valens-i-18

You will discover the sun’s degree-position as follows: in every case, to a birth date which falls in the months from Thoth to Phamenoth add 8°; you will find the total to be the sun’s position. To Pharmouthi add 7°, to Pachon 6°, to Payni 5°, to Epiphi 4°, to Mesore 3°. For example: in Phaophi 6, I add 8°, total 14; the sun will be in Libra 14°. In Pachon 6, I add 6°, total 12. The sun will be at Taurus 12°.

Since some students have become very enthusiastic about the derivation of numerical data, for them I must append the /33P/ handy methods for the rest of the stars, so that through such studies they may gain delightful and precise-to-the-degree methods. They can now make an examination of the more important procedures with the greatest enthusiasm.

Now then, Saturn is to be calculated as follows: take the full years since Augustus and divide by 30, if possible. Multiply the remainder /34K/ by 12°. Multiply the result of the division by 30 (=the synodic period ) by 5°. For each month from Thoth add 1°, and for each day 2’. Having totaled all this, count from Cancer in the direction of proper motion, giving 30° to each sign. The star will be where the count stops.

Jupiter as follows: divide the full years from Caesar by 12. Multiply the remainder by 12° and add this to the result of the previous division by 12 (=the synodic period ). Total this, plus 1° for each month and 2’ for each day. Having added, count the sum from Taurus, giving 12 to each sign.

Mars as follows: take the number of years from Augustus to the year in question, divide by 30, and note whether the remainder is odd or even. If it is even, start counting from Aries; if it is odd, start from Libra. Having found this number, double it and add to it 2 1/2 for each month . If the result is more than 60, count off the amount over 60 from Libra or Aries, giving 5 to each sign. Wherever the count stops, make note of the sign and examine which sign the sun is in. If the sun is found to be west of the star, the star will be behind ⇐to the west> its calculated position; if the sun is found to be east of the star, the star will be ahead ⇐to the east> of its calculated position. In other words, in each case, place the star nearer the sun than the sign in which you have calculated it to be. The rest of the stars, especially Venus, show the same peculiarity when they are moving near the mean position of the sun.

Venus as follows: take the years from Augustus to the year in question and divide by 8. Examine the remainder (which will be less than 8) to see if Venus is at a point of maximum eastern elongation . If it is, use this point and add the /34P/ number of days from that point to the day in question; if not, use the number right above it , just as with the moon. In other words, if the point of maximum eastern elongation is found to be before the nativity, use it; if it is after the nativity, use the number right above it. Add together the days, then subtract the elongation factor of the sign. Subtract 120° [for each sign5]. Count off the remaining degrees from the adjoining sign [from the sign of the elongation], giving each sign 25°. Venus will be where the count stops. /35K/ The point of maximum eastern elongation will be clear from the remainders in the calculation of years above. If the remainders in our first calculation are 1, 3, 4, 6, or 7, then Venus is at maximum eastern elongation . If the remainders are 2 or 5, it is in motion .

1 Phamenoth 10 Taurus <2 No maximum eastern elongation occurs in this year.> 3 Phaophi 10 Sagittarius 4 Payni 22 Leo <5 No maximum eastern elongation occurs in this year.> 6 Tybi 8 Pisces 7 Mesore 14 Libra In the eighth year Venus has a point of maximum eastern elongation.

Mercury is calculated as follows: take the days from Thoth to the birth date and add to these in every case an additional 162. Find the total, and if the sum is more than 360, divide by 360 (a circle) and count the remainder off from Aries, giving 30 to each sign. The star is where the count stops. In every case make it very near the sun. For example: if the sun was in the beginning of its sign, Mercury can be found at the end of the sign. If the sun is in the end of its sign, Mercury can be found in the next sign.

An example: Trajan year 13, Phamenoth 18. The full years from Augustus are 138. I divide by 30, for a result of 4, <remainder 18>. I multiply 5 times the 4 cycles, and the result is 20. I multiply the remainder , 18, by 12, and the result is 216. From Thoth to Phamenoth I count 1 for each month—total 7. All together this is 243. Now I count this sum off from Cancer giving 30 to each sign, and I arrive at Pisces. Saturn is there.

