Trip Li Cities

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A Foreword on the Natural Fortitudes given by the

remaining Dignities

In the next three chapters, I am gong to be discussing the remaining

natural fortitudes of the planets: The triplicities, terms and minor

fortitudes, which include decans or faces, the duodecimae,1

and thenovenaria.

2

There are many things in astrology that cannot be wholly described in

rational scientific language. If you study the methods in which theancients dealt with describing the nature of the planets for example,

we find that no where do they in so many words rationally explainthem. Instead, they are conceptually given as demonstrations of effect

to describe their essential natures through key word association

using adjectives and adverbs and lists of correspondences and

elements. Such is the nature of these remaining fortitudes.

What differentiates these fortitudes from the Domicile rulers and

Exaltation rulers is that these remaining dignities all contribute in

some degree to the life of the native in specific, yet different ways.

That is to say, that they supply fortitude because of their specific

contribution rather than an exclusive and purely natural affiliation to

the sign. The specific contributions demonstrate the degree of the

planets fortitude.

I will be discussing these specific contributions in their proper placeand order. However, I felt the need for this foreword because it is

necessary to understand that it is through these specific contributionsthat we come to a clear understanding of just what fortitude the

triplicities, terms and minor dignities offer. The demonstration ofthese fortitudes is that we can predict concerning the life of any

native, an interrogation or mundane event.

The importance and fortitude of these specific contributions are most

clearly demonstrated in the triplicities and terms. Bonatti takes up this

discussion of how these divisions of fortitude, the triplicities and

terms, are demonstrated and why some earlier astrologers preferredone to the other.

1 Duodecimae is the Latin rendering ofdwadasamsas (Hindu) and ddekatmoria

(Greek).2

Novenaria is the Latin rendering ofnavamshas (Hindu) or noupachrates (Greek).


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There were some philosophers who preferred the lords of the terms to the lords [orrulers] of the triplicities and to the triplicities themselves. And there were some

others who preferred the lords of the triplicities and the triplicities themselves to the

lords of the terms and to the terms themselves. Some of them had a reason for this:

The terms and the lords of the terms are preferred in direction, but the triplicities

and the rulers of the triplicities are preferred in nutrition.3

What does Bonatti mean by the terms were preferred in direction?

Since the terms of the planets have their association to the zodiacalfigure as the givers of years of Life4 then their significance is to the

well being of the native. They are specifically determined to

prediction. In his book, On Solar Revolutions, Abu Mashar spends a

good deal of his time explaining the direction of the significator

through the terms.

In the change-overs5

of the year it is necessary to perform the circumambulations6

of many places of those fixed at the nativity and of those transiting; for each has

its own signification that the other does not signify. That is, if a star or placeindicates good or ill at the fixing of the nativity, then the signification will be

manifest when the star has authority over the distribution for a certain period of

years.

In order to recognise the place of the distribution and the distributor in the

change-over of the times, one must perform the circumambulation as follows. Know

to what star the bound7of the degree of the Hroskopos of the inception belongs,

and how many of the degrees of the bound of the star have been taken, and turn

these into degrees of ascension of the city in which the child was born, and recordthe result. Then know how many degrees belong to the following bounds, and turn

these into ascensions, and do this for all the bounds from both the Hroskopos and

from the remaining releasers;8

If we speak in terms of directing the ascendant through the bounds

then we are specifically dealing with predicting the well-being (esse),

the good or bad, of the life of the native for this is what the rulers of

the terms are associated with as givers of years of life.

3Second Tractate part 2, chapter XXXVI - - Liber Astronomiae - - by Guido

Bonatti - - translated by Robert Zoller and Robert Hand - - published by Project

Hindsight4 I refer the reader to the discussion of the terms in a later chapter of this work.5Enallag.Revolutio in the Latin translation. That is to say, the Solar Return.

