Astrological chart interpretation

Rules of interpretation of an astrological chart by Morin de Villefranche

1. Each planet causes different specific effects in each of the houses. The same applies to the zodiacal signs and the stars.

2. In the same house, each planet produces different effects. So also does each zodiacal sign, each star.

3. The same planet produces certain effects by its conjunction with a planet, others by its opposition, others by its trine, others by its square, etc.

4. The same aspect determines different effects when sent from different planets.

5. The same planet elicits different kinds of effects when it rules different houses.

6. A point on the Primum Mobile (the Zodiac for practical purposes) which, in the horoscope of an individual, is occupied by a certain planet, manifests its influence depending on the properties of this planet, and acts on the individual as long as he lives.

   In a similar way, the same point of the Primum Mobile can simultaneously be the Ascendant of one person, and thus exert its influence on the life and constitution of this subject, and be found on the cusp of another house of another horoscope, and thus act on this other person in the direction of the meanings attached to this other house.

   What has just been said of the planets must be applied to their aspects.

7. Each celestial agent acts only according to its own nature and power.

8. The range of particular effects which a celestial agent can cause in connection with a given person is determined by the person's capacity to receive the influence and react to it.

9. The same agent, in the same conditions, always produces the same effects on the same subject.

10. Each house differs from every othr house because of its properties.

11. Each planet differs from every other because of its nature, or at least because of the active properties of its influx.

12. All zodiacal signs differ among themselves either because of their elemental nature, or the active properties of their influx, or both.

13. Different aspects from the same planet are different because of their properties or their power.

14. All the Fixed Stars do not possess either the same nature or the same properties.

15. Diverse astral influences combine in the native on whom they act.

16. The same planet, acting conjointly with the same zodiacal sign, always causes the same specific effects, as much on the elemental plane as on the influential.

17. Two planets cannot each produce the same effects in the horoscope of a person, whether taken separately or together.

18. The same planet can cause, by means of its infuence, different effects in the same subject.

19. No planet has by its influence, the same effect on subjects of different sorts not even on many subjects of the same sort.

20. When a planet is outside of its own sign, it provokes on thing because of its position in the house it occupies, and another because of its rulership in another house.

21. A planet does not signify one thing except insofar as it brings it about.

22. Each planet always acts conjointly with the zodiacal sign in which it is found.

23. Each zodiacal sign always operates according to the nature and zodiacal state of its ruler, but not always according to the latter's local determination.

24. Each planet always acts according to the nature and zodiacal state of its dispositor. Most often it acts also by reason of the latter's terrestrial state. Finally, to a certain extent it acts also depending on its "Second Ruler".
    (Cf. Rule 52)

25. In the first place, one should determine the ZODIACAL STATE of a planet, as this rules the quality of the planet's effects; then, the planet's TERRESTRIAL STATE, since this determines the category of effects.

    The zodiacal state includes as an invariable element the essential nature of the planet, and as variable elements the nature of the zodiacal sign through which it passes, the nature and state of its dispositor, and the quality of the aspects which it receives.

    The terrestrial state of a planet consists in its position in relation to the horizon of the birth place, and is expressed by the planet's presence in this or that house.

26. Any planet in favorable zodiacal state is considered to be benefic, in whatever house it is.

    Nevertheless, Saturn and Mars, even in good zodiacal state, but in an unfortunate house (VIII and XII and partially VII) produce pernicious effects.

    On the other hand, any planet in unfavorable zodiacal state, in whatever house, acts as a malefic. this latter circumstance accentuates further the harmful power of planets which are naturally malefic.

    Any planet in mediocre zodiacal state has an influence intermediate between that of a benefic and a malefic.

    The helpful action of planets which are benefic by nature and zodiacal state, shows itself in the direct production of advantage when the planets are in fortunate houses, and in the suppression of disadvantage in unfortunate houses.

    The harmful action of malefics by nature or zodiacal state manifests itself in the direct causation of misfortune in unfortunate houses, and by the suppression of good fortune in the fortunate houses.

