Continuing in my series of aphorisms, in Partridge's Μικροπαστρων, Mikropanastron, I now present its reprint of Gadbury's "Choice aphorisms for Nativities" These aphorisms were initially added at the end of Gadbury's "Collectio Geniturarum" available here. This book was a collection of 150 horoscopes; ones belonging to famous persons or were somehow astrologically noteworthy. The aphorisms themselves come at the end, as an appendix. Their reprint in the Mikriopanastron starts here:
Textual and editorial conventions Abbreviations have been expanded; so
Textual and editorial conventions Abbreviations have been expanded; so
is transcribed "Mercury in Square or Opposition to Mars gives a sharp, but a most turbulent wit and understanding".
I have
attempted to divide the text into sections of roughly similar themes. But it
must be remembered, that this collection is so miscellaneous , the headings are
only approximations. The editor only hopes they are able to help, rather than
hinder the reader. If any reader can impose a better order on this text, I would be most grateful.
****
A
Century of Choice aphorisms added at the end of the Collectio Genuturarum. By Mr. J. Gadbury.
1.
Of
all the parts of Astrology, the Genethliacal is the chief; for therein is
consulted the whole progress of Man, from his Birth to his Burial; and by that
alone we are enabled to discover the times of his happy and inauspicious
fortunes.
[Characteristics of persons born
under planets]
2.
Those
who are born under such a position where Saturn beareth greatest rule, or if he
be in the Ascendant, are melancholy, envious; yet timorous persons; if Mars or
Mercury be in Square or Opposition to him, they turn Enthusiasts or Mad-Men
3.
Men
born under Jupiter, are generally noble-minded, aiming to do good to others,
thinking no ill; but if either of the lights shall be in Square or opposition
to Jupiter or Saturn, and Mars in the Ascendant or in Opposition thereunto; the
Native will be villainously minded, rash, head-strong, and rebellious,
treacherous to all, and friend to none, but from the teeth outward. [276]
4.
If
under Mars, and he essentially powerful, the native is full of Courage, proves
a good Souldier, attains to great Honour thereby; Mars also maketh good
Chyrurgeons [surgeons] Physicians, Apothecaries &c.
5.
He
that is born under the Sun, and he Royally dignified, is altogether aiming at
Soveraignty, Rule and Diminion; and (quoad
capax) will be very famous; the same, if any of the fiery signs
Horoscopize, and the Sun fortified as aforesaid.
6.
He
that is born under Venus, and she nobly fortified, is a great lover of
delights and pleasures, of an upright mind, nothing distrustful; but if she be
ill placed, and in ill Aspect of Saturn, he follows sensuality and bestial
pleasires; if of Mars, he is subject to many notorious Scandals and Disgraces,
and is seldom free from the Veneral Disease
7.
Mercury
Lord of the Ascendant in a Nativity well-dignified, shews the Native to be of a
most admirable fancy, and great Elocution; he makes famous Orators, by being in
good Aspect of the Moon and Venus, or in Reception of them; Excellent Divines
or Philosophers, by being in good Aspect or reception of Saturn or Jupiter, the
best Mathematicians or Astrologers, by being in Reception or good Aspect of
Mars.
8.
When
the Moon governs the Horoscope, and she well placed, the Native is a great
lover of Novel things, subject to Mutations, of a gentle [277] Nature
and Disposition, timorous, often desirous to travel and see strange countries;
if she be in Aspect of Mercury, he will be apt to learn many Languages .
9.
Mars
strong in a Nativity, and Lord of the seventh, and in no good Aspect of the
Luminaries or Ascendant, the Native is subject to misfortunes in War, or any
thing of Controversie; for the seventh House signifies adversaries, and in this
regard they will be too powerful for him to contend with
[ Planetary configurations ]
10.
All
the Planets (or most of them) above the Earth, the Native of what Capacity he
will, make him Eminent and Famous beyond it; but if they shall be in their
dignities so posited, the Native, (like a Comet) shall outshine all in that
place or part of the world, where he shall be born
11.
The
Infortunes afflicting the Sun, Moon or Horoscope by Body or Partile Aspect,
shews him that is born to be of a short and sickly life
12.
The
Sun in the Ascendant makes eminent boasters, and very pround persons, Mars
there makes notorious Lyars and Inventers of Fables, and great contrivers of
mischief, perjur’d turbulent and evil-minded men.
[Predictions surrounding the Asc and
MC: Honour, fame and fortune]
13.
Eminent
Fixed Stars upon the Angles of a Nativity, do give the Native eminent Honour
and Fame [278]
14.
Merucry
in Cazmi Solis and
in his own Dignities, makes the Native not only a famous Orator, but an
excellent Councellor, and for his Ingenuity he will be admired and had in great
esteem
15.
