Culpeper's Aphorisms part 4: on buildings, hidden treasure and marriage.

ELECTIONS For
Buildings,
Hidden treasure,
 & Marriage.
Collected, and put into this form,

BY NICH. CULPEPER Gent. Student in Astrologie. ,
Virgo 1647.

LONDON, Printed for Rich. Moone, & Steph. Chatfield.

1654.
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Here begins the text

Elections for the Beginnings or Foundations of BUILDINGS.

1. A Man ought to have a regard in all edifices, that they may stand and continue long.

2. In the Foundations of Cities, in the first place regard the fixed stars, then join benevolent Planets with them.

3. In the foundation of houses, first regard the Planets, and their natures; and in the second place, the nature of the Signes.

4. If the Moon be in Scorpio or Pisces, having latitude Meridional descending, begin no building: if you do, it will quickly fall down.

5. The most fortunate time of all, to begin buildings, is when the Moon is in Aquarius; or else let Aquarius ascend, and the Moon behold it, and the Fortunes also, by good aspect, to wit, the degree ascending.

6. Also, Leo and Taurus are good, but not so good as Aquarius.

7. Let not the Lord of the Ascendant  be combust, nor retrograde, nor in his fall, nor detriment, nor in ill aspect to any Planet.

8. If it be possible, let both the Luminaries behold the Ascendant .

9. At such a time, Saturn will do most good, or at least, least mischief in the twelfth house, and Mars in the sixth.

10. Beware that the Signe ascending at the revolution of the yeer, be not in the seventh house, when you lay the foundation: for then enemies enough will infest and molest the house.

E.W. The “Revolution of the year” is the moment the Sun enters 0 Aries for the year. Cast the chart for the moment the sun enters 0 aries for the year you are building in, in the location the building is in, and notice the asc and dsc. So if in your locale, Aquarius is the ascendant of the chart, it follows Leo is the 7^th house. For that year, do not build when Leo is in the ascendant.

11. The Lord of the Ascendant is strongest when he is in his Auge: for when he is opposite to his Auge, he is infortunate, because he is Retrograde.

            E.W. I gather the word Auge is the Arabic أوج, which means “apogee”

[Configurations that presage destruction]

12. If an ill Planet be peregrine in the tenth house, the building will stand as long as a Cat is tied to a Pudding: and yet you had better have Saturn there then Mars.

13. That City will be most infortunate, whose foundation is said when Mars is in M. C. for many of its Citizens and Princes or Rulers will die by the sword.

14. When the foundation is laid, let not the Moon be in Conjunction with Saturn, nor yet with the Dragons tail; nor yet let Saturn be in the Ascendant , nor yet in the fourth, if he be infortunate; for then the building will go on slowly, and be finished at Dooms-day in the afternoon; or if ever it be finished, and made habitable, the inhabitants will be possessed with incessant fears, and vain illusions, and fooleries, and thieves, and tribulations: and a thousand to one, if the building at last do not fall down upon a sudden.

15. If Mars be so seated, or so aspected, as we speak of Saturn in the former Aphorism, the house will be burnt down.

[exorcism]
16. If there be any phantastical apparitions in a house, and thou wouldst fain remove them, let not the Moon be in the Ascendant , in any of these signes, nor any of them ascending; viz. Cancer, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarie: and let her separate from evil Planets, and apply to good ones.

ELECTIONS

 Concerning Hidden Treasures.

1. Hidden Treasures belong to the fourth house, and to his Lord.

[Persons most qualified to find treasure]

2. If the Lord of the Ascendant , and the Lord of the fourth house, be fortunate in the Nativity of any, and in good aspect the one to the other, and the Luminaries behold the Ascendant  by good aspect; that native will be subject to, and fortunate in finding Hidden Treasures.

[Success of endeavour]

3. In Questions about such businesses, if the Lord of the fourth house be fortunate in the Ascendant , or Lord of the Ascendant , or Sun in the fourth house, the treasure may be found.

4. If in the Question Saturn, Mars, or the Dragons tail, be in the Ascendant , the Querent will take labour in vain in searching for it, and in the act will be troubled with foolish phantasies and illusions.

