influence exerted by a masculine planet
in a feminine sign or vice-versa. It is impossible to lay down any hard and fast
rules in regard to this matter, but in the majority of cases the sign is of greater
importance as a sex indicator than the planet it contains. The problem is still
further complicated by the fact that each sign may be divided up in a great
variety of ways, and that the sub-divisions so formed are themselves alterna­
tively masculine and feminine. I do not propose to describe the sub-divisions
of the signs, however, for any benefit to be obtained by their use is more than
counter-balanced by the added confusion and complication arising from the
attempt to combine so many factors.
The Houses of the Horoscope
The sex of the houses follows the same rule as that of the signs, the odd
houses being masculine and the even ones feminine. The four quadrants also
possess a sex influence, the southeast quadrant, comprising houses, twelve,
eleven, and ten being masculine; the southwest, or houses nine, eight, and
seven, feminine; the northwest, or houses six, five, and four, masculine; and
the northeast, or houses three, two, and one, feminine.
Except in the theory of the Pre-natal Epoch very little use is ever made in
practical astrology of the sex influence of the houses, and the subject has never
received the attention it probably deserves. It is much more in keeping with the
general principles of astrology that sex should depend upon house position
rather than sign position, and an investigation into this problem might well
produce some very valuable results. Bailey has stated in Pre-Natal Epoch that
the sex of newly-formed organisms reproduced by fission follows the sex
arrangement of the quadrants, and I myself have noticed cases in which the
Sex Laws of the Epoch appear to operate better when referred to house position
than to zodiacal degrees. I have no intention of raising highly controversial
issues in this place, however, and would merely draw the attention of the
astrological student to a very promising field of research.
 Chapter ill: The Sex of the Native
One would imagine that a knowledge of the sex influences of the various
factors that make up a horoscope would enable the astrologer to be able to
judge the sex of any native whose horoscope is placed before him. I have no
doubt that a fuller knowledge of the subject than we now possess will eventually
enable us to do so, but it is a regrettable fact that at present we have no reliable
method whatsoever of judging the bodily sex of any given horoscope, though
the mental or psychic sex can very easily be determined.
It does not follow that the presence of all the planets in masculine signs
and positions means that a native is a man, any more than that an equal number
of feminine positions indicates a woman. What does follow from this is that
the native ought to be a man or woman as the case may be, and in fact is so
from the mental or psychic point of view, no matter in what bodily form he or
she may be incarnated. It is, in fact, largely to this conflict between the psychic
and bodily sex that many of the common sexual perversions owe their existence.
According to the theory of the Pre-natal Epoch the bodily sex is determined
by the position of the Moon and the Ascendant, but unfortunately it is their
position at the Epoch and not at birth that governs the matter.
'Ihe Pre-natal Epoch is a moment approximately nine months before birth
when the place of the Moon or its opposition point at birth is rising or setting,
and the place of the birth Ascendant or Descendant is that which is occupied
by the Moon. The principle, which was originally known as the Trutine of
Hermes, was stated in its simplest terms by Ptolemy in his 51st Aphorism as
follows: “Make the sign occupied by the Moon at the time of birth the sign
ascending at the conception; and consider that in which she may be posited at
the conception, or the opposite one, as the sign ascending at the birth.”
For many years this principle formed the basis of a simple method of
rectifying the birth time, until about fifty years ago the astrologer Sepharial
began to experiment with it and to elaborate it. He introduced certain rules
based upon the relative positions of the Ascendant and Moon, and Sun and
Moon, which determined whether the period of gestation was longer or shorter
than the normal value of 273 days; and in order to regulate the variations
caused by the uncertainty as to whether the interchange involved the actual
places of the Moon and Ascendant or their opposition points he ascribed sex
influences to definite areas of the zodiac. These were originally arranged with
reference to the Kabalistic Sepharoth, but were subsequently changed and
based upon the twenty-eight Lunar Mansions.
Various considerations, not the least being that the so-called date of
conception, often fell prior to marriage, led to the abandonment of the idea
that the horoscope obtained by these rules represented that of conception, and
the term Pre-natal Epoch was introduced as a substitute.
Sepharial’s brilliant but restless mind soon turned to other lines of work,
and it was left to Mr. E. H. Bailey to carry on his researches into the theory and
practice of Pre-natal astrology, and to produce an excellent work entitled The
Pre-natal Epoch, without which no study of the subject can be made.
The net result of Sepharials and Baileys investigations into the simple
Trutine of Hermes has been to evolve a system of rectification working under
many complicated but fixed and definite rules in which the Law of Sex, as it is
called, is of paramount importance.
Probably no aspect of astrology has ever led to so much acrimonious
discussion as has the Pre-natal Epoch, and the Law of Sex in particular has
been the subject of fierce criticism. Unfortunately the vigor and enthusiasm of
attackers and defenders alike have not helped either cause, and there still
remain challenges that have never been satisfactorily answered. But no matter
whether one be entirely satisfied with the Epochal laws in their present form
or not, an impartial examination of the Epoch is sufficient to carry the convic­
tion that there is a great deal of truth in it.
In a general survey of the application of astrology to the sex problems of
everyday life the theory of the Pre-natal Epoch is at present of little value. Its
chief promise, however, lies in the possibility that further research will enable
us not only to diagnose the sex of any horoscope presented to us but also to
regulate the sex of children before conception occurs. Certain results obtained
by Bailey indicate that the places of the Moon and Ascendant at the time of
coition afford a further interchange with those at Epoch and at birth. Research
along these lines is necessarily slow owing to the very great difficulty of obtain­
ing data, but if the underlying laws governing these further interchanges can
be formulated, it will be possible to arrange the moment of intercourse so that
a child of the required sex will be born at a predetermined date and time.
 Chapter IV: The Sex Outlook of the Signs
A thorough understanding of the nature of each of the zodiacal signs is a
necessary preliminary to all astrological judgment, and in the case of marriage
we have to consider not only the influence of the sign upon the personal life
and character, but also its effect when representing another person.
If one could legitimately and safely pick out one single factor in the
horoscope as of primary importance, it would certainly be the sign rising on
the Ascendant, for it is through this that the native contacts the world. If the
horoscope is thought of as a house with twelve separate rooms, the Ascendant
may be likened to the front door. All kinds of things may go on inside the
house, but in order to convey them to the outside wrorld it is necessary for the
inmate to go out through the front door, which in this particular house is the
only door available.
All the expressions, actions, and habits are colored by the Ascendant, and
no matter how strong the inside of the map may be it is impossible for this
strength to operate fully through a weak rising sign. Obviously, therefore, the
outlook of this sign upon sex will always be one of the most important factors
to be taken into account.
A full description of the influence of each of the signs would cover many
large volumes, even if any single person could possess the knowledge to compile
it, but fortunately, a good working acquaintance can easily be obtained, and
can usually be amplified fairly easily by personal observation.
It is not my intention here to repeat all the usual details that can be obtained
from any elementary textbook, for this would largely be a waste of time. There
is, however, another reason. Every book on astrology tends to deal with the
most favorable side of each of the signs, and ignores most of the faults and
shortcomings. In marriage, however, it is the latter that are ultimately of chief
importance, and in everyday life they cannot be so conveniently relegated to
the background. The following remarks, therefore, intentionally stress the less
pleasant characteristics, which show themselves under affliction. I am quite
aware that by this treatment of the signs I am inviting indignant protests from
the many who feel strongly that their own particular sign should be treated
with proper respect, but I might point out that the astrologer who cannot face
criticism of positions which happen to occur in his own map is not worthy of
the name and certainly is of no use to the cause of astrology, which from my
own point of view, is all that really matters.
1. Aries
Aries is a rash, impetuous, and headstrong sign, and tends to be impulsive
in love affairs and marriage as in everything else. As befits a marital sign, it is
passionate but at the same time there is a good deal of idealism, and sexual
indulgence is a matter more of sudden impulse than of deliberate seeking. It
makes a very positive type that does not harmonize well with a positive partner,
so that it tends to seek someone of a weaker nature whom it can impress with
its masculine qualities and can protect.
A man with Aries rising is attracted by beauty and apparent helplessness,
and needs a wife who will be content to remain in the background and duly
admire his prowess and ability when it is expected of her.
Normally Aries is a better sign for a man than for a woman. The Aries
woman is apt to be too masterful, and too much of a whirlwind in the house
for anyone who is not of a quiet and passive type. She is capable and generous,
but can easily become loud, self-opinionated, shrewish, and “bossy” under
affliction.
The Aries nature is an intense one, capable of sudden violence and great
jealousy. With suitable afflictions, especially from Mars or Uranus, a sadistic
tendency can easily develop, though by itself it is too direct, simple, and
primitive a sign to lend itself readily to perversion. It must always strive for
leadership, however, whether in man or woman, and unless the partner is
content to be led, constant friction will develop. Partly for this reason Aries
marriages are often unhappy, though other factors contribute to cause dishar­
mony. One of them is a tendency to physical or psychic sex weakness which is
sometimes present in the Aries man, or to sexual indifference in the Aries
woman, and another is the propensity of the Aries man, and sometimes of the
woman also, to indulge in promiscuous flirtations and love affairs. The reason
underlying such affairs is usually that they flatter the Aries vanity, but in the
man at least there is the additional instinctive search for the ideal, which is so
common in the male and so often the cause of matrimonial infidelity.
2. Taurus
The sign Taurus has a very strong sex nature that is chiefly physical, but at
the same time it is not by any means a fickle sign. The Taurus man is often
inclined to be lustful, and this may frequently drive him to excesses. The
tendencies to sexual self-indulgence, however, are comparable with the equally
strong tendencies to over-eating, and are due for the most part to purely animal
instincts, and not to the search for the ideal, love of variety, or the desire for
new experiences shown by many of the other signs. At heart Taurus is faithful,
good-natured, easily satisfied and patient, and as a husband he is of the “stick-
in-the-mud” type who is happy and contented if his slippers are properly
warmed and his dinner is plentiful and to his liking.
One of the most marked characteristics of the sign, however, is obstinacy,
and neither the man nor the woman with Taurus rising can be driven, though
he or she can very easily be led by affection. Taurus is a silent sign and not very
demonstrative, but the feelings are deep and strong, and inclined to be posses­
sive, though not to the extent shown by certain of the other signs, notably
Cancer. Financial affairs usually bulk largely in Taurean marriages, owing to
the fact that Taurus is the natural money sign. This sometimes causes marriage
for money, but need not necessarily do so, for by the law of polarity the exact
opposite may occur, and the marriage may be one in which lack of money gives
rise to critical situations.
Another Taurean characteristic of importance in regard to sex matters and
marriage is a natural soothing and healing power, which makes the native of
that sign a good partner for one with a highly-strung nervous system. Thus
Taurus and Gemini harmonize fairly well together because Taurus supplies the
steadiness, balance, and calm so needed by the Gemini native.
 Mentally, of course, there may be friction, for the slow mind of Taurus
cannot keep pace with the brilliance and rapidity of the Gemini mentality, but
the marriage of a Gemini man to a Taurus woman can be extremely successful,
for the woman can put the man’s ideas into practical effect far better than he
can himself.
The marriage of a Gemini woman to a Taurus man is not usually so
successful, but everything depends in this case upon the woman. She may be
of immense business and financial help to her husband by allying her keen
brain with his steady and practical business ability. But so often moderate
intellectual ability produces an air of conscious superiority in woman that
would irritate even so placid a sign as Taurus, and in a case like this such a
marriage would be foredoomed to failure.
3. Gemini
The outlook of Gemini is a purely mental one, and sex interests are quite
secondary so far as the sign itself is concerned, though other positions in the
horoscope may bring them into prominence. Gemini is essentially a cold­
blooded sign, without affection and without morals. It is a kind of living
question-mark, always seeking to know the reason for everything and always
analyzing its own and other people’s thoughts, speech, actions, and reactions.
Mental vivisection is a particularly Geminian habit, and is usually accompanied
by extreme, but quite unintentional and unconscious, cruelty. It wants to “see
the wheels go round” and is entirely unmindful of the effect of the process
upon its victim.
It will therefore be obvious that the normal attitude of Gemini to sex matters
is not only experimental, but very largely cool, calculating, and selfish. It is
usually considered a fickle and changeable sign, often with considerable justi­
fication, but actually the fickleness arises not from wandering affections but
from a desire to attain its theoretical ideal. Unfortunately this aim, while always
unsatisfactory, is for Gemini entirely impossible of achievement, for the ideal
varies according to the mood of the moment, and may swing from one extreme
to the other.
 Gemini is a difficult sign for most people to understand, for it is much more
logical than the others. Its analytical nature produces a tendency always to read
between the lines, and therefore to imagine other people mean much more
than they say. The mental quickness also causes rapid changes of thought that
leave the natives of slower signs plodding along the road that Gemini has
covered in a single leap. Slowness in others is a constant source of annoyance
to Gemini, which is, at the best of times, an irritable and highly-strung sign.
Hie wife or husband of a Gemini native must be mentally dull or obtuse if
happiness is to be maintained. Owing to his sensitive nervous system and
mental nature the Gemini person is subject to sexual perversions, and perhaps
especially to sadism, on account of the natural cruelty of the sign, and its lack
of emotion and sympathy.
Under affliction Gemini exhibits criminal tendencies, and its natives readily
develop into forgers, thieves, and confidence men, where quick wits and nimble
fingers are essential to success. Bigamy is also in keeping with the Gemini
nature, though probably less so than in the case of Sagittarius and Pisces, which
are more conventional signs, and therefore set more store by the appearance of
respectability. Ihe duality of the sign, however, is usually evident in sex matters,
and natives of Gemini often carry on two love aff airs simultaneously, and after
marriage run double establishments.
4. Cancer
Cancer is extremely imaginative and emotional, and its sex outlook is
romantic, sentimental, protective, and very largely maternal. In some ways it is
a changeable sign, and it is certainly subject to rapidly fluctuating moods, but
it is capable of great tenacity and faithfulness where the affections are concerned,
dhese are two characteristics that are of great importance, one being the fear of
ridicule, and the other the hatred of criticism, both of which, and especially
the latter, deeply affect married life. Cancer in its highest form gives a domes­
ticated nature, love of home and possessions, strong maternal love, and a desire
to cherish and protect others. It is self-sacrificing, and seeks little in return for
the affection it pours out upon others. But unfortunately the highest type of
Cancer, as of any other sign, is only too rarely encountered, and the undeveloped
specimen is much more common in everyday life. Here we find a distortion of
all the Cancerian virtues. The domesticated nature becomes sluttishness beyond
belief; the love of home and possessions turns into greed, a grasping nature, an
inability to let go of anything that comes within the claws, and an equal inability
to cease complaining and nagging; while the maternal love and protective
instincts cause some one person to be singled out for protection at the expense
of everyone else.
The only way to get on with an undeveloped or afflicted Cancer type is to
praise and flatter him on every possible occasion and never by any chance to
say a word that could be twisted into the semblance of blame or criticism. Most
textbooks state that Mercury is chiefly responsible for nagging, and it is true
that both Gemini and Virgo can talk, argue, and scold incessantly if afflicted,
but that is not quite the same thing. Mercury and the Mercurial signs produce
shrews, viragos, and scolds, but Cancer produces the real nagger. The natural
tendency of Cancer is to keep on and on, and it seems to have extreme difficulty
in stopping. Even when an argument or discussion comes to an end. Cancer
can usually be relied upon to revive it and keep hammering at it ad nauseam.
This tendency shows itself in many ways. A chance word of criticism will entail
hours of work on the part of Cancer to worry or cajole the unfortunate critic
into a recantation. Dislike of something that Cancer likes will bring an endless
spate of reasons—or what passes with Cancer for reasons—for liking that
particular thing, and he or she will not rest content until agreement is given for
the sake of peace and quietness. It is often for this reason that the husband of a
Cancerian wife will be heard to lavish quite unwarranted praise upon her
slightest action, for it is the only way to keep her in a good temper.
In cases of an afflicted Cancer the temper is vicious and spiteful, and never
more so than when Mars occupies the sign or the Moon is in Aries or Scorpio.
Bad temper is one of Cancers chief weapons of attack, the others being gush,
tears, and nagging. I have already mentioned the tendency to sluttishness,
dirtiness, and domestic incompetence that characterize an afflicted Cancer,
especially one in which the Moon and Venus are also weak and afflicted.
5. Leo
The sign Leo is an intensely loyal, generous, and magnanimous one, but it
is not as a rule at all fortunate in marriage. This may be due to misplaced
affection, unwise and impetuous love-making, and too implicit a faith in human
nature, but there is generally a deeper reason. Some peculiarity of outlook will
often spoil marital happiness, and in probably the majority of cases the question
of children will be involved. Leo has a deep love of children and is frequently
denied them, or loses them by death, or in some other way experiences great
sorrow through a child. Like all the fiery signs Leo is idealistic and tends to set
those it loves upon a pedestal. This naturally leads in many cases to disappoint­
ment and disillusionment, broken engagements, and unhappy marriages, ft has
been noticed that the twenty-seventh degree appears to be particularly unfor­
tunate in marriage, and to a lesser extent this degree and its immediate neigh­
bors seem to exert much the same effect in the case of the other fixed signs and
probably the mutable signs as well, ft is certainly an unfavorable point in regard
to marriage in the signs Virgo and Gemini.
In sex matters Leo tends to adopt a protective role, and likes to be looked
up to and admired. The manner is often rather lordly, and may be dominating
on occasion, for Leo always likes to have the ordering and management of
affairs. Leo women are good managers and excellent hostesses, though upon
formal lines. A party organized by a Leo person is generally well planned but
leaves no room for alterations on the spur of the moment.
Extravagance is one of the their failings, which may be due in some cases
to lavish generosity and in others to a love of ostentation and display.
In early life Leo men are sometimes lady-killers, and Leo women seek
admiration from whoever will bestow it, but the sign is not really a fickle one
and is capable of great faith and loyalty when once the feelings are fully aroused.
6. Virgo
 Virgo is the natural sign of virginity and therefore does not really favor
marriage at all. The Virgo native is usually sufficient unto himself to a greater
or lesser extent, and can usually adapt himself quite comfortably to a celibate
life. The old maid of caricature, with her cat or parrot, her fussiness and
faddiness, her curiosity, and her love of somewhat malicious gossip, is a typical
product of Virgo.
The sign is a very discriminative and critical one that is not at all easily
satisfied. It is fastidious, dislikes being touched, and has a deep-rooted fear of
infection, all of which characteristics play an important part in the sex outlook
of its natives.
In women Virgo sometimes produces a form of homosexuality, but this is
more unusual in the case of men, and masochism is probably the commonest
perversion.
In marriage Virgo is dutiful, and may be much more affectionate than
appears on the surface, for the extreme shyness of the sign prevents any
exhibition of affection. Virgo makes a faithful partner, but not usually an
exciting one. As a parent Virgo is not especially successful. The dry, matter-of-
fact, critical and faddy or fussy manner is not calculated to win the heart of a
child very readily, and as a rule there is no very deep love of children. They are
apt to be too much of a nuisance, too untidy, and too noisy to be very welcome
in the house, and as might be expected, Virgo nearly always prefers girls to
boys, largely for these reasons.
Neatness and tidiness are usually strong Virgo characteristics, and are by
no means confined to the women of the sign. This tendency is evidenced in the
style of dress adopted, and also in the care lavished upon the home and
possessions. Exceptions to this general tidiness, however, are not uncommon,
and one meets natives of Virgo who appear to be quite careless and untidy. The
cause is generally to be found elsewhere in the horoscope, but even in pro­
nounced cases of apparent carelessness it will be found that a love of order or
method is somewhere in evidence and affects some particular thing.
 Virgo rarely praises anything and more often grumbles and criticizes. This
does not mean very much, however, and is a matter of habit rather than the
expression of real disapproval. The general efficiency of the sign leads its native
to assume that no one else can do anything so well, so neatly, and so methodi­
cally as himself, and he is therefore reluctant to deputize work to others, and if
forced to do so insists on interfering with detailed instructions as to the exact
methods to be employed.
Under affliction Virgo makes carping critics and turns its women into
shrews and scolds, but normally it can make a reasonable success of marriage
if the partner is of a somewhat similar character.
7. Libra
Although Libra is the marriage sign by virtue of its relations to the seventh
house, the fact that Libra is rising or strongly occupied in a horoscope by no
means implies that marriage will take place. Libra has an intense desire for
sympathy, love, understanding, and companionship, but it is an extremely
idealistic sign and is hard to satisfy. Fundamentally Libra has little interest in
men, and this characteristic is shared by both the men and women of the sign.
The women are romantic, and tend to be “in love with love” rather than with
any particular person other than themselves. In common with the men, they
crave admiration and flattery even when they know it is merely flattery, for
there is no sign quite so capable of willfully avoiding unpleasant facts or willfully
believing what it knows is untrue as Libra. It is not strictly correct to say, as
most textbooks do, that Libra is an affectionate sign. Actually Libra has an
affectionate manner, which is not necessarily the same thing, but below this
there is a great deal of selfishness, and frequently shallowness as well. This is
not due entirely to lack of sympathy. Other peoples troubles are never quite
real to Libra, and it is a sign that prefers to ignore any kind of ugliness and
build a world of its own imagining out of the rosy clouds in which it envelopes
itself. There is no gainsaying the personal charm of Libra, which is never
entirely lacking even in its lowest representatives. Sometimes this charm is an
unconscious one, but more often it is deliberately exerted in order to obtain
help, favors, and protection. Libra women make ideal hostesses, but to be at
their best they must have plenty of servants to do the actual work, for Libra,
though capable enough, dislikes work, especially if it entails soiling the hands,
and much prefers to snuggle back into a pile of cushions and press the bell.
The sexual side of marriage makes little, if any, appeal to Libra women, and
it is doubtful if it really appeals to any great extent to the men either, though it
sometimes appears to do so. The young girls and young women of the sign are
usually surrounded by many admirers, and obtain a reputation for flirting. In
reality they are seeking admiration and are flattered at the attentions they
receive, but they are not in any hurry to marry, for that would spoil the good
time, and would at once reduce the romantically ideal to the prosaically ma­
terial. As a result they play one admirer off against another until finally they
lose them all and are left with the choice of remaining unmarried or of rushing
into marriage with the first available person. This little tragedy is played by
perhaps the majority of Libra women, and explains why Libra marriages are
not as a rule really happy. In most cases the “first available person” is a man of
lower social position who may have been a humble but previously despised
worshiper, or in other cases he may be a wealthy man who seeks someone to
grace his home and entertain and impress his important business acquain­
tances. In either event the marriage is one of convenience for Libra, and all the
affection is on one side only. I have known cases in which the same result has
followed an unhappy or tragic early love affair, and this also may be fairly
common. Usually, however, the marriage is successful enough from a material
point of view, for Libra women can be content with a dream world of their
own.
Libra men, on the other hand, are not so disposed to make the best of
marriage. They find it extremely difficult to resist feminine wiles and flattery,
even if they attempt to do so, and moreover they are always seeking an unat­
tainable ideal. The ultimate result of these characteristics depends upon the
rest of the horoscope to a very great extent, but it frequently entails separation
and divorce.
 8. Scorpio
The sign Scorpio is by far the strongest and most extreme of all, and the
natives of no other sign can rise to such great heights or sink to such abysmal
depths as those of Scorpio. It is a very strongly sexed sign, and the Scorpio
native can stand long continued excesses that would quickly break down the
constitution of most other signs. As might he expected, the outlook is usually
a markedly sexual one, though it is not invariably so, for the ability for conti­
nence and self-control is quite as great as the desire for self-indulgence.
The Scorpio native has an eye to the main chance as a rule, and frequently
contracts a marriage that offers considerable material advantages. The Scorpio
nature is an intensely proud one, and marriage is often entered into in order to
obtain money and position, or a wife who will by her social standing or charm
of manner be instrumental in improving the natives worldly standing and
importance. In cases such as this the Scorpio man tends to seek affection or
adventure away from home, but he never allows such entanglements to disturb
his domestic life, which is kept quite apart from everything else.
Perhaps the chief faults of Scorpio women are intense jealousy, pride, a
dominating disposition, and either sulkiness or sarcasm. There is nothing of
the “milk-and-water miss” about Scorpio women. They have strong characters,
a keen, if sometimes peculiar, sense of justice, and the capacity for very deep
and lasting loves and hates.
As might be expected from the extreme nature of the sign, marriage can be
either very happy or entirely the reverse. A seriously afflicted Scorpio tends to
involve tragedy and crime, while liability to brooding, fits of deep gloom and
depression, and persecution mania are quite common to a greater or lesser
extent according to the degree of affliction. Scorpio itself is not, I think,
especially subject to sexual perversion, but its sexual nature and its rulership
over the sex organs make it an important factor in cases of perversion, especially
those of a homosexual nature.
9. Sagittarius
 Sagittarius is an open, easy-going sign with a friendly and attractive manner.
The natives are usually sportily inclined, fond of out-of-door games and exer­
cises, and intense lovers of freedom. It is not a sign that induces to marriage to
any great extent, for both the men and the women value their freedom far too
highly to take at all kindly to any sort of restraint or restriction. With a more
sexually-minded sign this might lead to free-love and irregular unions, but the
Sagittarian is usually too orthodox and conventional, and too concerned with
what people will say, to deviate very far from established custom.
The desire for admiration makes Sagittarians apt to carry on numerous
flirtations, but as a rule they do not mean very much, and do not seriously
interfere with married life. Natives of this sign are usually bad liars but good
detectors, and intuitively guess the truth behind any attempt to deceive them.
As marriage partners they are friendly rather than very affectionate,
extremely inquisitive, and full of well-meaning but rather wearisome advice.
There is a good deal of idealism and enthusiasm in the sign, and a strong
mentality that sometimes leads to the choice of a marriage partner for appar­
ently excellent reasons that may not prove sound. Perhaps the worst partner
for a Sagittarian is a person of narrow and restricted views. A marriage of this
sort degenerates into sarcasm, bickering, and general unhappiness, which
sometimes, though by no means always, leads to separation. Provided that
Sagittarius is not too tied and restricted, however, marriage is generally rea­
sonably satisfactory, and is not characterized by extremes of any kind.
10. Capricorn
Capricorn is not usually considered a strongly sexual sign, but there is no
doubt that it can exhibit a very considerable degree of cold-blooded lustfulness.
It is a narrow sign, lending itself easily to perversion, especially in the directions
of sadism and homosexuality, and less commonly in that of masochism. In
normal cases the ambitions influence matrimonial affairs to a very great extent,
and the Capricorn native usually seeks some material advantage in marriage.
At the same time there is considerable sex-consciousness, and the relations of
a Capricorn native with members of the opposite sex are rarely quite natural
or free from this characteristic.
The men have a strong protective instinct, while the women, though
perfectly capable of looking after themselves and their affairs, affect an appeal­
ing air and seek protection.
Capricorn people are born managers, and not content with managing their
own and their partners lives, they seek to manage the lives of everyone else
with whom they come into contact. The women use every effort to advance the
career of their husbands and relatives, and are frequently strikingly successful
in making something out of quite unpromising material. Many prominent
politicians and business people owe their position and success almost entirely
to their Capricorn partners.
When afflicted, Capricorn is narrow, selfish, grasping and miserly, and is
usually a misogynist or a misogamist. At the best of times it is not an affectionate
sign, and makes a much more dutiful than loving partner or parent. The rigidity
of the outlook and the Mosaic sense of justice make Capricorn an apparently
vindictive sign. This is not strictly the case, however. Capricorn people set great
store by their rights and are unforgiving. An offense must be expiated by just
and adequate punishment, or even by retaliation, but the attitude is not a
vindictive one. It is rather a rigid insistence upon absolute justice untempered
by mercy. In matrimonial life, lapses upon the part of the husband or wife are
rarely forgiven and never forgotten. There is no second chance for the partner
of a Capricorn native, though he or she may stray on occasion. Capricornian
marriages, however, are usually lasting, perhaps because Capricorn rarely mar­
ries in haste, and is more likely to err through over-caution in choosing a
partner than by careless or impulsive love-making.
11. Aquarius
Aquarius belongs to the idealistic group of signs, and in common with the
rest of the group it is not particularly concerned with sexual matters. It is a
contemplative, philosophical sort of sign, with great interest in life and human-
ity, and deeply absorbed in humanitarian ideals; advanced political movements,
and scientific subjects dealing with life rather than form. The Aquarian outlook
is a very friendly one, and friendship very largely replaces possessive love and
sexuality. In spite of a progressive outlook, however, Aquarius is rigid in matters
of morality, and tends to hold old-fashioned and early-Victorian ideas in regard
to the behavior and treatment of its women. Under affliction, Aquarians become
ineffective, lazy muddlers and shiftless wastrels. As a rule, however, they are
clumsy, blundering, harmless, and well-meaning people with little backbone
and less common-sense.
Ihe normal Aquarian partner is friendly, helpful, and very susceptible to
praise and flattery. The idealism of the sign, however, does not altogether favor
happiness or contentment in marriage, especially in the men, and this may lead
to wandering affections. Aquarian love affairs after marriage may also cause
separation and divorce, for Aquarius is not sufficiently conventional to be
content with a secret intrigue, and will consider it more honest and in keeping
with his principles to legalize the attachment by marriage, if it is at all within
his power to do so.
