Astronomical Geomancy: introduction and questions of houses 1–6

GERARD CREMONENSIS: OF ASTRONOMICAL GEOMANCY.

BEcause Astronomy is so transendant and subtil an art in itself, that therein a man ought to have respect unto so many things before he can attain to true judgment thereby, because the eye of the understanding will not pierce unto the half thereof, and few Doctors of our latter time have been found so experienced therein, that they know sufficiently how to judge thereby; therefore I have composed this work, which I will have to be named Astronomical Geomancy; wherein, I will sufficiently teach how to judge with less labour and study. For in this present science it is not requisite to behold neither the Ascendant, nor the hour in a Table, as it is in Astrology.

It is expedient therefore to make four unequal lines, by the points casually set down; and to join together those points; and out of the points which are not joined together, which do remain in the heads of the lines, (as it is done in Geomancy) extract one figure; and the sign of the Zodiack that answereth to the figure, put for the Ascendant, for the words sake. If Acquisitio arise from the heads of those four lines, let Aries be placed in the Ascendant; if Laetitia, or the lesser Fortune put Taurus in the Ascendant; if Puer or Rubeus, place Gemini; if Albus, Cancer; if Via, Leo; if Conjunctio or the Dragons head, Virgo; if Puella, Libra; if Amissio or Tristitia, Scorpio; if the Dragons Tail, Sagittary; if Populus, Capricorn; if Fortuna major, Aquary; if Carcer, then put Pisces for the Ascendant. Afterwards in the second house, let that sign be placed which immediately succeeds the other. In the third house, the third sign, and so place the rest in order until you come unto the end of the signs; and make one square figure divided into twelve equal parts, and therein place the signs in order, as it is in Astrology, & as you may find them in this figure: neither are we here to regard the witnesses, or Judge, or any other thing which belongs to Geomancy; but only the sixteen figures, that by them we may have the twelve signs, to which they agree; and observe the manner of the figure as it is here placed.

[Figure: Look how the twelve Signs are placed in the figure, and so may any other Sign be ascending in his turn, as Aries is here.]

Afterwards it is requisite to make four lines by course for every Planet, by points casually pricked down; and likewise for the Dragons Head, as you have done for the Ascendant, and divide those points by twelve, and that which remaineth above twelve, or the twelfth itself, if a greater number doth not remain, retain, and the Planet for which the projection was made, place in that house of which the superabounding number shall be; that is, if there remain twelve, let the Planet be placed in the twelfth house; if ten, in the tenth house; if one, in the first house; if two, in the second house; and so of the rest. And you ought always to begin from the Sun, and afterwards from the Moon, then from Venus and Mercury, and from S[…]turn, Jupiter and Mars, and the Dragons Head and Dragons Tail; but you must always take heed, that you do not make a question in a rainy, cloudy, or a very windy season, or when thou art angry, or thy mind busied with many affairs; nor for tempters or deriders, neither that you may renew and reiterate the same Question again under the same figure or form; for that is error.

Questions of the first House.

IF you are desirous to know concerning the life of any man whether it be long or short, behold the Lord of the Ascendant, who if he be in strong Angles, it signifies long life; in succedents, a middle age; and in cadent houses, a short life; and if he be in strong Angles, he signifies greater years; if in Succedents, meaner years; if in Cadents, lesser years. The lesser years of Saturn are thirty, the meaner are forty four years, and the greater fifty eight. The lesser years of Jupiter are twelve, the meaner years forty, and the greater accordingly are forty seven. The lesser years of Mars are fifteen, his mean years forty, and the greater years forty seven. The lesser years of the Sun are nineteen, his mean years forty five, and his greater years eighty two. The lesser years of Venus are eight, her mean years forty five, and her greater years eighty two. Mercury's lesser years are twenty, his mean years forty nine, and his greater years eighty. The lesser years of the Moon are fifteen, her mean years thirty nine, and her greater years a hundred and seven. And also look if Mars or Saturn shall be in the first house, & the Lord of the eighth with them, and if the Sun shall be in the eighth, the Querent shall not live: likewise if the Lord of the Ascendant shall happen to be void of course, and Mars be in the eighth, the Querent shall not live; but if the Sun and the Moon shall be in conjunction in the seventh house, & Venus in the second, he shall live well.

