Traditional Astrology Observations in Practice
In January 2022 I’d learned enough to know I’d never know enough. The cosmos is endless. Enter traditional astrology.
Although it felt like the astrological equivalent of fetishizing the Renaissance Faire in comparison to more progressive systems like human design or going NGCR asteroid level on interpretations. This isn’t a listicle on the differences between modern and traditional astrology, but more of an observational take on what I’ve found. Hopefully it will be useful for those who have, like myself, suspected that traditional astrology is more than just a dusty academic system with no relevance to modern psychology.
Modern Astrology vs. Traditional Astrology
I would preface this by firmly stating I wax more toward a traditional techniques now, but I grew up on Linda Goodman, Llewellyn’s astrology books, and the newspaper Sun sign horoscope column. In that world, the modern perspective places planetary forces within our power, and we control how we project each planet. Many astrologers I admire are trained psychologists and use a modern astrological framework within their practice to great effect. I would even go as far as saying that astrology seems to be growing in popularity among psychologists. Within this framework, an archetype is almost akin to an idea or force that we interact with freely. In summary, the main traits of modern pop astrology that differ from traditional astrology are an assumption of psychological and situational power over the planets and the idea of “being” your Sun sign. I am a Cancer, therefore I am emotional and sometimes I have to work on that, etc. I very shallow example of assuming the power over a planet.
Any effective communication must be couched in the culture of the times as any advertiser or mage can tell you. There is a Jungian mythology that parallels but does not replace the Classic mythology when interpreting a chart. The personal mythology or narrative is the connection between these two systems. Modern astrology is progressive in that it allows human beings to sort of decide how the planets work for us. Traditional astrology seems to place the human being within a Divine demarcation and transformation process. We are working for the Divine, whether we know it or not. We are within a hierarchy that we should acknowledge without resistance. Which is antithetical to my experience of modern contemporary thinking.
Traditional astrology is also rooted in ancient ideas around Mind and number. This is a deceptively simple statement but suffice it to say that the personal power narrative is secondary at best to the will of the Divine as expressed through numbers, angles, and planets. There are benefic and malefic planets, amicable and contentious aspects, and a definite divide between good and bad. The most obvious difference is the number of planets in use. The trans-Saturnian planets were not yet discovered, and so mythological archetypes were more commonly used. Planets are gods, as in the Hellenistic tradition where the planet Saturn was called Krónos, the planet Jupiter, Zeús. The stars and planets exist in the unalterable realm of the divine. The sublunar realm is subject to birth, death, and decay. If anything, there is a firm understanding of where human beings sat in the traditional astrological framework. To believe you were free of the planetary influences around you while not attaining to some sort of henosis imparted by the Gods, we modern types would have been thought the fool.
The What, Why, and How
Why? For me it was and is Horary and Electional skills. It involves more than a passing familiarity with traditional, specifically, medieval astrological concepts. It is difficult to modernize horary. I’d also gravitated toward medical astrology in 2022 while working on my electional skills parallel with natal and synastry practice. There was alot going on. Yet I was disregarding the nagging impulse to learn traditional astrology in a focused way.
Traditional astrology has alot to offer a modern practice, informing astrological etymology in the same way Latin elucidates wide swathes of English. The psychological element is not lost, but radically subverted to a cosmological hierarchy (which, again, isn’t for everyone). Monarchical culture was an influence on all arts and sciences, and astrology was no different. Terms like “Lord” of a chart and planets “ruling” a sign wouldn’t have been used if astrology were just now being ironed out today. I have visions of individuals referring to Jupiter as being “cool” with Pisces or Mars “needing to hold a space” while in Cancer. It is really up to the astrologer to frame and translate the final message. I enjoy the regalia of monarchy, while recognizing it is at odds with the economic and cultural reality of our age.
we’re not there yet #2023
The Western pagan tradition is permeated with astrological symbolism, which in turn, ties deeply into human psychology. This emphasis on the sacred naturally overflows into the realm of mortal beings, ironically suggesting that each of us is equally responsible for our earthly choices, despite being born a subject of Fortuna, with little to no control over much of our life circumstances. In acknowledging rulers and the ruled we are actually more free than if we were to believe that we are always operating from a place perfect Will. Half the time, if not more, people operate on auto-pilot. Those of a spiritual bent might make the effort to mind their thoughts and actions during the day. They may even sense the planetary forces afoot in the lives they so diligently work to improve. However, there are obstacles. There are external factors influencing our lives and not even expert astrologers can perfectly summarize the outcome as there are more unknowns in our cosmology than knowns. We have a basic astrological framework that can work pretty well.
