The Classical Use of Triplicities by Deborah Houlding

8/4/2019 The Classical Use of Triplicities by Deborah Houlding

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-classical-use-of-triplicities-by-deborah-houlding 1/7

The Classical use of Triplicities by DeborahHoulding

In the whole world shines the Triad,

over which the Monad rules.This order is the beginning of all section;

For the mind of the Father said,that all things be cut Into three.

(The Oracles of Zoroaster)

Classical philosophy tells us that number three, the Triad , is asacred number symbolising harmony, balance, completion andfulfilment. Three is the number of the triangle, and in mysticalgeometry and numerology both shape and number are used torepresent the natural cycle of life; that is:

1. The descent of the soul into the body at birth,2. Life,3. The return of the soul to its Parent at death.

Hence, number three is the number of completion, the 'whole', thebeginning, middle and end of all things. All world religions areunderpinned by this ancient belief; the Christian faith speaks of theHoly Trinity being the Father (universal parent from which we

emerge), son (separate life as an individual) and Holy Ghost(universal soul to which we return). Holy trinities are not peculiar toChristianity; they are part of a very widespread and ancient traditionthat recognised the power of number three. The Babylonians, forexample, were particularly fond of classifying their gods into triads -that of Anu, Enlil and Ea being their most notable.

In astrology the beneficial associations of number three are evidentin the interpretation of the trine aspect as a relationship thatdenotes harmony and fulfilment. They are also evident in the use of

triplicities - the connection of signs that share a common agreement- and in the determination of planetary dignity through the use of triplicity rulers.

Trigonal relationship of signs

The 1st century astrologer Manilius wrote in his Astronomica thattriangles inscribed within the circle of the zodiac group the signsinto four sets of triplicities:

Where the circle of the zodiac's rightward wheel is bounded, a line runs

out into three equal lengths and joins itself at limits which are mutuallyextreme; the signs which the line strikes are called trigonal, because an

1 The Classical use of Triplicities by Deborah Houlding



angle is thrice formed and is assigned to three signs separated from each

other by three intervening signs. The Ram beholds at equal distance the

two signs of the Lion and the Archer rising on opposite sides of him; the

signs of the Virgin and the Bull are in harmony with Capricorn ... [1]

Triplicities were identified because of the harmonious relationshipinherent in the shape created by their relationship to each other. The association between triplicities and elements arose from thisbut was not explicitly stated by early astrologers such as Ptolemyand his contemporaries. Though humours were essential to theirwork, there was no characterisation of say, Aquarius as an 'air-sign'or Scorpio as a 'water-sign'. In Hellenistic astrology, the recognitionof the triplicity lay in the fact that it facilitates agreement betweenthe signs that are associated through the shape and symbolism of the triangle. Consequently any planets that are placed within thosesigns are able to create an harmonious blend of energies.

Ancient Assignment of Triplicity RulersEach group of triplicities has its own set of planetary rulers. Lillymentioned two for each triplicity - a day ruler and a night-time ruler- but originally there were three rulers for each sect. The list of triplicity rulers given by Dariot in the 16th century [2] is a morefaithful reproduction of the earlier scheme used by the likes of Vettius Valens and Dorotheus in the classical period. In this systemeach triplicity has two rulers which exchange priority according towhether the chart is diurnal or nocturnal, plus a third ruler which is

common to both sects. 'Know the lords of the triplicities of the signs'said Dorotheus, 'the lords of the triplicity of Aries by day are theSun, then Jupiter, then Saturn. By night Jupiter, then the Sun, thenSaturn'. [3]

The selection of triplicity rulers is dependent upon the correctalignment between planetary nature and sect; in other words, adiurnal triplicity could not be governed by a nocturnal planet andvice-versa. The argument is that nocturnal planets have a verydifferent quality to diurnal ones, and that beneficial influences areincreased when planets are located in a suitably compatibleenvironment.