Saturn in the tenth of a Nativity, destroys the
Natives Honour and fame, he may breserve it cum difficultate ; but in
the end it will be absolutely Shipwrackt
16.
If Saturn in the Nativity of a King or other person
less famous, shall be in opposition to the M.C. although the Geniture be
otherwise fortunate, yet the Native’s end will be most inauspicious and cruel
17.
All the Planets in a Nativity Retrograde and under
the Earth, though the Native be of illustrious Birth, yet he is of a falling
fame and fortune
18.
Cardinal signs possessing the Angles of a Nativity,
makes the Native (of any Condition or Capacity) most eminent and famous in his
Generation and to do such Acts as After-ages shall admire him for
19.
Mars in the tenth, brings scandal and dishonor to
the native in many things; whether he be deserving thereof, or no
20.
The Sun or Moon in Square or Opposition of Saturn
or Mars from Angles, chiefly the fourth and tenth, declare a [279] violent Death; if
it be to Mars only, and in humane signs, the Native dies by the hand of his
Enemies; if to Saturn he may be poisoned or starved to death in Prison
21.
Those Persons (Be they Kings or of a meaner
Quality) are beloved of all sorts, who have Jupiter or Venus well Placed in the
tenth or first, and those angles free from affliction
22.
The Mid-heaven famously fortified, gives the Native
not only eminent Honour, but such as shall remain and be durable; though at
some times upon ill Directions, it may be subject to misfortunes as in the
Nativity of Fred. 3. Rex Daniae
23.
When
in a Nativity Saturn is in the tenth or eleventh Houses, and the M.C. comes by
direction to his body, the Native loseth all his Offices and Preferment, and
never riseth again; if in such a Nativity a violent death were threatened, this
puts a shameful Period to his life
24.
The
Dragon’s Tail in the tenth and Mars afflicting the lights in a violent Sign in
the fourth, portend a fatal end to the Honour and Life of the Native
25.
The
Lord of the Ascendant stronger than the lord of the seventh, the Native always
overcomes his Enemies Et è contra.
26.
Mars
in Aries, Scorpio or Capricorn in the Ascendant of a Nativity makes the native
invincible, chiefly [280] if
otherwise Aspected of the fortunate Planets and the Luminarties
27.
Mars
in Conjunction, Square or Opposition to the Moon, and Saturn in the same aspect
to the Sun from angles, portend a violent death; and if they shall be so placed
in violent signs, though not in Angles, the same
[Aspects between the planet]
28.
Mercury
in Square or Opposition to Mars gives a sharp, but a most turbulent wit and
understanding
29.
Mercury
in Pisces , in an Angle afflicted of Mars or the Sun, and the Moon in an Angle
afflicted of Saturn, makes an Ideot, Phanatic or frantick fellow; for his
Brains like a crackt Looking-glass, will represent a thousand several shapes
30.
Eminent
fixed stars upon the Angles of a Nativity, chiefly the M.C. and the Horoscope,
declares eminent and prodigious persons, such as shall make the world admire
them, if the planets therein shall but moderately assist.
31.
Both
the Lights afflicted in watery or aery Signs, bring to the Native an
unremovable gout
32.
The
moon in Conjunction of the Pleiades and in Square of Mars from an Angle,
denotes great defect in the eyes, if not Blindness
33.
He
that hath any of the firey Signs ascending, and the Lord of the Horoscope in
the tenth House, will be always aiming at things beyond the Capacity of his
Birth, let it be what it will. [281]
34.
Sometimes
the inferiour planets shall denote great honour and fame to the Native than the
Superiours; but then it shall not be of so log continuance
35.
He
that is born upon a New or Full Moon exactly lives but little time, if at all,
unless the Moon have great Latitude; for that sometimes may make the
Conjunction or Opposition eight or nine degrees distant
36.
Virgo
ascending, generally makes Ingenious persons, unless Mercury, who is Lord
thereof, is in Pisces or Sagittarius, then the Natice confident without Reason,
and will pretend to things he understands not
[Ninth house topics ]
37.
Fortunate
Planets in the Ninth House, make famous Church-men and Lawyers; the like if the
Benevolents Trine the Lord of the ninth
38.
He
that hath Saturn or Mars in the Ninth, and the Dragon’s Tail in the Horoscope,
will prove a mad Fellow to make either a Pope or Parish Priest of.
39.
Saturn
in an aery Sign in the Ascendant in good aspect of the Moon or N=Mercury, make
learned and famous Divines, such as will acquaint themselves with many
Languages
40.
Venus
and Mercury in Conjunction in an Aereal Sign in the Ascendant, in Trine to Jupiter
in the ninth, make the greatest Scholars, and most learned Criticks [282]
41.
