Vettius Valens, Anthologies

Vettius Valens, Anthologies, Book II
Now then, for those born during the day: if the sun is found in Aries, Leo, or Sagittarius, it is best for
it to be at an angle. If it follows an angle, and if the stars of its sect are similarly situated, and if Mars is
not in opposition or in square, then will be considered to be indicative of good fortune. If the
situation is reversed, the opposite will be the case. If the sun is found in Taurus, Virgo, or Capricorn (for
day births), it will be necessary to investigate first how Venus is configured, second the moon, and third
Mars, and to see what stars they have in aspect. In the same way, if the sun is in the next triangle,
Gemini, Libra, or Aquarius (for day births), it will be necessary to look at Saturn, then Mercury, then
Jupiter. The same for the triangle Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces: if the sun is there (for day births), it will be
necessary to look at Venus, then Mars, then the moon, to see if they are at angles. Having determined all
this, then make the prediction. For night births, it is necessary to look at the moon in the same manner.
/58K/ It is best if the stars of the day sect are found at angles in their own triangles or in operative
places; the same is true for the stars of the night sect. If they are in other triangles or in the opposite sect,
prosperity will be less and will be /57P/ subject to anxiety. If the houserulers and their helpers are
unfavorably situated, it will be necessary to examine the Lot of Fortune and its houseruler. If they are
found to be at an angle or just following an angle, with benefics in aspect, then the native will have some
good fortune and rank. He will be subject to vicissitudes and reversals on occasion, but he will not be
totally at a loss. If even these are badly situated, affairs must be considered
mediocre, even harsh: men will find it hard to succeed in their undertakings; they will be in need, povertystricken;
they will blaspheme the gods. If these places have malefics in aspect, men will be toilers,
vagrants, captives, abject, wretched, disabled, and endangered. But if the Lot of Fortune and its houseruler
have benefics in aspect—even though they themselves are unfavorably situated—men will get by on others’
pity or be adopted by others, and they will lead a respectable life for some time, receiving a share of
business, trusts, or gifts. They will not, however, continue their life without disturbance or without
criticism.
It will be necessary to look at the aspects of every houseruler and the arrangement of the configurations,
to see if they are appropriate or the reverse. If, for example, Saturn is found in opposition or in square for
night births, it will bring about reversals, ruin, dangers, injuries, and diseases, as well as sluggishness in
enterprises. For day births, Mars causes hot, reckless men, precarious in their activities and in their
livelihoods. They experience imprisonment, trials, abuse, cuts, burns, bleeding, and accidents/falls. But if
these stars happen to be configured properly, in their own sects, they are actively positive. As a result,
these stars are not to be considered malefics in all cases; they can be bestowers of good. Particularly if
Saturn (for day births) has a favorable relationship with the houseruler and has Jupiter and the sun in aspect,
it then makes men wealthy, famous, profiting from legacies, lords of estates and slaves, guardians and
supervisors of others' affairs. For night births, however, if Saturn is /59K/ configured well and has a
relationship with the houseruler, it will also cause the loss of what was gained, reduction in rank, and
infamy. Let the same considerations be true for Mars: for night births it grants leadership, generalship,
public commands of the masses; for day births (if Mars is in operative places), it brings about the
previously /58P/ mentioned circumstances, but it then turns them into reversals, fears, and oppositions; it
makes leadership subject to factionalism and terror. It brings attacks of enemies and uprisings of the mob,
famines and plagues on cities, assaults, fires, dangerous crises.
In the same way the benefics will take on the character of malefics whenever they are situated badly as
houserulers. If they happen to be at angles while their houseruler just precedes an angle, their ability to do
good will be weakened. In any type it will be necessary to examine how the
houseruler of the houseruler is situated and what stars it has in aspect. If the overall houseruler is
unfavorably situated, but its ruler is configured well, then the native will have help and
a basis of livelihood and rank proportional to the position of the star.
3. The Lot of Fortune and its Houseruler.
Since I want to make the topic of good fortune most secure and precise, I am moving on to the Lot of
Fortune, the most influential and most potent place. Just as the King has mystically revealed in the
beginning of his XIIIth Book: “Next in order, it will be necessary (for day nativities) to count accurately
the distance from the sun to the moon, then to measure off in the opposite direction an equal distance from
the Ascendant, and to inspect the resulting place: which star is its ruler and which star or stars are at this
point and all the square or trine asterisms of this place. From this study/combination of the places, make a
clear determination of the natives’ affairs.”
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