當一顆行星處於以下配置時，便稱這顆行星受到「包圍」（surrounded）。
舉例來說，假設月亮位於處女座，而火星位於牡羊座。處女座本身便被獅子座與天秤座夾在中間。火星從牡羊座向以下位置投射光束：一道三分相光束投向獅子座，另一道對分相光束則投向天秤座。因此，月亮便受到一顆凶星所發出的光束包圍。
每當凶星包圍月亮或上升點（Ascendant），且沒有吉星的影響能夠緩和這些作用時，便認為此本命盤所代表的人壽命短暫。
A planet is said to be surrounded whenever it happens to be in the following configuration. For the purpose of example, suppose the moon is in Virgo and Mars is in Aries. Virgo is inherently surrounded by the signs of Leo and Libra. Mars casts beams from Aries into the following places; a trine to the sign of Leo and an opposition to the sign of Libra. The moon is thus surrounded by the rays of a malefic. And whenever malefics enclose the moon or the Ascendant, and there are no benefic influences to mitigate these influences, the nativity is said to be short-lived.