Those
persons who are the very top of their Profession, who have many planets in
their ninth House.
42.
The
Lord of the tenth in the twelfth, and
the lord of the twelfth in the Ascendant, are certain arguments of Imprisonment
and Restraint; the like if the Lord of the Ascendant is in the twelfth
43.
Mercury
in Cancer retrograde, in Square to Mars and Saturn, and they in Opposition to
each other, in the nativity of a Divine, makes a great Enthusiast
44.
Mercury
or Jupiter in the Ascendant, void of the afflictions of the Infortunes, make
just and upright persons
[Speech and oratory]
45.
Those
persons who have Cancer, Scorpio or Pisces ascending at Birth, and Mercury
afflicted of Saturn or the Dragon’s Tail, they either speak not at all, or else
they have a very great Impediment in their Speech; if Mars afflicts Mercury in
such a Nativity, the Native Stammers very mucj
46.
If
signs of voice ascend at birth, as Gemini, Virgo, Libra, Sagittarius, or
Aquarius, and mercury be free from affliction, the Native is of excellent
Speech, and of a graceful Elocution
[Visions and Deception]
47.
The
Moon in Conjunction of Saturn in an earthy Sign, and an Earthy sign ascending,
makes exceeding Melancholy persons, and such as believe they see Visions.
48.
He
that hath the Moon in Aries in Opposition to Mercury and [283] the
Dragon’s tail upon the Ascendant, will be a Promoter of Lyes and Deceits
[Fortune, poverty, power, friends ]
49.
Saturn, upon the Cusp if the second makes the
native always poor, let him have what assistance soever, unless he be well
dignified there, and friendly Irradiated by the beams of the Fortunes
50.
Mars
and the Sun in the second in their Dignities, give the Native an Estate, but
procure him ways to spend it; ill posited there, he will not have much to be
Prodigal of, without good assistances.
51.
The
greater the Dignities of the Planets are in a Nativity, the more splendid and
spreading is the Native’s fame, the greater their Debilities, the more obscure
his fortune
52.
A
continued Series of good Directions makes a bad Nativity, at sometimes very
good; but they will not continue it so to the end
53.
A
grand Satellitium of Planets in the
eighth House, upon good Directions to them, the Native gains mightily by the
Wills and Legacies of deceased persons
54.
Fortunate
Planets well placed in the eleventh House denote many great and powerful
Friend; unfortunate ones there, ill affected, declare few and faithless
55.
Mercury
and Venus posited in the tenth House, either in the houses of Mars or Mercury,
make the Native [284] exceedingly famed for his skill in Sciences
56.
The
Moon in Reception and Trine of Mercury, makes a man a Turner up of Councils by
the Roots
57.
Saturn
and Mars in Opposition from Equinoctial Signs, make a great Tyrant, and if they
shall be in Square to Jupiter, he shall be an observer of Law and Religion for
his own ends
58.
All
the planets under the earth, when they promise Dignity, Honour and Renown, they
generally perform it in the latter part of the Native’s life
59.
The
Lord of the eleventh stronger than the lord of the seventh, denotes to the
Friends and Assistance of the Native to be more considerable and powerful than
his Adversaries
[Predictive techniques]
60.
The
returns of the Superiour Planets to their Radical places in any Revolution,
portend a fatal year, chiefly if attended with an ill direction
61.
The
Lord of the Ascendant in the Radix in Conjunction with the Lord of the eighth
in a Revolution in the eighth, is very dangerous to the life of the Native.
62.
When
the sign of the sixth in the Radix ascends in a Revolution, and the Lord of the
sixth posited in the Fourth, it is a dangerous year to the Native’s life, if an
ill direction be operating [285]
[Synastry ?]
63.
Some
persons attain to great Honour and Preferment, who have bad genitures; but they
must Sympathize with the Nativities of their Raisers
64.
The
Sympathy that can be in Nativities is by having the fortunate Planets in one,
upon the place of the Luminaries in the other, and the Luminaries upon the
places of the fortunate Planets
65.
The
greatest antipathy is by the Infortunes in one, possessing the places of the
Luminaries in the other, and the Luminaries upon the places of the Infortunes.
66.
Saturn
in one man’s Nativity, upon the Ascendant of another, is an absolute token of
Hatred, and the latter shall be the Wronged person.
[intellect, honour, marriage, death ]
67.
Mercury
in either of the houses of Saturn gives an asmirable understanding; if he shall
be in Sextile or Trine, or Reception of Saturn, the Native will be admired for
his Ingenuity
68.
The
Sun and Moon in Conjunction of Mercury in a Tropical Sign, give the Native
large Intellectual Abilities
69.
The
Head of Algol in the M.C. and the Moon in the twelfth, in
Square thereunto, portend loss of Honour and Renown, if not (at last) Death in
Prison
70.