27. A planet is determined towards a particular signification by its position, its essential dignities, its aspects and antiscions, its connections with the other celestial bodies by means of their disposition, their aspects, and their antiscions.

    The natural analogies of the planets represent only a very general determining factor and are not able to constitute a particular one. Nevertheless, when these analogies are in harmony with a particular accidental determination, they confirm the latter.

    In the contrary situation, they do not entirely invalidate or counterbalance the particular accidental determination.

    Connection with another planet includes two determining factors: (1) the nature and the analogies of this planet; (2) the latter's particular determination in the horoscope.

28. The physical position is the most powerful of the determining factors; then comes the disposition (rulership) and aspects.

29. From the point of view of the action of celestial bodies, insofar as this results from their particular determination, the four following points should be noted: (1) this action may achieve the object of the determination; (2) it may prevent it from realization; (3) once realized, it may destroy it; (4) it may turn the realization into a source of happiness or unhappiness for the native.

30. The position or rulership of a planet in a house does indicate that a category of things or accidents may or may not befall a person; but a priori and in itself position or rulership does not indicate the achievement of these things. Their effective realization - or the contrary - depends on the nature of the planet in the house or on that of its dispositor, and their zodiacal states. These same factors decise in this case the quality and the nature of the affairs to be produced.

31. When a house is devoid of planets, one judges the realization or its suppression, and the quality of the things essentially signified by the house, according to the nature and the state of its ruler.

32. It is to be noted, however, that the Ascendant has a stronger significance for the life and constitution of the native than does its ruler, if the latter is absent from the First House. The aspects received by the Ascendant are in this case more powerful than those received by the ruler.

    The same observation holds for the Midheaven.

33. When only one planet physically occupies a house, it will be the one which principally decides whether or not realization will occur, and what quality will characterize the events and affairs signified by the house; nevertheless, its dispositor will participate in this.

34. Any planet which has in itself an analogy with the significations of the house where it is posited (or where it rules), realizes the matters and events of the house, whether in a helpful or harmful way, depending on the harmony or disharmony of it zodiacl state. If its analogies are contrary to the meanings of the house, it will more or less hinder or prevent the realization, or destroy what it first produces, or make the realization a source of trouble.

35. A planet which is benefic by nature and zodiacal state, in I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, IX, X, and XI (which are the houses called fortunate) realizes the advantages indicated by the house in which it is posited.

    Here it is always necessary to notice if and how the planet's nature and zodiacal state harmonize with the meanings of the house.

36. A planet which is naturally benefic and located in a fortunate house, but hindered in its action by the nature of the zodiacal sign through which it is moving, or hurt by bad aspects, does not realize the advantages indicated by the house, or at least surrounds this realization with obstacles or causes bad methods to be used, or limits the acquisition to small quantity and poor quality, or makes it of short duration, and most often useless.

37. A planet which is a benefic by nature, but in mediocre zodiacal state, and in a fortunate house, will anticipate the realization of the affairs signified by the house with more certainty than if it were badly disposed, but will make this realization equally mediocre from the point of view of quality and quantity, as also from the point of view of the affair's duration.

38. A malefic by nature and zodiacal state and in a fortunate house, will not effect the advantages signified by the house, but will rather hinder them so that they are not achieved; and if they are achieved in any case, the planet will turn their acquisition into a source of misfortune.

39. A planet by nature malefic, but in a favorable zodiacal state and in a fortunate house, will bring about the good signified by the house with the condition however, that it does not undergo any opposition from planets which have an analogy with the significations of the house. But even without this, it will produce always imperfect advantages, or will bring about their acquisition by reprehensible means, or with difficulty, or will cause them to be followed with unhappiness.

40. A planet malefic by nature, in mediocre zodiacal state, and in a fortunate house, neither gives nor takes away, but only hinders the fulfillment of advantages, above all if it is contrary to them by nature.

