Skyscript Astrology Forum

Since I use the sidereal zodiac, I've found it helpful to understand the triplicities from a foundation of their ruling planets. There are actually two sets of these planets: Dorotheus' triplicity lords, and the three domicile lords of each triplicity or trigon. Robert Schmidt has pointed out that Antiochus makes the domicile lords of the remaining two signs in each trigon "joint domicile masters" of the sign. Thus, for example in the Gemini-Libra-Aquarius triplicity, Mercury and Saturn would be domicile masters of Libra along with Venus.

Now that we have a Sidereal forum I want to return to a topic that was left incomplete on the Traditional forum. I have analyzed the temperament charts from Dorian Gieseler Greenbaum's Temperament: Astrology's Forgotten Key, and have found some interesting correlations in the sidereal zodiac to the four triplicities. In the sidereal zodiac the characteristic "tone" of each triplicity can be connected to the domicile lords of the signs and the triplicity lords.

I'll take these temperament types one at a time, beginning with the Melancholic. This temperament type appears to be linked to the Gemini triplicity, and of course, Saturn. I refer to this triplicity as "cold," partly due to Saturn having the greatest effect in these signs through domicile and trigonal rulership and Saturn's exaltation in Libra. There is general agreement among astrologers that Saturn rules the melancholic disposition, and we even have Albrecht Durer's famous engraving, Melancholia, which features the Libran scales, Libra being Saturn's exaltation sign.

[Tentative: A correlation can perhaps also be made with Aristotle's philosophical Cold (Active and Feminine). "Feminine" = of the feelings. "Active" directs the attention within the self rather than being naturally expressive in the outer sense.]

Gemini, Libra, Aquarius: (the "cold" triplicity)
Triplicity lords: Saturn and Mercury
Domicile lords: Mercury, Venus, Saturn
Exaltation: Saturn in Libra

I am using the planetary traits listed in Ben Dykes's Introductions to Traditional Astrology (Abu Ma'shar and al-Qabisi). We know that in this time period astrologers in the Arab world used a sidereal zodiac with the fiducial ten minutes east of Zeta Pisces. Presumably the principles in the classical texts they used were understood to operate within that zodiac. (We don't yet have a firm date when these sidereal tables were discarded.)

It seems natural to correlate the classical traits of Saturn with the melancholic temperament. From "Introductions" above, Saturn is:
cold and dry
melancholic
solitary
obstinate
secretive
has fear, griefs and sorrow
is silent ("scarcity of speeaking")
is sad and grieving

A sampling from Greenbaum's list of melancholic traits:
anti-social, analytical, pessimistic, studious
Succeeds through hard work and persistence
Are often alone, but don't like it much
"Life is not fair."
"Life is a series of disappointments."
Don't jump to conclusions. Weigh the evidence

Greenbaum's book lists four children who possessed a melancholic temperament according to the analysis of their teachers. Studying their birth charts is very interesting, because in each chart the ascendant lord is configured with Saturn and/or we find stelliums in the "cold" triplicity, most especially in Libra (Saturn's exaltation sign) and Aquarius, Saturn's domicile. The charts are printed on two messages below with comments.

Melancholic Chart #1: FERN
At the top of the chart is a stellium in Libra, Saturn's exaltation sign and the fall of the Sun. Traditional astrologers would include only the Sun, Moon's south node and M.C. in the stellium, omitting Pluto. The Sun's dispositor is Venus in fall in Virgo.

(1)Domicile lord of the ascendant: Sagittarius rises, and Jupiter is in its fall in Saturn-ruled Capricorn. Saturn makes a ten degree sextile to Jupiter from a sign with no Saturnian dignity (Scorpio). If we don't want to consider the wide sextile a valid aspect, then Saturn in Scorpio disposits the domicile lord of the ascendant.

(2) Domicile lord of the Lot of Fortune: The lot of fortune is in Gemini; the domicile lord is Mercury conjunct Saturn in Scorpio. There is no sect or rulership affinity for either planet in Scorpio.

(3) Trigon lords of the sect light (Sun in Libra): Diurnal lord Saturn is in Scorpio without dignity. Nocturnal lord Mercury is in Scorpio with Saturn, as above for the domicile lord of the Lot of Fortune.

The Moon is only half a degree from leaving Pisces and in the terms of Saturn.