12. Pisces
Pisces has been called “the dustbin of the zodiac” and there is probably no
sign quite so capable of producing such a state of sloppily emotional senseless­
ness as Pisces, or one which tends so readily, like Viscount Castlereagh and the
pump, to “spout and spout and spout away, in one weak, washy, everlasting
flood.”
At its best Pisces is a well of sympathy, charitableness, benevolence, and
hospitality, and as a rule the natives of Pisces are kind, sympathetic, imaginative,
and highly emotional. rihey are improvident, intuitive, receptive and medium-
istic, and lovers of peace, but are neither very practical nor efficient. The sign
is a sensational one that tends to be swayed by every emotion, and puts up very
little resistance to temptation. There is often a craving for emotional excitement
that leads to drunkenness, sensuality, and sometimes the weaker and negative
forms of perversion.
 Petulant irritability, incessant chatter, and the habit of dissolving into tears
on the least provocation are some of the commonest feminine weaknesses of
Pisces, but intemperance is by no means restricted to the men of the sign. In a
weak sign of this kind marital infidelity is to be expected, and from the sexual
point of view Pisces tends to promiscuity. The vices of the sign, however, are
based upon weakness and emotionalism rather than upon any real depravity,
and much will depend upon the upbringing, environment, and choice of friends
and associates.
 Chapter V: The Houses and Marriage
just as every planet and every sign may be read from the point of view of
its influence over marriage, so may each mundane house be studied in its
relation to the same department of life.
Primarily the houses of most direct importance are the fifth, seventh, and
eleventh. The fifth rules love affairs and children; the seventh marriage; and the
eleventh friendship; and all need careful study when judging the matrimonial
prospects shown in any horoscope. Every house, however, has something to
say in regard to marriage, and is of importance when one is considering the
exact effect of the house position of a planet in aspect with one of the marriage
significators.
The following list will be found to cover all the house rulerships concerning
marriage in much more detail than has hitherto been available.
The First House
This primarily rules the native of the horoscope, and describes his character,
personal habits, and outlook. It has little special significance in regard to
marriage apart from ruling marriages or divorces that are in some way depen­
dent upon or consequent upon earlier ones, as for example the marriage of the
principal and the co-respondent following a divorce. It is also concerned in
those cases in which a husband and wife already divorced decide to re-marry.
The Second House
This rules the inheritances and legacies received by the marriage partner,
and his or her loss of money and bad debts. It indicates the partners death, and
the circumstances in which a marriage or divorce case comes to an end. In
Hindu astrology it is held to have some rule over the family.
The Third House
The partners long journeys, voyages, and travels, as well as his or her
religious or philosophical views, dreams, and publications, all are meanings
which are directly related to the normal rulerships of the house. It also denotes
the moral and intellectual factors underlying marriage; and religious differences
causing disharmony, as well as the long and complicated processes of a divorce
case. Its primary rulership over the natives brothers, sisters, cousins, and
neighbors may also be involved in helping or hindering married life.
The Fourth House
One of the parents of the native and also of the partner. The honors, public
reputation, and outward ambitions of the partner. The celebrations following
marriage. The nature and events of the period during which a divorce is being
obtained.
The Fifth House
Conjugal fidelity and love affairs apart from marriage. The natives pleasures,
affections, and normal or abnormal sexual feelings. The sexual side of marriage,
and the children of the marriage. The best man or bridesmaids at the native’s
wedding. Those people who help to bring about marriage, or assist in obtaining
a divorce. The partner’s friends, and his or her hopes and wishes. According to
Hindu astrology this house also rules the enjoyment of wealth obtained from
women, and sexual intercourse with prostitutes.
The Sixth House
The partner’s secret enemies, imprisonment, sorrows and trials, chronic
diseases, wounds, and large animals, all of which follow from the position of
this house as the twelfth from the seventh. In addition to these matters it
indicates the trials and difficulties due to marriage, and the periodical influences
threatening divorce. It also rules the nature of the partner’s bad conduct, the
cost of a divorce case, the partner’s debts, and any sorrow or trouble which may
be consequent upon a divorce. In a man’s horoscope it denotes the wife’s
confinement and motherhood. This house is a particularly important one in
cases where there is a community of occult interests, or a leaning to the unseen-
side of life.
The Seventh House
This house, most directly connected with marriage, is treated in detail in
the next chapter.
The Eighth House
 The partner’s money and movable possessions, and his or her bankers.
Spousal maintenance and any goods gained by divorce. According to Hindu
astrology this house is a general indicator of any unpleasantness that may be
due to the marriage partner.
The Ninth House
The partners short journeys, cars, correspondence, publications, and other
third house matters. It also rules relations by marriage, honeymoons, the
partners manner of speech, garrulity, etc., and correspondence or documents
connected with divorce, and the text of the divorce decree.
The Tenth House
One of the parents of the native and also of the partner. The partner’s
inheritance, property, residence, and birth place or birth environment. In
addition to these fourth house rulerships it denotes the instigator, and also the
cause and result, of the marriage, or of a divorce, together with any mysterious
or occult features in regard to marriage.
The Eleventh House
The partner’s children, school, pleasures, love affairs, speculation, and other
normal fifth house rulerships as applied to the husband or wife. It also indicates
the educational effect of marriage, the views of the native’s friends upon the
union and the effect of marriage upon existing friendships, and the pleasurable
experiences due to marriage.
The Twelfth House
The partner’s illnesses, food, pets, servants, employees, clothes, psychic
tendencies, and other normal sixth house matters. It also rules conditions likely
to disturb the harmony of married life, and the points in the association which
may lead to trouble or estrangement. According to Hindu astrology it rules
adultery and the loss of normal married relationships.
The application of these rulerships will allow of the determination of a great
deal of detail regarding the marriage partner and the course of married life, as
will be seen when the methods of judgment are explained.
 Chapter VI: The Seventh House
The importance of the seventh house in connection with marriage entitles
it to more detailed treatment than has been accorded the other houses.
It has already been stated that the rulership of the seventh house is primarily
over marriage, divorce, and the husband or wife, but actually this is only one
of the rulerships which arises from its position in the horoscope. It is the house
that either balances the Ascendant across the horizon or opposes it, and
therefore it is either complementary or antagonistic, according to the way one
looks at it. From the complementary point of view it rules those people with
whom one is intimately associated on an equal footing, and with whom one
shares good and bad fortune in pursuit of a joint effort. In this sense it rules
the husband or the wife, and also the business partner. From the antagonistic
point of view it rules those people against whom one is striving, and in this
sense it covers open enemies, business and personal rivals and opponents, and
legal or other action taken by them or against them.
The rulership over divorce links the complementary and antagonistic
aspects of the seventh house. It is a result of the polarity which is such a marked
feature of astrology. A study of this phenomenon would be out of place here
but, briefly, its general effect is to cause the positive and negative sides of any
influence to alternate and interchange, so that an influence which normally
gives a love of a certain thing can equally inspire hatred of it.
It is clear therefore that the aspect of marriage which comes under the
seventh house is that of partnership rather than of sentiment. The seventh
house will describe the marriage partner, the fortunes of marriage, and the
harmony or otherwise of the association, but it will always tend to deal with
the more superficial side of the union, and its practical working, as befits an
angular house, rather than the inner affection underlying it.
Carter has suggested that the seventh house, while ruling married life as a
whole, refers particularly to the middle period, and that the period of courtship
and early married life in its physical aspect conies under the fifth house, while
the later period, in which friendship supplants passion, comes under the
eleventh.
In so far as the seventh house is concerned this suggestion is practically the
same as that which I have outlined, for the middle and chief period of marriage
is that in which it forms an active partnership in the affairs of life.
It follows from this definition of the scope of the seventh house, that
afflicting planets here and afflictions to the ruler do not necessarily indicate
lack of affection or incompatibility. They may, and indeed often do, work out
in this way, but it is really only incidental, for afflictions primarily show a
disturbance of the partnership, and while this may come from outside events
it is much more likely to be due to clashes of temperament and personal
differences.
The real meaning of a badly afflicted seventh house is that marriage will
prove a failure, just as any business partnership will prove a failure. But it does
not necessarily imply failure from the sexual or emotional point of view, and
this side of the association may not be affected at all by the afflictions. Thus, to
say that Mars in the seventh house will upset marriage through matrimonial
quarrels is not strictly true. Mars in the seventh indicates that the partnership
will be disturbed through marital events, which may be quarrels, or may equally
well be accidents, illnesses, wars, and any other troubles of a marital nature.
Probably in nine cases out of ten the failure of the partnership will be due to
incompatibility, but the position of Mars in the seventh merely indicates this
as one of the possibilities, and the cause must be sought elsewhere, either
among the emotional significators or in the blend of the two horoscopes
concerned.
This should be borne in mind when reading the following notes on the
general influence of each of the planets in the seventh house, for it is not
practicable to qualify each statement as it is made.
 Chapter VII: The Influence of Planets in the
Seventh House
A planet situated in the seventh house must always be taken as the chief
outward significator of marriage and the marriage partner. I use the word
outward because the influence of any planet in any house by no means rep­
resents the full experiences of that house, but normally shows the more imme­
diate, obvious, and superficial ones. The inner and final influence must always
be looked for in the ruler of the house, or rather in that planet which disposes
of, or rules, the signs occupied by the planet situated in the house. Thus if
Jupiter occupies the seventh house in the sign Capricorn, the immediate and
uppermost effect will be that of Jupiter in the house. But the universal tendency
in astrology is for the experiences and events gradually to pass down to the
dispositor.
A planet in a sign ruled by another is in exactly the same position as a man
in another man’s house. He has only a limited freedom of action, and while he
can normally express his own nature he is fundamentally subject to the rules
of his host. Many errors in judgment may be avoided by always taking this rule
into consideration.
With Jupiter well aspected in the seventh in Capricorn one would usually
predict favorable marriage conditions, with a slight reservation, perhaps, on
account of Jupiter’s weakness in that sign. This would be perfectly true in the
early days of marriage, and in the general front presented to the world. But if
Saturn, the dispositor of Jupiter, were afflicted, marriage conditions would
gradually deteriorate until eventually they responded more to Saturn than to
Jupiter. This might not be readily apparent to others. In fact, in the particular
example, it would almost certainly be hidden, owing to the love of appearances
given by Jupiter in Capricorn; but, fundamentally the marriage would become
Saturnian, with the ill results to be expected.
This makes it extremely difficult, and indeed impossible, to give a really
reliable account of the influence of any planet in any house. All that one can do
is to state the natural effect of the planet in the house when unmodified, or
when modified in a particular way, and leave it at that. This I have done in the
following descriptions of the effect of each of the planets in the seventh house,
but 1 should like to emphasize the fact that the descriptions necessarily represent
the more obvious effects, and that the ruler of the sign in which the planets are
placed must always receive consideration, especially when the later or inner
experiences of the house are being determined. I have omitted any description
of the personal appearance of the partner as denoted by the planet in the
seventh house, for this is a general matter fully dealt with in any elementary
textbook.
The Sun
The type of partner indicated by this position is one of an independent,
proud, ambitious, generous, honorable and loyal nature unless the Sun happens
to be afflicted, in which case he or she will be arrogant, domineering, selfish
and extravagant. It may indicate marriage to a person of high social status, and
usually denotes a partner who is of better birth than the native. Business or
social advancement may come through marriage, and in a general way the
worldly progress will be greatly affected for better or worse by the partner.
Marriage tends to be delayed toward middle life, and is usually happy unless it
is frankly a marriage of convenience or ambition into which the personal
feelings do not enter. If the partner is one of a cheerful and open nature this
solar position is favorable, but if afflicted it may indicate a social climber or
one of a vain, boastful, and ostentatious character, in which case it will make
for lavish expenditure. With an afflicted Sun in the seventh it is essential for
one partner to give in to the other if the marriage is to prove a lasting one and
domestic quarrels are to be avoided. From the point of view of the outside
world, however, matrimonial differences will usually be well concealed, and in
public the couple will treat each other with rather formal or elaborate courtesy.
Affliction will also bring early and formidable opposition to the marriage,
usually from a parent with ambitions, or financial authority, and may be the
cause of wrecking the career.
 According to Alan Leo the position of the Sun in the seventh house is of
less importance in a woman’s horoscope than in a man’s unless the Sun happens
to be void of course, or in other words forms no aspects until it leaves the sign
it is in at birth. The reason for this statement, however, is not very clear, for the
Sun in the seventh void of course in a womans map may usually be considered
an indication that marriage will not take place, or will do so only after much
difficulty or delay.
The Sun is not very favorably placed in this house, for its fiery nature and
extreme individuality do not make for an ideal marriage, any more than they
do in the similar but more extreme cases of Mars and Uranus. Therefore the
position is one which is sensitive to weak afflictions, and needs good aspects of
a softening nature to improve it. A favorable aspect from the Moon, Venus, or
Neptune is distinctly beneficial, but in the case of Mars, Saturn and Uranus,
and to a lesser extent Jupiter also, it is better if no aspect at all is present for the
former are too positive, even under good aspects, while Jupiter tends to increase
the pride and extravagance. This, of course, is looking at the matter from the
point of view of domestic harmony and happiness, for if considerations of
business and material success form the basis of marriage good aspects from
the major planets are highly desirable.
The Moon
The position of the Moon in the seventh house indicates a kind-hearted,
gentle and rather moody partner. In a womans horoscope it makes for a
romantic marriage, but denotes a husband of a very susceptible nature, whose
affections easily stray.
In a mans horoscope this position is not as a rule the sole significator of
the wife, and the planet to which the Moon applies, or one in close strong
aspect, must also receive attention. If the Moon is well aspected, however, the
wife will be of the emotional and domesticated type, with strong maternal
instincts not only in regard to children but in her relations with the husband
as well. If it is afflicted she will be self-indulgent, greedy, grasping, bad tempered,
morbid, and sluttish.
 This lunar position is not a generally favorable one, for it imports too strong
a tendency to fluctuation and change into married life. In some cases this may
be reflected in the partners occupation, as for example in the case of a woman
who marries a sailor, commercial traveler, or advertising agent. In such cases
some of the changeability of the partner may be directed into such legitimate
paths, although neither sailors nor commercial travelers are noted for their
matrimonial fidelity. Unless the Moon is badly afflicted, however, the lapses
upon the part of the husband do not usually break up the marriage, for in spite
of its love of change and variety and its constant search for romance, the Moons
inner tendency is to cling to what it has. The keeping of two separate establish­
ments is much more in line with this position, especially if the Moon happens
to be in a mutable sign or in strong aspect with planets in such signs.
As a rule the Moon in the seventh, even if well aspected, indicates a rather
exacting partner. He or she usually sets great store upon the sharing of ideas
and emotions and tends to insist upon agreement. Under affliction this may
degenerate into nagging, and constant harping upon the same theme until
some kind of agreement is reached for the sake of peace and quietness.
The native who has the Moon in the seventh house is inclined to be
fastidious or capricious, and very undecided in the choice of a marriage partner,
although it is a position which favors a fairly early marriage, at least in the case
of a man. If operating alone and without strong aspect it is said to indicate
marriage at the age of about twenty-four to twenty-eight, or approximately
when the Moon by direction returns to its birth longitude.
In a man’s horoscope this position usually tends to cause many unions,
some of them of an indiscriminate nature, unless the Moon is free from
affliction. In any sign here it is a frequent indication of more than one marriage,
though less so when badly afflicted by Saturn or the Sun. Serious afflictions
from the malefics to the Moon in this house, particularly when no support is
given by Jupiter or Venus, cause the death of the partner, or separation and
divorce, according to the other pointers in the map. This does not prevent a
second marriage.
 Mercury
Mercury in the seventh house represents a bright, changeable, shrewd,
critical and clever, but somewhat unreliable partner, who may be coquettish if
a woman, or inclined to tlirt if a man. Under affliction, however, it indicates
bickering, quarreling, nagging, incessant chattering, mental or physical cruelty,
and a partner who may be anything from a liar to a forger or thief according to
the strength and nature of the afflictions. Sometimes owing to the principle of
polarity an afflicted Mercury in the seventh house denotes a partner of extreme
stupidity, while at other times the afflictions may principally affect the health
and indicate a consumptive or impotent partner, or one who is mentally or
physically afflicted. The mental affliction in such cases may be of a rather subtle
kind, especially if Neptune, Uranus, and probably Pluto also, are involved in
the adverse aspects, and may manifest as one of the perversions, especially
sadism or masochism, according to the positive or negative nature of the
indications.
A person who has Mercury in the seventh house is frequently one whose
mind is much concerned with marriage. He or she has definite views or theories
on marital relationships, and may show considerable idealism if Mercury is in
an airy sign, or vacillation and difficulty in choosing a partner if in a mutable
one. The husband or wife is usually younger than the native, and may be a
cousin, a distant relative, or school friend, one of twins, or a member of a large
family. Marriage is often influenced by relatives, and may be the result of travel,
correspondence, or advertisement. Affliction will bring worry and anxiety
through marriage and may lead to legal complications, but some of the threat­
ened evils may be lessened if the partner is engaged in a Mercurial occupation.
This is a general rule not only in regard to marriage but throughout every
branch of astrology. Planetary influence always operates along the line of least
resistance, so that directions to a planet ruling a persons occupation will always
tend to work along that line rather than in a more general way. If Mercury, for
example, is in the seventh house of a writer or clerical worker, much of the evil
force indicated by afflictions will operate through employment, leaving it less
available for upsetting other aspects of the life.
The foregoing remarks on the influence of Mercury in the seventh house
refer primarily to cases in which Mercury is more or less freely expressing its
own nature, as for example when it occupies Gemini or Virgo, or is not strongly
aspected. In practice it must always be remembered that Mercury takes its
coloring from any planet with which it may be in close strong aspect and tends
to show many of the characteristics of that planet.
Venus
When well aspected, Venus in the seventh house in a man’s map indicates
a refined, artistic, gentle and affectionate wife, neat and usually pretty in
appearance, who is fond of beautifying the home, and is often rather house­
proud. When badly aspected, however, she may be slovenly, weak, wasteful,
self-indulgent, lax in conduct, extravagant, and thoroughly worthless in every
way.
In a woman’s horoscope a good Venus in the seventh indicates a kind,
gentle, and affectionate husband who follows one of the occupations of Venus,
such as an artist, banker, stock-broker, insurance agent, or assistant in a dress
shop. Under affliction, however, it denotes a vain, lazy, shiftless, self-indulgent
wastrel, frequently possessed of personal charm, who spends much of his time
and money on other women.
The mere presence of Venus in the seventh house is by no means a guarantee
of a successful and happy marriage, but at the same time it usually indicates
one in which there is a good deal of affection, even in those cases in which the
partner is totally unworthy of it. Much depends upon the planets with which
Venus is in aspect. A good aspect to the ruler of the ascendant, the cusp of the
Ascendant, or the Moon is an excellent sign of affection even in the face of
serious afflictions to Venus from the malefics, for these will then tend to affect
outside conditions rather than disturb the harmony of the union. An un-
aspected Venus, on the other hand, may considerably restrict the mutual
affection, or at least prevent its proper expression. This is particularly the case
when Venus occupies one of the airy signs Gemini, Libra, or Aquarius, for in a
man’s map it sometimes indicates an ornamental wife, or a marriage in which
the wife is chosen for her beauty, or her ability to grace a social function.
Venus is at her best in the seventh house when in Taurus, Cancer, or Pisces,
and is not unfavorable in Scorpio provided she is free from serious affliction,
though there is danger of the early death of the partner. In many of the other
signs, and particularly the airy ones, there is too much idealism, and in a man’s
map this frequently results in a wife who has little interest in marriage, and
none at all in the sexual side of it. A further confirmation of this is the presence
of Saturn in the fifth house, or in the fourth, which indicates domestic coldness
or isolation. The fiery signs Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius also tend to be somewhat
indifferent to marriage, partly owing to idealism and partly to an inherent
dislike of ties. Leo is the most favorable of them for Venus, but the interest in
marriage is often more apparent than real, especially in the case of a woman,
for the underlying desire is for children, and the husband is always more or
less of a secondary consideration.
The position of Venus in the seventh by no means implies an early marriage,
and in fact it is often a delaying influence, quite apart from any afflictions that
may be present. Venus in Libra, for example, especially in a womans horoscope,
gives very little interest in the opposite sex and no particular desire for marriage
for its own sake. There may be a desire for companionship and for a life of ease
and luxury, but given a suitable environment, plenty of friends, and sufficient
money, the idea of marriage would never be contemplated.
In a man’s horoscope afflictions to Venus in the seventh house do not
necessarily prevent marriage, though they may delay it. Saturn is the chief cause
of delay except when he indicates a wife who is older than the native, or one of
lower social position. Afflictions from Uranus produce strange and romantic
attachments, peculiar matrimonial conditions and sudden estrangements,
while Mars brings impetuous and extravagant love affairs. In the case of a
woman, afflictions to Venus anywhere in the horoscope from Saturn or Uranus
are the strongest possible influences preventing marriage. It is, of course.
necessary in this, as in everything else, to study the map as a whole, for no
important quality or event is ever indicated by one aspect or position only, and
if the majority of the testimonies indicate marriage, Saturn or Uranus will not
entirely prevent it. In such cases they will import unusual conditions or draw­
backs, and according to the nature of the map they may denote seduction,
sexual perversion, irregular unions, and other departures from the normal.
Mars
The position of Mars in the seventh house is always a dangerous one even
when well aspected, for it is of too extreme, positive, and individualistic a
nature ever to favor any kind of partnership. Normally it is better in a woman’s
horoscope than in a mans for it indicates a forceful and energetic partner, but
in the case of a very negative male horoscope a good Mars in the seventh will
bring a wife who will be able to supply the energy and initiative otherwise
lacking.
At its best Mars in this house indicates an ambitious, masterful, self-
assertive, capable, and industrious partner, while if afflicted it denotes one
whose character may range from the merely irascible, aggressive, quarrelsome,
and destructive to the vicious, violent, brutal, and murderous according to the
nature and severity of the afflictions. The worst effects follow afflictions from
Saturn or Uranus, especially in cardinal signs. Afflictions from Jupiter or from
the ruler of the eighth house tend to bring friction over the partners extrava­
gance, while bad aspects to Venus may also have the same effect in addition to
causing adultery'. If Mars happens to be afflicted in one of the watery signs,
Cancer, Scorpio, or Pisces, the partner may become a drunkard. In an earthy
sign, and especially if afflicted by Saturn, Mars in the seventh tends to cause
lustfulness, but at the same time it delays marriage and gives great difficulty in
obtaining a partner, although marriage when it takes place is usually hasty.
In ordinary cases where the afflictions are not especially severe Mars in the
seventh may indicate a considerable degree of passionate affection, but com­
bined with it is a peculiar strain of antagonism or opposition, together with
great susceptibility to criticism and any sort of conduct that can be construed
as a slight. This touchiness quickly leads to an aggressive, sarcastic, or irritable
manner, which may be of quite short duration, but with certain types of native
its effects are cumulative and may eventually result in a breach. 'Ihe usual effect
of Mars in the seventh house is to cause quarrels in marriage, which may lead
to violence, separation and divorce. The partner will be headstrong and inde­
pendent, even in the case of a well-aspected Mars, and under the most favorable
conditions it will still be difficult to avoid a certain amount of friction.
In a woman’s horoscope this position frequently indicates the death of the
husband, either through a feverish illness or operation, if in a mutable or fixed
sign, or through an accident if in a cardinal sign, the end being sudden in all
cases.
In any horoscope Mars in the seventh house will tend to change the course
of the life after marriage and create difficulties, upset existing conditions, and
bring a period of struggle or contest. This effect of changing the life after
marriage is not peculiar to Mars, however, for any planet in the seventh house
operates more forcefully after marriage than before it.
Jupiter
It is a great mistake to think that the presence of Jupiter in the seventh
house necessarily augurs a happy and successful marriage. It may, and fre­
quently does, do so, but a great deal depends upon whether it is in a favorable
sign and well aspected or not. Jupiter primarily influences prosperity, and only
causes happiness by the negative method of preserving the native from adverse
conditions, or the positive one of providing him or her with enough of the
good things of life to prevent discontent. A well aspected Jupiter will tend to
act in the positive way unless it is in an uncongenial sign such as those ruled
by Mercury and Saturn, while a badly aspected Jupiter will bring bad luck and
even serious misfortunes unless it is in its own sign or exaltation, or in good
aspect with the Sun, Moon, or ruler of the Ascendant. A good Jupiter in the
seventh house will always indicate prosperity through marriage, but it will not
necessarily cause a really happy union.
 The partner indicated by this position is one of a generous, optimistic, and
good-natured type, who is healthy, prosperous if not rich, religiously inclined,
and somewhat conventional. In a woman’s map it may denote marriage to a
lawyer, doctor, or clergyman, or, in lower social strata, to a merchant, sporting
man, grocer or a follower of one of the many other Jupiterian occupations.
In a man’s map Jupiter in the seventh is said to indicate a beautiful, rich,
and virtuous wife, but if one were to substitute the adjectives homely, prosper­
ous, and respectable it might perhaps be nearer the truth in most cases, though
the more enthusiastic description is not an impossible one. Beauty, in particular,
is not an especially Jupiterian attribute, and it is said that if Jupiter happens to
be in conjunction with the Moon in the seventh house the wife will not be at
all handsome. In fact in the majority of cases the degree of beauty depends
more upon sign position and aspects from Venus than upon Jupiter itself.
This position of Jupiter, especially when it is not very strong by sign,
frequently denotes marriage to a widow or widower, or to a rich middle-aged
partner, and it may also indicate marriage for money or social advancement.
When Jupiter is afflicted in the seventh house the partner is likely to be boastful,
bombastic, extravagant, wasteful, and self-indulgent. The particular fault will
be indicated by the nature of the afflicting planet, as for example, if Jupiter is
afflicted by Mercury he or she will be vain, hypocritical, conceited and possibly
dishonest; if by the Sun, vain and overbearing; if by the Moon or Venus,
prodigal, extravagant, and of wandering affections; or if by Mars, excessively
extravagant.
A native whose horoscope shows Jupiter afflicted in the seventh house is
not likely to choose a marriage partner at all carefully or wisely, and is much
more likely to do so in a spirit of over-optimism. If the afflictions are severe
enough marriage may be contracted in a fit of drunkenness or may be a
necessary consequence of previous indiscretion. This position usually indicates
many love affairs, not all of which are prior to marriage, and whether in
consequence of this or not it occasionally causes delay. Sometimes the wedding
date is postponed, especially if Jupiter is in a mutable sign or afflicted by Saturn
or Mercury, generally because of misgivings as to the wisdom of the marriage.
Another frequent result of Jupiter s presence in a mutable sign in the seventh
house is to cause more than one marriage, though afflictions may produce
irregular unions. Normally Jupiter is very law-abiding, respectable, and con­
ventional, and a well aspected Jupiter in the seventh can be depended upon to
denote a legal or religious ceremony. This may or may not be the case under
affliction, however, and before judging an irregular union it will be advisable
to look for confirmation elsewhere in the map. This will be found in afflictions
to the Moon, Venus, or the fifth house and its ruler.
Saturn
The position of Saturn in the seventh house is always a dangerous one, for
the naturally reserved and self-centered influence of Saturn tends strongly
toward separateness and does not seek close association with others. If Saturn
is very well aspected and strong by sign it indicates a careful, industrious,
thrifty, and methodical partner of a reserved and undemonstrative nature. The
emotional element plays very little part in the affections, and the position is
one that is more fortunate in the case of a late marriage than it is in a youthful
one, for it brings a partner to whom marriage and married love are a duty.
Sincerity and faithfulness will be marked characteristics, but there will always
tend to be a certain barrier or reserve, as well as a rigidity of outlook and
insistence upon matters of principle that harmonize better with age than youth.
Quite often this position actually indicates a wide difference in age, and a
partner who is considerably older than the native, but this is not by any means
invariably the case, and the difference may be one of social status, or marriage
may simply be greatly delayed and happiness may come late in life.
Normally Saturn in the seventh does not indicate a very fortunate partner,
nor does it usually promise much success after marriage. If brilliantly aspected
and strong by sign, however, it may cause material success and a high position
of an administrative or political nature, the attainment of which will be due in
a large measure to the partners ambition and influence.
 In a womans map Saturn in the seventh may indicate marriage to an elderly
man, probably a widower, who may be quite well off and in an influential
position, but this can be the case only if Saturn is favorably aspected.
When Saturn is afflicted in the seventh house marriage will be a sorrowful
and tragic experience. The partner will be cold, or coldly lustful, avaricious,
resentful, unforgiving, mean, selfish, and cruel in disposition, and may become
a chronic and complaining invalid. In such cases the marriage will be termi­
nated by the partner’s death, while in others when the afflictions are more
violent, it will end either tragically through an accident, or by separation.
Divorce may or may not follow if the action rests in the hands of the partner,
for the frequent cases of vindictive refusal to agree to a divorce, usually ascribed
to religious convictions or to moral principles, are examples of the influence of
a bad Saturn.
A native who has Saturn in the seventh house is always liable to hindrances
and misconceptions, not only in marriage but in all relations with other people.
This position is usually credited with the reputation of delaying marriage, but
while this is not necessarily the case it may be so if other indications coincide.
In a similar manner it may delay the wedding ceremony or help to spoil it in
some way. Usually the element of disappointment will enter into, or follow,
marriage. Sometimes it precedes it, as for example, when an early disillusion­
ment embitters the nature, and the marriage lacks affection. But as a rule either
the partner proves disappointing, or marriage results in drudgery, hardships,
and poverty.
