Hello!

Happy AQUARIUS New Moon!

[Original post in News section: Reposting in the traditional forum as well]

I have started a new YouTube channel to teach traditional natal astrology.
https://youtube.com/@satyastrology7/

Students interested in learning can subscribe for a fun and engaging experience.

Latest episodes:

https://youtu.be/l7JuEEYuhDY/
https://youtu.be/mLpnXgzJwrk/
https://youtu.be/p8ZEsqUMdig/

Follows Tropical Zodiac

Hope you find it interesting!

Satya

The ELEMENTAL QUALITIES of the Planets

• Saturn is excessively cold and dry
• Jupiter is moderately hot and moist
• Mars is hot and excessively dry
• The Sun is hot and dry, with heat dominant
• Venus is moderately hot and moist, especially moist
• Mercury can be dry or moist
• The Moon is moderately hot and moist

Ptolemy derives this based on the planet's distance from the Sun or Earth

Discussed here
https://youtu.be/Uci7vTAY9w8/

satya7 wrote: Fri Feb 07, 2025 5:01 pm The ELEMENTAL QUALITIES of the Planets

• The Moon is moderately hot and moist

Ptolemy writes that the Moon is warming in a sense. If one can conclude that she is moderately hot I want to deny. The Moon is female and therefore of a cool and moisture nature. It rules the phlegma. Especially in horary and medical astrology this can be very important. Unfortunately I’m no expert in the history of astrology. Maybe this perception of the Moon’s temperature as moderately hot changed over time to cool.

You are probably right Georgious

Maybe 'warm' is a better descriptive. But she is the brightest object in the night sky. In that sense one could reason her as moderately hot.

The planets are classified as follows:

1. Benefic and Malefic Planets

Jupiter and Venus are considered benefic planets because of their temperate nature. Moderate heat and moderate moisture are nourishing and support life and growth. Jupiter is the greater benefic while Venus is the lesser benefic.

Saturn and Mars are considered malefic planets. Saturn is a malefic because of its excessively cold nature, whereas Mars is a malefic due to its excessively dry nature. Both excessive cold and dryness are inimical to nourishment and life. Saturn is the greater malefic while Mars is the lesser malefic.

2. Masculine and Feminine Planets

The Moon and Venus are feminine planets. The Sun, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars are masculine, while Mercury is common.

There are conditions that can make a planet more masculine or more feminine. They do not change the planet’s gender but can enhance or curb the natural expression of their gender. One such condition is if the planet is in its morning or evening phase. This is especially important for Mercury.

Another condition influencing gender is the sign placement of the planet. In general, a masculine planet placed in a masculine sign (Aries, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Sagittarius, Aquarius) will have his condition improved. Similarly, a feminine planet placed in a feminine sign (Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn, Pisces) will have her condition improved.

3. Diurnal and Nocturnal Planets

The planets are divided into two sects: diurnal and nocturnal. The diurnal planets are the Sun, Jupiter, and Saturn. The nocturnal planets are the Moon, Venus, and Mars. A morning phase Mercury is diurnal and an evening phase Mercury is nocturnal.

Note that Saturn, which is a cold planet, is of the diurnal sect since the heat of the day tempers his excessive cold and makes him more balanced and more likely to act favorably. Similarly, Mars, a dry planet, is of the nocturnal sect since the moisture of the night tempers his excessive dryness.

4. Superior and Inferior Planets

The Sun’s position in the planetary spheres divides the remaining planets into two groups: the superior planets and the inferior planets.

The superior planets are above the solar sphere and move slower than the Sun. They are Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars. The inferior planets are situated below the solar sphere and move faster than the Sun. They are Venus, Mercury, and the Moon. Superiority and inferiority here only refer to the relative position of the planets — it does not mean that some planets are better than the others.

Discussed here
https://youtu.be/_b8sisXQC2k/

Fidibus wrote: Mon Feb 10, 2025 6:52 pm Pluto transits were negative events in my life, Neptune transits positiv, Uranus positiv, Saturn negative, Jupiter positive.