Melancholic Chart #2: DEREK
As in Fern's chart, there is a stellium of planets at the top of the chart in a "cold" sign, Aquarius. Jupiter with the Sun is "under the beams." This means that the Saturn ruled Sun is dominant.

(1) Domicile lord of the ascendant: This is Venus in Aquarius and part of the Aquarian stellium of Jup/Sun/Ven/Mer. Venus receives the square aspect from Saturn without dignity in Scorpio as well as Mars which has dignity in its own sign.

(2) Domicile lord of the Lot of Fortune in Libra: Venus in "cold" Aquarius (same as the ascendant lord).

(3) Trigon lords of the sect light (Sun in Aquarius): Diurnal lord is Saturn in Scorpio; Nocturnal lord is Mercury in Saturn's sign, Aquarius.

Melancholic Chart #3: DANIEL
(1) Domicile Lord of the Ascendant: The ascendant is Aries; Mars applies to Saturn (7 deg conjunction) in Leo. Again as in the previoius two charts, Saturn lacks dignity in Leo.

(2) Domicile lord of the Lot of Fortune This is the Moon in the 12th sign in Pisces with a dexter square from two planets in the "cold" trigon, Venus and Mercury in Gemini.

(3) Trigon lords of the sect light (Moon in Pisces): Nocturnal Mars applies to Saturn in Leo; Venus is in the cold trigon in Gemini.

Melancholic Chart #4: TESS
(1) Domicile lord of the ascendant: Moon rules the Cancer ascendant and is placed between Saturn and Uranus in its fall in Scorpio, Scorpio likewise giving no dignity to Saturn.

(2) Domicile lord of the Lot of Fortune: Venus in Libra (cold) disposits the Lot of Fortune in Taurus.

(3) Trigon lords of the sect light (Moon in Scorpio): Mars in Capricorn (Saturn ruled); Venus in Libra (cold).

In the sidereal zodiac the Taurus triplicity is the most sanguine-like of the four trigons. Why should this be? We have only to look at the triplicity lords assigned to this trigon by the men of wisdom in ages past. This triplicity is composed of three feminine signs and has been given the nocturnal Moon and Venus as trigon lords. The sign ruled by Saturn in this triplicity, Capricorn, is softened by its association with the symbolism of these trigon lords.

There is an unquestionable harmony between Venus and the Moon and the sidereal Taurus triplicity, and this is evident in the charts of children in whom the sanguine temperament predominates. These trigon signs, Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn, are also signs of communication, for Virgo (Mercury's domicile as well as exaltation sign), is the second sign of this triplicity. "For in Virgo is also a share for Mercury." (Dorotheus) The arts of communication as well as mutual sharing and cooperation have always belonged to the females of the human species, and the Taurus trigon is feminine.

First, a partial list of characteristics given to Venus and the Moon as noted in Introductions to Traditional Astrology.

Characteristics of the Moon
benevolent
moderate
powerful over joy
not concealing secrets (talkative?)
desires joy and beauty and being praised
inexperience of the mind (Dykes' note: "gossip, chit-chat")
flawless heart
cheerful to people
with Venus: courtliness, sweetness of mind
with Jupiter: kindness of companionship

Characteristics of Venus
generous, sharing
amiability toward friends
joy and happiness
love of children, love of people
trust in everyone
sweetness of speech
sweetness and laughter and friendship
a love of singing and amusement, laughing,
dancing and playing the pipes

The Sanguine temperament (Greenbaum)
Friendly social, shallow, unfocused, cheerful, dilettante
Hail fellow well met
Networking is an art form.

There are only two children in Greenbaum's book who are classed as sanguine without modification from other temperaments. Greenbaum has used Tony Blair as a third sanguine individual, so we can look at these three charts.
Sanguine Chart #1: STACY
Greenbaum describes Stacy as sociable, graceful, flitting from interest to interest, and comments that "It would be nice to see more significators in air." As tropical air correlates with the sidereal Taurus triplicity and its lords, we can study the chart with that comment in mind.

The ascendant and its lord are always focal points for a chart's energies. If we compute Stacy's chart with equal house cusps, we immediately see an elevated Venus in Capricorn in its own triplicity. (Tropical readers should think "Aquarius.") This Venus is configured by square aspect to a rising Moon. Moon itself is applying to the ascendant lord, Mars in Aries.