Uranus
Uranus is far too individualistic a planet to favor marriage, and its position
in the seventh house is a very dangerous one. It indicates attachments of a
romantic, hasty, and impetuous nature in which there may be a marked element
of idealism, or features of a very unusual kind.
If extremely well aspected Uranus may indicate a partner of original or
advanced mentality, in some cases a scientific or artistic genius. In the majority
of cases, however, he or she will be a person of strong political, antiquarian or
occult interests, and will be engaged in Uranian work such as aviation, electrical
engineering or an occupation under the Government, a municipal body, or a
very large firm or corporation. In some ways this position is better in a woman’s
map than in a man’s, provided it does not deny marriage altogether, for the
forcefulness, will-power, egotism, and erratic tendencies of Uranus are less
likely to cause trouble when associated with the husband than they are when
possessed by the wife.
If Uranus is afflicted in the seventh house it may prevent marriage, though
only in cases where other indications coincide. Sometimes it will cause an
entire lack of interest in marriage, and at other times strong homosexual
tendencies. In more normal cases, however, it will bring a romantic and hasty
marriage, under, or followed by, unusual conditions, and will indicate a partner
who is independent, unreliable, self-assertive, contentious, eccentric, and some­
times extremely unlucky.
As a rule Uranus in the seventh house causes all kinds of unusual and
extraordinary experiences, but brings little happiness. If afflicted its usual effect
is to cause incompatibility, leading to separation and divorce, but this depends
to a great extent upon the rest of the horoscope and the blend of the two maps.
Unless there are very strong signs of harmony, the break-up of the marriage
can be confidently expected if Uranus is afflicted, but if the horoscopes of
husband and wife show a marked degree of sympathy the Uranian afflictions
will tend to operate through external events. In such cases they will produce
business crashes, financial ruin, and the sudden death of the partner, probably
owing to an accident, or in circumstances of an extraordinary or tragic nature.
The severity of the result will, of course, depend upon the strength of the
afflictions to Uranus and the amount of protection afforded by favorable aspects.
Neptune
As in the case of Uranus, Neptune in the seventh house denotes a marriage
with unusual features. It can be taken as a general rule that Neptune causes
dissatisfaction in the affairs ruled by whatever house he may occupy at birth. It
may be, and usually is, a vague kind of dissatisfaction, but it is nonetheless
present. People with Neptune in the seventh house, therefore, generally expe­
rience dissatisfaction in the married state, sometimes for quite valid reasons,
but as often as not for intangible and fanciful ones. To the unmarried person
with this position there is a glamor attaching to marriage, and one of the first
results after that event has taken place is disappointment and disillusionment,
to a greater or lesser extent according to the aspects received by Neptune. In
very few cases, therefore, will Neptune in the seventh house bring real happiness
in marriage, but on the very rare occasions when it is brilliantly aspected and
strong by sign it may produce a state of perfect union.
Neptune in the seventh, well aspected, indicates an artistic, poetical, or
musical partner, with strong mystical leanings, and in some cases of a high
degree of spirituality. With unfavorable aspects, however, the partner will tend
to be self-indulgent, weak, inclined to excessive smoking and tea-drinking,
shiftless, irresponsible, and with little regard for honesty or morality, while in
seriously afflicted cases he or she will be criminally minded or will indulge in
drug-taking, evil magical practices, abnormal sexual excesses, and other vices
of an unusual or demoralizing nature. Some form of deception or treachery
usually accompanies this position but it is not always to be associated with the
partner, for Neptune in the seventh house frequently indicates matrimonial
infidelity, deception, or desertion on the part of the native.
As a rule there is some element of restriction about the marriage. In the
more spiritual cases this may lead to a platonic union, but more commonly it
shows itself as physical or psychic impotence, or results from marriage to a
cripple or to a deformed or mentally afflicted person. A native who has Neptune
in this position is inclined to indulge in self-sacrifice, and may enter into
matrimony from quite unwise or misguided motives. Pity is one of the com­
monest, and it is often this which leads to the marrying of invalids or cripples
who can be nursed, wastrels and criminals who can be reformed, and those of
the lowest social strata who can be raised and educated.
 Marriages such as these are, of course, foredoomed to failure in almost
every instance, but in all cases the position of Neptune in the seventh house is
a dangerous one, and threatens matrimonial disaster.
This may come through infidelity and desertion, annulment of marriage,
or some similar cause, or it may operate along more tragic lines, such as the
imprisonment of the partner, or his or her death by illness, suicide, or murder
if the afflictions are sufficiently serious and violent.
 Chapter VIII: Sexual Abnormalities
The normal outlook on sex, as indicated in the horoscope by the separate
and blended influences of the planets and signs, is subject to intensification,
suppression, and perversion to a very marked degree. If we consider that a
horoscope in which the marriage significators are badly placed and afflicted
merely denies marriage we shall quite often fall into serious error, for in a large
number of cases such afflictions primarily denote some abnormality of outlook.
Admittedly this may, and frequently does, destroy the desire for normal mar­
riage, but everything depends upon the nature of the abnormality. Afflicting
conditions in a horoscope may operate by causing physical obstructions, such
as disease or impotency; psychopathic ailments and perversions; absence of
the desire for marriage; or matrimonial conditions of disharmony, unhappiness,
and disaster.
The study of sexual abnormalities from the point of view of astrology is a
practically untouched field of research, partly because sexual psychopathy is a
subject of comparatively recent origin, and partly because the collection of data
is almost an impossibility to the non-medical astrologer in spite of the frequency
of most of the forms of perversion.
The following notes must therefore be considered almost entirely tentative.
In a few cases they result from observation, but in the majority they are
deductive, and indicate the types of affliction most likely to produce the par­
ticular perversion in question. Such examples as I have included are, I fear,
quite inadequate, but the private cases that have come under my notice, which
are far fewer than I could wish, could not, of course, be used even if the birth
data were suppressed, for it is a very simple matter to determine the date of
birth for which a given horoscope is cast, and the whole subject is of too highly
confidential a nature to justify any risk whatever of identification in any par­
ticular example.
Tire earliest information about the astrological signs of sexual abnormality
is to be found in Ptolemy’s Tetrabiblos. The whole passage is as follows:
 “The passions, liable to operate in males, are to be considered by
observation of Mars; for should he be separated from Venus and
Saturn, but yet, at the same time, be supported by the testimony of
jupiter, he will make men pure and decorous in sexual intercourse,
and incline them to natural usages only: and if he attach himself to
Saturn only, he will render them cold in blood and dull in appetite; if
however, when Saturn and Mars may be thus connected together,
Venus and Jupiter should also be configured with them, men will then
become easily excited and eager in desire, although they will still be
continent, and restrain themselves in order to avoid reproach. But
should Saturn be absent, and Mars be with Venus alone, or even
although Jupiter also be with her, men will become highly licentious,
and attempt to gratify their desires in every mode. And further, if
Venus be found more occidental, men will connect themselves with
low women, female servants, and aliens or vagabonds; but should
Mars be found occidental, with women of rank, and gentlewomen; or
with women living with their husbands, or under the protection of
men. Thus far with regards to males.
“In the case of females, Venus requires attention, for if she be
configured with Jupiter, or with Mercury, she will cause women to be
temperate and pure in sexual intercourse; still, however, when she may
be thus connected with Mercury, if Saturn be not present also, she will
cause them to be easily excited to desire, although they will control
their desires, and avoid reproach. But should Venus be conjoined or
configured with Mars alone, she will render women licentious and
lustful; and if, to both these planets, when thus conjoined or config­
ured, Jupiter also present himself, Mars being at the same time under
the rays of the Sun, women will then mingle in intercourse with
servants, and persons meaner than themselves, or with aliens, or
vagabonds; but should it happen that Venus may be under the rays of
the Sun, they will then connect themselves with their superiors or
 masters. And, further, should the planets be in feminine places, or
configured femininely, they will be content with their passive faculties
only.
“Saturn, in being conciliated with such positions as those now
described, tends to produce greater obscenity; Jupiter, greater decency;
and Mercury, greater publicity, and greater fickleness, or instability.”
It will be seen from this that Ptolemy ascribed most sexual abnormalities
to afflictions between Venus, Mars, and Saturn, which is correct so far as it
goes, and was all that could be said in his day. Since the discovery of Uranus
and Neptune, however, we are in a far better position to study such abnormal­
ities, and recognize them in a horoscope, for there is no doubt whatever that
these two planets are the primary cause of sexual perversion.
It is a commonplace in astrology to look on Uranus and Neptune as the
first two planets of a higher octave. Tire old planets, from Mercury to Saturn,
operate in a comparatively simple way, and might be called straightforward
and easy to understand in their methods. Uranus, Neptune and Pluto on the
other hand are of an entirely different order, whether we consider them as
octaves of Mercury, Venus, and Mars respectively, or not. There is a spiritual
element in each of them which makes their influence far more subtle and less
easily understood than that of the old planets. They are much more unexpected
in their action, and their effects can less easily be predicted. In their loftiest
aspect, Uranus and Neptune, and no doubt Pluto as well, confer a very high
degree of spiritual and occult development, but unfortunately the mass of
humanity is as yet entirely incapable of responding to the intense spiritual
forces that use these planets as their channel. The result in the majority of cases
is that the force has to expend itself on emotional rather than spiritual levels,
where its intensity throws into prominence all the dormant and subconscious
emotional desires, giving rise to uncontrollable excesses and magnifying what
would normally be only slight emotional irregularities into overmastering
perversions.
 From these considerations it follows that sexual perversion should be
commonest among people most strongly influenced by Uranus and Neptune,
and this conclusion is borne out by the facts. The lowest strata of society afford
comparatively few examples, and we must look to artistic, religious, and society
circles for the overwhelming majority of cases. The more vivid the imagination,
the more highly-strung the nervous system, and the deeper the capacity for
spirituality, the more will the individual be liable to exhibit some form of sexual
abnormality. In some cases moral degeneracy and criminality may enter into
the matter, but usually the condition is a purely pathological one, and any
criminal act to which it may give rise is simply an effect, and the symptom of a
psychological ailment.
The treatment of psychopathic cases must necessarily follow the lines of
cure ruled by the planets responsible for them, and they will therefore consist
chiefly in electrical, psychoanalytical, and hypnotic methods, any consideration
of which is beyond the scope of the present work.
My object here is to indicate the manner in which sexual abnormalities
may be recognized in the horoscope, so that their development may be checked
in childhood, before they have time to secure a hold.
Broadly speaking we may divide sexual perversions into positive and
negative classes according to whether they are Uranian or Neptunian in origin.
Astrologically, Uranus and Neptune are in many respects polar opposites.
Uranus is the planet of the Will and the Individuality, and tends to intensify
the self. It is entirely positive and self-sufficient, and is strongly masculine and
dominating. Neptune on the other hand always tends toward the suppression
of the self, and the merging of the personal will and individuality into the
universal. Hence it is strongly feminine and negative in its influence.
 Chapter IX: Homosexuality
Homosexuality, or sexual desire for members of the same sex, is
unquestionably the chief of the positive and Uranian group of sexual differ­
ences. One is tempted to look upon this as the commonest and most widespread
of these, but it is probably no more so than some of the others. In common
with sadism and masochism it has a long history, and we know that it was
almost as rampant in ancient Rome as it was in the still more ancient Cities of
the Plain. Julius Caesar is said to have indulged in homosexual practices, while
some of the later Emperors appear to have touched almost unimaginable depths
of perversion.
At the present day it is still as rife as ever, but except in Nazi Germany it
has been relegated to a position of greater obscurity. Nevertheless the homo­
sexual tendencies of a few modern celebrities are quite well-known and there
are probably more horoscopes of this particular abnormality available for study
than there are of any other perversion. Perhaps one of the most generally
known cases is that of Oscar Wilde.

icr It $*•
 The striking features of the map are Saturn and Neptune squaring each
other in mutable signs from angles, and Uranus in an elevated position in
opposition to Mercury, the mental ruler in a mental house, and in square to
the Moon on the cusp of the twelfth. Venus is in aspect with Mars, but is strong
and favorable, which is a very familiar feature of many types. As a general rule
we may say that a tendency that is harmful to women, such as sadism, involves
a weak and badly afflicted Venus, whereas one in which women are favored or
not affected, such as masochism and homosexuality shows a strong and well-
aspected Venus. Thus the nature of the aspects to Venus will often serve to
discriminate between different types of sexual difference.
Ihe chief mental twist is indicated by the afflictions from Uranus to Mercury
and the Moon, both of which planets strongly affect the mind. Saturn, ruler of
the fifth house, in the Midheaven in a masculine and mental sign is another
pointer to the nature of the sex outlook, while Neptune conjunction the De­
scendant adds to the mental and emotional chaos, and also indicates dissatis­
faction with marriage.
It might be thought that the rising of Virgo, the sign of chastity, and the
position of the Sun and Venus in Libra together with other idealistic positions
in the map would operate against a difference of this nature. 'Ihis, however, is
another feature common to many tendencies of different kinds. Certain forms
of sexual difference are often encouraged by a morbid fear of infection and
disease, or shyness with the opposite sex, or an aversion to normal sexual
intercourse owing to excessive idealism or fastidiousness. Therefore, positions
giving these qualities may themselves aggravate any tendencies that may exist
in the map.
Another homosexual subject was the Russian composer Tchaikovsky. The
horoscope shown is unfortunately a speculative one, but this does not, of
course, affect the longitudes and aspects.
 The map is a somewhat less Uranian one than Oscar Wildes. This, however,
may easily be due to variations in the sexual tendencies, which may be of a
more positive or negative type in different individuals. The chief afflictor in
this case is Neptune, which is in square to the Sun and Mars, and to Jupiter,
which opposes these two bodies. As in Wilde’s case the affliction centers around
the middle of the fixed signs, and as one would expect, involves Scorpio.
Mercury and Venus are in the positive masculine sign Aries, both in conjunc­
tion with Pluto, which no doubt frequently plays a part in a difference in
sexuality. The twelfth house is again involved in this case as in the last, and we
have a mutable square between Saturn and Uranus instead of Saturn and
Neptune. There is, indeed, a great deal of similarity in the two examples, making
allowance for the probability that Wilde was much more positively inclined
than Tchaikovsky.
Homosexuality is not, I imagine, so common among women as among
men. Certainly one rarely hears of it, but that may merely be due to the greater
secretiveness of women in regard to sexual matters. The Uranian intensification
of the self, or at least, oi the personal sex, would of course be a prominent
feature, and one would expect marked signs of fastidiousness. The intensifica­
tion of the masculine factors in the horoscope, which occurs in male homo­
sexuality might or might not be present according to the positive or negative
nature of the particular case in point, but would usually appear, while Neptune
would almost certainly share the prominence of Uranus, owing to its great
influence over feminine differences in sexuality.
It is probable that in most cases of female homosexuality one of the natives
adopts a masculine role, and in that case one would expect the masculine
elements of the horoscope to predominate.
An interesting case of female homosexuality was found in Astrology (vol.
VII, June 1933).

Here the ruler (Mercury) is afflicted by the opposition of Neptune, which

dominates the map, Uranus is conjoined with Venus, and both planets are
afflicted by Mars, which is weak by sign and house. Seven planets out of ten
occupy masculine signs, which is in keeping with the fact that the native played
a masculine part.
 The tendency for homosexuality is also reflected in the native’s home life
and hatred of the father, clearly shown by the fourth house afflictions, and it
was increased by fastidiousness fostered by the mother. Mars, ruler of the third
and eighth houses, in Virgo in the twelfth house forms a powerful barrier
against heterosexual feelings, especially as a prominent Virgo naturally has a
tendency toward virginity in men as well as women, and is very commonly
involved in all cases of sexual difference. It will be noted Pluto also is closely
involved in the afflictions in this horoscope, though the exact part it plays can
only be a matter of conjecture in the present of our knowledge of its influence.
 Chapter X: Sadism
We hear more of sadism than of any other perversion. The term, in fact,
has found its way into current fiction and the daily press, though it should be
noted that it is frequently quite incorrectly employed as a synonym for cruelty.
In its proper sense sadism is the name for that perversion in which sexual
excitement is aroused by acts of cruelty, which, while often trivial, may in
extreme cases result in mutilation and murder.
It is one of the strongly positive and Uranian perversions that cannot be
indulged in with the secrecy possible to the negative forms, and is therefore
more frequently encountered.
The name owes its origin to the infamous Donatien Alphonse Francois,
Marquis de Sade, who not only wrote a number of novels, such as Les Crimes
d’Amour, in which the perversion is dominant, but also put his principles into
practice, and in consequence spent a number of years of his life in a criminal
lunatic asylum, where he died in 1814 at the age of 74.
When one considers the great number of cases in which sadism is an
obvious feature it is remarkable that so few horoscopes are available for study.
Details of such classic examples as Jack the Ripper and Gilles de Raie, the
prototype of Bluebeard, are quite unobtainable, however, while the extremely
common and more or less innocuous domestic cases are, of course, careiully
concealed. Therefore I cannot offer any very striking examples, except the
terrible planetary positions of the Marquis de Sade himself.
 24- ^ or

24 ss or

In all cases of extreme sadism we should expect find Venus weak and
afflicted. Here Venus is conjoined with Saturn in its detriment, and is in square
with Mars, in semisquare with the Sun and Moon, and in wide opposition with
Uranus. Both Uranus and Mars in the violent signs Capricorn and Aries afflict
Saturn, while Mercury suffers from the unknown effect of an opposition from
Pluto in Scorpio.
A factor common in perversion cases is an affliction, in this case a square,
between the luminaries, and here each of them is further afflicted by both
Saturn and Mars. It should be noted that Neptune does not appear to be at all
prominent, and one would not expect it to be so, except perhaps in relation to
the twisted mentality. I should, however, expect to find Pluto of considerable
importance in cases of sadism.
Sadism among women is much less frequent, except in a mild way. It is
essentially a perversion arising from abnormal intensification of the male
attributes, and is therefore much more natural to a man than to a woman. I
have suggested that in the case of homosexuality the indications in male and
female horoscopes would frequently be of an opposite nature, each intensifying
his or her own sex. In sadism, on the other hand, the signs would not be likely
to differ much in the case of men and women, for both should show intensifi­
cation of the positive and violent factors. Sadism should be readily distinguish­
able in many female horoscopes by the stressing of the feminine qualities in
the former, and of the masculine and violent ones in the latter. With men,
however, it would not be so easy, for the masculine elements of the map are
stressed. In sadism Venus is not only weak but receives violent aspects as well.
Every perversion, however, is subject to many variations, and more than one
may be present in the same individual, so that it is quite impossible to lay down
any very definite rules. In the relations between opposite sexes sadism is quite
recognizable but where individuals of the same sex are concerned it is difficult
to discriminate between ordinary cruelty, in which the sexual element is absent,
and sadism, which sexuality is the dominant motive. Women who take a delight
in whipping children may be influenced by either motive, but more often the
impulse is a sadistic one. Catherine the Great of Russia who amused herself by
chastising her ladies-in-waiting across her knee was also actuated by sadistic
impulses rather than by cruelty.
Classic instances of female sadism are afforded by Messalina and Catherine
de Medici, the latter of whom experienced the greatest pleasure in having ladies
of her court whipped before her eyes. Her horoscope shows Saturn and Mars
in opposition from Capricorn and Cancer, respectively, along the meridian,
Sun and Venus rising in conjunction with Uranus, and Pluto in Capricorn
squaring the Moon and Mercury. The map unmistakably indicates great per­
version and cruelty, and the slightly earlier map given by Cadbury does not
alter this. It should be noted that the correct longitude of the Moon is 11 Libra,
and not 17 Libra as given in the Gadbury map.
Lord Byron, the poet, who was in the habit of beating his mistresses, may
have been sadistic to some extent, and perhaps even more than is suspected,
for his horoscope (N.N. 752) shows Venus in Aquarius in conjunction with
Saturn and in sesquisquare with Mars, while the Moon is conjoined with
Uranus and squared by Neptune.
 Another poet, Charles Baudelaire, appears to have exhibited certain
symptoms of sadism, but this was by no means the only peculiarity from which
he suffered. He threw pots against shop windows for the pleasure of hearing
them break; changed his lodgings every month; dyed his hair green; wore
winter clothes in summer and vice-versa; and exhibited many symptoms of the
mental disease which eventually led to his death from general paralysis of the
insane. His sexual outlook was a morbid one, for he showed a marked preference
for ugly and horrible women, dwarfs, and giantesses, while according to Lom-
broso he said that women were animals who should be shut up, beaten, and
well fed, and once expressed a desire to a very beautiful woman that he might
see her suspended by the hands to the ceiling that he might kiss her feet, which
appears to have been an example of foot fetishism.

His horoscope is one from which almost any form of insanity might be
expected. Here again we find Venus in conjunction with Saturn in an unfavor­
able sign, which is so common a feature of sadism and similar perversions.
Venus is also seriously afflicted by Uranus and Neptune, themselves in square
to Mars, while the Moon is squared by the Sun and Saturn. The stationary
position of Mercury in the seventh house in conjunction with Pluto in Pisces
is also of considerable significance, especially in view of the foot fetishism
already mentioned.
 Chapter XI: Masochism and Other Abnormalities
Masochism is the exact opposition of sadism, for while the latter is
characterized by the desire to exercise domination and cruelty, the former
desires to suffer cruelty and domination at the hands of another, often a member
of the opposite sex. From a strictly scientific point of view the term perversion
is a loose one, for it often includes mental states that would be better described
as intensification.
The name masochism was applied to this perversion owing to the fact that
it forms the chief theme of the novels of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, who was
himself strongly under its influence. It is perhaps the chief Neptunian perver­
sion, but its passive and secretive character renders any estimate of its frequency
extremely hard to obtain. There is, however, a good deal of evidence to show
that it is far more common and widespread than might generally be supposed,
though it is exceedingly difficult to obtain illustrative horoscopes, for men are
shy of divulging their subjection to women, and publicity would naturally be
rarer than in the case of sadism.
The astrological signs of masochism include a dominant and afflicting
Neptune, and a strong and favorable feminine element in the map. The tendency
to renunciation and the suppression of the self inherent in Neptune form an
essential feature of masochism, while the dominant position accorded to
women presupposes a very strong and favorable Venus. Saturn aspecting the
Moon or Venus intensifies the desire for subjection, but afflictions from Mars
are also to be expected when, as is almost always the case, there is a strong
desire for whipping and other punishments.
In spite of a love of torture and flagellation, however, masochism never
reaches the violence and intensity of sadism, for the extreme sadist will mutilate
and murder his or her victim, whereas not even the most fervent masochist
would be likely to carry matters to the extent of acquiescing in his own murder.
Moreover, it has been noted by a French writer on the subject that the masochist
is more inclined than the sadist to be satisfied with a mental picture of condi-
tions as he or she desires them, and may actually from their practical realization.
This would lead us to expect a predominance of the airy and fiery signs over
the more practical ones in the horoscope.
Apart from Sacher-Masoch himself, there are two rather doubtful cases.
One of these is George Colman the Younger, born October 21,1762, who wrote
a poem called The Rodiad, which extols the benefits and pleasures of flagellation.
As the subject is treated from both the active and passive points of view it is
difficult to judge the relative proportions of sadism and masochism in his
mentality, but the fact that Venus and the Moon were both quite well aspected
in Sagittarius suggests that the latter was the prevailing perversion.
The other doubtful case is that of Henry Thomas Buckle, the author of the
well-known History of Civilization, who was born at Lee in Kent on November
24, 1821. Buckle published a series of small books containing anecdotes of
flagellation written from a distinctly masochistic standpoint. According to his
statement the items comprised in the books had been collected by him, but the
fact that the style of writing is uniform and distinctive, and also that flowers
are used throughout in a fetishistic manner, strongly suggests that all the items
were written by one person, either Buckle himself or another. His planetary
positions show Venus in Capricorn squared by a conjunction of Saturn and
Jupiter in Aries; Uranus and Neptune in close conjunction in Capricorn; the
Sun in the beginning of Sagittarius squared by Mars; and the Moon and
Mercury in the end of Scorpio also squared by Mars; all of which point to
perversion, but are not markedly masochistic. Probably Buckle, like Colman,
did not fall very definitely into one particular category.
Before dealing briefly with other sexual abnormalities 1 may mention a
point which is somewhat puzzling to account for, and that is the great promi­
nence of Jupiter in most cases of perversion. Even the infamous Marquis de
Sade had Sun conjunction Jupiter, and strong Jupiterian aspects appear with
surprising frequency, sometimes as afflictions, but quite as often in a favorable
form. I am inclined to think that this is a sign of the hyperaesthesia, which is a
marked feature of sexual perversion, but whatever may be the exact explanation,
it is quite certain that a prominent Jupiter will not act as a safeguard against
psychopathic manifestations.
Fetishism
Fetishism is more often a feature of other perversions than a separate
perversion itself. The name is applied to those cases in which some inanimate
object, frequently an article of clothing or a particular part of the body, acts as
a source of sexual excitement. Shoes and feet appear to be the commonest
objects of fetishism, but flowers, hair, furs, and rings are also not at all uncom­
mon, fur fetishism being .a particularly frequent feature of masochism. In
sadistic subjects the slashing of womens dresses, ink-throwing, and the cutting
off of womens hair are all examples of fetishism. In the horoscope such features
of any perversion must be of secondary importance, and not at all easy to
define. Fetishism connected with flagellation is usually indicated by Sagittarian
afflictions, while shoe or foot fetishism is a natural consequence of a predomi­
nant Pisces. In all cases the sign gives the clue to the direction of fetishist
interest, and it appears usually to be either the sign containing Mercury, or one
from which Mercury is seriously afflicted. Baudelaire, with his foot fetishism,
and Rousseau with his desire for flagellation, are illustrations of this.
Satyriasis and Nymphomania
The pathological states known as satyriasis and nymphomania are not
perversions but abnormal intensification of the sexual desire in men and
women, respectively, and therefore depend upon the amount of sexuality and
sensuality shown in the horoscope. The planets Venus and Mars, and the signs
Taurus, Scorpio, and Capricorn are of chief importance, but one would expect
afflictions from Neptune to account for the promiscuity displayed.
Exhibitionism
I have no examples of this abnormality and cannot comment upon its
astrological causes. I should expect to find a prominent and probably angular
Moon seriously afflicted, an affliction between the Moon and Mercury; and
malefic aspects involving Cancer or the cardinal signs generally.
 Necrophilia
This, I imagine, is a rare perversion, and it is certainly one that 1 have never
encountered. The symptoms suggest the influence of a strong but badly placed
and afflicted Saturn, together with a prominent Scorpio and eighth house
influence.
Masturbation
This is scarcely an abnormality and certainly not a perversion, though it
can accompany one. It is largely Neptunian, and due to hyperaesthesia indicated
by afflictions of Mars, Venus, and the sign Scorpio. At the same time it is
encouraged by twelfth house positions, and also by idealistic and fastidious
elements such as are afforded by Libra and Virgo.
 Chapter XII: Marriage
While the nature of the sex outlook, both in its normal and abnormal
manifestations, is of very great importance from the scientific, psychological,
and medical standpoint, the light that astrology can throw upon marriage and
the help that it can give in forming a happy union or making the best of an
unhappy one are subjects that possess a much wider appeal for the average
person.
It is not generally considered necessary in astrological textbooks to define
the sense in which the word “marriage” is used, and on this account a certain
amount of misconception sometimes arises. 'Ihe dictionary defines marriage
as “the legal union of a man and woman as husband and wife” and most people
naturally assume that the rules regarding marriage in the textbooks refer to the
same state. A moment’s consideration, however, will show that this is not
necessarily correct. Astrology is concerned with fundamental facts and princi­
ples, and deals with the laws of nature rather than the varying customs of
different civilizations.
The legality or otherwise of a union is a matter of very secondary importance
from the point of view of the horoscope, and it is a mistake to assume that
indications pointing to marriage necessarily imply any kind of religious or civil
ceremony as a prelude to union or cohabitation.
It would be incorrect to say that no distinction can be traced in the
horoscope between regular and irregular unions, as will be seen later, but it
should always be borne in mind that for astrological purposes the word mar­
riage is to be taken in its widest sense as covering all unions, irrespective of
their legal standing.
In dealing with the question of marriage in a horoscope two lines of
approach are always necessary. The horoscope must first of all be examined in
detail to determine the individual desire and fitness for marriage and the kind
of experiences the married state is likely to bring. The other necessary consid­
eration is the horoscope of the proposed partner, not only from the point of
view of his or her own character and matrimonial prospects, but also from that
of the amount and nature of the harmony or disharmony linking the two maps.
It is not always easy to determine whether certain matrimonial afflictions
will cause disharmony between the partners, or whether they will introduce
trouble from outside without upsetting the affections. In a general way, of
course, afflictions from cardinal signs and angles may be expected to exercise
a powerful effect through events, while those in fixed signs and succedent
houses will act more directly upon the affections, and those in mutable signs
and cadent houses upon the mental outlook. But the problem cannot be settled
quite so simply as this, for the effect will vary in accordance with the way in
which the individual horoscopes interact. If there are strongly harmonious
links between the maps the afflictions will, as always, tend to take the line of
least resistance, and cause trouble through money, health, and other matters
that do depend upon the affections. On the other hand, in cases where the
horoscopes conflict, much of the evil effect will come out through domestic
disharmony and incompatibility as well as through external causes.