[Where treasure found]

5. If good Planets be in angles, let the game go which way it will, there is a possibility of finding it, if good courses be taken.

6. If you would know whether there be any treasure or no, consider the Angles of the heaven, especially the Ascendant , then the fourth, then the tenth: for the seventh is of little or no value, in such businesses as these.

7. If within the first degrees (to wit, five degrees from the Cusp) of these Angles, there be any good Planet, 'tis a good argument there is treasure hid.

8. If the Sign possessing the Cusp of the fourth house be a fiery Signe, it lies in the east part; if airy, the west; if watery, the north; if earthly, the south part of the house.

9. Fiery Signs signify it to be near chimneys; airy, on the top of the house, about the ceiling or rafters; watery Signs, near water; earthly Signs, in the earth, or cellars.

10. For the Planets, the Sun signifies open places; the Moon, neer gates or doors; Saturn, stinking moist places, cellars, and where they lay dust and coles. [coals]

11. Jupiter signifies halls of entertainment; Venus, bed-chambers; Mercury, walls.

12. You must also consider other testimonies, viz. the nature of the Signes, and of the Planets, Whether Oriental, or Occidental; whether Septentrional, or Meridional; and in what part of the heavens they be.

13. If the Lord of the Ascendant be in his house or exaltation, the treasure is great; if in his detriment or fall, 'tis worth little.

14. If the Lord of the Ascendant be Oriental, 'tis newly laid there: if Occidental, it hath been there a long time.

15. If the Lord of the Ascendant be fortunate, it may be had all; if infortunate, you must be content with part, and glad you can get that too.

16. Fiery and Airy Signs shew things of greater value then Earthly and Watery Signs do.

ELECTIONS FOR 

Marriage.

1. The Ascendant  stands for the man, the seventh house for the woman

2. In which of these two parts good Planets be, it will be best for them.

3. In both, beware of the end of Libra, and the beginning of Scorpio; for that is the combust way, and portends no good in such matters, nor in few other matters.

E.W. More precisely, 15 Libra to 15 Scorpio. However there are other definitions of the Combust way, or to give its latin name, the Via combusta . One tradtion defines it as being the whole of libra and scorpio. Another tradtion, found in the Picatrix, defines it as...

4. Let not the Moon be in combustion with the Sun; for that signifies death: nor in the combust way; for that signifies an ill end.

5. 'Tis ill in the time of Marriage, if the Moon apply to Saturn or Mars, be the Aspect never so good: for there will be neither Peace nor Love between them.

6. If you would marry to have many children, let the Moon be in Cancer, Scorpio, or Pisces, not impedited: and if she be in the West, 'tis so much the better.

7. In all Marriages, let the Moon increase in light and number; let her have no ill Aspect to the Sun, nor any Aspect at all to Saturn or Mars.

8. Venus is the general Significatrix of Marriage; therefore 'tis best for the Moon to apply to her.

9. These Aphorisms are Fundamentals in Astrology: he that hath any brain, may finde a thousand more from them.

10. He that cannot make Elections for any of these businesses, from these Aphorisms, is unworthy the very name of an Artist.

E.W.: This is quite opposite to the and Indian Chinese traditions of astrology, where marriage is the single most complex area of elections; As for the Chinese astrology, It employs a great deal of specialised techniques, including considering the horoscopes of the bride and groom &c.

Revised, Sun 12 m. 1648. NICH. CULPEPER.

Epigraph:
Crede mihi miseris coelestia numina parcunt. 1647.

Partridge's 80 Aphorisms for elections

Partridge's 1692 Μικροπαστρων/ Mikropanastron  has six collections of 'aphorisms'-- short, pithy astrological rules. Of these six collections, three have been republished on the internet; The Centiloqiues of Hermes, [Pseudo]Ptolemy, and Al- Battani / Bethem   

The remaining three have yet to be republished online in any form. They are a Centiloquy by Gadbury, another 'Centiloquy' by Partridge himself, and finally "Special rules for elections, digested into 80 aphorisms", aso by Partridge. These "80 rules" are the subject of the current post: 

As mentioned above, The present text has been transcribed from the 1692 ed. of Partridge's Mikropanastron, printed by Edward Brewster in London. The relevant section begins here:

***

Editorial conventions 

Abbreviations have been expanded: so

is written “The Moon increasing, in good ray of the Sun, helps forward journeys” . 