41. A planet benefic by nature and zodiacal state but in an unfortunate house (VIII or XII) suppresses or mitigates the disadvantages signified by it.

    The Seventh House should be considered partially unfortunate inasmuch as it also signifies battles and enmities.

42. A planet which is benefic by nature, but in unfortunate zodiacal state, in VIII or XII, or ruling one of these although physically located elsewhere, will not hinder very dangerous illnesses nor a violent death.

43. A planet which is benefic by nature, in mediocre zodiacal state, in VIII or XII, neither causes nor suppresses the unhappy events connected with these houses, but only tempers their quality and moderates their extent.

44. A planet malefic by nature, in favorable zodiacal state, but in an unfortunate house, does not suppress the disadvantages signified there, that is, it does not prevent them from happening (due to its natural malignity), but it will permit the native to escape, or will mitigate the intensity (due to its favorable zodiacal state).

    Nevertheless, for this to be so, the favorable zodiacal state should include good aspects from benefics; if it consisted only in the fact that the malefic occupied its Domicile or exaltation, the malefic power would be intensified.

45. A planet which is malefic by nature, in unfavorable zodiacal state, and in an unfortunate house greatly favors the realization of the troubles signified by the house, provokes them, and makes them lead to disgrace, infamy, or violence.

46. A planet which is malefic by nature, in mediocre zodiacal state, and in an unfortunate house does not suppress the difficulties signified there, but rather contributes to their fulfillment, giving them, nevertheless, less scope than if its zodiacal state were bad.

47. Since each house has an essential significance and an accidental one which actually derives from its opposite house, it is necessary to make this distinction: a planet benefic by nature, in favorable zodiacal state and in an unfavorable house, diminishes in itself the misfortune essentially signified there, but stimulates the good fortune accidentally signified.

    On the other hand, a malefic, whatever its zodiacal state, always indicates by its opposition hindrance of the accidental significations if they are fortunate, and realization if they are unfortunate.

48. When a planet rules in a house where it is physically located, its effects acquire even more intensity.

49. When a planet rules in a house other than the one it occupies, the meanings of these two houses combine. However, because of Rule 28, the result of this combination tends more to the meanings of the house occupied by the planet.

50. Besides the determination by position, a planet can undergo another determination towards the analogies pertaining to another planet with which it is in conjunction or aspect.

51. Likewise, the aspects received by a planet can exert a complementary determination on it towards the significations of the planet from which they come, by virtue of the latter's position or rulership in the nativity.

52. A planet depends more directly on its dispositor when in conjunction or aspect with it (and above all if this configuration is close). (Cf. Rule 24)

    When a planet is in unfavorable zodiacal or terrestrial state but its dispositor is in a favorable state, the affairs signified by the former will go badly in the beginning, but later will take a turn for the better, above all if the first planet approaches a good aspect from its dispositor. On the other hand, if the planet is in favorable zodiacal state, but its dispositor is in an unfavorable one, the success or happiness at the beginning will change into misfortune.

53. The rules from 35 to 47 and from 49 to 51 apply equally to the house rulers.

54. The more planets there are physically together in a house, the more this will indicate something extraordinary in terms of the house meanings.

55. When many planets occupy the same house, each operates according to its nature and its own other determinations.

    Each one must first be considered according to the rules numbered from 22 to 53.

56. The most powerful action on the house significations will come from whichever one of the planets is also the house ruler; then, from that one which is in exaltation; and in the third place, from the one possessing the closest natural analogy with the house meanings.

    When the dignity and analogy are not found together in the same planet, one must take into consideration the two or three planets together in which these conditions are separately realized.

    The fourth place in order of power goes to the planet which is nearest to the house cusp.

57. When, among many planets occupying the same house, some correspond by their analogy to the meanings attached to the house, whereas others are contrary to them, it is necessary to ascertain which of these two groups is the most powerful. If the former, the affairs indicated will be achieved; if the latter, their realization will be impeded or prevented.