6 That is to say, the primary direction7Horion. This is the literal translation of the Greek word. The Latin word is

terminus, often translated as term.8

Treatise III, section I - - On Solar Revolutions - - by Abu Mashar - - translated by

Robert Schmidt - - published by Project Hindsight


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Nutrition is different but perhaps in some ways more important. Inthe broadest sense, nutrition is a process or series of processes bywhich a living organism as a whole (or its component parts or organs)

is maintained in its normal condition of life and growth.9

The triplicity rulers were conceived as rulers of periods of life, whichsupport and maintain that particular signification. Again, if we were

using the Ascendant as the significator, then we would look at thetriplicity rulers to describe the quality of support the native receives

concerning his well-being and life. If the chart were nocturnal and the

Ascendant were in Taurus, then, we would look to the Moon (the

nocturnal triplicity ruler) and her condition in the chart to tell us if the

native finds support and the quality of that support for the natives lifein the first third of life. Then we would look to Venus (the second

triplicity ruler) and judge the quality of support in the second third of

life by her condition. Lastly, we would examine Mars, as the third

triplicity ruler, to judge the support in the last third of the natives life

by his condition.

I could perhaps make an analogy of these two fortitudes. If I have a

car then I can make predictions as to its well being by the state of the

motor. A new motor is in good condition meaning the well-being ofthe car is good. If however, the owner uses a gasoline that is inferior

in quality (the nourishment of the motor) or uses an inferior oil tolubricate it, or doesnt bother to shift the plugs then the well-being of

the motor will eventually deteriorate and the owner may be faced with

serious problems. The state of the motor could be seen as what the

terms define. What is used to nourish that motor is how you can

associate the triplicity rulers.

The point Im making here is that the demonstration of effect isdirectly indicating the fortitude of these dignities just as surely as the

wordlist associations directly indicate the essential natures of theplanets themselves. Just as understanding the significations of the

planets help us understand the essential natures of the planets, so

understanding the significations of these dignities help us tounderstand the essential nature of those dignities.

Return to Contents

9Merriam - Websters Dictionary, supplies this definition.


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The Triplicities of the Planets

While a planet is in its own triplicity, it is like a man among his allies, his people,

his ministers, and followers who obey him and follow him, but are not related to him

by kinship.

The signs were grouped by like elemental substance and complexion

as well as sharing the trine aspect to each other. These groups, called

trigons or triplicities, were also given rulers. What is unique about

these rulerships however is that they are largely determined according

to the sectof the planet. I will discuss sect in a little more detail later

when I discuss the accidental qualities or fortunes of the planets so I

will forego further discussion at this point. Each of the triplicitiescontains one sign of each mode: Cardinal (moveable/tropical), Fixed(solid) and Mutable (common/bi-corporeal).

Diurnal Triplicities

The Sun was given the rulership of the diurnal domain or sect. In the

Greek cosmology and science it was proposed that the four basic

elements; fire, air, water and earth, are found in the sub-lunar realm

between the earth and the circle of the Moon. Fire was nearest the

circles of the planets, then air, water and finally earth. Fire and Air

were given to the diurnal triplicity because fire and air were light

elements and they were in constant movement upwards.

The Fire Triplicity consists of the three fiery signs, Aries, Leo, andSagittarius. These signs are all diurnal, masculine, and hot and dry. In

the fire triplicity, the Sun is the sect ruler by day and by night Jupiter.The participating ruler, regardless of the chart sect, is Saturn.

The Air Triplicity consists of the three airy signs: Gemini, Libra and

Aquarius. These signs are all diurnal, masculine, and hot and moist.

The Sun has no rulership in this Triplicity but concedes his place toMercury. Why this is so is not clearly spelled out in the record. One

can speculate it is because of Mercurys natural airy qualities as

ruler of Gemini or perhaps it is because of Mercurys close association

to the Sun never being separated far enough to form an aspect andspending the greatest part of his time in the presence of the Sun, I

dont know. But in the Air Triplicity Saturn was given the sect


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rulership by day and Mercury by night. The participating ruler,

regardless of sect, is Jupiter.

The Nocturnal Triplicities

The Moon was given rulership of the nocturnal domain and the water

and earth triplicities were the nocturnal triplicities. Water and earthwere the two heavy elements that were always moving downwards

towards the earth and the Moons close proximity to the earth made herthe natural choice of ruler for this nocturnal domain.

The Water Triplicity consists of the three watery signs: Cancer,

Scorpio and Pisces. These signs are all nocturnal, feminine, and cold

and moist. The sect ruler by day is Venus and by night Mars. Theparticipating ruler, regardless of sect, is the Moon.

The Earth Triplicity consists of the three earthy signs: Taurus, Virgo

and Capricorn. These three signs are all nocturnal, feminine, and cold

and dry. Venus is the sect ruler by day and the Moon by night. The

participating ruler, regardless of sect, is Mars.