Moon in Aries has no dignity; however it is assisted by being in the terms of Jupiter with the ascendant. In the navamsa chart (which I have not illustrated), the Moon is dignified in Taurus. Jyotish astrologers consider the navamsa signs of planets to be superior to the natal signs since these signs can change frequently throughout the day. (I never interpret birth charts apart from the sidereal navamsa chart, and routinely combine Jyotish with classical principles.

The Lot of Fortune is in Taurus, so disposited by the elevated Venus in its own triplicity. I believe that this elevated Venus aspecting the ascendant and Moon is the key to Stacy's sanguine nature. No other planets are close to cusps. It's true that the Sun and Mercury are in a "cold" sign (Aquarius), but they are not close to an angle. Also Mercury is located in the terms of Venus while the Sun is in the terms of Jupiter. (Egyptian terms) In the navamsa chart Venus itself is in Pisces, its exaltation sign.

Sanguine Chart #2: DARCY
The sanguine chart that has the most discussion of traits in Greenbaum's book is that of her own daughter, Darcy. Greenbaum states that she has admired her daughter's social skills and ability to make friends since she was the age of three. Greenbaum describes Darcy's life as filled with activity including ballet, various sports, learning French and music. "Too much on her plate," Greenbaum says, "who enjoys every minute of it." Greenbaum adds that it's easy to see Darcy's sanguine temperament as both the ascendant and Moon are in [tropical] Air.

In the sidereal zodiac we are not surprised then to see that the Moon in Virgo in its own triplicity trines the ascendant from the 9th house with a two degree orb. In the terms of Venus, the Moon is made stronger by Darcy being a night time birth. In the navamsa the Moon gains even more strength as it is dignified in Taurus.

Taking the ascendant we have at first what seems to be a contradiction to a sangine temperament. The domicile lord of the ascendant is an elevated Saturn in "cold" Libra. But, unlike the Saturns that had no dignity in the melancholic charts, Saturn here is in high dignity. How will this dignity manifest?

Looking to Saturn's dispositor we see an exalted Venus in Pisces in partile opposition to the elevated Moon with only a four minute orb. So we have a similar Venus-Moon emphasis we saw in Stacy's chart. The Moon making such a close aspect to the ascendant "collects" the energy of exalted Venus.

Five degrees away and conjoined to Venus is Mars in Pisces in its own trigon. No doubt this is the signature for Darcy's love of the ceaseless activities she enjoys with others, which includes the sports of swimming, softball, and horseback riding. (Ruled by Jupiter, planet of actors and politicians, sidereal Pisces has an active, choleric type of energy, similar to tropical Aries.)

The sect light is the Moon in Virgo, so we have a repeat of the Moon-Venus emphasis in the chart since the Moon and Venus are the trigon lords of Virgo.

The Lot of Fortune is in Gemini. It's dispositor is Mercury in Capricorn, a sign of the Taurus trigon.

SANGUINE CHARTS CONTINUED IN NEXT POST

Singuine Chart #3: TONY BLAIR
Tony Blair is our third sanguine chart, which Greenbaum used as an example chart in her book. We continue to have an emphasis on the Taurus trigon since Taurus rises with Jupiter and Mars. The domicile lord of the ascendant is Venus exalted in Pisces. Venus receives the opposition from two planets in the Taurus trigon: Saturn and Neptune in Virgo.

The Moon itself is in its own trigon in Capricorn (Its dipositor Saturn being one of the planets aspecting the exalted Venus.) The Moon also happens to be in the terms of Venus, and aspects Venus by a three degree sextile. Venus itself crosses from the navamsa chart to the natal Moon--in Capricorn, a sign of the Taurus trigon.

The Lot of Fortune is in Aquarius with its domicile lord in Virgo (Taurus trigon) aspecting exalted Venus.
The sect light is the exalted Sun in Aries, but Aries itself isn't a sign with sanguine energy. The exaltation merely puts a positive spin on the Sun itself, suitable for a man of Tony Blair's professional stature.

In these three Sanguine charts--Stacy, Darcy and Tony Blair, we see an emphasis on the Moon and Venus and the Taurus triplicity. Although in the sidereal zodiac the Moon and Venus are the lords of this triplicity, converted to the tropical zodiac these are known as the Air signs. However, those air signs display exactly the same type of gregarious, outgoing energy as Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn do in the sidereal zodiac.