One point that confuses many people about planetary sects is that


http://www.skyscript.co.uk/triplicities.html#1








Mars - notably hot and dry - is aligned to the nocturnal sect which iscold and moist. If this seems confusing, remember that it was doneto moderate the natural excess of Mars and not to strengthen it.Mars is damaging through its excess of heat and is better able toproduce a beneficial influence when its natural qualities are

harnessed than when they are promoted, as they would be if Marswere aligned with the diurnal sect. The same goes for Saturn, whichis assigned to the warmth of the diurnal sect in order to moderateits naturally excessive coldness. [4] The sects to which the planetsare most suited are:

Breakdown of Rulership Logic

Given that the Aries triplicity comprises Aries, Leo and Sagittarius,we might expect that it would be ruled by Mars, Sun and Jupiter, therespective rulers of these signs. However, Mars cannot be acceptedas a ruler because it is assigned to the nocturnal sect and thistriplicity is diurnal. Saturn is therefore substituted for Mars and actsas a co-ruler for the triplicity both day and night.

The Capricorn triplicity comprises Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn -three nocturnal signs. It might be argued that Mercury should take apart in ruling this triplicity because of its dominion over Virgo, but

the intrinsically dry nature of Mercury makes it uncomfortable in themoist nocturnal triplicity, so the Moon, who delights under suchconditions, especially at night, is substituted. Saturn, the diurnalruler of Capricorn is also substituted for Mars which is better placedin the nocturnal sect.

The Libra triplicity is diurnal, comprising Gemini, Libra and Aquarius.Saturn takes precedence during the day, because it both rulesAquarius and is exalted in Libra, while Mercury, ruler of Geminitakes precedence at night. Venus, the ruler of Libra is dismissedbecause it is a nocturnal planet and so needs to be substituted for a

diurnal one. The options are Jupiter or the Sun. Since the Sun isessentially debilitated in two of the three signs that make up thistriplicity, Jupiter is the natural choice.

Finally, the Cancer triplicity is nocturnal, comprising Cancer, Scorpioand Pisces. The rulers of these signs are the Moon, Mars and Jupiter,but because Jupiter is diurnal it is substituted for nocturnal Venus.

The rulers of each triplicity are thus established as follows:

Aries trigon - Sun, Jupiter, SaturnCancer trigon - Venus, Mars, MoonLibra trigon - Saturn, Mercury, Jupiter






Capricorn trigon - Venus, Moon, Mars

Most early astrologers used all three planets, rotating their priorityby day and night, but many later ones, including Lilly, chose to useonly the principal rulers. Perhaps they rejected the convoluted logic

that lay behind the definition of sect, or perhaps they were confusedby Ptolemy who appears to mention only two rulers for the Aries andCapricorn triplicities, yet explicitly mentions three rulers for theothers.

Use of the Three-Rulership scheme The 3-rulership scheme maintains a natural symbolic significance tothe principles encapsulated by the Triad , particularly in allowing thethree rulers to be used as significators of the beginning, middle andend of any project. Although astrologers make poor use of themtoday, it would be difficult to overstate the importance of triplicitiesin classical astrology, especially in this kind of symbolic overview of any situation. Dorotheus, writing in the 1st century, says of them:

I tell you that everything which is decided or indicated is from the lords of

the triplicities, and as for everything of afflictions and distress which

reaches the people of the world and the totality of men, the lords of the

triplicities decide it. [5]

In his Carmen Astrologicum, Dorotheus shows how the triplicitiescan be used to interpret almost any aspect of life. For example, in a

diurnal nativity the Sun and its three triplicity rulers indicate thecondition of the father, while the Moon and its triplicity rulers will tellyou about the life of the Mother. [6] If you want to know about aman's general relationship with women, look to the triplicity of Venus:

If the first of the lords of Venus's triplicity is in a good place and the

second in a bad place, then this condition in the matter of women is good

in the beginning of his age, and in the last it is bad, because the first of

the lords of Venus's triplicity indicates the first years, the second indicates

the middle years and the third indicates the end of life.