Where and When are the Triplicity Rulers In Their Fortitude?

In William Lillys Table of Dignities, we read that only the sect and

participating triplicity ruler has any dignity in a chart. In defining theessential dignity of the triplicities he says,

[TRIPLICITY.] If he be in any of those Signs which are alotted him for Triplicity,

he hath allowed him three dignities; but herein you must be cautious; as for

example: In a Question, Nativity, or the like, if you find the Sun in Aries, and the

Question, or Nativity, or Scheam erected be by night, and you would examine the

Sun his fortitudes, he shall have four dignities for being in his exaltation, which

continues through the Sign; but shall not be allowed any dignity, as being in his

triplicity; for by night the Sun ruleth not the fiery Triplicity, but Jupiter; who had he

been in place of the Sun, and by night, must have had allowed him three dignities:

and this doe generally in all the Planets, Mars excepted, who night and day ruleth

the watry Triplicity.10

After closely studying the historical record of how the ancients usedthe triplicity rulers, I am not so sure Lillys definition is correct. Withthe exception of Ptolemy [alas once again], the ancients considered all

of the triplicity rulers fortunate when in their triplicities. The sect of

10Book I ofChristian Astrology by William Lilly


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the chart had nothing to do with whether or not a ruler had dignity! A

good example of this is in Mshallhs text, On Conjunctions,Religions, and Peoples. The chart Mshallh is interpreting is of theGreat Conjunction indicating the shift in triplicities for the deluge (the

great biblical flood).

The cusp of the Ascendant marks Sagittarius as the 1st

house. The Sunis below the horizon in Aries in the 5th House. The chart is therefore a

nocturnal chart.

No planet except Jupiter can be found for the guardianship of this year because it

is the lord of the Ascendant, and the Lord of its [the Ascendant] triplicity is the Sun

alone and it confers its power upon it[the Ascendant].11

Here Mshallh is saying that the Sun, the diurnal Triplicity ruler, is

ruler alone of this triplicity in this nocturnal chart! If one were to first

read Lillys definition then it would seem that this great ancient

master in the art is making some kind of mistake here.

What is the solution to this seeming conflict of terms andunderstanding? The solution I believe is to return to the foundation of

the whole concept and examine it a little closer and see if we candetermine just what is stated and what isnt.

We can start with Dorotheus, since it is in his writings that we find an

example of their earliest uses. In his work, Carmen Astrologicum, wecan read,

As for the triplicities: Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius are a triplicity; Taurus, Virgo,

and Capricorn are a triplicity; Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius are a triplicity; and

Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces are a triplicity. Know the lords of the triplicities of the

signs: the lords of the triplicity of Aries by day are the Sun, then Jupiter, then

Saturn, by night Jupiter, then the Sun, then Saturn; the lords of the triplicity of

Taurus by day are Venus, then the Moon, then Mars, by night the Moon, then Venus,

then Mars, and in Virgo there is also a share for Mercury; the lords of the triplicity

of Gemini by day are Saturn, then Mercury, then Jupiter, by night Mercury, thenSaturn, then Jupiter; the lords of the triplicity of Cancer by day are Venus, then

Mars, then the Moon, by night Mars, then Venus, then the Moon. I tell you that

everything which is decided or indicated is from the lords of the triplicities, and as

11 The Astrological History of Mshallh by E.S. Kennedy and David Pingree - -

published by Harvard University Press 1971 - - a Harvard-Yenching Institute

Monograph Series


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for everything of afflictions and distress which reaches the people of the world and

the totality of men, the lords of the triplicities decide it.12

So far, there is no indication or mention of dignity or fortuneconcerning these triplicity rulers. Instead, we are told that judgement

concerning everything coming to men is found from these rulers. In

his use, he gives us several charts using these triplicity rulers todelineate the good or bad, which is indicated for the nativity.

We can examine one of his charts.This nativity was diurnal and the first lord of the [the Sun]triplicity is the Sun, thesecond Jupiter, and both of these are in the cardines in their own exaltations, so that

the native should be praised with the praise of kings and nobles and wealthy men.

Because Saturn is the third lord of the triplicity and is cadent from a cardine and

Jupiter aspects it in its [Jupiters] house from trine, so for that reason he will be

praised with the praise of kings.13

All three triplicity rulers share in the delineation. Just because it is a

diurnal chart did not mean that Jupiter did not have any virtue in the

chart! Remember, Dorotheus says, the lords of the triplicity of Aries

by day are the Sun, then Jupiter, then Saturn, by night Jupiter, then

the Sun, then Saturn. He doesnt say that since this is a diurnal chartthat Jupiter has no virtue in it. All three planets have virtue in the day.