Sorry, no outer planets in traditional forum

The Sun in traditional astrology is much more than just a zodiac sign. While modern astrology places heavy emphasis on the Sun sign for personality traits, traditional astrologers saw the Sun as the cosmic ruler, the source of life, purpose, and order in the universe. The Sun defines time itself, governs leaders and kings, and stands at the center of astrological practice. It isn’t just about who you are but rather what you are meant to become.

In traditional astrology, the Sun represents sovereignty, rulership, and divine order. It was known as the "king of the planets" and associated with figures of power such as monarchs, emperors, and high priests. Ancient societies aligned their rulers with the Sun, symbolizing their authority and connection to the divine. Even though ancient astrology followed a geocentric model, the Sun still held a uniquely central position, harmonizing the heavens and bringing order.

The Sun’s placement in a birth chart reveals purpose and identity, authority and leadership, vitality and health, and truth and clarity. It symbolizes the life force and the guiding principle that illuminates a person’s path. William Lilly, a 17th-century astrologer, described the Sun as the king of all planets, signifying rulers, noblemen, and all who command respect. A well-dignified Sun bestows honor, wisdom, and a commanding presence.

The Sun doesn’t just illuminate the sky; it reveals truth. A strong Sun in a birth chart often suggests someone with clarity, insight, and a strong moral compass. It is linked to law, philosophy, and governance, as these institutions are meant to uphold truth and justice. The Sun’s house of joy is the ninth house, which rules over law, philosophy, and higher education, reinforcing its connection to wisdom and enlightenment.

The Sun is associated with the fire element, making it hot and dry in nature. These qualities symbolize vitality, stability, and confidence. A well-placed Sun bestows honor, intelligence, and leadership. When afflicted, it can result in arrogance, excessive pride, or a struggle with direction. A combust (burned) planet in the chart may indicate lack of clarity or overshadowing of its qualities.

The Sun is the ruler of the diurnal sect, meaning it thrives in a daytime birth chart. If a person is born during the day with the Sun above the horizon, they operate under its full strength. In a diurnal chart, the Sun, Jupiter, and Saturn work together to bring stability and wisdom. In a nocturnal chart, where the Sun is below the horizon, its influence is diminished, and the Moon, Venus, and Mars take prominence.

The Sun’s power depends on its zodiac sign. It is strong in Leo, its domicile, where it represents confidence, leadership, and creativity. It is exalted in Aries, where it gains boldness and independence. However, it struggles in Libra, where it must compromise, and in Aquarius, where collective ideals overshadow personal brilliance.

In medical astrology, the Sun rules over the heart, the brain, and the eyes. It governs vitality and resilience, and when well-placed, it strengthens overall health. If afflicted, it may indicate heart conditions, fevers, or fatigue. The Sun’s associated herbs, such as St. John’s Wort, rosemary, and saffron, have traditionally been used to support vitality and circulation.

Beyond personal traits, the Sun also signifies gold, the metal of kings, and Sunday, its ruling day. Its greater years are 120 which is used in traditional astrology’s longevity calculations. It also represents professions associated with leadership, visibility, and influence, such as rulers, politicians, goldsmiths, and artists.

In a birth chart, the Sun is one of the primary indicators of the father’s role and influence. Its placement, dignity, and aspects can reveal the father’s presence and significance in a person’s life. Along with the fourth house and Saturn, it helps provide a deeper understanding of paternal influence.

The Sun in traditional astrology is not just about personality but about purpose, leadership, and the cosmic order. It represents the force that illuminates, guides, and reveals truth. Understanding its role in a chart helps uncover deeper insights into personal and cosmic alignment.

Discussed and presented here:
https://youtu.be/EN6dJ2gdAxM?si=8_JqDUB6dckQjEFO

The Moon: The Nocturnal Luminary

• The Moon is the nocturnal luminary, ruling over the night and influencing change, emotions, and the physical world.

• Its temperament is cold and moist, making it associated with adaptability, intuition, and nurturing qualities.

• It signifies queens, women, mothers, common people, travelers, sailors, messengers, fishermen, drunkards, midwives, and nurses.