The following charts are taken from ancient texts to demonstratethe use of triplicity rulers in practice. For the record, I haveexperimented with this technique on many examples of my own andhave so far been impressed with the results.

Practical ExamplesIn judging the overall fortune and condition of life, Dorotheusadvises us to consider the Sun and the rulers of its triplicity in adiurnal nativity and the Moon and the rulers of its triplicity in a

nocturnal nativity.









Chart 1 is a nocturnal nativity so itis ruled by the Moon. Because theMoon is placed in Scorpio itstriplicity rulers (by night) are Mars,then Venus, then the Moon itself.

All three triplicity rulers are cadent,which Dorotheus took to indicatethat the native would always bepoor and needy and would struggleto meet his daily needs.

Chart 2 is a diurnal nativitywith the Sun in Aries. The Sun rules

the Aries triplicity by day with Jupiter as the secondary ruler. Boththese planets are strong by beingangular in their signs of exaltation.Dorotheus took this to mean thatthe native would 'receive the praiseof noble and wealthy men'.

Saturn, the 3rd ruler of the Sun'striplicity is cadent but it is in thesign of Jupiter and is aspected by

trine to its dispositor, so it indicatesmixed circumstances. There is stilla certain amount of good fortune.

Chart 3 comes from the filesof Vettius Valens. It is the nativityof a 'distinguished' person born in50 AD. The nativity is nocturnal sorecourse is to the Moon and itstriplicity rulers.

Because the Moon is in Cancer bynight the triplicity rulers are Mars,then Venus, then the Moon. Valenssays that it is evident that thenativity is a notable one because allthe triplicity rulers are in their ownsigns and two of them are angular.




Chart 4 demonstrates the useof triplicity rulers as significators forthe beginning, middle and end of life. The chart is taken from thework of Rhetorius and is claimed to

be the nativity of the poetPamprepius, born in 440 BC. It is adiurnal nativity and Rhetoriuspoints out that Saturn is the firsttriplicity ruler of both the leadingluminary and the ascendant.Because Saturn is retrograde, inaspect of Mars and in opposition toits dispositor (Venus), Rhetoriusasks 'how could he not have had ahard first period of life?' [7] The final example is again takenfrom Dorotheus's Carmen Astrologicum. The nativity is diurnaland the Sun in Aries. The Sun istherefore the principal ruler of itsown triplicity, well placed in the11th house in its sign of exaltation. Jupiter, the 2nd triplicity ruler isalso well placed in the 10th housein its own sign while Saturn, the 3rd

triplicity ruler, is accidentallydignified in the midheaven.

This man will 'abound in gold and silver ' says Dorotheus; but he alsoadds a warning:- 'his end is evilbecause the lord of [the cardinal]under the earth, from which thematter of the end and the situationof death are known, is Venus, and Venus in this nativity is cadent in

the sign of calamity [12th house]'.

Notes & References: 1 ] Book 2; 275-2852 ] Dariot, Claudius: A Brief and most Easy Introduction to

the Astrological Judgement of the Stars; published 1583. Availablefrom Ascella Reprints.

3 ] Carmen Astrologicum; 1st century, 1.1.3. Pingreetranslation, available from Ascella Reprints.

4 ] It was also done to promote the qualities of dryness.Many ancient texts speak of Saturn causing damage through floods






and death through drowning; Hellenistic astrologers placed a greatdeal more emphasis on Saturn's malefic qualities being through anexcess of moisture than we would expect today. Aquarius, which wecall a cold and dry sign, was also notable for its threat of moisture,especially as it was governed by Saturn.

5 ] Dorotheus, I.II.4; p.1626 ] Ibid., I.127 ] Neugebauer and Van-Hoesen, Greek Horoscopes,

Philadelphia Philosophical Society, pp. 140/141

© Deborah Houlding. First published in The Traditional Astrologer magazine, issue 6: Autumn 1994.


http://www.skyscript.co.uk/deb/ta6.html

http://www.skyscript.co.uk/deb/ta6.html

Documents

The Classical Use of Triplicities by Deborah Houlding