Section 24 “The Casting of Rays”
The leading planet in an aspect casts a ray onto the planet behind it. For example, a planet in Aries casts a ray by square to a planet in Capricorn, and by trine onto a planet in Sagittarius. Conversely, the planet behind does not cast a ray onto the leading planet of an aspect, but instead is said to look upon that planet, and because it is approaching that planet, is also said to be superior to it, as has been mentioned earlier. For a visual ray of light is carried to the planet in front, while a planetary ray is cast out and carried to the planet in the back.
It is essential to notice whether a planet casts a ray only by sign, or also by degree. There are two schools of thought in regard to this concept. Certain authors have said that, when making a square aspect, the planet in the sign to which the planets are traveling will cast a ray back onto the planet that is in the sign behind it. For instance, a planet in Cancer casts a ray to a planet in Aries, while the planet in Aries looks upon the planet in Cancer. If the planet in Cancer is malefic, then it destroys the nature of the one in Aries. The planet that casts a ray is destructive, while the planet that merely looks upon the other is not. In the case of the opposition, a planet simultaneously casts a ray and looks upon the planet opposite to its own position. Furthermore, a planet never casts a ray by trine, but instead settles its ray upon the closest square aspect, because the trine is a much easier aspect on account of its sympathetic nature. This is one way of comprehending these terms.
Thrasyllus agreed that the casting ofrays is destructive. But he also said that planets that are casting rays from a square or opposition to the Ascendant are destructive, but if these rays are cast into certain degrees that are also being witnessed by trine, they then do not participate in such destruction. Thrasyllus also mentions that the place from which a beam is carried up to the Ascendant degree, but not past the degree of the Ascendant, is the place from which releasing shall occur. This also pertains to the degree of the planet which rules the sign of the moon.
More specifically, whenever the planet which rules the sign of the moon is placed in its own sign along with the moon, or is opposite to the moon, then we shall release from the planet ruling the sign of the moon. For instance, if the moon and Jupiter are both in Sagittarius, or the moon is in Sagittarius and Jupiter is in Gemini, then we will release from Jupiter.