58. When the planets occupying the same house are all benefics, they anticipate the fulfillment of the good fortune and the supression of misfortune indicated by the house. If they are malefics, the contrary will occur, unless they are in good zodiacal state in a favorable house.

    If some are benefics, and others malefics, it will be necessary to examine with care which ones of the two groups are the most powerful, and to judge according to the result of this organization.

59. Consider the following:
    1. If, in a fortunate house, a benefic planet is followed ^* by another benefic, this indicates that the good produced by the house affairs will be stable.
    2. If the benefic is followed by a malefic, the fortune acquired will be lost.
    3. In an unfortunate house, a benefic followed by another benefic indicates that the misfortune will not be realized, or if it is, in an extremely limited way.
    4. If this benefic is followed by a malefic, however, the misfortune signified by the house will certainly occur, but the native will escape it.
    5. But if a malefic is followed by another malefic, the misfortunes caused will be very serious and the native will never escape them.

    By "benefic" and "malefic" we mean as defined in Rule 26.

    ^*In the direction of the diurnal movement of the Sphere; the body which precedes is thus the one closest to the cusp, the one which follows is further away.

60. When many planets are found together in the same house and their dispositor is located in another, the affairs signified by this latter will form the point of departure for whatever fortune or misfortune is produced by the group of planets. (Cf. Rule 63)

61. When the ruler of a house is located in this same house, it will realize the advantages signified in a remarkable way (above all, if it has a natural analogy with the significations in question).

    If in an unfortunate house, it will deliver the native from the troubles indicated (except death, since this, of course, is a natural necessity).

    (Even Saturn and Mars will quite often deliver the native from difficulties in VIII or XII, unless they are connected with a malefic, or in conjunction, square, or opposition to the Lights, or hurting the ruler of the Ascendant.)

62. When the ruler of one house is physically placed in another, the significations of the two houses can combine, but they do not necessarily or always do this. The planet in question acts sometimes by reason of its position, other times by reason of one of its rulerships, and still other times by reason of the other rulership: sometimes it combines the effects deriving from its position with those of one or other rulership, or at times with those of both determinations deriving from rulership.

    This combination happens according to the possibilities offered by the house affairs in question. Among these possibilities the ones which correspond most closely to the nature, zodiacal state, and analogies of the planet in question will most probably be realized.

63. The ruler of one house which is placed in another indicates that the affairs signified by the first will become the cause of or point of departure for the realization of the affairs signified by the second. (Cf. Rule 60)

64. When the Ruler of 1 is placed in another house, or when the Ruler of a house is placed in 1, there will always be a combination of the meanings attached to the houses in question.

65. The Ruler of 1 placed in another house of the horoscope shows that the inclinations and intellectual tendencies of the native will go principally towards the things signified by this house.

66. Even though each house accidentally has the essential meanings pertaining to the opposite house, the Ruler of a house has an influence only on the essential significations of its house, and not on the accidental ones, unless it is physically in the house it rules, or disposes of the ruler of the house opposite to its own.

    When situated in its own house, its influence on the accidental significations of the house will be negative (because the opposite house, which is the origin of the accidental significations, will then constitute its place of Detriment).

67. A Planet located in a House also has an influence on the meanings of the Houses in trine to the first.

68. A Planet which rules one House but occupies another acts not only by virtue of the meanings of the ruled and occupied Houses, but also by virtue of the Planets which occupy the Houses it rules.

69. The Ruler of  I  or of  X  in Detriment or Fall constitutes a particularly destructive situation.

70. When the Ruler of a House is in  VIII , it indicates that the death of the Native will be caused directly by the people or things signified by the House it rules.

71. The Ruler of the Eighth House located in another indicates that the death of the subject will happen due to the people or things signified by this other House.

72. When a Planet rules many Houses without occupying any of them, it predicts the combination of the different meanings attached to the Houses. Nevertheless, the significations of the House with which the Planet has the closest analogy will prevail.