12 Book I, chapter 1 - - Carmen Astrologicum by Dorotheus - - translated by David

Pingree - - published by Ascella Publications13

Book I, page 40 - - Carmen Astrologicum by Dorotheus - - translated by David

Pingree - - published by Ascella Publications


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What about a nocturnal chart?

This is a second nocturnal nativity, and the first lord of the triplicity of the Moon is

Mercury, the second Saturn. Because both of these are in a cadent in the vicinity of

[the cardine] under the earth, the man will be needy with respect to property. But

because Jupiter is the ruler of part of this nativity and is with the Moon in a cardine,

he will have the closest thing to living out [his] days in poverty except that he will

have the danger of the hand of fortune.14

The Moon is ruler of this nocturnal chart so Dorotheus is looking atthe triplicity rulers of the sign the Moon is in, Libra. He says in a

nocturnal nativity, the lords of the triplicity of Gemini by day areSaturn, then Mercury, then Jupiter, by night Mercury, then Saturn,

then Jupiter. In his delineation, he takes Mercury, Saturn then

Jupiter. All three triplicity rulers have virtue in the chart, not just

Mercury and Jupiter.

Well what about following astrologers? Vettius Valens writes,

When we have ordered the zodiacal circle by difference and by property, we find

two sects a diurnal and a nocturnal sect of the Sun and of the Moon respectively.

The Sun, being truly fiery, was associated with Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius, whichwas named its diurnal trigon and is also fiery by nature . . . . . Of the trigon in

question, then, the Sun is master by day, the star Zeus is master by proxy by night,

while Kronos cooperates with both.

14Ibid - - page 43 & 44


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Next, the Moon, as she is near the earth, took as her lot the rulership of the

following trigon Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn which is truly earthy . . . . .Whence, at night the Moon stands in the forefront, Aphrodite in second place, and

Ares in third. But in diurnal nativities, Aphrodite is advanced; the Moon cooperates

in second place, Ares in third.

Next, Kronos will be master of the airy trigon, Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius by day,

while Hermes will cooperate in the second place, and Zeus in the third. But by night,

the star of Hermes is advanced, and the star of Kronos is in second place, the star of

Zeus in third.

Next, the star of Ares will maintain the rulership of the watery trigon Cancer,

Scorpio and Pisces by night, with Aphrodite in second place, and the Moon in third.But by day the star Aphrodite is advanced, after which is the star of Ares, and third

the Moon15

Valens describes exactly the same as Dorotheus. What is interesting inValens though is his wording, for example But by day the star

Aphrodite is advanced. It is clear he is making a distinction for the

purposes of priority as to which planet is examined first, second and

third. In each sect, both diurnal and nocturnal, all three triplicity rulers

are included and contribute their virtue to the nativity. Valens, in the

successive chapters goes into great detail to describe how each of

these rulers contributes and what it signifies. For example he says

when the first ruler is impeded, the first part of the natives life will be

impeded but if the others are well placed then his fortune increases

later in life.

15Book II, Chapter 1 - - The Anthologyby Vettius Valens - - translated by Robert

Schmidt - - Published by Golden Hind Press and Project Hindsight


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Lets look at one of his 130 charts he gives us in his Anthology.

We will make use of illustrations for the diagnosis of the above matters [his

discussion of the Triplicities and their rulers], setting a notable nativity at thebeginning. Let the Sun be in Scorpio, the Moon in Cancer, Kronos in Aquarius, Zeus

in Sagittarius, Ares in Scorpio, Aphrodite in Libra, Hermes in Scorpio, the

Horoskopos[the Ascendant]in Libra. Since, then, the nativity is nocturnal, I seek theMoon [because the Moon is the luminary ruling the nocturnal sect]. This happens to be

in Cancer in the trigon of Ares. [Valens calls it the triplicity of Mars because Mars is

the nocturnal triplicity ruler]We found the star of Ares[Mars]to be post-ascending[succedent]in its own house and trigon[triplicity]and in its own sect[Mars is in hispreferred nocturnal domicile, in a nocturnal chart and nocturnal quadrant]; then we

find the star sharing with this, Aphrodite, to be marking the hour in its own house[The diurnal ruler, Aphrodite, shares in the triplicity rulership in her domicile in the

