[:en]What are “sects” and why are they so important in traditional astrology?[:]

[:en]

chessModern astrology has completely forgotten about the ancient concept of sects. Many people today just don’t know what they are. But the principle is very simple.

It’s about polarity. As we are living in an ever changing rhythm of day and night, we perceive things differently depending on day or night. During the dark, noises seem louder, our senses seem to sharpen. As we cannot see, we have to trust in our instincts. That part of our brain is stimulated, which just acts-and things later.

The same principle is applied in astrology. Planets act differently, depending on whether a person is born during the day or during the night.

We talk about a day birth, when a person is born with his/her Sun over the horizon (the AC-DC line), and thus after sunrise and before sunset.  We do have a nighttime chart, when somebody is born with the Sun below the horizon, and thus after sunset and before sunrise.

In the same way, we distinguish between diurnal planets and nocturnal planets.

The female planets, Moon and Venus are both nocturnal. Also Mars, even being a male planet, is nocturnal. These planets are said to be “in sect” in a nighttime chart.

The other male planets, Sun , Jupiter and Saturn, are diurnal. They perform better in a day chart. They are “in sect “ in a diurnal chart (and “out of sect” in a nightime nativity).

Mercury is not really considered to be either a diurnal or nocturnal planet. He can be both. If he rises after the Sun, he is considered as nocturnal. If he preceeds the Sun and rises earlier, he is a diurnal planet.

What does this mean? A benefic is stronger in its proper sect: Venus in a nocturnal chart, Jupiter in a diurnal chart. This also means, that Venus in a diurnal chart is less benefic than Jupiter, and Jupiter in a nighttime chart less benefic than Venus.

Malefics are more dangerous, when they are “out of sect”. Mars is nocturnal and thus more malefic in a daytime chart. In his own sect, he will “behave” better. The same is true for Saturn: in a nighttime chart he will be more difficult than in a daytime chart.

These rules are very much applied in traditional astrology.They were considered as part of the prelimnary analysis of any nativity. Many of the ancient masters also considered the position within the chart important: in a nighttime chart, the nocturnal planets were ideally placed above the horizon (as the commanding planets) while the diurnal planets performed better below the horizon, and thus in the houses 1-6.

In a daytime chart, the diurnal planets were the commanding planets and had to be in the upper part of the chart, while the nocturnal planets were better hidden in the lower part of the horoscope.

As we see, the technique is quite simple, but permits at a glance to make out, which of the malefics represents the major problem for a native and which of the benefics promises a more reliable gift.

The fine tuning of a chart comes after this simple sect analysis.

Salva

Salva[:]

2 comments

  1. How would a Scorpio Mars in the Seventh House behave in a diurnal chart? Also, what about Venus in the Twelfh?

    1. Hi Leo, this is a good question. Mars in a daytime chart is considered to be the malefic out of sect, in other words, the planet that will cause you more trouble. His angular position makes him strong. However, he is in his own sign, which helps, so he is dignified and will bring his issues through. In this case, this can be intense and demanding (business-)relationships in which you are asked to deal with your own hidden potentials, come to terms with rage and anger, jealousy and other adrenaline related issues. You are projecting your Mars onto others and will get the results, either good or bad. However, since Mars is a ncturnal planet and you have a daytime chart, it will be more difficult to get to the core of your Mars issues. Things represented by planets out of sect can bring success but it will not last long and are more difficult to realize. These are very general statements, since I don’t know your chart. But check for the Position of your first house ruler Venus and check her relationship to Mars. Just as a side tip, Mars sends its antiscium into your 10th WSH and thus links your job with your relationships. So to which extend do your relationsships influence your job?

      As for Venus in the 12th then you need space and time for your own. If Venus rules your 1st house, then there is more struggle to bring things forward as if it was a nighttime Venus, but sect does not deny success, so you will need to analyse the entire chart.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.