If one is fortunate enough to be born at a time when the planetary positions
promise a brilliant and happy marriage, the comparison of maps is not of so
much importance, for the right partner will be chosen automatically. But in the
majority of cases where the influences are mixed it becomes essential to com­
pare the horoscopes very carefully, not so much with a view to obtaining an
ideal union, which would be impossible in such circumstances, as to ensure
that the line along which trouble is threatened is not one of major importance.
The first step, however, is to obtain a thorough understanding of the
individual horoscope in its relation to marriage, and for this we need to know
the general influence of all the astrological factors in this connection. It is not,
I think, generally recognized that every planet, sign, and house has some effect
upon each and every department of life. There is a tendency to overlook this
fact because certain positions are of much greater importance than others in
regard to any given department, and it is possible for the sake of simplicity to
limit the inquiry to these particular factors. Thus in the case of marriage there
is a tendency to look to the luminaries, Venus, Mars, and the seventh house,
and ignore everything else except such aspecting planets as there may be.
In the preceding pages I have dealt with the influence of planets in the
seventh house in considerable detail, but the other factors cannot be treated in
quite the same way. A very great number of positions in a horoscope have a
direct or indirect influence upon marriage, but they are often of a rather
miscellaneous nature, and do not lend themselves very readily to systematic
treatment. I have therefore collected them together into a separate chapter and
classified them so that they may be easily referred to when any particular
horoscope is being examined.
Reverting to the question of the legality of unions, I mentioned that it was
often quite possible to discriminate between them in the horoscope, although
astrology is not concerned with man-made laws that differ in different ages
and races.
In normal cases where the afflicting aspects are not of a serious nature a
legal marriage will always result, for this is the natural course of events in our
present civilization. This appears to contradict my statement that astrology
ignores convention, for it may be argued that such cannot be the case when
good aspects indicate a legal marriage, and bad ones either deny marriage
altogether or produce another union. Actually, however, good and bad aspects
do not indicate planetary approval or disapproval of the legality' of the union.
A legal marriage is in entire conformity with all laws and customs, and therefore
commands respect and is accorded privileges. An irregular union, on the other
hand, is a violation of custom and tradition, and therefore can meet with
opposition and encounter difficulties. The horoscope reflects these conditions
of life in each case so that the bad aspects indicate the obstacles built up by the
unconventional union, and in some cases the unconventional outlook, or
material hindrances that prevent legal marriage. In other words they are really
a picture of events and the natives reaction to them rather than a commentary
upon his or her morals.
 Serious afflictions in a horoscope will prevent marriage altogether if they
are sufficiently strong and involve barren signs, but if the signs occupied are
fruitful ones and there appears to be a desire for marriage, the afflictions will
tend to influence conditions of the union. The problem of deciding the legality
or otherwise of the natives sexual associations is one that can only be left to
the individual judgment, for no very definite rules can possibly be formulated
to cover such a wide and complicated subject.
In practice one can assume marriage unless the significators are badly
afflicted. If that should be the case, however, and it is judged that the afflictions
are not sufficiently severe to deny marriage, the likelihood of an irregular union
should always be borne in mind.
Apart from these general considerations, however, there is a certain amount
of information available in regard to unions other than legal ones.
 Chapter XIII: Irregular Unions
Ptolemy tells us that “other varieties in the married state” are to be
determined by a consideration of Venus, Mars, and Saturn. If these planets are
in good aspect with the luminaries the union will be an harmonious one. The
strength or weakness of Jupiter, however, is an important consideration in
regard to the legality of cohabitation, for Jupiter is the planet of religion and of
forms and ceremonies. Afflictions to Jupiter and to the ninth house tend to
encourage irregular unions, and so does Uranus when aspecting the marriage
significators. But there is an underlying difference in the reasons for irregularity
according which planet is responsible for it. In the case of Uranus, extreme
unconventionality, such as is common in artistic and Bohemian circles, is
usually the cause of an irregular union, whereas with Jupiter or Saturn an
existing marriage is more often the cause. Afflictions from Neptune may also
have the effect of causing irregular unions, but as a rule there is a marked
element of deceit coupled with duality. In the case of Uranus no attempt may
be made to conceal the true state of affairs from the world at large. In that of
Jupiter and Saturn both parties will usually be aware of the reason for irregu­
larity, but the whole position will be carefully concealed.
With Neptune, however, it is quite probable that only one of the parties,
usually the man, will be aware of any irregularity at all, as for example in cases
where a man keeps two establishments and two wives, each ignorant of the
others existence.
Throughout his remarks on irregular unions, Ptolemy takes Venus as the
prime significator for women as well as for men, and appears to treat Mars and
Saturn as equivalent to one another in their influence when aspecting Venus,
the difference being that Mars indicates events in youth or a young partner,
while Saturn denotes events in later life or an older partner.
A great many of the illegal unions described by Ptolemy are not such as
would be met with nowadays except in extremely rare and degenerate cases,
but, as Wilson said, “Ptolemy wrote like an Egyptian, among whom such
incestuous commerce was common.” For the sake of completeness, however, I
include the substance of all his observations.
Should Venus be in aspect with Mars, each planet being in the other’s house
or exaltation, as for example Venus in Scorpio or Capricorn, and Mars in Libra
or Pisces, there will be intercourse with a brother or sister, or a blood relation.
If at the same time Venus is with the Moon in a man’s horoscope he will form
a union with two sisters or other near relatives; while Venus with Jupiter in a
woman’s horoscope will cause union with two brothers.
Venus in aspect with Saturn, each planet being in the others house or
exaltation, also indicates union between relatives. When the aspect is formed
in the Midheaven or Ascendant and the Moon is in conjunction with the
angular planet, men will have intercourse with their mothers, maternal aunts,
or sons-in-law. In a woman’s horoscope it denotes intercourse with sons, neph­
ews, and sons-in-law.
If, however, the Sun instead of the Moon is conjoined with the angular
planet, and especially if Venus and Mars precede the Sun in the zodiac, men
will have intercourse with their daughters or daughters-in-law; and women
with their fathers, paternal , or sons-in-law. When these positions are in
feminine houses or signs, the latter not necessarily related by house or exaltation
to the planets concerned, the obscenity and shamelessness of the association
will be increased, especially if fixed stars of the nature of Saturn or are involved.
Should Venus and Saturn be in the Ascendant or Midheaven, the nature of
the association will become public, but should they be in the fourth or seventh
house the native may be impotent or a eunuch.
The value of all these rules is extremely questionable, and it would need a
very bad horoscope indeed to justify their consideration, though one occasion­
ally hears of degenerate cases in which such incestuous unions have taken
place. I have never had the opportunity of examining such a case astrologically,
however, and therefore cannot confirm or deny any of the rules. They appear
to me to be far too simple, and the positions of far too common occurrence, to
be of much value nowadays, though in Ptolemy’s time, or in that ol the authors
from whom he copied, they may have been quite valid.
Ihe rules regarding the indications accompanying incestuous unions given
by certain ancient Hindu authors are equally scanty and unconvincing. I know
of only two Hindu rules and the subject is not touched upon in most Indian
works. Both these rules deal with incest with the mother, and are similar in
nature. In one case we are told that if the fourth house is afflicted, presumably
by bad aspects to the cusp, and the Moon or Venus is in an angle afflicted by a
malefic, there will be intercourse with the mother. In the other case it is said
that the same result follows when the fourth cusp is aspected by a malefic and
the Sun is in an angle, or the Moon is conjoined with one malefic and afflicted
by another.
Summarizing the conclusions that emerge from these rules, we can safely
assume that illegal and incestuous unions follow severe angular afflictions from
Mars, Saturn, Uranus, or Neptune to the appropriate luminary; that Venus will
also be badly placed by sign and house and heavily afflicted; and that the house
or its ruler signifying the relative concerned will be closely involved in the
afflictions.
 Chapter XIV: Marriage or Celibacy
The question of whether marriage will take place or not in any given case
depends for its answer upon several factors, the balancing up of which is not
always by any means an easy task. It is, however, made slightly easier than it
might otherwise be by the fact that in normal cases there is a bias in favor of
marriage so that stronger influences are needed to prevent it than to bring it
about.
The problem is not quite the same in the case of women as it is in that of
men, although astrological authors have never differentiated between them
except in regard to the significators to be used.
Men’s Marriages
The chief significators to be studied in the case of men are the Moon, Venus,
and the seventh house; and the problem consists in determining whether these
factors are sufficiently weak or afflicted either to prevent marriage taking place
or to remove the desire for it. Before examining these significators, however, it
is always advisable to get a general idea of the nature of the person with whom
one is dealing, or in other words to study the character as indicated in the
horoscope. It is beyond the scope of the present book to enter into any expla­
nation of the general judgment of a map, but a good deal of indirect information
as to character will be found in other chapters, and especially in that dealing
with the influence of the rising sign. If a preliminary idea is obtained of the
native’s outlook upon sex and marriage, subsequent judgment is rendered
considerably easier.
For the study of marriage and fertility the division of the signs of the zodiac
into barren and fruitful groups is of importance. According to the ancient
astrologers the barren signs are Gemini, Leo, and Virgo, and the fruitful ones
are Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces, but the beginner is often embarrassed by the
absence of any information as to the nature of the six signs not included in
these groups. On the whole they may be considered as without marked influ­
ence upon fertility, but for the sake of those who would appreciate some
guidance, even of a tentative nature, the following classification is suggested.
 Barren Semi-barren Semi-fruitful Fruitful
Gemini Aries Taurus Cancer
Leo Sagittarius Libra Scorpio
Virgo Capricorn Aquarius Pisces
In order to judge whether marriage will take place it is necessary to study
the sign and house positions of the marriage signifkators and the nature of the
seventh and certain other houses. The whole matter turns upon the strength
and amount of affliction received by these.
It is best to start by examining the Moon and Venus, and noting the signs
and houses they occupy. They are most favorably disposed to marriage when
in the fruitful signs, and least favorably in the barren ones. In regard to house
position the angular houses are the strongest, and the succedent ones come
next, but from the point of view of marriage the more elevated the position
occupied by Venus and the Moon the better. Perhaps the best houses for them
are the tenth, eleventh, and first. The fourth, fifth, and seventh are also good
positions, but in the case of the last two much depends upon the fruitfulness
of the sign and the nature of the aspects received. These houses being primarily
concerned with love and marriage are particularly sensitive, and barren signs
and afflictions are worse here than elsewhere.
The most unfavorable houses for the Moon and Venus are the twelfth, sixth,
and eighth, all of which tend to hinder marriage.
The aspects to the Moon and Venus are the next factors to be considered.
The worst possible afflictions are bad aspects from Saturn and Uranus, partic­
ularly if barren signs are involved. Afflictions from Mars are not by any means
so serious. They may stir up the passionate side of the nature far too much, and
create matrimonial quarrels, but they alone will not prevent marriage.
In a general way any influence that tends to increase isolation affords the
greatest threat to marriage, while influences of a gregarious nature tend to
bring it about most easily. Thus the twelfth, sixth, and eighth houses are all of
an isolating nature. The twelfth acts as a prison to the planets occupying it, the
sixth holds them in servitude, and the eighth kills them. On the other hand.
houses such as the tenth, eleventh, fifth, and seventh are intimately concerned
with the affairs of other people and encourage contact with others instead of
preventing it.
Again from the point of view of the aspecting planets, Saturn is limiting
and isolating in its effect, while Uranus is even more so, though in a rather
different way. Mars, on the other hand, does not isolate; if afflicted, it will at
least go out and quarrel with someone and not shut itself up in the manner of
Saturn.
For an early marriage it is rather an advantage than otherwise to have no
aspects between the significators and Saturn and Uranus, though good aspects
may be very useful in married life. An aspect from Mars to Venus, however, is
always desirable, and tends to hasten marriage.
Having decided whether the significators tend to favor marriage or not,
look over the rest of the map, and pay special attention to the ascendant and
seventh house. Barren signs here act against marriage, while fruitful signs favor
it, as do good aspects between the rulers of the first and seventh, and good
aspects from Jupiter and Mars to these planets and the significators. Ifiere is
no decisive factor in the matter, however, and the final conclusion as to whether
marriage will take place or not must be arrived at by balancing up the pros and
cons, not merely numerically but with an eye to the importance and strength
of each indication.
Women’s Marriages
I mentioned the fact that the problem varied slightly according to the sex
of the native. In the case of a woman the aspects can more easily prevent not
only marriage but all sexual experiences, and can more easily suppress the
normal desire for marriage in the case of a man. In a mans horoscope particular
attention should be paid to any positions denoting a solitary life, such as strong
twelfth house afflictions, an unaspected ruler, or seventh house ruler, a domi­
nant Saturn or Uranus, and a marked absence of fruitful signs. If such tendencies
are not paramount the afflictions in the map will not deny sexual experiences
and irregular unions, though they may prevent legal marriage. This is especially
the case if Jupiter joins in the afflictions.
In a woman’s horoscope, on the other hand, the normal desire for marriage
may be destroyed by strong influences tending to cause idealism such as are
given by Libra; intense love of freedom as is given by Sagittarius or Aries; or an
innate virginity, due usually to Virgo. In cases of this kind, afflictions to the
marriage signifkators can entirely prevent marriage and sex experiences. If,
however, the character is a more normal one, afflictions will prevent marriage
if barrenness predominates; but should the afflictions involve fruitful signs they
may, while preventing legal marriage, lead to an irregular union, or even to
prostitution if sufficiently strong.
Apart from considerations of this kind, the methods to be adopted in
examining the marriage prospects in a woman’s horoscope are the same as in
the case of a man’s. The planetary significators differ, however, for the Sun and
Mars must be consulted for a woman instead of the Moon and Venus.
It is therefore necessary to study the Sun and Mars in exactly the same way
and by the same rules as the Moon and Venus are studied in a mans horoscope.
If the Sun and Mars are strong and elevated in fruitful signs in aspect with and
not afflicted by Saturn and Uranus, marriage will take place. On the other hand,
marriage will be hindered or entirely prevented if the Sun and Mars are in no
aspect to each other and are situated in barren signs or weak houses and
afflicted by Saturn or Uranus from barren signs. The value of the houses is the
same as in a man’s horoscope.
These indications are respectively the best and worst that may be found,
and because most horoscopes will show a mixture of good and bad, an attempt
must be made to balance the conflicting indications and find out which set
preponderates.
 Chapter XV: Determining the Date of Marriage
Having decided that the horoscope indicates marriage, or at least does not
deny it, the significators should be again examined with a view to determining
the approximate period of life at which marriage is to be expected. This depends
upon the general fruitfulness or barrenness of the signs containing the signifi­
cators, and the amount of affliction they receive.
Men’s Marriages
The first consideration is the position of the Moon in relation to the Sun. If
the Moon is passing from new to first quarter or from full to last quarter, it
indicates that the native will marry at an early age. There is, however, an
alternative to this, and that is that he will marry a young woman after he has
reached or passed his prime. As a rule, other position in the horoscope will
furnish a clue as to which alternative is to be expected.
Indications of delay afforded by the other significators, for example, will
point to the second alternative as the more likely one, just as indications of a
wife who is older than the native will point to an early marriage in accordance
with the first and more usual alternative.
If the Moon should be passing from last quarter to new, or from first quarter
to full the native will tend to marry late in life, or a woman older than himself.
Here again the more probable alternative must be selected by a consideration
of the other significators.
If the Moon is actually in conjunction with the Sun, marriage will usually
be greatly delayed and may even be denied altogether if Saturn afflicts and
barren signs are involved.
Women’s Marriages
The position of the Sun in the quadrants of the map is here to be taken as
the guide. If the Sun is in houses four, five, six, ten, eleven, or twelve the native
will tend to marry at an early age; or, alternatively, at a later age she will marry
a man some years her junior. Should the Sun be in houses one, two, three,
seven, eight, or nine, however, she will marry comparatively late in life, or will
marry a middle-aged or elderly man while she is still quite young.
 Just as in the case of mens marriages, it is necessary to examine the strength
or weakness of the other significators in order to determine the alternative to
be adopted in the particular horoscope under consideration. It is not possible
to obtain any idea of the exact age at which marriage will take place merely
from a general study of the birth positions alone. The terms early and late in
these rules are considered to mean either less or more than 30 years of age.
In addition to the above indications based upon the position of the
luminaries, it is necessary to examine the strength and weakness of the marriage
significators common to both sexes. The methods to be adopted are the same
as were used in estimating the likelihood of marriage, for in practice the process
is a single rather than a double one. A late marriage may be judged when the
barrenness or affliction of the significators does not seem severe enough to
deny marriage altogether, and conversely an early marriage is indicated when
the significators are well aspected in fruitful signs. The general principle is that
the greater the affliction and barrenness of the horoscope, the later will be the
age at which marriage takes place, if it does so it all.
Some special rules referring to this subject of inquiry will be found in
Chapter XXV.
In order to discover the exact age at which marriage will occur it is necessary
to work out the directional influences for the approximate period of life indi­
cated by the general rules already outlined. According to the ancient astrologers,
marriage was to be expected when the cusp of the seventh house or its ruler
came to the conjunction or aspect of the Moon, Venus, or the ruler of the
Ascendant. While these directions conduce to marriage, however, they are not
the most common indicators of that event.
In the case of men, marriage is most frequently shown by directions of the
Midheaven, Ascendant, or Sun to the conjunction or favorable aspect of Venus
or the Moon, and, though less commonly, by aspects from the Midheaven,
Ascendant, Sun or Moon to a planet in the seventh house or the ruler of that
house. The lunar aspects meriting serious consideration are those formed by
the Primary or Radix Systems, and not the monthly lunar aspects of the
Secondary System. The latter may coincide with more important influences,
and stimulate them into activity in a certain month, but by themselves they are
far too weak to be considered as marriage indicators.
In the case of women, the most important directions for marriage are those
of the Ascendant or Midheaven to the Sun or Mars, and solar directions to
Mars and sometimes Jupiter.
It should be remembered that marriage is not always indicated by favorable
directions. A strong afflicting aspect between, say, the Moon and Mars in a
man’s horoscope, or the Sun and Uranus in a woman’s, will not infrequently
produce marriage, but needless to say a union entered into under such aspects
cannot fail to be disastrous in some way. Nevertheless, when the horoscope
indicates an unhappy marriage, the likelihood of its taking place under bad
directions must not be overlooked. It does not follow from this, however, that
an unhappy marriage must necessarily take place under bad directions, and I
have known several cases of separation and divorce in which marriage took
place under sextiles and trines from the significators to Venus and the Moon.
If these planets are seriously afflicted at birth a good direction will indicate no
more than temporary pleasure and happiness that will disappear as soon as the
direction passes out of orbs, allowing the radical afflictions to come into play
once more.
The interpretation of directions is a process that bristles with difficulties. It
is usual to consider that bad directions hinder the matters they threaten, but
this is sometimes quite a false assumption. If a certain action is shown by the
birth horoscope to be an unwise one, a bad direction will most probably bring
it about, while on the other hand a good direction may also have the same
effect by presenting a picture of rosy prospects. The safest line of conduct is to
avoid doing anything threatened by a bad direction, at least until the direction
has passed off, and to scrutinize the birth indications very thoroughly before
rushing into something favored by a good direction. A wider appreciation of
this rule would save a great deal of trouble and sorrow, not only in marriage
but in every other department as well.
 The timing of events is another aspect of the directional problem that is apt
to lead one into error. To the best of my knowledge no astrologer has ever
drawn attention to the important fact that a direction measures to the birth of
an event and not necessarily to the actual happening itself. In many cases, and
perhaps in the majority, there is not sufficient difference in time between the
two moments to affect the timing of a prediction, but there are occasions in
which the difference is sufficiently considerable to make the timing appear
quite incorrect.
My attention was first drawn to this matter many years ago by a particularly
striking case. It was that of a native in whose horoscope a strongly adverse
aspect between the Sun and Uranus, clearly threatening loss of employment,
was due to operate in March of that particular year. March came and went
without any apparent rouble, and by the late summer the native concluded that
the danger was past and that the direction had unaccountably failed to work.
In September, however, six months after the indicated danger period, he was
told by his firm that his services would no longer be required. As a result of a
number of discreet inquiries it transpired that the decision to dismiss the native
in September had been taken at a director s meeting in March. This immediately
suggested the idea that the timing of the direction was perfectly correct after
all, but that it indicated what 1 have called the birth of the event, and not the
date at which it actually took place or at which the native was aware of it. I have
tested this conclusion many times since then and have never had occasion to
modify it.
The fact that a direction indicates the time of the beginning and not the
end of an event is sometimes of considerable importance in the prediction of
the date of marriage, though it is less so now than it was in the days when a
long engagement was fashionable. A study of the horoscopes of a number of
cases in which a long engagement took place will show that the most important
marriage directions measured to the date of engagement. Sometimes marriage
is also indicated fairly strongly, but it is not at all uncommon to find horoscopes
in which marriage takes place without any particularly appropriate directions
at all. This is not surprising however, when one realizes that directions indicate
the beginning of events; in the case of marriage this is the date of engagement.
It is to this moment that the directions normally measure, and not marriage
itself, so that strong marriage indications should be looked upon as denoting
either marriage or events resulting in marriage. The actual date of marriage
itself is probably best determined from a horoscope for the moment of engage­
ment, the acceptance woman of the proposal.
 Chapter XVI: The Marriage Partner
The selection of the planet presenting the marriage partner in a horoscope
is a matter that gives rise to a great deal of uncertainty and confusion in the
mind of the student, owing to the extremely unsatisfactory textbook rules. We
are told that in a man’s horoscope the wife is denoted by the planet to which
the Moon applies, and in a womans horoscope the husband is represented by
the planet to which the Sun applies. This is quite a straightforward rule so far
as the Moon is concerned, but when we come to the Sun we encounter the first
difficulty, for if we are to consider only the planets to which the Sun applies we
are forced to exclude the Moon, Mercury, and Venus, which can never indicate
the husband unless, in the case of the latter planets, they happen to be retro­
grade. The only way round this obvious absurdity is to treat all the planets in
the horoscope as fixed, and move the Sun round to them, as is done in
directional processes, but no writer has ever suggested that this method should
be adopted, and the use of ephemeral rather than directional motion has always
been implicitly understood.
Even here, however, our difficulties are not at an end, for we are also told
that the marriage partner is denoted by the seventh house and any planets in
it, together with the ruler of that house. If all these rules are to be followed it is
clearly quite possible for every planet to be involved, so that it behooves us to
try to reduce this chaos into some kind of order.
If we turn to Ptolemy, who is the fountainhead from which most of our
rules spring, we find that he ignores the seventh house altogether and considers
only the solar and lunar aspects. In the chapter on marriage, he states, “With
regard to men, it is to be observed in what manner the Moon may be dis­
posed___ Should she be in a sign of single form, and in application to only one
of the planets, she will cause man to marry only once; but if she be in a
bicorporeal or multiform sign, or in application to several planets, she will then
cause them to be married several times; and, provided also that the planets
which thus, either by conjunction or aspect receive her application, be benefic,
men will then obtain good wives; but if, on the contrary, the said planets be
malefic, bad.”
He then proceeds to describe the effect of each planet as significator of the
wife, and continues: “But, in the case of women, the Sun must be observed
instead of the Moon. . . . And should the Sun be in a sign of single form, or
configured with only one oriental planet, he will cause them to enter to matri­
mony only once; but if in a bicorporeal or multiform sign, or configurated with
several oriental planets, he will then cause them to be often married.”
When adopting the rules laid down by an authority it is always advisable
to apply them not only correctly but intelligently as well. Unfortunately, a great
many of Ptolemy’s rules have been mutilated and misinterpreted by his follow­
ers, and those quoted above have fared no better than many of the others. First
of all it will be seen that while Ptolemy speaks everywhere of the Moon’s
applications, he nowhere specifies application in the case of the Sun. According
to him we are to consider those planets to which the Moon applies or with
which the Sun is in aspect. This immediately disposes of the first difficulty I
mentioned.
There is, however, an implication to be drawn from this, and that is that the
planets to which the Moon applies should already be in aspect with her.
Selection is made among the planets aspecting the Moon by application, just
as it is made among those aspecting the Sun by orientality.
Again, by his suggestion that she may be approaching one planet only,
Ptolemy implies that the Moon is to be considered solely in regard to the sign
she occupies at the moment of birth, and that her applications must not carry
her into the next sign, which of course would go without saying if the planet
receiving the application were already in aspect, unless the Moon were in a last
degree of a sign.
Some authors, notably Pearce and Simmonite, state that in cases where the
appropriate luminary aspects several planets, the latter should all be situation
in one sign. This addition to Ptolemy’s rule was originally made by Cardan and
does not appear to be of very much value. No doubt the presence of such a
group of planets, especially in a mutable sign in aspect with the Sun or Moon,
complicates the marriage indications and tends to increase the likelihood of
more than one marriage, but such grouping is not an essential condition for
multiple marriages.
In the case of the solar aspects, Ptolemy, while entirely disregarding
application, introduces the question of orientality, which most authors have
ignored. Our present use of the term oriental is quite loose and only partially
correct. In the sense in which Ptolemy used it, the major planets Mars, Jupiter,
Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto are oriental when the Sun is passing from
its conjunction with them to its opposition to them, or in other words, when it
is receding from them.
Similarly, the minor planets Mercury and Venus are oriental when they are
behind the Sun in the zodiac. The significator of the husband in a woman’s
horoscope is therefore a planet in aspect with the Sun and in an oriental
position, the planet with the closest aspect presumably being the first signifi­
cator.
We can summarize Ptolemy’s complete rules as follows: 1. In a man’s
horoscope the wife is indicated by that planet with which the Moon is in aspect,
provided the aspect be an applying one. Should the Moon be in Gemini,
Sagittarius, or Pisces or in aspect with and applying to more than one planet,
several marriages are indicated, the wives being denoted by the respective
planets in the order in which the Moon’s aspects to them are formed. 2. In a
woman’s horoscope the husband is indicated by that planet with which the Sun
is in aspect, provided it is situated behind the Sun in the zodiac and is not more
than 180 degrees distant. Should the Sun be in Gemini, Sagittarius, or Pisces,
or in aspect with more than one planet situated in the manner described,
several marriages are indicated, the husbands being denoted by the respective
planets in the order in which the Sun’s aspect to them or their aspects to the
Sun are formed.
 A very interesting point in Ptolemy’s rules is that the nature of the aspect
made by the Sun or Moon to the significant planet is not taken into consider­
ation at all, any aspect to a benefic planet indicating a good husband or wife,
and any aspect to a malefic, a bad one.
According to him the chief point to be observed is the nature of the aspects
the planet receives from other planets, and whether it is afflicted or not apart
from its aspect to the Sun or Moon, as the case may be.
This is of course an important consideration, but at the same time we are
not justified in entirely ignoring the nature of the aspect to the luminary. An
adverse aspect will result in difficulties in courtship and in all the circumstances
leading up to marriage, while it will also render the harmony between the
partners more easily disturbed. On the other hand, a good aspect will corre­
spondingly improve conditions, and conduce to a happier and more successful
marriage.
The following descriptions summarize the details given by Ptolemy and
later authors on the effect of the lunar applications and solar aspects.
The Lunar Applications
To Saturn. A grave, morose, austere, laborious, troublesome wife. If Saturn
is in the seventh house, little comfort. If Saturn is well aspected the wife will be
industrious and careful, but poor and of weak health. Saturn in detriment
indicates a wife of low social status, and if he afflicts the ruler of the seventh
house she will be immodestly inclined, especially if the ruler of the seventh is
situated in the twelfth.
To Jupiter. A decorous, well-conducted, modest, economical, and
domesticated wife with whom there will be close harmony if Jupiter is in the
seventh house and unafflicted. If afflicted she may virtuous but “her virtues
will be clouded and she will make no show of them by reason of some blemish
or other cast upon her.” If Jupiter is well aspected in the eighth house, the wife
will be rich; but if afflicted, extravagant.
To Mars. A bold, quick-tempered, and refractory wife, desirous of mastery,
but a true friend. If afflicted she will be vicious, quarrelsome, and arrogant. If
in bad aspect with Venus she will be licentious and lustful. It is said that if Mars
and Venus are both in aspect to Jupiter, and Mars is in conjunction with the
Sun, she will commit misconduct with social inferiors, while if Venus instead
of Mars is with the Sun it will be with people of higher rank.
To Venus. A cheerful, handsome, and agreeable wife, but if afflicted, one
who is arrogant, wasteful, prodigal, extravagant, talkative, and inclined to be
dishonest. If Venus is in aspect with Jupiter, Saturn, or Mercury, she will be
provident and attached to her husband and children; but if Venus aspects Mars
she will be irascible, unsteady, and indiscreet. If Venus is in good aspect with
Jupiter or Mercury the wife will be temperate and control her desires. Venus in
the seventh denotes a good housewife, and in the eighth, especially if ruling
that house, a rich wife, but this can only be the case if Venus is well aspected.
To Mercury. A sensible, prudent, and clever wife provided Mercury is
strong and free from affliction. If Mercury is afflicted however, she will be
malicious, a thief, gossip, liar, chatterer, and stirrer up of discord and strife.
The Solar Aspects
To Saturn. A steady, industrious, grave, but cold and phlegmatic husband.
If the Sun, Saturn and Mercury are all in favorable aspect he will be well off,
and the marriage will be a profitable one.