1st]; third, the Moon to be culminating in her own house [the Moon is the third ruler

of this nocturnal triplicity in a nocturnal chart and all three triplicity rulers confervirtue in this delineation, just like with Dorotheus]. It is clear beforehand, then, that

the nativity is an estimable one, since the rulers [the three triplicity rulers] are

suitably figured[they are all in their domiciles in good houses]. By seeking, I find theLot [of Fortune] to be in Aquarius. Its lord [Saturn] is upon this zoidion [sign],

occupying the Good Fortune [the 5th house] in its own house and trigon

[triplicity!!].16

This chart is particularly relevant to this discussion because had

Valens only considered the sect triplicity ruler to be in dignity andonly in the proper sect of the chart, he would never had said, Its lord

16Book II, Chapter 22 - - The Anthologyby Vettius Valens - - translated by Robert

Schmidt - - Published by Golden Hind Press and Project Hindsight


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in its own houseand trigon when speaking of Saturn, which is the

diurnal triplicity ruler of Aquarius in this nocturnal chart!

The same is found in the later Arabic astrologers where they applied

the triplicity lords not only to the signs but also to the houses. We canread in Ibn Ezra the rational extension of the original purpose.

The fourth house denotes the father, land, houses and fields, and regions, and

building, and hidden treasures and all hidden things, and the end of any matter. The

first ruler of the triplicity signifies the father; the second [ruler signifies] land;and the third [indicates] the end of all matters.

17

The advancing of one ruler over another, depending on whether or

not the nativity was nocturnal or diurnal, was only a prioritising inorder to judge which planet had rule over the first, second and third

years of the natives life or a specific signification of a house. It did

not exclude a planet from virtue just because it was the ruler of the

opposite sect. Regardless of the charts sect, a planet in its triplicity

has virtue!

The Sun, Jupiter and Saturn have dignity when in a sign belonging to

the fire triplicity regardless of the sect of the chart. Saturn, Mercury

and Jupiter are in their dignity when in a sign belonging to the air

triplicity, regardless of the sect of the chart! The Moon, Venus and

Mars are in their dignity when they are in a sign belonging either to

the water or earth triplicities, regardless of the sect of the chart!

In the question of fortitude of the triplicity rulers, Lilly warns thestudent, but herein you must be cautious; namely in the chart sect.

Bonatti on the other hand throws all caution to the wind, not evenbothering to tell his students the sect of the chart and simply declares

that a planet in his triplicity has honours there.

The Moon was in said 3rd

degree of Aries and Jupiter, which is the lord of the first

bound of Aries, was in the 5th

degree of Gemini, Cancer, or Leo before the Moon, or

in the 5th degree of Aquarius, Capricorn, or Sagittarius after the Moon; at this time

the Moon was joined to Jupiter by aspect, and Jupiter himself received her by his

boundand triplicity, and he committed his own virtue and disposition to her as if he

17Chapter 3 - - The Beginning of Wisdom by Avraham Ibn Ezra - - translated by

Meira B. Epstein - - published by ARHAT


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received her from domicile or exaltation [because the Moon is in two of Jupiters

minor dignities].18

This is typical of Bonatti, who shows no concern at all as to the sect of

the chart when assigning virtue to a planet in its triplicity.

So, is sect important? Should we beware as Lilly warns? There is no

support for this in the record, where regardless of sect, the rulers all

contributed their virtue to a chart. Neither is there support for this in

the man who most influenced the return of Astrology to Europe in themiddle ages, Guido Bonatti.

My conclusion based on the weight of evidence leads me to say that

with all due respect, Mr. Lilly here has made a mistake in hisunderstanding of the Triplicity Rulers. As I said in my foreword to the

minor dignities, understanding the signification of these dignitieshelps us to understand the essential nature of those dignities.

*All rights of this document are reserved solely by the author andaccess is exclusively restricted to the Angelicus Merlin Mailing list.

Reproduction and redistribution is a violation of the authors

copyright. 2004 Steven Birchfield

18 Chapter XC, Third Tractate part 2 - - Liber Astronomiae by Guido Bonatti - -

Translated by Robert Zoller and Robert Hand - - Published by Spica Publications

and Project Hindsight

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