73. Of two or more Rulers of a House one should choose the one which rules the House Cusp, especially if it has a natural analogy with the meanings of this House and is powerful by Zodiacal state. However, the other Rulers must not be neglected, and if one of them is more powerful than the first by reason of its natural analogies and Zodiacal and Terrestrial state, it will surpass the first in importance.

74. The Ruler of a House is more important than the one exalted therein. Nevertheless, when judging the affairs signified by the House, it is useful to consider the Planet exalted there, even if it is absent.

75. Triplicity is also a determining factor. It is however, the weakest one of all (even more so than the aspects).

76. By its Rulership a Planet indicates stability and permanence; by its Exaltation, sudden and noteworthy changes; by Triplicity, combinations and associations.

77. When the Planets are distributed in many Triplicities, they give many abilities; gathered in one Triplicity they confer limited abilities, but ones which are remarkable in a certain direction.

78. The essential Debilities should not be considered deter- mining factors unless the Planet in question is in aspect (above all malefic) with the House (or with the Planets in the House) which constitutes its place of Detriment or Fall. Determination due to the essential Debilities always is negative in character.

79. Mere Peregrinity acts as a state midway between a benefic and a malefic Zodiacal state.

80. The points of the Primum Mobile where the arcs measuring aspects end, are determined towards the nature and the accidental disposition of the Planet which sends the aspects. Thus, the Planets act by means of their aspects. Since, on the other hand, these same places undergo a local determination deriving from the Houses in which the aspects fall, it happens that the Planets are "determined by their aspects".

81. The influence of the Planets by virtue of their aspects is often more important than that exerted by virtue of their Rulership. Every Planet has a noticeably more effective influence on the affairs signified by the House opposite to the one it physically occupies than does the Ruler of this opposite House if absent there from and weak, and without aspect to it. (Thus it is worse for the Ascendant to be afflicted by a square or an opposition from Saturn or Mars, than it is for the Ascendant to be merely under their Rulership.)

82. Each Planet acts by its aspects: (1) by virtue of its nature; (2) by virtue of its Zodiacal state; (3) by virtue of its Terrestrial state, that is, its position and the position of its Domiciles. Nevertheless, it does not always act simultaneously by reason of the two elements which make up its Terrestrial state, but sometimes because of one, sometimes because of the other, sometimes because of both at the same time.

83. Since each Planet forms aspects of different natures it exerts constructive and destructive influences simultaneously.

84. In conjunctions, the quality of the effects depends on the benefic or malefic nature of the Planets concerned, as well as their Zodiacal state.

85. Each Planet acts constructively by means of its beneficial aspects (which are, in order of power: trine, sextile, semi-sextile), and destructively by means of its malefic aspects (opposition. square. quincunx).

86. Good aspects coming from a naturally benefic Planet produce positive effects with ease and abundance. They fulfill the advantages signified by the Houses where they fall, and prevent disadvantages from taking place.

87. Bad aspects coming from a naturally benefic Planet provoke difficulties, troubles, and losses.

88. When a Planet which is naturally benefic is accidentally in bad Zodiacal or Terrestrial state, its good aspects will produce only small advantages; its bad ones, much damage.

89. Bad aspects from a naturally malefic Planet cause considerable trouble in the affairs signified by the Houses in which they fall.

90. When a naturally malefic Planet is in bad Zodiacal or Terrestrial state, the harmful effects of its malefic aspects are magnified. On the other hand, its good Zodiacal state will mitigate these effects.

91. By means of its good aspects a naturally malefic Planet will produce a certain success or fortune in the midst of moderate difficulties. However, if the Zodiacal or Terrestrial state of the Planet is unfavorable, even its good aspects will harm greatly.

92. When a Malefic, in unfavorable Zodiacal state, receives a bad aspect from a Planet which is malefic by nature or determination, the malignity of its action will be intensified; if it receives a good aspect from a benefic, its malignity will be mitigated.

93. When a Planet which is benefic by nature but in unfavorable Zodiacal state is hurt by a malefic aspect, its action becomes harmful.