To Jupiter. An honorable, kind, noble-minded, honest, and generous
husband. If Jupiter is afflicted there is danger of separation after marriage, and
of adultery on the part of the husband. This is- said to be a certainty if Jupiter
is in Pisces close to, or just below, the cusp of the seventh house, but I cannot
vouch for the accuracy of this statement.
To Mars. A severe, passionate, arbitrary, intractable, and quick-tempered
husband. Ptolemy says he will be void of affection, but this is not correct,
though the affection may manifest itself in very peculiar and often unpleasant
ways. If Mars is weak and the Sun is afflicted by Uranus or Saturn, the result
may be an irregular union.
To Venus. An amiable and handsome husband. According to Ptolemy the
aspects to Venus are of importance in indicating the type of husband, whether
she be his significator or not. Thus if Venus is in aspect with Saturn the husband
will be dull and timid; if with Jupiter, he will be good, just, and modest; if with
Mars, hasty, lustful, and adulterous; and if with Mercury, immodest, and ex­
travagantly desirous of young persons, or homosexual.
To Mercury. A provident, and clever husband with good business abilities.
It will be noticed that Ptolemy omits all consideration of aspects between
the Sun and Moon themselves and evidently assumes that the Sun in a man’s
horoscope and the Moon in a womans are never to be taken as significators of
the wife or husband respectively. Ibis is based upon the idea that luminaries
are collectors and distributors of influences, and that it is the planets that denote
persons and happenings. Theoretically this may be sound, but in actual practice
one constantly finds that the luminaries indicate events when aspecting each
other. It would therefore be safer to include the Sun and Moon as significators
of the wife and husband should the rules of application or aspect indicate them.
To be eligible for selection the Moon should presumably be situated orientally
in regard to the Sun, or behind the Sun in the zodiac, rather than one of her
own positions of orientality.
I have not entered into much detail in the above descriptions of the
applications and aspects, nor have I included the luminaries, Uranus, or Nep­
tune, because the details already given about the effect of each of the planets in
the seventh house will serve equally well so far as they refer to the nature,
character, and circumstances of the marriage partner, and may be applied
directly to the planet indicated by the Moon’s application or the Sun’s aspect.
The above examination of Ptolemy’s rules settles most, if not all, of the
uncertainty that has attached to their exact use, but it does not, unfortunately,
cover all the variations met with in practice. Most astrologers must have
encountered horoscopes in which the wife has been indicated by the planet
from which the Moon last separated. This is one of the apparent anomalies that
occur from time to time and can best be disregarded except by the research
worker. It is probably due to the strength of the planet concerned or to some
special factor such as a close aspect to Venus, which increases its importance.
I have also known it to occur when the planet was the only one in conjunction
with the Moon, although there were several in applying aspect. As a rule it is
possible to discover the reason for any given variation in a special case, but any
attempt to cover such anomalies by a set of rules is quite impossible in our
present state of knowledge, and it is much better in practice to adhere to the
general rules and be content to err in exceptional cases.
The Seventh House
Having settled the exact method of dealing with solar and lunar aspects,
we come to the second much more difficult problem: namely, whether marriage
partner is indicated by the rules we have just examined, or whether the true
significator given by the seventh house, the planets therein, ruler of the seventh,
or the planets aspecting cusp.
This problem is one that has puzzled many generations of astrologers, if
one may judge by the various ways in which successive authors have attempted
to harmonize the two methods. Most of seventeenth century astrologers
adopted the idea that the planet selected by the Sun or Moon denotes the
character of the marriage partner, while the seventh house and its occupant or
ruler describe his or her appearance and general conditions. This strikes one
as a very artificial rule based upon quite arbitrary and unsound distinctions,
but at a period when horary astrology was paramount. Psychological and purely
rational considerations could not expected to outweigh the desire for rigid
rules.
Another and rather more reasonable attempt to solve the problem resulted
in a rule that the seventh house with all its accessories indicates the marriage
partner if there is no planet fulfilling the Ptolemaic rules of application and
aspect. The practical effect of this, however, is to cut out the seventh house
altogether in most cases, for a significator can usually be found by the former
rules.
A third line of attack again aimed at blending the two methods, but avoided
the crudity7 of the earlier attempt. We were told that the successive solar aspects
or lunar applications represent successive love affairs and attachments and that
marriage is indicated by the application to a planet in the seventh house or the
ruler of that house. This is ingenious, but it merely avoids the issue because it
is equivalent to saying that the marriage partner is indicated by the seventh
house and that the Ptolemaic rules denote nothing more than love affairs.
In regard to the latter implication, there is no doubt that a great deal of
truth attaches to the idea that all the lunar applications, for example, do not
represent marriages, for the application to a planet that is weak or badly afflicted
frequently denotes a broken engagement.
The most recent, and perhaps the best, approach to the problem has been
put forward by Carter, who suggests that the lunar applications indicate the
circumstances leading up to marriage, while the seventh house indicates the
partner. This appears sound so far as it goes, but it is not, and was of course
never intended to be a complete answer to the problem.
It does not seem to be at all logical to consider the seventh house to any
extent before marriage. Moreover, that house is concerned primarily with
matrimonial conditions and the fortunes of partnership, the description of the
partner being only of secondary importance. Not until the partner has been
chosen and the partnership inaugurated does the seventh house become of
chief importance, and it is therefore reasonable to assume that the lunar and
solar aspects must refer rather to the choice of partner and the general circum­
stances leading up to the point where the seventh house continues the story,
namely the moment of marriage. If so, the applications and aspects must be
considered the primary factors in denoting not only the wife or husband but
also any earlier engagements that may have taken place, as well as second and
subsequent marriages. This gives us a clear-cut signifkator for each partner
and avoids the confusion attendant upon any attempt to define successive
marriages by a consideration of the seventh house.
(As a development of this idea, I suggest that a reversal of the factors,
namely the use of the Suns aspects in a mans horoscope and the Moon’s
application in a womans, should indicate business partners and associates of
the same sex, thus affording a useful means of discriminating between business
and marriage partners.)
Assuming that this is correct we have decide upon the exact value attaching
to the seventh house, its ruler, occupants, and aspecting planets. To take the
latter first, I think we can safely disregard the planets aspecting the cusp of the
seventh so far as the description of the partner is concerned. They cannot be
of primary importance, and the most they can do is to introduce complications
leading to confusion of judgment.
Quite apart from the argument already advanced, it is clear that the seventh
house cannot be relied upon to furnish an accurate description of the marriage
partner. If there were no such thing as a second marriage it might do so, but
the description of a second partner, to say nothing of the succession of partners
common in the film world, cannot possibly be indicated by the planet ruling
an empty seventh house. It may be argued that several planets in the seventh
would meet the case, but unfortunately the planets are not usually so obligingly
arranged for the convenience of the astrologer.
Against this it must be admitted that the seventh house does describe the
marriage partner in a large number of cases.
I think the answer to this difficulty lies in the exact nature and functions of
the seventh house itself. Disregarding for the moment the various rulerships of
that house over matters unconnected with marriage, we may say that the
seventh house refers primarily to marriage itself and the partnership period of
married life, as I have already indicated in a previous chapter. If this is the case
planets here or the aspects to the ruler will indicate the factors that make or
mar the partnership. In the majority of cases the husband or wife is the chief
factor to be considered in this respect, and therefore will be fairly clearly
indicated, but always in terms relative to the fortunes of marriage. It follows
from this that the seventh house will describe the partner as he or she will
affect married life, or, alternatively, it will indicate external forces acting upon
marriage and ignore the partner to a greater or lesser extent. This conclusion
is, I think, borne out in practice.
A little thought will show that it opens up many possibilities. Much will
depend, for example, upon the harmony and aspects existing between the
primary significator of the husband or wife and the planets in, or ruler of, the
seventh house—a relationship that may alter entirely with a second marriage.
The whole problem is so complicated that it cannot possibly be reduced to a
set of rules, and each horoscope must always be judged on its own merits.
I should suggest that judgment might proceed on the following lines:
1. Examine the Moon’s applications or the Sun’s aspects in accordance with
the rules already laid down in order to discover the significator of the wife or
husband, and the general conditions leading up to marriage. Weak aspects, or
aspects to a weak planet, unless it happens to be in or ruling the seventh house,
may be taken as denoting attachments rather than marriage.
The first strong application or aspect will indicate the first partner and
subsequent ones will indicate later partners, should the horoscope denote more
than one marriage.
2. Examine the seventh house to discover the harmony and fortunes of
marriage, noting the relationship, if any, that exists between the significator
and the planets in or the ruler of the seventh. If the testimonies of both agree,
consider the latter as joint significators, but if they disagree, take the seventh
house planets as indicating qualities in the partner affecting the marriage or
the external influences that will affect it.
It is, of course, impossible to avoid difficulties and complexities, for
marriage itself bristles with them. One source of difficulty has never been
mentioned so far as I know, and that is the gradually increasing importance of
the seventh house. Assuming that the primary significator of the partner is the
planet selected by the Sun or Moon, the ruler of the seventh and any planets
that may occupy that house will be of little importance before marriage takes
place. That event, however, brings a reorientation of the horoscope that stresses
all the seventh house influences. In consequence these will gradually grow
stronger and the partner will imperceptibly develop in character along the lines
indicated by the seventh, no matter what his or her original character may have
been. After years of marriage the association and the interplay of the seventh
house and other influences will have made such changes in the original char­
acter and outlook of each partner that the first significator will have lost much
of its importance, and the seventh house will have taken its place.
This means that the judgment of marriage must always depend to some
extent upon the number of years that have elapsed since the native married. In
the case of an unmarried person, or one quite recently married, the significator
selected by the Sun or Moon will be the one upon which chief stress must be
laid; but in the case of a person who has been married many years the seventh
house will usually afford a better picture of existing conditions. If, however, the
partner dies and the native marries again, the whole process is repeated,
beginning with the primary significator of the second partner, and gradually
passing once more to the seventh house. By examining the horoscope in this
way we can not only determine the general marriage prospects, but also follow
the course along which matrimonial affairs will travel.
 Chapter XVII: How to Read Details
One of the most surprising things about astrology is the way in which all
kinds of detail can be obtained about people and things that one would expect
to be quite beyond the province of the horoscope. A horoscope is the life chart
of a particular individual and cannot logically be expected to indicate matters
that appear to be entirely unconnected with that individual, but in actual fact
it unquestionably does so. It is not only possible but easy to determine from a
birth map intimate details about the lives and affairs of the marriage partner’s
family, friends, and dependents with astonishing accuracy.
Before indicating the way in which this can be done, however, there are one
or two details regarding the husband or wife that I should add to the information
already given.
It is said that the house containing the partners significator indicates the
circumstances under which he or she will be met. Thus if the significator is in
the tenth, the meeting will take place through business or at the office; if in the
eleventh, through friends; and if in the third, on a journey, and so on. This is
generally correct if the house rulerships are taken in a wide sense. Thus the
position of the marriage significator in the second house does not necessarily
mean that the future husband or wife will be met during the course of some
financial transaction. The second house is the fourth from the eleventh, or the
home of a friend, and it is much more probable that it would operate along this
line. Again, it is the fifth from the tenth, denoting sports or recreations orga­
nized by one’s employers, which is another probable source of introduction.
Each house may thus be viewed from many angles, and while it is often difficult
to state precisely the circumstances of meeting, it will usually be found to be in
keeping with one of the primary or derivative rulerships of the house in which
the significator is situated.
The statement that the significator in the ninth house indicates marriage to
a foreigner should be received with a great deal of caution, and so should all
such rules, most of which will be found in a later chapter. This particular
position may denote marriage to a foreigner, but it could just as easily indicate
a meeting in church or at a university or through friendship with one of the
future partners relatives, or even through an advertisement in a matrimonial
journal, dhe only way to narrow down the possibilities is by a consideration of
the signs involved and the aspects from the other planets.
Hie beginner is apt to think that if the wife happens to be signified by, say,
Venus in Sagittarius, she must necessarily have the sign Sagittarius upon her
Ascendant. This is entirely erroneous. The chances are that this position will
be represented in her map, but in a much more complicated way. She might, of
course, have Sagittarius rising, but usually the matter is not quite so simple and
obvious. Thus Venus might be represented by a Taurus or Libra Ascendant, or
those signs might be strongly occupied or the planet Venus might itself be in
some important position. The Sagittarian influence could come in a similar
sort of way or through a strong aspect from Jupiter. Actually, Venus in Sagit­
tarius is a kind of synthesis of the wife’s character as it strikes the native and
may or may not truly represent her as she really is.
The sign containing the partners significator is not necessarily, or even
usually, directly related to the month of his or her birth, or the sign containing
the Sun. dhere is, however, or there appears to be, a relation between the degree
of the zodiac in which the significator is placed and the date of the month in
which the partner was born. Thus the significator in, say, the twenty-second
degree of any sign indicates that the partner’s birthday will probably be within
a day or so of the twenty-second of a month. The fact that the sign gives no
clue whatever to the month suggests that any correspondence in date may be
ascribed to coincidence, but I have observed too many cases in which this
correspondence has been correct to feel justified in ignoring it.
The significator and the sign on the seventh cusp often allow of a suggestion
as to the Christian name or initial of the partner. This involves the use of the
Kabalistic alphabet, the 108 Hindu Sounds, and other factors of a like nature.
But the rules are not sufficiently formulated to justify an explanation that would
necessarily be lengthy.
 I have already stated that the problem of reading small details from the
horoscope is not a difficult one, especially after a little practice. The key to
success lies in a thorough knowledge of the rulerships of the signs and a facile
use of derivative house rulership. The latter is a horary method and its employ­
ment in nativities has been deprecated by various writers in the past. Never­
theless, the work of certain modern students, notably the late M. Eudes Picard
of Paris, has abundantly demonstrated its value when applied to the determi­
nation of details from the horoscope.
The process simply consists in renumbering the houses starting from that
which rules the particular person or matter under consideration. Thus, suppose
we require the derivative rulership of the houses in relation to marriage. This
is primarily ruled by the seventh house, and it is therefore necessary to renum­
ber the houses from the seventh, which will become No. 1 , the eighth being
No. 2, the ninth No. 3, and so on. This process may be continued indefinitely
and will be found to cover the smallest trivialities with extraordinary accuracy.
To take a ridiculously extreme case, the fifth house would furnish any details
that might be required about a cat owned by the daughter of a charwoman
employed by the wife’s sister-in-law!
This is arrived at as follows: the seventh house is the wife; the ninth (third
from seventh) is her brother; the third (seventh from third from seventh) is his
wife or her sister-in-law; the eighth (sixth from seventh from third from
seventh) is the sister-in-law’s charwoman; the twelfth (fifth from sixth from
seventh from third from seventh) is the charwoman’s daughter; and finally the
fifth (sixth from fifth from sixth from seventh from third from seventh) is the
required cat.
 08-$ OS'

If we refer this to the accompanying map (Derivative House Example) we

find Saturn in Aquarius on the cusp of the fifth house and we should therefore
be justified in assuming that the cat in question was a black one that had
probably a weak leg due to a fall from a height, all of which is a free rendering
of Saturn in Aquarius.
This may be considered far-fetched, ludicrous, and suggestive of the House
that Jack Built, and perhaps the actual example is so, but anyone who takes the
trouble to use this method and check the results will find that it is thoroughly
reliable and unbelievably accurate.
A fairly full list of the derivative rulerships of the houses in regard to
marriage is given in Chap. V and the reader should have little trouble in forming
similar lists in relation to other houses should he so desire.
As a brief example, we’ll look further at the Derivative House Example, a
woman’s chart.
At age 38, she remains unmarried, and as she has little, if any, interest in
marriage. There is not much likelihood of that event occurring, at least for
several years. The delaying influence is chiefly due to the conjunction of the
Sun and Neptune, both in affliction with the Moon and Mars, the latter being
in its detriment in the marriage sign Libra, which is rendered worse by the fact
that it is the ruler of the seventh house. Neither Saturn nor Uranus afflicts the
significators, but this may be accounted for by the fact that the delay in marriage
is due to the personal feelings and not to any external circumstances.
We will assume that marriage takes place, however, as it quite well may at
the age of about 47 when the Midheaven and Sun come to the conjunction of
Venus and the Ascendant to the trine of the Sun. The significator of the partner
is Neptune, which is in oriental conjunction with the Sun, while Mars is of
course an important significator by reason of its close aspect and its rule over
the seventh house. Obviously marriage would be a failure and would be far
better avoided in view of the afflictions to the significators, the cause being
partly the ladys own very positive and uncompromising personality and partly
the bad choice of partner. The position of Neptune on the tenth cusp indicates
that the partner would be met at business and his personal appearance and
character would be such as are given by an afflicted Neptune in Cancer. The
zodiacal degree occupied by Neptune suggests a birth date on or about the
fourth of a month, 'lhe Neptunian influence would bring some glamour and
emotional chaos in the early stages, but after marriage Mars in Libra would
become the primary factor and would produce a struggle for mastery (Mars in
first) violent quarrels and all the other misfortunes clearly indicated by the
positions.
It would be far too lengthy a matter to indicate all the minor details that
can be suggested in regard to the partner’s life and affairs, but one or two
examples will serve as a further indication of the methods to be employed.
The husband’s financial affairs come under the eighth house (second from
seventh). Venus, the ruler, is in the husbands fifth in Leo, denoting artistic
sources, while the semisquare from Mars denotes expenditure upon other
women, and also loss through speculation. Mars being in Libra in his seventh
points to quarrels with the native over financial matters. Mercury in Gemini in
the ninth (third from seventh) denotes the husband’s brothers and sisters. There
may be twin brothers (Gemini), and one brother or sister will probably lose an
arm through an accident (Mercury opposition Uranus) in a foreign country, or
alternatively suffer a severe accident while on horseback or playing games
(Sagittarius).
Hie husbands father is indicated by the tenth house and particularly the
Sun. He will be a self-made man (Sun influential and Cancer plebeian) of not
too scrupulous or pleasant a type. One of his children will still live with him
(Mars ruling his fifth in his fourth) and will probably be associated with him
in business (Mars rules his tenth). The father’s house will be a double-fronted
one (Libra on his fourth) with steps up to the door, which will be in bad repair
and in need of redecoration.
One could continue along these lines indefinitely but the foregoing will
serve as an example. I should like again to emphasize the fact that details such
as these are correct in an overwhelming percentage of cases. I have spent many
hours amusing myself by applying these methods to the horoscopes of friends,
and in many cases their astonishment has, I think, been actually less than my
own at the accuracy of some of the admittedly long shots. The difficulty lies
chiefly in selecting the correct variation or alternative, but a little practice soon
enables one to demonstrate the reliability of the method without much trouble.
 Chapter XVIII: How to Compare Horoscopes
Before marriage can be recommended with any particular person it is
essential that a careful comparison should be made of the respective horoscopes
with the object of discovering how they harmonize and in what particulars
they show disagreement or antagonism.
The practical application of this branch of astrology is in some ways quite
simple and in others extremely difficult, for it is not merely a question of finding
two horoscopes with all the planets in one in good aspect to all the planets in
the other. A great deal must always depend upon the nature of the afflictions
in operation, and the type of horoscope with which one is dealing.
The first step is to consider whether the individual horoscopes are of a
positive or a negative kind. A positive horoscope is one in which the Sun, Mars,
Saturn, and Uranus are in strong positions and strongly, but not necessarily
well, aspected and the majority of the planets are in masculine signs. A negative
horoscope on the other hand is one in which the feminine planets Venus,
Neptune, and the Moon are much more in evidence than the masculine ones
and the majority of the planets are in negative or feminine signs. There are four
possible classes into one of which any pair of horoscopes must fall. These are:
(a) both positive; (b) both negative; (c) positive man and negative woman; and
(d) negative man and positive woman.
(a) Both Positive
This is obviously not a favorable blend for marriage, for with both partners
of a positive type there would be very little give and take. In the majority of
cases a marriage between two positive people would lead to a series of clashes,
for both would want to take the lead and each would want his or her own way.
Afflictions from one set of planets to the other would gain added force, espe­
cially if they happened to involve the masculine planets, and the result of such
a marriage would always be friction followed by violence or separation.
The only chance of success for a marriage in this class would be for the
aspects from one map to the other to be uniformly favorable. In a case such as
this the two positive forces would blend harmoniously, and the combination
would be an extremely powerful one for dealing with the affairs of life. It would,
however, be a combination much more suitable for a business partnership than
for marriage, and could be really successful only in the case of marriages of
convenience or those based upon a common purpose in which the emotional
side played no part.
(b) Both Negative
From the point of view of harmony this is a better combination than the
last but it is clearly not a desirable one. The danger of friction would be
considerably less, but the association would be a very ineffective one and in
extreme cases would lead to poverty or even worse conditions. For a marriage
to be really successful it is essential that each partner should supply qualities
lacking in the other and that these qualities should be supplied harmoniously.
If both partners are of the same type they can harmonize if the mutual aspects
allow of it, but they cannot be of real use to each other.
(c) Positive Man and Negative Woman
This is the ideal combination, where the man supplies the force, energy,
and driving power, and the woman the softer qualities needed to make a perfect
coordination. But it is still essential that the qualities supplied by the one to the
other should be conveyed harmoniously, or in other words by favorable aspects.
If the aspects between the horoscopes are discordant or malefic the opposite
qualities will clash and spoil each other. The weakness of the woman will arouse
impatience and anger in the man, while the womans emotion and sensitivity
will be hurt by the man’s forcefulness. Much depends upon the individual maps
in a case like this, for the result can vary from impatience to active violence.
The only cases in which a union of this kind could achieve any success at all
would be those in which the man was sadistic and the woman masochistic, and
even then it would not prove lasting if the afflictions were sufficiently serious.
(d) Negative Man and Positive Woman
This is also a favorable combination, though much less so than the last.
Good aspects between the maps are again essential, and should they be present
they will bring success through the wife’s abilities and energy, as in the many
cases in which a weak man has achieved an important position through the
cleverness or energy of his wife. In this type of marriage afflictions result in
tension and the more seriously evil aspects will drive the husband to seek
consolation in other ways. In the case of a masochistic man and a sadistic
woman, however, the afflictions lose most of their power, and unlike the
opposite state of affairs the union may be quite a permanent and happy one.
When it has been decided into which class a marriage is likely to fall, the
next step is to compare the horoscopes in detail. For this purpose a good
method is first of all to take the man’s horoscope and insert the womans planets
in it in different colored ink, marking the places of her Midheaven and Ascen­
dant as if they were planets, This map shows the effect of the woman’s positions
upon the man. Next take the woman’s horoscope and insert the man’s planets
in it in exactly the same way. This shows the man’s effect upon the woman.
There are two standpoints from which comparison must be made, namely
the zodiacal and the mundane.
Zodiacal Comparison
This is the more usual method, and the only one available when the birth
times are unknown. It consists in calculating the aspects formed between each
planet in the one map and each planet in the other. For this purpose it does not
matter which of the two combined maps is used, for the same result will of
course be obtained with either.
A list of all the cross aspects should be made and the best way to do that is
as follows: Take a sheet of paper and divide it into two columns, one column
being headed “Male” and the other “Female.” It does not matter which way
round these are arranged, for in this case also the results will be the same either
way. Let us suppose, however, that the Male column is on the left and the
Female column is on the right.
Place the Sun’s symbol at the top of the Male column, and note all the
aspects formed from the man’s Sun to the planets in the woman’s horoscope.
In each case place the symbol of the aspect in the middle between the two
columns, and the symbol of the planet aspected in the Female column.
 Then take the mans Moon, and note all the aspects formed to the woman’s
planets, placing the Moon on the left, the aspect in the middle, and the aspected
planet on the right as before. (When the birth times are unknown the Moon’s
positions are of course subject to wide variation and aspects by and to the
Moon cannot be relied on.)
Continue in this way, taking each of the man’s planets in turn until all the
aspects have been noted. It is unnecessary to compare the woman’s planets one
by one with the man’s map in a similar way, for this will already have been
covered automatically.
In this process of comparison it will be advisable to keep to rather short
orbs for the aspects, and omit the minor aspects semisextile, semisquare,
sesquare, and quincunx. Aspects involving the Sun and Moon may receive the
usual orbs, but in the case of the planets it will be sufficient to use seven degrees
for conjunction and opposition, and five degrees for trine, square and sextile.
Having completed the table we must next consider the nature of the aspects
and the effects they are likely to cause. In a quite general way it is obviously
desirable that the favorable aspects should outnumber the unfavorable ones,
but this is not a very reliable guide alone, for in marriage the planets are not all
of equal importance and bad aspects between planets that have no particular
significance need not receive much consideration.
It will often be found that one or two planets are very strongly aspected
across the maps, and in cases such as this the planets concerned become of
considerable importance and indicate the general nature of the association.
Whether this will be good or bad depends upon the radical aspects to the
planet brought into prominence. If Saturn in a man’s horoscope is itself badly
aspected, and at the same time receives a preponderance of aspects from the
woman’s map, it is safe to assume that the result of the marriage from the man’s
point of view will be unfavorably Saturnian, whereas if Saturn is well aspected
in his birth map, the result, while still Saturnian, will be favorable. A planet
brought into prominence in this way should be carefully studied in the birth
horoscope, for the marriage will stimulate its operation along the lines indicated
by its radical sign and house position. In the hypothetical case just mentioned
the position of Saturn in the second house of the birth horoscope would he a
direct indication that marriage would produce, or be followed by, financial
troubles and hardships.
 Chapter XIX: The Effect of Aspects Horoscopes
The judgment of aspects between the two horoscopes follows the general
rules that apply to all birth maps. More stress must, however, be laid upon
aspects affecting the marriage significators, namely the rulers of the seventh
and fifth houses, or planets in those houses, as well the Moon and Venus in the
case of a man, and the Sun and Mars in that of a woman. Afflictions from the
malefics Mars, Saturn, and Uranus are of course worse than those from the
benefics, but too much importance should not be placed upon afflictions from
Saturn in the one map to the luminaries or Venus in the other. Saturnian
aspects, usually afflictions, are extremely common in marriage comparisons,
and while of course not desirable, they are not as a rule very serious unless the
afflicting aspect from Saturn is to Mars or Uranus.
This extreme prominence of Saturn suggests the presence of a fatalistic tie.
If one accepts the teachings of Theosophy it can be considered as representing
a Karmic link and summarizing the result of previous association in past lives.
But whatever the explanation may be, there is no doubt that Saturn is more
prominent in marriage comparisons than is usually realized.
The general effect of aspects from one horoscope to another is as follows:
Sun-Moon
A favorable aspect between the Sun in one horoscope and the Moon in the
other is the best indication possible of radical harmony. From the standpoint
of perfection it should be the mans Moon and the woman’s Sun, but even if the
other way around, the combination is an excellent one that can withstand very
considerable affliction among the other planets. The conjunction is usually said
to be the most favorable position, probably because it is the strongest; but in
cases where the radical horoscope shows severe afflictions to the luminary
concerned, it is rather better for the link to be by sextile or trine.
There is no particular physical effect attaching to a link between the Sun
and the Moon. Its chief importance lies in the fact that it constitutes a condition
of harmony between the natures of the individuals, and therefore forms a very
stable foundation for marriage. Afflicting aspects to the luminaries or between
the planets may give rise to difficulties, troubles, quarrels, and contention, but
if the basic natures are harmonious the afflictions will need to be very strong
indeed before they can wreck the marriage.
Bad aspects between the luminaries indicate lack of fundamental harmony
and allow freer play to the afflictions. Ptolemy says that if the Sun and Moon
in the respective horoscopes are in square or opposition, or not in aspect at all,
the marriage will be speedily dissolved upon slight causes and will result in
total separation unless the benefic planets are in good aspect to them, in which
case there may be temporary separation followed by reconciliation, more than
once.
This, I think, tends to be an extreme view, for quite often the affliction of
the luminaries across the horoscopes results rather in bickering and quarreling
than in anything quite so drastic as Ptolemy suggests. Such a position of the
luminaries coupled with afflicting aspects to them, however, is another matter
and will have evil results varying in degree according to the severity of the
afflictions. The presence of Mercury among the Afflicting planets leads to
publicity, Jupiter to legal proceedings and judicial separation, and Venus to
adultery and in cases to attempted poisoning.
Sun-Mercury
Unless Mercury is a marriage significator in one of the individual
horoscopes, its aspects across the maps are not of much importance. Favorable
aspects from the Sun to Mercury indicate mental harmony or a link founded
upon community of interests if the aspects are strong and numerous enough.
They may also indicate active association in business or literary collaboration
in suitable cases. Bad aspects lessen the mental affinity and may cause business
troubles through bad advice and similar dangers.
Sun-Venus
Good aspects are excellent testimonies of harmony and affection in all
cases, but especially so if it happens to be the mans Venus and the womans
Sun. In the sphere of events these aspects often indicate money through mar­
riage, the money as a rule belonging to the Venus partner. Bad aspects may
bring disharmony through extravagance or over-indulgence in pleasure, again
on the part of the Venus person, but there is still likely to be a considerable
measure of affection.
Sun-Mars
Good aspects increase affection and intensify the passionate side of the
union, especially if it is the womans Sun. If it is the other way round something
of the same effect will be present, but there will also be an active contribution
of energy from the woman that will increase the man’s ambition and business
success. Bad aspects or conjunction threatens quarrels, the intensity of which
depends to a great extent upon the signs involved and the radical aspects of the
planets concerned.