The symbol ☊refers to the Moon's Ascending Node. I have transcribed it here as the "Dragon's Head", which was the conventional term at the time. Likewise ☋The Moon's Descending Node is expanded as the "Dragon's tail"

The original text is one continuous block of 80 aphorisms. However, to make life easier for my readers, I have divided the text into sections, with their titles enclosed in square brackets [thus].  Page numbers in the original are signalled by bold numbers enclosed in square brackets, thus: [266].

  I have also added some comments in the text. These comments are added in Italics.

*** *** ***
Of some special rules for elections, digested into 80 aphorisms

[General rules]

1.     By a nativity, you may judge what part of the world is best to live in, either for health or riches

2.     If the fortunes are joined with the lord of the ascendant, between the Medium Caeli  and Ascendant; it is best to live eastward.

3.     In all elections fortify the lord of the ascendant, and the lord of the house of the thing desired

[A section on elections for journeys]

4.     Saturn doth most mischief in long journeys, Mars in short

5.     Fixed signs forbid journeys, movable signs promote them; the later part of Libra excepted. [265]

6.     The Moon increasing, in good ray of the sun, helps forward journeys

7.     When an infortune receives a fortune by good aspect, it do[es] no harm.

8.     In journeys, the greatest impediment of a planet is to be peregrine

9.     When you go a journey by land, it is bad to have mars in the third or ninth, for it signifies he shall be robbed; but it is worse to have him in the second

10.  When you begin a journey, take heed there is no ill planet in the seventh; for that shows evil to befall thee in the place whither thou goest

11.  The Lord of the ninth or third in the first, the Journey will be profitable

12.  If the Lord of the ascendant give power to the Lord of the ninth, the Journey will be profitable

13.  In short Journeys view the Lord of the third, for he signifies short Journeys

14.  In all Journeys view the moon, for she is a general Significatrix of Journeys

15.  Take particular heed to the lord of the hour; for if he be impedited when you take a journey, it will do as much harm, as [266] when the lord of the horoscope is so

16.  The hours of Saturn and Mars are ill to take a Journey in; but the hours of Jupiter, Venus, Sun and Moon are good.

17.  In Journeys, the impediments of Saturn are many, and may be known by the nature of the sign he is in; For example  if in a sea voyage, Saturn ascend in Pisces, the ship will be shipwrackt

EW:  If we are to take this rule literally, it is so vague as to be useless. Saturn spends over 2.5 years in each sign of the zodiac; and Saturn is somewhere in every chart. I do not think Partridge meant for the 2.5 years Saturn in in Pisces every voyage would end in shipwreck! 

      Rather, I think this means if Saturn is somehow in a position to impede the voyage (eg by being in the ascendant, or the 3rd or 9th house, or maybe squaring the significators?), the exact nature of the impediment can be known by the sign Saturn is in. 

18.  Take no Journey by sea when a fiery sign Ascendeth; for then a watery sign is in the eighth House, which is evil.

19.  If you go to a Prince or a King, let a firey Sign ascend, and let the sun be fortunate.

20.  If the Sun or Moon give power to the lord of the ascendant, it is good.

[Buildings]

21.  In the foundation of cities, in the first place regard the fixed stars, then joyn Benevolent planets with them.

22.  In the foundation of Houses, first regard the Planets, and their Natures, then the Nature of the Signs

23.  The moon in Scorpio or Pisces, having Latitude South, and descending, begin no Building ; for if you do, it will quickly fall

24.  The most fortunate time to begin buildings, is, when the Moon is in Aquarius, or else let Aquarius [267] ascend, and the moon behold it and the Fortunes also by good Aspect; to wit the degree ascending