94. The same aspect formed by the same two Planets can be at once benefic for one thing, malefic for another.

95. Two Planets which form an aspect mutually determine one another towards the significations of the Houses which they occupy.

    Consequently, each aspect formed between two Planets always has a double significance, according to whether one refers it to one or the other of these Planets. (Cf. Rule 106).

96. The specific effects produced by the same aspect formed by the same two Planets varies according to the Zodiacal Signs through which the Planets pass, and the Houses which they occupy.

97. In the shared action of two Planets in mutual aspect, the Sun prevails over the Moon, the Moon over the other Planets, the other Superior Planets over the inferior ones. The Planet whose Zodiacal state is better, or whose state is more powerful, prevails over another.

98. Concerning aspects, approach is more effective than departure.

99. Consequently, of two Planets on the verge of forming a mutual aspect, it is the one which approaches the other in terms of its apparent movement in the Zodiac which acts more strongly on the significations of the other.

100. If a good aspect received by a Planet is followed immediately by another good aspect, the advantage indicated by the first will be achieved definitely and easily. If followed by a malefic aspect, however, the good fortune will give place to some trouble.

101. If a bad aspect is followed by another bad aspect the disadvantage so indicated will be increased and achieved with certainty. If followed by a good aspect, the disadvantage may finally turn into an advantage.

102. In order to apply correctly the two preceding Rules it is necessary to take into account the relative power of two aspects.

103. When a Planet or a point of the sky receives two or more aspects simultaneously, the most exact one is more powerful than the others.

104. The natural order of power of aspects can undergo exceptions as much due to certain particular determinations of the Planets which send the aspects, as to the Planets' Zodiacal and Terrestrial states. (Examples: A Planet which rules the Ascendant and is physically located in X will exert a more powerful influence by its square on the significations of I than by its opposition on those of IV. A Planet will act more powerfully on a point of the sky by its square (consequently in a negative way) when exalted than another, on the same point, by its trine (consequently in a positive way) when this latter is in Fall.)

105. When many Planets send aspects into the same House, the Planet whose nature and determinations are most in harmony with the significations of this House, or whose determinations from this point of view are the most powerful, will prevail over the others in terms of its aspect.

106. When a Planet is outside of its Domicile, its aspects operate in a more noticeable manner in the direction of the significations of the House which the Planet occupies than in the direction of the affairs of the House it rules.

107. The determination which each aspect undergoes by reason of the House in which it falls is analogous to that undergone by a Planet in the House.

108. One should always notice whether the significations of a House occupied by a Planet which sends a given aspect are in harmony with the fortune or misfortune signified by the House which receives the aspect.

109. As a general rule, to ascertain the power and quality of the effects produced by a given aspect, one should consider not only the aspect's form and the Planet and House from which it comes, but also the position (angular or not) and the character (favorable or unfavorable) of the House where it falls, as well as the Sign in which it falls, insofar as this Sign may constitute a place of Honor or Dishonor for the Planet which sends the aspect.

     All other things being equal, when an aspect falls into an angular House its effectiveness will increase. Falling in an unfortunate House its destructive power in this House will be increased, or its constructive power will diminish, depending on the case; and inversely if the aspect falls in a fortunate House.

     When the aspect falls in a Sign where the Planet which sends it is in Domicile or Exaltation, its constructive power is increased or its destructive power diminished. The contrary occurs when it falls in a Sign where the sending Planet is in Detriment or Fall.

110. In particular it results that: If a malefic Planet rules in the House in which falls one of its malefic aspects, and this House is fortunate, this aspect, although malefic, will exert a favorable but also violent effect which will be followed ultimately by some disgrace or misfortune.

111. On the other hand, if a Planet rules in the House where one of its bad aspects falls, and this House is unfortunate, the effect caused will have an extremely destructive character.

112. A solitary Planet, that is, one without a connection with any other by aspect or conjunction, augurs something unusual or extraordinary in the realm of the affairs pertaining to the house it occupies.