Sun-Jupiter
Good aspects produce luck through marriage and indicate comfortable
surroundings and conditions. They do not directly influence the affections and
act more in a preservative way by smoothing out possible causes of disharmony.
They may indicate money or social benefit through marriage. Bad aspects bring
bad luck through optimism or too easygoing an outlook and tend to cause
extravagance or foolish generosity. They affect the harmony of the union only
through outward conditions and not directly.
Sun-Saturn
Neither good nor bad aspects directly affect harmony. The former make for
a successful marriage, excellent in the case of a marriage of convenience, while
the latter depress the fortunes after marriage.
Sun-Uranus
Uranus has little direct effect upon marriage. The good aspects between the
Sun and Uranus may indicate an association based upon occult, political, or
other Uranian interests, while the bad aspects threaten sudden catastrophes,
accidents, and business misfortunes.
Sun-Neptune
 Good aspects indicate psychic or musical interests in common, while bad
ones may bring deception, illness, or peculiar conditions produced by drug­
taking, perversions, and other Neptunian causes. As a rule aspects between the
Sun and Neptune are not especially important.
Moon-Mercury
Good aspects show mental interests in common, as well as the likelihood
of travel. Bad aspects may cause irritability, nerve-strain, nagging, or chattering,
and many petty annoyances.
Moon-Venus
The good aspects contribute very strongly toward harmony and increase
the affection between the partners. Artistic interests and financial benefits may
come through marriage and the domestic comforts will be improved through
these aspects. Bad aspects on the other hand, while often not themselves
disturbing the affections, indicate extravagance, self-indulgence, carelessness,
and sluttishness, which may drive the one spouse to seek other men or women.
In all cases they tend to indicate some degree of infidelity, however slight, on
the part of either the husband or the wife.
Moon-Mars
Any aspects increase the passional and physical sides of the marriage. The
good aspects, of course, keep the feelings more in check and regulate the animal
instincts that may assume far too much prominence under bad aspects. The
latter can be very evil and produce anything from irritability to violence
according to the other influences in operation.
Moon-Jupiter
Good aspects may denote a religious link between the partners, just as bad
ones often show marked religious differences, the favorable aspects produce
financial benefits, comfortable domestic surroundings, and a placid and self-
satisfied kind of union, while the bad ones indicate either extravagance and
hypocrisy or a marriage that is unlucky in regard to finance or the home.
Moon-Saturn
 Bad aspects may indicate risk of cooling affections, drudgery, and domestic
barriers and isolation, as well as serious misfortunes after marriage. The aspects
also tend to cool the affections, but produce a steady and faithful association
in which the passions play little or no part.
Moon-Uranus
Both good and bad aspects tend to operate through external events and are
not of much importance from the point of view of the affections. Tire good
aspects do not assume much prominence unless the marriage is based upon
Uranian interests, but the bad ones may contribute to matrimonial shipwreck
or to accidents and danger to one of the partners, normally the lunar one, as a
consequence of marriage. In some cases unfavorable Neptunian aspects denote
peculiarities in marriage because of physical or mental abnormalities.
Mercury-Venus
No aspect is of much importance. The good ones blend the mind and
affections harmoniously, while the adverse ones tend to keep them separate;
but the effect upon the marriage is negligible.
Mercury-Mars
The good aspects act as a mental stimulus to the Mercury partner, while
the bad ones indicate irritability and petty annoyances due on the one side to
Mars faults such as hastiness of speech or action and on the other to a conflicting
mental outlook, chattering, nagging, or other Mercurial faults.
Mercury-Jupiter
There is a mental link along the lines of religion or philosophy that will be
harmonious or otherwise according to the nature of the aspect. Deceit and
hypocrisy may also occur under the bad aspects.
Mercury-Saturn
The good aspects have an excellent steadying effect upon the Mercurial
partner and favor the mind and business. Bad aspects bring a mental barrier,
disappointment, and a damping mental effect, as well as business and other
mistakes due to unfortunate advice.
Mercury-Uranus
 Uranian matters constitute a link of a favorable or unfavorable nature
according to aspect. With good aspects very successful schemes may be
launched jointly unless the planets are in airy signs, in which case there will be
little practical benefit. Under affliction there may be mental incompatibility,
and marriage will have a very disturbing mental effect upon the Mercurial
partner.
Mercury-Neptune
The intuition of one partner will help the intellect of the other under
favorable aspects, and there will be community of interest in Neptunian matters.
Under affliction there will be risk of deceit and other troubles of a Neptunian
nature.
Venus-Mars
According to Ptolemy a favorable aspect between Venus and Mars leads to
entire love and affection, which, if Mercury is also favorably involved, will be
so marked as to attract attention and comment. This link is one that intensifies
the sexual side of marriage and is therefore of particular importance in the
horoscopes of young people. Bad aspects between Venus and Mars have an
equal, or even greater, stimulation upon the passional nature and tend to break
down the barriers of restraint before marriage. After marriage the tendency of
the bad aspects is to destroy harmony, often through the excessive sexuality of
one of the partners, which if not satisfied may lead to adultery.
Venus-Jupiter
The good aspects conduce to harmony and to domestic and financial
comfort and benefit. Bad aspects indicate extravagance, wastefulness, and self-
indulgence and may help to denote an irregular union or the danger of judicial
separation.
Venus-Saturn
The good aspects are excellent for deep, steady, and lasting affection, and
are particularly important in the case of marriage taking place comparatively
late in life or in which the sexual side is not of outstanding importance. Bad
aspects cramp the affections, causing the Saturnian partner to damp down the
Venusian one. Selfishness is usually a marked feature, and there may be a
growing barrier of isolation, but as a rule these afflictions are not serious
enough to result in separation, unless of course other influences support them.
In many cases a link between Venus and Saturn indicates marriages in which
duty occupies a more prominent place than affection.
Venus-Uranus
The good aspects denote a romantic attachment and influence the
circumstances of courtship and marriage rather than the amount of affection.
The bad aspects may show a homosexual link between two natives of the same
sex, while in the case of a man and a woman they tend to cause seduction,
irregular unions, or marriages with a peculiar, and often perverted, link.
Venus-Neptune
As in the case of aspects between Venus and Uranus, the effect of the good
aspects is to increase the glamour and romance of courtship. Bad aspects may
also cause seduction, but in rather more insidious ways, as, for example, by
drugging. Usually, however, the afflictions denote vague dissatisfaction with
marriage, and wandering affections leading to adultery, the keeping of two
establishments, and, with other afflictions, the dissolution of the marriage.
Mars-Jupiter
These aspects are not of much importance. The good ones make for comfort,
success, and prosperity in married life, while the bad ones cause trouble through
extravagance, undue generosity, and religious differences.
Mars-Saturn
Good aspects are not of much use in the case of these planets and it is better
for them to be entirely unlinked. The conjunction and bad aspects constitute a
serious threat to married life. Before marriage they strengthen the attraction,
but afterwards they produce increasing coldness, which in the worst cases may
develop into hatred, and even attempted murder.
Mars-Uranus
The effect of aspects between these planets is somewhat similar to that of
Mars-Saturn aspects, and any link is better avoided. The bad aspects, however,
are more explosive, and do not hold the same threat of long, drawn-out coldness
and hatred. They tend to cause sudden violence, and constitute a powerful
factor in producing divorce.
Mars-Neptune
Mars and Neptune do not harmonize too well even under good aspects,
and are better unlinked. The bad aspects threaten deception, treachery, and
violence of an insidious kind or under very peculiar conditions.
Other Aspects
The aspects of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune among themselves are
influences of too broad and general a nature to be susceptible of detailed
description. They are not links that have much, if any, direct bearing upon the
affections, and their influence in any particular pair of horoscopes must be
judged by the houses and signs in which they fall, and the other and more
important links that are present.
 Chapter XX: Mundane Comparison
The method of zodiacal comparison just described is often the only one
adopted, and, as already mentioned, it is the only method capable of being
applied when the times of birth are unknown.
When both horoscopes are available, however, they should be compared
from the mundane point of view as well as from the zodiacal.
Mundane comparison is concerned with the relative positions of the planets
in the houses of the horoscopes, and in order to study this the two double
maps, each containing the planets of the one partner in the houses of the other,
should be drawn up as previously explained.
The first consideration is the relationship of the rising signs and degrees,
considered firstly in regard to the amount of natural harmony existing between
the signs concerned and secondly in regard to the planets in the one map which
are aspected by the ascendant of the other. For a successful marriage it is
essential that the outlook and habits of the partners should not seriously clash,
and this is a matter which depends to a large extent upon the rising sign. In a
quite general way the signs of the same triplicity are harmonious. In other
words one :fiery sign will agree with the other fiery signs, one watery sign will
agree with the other watery ones, and so on. Furthermore there is agreement
between the fiery and airy signs, and also between the earthy and watery.
Putting the matter in a rather more general way, the signs that are in sextile or
trine to one another are harmonious, and signs that are in square or opposition
are not. As is the case with all such generalities, however, there are a good many
individual exceptions, and the rule should not be allowed to take precedence
of other considerations. For example, signs that are in opposition are not
necessarily antagonistic in marriage. Thus Taurus and Scorpio have much in
common and can harmonize, provided other factors agree. Aries and Libra and
Leo and Aquarius are both combinations that can be quite harmonious, and so
to a lesser extent can Gemini-Sagittarius. Cancer-Capricorn is not so good,
however, nor is Virgo-Pisces, especially if the Virgo partner is particularly
careful and tidy and the Pisces partner is the reverse. Contrary to the general
idea, two people born under the same rising sign can make a happy marriage,
though it is not altogether a desirable blend for it limits the outlook too much.
It is not possible to formulate a set of hard and fast rules applicable to
mundane comparison, and the process must depend chiefly upon personal
judgment. It is desirable that one horoscope should make up the deficiencies
in the other, and just as in zodiacal comparisons we are concerned with the
way the planets blend by aspect across the maps, so in mundane comparison
we must look to the way in which the planets in the one map affect the houses
in the other.
There is first of all the adjustment of balance. If a horoscope has all or the
majority of the planets in the eastern, or left, half of the map, the ambitious and
egotistic side of the nature will tend to be the most prominent. In a case such
as this it is beneficial if the majority of the marriage partners planets fall in the
western, or right, half of the map, no matter where they are in that person’s
own horoscope. This adjusts the balance and adds the more altruistic qualities
associated with the western houses. Similarly, any horoscope showing a marked
grouping of planets gains balance if the partners planets fall in houses that
harmonize with the dominant group or add the qualities it lacks.
The second consideration is that of the houses in which the favorable and
unfavorable planetary positions in the one map fall in the other. Suppose one
of the partners has an evil configuration such as Mars conjunction Saturn. Its
malefic effect upon its own native is indicated by the house and sign in which
it falls, and this of course itself affects the marriage partner. But a further very
important consideration is the house in which it falls when related to that
partners own map. Thus if it falls in his or her sixth house it will affect the
health, although it may have no direct bearing upon the health of its own
native. If in the fourth house it will spoil the domestic life; if in the fifth it will
deny issue or injure any children that may be born; and so on, according to the
matters ruled by the house in which it falls. In the case of a square or opposition,
more houses are involved, but the principle remains the same.
 Therefore the afflictions in each map should be studied in relation to the
houses in the other in which they fall so as to determine the exact way in which
the personal afflictions will affect the marriage partner. Ihe use of the double
maps already described makes this quite easy to do.
Similarly the favorable aspects in the one map must be related to the houses
of the other in exactly the same way in order to estimate how the good influences
of the one partner will affect the other.
A thorough study of the zodiacal and mundane links in this way will enable
one to obtain a very full and accurate idea not only of the harmony existing
between the partners, but also of the general course of their married life and
the type of experiences awaiting them.
There is one other point that should be mentioned in regard to mundane
comparison. It will often be found that similar mundane positions in the two
maps will make for harmony or disharmony quite irrespective of zodiacal
aspects. Thus suppose one native has the Sun on the Ascendant, and the other
has the Moon on the Ascendant. These bodies may be in no zodiacal aspect at
all, but the natural similarity of position in each map will create a link which
will tend to have the same effect as if the planets were in zodiacal conjunction.
Should it be Saturn that is rising in the one map and Mars in the other, there
would be a strong tendency to disharmony. This principle applies to equivalent
positions in any part of the two maps of course and not merely to the Ascendants
only.
If desired, this kind of comparison can be extended to include aspects that
must be calculated by house position and not in the zodiac. Thus a planet on
the cusp of the tenth house in the one map will be in mundane square with one
on the Ascendant in the other, and so on.
Such mundane aspects between the maps have an effect, but I should not
recommend their use except in the case of conjunctions and oppositions. They
are not of so lasting a nature as zodiacal aspects, and should there be a zodiacal
aspect between the planets as well as a mundane one the final effect will be of
the nature indicated by the former and not the latter. Apart from this, however.
there are quite enough factors to take into consideration without adding such
minor ones as mundane aspects, and a multiplicity of factors always tends to
confuse the main issue and leads to serious errors in judgment, even if it does
not render judgment quite impossible, as is more often the case than not.
Hie astrological beginner will be well advised to use just sufficient factors
in practice to obtain a reasonably accurate result, and to regard all the fascinat­
ing complexities so temptingly laid out before him as matters for observation
and research rather than for immediate use.
 Chapter XXI: Directional Comparison
We have so far considered only the radical relation of one horoscope to
another, which shows the permanent harmony or disharmony between them.
This, however, does not cover cases of temporary attraction, and gives no
information as to the fluctuations or varying experiences met with during the
course of any association between two people.
In order to determine these it is necessary to compare the directional
positions of the planets in each horoscope. Except in the case of the Midheaven
and Ascendant, which should be treated as if they were planets, the process is
confined to a consideration of zodiacal positions and follows the same lines as
those laid down for the comparison of birth maps.
The first step is to calculate the progressed positions in each nativity for the
period which the comparison is to cover. This may be done by whatever system
the student pleases. The next stage in the process is to prepare three lists, each
list headed M (for male) and F (for female), with a middle space for the aspects,
just as was done when comparing the radical horoscopes.
In the first list set down all the aspects formed by the mans progressed
planets to the womans birth positions, including the Ascendant and Midheaven
in both cases. These aspects show the temporary harmony or disharmony
caused chiefly by the man, and the effect of his current positions upon the
woman.
In the second list set down all the aspects formed by the womans progressed
planets, Ascendant and Midheaven to the man’s birth positions. This shows the
nature of her influence upon him.
Finally, in the third list set down all the aspects formed by the progressed
positions in the one map to the progressed positions in the other.
In each case a note should be made as to the month in which every aspect
is exact in order that the various effects may be accurately timed and studied
chronologically.
As so many aspects may be formed when all three lists are considered, it is
particularly advisable to use only the conjunction, sextile, square, trine, and
opposition, and omit the minor ones in order to simplify the comparison. The
interpretation of the effect of each aspect follows the same rules as the inter­
pretation of an individual progressed horoscope, the only difference being that
two persons are concerned, and that the ordinary effect of the aspect is shared
by both.
Afflicting aspects will cause difficulties, temporary quarrels or
estrangement, and favorable aspects will increase the harmony or deepen the
association, in all cases in accordance with the radical indications, while the
particular houses involved in the individual horoscopes will furnish details as
to the exact line along which the aspects will operate.
It must always be remembered that directional indications of harmony or
disharmony are purely temporary and that the permanence or otherwise of all
directional effects depends entirely upon the sympathy or antipathy that exists
between the two birth horoscopes. Suitable directions as, for example, aspects
between the luminaries and Venus or Mars, will produce a love affair, the
intensity and nature of which will depend upon the strength and character of
the aspects. But if there is no radical support the affair will die out when the
directional influences pass out of orbs. If the radical horoscopes happen to
clash it will end in serious quarrels and hatred, but in cases where the birth
maps are not linked, or show only weak aspects from one to the other, the affair
will gradually cool off, and the final state will be one of indifference.
 Chapter XXII: The Hindu Method of Comparison
A considerable portion of Hindu astrology is based upon the Moon and
the Lunar Mansions, or Asterisms, which constitute a kind of lunar zodiac of
twenty-seven signs, each division or asterism consisting of thirteen degrees
and twenty minutes. The list shown below contains the number, name, and
starting point of each. The names have been included for those interested in
Hindu astrology, but in all future references I propose to designate the Asterisms
by number rather than name, as being easier for the general student than the
use of Sanskrit terms.
 No. Name Begins at Deg
1 Asvini Min Aries 0 0
2 Bharani Aries 13 20
3 Krittika Aries 26 40
4 Rohini Taurus 10 0
5 Mrigasiras Taurus 23 20
6 Ardra Gemini 6 40
7 Punarvarsu Gemini 20 0
8 Pushya Cancer 3 20
9 Aslesha Cancer 16 40
10 Magha Leo 0 0
11 Purva Phalguni Leo 13 20
12 Uttara Phalguni Leo 26 40
13 Hasta Virgo 10 0
14 Citra Virgo 23 20
15 Svati Libra 6 40
16 Visakha Libra 20 0
17 Anuradha Scorpio 3 20
18 Jyestha Scorpio 16 40
19 Mula Sagittarius 0 0
20 Purva Ashadha Sagittarius 13 20
21 Urrara Ashadha Sagittarius 26 40
22 Sravana Capricorn 10 0
23 Sravishtha Capricorn 23 20
24 Catabhishaj Aquarius 6 40
25 Purva Bhadra- Aquarius 20 0
26 UtrarKdt&iadra- Pisces 3 20
27 FBadati Pisces 16 40
A controversial point arises in connection with the initial longitudes of the
Asterisms. They may be referred to the usual western sign zodiac, or arranged
equally along the constellation zodiac, or related directly to the stars to which
they owe their origin. I have here adopted the first method as being most
consistent with the principles of western astrology. Those who wish to experi­
ment with the usual Hindu longitudes should advance the initial points about
twenty degrees, the first point of No. 1 being now in 19 Aries 41, the remainder
being advanced by an equal amount in each case.
The correlation of the Asterisms with the stars and constellations is quite
beyond the scope of the present work. Those interested in the subject will find
fuller details in my Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology.
In Hindu astrology there are eight primary considerations in the
comparison of horoscopes, which are known as 1. Varna; 2. Vasya, 3. Dina. 4.
Yoni; 5. Graha Mitra; 6. Gana; 7. Rasi; and 8. Nadi. The rules for each type of
comparison are as follows:
1. Varna. This is based upon caste. The signs Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces
represent the highest or Brahmin caste; Leo, Libra, and Sagittarius, the warrior
caste; Aries, Gemini, and Aquarius, the trading caste; and Taurus, Virgo, and
Capricorn, the lowest or laboring caste. Ihe rule is that the husbands Moon
must be in a sign of equal or higher caste than the wife’s Moon. If the wife’s
Moon is of higher caste than the husband’s, she soon becomes a widow.
2. Vasya. The Moon in the horoscopes of the man and woman should be in
harmonizing signs in accordance with the following list:
Aries harmonizes with Leo and Scorpio
Taurus harmonizes with Cancer and Libra
Gemini harmonizes with Virgo
Cancer harmonizes with Scorpio and Sagittarius
Leo harmonizes with Libra
Virgo harmonizes with Gemini and Pisces
Libra harmonizes with Virgo and Capricorn
Scorpio harmonizes with Cancer
Sagittarius harmonizes with Pisces
Capricorn harmonizes with Aries and Aquarius
Aquarius harmonizes with Aries
 Pisces harmonizes with Capricorn
If the Moons harmonize there will be agreement and happiness, but if not,
quarrels will arise.
3. Dina. Take the number of the Asterism containing the woman’s Moon
and from it count to that which contains the man’s Moon, including both
Asterisms in the count. Divide the total by 9. If the remainder is either 2, 4, 6,
8, or 9, marriage between the couple is favorable, but with any other remainder
it is inadvisable. Thus, suppose the woman’s Moon is in 16 Virgo and the man’s
is in 12 Taurus. The count will be from Asterism No. 13 to Asterism No. 4, both
inclusive, in the order of the signs. The result is 19, which, when divided by 9,
leaves a remainder 1. This is not considered favorable for marriage.
4. Yoni. This is concerned with sexual adaptability, and is expressed in terms
of the animal kingdom as represented by the Asterisms.
Numbers 1 and 24 represent horses
Numbers 2 and 27 represent elephants
Numbers 3 and 8 represent goats
Numbers 4 and 5 represent serpents
Numbers 6 and 19 represent dogs
Numbers 7 and 9 represent cats
Numbers 10 and 11 represent rats
Numbers 12 and 26 represent cows
Numbers 13 and 15 represent he-buffaloes
Numbers 14 and 16 represent tigers
Numbers 17 and 18 represent deer
Numbers 20 and 22 represent monkeys
Numbers 23 and 25 represent lions
Number 21 represents mongoose
When the man’s Moon is in an Asterism of a male animal, and the woman’s
in that of a female, the marriage will produce happiness and success, provided
the animals concerned are not inimical to each other. When both Moons are
in the Asterisms of female animals, the union will be of average success. And
finally when both are in the Asterisms of male animals the result will be
financial loss and unhappiness. Thus the mans Moon in No. 16, and the woman’s
in No. 12 would lead to an unhappy marriage because it would be the union of
a tiger and a cow.
5. Graha Mitra. This is concerned with the natural friendship and enmity
existing among the various planets.
Sun is friendly with Jupiter
Moon is friendly with Mercury and Jupiter
Mercury is friendly with Moon, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter
Venus is friendly with Mercury, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn
Mars is friendly with Mercury and Venus
Jupiter is friendly with Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus and Saturn
Saturn is friendly with Mercury, Venus and Jupiter
For a happy and successful marriage the rulers of the signs containing both
Moons must be friendly planets.
6. Gana. The Asterisms are divided into three groups in accordance with
their natures, namely: Good: Nos. 1, 5, 7, 8, 13, 15, 17, 22, and 27. Human or
mixed: Nos. 2, 4, 6, 11, 12, 20, 21, 25, and 26. Evil: Nos. 3, 9, 10, 14, 16, 18, 19,
23, and 24.
Two people whose Moons fall in the same group may successfully marry.
If one of the couple belongs to the Good group and the other to the Human,
the marriage will be of average success, but in no circumstances should a person
of the Good or Human group marry a member of the Evil group.
7. Rasi. This refers to the relation between the signs in which the man’s and
woman’s Moon are situated. If the man’s Moon is in the second sign from the
woman’s, or hers is in the twelfth from his, death will result from the marriage.
If, however, the positions are reversed and the woman’s Moon is in the second
sign from the man’s, or his is in the twelfth from hers, the result will be length
of life for both.
If the man’s Moon is in the third sign from the woman’s, there will be misery
and sorrow. The reverse position indicates happiness.
 The mans Moon in the fourth sign indicates great poverty, and the reverse
shows great wealth.
In the fifth sign, unhappiness, but if reversed, happiness.
In the sixth sign, loss of children, but if reversed, the children will prosper.
Finally, when both Moons are in the seventh sign from each other, there
will be health, prosperity, and happiness.
In all cases the counting is inclusive of both signs. Thus if the man’s Moon
is in Virgo and the woman’s in Scorpio, her Moon is in the third sign from his
and a happy marriage is indicated.
8. Nadi. This is based upon the temperaments of the Asterisms, as follows:
Windy: 1, 6, 7, 12, 13, 18, 19, 24, 25
Bilious: 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 23, 26
Phlegmatic: 3, 4, 9, 10, 15, 16, 21, 22, 27
If the two Moons both fall in the Windy, or both in the Phlegmatic group,
the marriage is an indifferent one. If both fall in the Bilious group, there will
be great misery and disagreement, often resulting in ruin and death. If, however,
the Moons fall in different groups, the marriage will be productive of happiness.
Having obtained the testimonies of all these eight methods of comparison,
the Hindu astrologers next task is to determine the final result, and this is done
numerically.
To each class is allotted a number of points that is the same as the numerical
order in which they have been dealt with above, Varna receiving 1 point, Vasya
2 points, and so on down to Nadi with 8 points, thus making a total of 36 points
altogether. The points of agreement between the horoscopes are then added
together. If the total number of points is found to be less than 18, the marriage
should not take place for it would result in danger, disagreement, or death. If
between 18 and 27 points are obtained, the marriage will be one of average
success, while if the points produce a higher total than 27, the marriage will be
one of great happiness and prosperity.
 Chapter XXIII: Choosing the Wedding Date
in order to insure the greatest possible happiness and success in marriage
the partner should be one whose horoscope harmonizes perfectly with that of
the native, and the marriage should take place under good directions on a date
specially chosen to afford the most auspicious influences.
Unfortunately, it is much easier to lay down theoretical principles of this
kind than it is to carry them out, and even if the perfect partner and date were
chosen, it would still fail to avert trouble in the case of one whose birth
horoscope indicated sorrow or loss through marriage.
By this, however, I do not mean that such precautions are unnecessary, for
even if they cannot ensure perfection they can at least improve the prospects
of an ordinary marriage very considerably and can mitigate the evil of a bad
one. Care in the selection of a partner is obviously of the utmost importance
from every point of view, but it is less generally realized that the date and time
at which the marriage ceremony takes place is also a factor in increasing or
diminishing the chances of happiness.
It is a fundamental and thoroughly well established principle in astrology
that a horoscope for the moment at which anything comes into being foreshad­
ows the future of that thing, no matter whether it be a person, an animal, a
shop, a treaty, or even an idea. The present state of our physiological and
astrological knowledge is not yet sufficiently advanced to enable us to regulate
the date and time of birth of a human being, but in cases such as the starting
of a business, the drawing up of a contract, or the performance of a marriage
ceremony it is quite within our power to select a date and time which furnishes
a favorable horoscope.
As I mentioned above, this does not neutralize or avert the evil that may be
shown in the birth horoscope, but it serves to direct that evil into selected
channels, and ensures that it does as little real harm as possible.
As planetary influence always works along the line of least resistance, the
proper way to deal with afflictions is to give them a line to work along instead
of vainly trying to dodge them altogether. The object to be achieved, therefore,
in selecting the best date and time for marriage is not so much perfection as
the strengthening of the favorable influences and the relegating of the bad ones
to as obscure positions as possible. The proper selection of a date and time is a
process that requires a good deal of astrological skill and knowledge, but the
general rules can in many cases be followed without very much difficulty. The
sign position of the Moon is a matter of very considerable importance, and so
is that of Venus and the Ascendant. The ancient astrologers have given us a list
of the influences of the signs when containing one or more of these factors in
a horoscope for the time of marriage. They are as follows:
Aries. The whole of this sign is unfavorable, and no date or time should be
chosen when either the Moon, Ascendant or Venus occupies it.
Taurus. From 0 to 19 degrees is favorable, but the remainder of the sign is
bad.
Gemini. The first fifteen degrees are favorable, and the last fifteen
unfavorable.
Cancer. The whole of this sign is unfavorable except in cases where the
woman is a widow.
Leo. The whole sign is favorable, but it is said to indicate that one of the
partners will deceive the other as to his or her money or possessions.
Virgo. This sign has always been associated with widowhood, and is an
unfavorable one for any of the three significators except in the marrying of a
widow. One of the more cynical of the seventeenth century writers states that
“Virgo signifieth the woman shall soon lose her husband; wherefore it may be
beneficial to her, though pernicious to him, women seldom loving so affection­
ately as men.”
Libra. A favorable sign for betrothals but unfavorable for marriage.
Scorpio. The first fifteen degrees are said to be favorable for marrying a
maid or virgin, and indicate that she will be faithful, obedient, chaste, and
affectionate. The last fifteen degrees, however, are entirely to be avoided for
they denote a wife who will be fickle, jealous, disobedient, quarrelsome, mali­
cious, and lewd. It is rather surprising that the first half of Scorpio should have
been considered favorable by the ancients, for the part of the zodiac from 15
Libra to 15 Scorpio, called the Via Combusta, was always looked upon as the
most unfavorable area possible for the Moon and indicative of a bad end to the
marriage, while Scorpio as a whole is the fall of the Moon and the detriment of
Venus.
Sagittarius. This is said to be indifferent and neither particularly favorable
nor the reverse. On the whole it is not a bad sign for any of the signifkators
and can safely be chosen provided it is not badly afflicted in the individual
horoscopes.
Capricorn. The first ten degrees are unfavorable, but the rest of the sign is
good and indicates an affectionate and dutiful wife. It limits the number of
children, however, and is less fortunate when the woman is not a widow.
Aquarius. The whole of this sign is unfavorable, and indicates a wife of a
masculine and unruly spirit.
Pisces. The whole sign is favorable and indicates an affectionate and dutiful
wife, but it tends to cause friction owing to her talkative nature and scandal
mongering propensities.
Summarizing these rules we may assume that the best sign positions for
the Ascendant, Venus, and, above all, the Moon at the time of marriage are
anywhere in Leo, Sagittarius, and Pisces; in the first half of Gemini and Scorpio;
in the first twenty degrees of Taurus, or in the last twenty degrees of Capricorn.
It is particularly important to see that the Moon and Venus are not afflicted.
The Moon should be between the first quarter and the full if possible, and in
any case should be passing from new to full, and not from full to new. It should
be free from bad aspects, especially from Mars, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and
Pluto, and should be favorably aspected by Jupiter or Venus. Venus also should
be free from affliction and in favorable aspect to Jupiter, an ideal position being
for Venus, Jupiter, and the Moon all to be in favorable aspect with each other
and if possible in signs of the watery triplicity.