All
the Planets in a Nativity out of their [286] Essential Dignities,
declare obscure persons; which if they happen to attain any degree of
Preferment, they never long enjoy it.
71.
Violent
Fixes stars upon the Cusp of the M.C. and the Lord thereof posited among such,
denote a violent Catastrophe of the Native’s Honour and Fame
72.
Directions
to the Planets in the descending part of Heacen, although they dnote the
highest happiness Imaginable; yet it is not long durable
73.
Those
persons that have crowds of Planets in Angles, have at some time or other of
their lives, prodigious Success or Detriment, according to the Nature of the
Directions that shall then occur
74.
He
who hath Saturn Lord of the seventh, never Marrieth till he is past 30 years of
Age, unless it so happen that Jupiter or Venus be upon the Horoscope, or in good
Aspect to the Moon in his Nativity
75.
A
fortunate Planet in the eighth House, always portends a Natural Death
76.
The
Lord of the eighth in the tenth, declares death to the Native by the Sentence of
a Judge
77.
The
Sun, Moon or M.C. directed ad Sextile
or Trine Jupiter aut Venus, the Native (if capable) rarely fails of
marriage [287]
78.
Astrologers
may easily miss of the measures of time in Directions, if they shall omit the
consideration of eminent Transits; for good or bad Directions may be both anticipaied
anc continued, as happy or unfortunate Transits occur
[diseases]
79.
The
Moon in Via Combusta and the Sun in Via Lactea, denotes great
danger to the Eyes; and if the unfortunate Planets shall be in the Horoscope or
Opposition thereunto, it presageth blindess
80.
In
Nativities of Children (I mean such as are Vital) the Ascendant or Sun to the
body of Mars, produeth the Small Pox or Measles; in grown men, the Plague or
Pestilential Feaver; in elderly persons, Death.
81.
The
Ascendant or either of the Lights (as either shall be Hylech) directed to the Conjunction,
Square, or Opposition of Saturn, and the direction happening in Aries, Cancer
or Leo, the Native seldom escapes Death; because these Signs in a Man’s Body
represent the vital Parts, and Saturn in the contrary Signs hath most power to hurt
82.
Mercury
in the House of Mars in good Aspect of the Moon and Lord of the Ascendant,
gives a good understanding
83.
In
a Woman’s Nativity, the Lord of the seventh posited in the Ascendant, makes her
Domineer and Lord it over her Husband, and if the Lord of the Ascendant be a
Superiour [288] Planet, she will Lord to the purpose
84.
The
Sun and Mercury in the third or fourth, make men skillful in occult and studious
arts
85.
He
that hath many Planets in Reception, or beholding each other by good Aspect,
cannot fail of having many Friends
86.
The
Sun and Mars in the Ascendant in aery or firey Signs, make Proud and Prodigal persons,
and such as conceit themselves to be much more than they are
87.
Mars
in opposition to the Ascendant, and Saturn in the same Aspect to the Sun, make
an absolute Knave and Treacherous Rascal
88.
Venus
in the Ascendant, and Mercury Lord thereof in Reception of her, denote a Just, honest
and fair-conditioned person
89.
The
Moon in good Aspect of the Lord of the M.C.
and Ascendant, makes the Native
eminently Honoured and Esteemed
[Death]
90.
Planets
squaring and opposing each other from Cardinal Signs, declare great Mischiefs to
the persons then born in their lives time, and at last a violent death
91.
In
a Geniture of short life, the Ascendant [,] Sun, or Moon directed to the Dragon’s
tail is killing
92.
Directions
of the M.C. to Promittors never kill, but in those Nativities which portend a
violent death [289]
93.
In
a Nocturnal nativity, if Saturn shall be
posited in the eighth House, it portends a violent death
94.
When
in a Nativity Venus is posited in the tenth House, be the Native Man or Woman,
they Marry Honourably.
95.
The
Sun or Moon in Square or Opposition of Saturn or Mars from Angles, portend
prejudice to the Native’s sight
96.
Jupiter,
Venus or the Dragon’s head in the fifth in a fruitful Sign, declare many
Children to the Native; and if the Moon be in any good Aspect to them, there
she increaseth the number
97.
Mars
in Opposition to Jupiter or Venus destroys the Children or issue of the Native,
let them be never so numerous
98.
The
Aspects of the Fixed Stars are to be considered in general Positions or Directions,
as well as the Aspects of the Planets
99.
Astrologers
themselves , that are subject to a bad fate (though their skill may be good)
shall be apt to err in their Judgment.
100.
The
art of Astrology is certain and most indubitably true; but there are few that
Practice it, who rightly understand it.
The end of Mr.
Gadbury’s Aphorisms