25.  Leo and Taurus are also good; but not so good as Aquarius

26.  Let not the Lord of the Ascendant be Combust nor Retrograde, nor in his Fall, nor in Ill Aspect to any planet

27.  If possible, let both the Lights behold the ascendant

28.  At such a time when Saturn will do least mischief in the twelfth, and Mars in the Sixth

Transcriber: Those are the houses where Mars and Saturn have their joys

29.  Let not the sign ascending at the Revolution of the year be in the seventh house, when you lay your foundation; for that stirs up enemies to molest your building

30.  An evil planet peregrine in the tenth house will not stand, and yet you had better have Saturn there than Mars

31.  The city will be most unfortunate, whose Foundation is laid when Mars is in the M[edium] C[aeli]  for many of its citizens will perish by the sword

32.  When a foundation is laid, let not the Moon be with the Dragon’s tail [ i.e. descending node, Ketu], or in Conjunction, Square or Opposition to Saturn, nor Saturn in the ascendant; for the building will go on slowly, and perhaps be never finished; it will be subject to many misfortunes, and perhaps at last fall down. At the foundation of [268] Chesley Colledge, the moon was in opposition to the Sun Lord of the twelfth in the tenth, an in Square to Saturn, Lord of the sixth, and Saturn Square to Mercury, lord of the Horoscope : It was never used for any thing but a prison.
EW:  This is the horoscope of Chesley college. Its first stone was laid “May 8^th, 11h 45m AM, 1609”

Source 

33.  If Mars be so seated or Aspected as in the former Aphorism we will have spoke of Saturn, the house will be burnt; as you may see in  the figure of the Defiance Frigat.
E.W: This is the horoscope of the Defiance frigate. It was launched at "3h 34' P.M." on 28th March 1666. 

Source 

34.  In the launching of Ships, let not Mars be in the Horoscope, nor the Lord of the Horoscope going to Combustion in the eighth in a firey sign; for the ship will be certainly Burnt, as you may see in our Example

35.  Let the Moon and the Lord of the Horoscope be strong and fortunate above the earth, and the Infortunes in Cadent Houses, except the Ninth.

[A series of aphorisms on marriage]

EW: Note how aphorisms 44-48 are means of ensuring the male partner will dominate over the female in the marriage. 

36.  In marriages, the Ascendant stands for the Man, the seventh for the Woman

37.  In which of these parts good Planets are, it will be best for them.

38.  In both beware of the beginning of Scoripio, and the end of Libra, for that is the Combust Way, and portends no good in such matters, nor in few others indeed

39.  Let not the Moon be combust, for that signifies death; nor in the Combust way, for that signifies an ill end. [269]

40.  It is very ill at the time of Marriage, if the Moon apply to Saturn or Mars, be the Aspect never so good; for there will be neither peace nor love between them.

41.   If you would Marry for issue, let the Moon be in Cancer, Scorpio or Pisces, nor unfortunate; and if she be in the West, it is so much the better

42.  In all marriages, let the Moon increase in light and Motion, and let her have no ill aspect to the Sun, nor any at all to Saturn or mars.

43.  Venus  is the general significatrix of Marriage, and therefore it is best to let the Moon apply tp her

44.  Let the lord of the Ascendant and the lord of the seventh be in good Aspect with Reception, and the Lord of the Ascendant strongest, and a commanding planet

45.  If the Lord of the Ascendant  is weak, and the lord of the seventh strong in the seventh, and he a commanding planet also, and in a good Aspect of Mars; she will wear the Breeches, and domineer over her Husband to the purpose.

46.  I knew one that had Virgo ascending at Marriage, and Mercury in Virgo, and Jupiter Lord of the seventh in Opposition to Saturn Retrograde, and both in Square to Venus, and the Moon in Square to mars; the truth is, she was old and full of Conditions; but they were very wicked ones. [270]

47.  I know another who had Scorpio ascending at the time of marriage, and Mars and Venus in Conjunction in Virgo, and both combust, and in opposition to the Moon, and it hath proved a very unhappy marriage.