The Moons aspects need particular care and on no account should a time
be chosen when the Moon is applying to Mars, Saturn, or Uranus, even by a
favorable aspect, for it is said to cause discord and destroy happiness. Nor
should the Moon be in conjunction with the Sun, for this denotes the death of
the husband.
When choosing the best time of day, select one which places on the
Ascendant one of the above mentioned favorable signs, and take care that the
Moon and Venus are in strong, elevated, or angular positions. The Ascendant
and seventh house should be free from the malefics Mars, Saturn, Uranus, and
Pluto, and the ruler of the seventh house should if possible be in favorable
aspect with the Moon, Venus, or ruler of the Ascendant.
If both birth horoscopes are known, select a time when the planets which
are significators of marriage in the two maps are applying to favorable aspects
with each other and with the radical places.
It will, of course, be impossible to select a date and time that are ideal in
every respect, and therefore the aim must be to arrange matters so that the
good planets are in strong and angular positions, while the bad ones are tucked
away in cadent houses and are as weak as possible.
The actual moment for which a marriage horoscope must be cast is that at
which the event becomes irrevocable. In a good map, for example, the Ascen­
dant, its ruler, the Sun, and the planet from which the Moon last separated
represent the husband, while the seventh house, its ruler, Venus, and the planet
which the Moon next applies represent the wife. The tenth house, its ruler, and
any planets contained therein denote the events and fortunes following mar­
riage, and the fourth house its ruler and planets therein denote the final result.
Children are indicated by Mercury, and if that planet is strong, in aspect with
the benefics, and in a watery sign, the birth of a child will quickly follow. The
relative strength of the rulers of the Ascendant and the seventh house will
indicate which partner will be the dominant one, and the nature of any aspect
that may be formed between these planets will indicate the harmony between
husband and wife.
 The partner to obtain the chief advantage from the marriage is indicated
by the relative strength of the rulers, and of the eastern and western halves of
the map, benefics in the east favor the husband, and in the west the wife.
Apart from this comparative use of a marriage horoscope, we can treat it
in a slightly different manner by taking it as the horoscope of a definite event.
That is to say we can consider it from the point of view of marriage rather than
from that of the individuals concerned.
In this case the rulership of the houses must be slightly modified, principally
by taking the first house as the marriage itself, instead of the husband, and the
seventh house as those people or things which help or oppose it, instead of the
wife. In many cases, of course, the difference will exist more in the point of
view from which the map is regarded than in anything else, for afflictions from
the ruler of the seventh house, for example, may well indicate that the wife’s
conduct threatens the continuance of the marriage. But in other cases there is
quite a marked difference in practice, when we look upon the first house as the
marriage itself and not as one of the partners. The chief significators here are
the Sun and Mars for the husband and the Moon and Venus for the wife, while
the houses relate primarily to the marriage and only in a secondary way to the
individuals. Thus the eighth house refers to the death, not necessarily of either
husband or wife, but of the union itself. And so in a similar way must the other
houses be interpreted.
Such a horoscope may be directed in order to discover the nature of future
events affecting married life, and may be treated in every way like a birth
horoscope. Read in this manner a horoscope of this kind is of considerable
value in determining the ups and downs of married life and circumstances.
Astrological writers have sometimes expressed dissatisfaction in regard to
marriage maps, and have usually stressed the practical difficulties which arise
when trying to keep the husband to the first house and the wife to the seventh.
It will be clear, however, from the above remarks that except for comparative
purposes the horoscope of a marriage must primarily refer to the marriage
itself, and that any attempt to confine the first house to the husband, is quite at
variance with all astrological principles.
Hindu Rules
According to the elaborate rules laid down in Hindu astrology, November
and December are moderately favorable for marriage, while February, March,
May, and June are good.
Marriage should not take place on the day of new Moon, on the last five
days before new Moon, nor on the 4th, 6th, 8th, 9th, or 14th days after new
Moon or full Moon.
The best zodiacal positions for the Moon are said to be in Asterisms No. 4,
5, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 26 and 27.
The marriage ceremony should take place at a time when Gemini, Virgo,
or Libra is rising for preference, but it is important to choose an Ascendant
that is not the sign on the second, eighth, or ninth house in the horoscope of
either partner. The benefic planets Venus, Jupiter, and Caput should be in the
seventh, eighth, or twelfth houses, and the Moon should be in the second,
third, or eleventh house, but it must not be in the same sign as the Sun, Venus,
Mars, or Saturn, nor be between two malefks. The malefic planets Mars, Saturn,
and Cauda should occupy the third, sixth, eighth, and eleventh houses. It is
said to be of considerable importance to see that Venus does not occupy the
sixth house, and that Mars does not occupy the eighth, the particular dangers
indicated by these positions being venereal disease and death, respectively.
Curiously enough great stress is also laid on the necessity for keeping the
seventh house entirely unoccupied even by well aspected benefics.
The general effect of planets in the houses of the marriage horoscope is
stated by the ancient Hindu astrological writers to be as follows:
First House. Sun, widowhood. Moon, danger of wife’s death. Mercury,
wealth, wife outlives husband. Venus or Jupiter, wealth, happiness and long life.
Mars, poverty, death of both partners. Saturn, poverty and misery. Caput, death
of, or trouble to, the children.
 Second House. Sun, Mars, Saturn, or Caput, poverty. Mercury, Venus, or
Jupiter, wealth, wife outlives husband. Moon, many sons.
Ihird House. Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, or Jupiter, many sons,
wealth. Saturn, wife has great popularity and many friends. Caput, early death
of wife.
Fourth House. Sun or Moon, wife unpopular.
Mercury, Venus, or Jupiter, wife will be happy. Mars, little wealth. Saturn,
wife unable to nurse children. Caput, husband keeps another woman.
Fifth House. Sun or Mars, death of sons. Moon, several daughters. Mercury,
Venus or Jupiter, many sons. Saturn, wife afflicted with serious diseases. Caput,
early death of wife.
Sixth House. Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, or Caput, wife liked by all on
account of her good nature. Moon, widowhood. Mercury, prosperity but quar­
relsome wife. Venus, poverty.
Seventh House. Sun, diseased wife. Moon, wife travels abroad. Mercury or
Jupiter, suffering to the wife. Venus, early death of wife. Mars, imprisonment of
wife. Saturn, widowhood. Caput, poverty.
Eighth House. Sun, wife outlives husband. Moon, Venus, or Caput, early
death of wife. Mercury or Jupiter, separation or divorce. Mars, sickly wife.
Saturn, rich wife and affectionate husband.
Ninth House. Sun, Venus, Mars, or Jupiter, charitable wife. Moon, many
daughters, wife of a wandering nature. Mercury, healthy wife. Saturn or Caput,
barren marriage.
Tenth House. Sun or Saturn, dishonest or criminal wife. Moon, wife poor
and of loose character. Mercury, Venus, or Jupiter, wealthy, and popular wife.
Mars, early death of wife. Caput, widowhood.
Eleventh House. Sun, or Mars, many sons. Moon, Mercury, Venus, or Saturn,
wealth. Jupiter, long-lived wife. Caput, husband outlives wife.
Twelfth House. Sun or Moon, poverty. Mercury, many sons and grandsons.
Venus, chaste wife. Mars or Saturn, wife fond of drink. Jupiter, wealth. Caput,
unchaste wife.
 Chapter XXIV: The Consummation of Marriage
In Eastern countries, where the consummation of marriage is regarded
more as a religious rite than it is in the West, the choice of a suitable time is
considered to be of the highest importance. It is not surprising, therefore, that
while Hindu astrological literature deals with the subject fairly fully, our own
books practically ignore it, and when they mention sexual intercourse at all it
is almost always from the point of the sex of offspring.
At the time of intercourse, the Moon is favorably placed when it is in Aries,
Leo, Libra, or Capricorn, which give strength and power, in good aspect with
Mars or Venus or both. Any aspect, especially an applying one, from the Moon
to Saturn should be avoided, for it conduces to coldness, but an aspect to the
Sun is favorable from a sensual point of view. One of the more outspoken of
the early works states that in intercourse between unmarried persons the Moon
is favorably placed in Gemini and Aquarius, as well as in the above mentioned
signs, but it is to be avoided in Pisces, “for that oftentimes Infirmities come
thereby.” An aspect to Jupiter is said to cause feminine reluctance, while the
presence of Saturn in the seventh house is stated to cause discord at the time.
If conception is to be avoided the Moon should not be in Cancer, Scorpio,
or Pisces but is best in Gemini, Leo, or Virgo, applying to Venus, and in no
aspect whatever with Jupiter. According to some authors a lunar aspect to Mars
hinders conception, but this would probably depend upon the signs involved.
Venus in the Ascendant in Libra or Pisces favors pleasure and harmony, but
Saturn in the seventh must always be avoided.
For conception to take place the Moon should be in the watery signs Cancer,
Scorpio, or Pisces, and the Ascendant and fifth cusp should be in these signs
also. At the same time, however, we are told that if a male child is desired the
chief significators, namely the rising sign, the sign on the fifth cusp, and the
signs containing the Moon and its dispositor and the rulers of the Ascendant
and fifth houses should be masculine, while for a female child they should be
feminine.
 If conception is to occur it is essential that Venus and the Moon be free
from affliction and placed as strongly and favorably as possible, for on the
strength of Venus depend the woman’s functions, and on that of the Moon
depend the mans. The sign Cancer on the tenth cusp and the Moon rising in
Libra is said to favor conception, the sex of the child being determined by the
masculine or feminine nature of the signs containing the chief significators. In
general, however, the Ascendant and Moon should be strong and free from
affliction, and if possible Jupiter should be well-aspected on the cusp of the
Midheaven, the signs occupied being either masculine or feminine according
to whether a boy or a girl is desired. If it is impossible to place Jupiter on the
tenth cusp, he should be situated on the cusp of the eleventh house or the fifth
in favorable aspect with the cusp of the Ascendant, its ruler or the Moon; or
alternatively a time should be chosen when the Moon or ruler of the Ascendant
is on the cusp of the fifth house in good aspect with the cusp of the Ascendant.
For the conception of a male child it is advisable to place fixed signs on the
angles and see that Venus and Jupiter are unafflicted, and that the Ascendant is
a masculine sign, free from affliction, and preferably one of long ascension.
The angles should be clear of malefics and feminine planets, and the Sun and
Moon should be in favorable aspect to one another. In the case of a female child
the same rules apply mutatis mutandis.
The Ascendant in particular should be chosen with some care, not only to
ensure favorable aspects at the time of coitus, but also with regard to subsequent
afflictions, for the aspects received by the ruler of the ascendant during the
seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth months after conception should be as favorable
as possible, and the sign itself should be free from the presence of Mars, Saturn,
and Uranus.
In regulating the sign position of the chief significators from the point of
view of sex, the aim is to place the majority in signs of the required sex, for it
would usually be quite impossible to ensure their all being either masculine or
feminine as the case might be. If the significators are disposed equally between
the two sexes, the ruler of the planetary hour and the planet to which the Moon
applies are said to give the casting vote. If, however, the testimonies are still
equal it is said that the child then conceived will be an hermaphrodite, or if the
Moon, the Ascendant, and the fifth cusp are in Gemini, Sagittarius, or Pisces,
the birth will be that of twins.
Tire foregoing rules summarize all the information that is at present
available, most of it coming from ancient sources and quite unverified. From a
scientific point of view the rules for regulating sex, are perhaps slightly better
than the rule that male children are conceived in odd hours, and female children
in even ones, or Aristotle’s rule that male children are conceived if the woman
lies upon her right side, but they do not strike one as constituting a very marked
advance. Future developments of the Pre-natal Epoch and its relation to coitus
are much more likely to furnish reliable methods.
In Hindu astrology it is considered of great importance for the first sexual
connection to take place at night and under the most favorable planetary
conditions. Sunday, Tuesday, and Saturday are held to be unfavorable days, and
so are the 4th, 6th, 8th, 14th, 15th, and 30th days after new Moon. The Moon
at the time should not be in Aries, Scorpio, or Capricorn, but is best situated
in No. 4, 12, 13, 15, 19, 21, 24, 26, or 27 of the Asterisms, while on no account
whatever should any planet be situated in the eighth house.
 Chapter XXV: Classified Rules and Aphorisms
The preceding chapters do little more than constitute a fairly full survey of
an immense subject, much of which is practically untouched and awaiting the
individual research worker. Had space been no object it would have been
possible to amplify some of the sections and discuss further rules and methods,
many of them of great antiquity, but this was found to be quite out of the
question. At the same time, however, I was reluctant to omit all the rules that
have been put forward in the past, for in some of them at least there is much of
value; and as a great many of them are practically unknown or forgotten today
it seemed desirable that they should at least be collected together and made
accessible to the astrological student. Hence the inclusion of the present chapter.
A word of warning is needed in regard to the numerous statements and
rules that follow. They have been collected from many sources, and necessarily
differ considerably in the degree of reliability that can be assigned to each. They
should therefore be accepted with caution, and applied with confidence only
when there are other confirmatory indications in the horoscope. It is perhaps
unnecessary to state that the particularly evil and drastic effects ascribed to
some of the positions cannot be expected to occur unless very serious afflictions
are present.
The classification is necessarily a rather loose one, for there is a good deal
of overlapping which prevents any rigid grouping. Those rules that deal with
the effect of a single planet or position are most conveniently arranged under
an astrological heading, while the rules that include several factors fall more
easily into categories based upon their effects.
A few explanatory remarks will be found under some of the headings.
The Influence of Planets in Signs
Most of the effects attributed to the various planetary positions in this
section are fairly reliable. They do not depend upon the position or house
rulership of the planet in any particular map, but are natural influences inherent
in the sign position alone in consequence of its zodiacal relationships, and are
therefore more or less applicable to any horoscope. Only those positions are
given that have a direct bearing upon sex matters.
Planets in Aries
1. Sun. An influential partner, or one of good birth or position. Marriage
will bring many friendships, and may be brought about by a friend.
2. Moon. Secret love affairs or attachments with mysterious or peculiar
features.
3. Mercury. An intellectual partner; many relatives by marriage; marriage
to a person from a distance; partner of weak health; some secret feature in
regard to the marriage.
4. Venus. A happy marriage, which may be entered into hastily or in youth;
difficulty in restraining the affections, and danger of seduction; secret attach­
ments; desire for a mental union; risk attaches to domestic affairs; danger of
ill-treatment from women. Tends to cause unhappiness in marriage in a wom­
ans horoscope.
5. Mars. Loss of money through marriage; difficulty in consummating the
union. To a woman, danger of seduction.
6. Jupiter. An ambitious partner; gain through marriage; mental outlook
and health changed by marriage.
7. Saturn. A jealous partner; marriage to an elder or to a person previously
married; danger of poverty and trouble through marriage.
Planets in Taurus
8. Sun. Disputes or legal troubles arising through marriage; liability to
misplaced affection; may form liaisons. To a woman, gain through marriage.
9. Moon. Secret love affairs; gain or loss of money by marriage; native will
survive partner.
10. Mercury. Worry, obstacles, difficulties, and loss in marriage.
11. Venus. Desire for self-control; honorable love affairs; many troubles in
love; marriage may be delayed; financial loss in marriage; death of partner, and
one union only. Quarrels may arise through incompatibility of temper.
 12. Mars. Early love affairs; loss of honor and scandal through attachments;
tragic or unfortunate marriage; wife is the dominant partner.
13. jupiter. Chaste affections; gain through love affairs and marriage; partner
with mystical interests. To a woman, dangerous liaison with a pervert.
14. Saturn. Strong passions, and danger of trouble through loose women.
Peculiar domestic experiences; financial loss through marriage, and death of
the partner.
Planets in Gemini
15. Sun. To a woman, two love affairs or marriages.
16. Moon. Reprehensible conduct in regard to marriage.
17. Venus. Desires mental love-life. Dual love affairs, or attachment to a
relative. Peculiar intrigues necessitated by home life or domestic ties. Attach­
ment or marriage to a professional person; partner may come from a consid­
erable distance; many relatives by marriage and success with foreign affairs;
more than one union.
18. Mars. Involved in two simultaneous attachments; marriage to a relative
or a religious person; more than one union.
19. Jupiter. Domestic sorrows, marriage to cousin or distant relative; trouble
in marriage through fickleness, or in connection with letters, journeys or
relatives; more than one union.
20. Saturn. Marriage to a foreigner, or an alliance made abroad or on a
journey.
Planets in Cancer
21. Venus. Fickle and secret love affairs. Marriage may be delayed on
account of money or occupation; a parent may help or hinder the marriage.
Marriage to person of better social standing, or to one previously married, or
to a foreigner. Partner with occult interests; fame or notoriety through marriage;
death of partner abroad. Union in a foreign country, or during a journey or
voyage.
22. Mars. Discontented partner; unhappy marriage which may bring
scandal and ill-repute. Struggle to maintain the home.
 23. Jupiter. Fame, reputation, or social success through marriage.
24. Saturn. Sorrow through love affairs. Domestic trouble and family
discords.
Planets in Leo
25. Venus. Ardent, and may advocate free-love. Secret attachments with
inferiors, which may lead to dishonor or failure in duty. Marriage to a friend,
or brought about by friends. A love match, sometimes following love at first
sight. One lasting affection at the end of life.
26. Mars. Passionate love affairs and secret alliances. An ardent partner.
Liable to disappointment in love, death of the sweetheart or partner, separation,
or some irregularity in the union.
27. Jupiter. Rich marriage to an influential friend.
28. Saturn. Father helps or hinders a love affair. Marriage to a friend and
realization of hopes through the partner. More than one union.
Planets in Virgo
29. Sun. Position and reputation affected by peculiar liaisons.
30. Moon. Secret sorrows in marriage.
31. Venus. May cause celibacy. Strange or illegal loves, and intrigue and
tragedy in love affairs. Entanglement with inferiors, and dishonor through dual
attachments. Secret marriage or liaison; obscure partner or one with secret
troubles; partner helps in financial affairs.
32. Mars. Danger of seduction; peculiar ties; unhappy love affairs; secret
unions with inferiors.
33. Jupiter. Secret love affairs or marriage. Marriage to social inferior which
may involve or entail some peculiarity.
34. Saturn. Disinclined to marry. Romantic courtship. Trouble and loss
through marriage, but more chance of happiness with a widow than with a
previously unmarried woman. More than one union.
Planets in Libra
35. Sun. Strongly separative influence. Native often separated from partner,
and usually the survivor, but the partner will be a person of much strength,
and a source . of help to the native. To a woman, early engagement or marriage,
but risk of trouble in connection with either or both.
36. Moon. Marriage may be helped or hindered by a parent of the native or
partner. May be a difference in age or social position. Favors marriage and
popularity, but affliction leads to separation and divorce. Liability to scandal
and legal troubles, and danger to the reputation and position from vindictive
women.
37. Mercury. Marriage for intellectual companionship to a clever, artistic,
or literary partner; but sometimes marriage to a relative, social inferior, or poor
person. Many obstacles and legal difficulties in regard to marriage.
38. Venus. Pure and refined affections. Many sorrows through the death of
loved ones. Love affairs with relatives. A devoted partner, and a love-marriage
with financial sacrifice and heavy responsibilities, though sometimes social
advantages. Native survives partner.
39. Mars. Strongly separative influence. Sorrow and trouble through love
affairs. Marriage may be an early or hasty one, or greatly delayed through an
early disappointment. Responsibilities through marriage, and domestic strife.
Danger to partner’s life or health.
40. Jupiter. Happy and fruitful marriage, with financial or social gain.
Marriage may bring ninth house matters into the life.
41. Saturn. May be celibate or suffer an early loss or disappointment. Father
or father-in-law greatly influences the marriage. Partner differs in age or social
position, and is often an inferior. Fickle fortune through marriage; the career
may be greatly affected. If afflicted, separation and divorce.
42. Uranus. Hasty or early engagement or marriage. Danger of separation
or divorce.
43. Neptune. Secret and strange love affairs. Treachery, deception, and
adultery. Danger of separation, divorce, or annulment of marriage and of early
bereavement, in cases of a happy union. Partner may be physically afflicted, or
die under strange or horrible conditions. May marry a foreigner or in a foreign
country.
 Planets in Scorpio
44. Sun. To a woman money or property by marriage, but danger of
separation, or the death of the husband.
45. Moon. Favors marriage in a man’s horoscope, but to a woman brings
trouble through the opposite sex, disharmony in marriage, and trouble through
other women. Money may be obtained through marriage, but trouble will
accompany it, and it may be wasted, or have to be spent freely upon others.
46. Venus. Jealous love nature and strong passions. Dangerous attachments
and risk of betrayal. Misfortunes through the opposite sex. An unhappy attach­
ment may lead to suicide or murder. Partner previously married. Delay in love
and marriage, or loss of partner by separation or death. Money may come
through marriage, but only after much trouble and difficulty. If Scorpio rises,
or Venus is the ruler, most of the harm is caused by the native.
47. Mars. Gain by marriage but partner will be unhappy. Danger of violence
to or from the partner.
48. Jupiter. Critical or peculiar attachment. Unusual family experiences.
Gain by marriage, and by the death of the partner, but liable to trouble or loss
through the partner’s actions.
49. Saturn. Sorrowful love affairs. Secret intrigues and domestic ties. Danger
of venereal diseases.
Planets in Sagittarius
50. Venus. Love affairs affect the reputation. Gain and mental improvement
through marriage. Marriage to a relative, foreigner, or person from a distance.
Marriage or union abroad or on a voyage. May cause secret love affairs and
adultery. More than one union.
51. Mars. Mental improvement through marriage. Secret or often
undeserved scandal. More than one union.
52. Jupiter. Gain through marriage. Two love affairs or marriages, one
probably to a relative.
53. Saturn. Help or hindrance in marriage from relatives. Marriage causes
travel or comes as the result of a journey, and may lead to trouble or separation.
 Planets in Capricorn
54. Sun. In a womans horoscope, unfavorable for marriage and for the
husbands health.
55. Moon. Drawbacks in marriage. Partner may differ in age, social
standing, or financial position. Marriage threatened by death or disharmony.
56. Venus. Ambitious love nature; restricted affections. Unhealthy and
secret attachments which may upset the mental balance. Intrigues with inferi­
ors. Disappointments in love, and coldness or indifference of the partner.
Marriage of convenience or for social position. Delay in marriage owing to
difference in age, position or money, or on account of parental opposition.
57. Mars. Early entanglement with an inferior. Social gain through marriage,
which makes an important change in the life and greatly affects the latter years.
58. Jupiter. Parents help or hinder the marriage. Domestic life greatly affects
the career.
59. Saturn. Opposed to marriage. Entangled in attachments to inferiors.
Bad judgment in the choice of a partner.
Planets in Aquarius
60. Venus. May cause celibacy and platonic unions, or romantic and secret
attachments. Sudden beginning or ending of love affairs. A love marriage, often
after a long courtship. Trouble through difference in age of native and partner.
May delay marriage to middle or old age.
61. Mars. Fortunate and happy marriage.
62. Jupiter. A love marriage to an older or elderly partner.
63. Saturn. Faithful in love. A happy marriage or a pure romantic attachment
and lasting tie.
Planets in Pisces
64. Sun. To a woman, hindrances and obstacles in love affairs, financial
gain by marriage but illness to the husband.
65. Moon. Voluptuous and sensual nature. Numerous attachments both
before and after marriage.
 66. Venus. Liable to a detrimental entanglement. Delays, obstacles, and
secrecy in engagement and marriage. Partner may be an unworthy one, but
marriage is likely to bring gain, and may be followed by ill-health. More than
one union.
67. Mars. Disappointment in love affairs and delay in marriage. Two
attachments.
68. Jupiter. Marriage to a social inferior, and obstacles to marriage arising
out of scandal. More than one union.
69. Saturn. Handicapped by unfortunate ties and a romantic attachment
which ended tragically or sorrowfully. Unhappy marriage or an ailing partner.
Trouble through servants after marriage.
Venus in Houses
70. In First House. Addicted to flirting. Danger of seduction if afflicted.
Often delays marriage.
71. In Second House. May marry for money, or marry a rich partner after
some delay. Partner will not be happy on account of the native’s neglect, jealousy,
or exacting demands.
72. In Third House. Danger of entanglements and of seduction if afflicted,
but sometimes gives monastic tastes. Love affairs on a voyage, and marriage or
union abroad or while traveling.
73. In Fourth House. Unstable love affairs. Danger of seduction and
adultery. Loss of position through a love affair. Strange events in love and
marriage. Unreturned affection on the part of the native or the partner.
74. In Fifth House. Inclined to be jealous and self-indulgent. Precocious
and dangerous love affairs. Fortunate marriage.
75. In Sixth House. Many troubles in love; attachments to inferiors; and a
partner of low birth or social position. Unhappy marriage. Danger of impotence
or venereal diseases.
76. In Seventh House. Native attracted to loose women. Marriage
sometimes delayed and sometimes early, but if in Scorpio or Capricorn an
irregular union may be formed. More than one marriage.
 77. In Eighth House. Exacting affections. Danger of troubles in love and
seduction, and of loss of property through women. Marriage may be delayed,
and may bring financial gain, followed by the death of the partner, or separation
and divorce. A love affair or the marriage may be broken by the revival of a
past scandal. Sometimes causes union with a sterile person.
78. In Ninth House. Strange or secret love affairs. Disappointment in love
may cause a voyage. Marriage delayed or denied altogether. Marriage abroad,
or to a foreigner or traveler. Benefits through relatives by marriage.
79. In Tenth House. Rich and happy marriage, often to a social superior.
Profession and career benefit through marriage.
80. In Eleventh House. Happy love affairs and marriage, but greater
happiness in youth than in age. May cohabit with a woman with children.
81. In Twelfth House. Entanglement with loose women, and dangerous
adulteries. Trouble, enmity, and betrayal in love and marriage. Liable to venereal
diseases. Danger of death or imprisonment through the attachments.
House Position of Ruler of Seventh House
82. In First House. Great friendship with and influence over women, but
they will cause trouble in the end especially if the lord of the fourth afflicts the
significators. If afflicted, discord and strife in marriage, and death of the partner.
83. In Second House. Money through marriage, or marriage for money. If
afflicted, the wife or husband wastes or steals the natives money. Native outlives
partner.
84. In Third House. Marriage to a relative, wTiich will be happy or the
reverse according to the aspects received. May indicate misconduct of the
partner with the natives brother or sister.
85. In Fourth House. Benefit and inheritance through women. Partner of
native’s race or lineage. Contentions on account of birth, parentage, or inheri­
tance if afflicting ruler of the ascendant.
86. In Fifth House. Love match with a young, pleasant, cheerful, and
pleasure-loving partner, but if afflicted, an unfaithful one. Injuries and loss
through children.
 87. In Sixth House. Partner of low birth or of blemished reputation, a
servant, or an invalid.
88. In Seventh House. Honorable and worthy partner of good family who
will not love the native and will cause trouble through other affairs. If afflicted,
sorrow and trouble through marriage, and also from loose women.
89. In Eighth House. Partner with money, who benefits by the death of
others. If afflicted, extravagant and wasteful partner.
90. In Ninth House. Benefit or loss and trouble through partners relatives,
according to the aspects received. Foreign partner.
91. In Tenth House. Partner of high birth or position, but if afflicted, loss
or trouble in the profession through marriage.
92. In Eleventh House. Many friendships through marriage. Happy
marriage to a widow with children. If afflicted, loss of friends, or misconduct
of partner with the native’s friends. If Saturn is in aspect, marriage will be one
of friendship and almost platonic.
93. In Twelfth House. Enmity and dissension with the partner, who will be
of obscure birth. If well aspected, marriage to a doctor, nurse, or person
connected with an institution.
Rulers of Houses in Seventh House
94. Ruler of First. Native is fond of women. If strong and well aspected,
good fortune by marriage. If combust or afflicted, wife will cause natives ruin,
and may poison him if the sign is Scorpio, and Cauda is there as well.
95. Ruler of Second. Gains money wrongfully and spends it on loose
women, but later obtains property and money by marriage. Extravagant wife.
96. Ruler of Third. If in any aspect with ruler of seventh, native commits
misconduct with his sister-in-law, and takes a journey in consequence, espe­
cially if ruler of ninth is also in aspect.
97. Ruler of Fourth. Gain from women, and an estate by the wife.
98. Ruler of Fifth. Happy married life, but trouble through children.
Sometimes the wife is an open enemy,
 99. Ruler of Sixth. Associates with loose women, and is involved in scandal
thereby, especially if Mars is lord of seventh and in square to Venus. Liable to
venereal diseases. Sickly partner, or one of low birth.
100. Ruler of Eighth. Rich wife. Wife inherits money and property
unexpectedly, especially if lord of eighth is strong. Native survives partner.
101. Ruler of Ninth. Marries a well-educated stranger whose relations love
her but dislike the native.
102. Ruler of Tenth. Gains money, credit, and reputation through marriage.
103. Ruler of Eleventh. Happy marriage to good and rich wife. Native will
be poor in youth and rich in old age. More than one union.
104. Ruler of Twelfth. Loss and scandal through loose women. Natives wife
is his enemy, and is ill-bred and of poor and obscure parentage.
The Separations and Applications of the Moon
105. If the Moon is decreasing in light, separating from Saturn and applying
to Venus, the native will covet unlawful loves, impure and immodest lusts, but
nevertheless seek and gain an estate and riches.