Next I divide 138 by 12,for a result of 11, remainder 6. This times 12 is 72. To each 12 which I divided <into 138> I assign 1, for a total of 11. Also to each month <from Thoth to Phamenoth I assign 1>, for a total of 7. The grand total is 90. I count this off from Taurus, giving 12 to each sign. The count stops in Sagittarius. Jupiter is there.

Next Mars as follows: from Caesar to the year in question /35P/ is 139 <!>. I divide this by 30, for a result of 4, remainder 11 <!>. (Since the remainder is odd, I know that I must start counting from Libra.) I double this figure and get 22. For the months from Thoth to Phamenoth the total is 17 ⇐7 months ◊ 2 1/2>. The grand total is 39. I count this sum off from Libra, giving 5 to each sign. I stop at Taurus. Mars is there.

Venus as follows: I divide the 139 years by 8 and the remainder is 3. This indicates a point of maximum eastern elongation during that year on Phaophi 10 in Sagittarius. I add the rest of the days in Phaophi, 20, plus the days from Athyr to Mechir, 120, plus those in Phamenoth, 18, for a total of 158. I subtract 120 for the /36K/ maximum elongation and for Sagittarius. The result is 38, which I count from Capricorn, giving 25 to each sign. The count stops in Aquarius. Venus is there.

Since there seems to be great about calculating Venus in nativities, I will explain it with another example. Hadrian year 4, Athyr 30: the years from Augustus are 148, which I divide by 8, giving a remainder 4. This indicates a point of maximum eastern elongation on Payni 22 in Leo. Since this point is not applicable because of its being after the date of the nativity, I go to the one right above it , in the third line, Phaophi 10 in Sagittarius. So I add the remaining 20 days of Phaophi, the days from Athyr to Mesori, 300, and the 5 intercalary days. The total is 325 of the previous year, plus 90 days from Thoth <1> to Athyr 30 of the current year, for a grand total of 415. From this sum I subtract 120 for the maximum elongation and for Sagittarius, for a result of 295. I count this off from Capricorn, giving 25 to each sign and stop at Sagittarius 20. The star is there.

Another example: Hadrian year 4, Mechir 13: the years from Augustus are 149, which I divide by 8, giving a remainder of 5. This indicates no point of maximum eastern elongation. I go to the point above, which is Payni 22 in Leo. I add the remaining 8 in Payni, plus Epiphi and Mesori <60>, plus the 5 intercalary days. The total is 73. Then I add to this the days from Thoth <1> to Mechir 13, 163. The grand total is 236. From this sum I subtract 120 for the maximum elongation and for the sign Leo. The result is 116. I count this from Virgo, giving 25 to each sign. The count stops at Capricorn 16°. Venus is there.

I calculate Mercury for the same nativity as follows: I add /36P/ the days from Thoth <1> to Mechir 13 for a total of 163; then I add 162 for a grand total of 325. I count this off from Aries, giving 30 to each sign and stop at Aquarius 25°. Mercury is there.

Transits.

The sun: the second, the sixth, and the twelfth are good; the seventh and the fourth are rotten.

The moon: the third, the eighth, and the ninth are rotten; the fifth, the eleventh, and the twelfth are good.

Saturn: the fourth and the tenth are rotten; the sixth, the eighth, and the twelfth are good.

Jupiter: the third, the ninth, the tenth, and the eleventh are good; the fourth and the seventh are rotten.

Mars: the third, the fourth, and the ninth are good; the /37K/ seventh and the tenth are rotten.

Venus: the third, the seventh, and the eighth are good; the fifth is rotten.

Mercury: the second, the fifth, and the eleventh are rotten; the seventh, the eighth, and the ninth are good.

The other of each star are variable in effect.

If the stars are in the previously mentioned places in their transits, particularly when they hold the chronocratorship in operative places, with benefics or malefics in aspect, then they are bestowers of good or evil depending on whichever aspect prevails. If the are together, a mixture of good and bad will ensue according to the quality of each person’s nativity. Therefore it is always necessary to observe the places with respect to <the stars’> transits in order to evaluate the chronocratorships.]