What Is Traditional Astrology?
It comprises three main astrological systems: Hellenistic, Medieval, and Renaissance. Medieval astrology is generally defined as astrology practiced between 700 AD to 1500 AD. Hellenistic astrology precedes Medieval astrology, being practiced 200 BC to 600 AD. The Renaissance tradition came around 1500 AD to 1700 AD. The precise dates are somewhat hazy, as they describe historical trends from a modern perspective: a Roman matron glancing through her wax tablet ephemeris would have considered herself to be practicing astrology, not Hellenistic astrology. All provide the foundations of horary, electional, and medical astrology.
There seems to be two mindsets to navigate when learning traditional astrology. Either fate is inescapable and the most we can do is read the celestial writing on the wall, or some select few are capable of transcending fate. I’m not sure I believe either one is completely true. In studying William Lilly, for example, you’ll find yet more examples of the prevailing worldview as firmly oriented towards an explicitly spiritual hierarchy, the Great Chain of Being. Planets, like Gods, decided the fates course of human affairs. In the modern day, we’re using astrology to guide us, and fate is more of a romantic and mystical concept. I didn’t mention Fortuna for nothing.
The How: Houses, Order of Operations, and Conclusion
I now use whole-sign houses, but Regiomontanus is also a popular house system used in traditional astrology. I don’t stick with one house system in all cases, but whole-sign, Regiomontanus, and Placidus are really all I work with nowadays. These seem to be the main traditional house systems I’ve encountered in my studies and interactions with other traditional astrologers.
An example of a basic natal chart order of operations have been using in this order:
Planetary Conditions (essentinal dignity, debility, retrograde etc.)
Angle (angular, succedent, cadent)
Sect ( nocturnal / diurnal )
Lord of the Ascendant (planet ruling the rising sign)
Aspects and relationships between planets
Planets are primary actors while houses and signs are the environment through which they act. There is way more analysis of the planet before looking at its sign or house. It’s “state” is just as critical as it’s sign/house location. I’ve seen interpretations of someone having alot of planets in the 1st house as being similar to having planets in Aries due to Aries being the 1st zodiacal sign. In traditional astrology, this doesn’t wash. Planets in the 1st house are just operating through the sign that occupies the 1st house, which is angular, so the actions these planets bring about are swift and quite visible in a person’s life.
Signs are nowhere near as important in doing a traditional natal or electional chart. The Sun-sign description of someone being “a Pisces” or “a Leo” is irrelevant compared to the chart ruler and the house location. Imagine a world where instead of merely being an Aquarius rising, your experience of Saturn (not Uranus), the chart ruler, is primarily filtered through that planet's placement in the 5th house of Gemini. Maybe they are innovators of a creative field. Maybe they are in constant pursuit of a soulmate. The state of the chart ruler would also be examined. Is it retrograde? What house, and modality? What sect? Etc. The houses also possess their own qualities that lend much to the horary art of determining an outcome.
Less is more. As I mentioned, there is much emphasis on planets and their action in a chart. The minor dignities of sects, terms, and faces are also used to determine the action of a planet for example planetary strength, and thus capacity for action.
The main considerations are:
Essential dignity based on sign, whether a planet is in domicile, exalted, fallen, or in detriment
Accidental dignity based on speed and direct motion vs a retrograde cycle
House placement, which determines the environments and relationships through which the planet expresses itself
House rulership, whether the planet ruling each house via the sign on that house cusp is dignified or debilitated
Relationships with other planets, including aspects and reception
If you decide to make the foray into traditional astrology, it can be overwhelming; your frame of reference will be challenged but you’ll find a stronger foundation in basic western astrological technique than you could have imagined. I don’t think I’ll completely disregard modern planets, but I’m growing more comfortable with using them as secondary factors only within a reading, and learning this does not compromise the bigger picture of personal mythology or archetype.