• A well-dignified Moon bestows softness, tenderness, and a caring, protective nature. Those with a strong Moon are intuitive and in tune with their emotions, capable of deep empathy and support for others. An ill-dignified Moon can indicate instability, carelessness, laziness, and indulgence, sometimes even leading to aimlessness or escapism.

• The Moon rules silver among metals, Monday among the days of the week, and its greater years are 108.

Discussed and presented here
https://youtu.be/Z9KKkPRH9Lk?si=eWRqs6fnVlzD8PQe

Saturn: The Greater Malefic

• Saturn is the Greater Malefic, excessively cold and dry, associated with the melancholic temperament—pessimistic, reserved, but deeply wise.

• He represents labor, endurance, and structure, ruling over physical laborers, farmers, monks, and those who work in difficult conditions.

• Saturn governs restrictions, solitude, and boundaries, symbolized in professions that involve hardship, responsibility, or working with things that decay.

• Among metals, Saturn rules lead; among days, he rules Saturday; and his greater years are 57.

• His illnesses stem from coldness, aging, and melancholy, while his herbal associations, like comfrey, reveal his power over slow healing and resilience.

Discussed and presented here
https://youtu.be/0VCt4_dsFjU?si=yPsZxTC8fZ_rICuC

I find it puzzling that Saturn is considered diurnal and masculine. Saturn is the dimmest of the seven classical planets and is often associated with the darkness of the winter solstice, the time of the year when nights are longest and the Full Moon makes its highest trajectory above the horizon. Intuitively, this seems to align more with qualities traditionally associated with the feminine, rather than the masculine.

I understand the reasoning behind the association with masculinity, largely due to Saturn's mythological connection to the figure of Kronos. However, I'm curious about why the planet is linked to diurnal qualities. Why was Saturn named after this figure, and what does that imply astrologically?

On the other hand, Mars - despite its nocturnal classification - seems to evoke more diurnal qualities, particularly because of its intense red hue, which resembles the fiery brightness of the Sun. This connection seems to make Mars more suited to a diurnal designation than a nocturnal one.

Saturn is excessively cold. The heat of the day balances out the excessive coldness. Hence Saturn is diurnal.

Similarly Mars is excessively dry. The moisture of the night balances out the excessive dryness. Hence Mars is nocturnal.

This is how Ptolemy reasoned it ->

7. Of Diurnal and Nocturnal Planets

Similarly, since of the two most obvious intervals of those which make up time, the day is more masculine because of its heat and active force, and night more feminine because of its moisture and its gift of rest, the tradition has consequently been handed down that the moon and Venus are nocturnal, the sun and Jupiter diurnal, and Mercury common as before, diurnal when it is a morning star and nocturnal as an evening star. They also assigned to each of the sects the two destructive stars, not however in this instance on the principle of similar natures,​ but of just the opposite; for when stars of the same kind are joined with those of the good temperament their beneficial influence is increased, but if dissimilar stars are associated with the destructive ones the greatest part of their injurious power is broken. Thus they assigned Saturn, which is cold, to the warmth of the day, and Mars, which is dry, to the moisture of the night, for in this way each of them attains good proportion through admixture and becomes a proper member of its sect, which provides moderation.

Thank you for the Ptolemy quote, satya7. I'm less familiar with historical astrology sources, but somewhere I've read this euphemist argument "you have to make the malefics appear docile by ascribing contrary qualities to them" before. Unfortunately I didn't find it convincing.

Even if you put a wild beast into a cage and manage to "tame" it, the animal will still remain a beast and might snap someday. You don't make a tiger less dangerous by comparing it to a house cat or calling it your "kitty". Saturn and Mars may be so malefic in general that those two planets may indeed have to be tempered in their qualities as a precautionary measure. But this doesn't mean they change their fundamental nature.

Besides, cold always naturally goes with nocturnal/feminine, just as hot goes with diurnal/masculine. You can't separate those qualities from each other - or claim that Saturn can be both cold and diurnal,Mars both hot and nocturnal.