106. If the Moon is full or increasing in light, separating from Mars and
applying to Venus, the native will be adulterous and lustful. If the Moon be
decreasing in light, he will be addicted to promiscuous lust, and will suffer
disgrace thereby.
107. If the Moon is decreasing in light, separating from Mars and applying
to Jupiter, the native will be addicted to secret vices.
108. The Moon in a diurnal nativity separating from the Sun and applying
to Venus hinders marriage, and indicates barrenness, lust, and unnatural loves.
In a nocturnal nativity it denotes credit, reputation, and many wives.
109. The Moon increasing in light, separating from Venus and applying to
Mercury, makes the native lustful, but amiable in venereous acts. If the Moon
is decreasing, he will be vicious and may be a procurer.
 110. The Moon increasing or full in a nocturnal nativity, separating from
Venus and applying to Saturn, gives a wife of infamous character. If the nativity
is diurnal and the Moon decreasing, the native will be vicious, and incur
disgrace through libidinous actions.
111. Tire Moon increasing or full in a diurnal nativity, separating from
Venus and applying to Mars denotes misery, imprisonment, or death through
a love affair.
112. When the Moon separates from Mars and applies to Saturn in a
nocturnal birth many inconveniences will be suffered through women.
Sensitive Points
113. The ancient Arabic sensitive points relating directly to sex matters are
as follows:
(a) Part of Marriage, or more correctly. Part of the Marriage of Men and
Women (Hermes). Ascendant plus cusp of seventh house minus Venus. This is
the point usually applied.
(b) Part of Marriage (Walis). Ascendant plus Venus minus Sun. (Also called
Part of Trickery and Deception of Men by Women, Part of Intercourse, and The
Heart.)
(c) Part of the Marriage of Men (Hermes). Ascendant plus Venus minus
Saturn. (Also called Part of Fraudulent Marriage and Facilitating It.)
(d) Part of the Marriage of Women (Hermes). Ascendant plus Saturn minus
Venus.
(e) Part of the Marriage of Women (Valens).
Ascendant plus Mars minus Moon. (Also called Part of Misconduct by
Women, Part of Trickery and Deceit of Men by Women, Part of Intercourse, and
Part of Unchastity of Women.)
(f) Part of Chastity of Women. Ascendant plus Venus minus Moon.
(g) Part of the Time of Marriage (Hermes). Ascendant plus Moon minus
Sun.
All the above parts are calculated in the same way in both day and night
births.
 The modern sensitive points, mostly German, which relate to sex matters
are as follows:
(h) Part of Love and Marriage. Ascendant plus Venus minus Jupiter.
(i) Part of Perversion. Ascendant plus Venus minus Uranus.
(j) Part of Emotion, Passion, and Affection. Ascendant plus Mars minus
Venus.
(k) Part of Desire and Sex Attraction. Ascendant plus cusp of fifth house
minus ruler of fifth house.
The formulae in these cases are for births occurring by day, or when the
Sun is above the horizon. They must be reversed for night births.
One or two special rules referring to the first mentioned Part of Marriage
in the Arabic list, will be found under subject headings.
Trouble Through Love and Marriage
114. Marriage, and other matters of a natural or legal character, suffer
hindrance from the malefics; but matters of an unnatural or illegal character,
are hindered by the benefics.
(This is the substance of the alternative 43rd Aphorism in Ptolemy’s
Centiloquy, which is not usually included in modern versions, probably owing
to the fact that its original phraseology is obscure, and it has not hitherto been
understood.)
115. In a womans horoscope the Sun afflicted by Uranus indicates
elopement or seduction, or prevents marriage. If at the same time Mars afflicts
the Moon or Venus, seduction is seriously threatened.
116. When Venus is powerfully situated but in the sign or exaltation of a
malefic, inconveniences are to be feared from unlawful loves.
117. When Venus is badly placed and afflicted by a weak and unfortunate
Mars the native will suffer a world of mischief and troubles by means of love.
Details Concerning the Native
118. If both luminaries are in masculine signs in mens nativities, their
actions will be natural; but if so placed in womens nativities their actions will
be masculine. Mars and Venus, if matutine, incline to masculinity; and if
vespertine, to femininity. (Ptolemy, Centiloquy, 71)
119. Take notice in the nativity of a man, whether the Sun and Moon be
both in masculine signs, or both in one masculine quarter or one masculine
sign; for if so, it signifies that the native’s acts and temper shall be naturally
such as belong to men. But in a womans nativity, the luminaries so disposed,
make a kind of virago, one that shall despise men, and obtrude herself into
their affairs, and such a one, if she marry, will be sure to wear the breeches. If
Venus and Mars shall be both in masculine signs, the native will be moderately
affected toward the delights of Venus, and use them according to nature and
law; but if they happen to be oriental, he will be more salacious and immoderate,
inclinable to incest, sodomy, etc. But if they be occidental and in feminine
signs, his spirits will be nasty and brutish; and so much the more, if Saturn cast
any aspect to them. But if it be a woman, and Mars and Venus oriental and in
masculine signs, she will abhor mens embraces, and take no delight therein,
but rather please herself with some little wantonness with persons of her own
sex. But if Mars and Venus be in feminine signs and occidental, she will love
and take delight in mens kindness. (Bonatus, 131st Consideration.)
120. Saturn elevated above Venus, and in square to her makes the native
shameless, and a perfect woman-hater. But if Venus be elevated above Saturn,
he shall be a great friend unto women. (Hermes, Centiloquy, 45.)
121. Uranus afflicting Venus in any part of the horoscope, shows intrigues
with unmarried women; but when afflicting the Moon, the attraction is to
married women. If either Uranus or the Moon or Venus be in the first, fifth, or
seventh house, it will lead to complications. If Mars adds his influence it will
be much talked of, and may form the subject of a public scandal. This is certain
to be the case when the planets thus in aspect are in the tenth house. But when
Saturn gives his influence by aspect or conjunction, the matter is a secret one.
Jupiter assisting brings the native safely through his troubles. Mercury is a great
talker, and his influence is to be feared in this matter.
 Neptune afflicting Moon or Venus disposes to illicit and unnatural appetites,
chaotic relations, and lascivious habits. The conjunction and opposition are
most to be feared, especially if no benefic aspects intervene to ward off the evil.
The good aspects of Jupiter or Saturn to the Moon and Venus, do much to
steady and regulate the expression of the sex feeling. The evil aspect of Saturn,
however, tends to produce morbid feeling and unnatural restraint. Mars being
in evil aspect or conjunction with Venus, or Venus in the signs of Mars,
stimulates the sex feeling, and disposes to freedom of expression. Uranus, on
the other hand, makes the native erratic in this respect; while Neptune conduces
to chaotic and highly sensuous appetites. (Sepharial.)
122. With regard to marriage Aries, Taurus, Leo, Capricorn indicate
eagerness therefore; for Libra and Sagittarius much the same can be said. With
regard to the conduct of women, Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius denote
reserve and abstinence; Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn corruption and
bad conduct, while Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces denote a mean in
this regard; of the four Virgo is the most virtuous. (Al-Biruni.)
123. Venus in Aries or Scorpio signifies the native shall be bitter against
women, shall not willingly converse with them, yet will keep company with
courtesans and incur damage thereby. He will rarely marry, but if he does he
will be brought to it with much difficulty, incurring strife and contention, by
reason of which many evils will befall him; and he will be jealous of his wife,
and possibly upon that suspicion may occasion her death.
124. Venus in Aries, Scorpio, or Capricorn is a sign of lust.
125. If Venus be in Taurus or Libra the native will earn disgrace through
association with courtesans.
126. Venus in a cardinal sign indicates a native who is inconstant in affection
and not content with one woman.
127. Venus in a mutable sign makes the native delight in marriage.
128. If the ruler of the ascendant is in a mutable sign, and Venus is afflicted,
the native will not be content with one woman.
 129. Mercury with Venus in the fourth house afflicted by Mars indicates a
man or woman of loose morals and conduct.
130. Venus in the fourth house in square or opposition to the Moon, either
being in Aquarius or Cancer, indicates fickleness and sensuality on the part of
the native whether male or female.
131. In a woman’s horoscope Venus in the seventh house and Saturn in the
fourth indicates that she has no great desire to marry and has little sexual
interest.
132. Venus in conjunction with Saturn in the seventh house denotes
impotence, barrenness or sexual indifference on the part of the native.
133. Venus afflicted in the seventh or eleventh house makes the native of
loose morals and fond of fast company.
134. Venus in conjunction with Mars in the twelfth house indicates that the
native will ill-treat his wife.
135. Either Mars or Venus in an angle in Capricorn or Cancer afflicting the
Moon denotes vicious inclinations in the native.
136. Venus in conjunction, square, or opposition with Mars makes the
native headstrong in love, and liable to commit adultery.
137. When Venus is in conjunction with Saturn and aspecting the ruler of
the Ascendant, the native is inclined to sodomy, or at least loves old, hard
featured women or poor dirty wenches.
138. Taurus, Libra, or Scorpio rising and Mars in affliction, causes the native
to do harm to women.
139. Mars in Taurus or Libra shows the native to be luxurious, and given to
all abominable and filthy actions, from which he will suffer.
140. When Mars rises in Taurus, Libra, or Capricorn in a womans nativity,
the native will be immodest and unchaste. (Hermes, Centiloquy, 25.)
141. If Mars is ruler of the Ascendant and also the strongest planet in the
horoscope, but in no aspect with the benefics, the native will delight in bitter
and dead things, and in filthy, dirty, and ugly women.
Influences Delaying or Preventing Marriage
 142. In a woman’s horoscope Mars in the fifth house delays marriage, and
if at the same time Saturn afflicts the Sun the native does not marry unless
Jupiter is in the seventh house, or two of these planets are in Cancer, Scorpio,
or Pisces.
143. A native with Saturn ruling the seventh house rarely marries until he
is over 30 years of age, unless Jupiter or Venus be in the Ascendant or in good
aspect to the Moon.
144. Saturn strong in the first, fifth, seventh or eleventh house in a barren
sign indicates a single life.
145. Venus and the Moon in square or opposition to Saturn indicates a
single life and little desire for marriage.
146. In men a prime cause of a single life is the affliction of the Moon by
the conjunction or aspect of Saturn. In women, the same effect follows the
conjunction of a planet with the Sun, or the Sun greatly afflicted in Taurus.
147. Moon in Libra, Capricorn or Aquarius in conjunction with the Sun
and in square or opposition to Saturn denies marriage.
148. Either Saturn or Mars combust and afflicting the Moon, Venus, and
ruler of the seventh house denotes lack of interest in marriage and children.
149. Venus, the Moon, the ruler of the Ascendant and the significators of
marriage in Gemini, Leo, or Virgo, combust, cadent, or retrograde indicates a
single life and an aversion to marriage.
150. When some of the significators are in Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces and
others are in Gemini, Leo, and Virgo, the latter including the Moon and Venus
afflicted by Saturn and not in good aspect with the Sun or Jupiter, the native
will be wanton and lustful but averse to marriage.
151. Venus afflicted in Leo indicates a woman-hater and misogamist.
152. If the Moon is in Scorpio in square to Saturn in Leo or in opposition
to Saturn in Taurus the native rarely has either wife or children. If Saturn is in
Aquarius, he will be a woman-hater. (Cardan.)
153. Saturn and Mars in opposition from the first and seventh houses; or
Saturn alone near the seventh cusp; or Venus in Leo or Scorpio in no aspect
with Mars; or Mars in the seventh in Taurus, Virgo, or Capricorn aspecting
Venus or not; all indicate difficulty in obtaining a wife; but a sudden marriage
in the end, although the native is of a lascivious disposition.
Influences Favoring Marriage
154. Marriage, or the inclination thereto, is indicated if the Moon or ruler
of the Ascendant is in reception with the ruler of the seventh house, or if the
Moon passes from an aspect of the ruler of the seventh to an aspect with the
ruler of the ascendant, or vice versa.
155. Ruler of Ascendant applying by good aspect to ruler of the seventh or
in reception with it; or Venus or the Moon in reception or good aspect with
the ruler of the seventh, Sun, or Mars, indicates desire for marriage.
156. The position of the Moon, Venus, the cusp of the seventh house, and
the ruler of that house in Cancer, Scorpio, or Pisces is an indication of marriage,
and also of many children if the ruler of the fifth house is in agreement.
157. The rulers of the Ascendant and seventh house in favorable aspect,
especially from Cancer, Scorpio, or Pisces, indicates marriage.
158. The Sun, Moon, Venus or Jupiter in good aspect with the cusp of the
seventh house indicates marriage.
Single Marriages
159. Significators of marriage in any sign except Gemini, Sagittarius, and
Pisces, afflicted by the malefics or Cauda, prevents more than one marriage.
160. Moon or Venus in any sign except Gemini, Sagittarius, and Pisces,
applying to one planet only indicates one marriage only.
161. In a woman’s horoscope the Sun in any sign except a mutable one, or
in aspect with only one oriental planet, indicates a single marriage only.
Plural Marriages
162. Tlie number of wives is indicated by the number of planets situated in
the same sign as the Moon that receive the Moons application. If there are no
planets in the sign, the number of wives is indicated by the number of planets
having dignities in that sign and in close aspect with the Moon,
 163. In a woman’s horoscope the number of husbands she will have is
indicated by the number of planets occupying the same sign as the Sun and in
conjunction with it. If there are no planets in the sign the number of husbands
corresponds to the number of planets aspecting the Sun, and dignified in the
sign containing the Sun.
164. Count the number of planets direct and free from the conjunction of
the Sun that are situated between the Midheaven and Venus, counting from
the Midheaven in the order of the signs. This is the number of the native’s
wives. A planet that is retrograde or in conjunction with the Sun is not to be
counted unless it is in its own sign or exaltation.
165. Weak significators indicate lovers, mistresses, or broken engagements,
rather than wives. The application of the Moon to a planet in a mutable sign
indicates two wives. If the Moon is in a fruitful sign and applies to a planet in
a fruitful or double-bodied sign, it indicates three wives. If, together with these
conditions, the sign on the seventh cusp and the ruler of the seventh are in
mutable or fruitful signs, the indications of triple marriage are greatly strength­
ened.
166. When the appropriate luminary applies first to Saturn or Venus and
then to Mars or Jupiter, or vice versa, the native may miss the Saturn or Venus
person and marry the Mars or Jupiter one; or may marry the first person and
lose him or her by death, afterward marrying the second one.
167. Significators of marriage favorably aspecting each other from the first,
fifth, seventh, tenth and eleventh houses denote more than one marriage.
168. Significators of marriage in Cancer, Scorpio, or Pisces are an indication
of more than one marriage.
169. Moon in Cancer, Scorpio, or Pisces, applying to a planet also in one of
these signs indicates more than one wife.
170. Moon or Venus in Gemini, Sagittarius, or Pisces in the seventh house
or applying to several planets and unafilicted by the malefics, indicates more
than one wife.
 171. If the Moon separates from Mars and applies to Venus in the western
half of the map the native will have many wives, all of whom he will survive.
172. Ruler of the seventh house in the seventh, favorably aspected by the
ruler of the Ascendant in Gemini, Sagittarius or Pisces denotes two wives; and
if the Moon and Venus also cast favorable aspects many wives are indicated.
173. The Moon in the seventh house indicates numerous mistresses, and if
very strong by sign and aspect denotes more than one marriage.
174. In a womans horoscope, if the Sun or Mars is in Gemini, Sagittarius
or Pisces she will marry more than once.
175. In a woman’s horoscope the cusp of the seventh house, its ruler, and
the Sun in mutable signs indicates two husbands.
176. If Venus is in Gemini, Cancer, Virgo, Sagittarius, Capricorn, or Pisces
in a womans horoscope, and the dispositor of Venus is also in one of these
signs, the native will marry more than once.
Details Concerning the Partner
(a) Appearance
177. If the majority of the significators are in signs of pulchritude (Gemini,
Virgo, Libra, or Sagittarius) the marriage partner will be of neat and pleasant
appearance; if in signs of deformity (Aries, Taurus, Cancer, Leo, or Capricorn)
the appearance will be unpleasing and ugly, provided the significators are also
badly placed and afflicted.
178. Saturn afflicting the significators of the marriage partner tends to cause
deformity and ugliness, which is increased if any or all are combust.
179. Fixed stars of the nature of Saturn on the seventh cusp, and Saturn
ruler of the seventh, in square or opposition to the Moon indicates a plain and
slovenly wife.
180. The Moon aspecting, Jupiter, Venus, or the cusp of the seventh house
improves the appearance of the wife.
181. The wife’s significator in conjunction with the Sun spoils her
complexion.
(b) Age
 182. Venus in conjunction with Saturn in his own terms, or Venus in aspect
with Saturn indicates marriage to an old woman or one considerably senior to
the native.
183. Saturn and Mars in the seventh house indicates marriage to a partner
considerably senior to the native.
(c) Character and Birth
184. Women whose Ascendant, Moon, Mars, Venus, and Mercury are in
Gemini, Sagittarius or Pisces, have generally very evil qualities.
185. Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn all within orbs of conjunction
indicates a dull, laborious, and industrious husband or wife.
186. If the Moon is decreasing in light and in conjunction with Mars in a
cardinal sign, the natives wife will never really love him, but another man.
187. If the Moon is afflicted by Mars the wife will be difficult to control and
may be of loose conduct. If Mars is in Cancer, Scorpio, or Pisces, she may be
addicted to drink.
188. When Mars is ruler of a womans Ascendant and Venus is in it; or
when Venus is ruler and Mars is in the Ascendant; or when Mars is ruler of the
Ascendant and situated in the Midheaven, the native will be unfaithful to her
husband.
189. Venus in the first house with Saturn, especially if in Taurus, Libra,
Capricorn or Aquarius, denotes a dishonest, elderly, and poor, sneaking wife.
190. Venus in the fourth house in square or opposition to the Moon in
Aquarius denotes a light and fickle wife. If Venus be in Cancer the native will
be lascivious.
191. Venus and Mercury in Gemini or Virgo in the fourth house opposed
by Saturn in the tenth indicates a partner of low birth or repute; and if they are
also afflicted by Mars he or she will be of evil character and may be suspected
of attempted murder by poisoning.
192. Venus in conjunction with Mars and Saturn in the sixth house,
indicates that the wife may prove unfaithful.
 193. Venus with Saturn or Mars in the sixth house indicates marriage to a
dishonest and loose person; and if at the same time Venus is in Cancer or
Capricorn the partner will be a harlot if a woman, and a fornicator or adulterer
if a man.
194. Mars in opposition to Venus from the sixth and twelfth houses indicates
a depraved and inconstant marriage partner.
195. Venus in the tenth house indicates a husband or wife of good family.
196. Venus in conjunction or bad aspect with Mars denotes a husband or
wife of a proud, high-spirited, and changeable nature, who will be liable to
commit adultery.
197. Mars in conjunction with Venus denotes a prodigal, willful, and careless
wife, and inclines the native to commit adultery.
198. Venus in sextile to Mars in a womans map indicates easy access to her
in courtship.
199. Venus in conjunction or bad aspect with Saturn in his own terms
denotes a corrupt, sordid, vicious, and deformed partner.
200. In a womans horoscope if Mars is in conjunction with the Sun and in
no good aspect to Jupiter, she will play the harlot with servants and inferiors.
But if Venus be strong, it will be with men of superior birth.
201. The Part of Marriage afflicted by Mars, Saturn or Cauda indicates an
unfortunate, sickly, or disreputable partner.
(d) Health
202. Moon in the fourth house and Venus with Saturn in the tenth indicates
a wife who will be barren on account of age or physical defect.
203. Mercury in the seventh house afflicted by Mars or Uranus indicates a
nervous or mentally afflicted partner.
204. Venus with Saturn in the seventh house denotes an impotent or
sexually weak partner.
(e) Previously Married
205. A woman with Saturn in the seventh house in aspect to Mars may
marry a widower.
 206. In a woman’s horoscope Saturn in the seventh house in good aspect
with the Sun indicates marriage to a widower; and if Mars is in aspect to Saturn
he will have a family by his previous wife.
207. In a womans horoscope the application of the Sun to Saturn in Libra
or Capricorn in the seventh house, or in good aspect to Jupiter indicates that
she will marry a wealthy widower.
(f) Nationality
Indications said to denote marriage to a foreigner cannot be relied upon.
They actually refer to marriage to a stranger, or one born in a different town or
district, and not necessarily a different country. In medieval times when trav­
eling facilities were extremely limited, it was no doubt unusual for a man or
woman to marry outside of his or her native district, but nowadays, when such
marriages are more the rule than the exception, the indications have lost much
of their significance. Before predicting marriage to a foreigner or in a foreign
country, it is necessary to look for signs of voyages and travel either for the
native or the partner.
208. The direction from which the partner will come is indicated by the
sign and house containing his or her significator. Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius
denote the east; Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn, the south; Gemini, Libra, and Aquar­
ius, the west; and Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces the north, dhe Ascendant is east;
the fourth house is north; the seventh house is west; the tenth house is south;
and the intermediate houses denote intermediate directions. The true direction
is indicated by the blend of house and sign.
209. If the sign on the seventh cusp and that which contains the ruler of
the seventh are of a different triplicity to the rising sign, the native marries a
stranger. (The signs on the Ascendant and seventh cusp are always of different
triplicities. Presumably the ruler of the seventh house should be in a sign of the
same triplicity as the seventh cusp in order to fulfill the rule.)
210. If Venus and the ruler of the seventh are in signs of the same triplicity
and angular, the native marries a neighbor or relative; if succedent, one of the
same country but from a distant part; if cadent, a foreigner.
 211. Venus, ruler of the ninth house, in the first or tenth indicates a wife
born in another country.
212. Sun conjunction Venus in the seventh house or aspecting its cusp
denotes the wife to be a stranger.
213. Fortuna in the third house is an indication of marriage to a partner
born at a distance from the natives birthplace.
214. Significators of marriage in the third or ninth house, or the Moon
applying to the ruler of the third or ninth denote marriage to a stranger or
foreigner.
215. All the significators weak by sign and cadent indicates marriage to a
stranger or foreigner.
216. Ruler of third or ninth house in the seventh indicates marriage to a
stranger who will be religious, virtuous, and rich, if the aspects are favorable.
Benefit or Loss by Marriage
217. Malefics very strong in the seventh house indicate riches by marriage,
but obtainable only after trouble and scandal.
218. If the ruler of the second house is in Aries, Scorpio, Capricorn, or
Aquarius in the seventh the natives wife or mistress will rob and cheat him
unless the rulers of the Ascendant and seventh are in good aspect to one
another. (Bonatus, 119th Consideration.)
219. If the eighth house or its ruler is afflicted the native will lose an estate
by the death of his wife which she enjoyed for life.
220. Venus in the second house is a testimony of marriage for money.
221. Venus in the second house afflicted by a malefic indicates loss by
marriage or through the wife.
222. Venus in the tenth house indicates profit or advantage through
marriage.
223. When Venus and Jupiter are in the seventh house in Taurus or Cancer
aspecting the Moon, while Caput is conjoined with them or with Mercury, the
native will obtain great wealth through his wives.
 224. Venus and Jupiter in the twelfth house denote little financial gain
through the wife.
225. Venus in square or opposition to the Moon denotes loss by love and
marriage.
Agreement in Marriage
226. Benefics in good aspect with the Moon indicate love and harmony in
marriage; but if the aspect is a bad one there will be accord in most things
though the general agreement will be only moderate. Malefics in good aspect
with the Moon indicate moderate general agreement, but disagreement in
many particulars; while if the aspect is a bad one there will be continual
quarrels.
227. Benefics in good aspect with the ruler of the seventh indicate harmony
in marriage.
228. Moon in good aspect with benefics in the seventh house, or the ruler
of the seventh, denotes happiness in marriage; but if afflicted by malefics in the
seventh it indicates much evil through marriage.
229. The Moon or ruler of the Ascendant in bad aspect with the ruler of
the seventh house, especially if angular and in cardinal signs, indicates discord
in marriage.
230. Hie Moon ruling the seventh house and situated in the eighth,
decreasing in light, denies any great happiness in marriage.
231. The Sun and Moon in Gemini, Virgo, Libra, Sagittarius, or Aquarius
in good aspect to each other and to Venus and Jupiter indicate love and harmony
in marriage, but if in affliction with each other and with Mars, Saturn, or
Uranus, perpetual disagreement results.
232. If the Sun and Moon afflict one another and a malefic afflicts either or
both, the native and his wife will continually disagree.
233. A malefic in the seventh house indicates that the native will not live in
peace with his wives or sweethearts, but will continually quarrel with them.
(Bonatus, 105th Consideration.)
 234. Uranus in the seventh house indicates separation or divorce, and if it
is also afflicted by Mars, violence will occur.
235. Caput in the seventh house denotes happiness and agreement in
marriage; but Cauda there indicates jealousy, discontent, and strife.
236. Significators of marriage in cardinal signs denote instability and little
contentment in marriage.
237. Venus in bad aspect with the Moon or the malefics indicates dissension
in marriage owing to the lasciviousness of one of the partners.
238. Venus in conjunction with Saturn and aspecting Mars in any part of
the horoscope indicates jealousy, strife, and contention in marriage.
239. In a woman’s horoscope Mars afflicting the Sun indicates matrimonial
unhappiness or the sudden death of the husband. If Mars be in Cancer, Scorpio,
or Pisces, he may be a profligate or drunkard.
240. The chief testimonies of agreement in marriage are afforded by a trine
or sextile between the Ascendant of the husband and wife and by the man’s Sun
on the woman’s Moon. (The man’s Moon on the woman’s Sun is usually con­
sidered to be better.)
241. If the marriage significators in the horoscopes of husband and wife are
in good aspect or in each other’s signs or exaltations, there will be agreement
in marriage, and this will be greater if the Moon aspects Venus or the ruler of
the seventh house.
Dominant Partner
242. Venus behind the Sun in the zodiac, strong, and in good aspect with
Jupiter indicates that the wife will be the dominant partner.
243. If the Part of Marriage in a man’s nativity falls in one of the obeying
signs— Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, or Pisces—and in his
wife’s nativity it falls in one of the commanding signs—Aries, Taurus, Gemini,
Cancer, Leo, or Virgo—the wife will rule the husband. (Hermes, Centiloquy,
61.)
 244. In a womans horoscope the ruler of the seventh house in the Ascendant
makes her domineer over her husband; and if the ruler of the Ascendant is a
superior planet and the rising sign is one of the commanding signs, she will be
a thorough virago.
Surviving Partner
245. The number of years of married life is indicated by the number of
degrees between the significator of the partner and the conjunction or aspect
of the malefic it next meets by direction.
246. In cases of a single marriage when the Moon is conjoined to one planet
only, the strength of that planet indicates which partner will survive. If the
Moon is stronger than the planet, the wife will die first, and if the planet is
stronger than the Moon the native will die first.
247. If the ruler of the Ascendant is stronger than the ruler of the seventh
house the native will survive his or her partner; but if the ruler of the seventh
house is the stronger, the partner will survive.
248. The native survives the partner whose significator is afflicted by the
malefics.
249. The native survives the partner when the marriage significators are
cadent near violent fixed stars, or in the second house afflicted by the ruler of
the second or twelfth.
250. If the malefics are weak and rule or occupy the seventh house, the
partner will die first.
251. Malefics weak and afflicted in the seventh house and ruling or exalted
in the Ascendant denote the death of the marriage partner.
252. A malefic in the seventh or fourth house is an indication of the early
death of the wife.
253. If the ruler of the seventh house is in Cancer and the Moon is in the
eighth house, the wife may cause the natives death.
254. Venus in Capricorn or Aquarius shows that the native shall covet illicit
pleasures and that his wife shall die before him.
 255. If the ruler of the seventh house is weak, cadent, and in conjunction
with the Sun, especially if in the eighth or twelfth house, the native survives
the partner.
256. The native survives his wife if the Moon is in the fourth house conjoined
with or in opposition to Saturn, or if it is in the seventh afflicted by the malefics
and has no favorable aspect from Venus or Jupiter.
257. Venus in the fourth house afflicted by Mars and Saturn denotes the
death of the wife, and if Venus be in a cardinal sign several wives will be
survived.
258. The Sun or Venus in the fourth house afflicted by the malefics indicates
the death of the partner.
259. If the Moon is in the seventh house afflicted by the malefics and
receives no favorable aspect from Jupiter and Venus, the native will survive his
wife.
260. Moon and Venus in conjunction with Saturn in the seventh house
denotes difficulty in obtaining a wife and indicates that she will die first.
261. Saturn or Mars in the seventh or fourth house indicates the death of
the partner.
262. Venus in the twelfth house in conjunction with Mars or weak,
occidental, and afflicted by Saturn, denotes the death of the partner.
263. If Venus is further advanced than the Sun in the zodiac, weak, and
afflicted by the malefics, the wife will live only a short time.
264. When Mars and Mercury afflict the ruler of the seventh house and are
elevated above it, especially if either has rulership or exaltation in the Ascen­
dant, the native will kill his wife or his enemy, even though it be with poison.
265. If the Moon passes from an aspect with the ruler of the second or
twelfth house to an aspect with the ruler of the seventh, or a malefic in the
seventh, the native will outlive the partner.
266. If the Moon separates from Mars and applies to Venus in an occidental
house, the native will marry many times and will survive all his wives. (The
occidental houses are the first, second, third, seventh, eighth, and ninth.)