48.  Let not Mars or Saturn be in the seventh, for they make the Women always out of order.

[War and conflict between two antagonsts]

49.  Such as go the war, ought to consider of coming safe home again

50.  For this end, let the Sun, Jupiter, Venus or the Dragon’s head be in the ascendant, or else they may fail of it.

51.  If Saturn be in the Ascendant, he will come home again a coward, and surprised with fear, and not fight

52.  If Mars be there, he will either dye, or be dangerously wounded

53.  But if Saturn and Mars be there, you may be confident he will never return

54.  If the Lord of the Ascendant be in his fall, he will hardly return

55.  If no planet be in the Ascendant, look to the eighth or tenth Houses; for if an evil planet be in the eighth, he will die; but if in the tenth, he will be taken prisoner

56.  Jupiter in the eighth, and the Moon in Conjunction with Saturn in the tenth, he comes safe; but with [271] difficulty and loss of honour, as Maj. Gen. Lambert , who set out to meet Gen, Monck coming from Scotland, 1659, Novemb. 3. 10 ho. 15min. A. M.

57.  He that would fight effectually, must either have one of the houses of Mars ascending, or Mars in good Aspect of the Moon, Horoscope, or Lord thereof

58.  Let the Lord of the Ascendant be a superior Planet and strong, and let the lord of the Seventh be weak and in his Fall

59.  Let not the Moon, nor Lord of the Ascendant be afflicted by the Lord of the twelfth in the twelfth, lest he be taken prisoner

60.  Neither let them be in the eighth, nor afflicted in the eighth, lest he die or be slain.

61.  An evil planet in the M.C.  signifies ill to the assailant; but in the I. C. to the defendant

62.  Judge of the Assailant by the Ascendant, and so vary the houses accordingly.

63.  But judge the Defendant by the seventh, and thence vary the houses as before, the tenth being his fourth, and the fourth his tenth, &c.
Comment: This passage refers to the use of ‘derived houses’ So, the defendant is represented by the 7^th house; the defendant’s 2^nd house (i.e. his money) is represented by the next house, i.e. the 8^th house; the 9^th house is the defendant’s 3^rd house etc.

64.  It is not good to Fight, when the Lord of the Ascendant is in the eighth house[272]

65.  The sun doth no good in the Ascendant in the hour of Battail, nor yet joined to the Lord of the Ascendant

66.  The Assailant always loseth the Battail if the lord of the ascendant be an Infortune, Retrograde or Combust.

67.  But if the Lord of the seventh be so, the Defendant will be beaten, and he that begins the Battail first will have the Victory

68.  Let no King or General go into Battail, when the Lord of the Ascendant applies to the seventh house

69.  There is no taking of a City (Authors say) when the City-Sign ascends at the Revolution of the year of the world

70.  When the Moon, Saturn and Mars shall be joined together, there shall be great effusion of Blood.

71.  But if at their setting forth, the Lord of the Ascendant and seventh are in good Aspect with Reception, and the Benevolent Planets afford their Benevolent Rays, from good Houses of Heaven, they both agree without fighting

72.  What hath been said of two fighting is as well applicable to the Plaintiff and Defendant in Law.

[Communication]

73.  For any one to go to a King, or other great Man, let the Moon be in the horoscope Sexitile or Trine to the Sun in the tenth house

74.  Or else let the Moon be applying to the Lord of the tenth, and if possible in Reception, and all begun in the hour of the Sun

75.  But if it be to go to, or Petition a Bishop, Judge &c. let the Moon be joined to Jupiter by Body or good Aspect, or by a Square, so it be with reception

76.  But of he be to go to old Men, let the moon be applying by Sextile  or trine to Saturn from good places of Heaven, the Angles have most force

77.  In managing Business with Women, let the Moon apply to Venus; if with Mathematicians, Accomptants , to Mercury; and so in the rest.

[General rules on what to elect for]

78.  In all Elections you must use the freedom of your will, and so constitute the Heavens to dispose of their Influence in the common course of Nature

79.  In the framing of Elections, let them not be for unreasonable things, nor impertinent things; but use discretion with art

80.  In all Elections have respect to their Nativities, and see whether there be a possibility of effecting it; for Art cannot contradict the Resolutions of a Deity.