Skyscript Astrology Forum

http://astrosoftware.com/ArabicParts.htm

this morning i read in the trad section on the 'lots combust' thread some comments that i am responding to here, since - haha - i can comment on lihins comments without the burden of having to keep it trad.

lihin points to a review on amazon of zollers book on the arabic parts
http://www.amazon.com/Arabic-Parts-Astr ... 0892812508
by a fellow named kristopher streeter who would like to suggest it is impossible to entertain a metaphysical viewpoint in modern times, or something to that effect. first off, i think that is presumptuous and naive to suggest that, but i want to highlight an article much more modern in context which i think addresses some of the thrust of lihin's comments in a head on manner..

i think the divisive talk on the differences between medieval and modern thinking suggested by the reviewer of zollers book are false and don't really help in to broaden ones understanding of arabic parts.. i do believe cochranes article at the top go a long way to gaining a better understanding on their relevance in a modern context.

The formula for the third Arabic Part that can be constructed with the Sun, Moon, and Asc is Sun+Moon-Asc. When I first began experimenting with this Arabic Part, I called it the Part of Integration but then I noticed that it was already listed in my software and has the name Part of Retribution, and this Arabic Part is attributed to al Biruni. I have not yet researched al Biruni's work [...]

In Al Biruni's The Book of Instructions in the Elements of the Art of Astrology, there is no such formula. The Part of Retribution is actually Asc + Sun - Mars in nocturnal charts, conversely in diurnal ones.

What the author was looking for is the Lot of Basis, which is the shortest distance between Fortune and Spirit, although is not making any geometric shape with Asc, Sun and Moon.