The accidents of the nativity are likewise to be considered. If you find Saturn or Mercury in the first, he is foolish and talkative; if it be Mars and Mercury, he will not be servile, but a wrangler and scoffer; if the Sun and Mercury, he will be a speaker of truth, and if the Sun be in Aires, he will apply himself to learn whatsoever he shall hear; if Venus be in the seventh, he will be luxurious; and if Saturn, Mercury and Venus be in their fall, he will be a Sodomite; if the Sun & Venus be in the tenth, & the Moon in the first, he will be very liberal; if Venus, Mercury & the Dragons Head be in the first, he will be covetous; if the Moon and Mars be in the first, he will be subject to great bondage; and if Mars; be Lord of the nativity, he will be rich and an evil speaker, and litigious; and if the Sun be in the first, he will be envious, having a fair body, not very lean, nor very fat; and if Venus be in the first, he will be white and fair; if Mercury be in the first, he will not be staple, but always in motion; but if the Moon be found there, it denotes him to have a graceful face, breast and arms; if Saturn be there, the man will be black and filthy; if Jupiter, he will have a round face, a fair forehead, a ruddy complexion mixt with a little white. If you would know his office or art: if the Moon be in the seventh with Saturn, or in the fourth, or in the tenth; or in the first, it is not good for him to build any house in a City, nor to build a ship, neither is it good for him to be a tiller of land, or to dress vines, or plant trees; but to be imployed about some office belonging to the water, or concerning marriages or to be a Post or a Messenger; neither let him apply himself much to his Master, because he shall gain no repute from him: if the Moon be in the fifth or third, it will be good to him; in the second, eighth, sixth, and twelfth, neither good nor evil.

Jupiter signifies Bishops, Prelates, Nobles, Potentates, Judges, Wise men, Merchants, and Userers.

Mars signifies Warriors, Incendiaries, Homicides, Physicians, Barbers, Hangmen, Goldsmiths, Cooks, furnaces and all fire-works. And if Mars be in the strong signs, he will be poor and die in captivity, unless he put himself in arms with some Soldier or vassal.

The Sun signifies Emperors, Kings, Princes, Nobles, Lords and Judges.

Venus signifies Queens and Ladies, Marriages, Communications, Friendship, Apothecaries, Taylors, and such as make Ornaments for plays, sellers of Cloth, Jesters, Vintners, Players at dice, Whores and Ro[…]be[…]s.

Mercury signifies Clerks, Philosophers, Astrologers, Geometrician[…], Arithmeticians, Latin writers, and Painters, and all subtil Artist, as well men as women, and their Arts.

Concerning the intentions of the Querent, look unto the sign ascending, and his Lord; & where you find the Lord of the Ascendant, he comes to inquire about something pertaining to that house; and if the Sun be Lord of the Ascendant, his Question is concerning fear which he is in of some man; if Venus, he enquireth of arts, that he may know some proper Arts, or he enquireth concerning things belonging to women. If Mercury be Lord of the Ascendant, he seeketh after some thing th[…]t is lost, or enquireth concerning some infirmity. If the Moon, he seeketh also for something lost, or enquireth about sickness, or some disease in his eyes. If Saturn be Lord of the Ascendant, he enquireth about some sickness, or concerning a Prince; and keepeth silence, but hath some great grief or anguish in his heart. If Jupiter be Lord of the Ascendant, his Question is concerning some infirmity, or restitution, or for some office which he desireth to have. If Mars, he enquireth for some fear, or of an enemy, death, sickness, riches, or substance.

Questions of the second house.

IF you would be informed concerning the substance of any man whether he shall be rich or not, behold the Lord of the second, which if he shall be with a good Planet, & a good Planet likewise in the second, he shall be rich; but if the Lord of the second be joined with evil Planets, and an evil Planet shall be in the second, he shall be poor.

If you would know whether you shall have again a thing lent, or not, look if there be an evil Planet in the second, and disagreeing with his Lord; then he that detaineth the thing lent, will not willingly render back the same: But if there be a good Planet in the second, and agreeing with his Lord, it shall easily be recovered; and if the Lord of the second be exalted and be evil, or if an evil Planet be with him in the second, or if the Lord of the second be exalted, he which keepeth the thing deposited, will not willingly restore the same, but he shall do it whether he will or not. And if an evil Planet be in the second, it's to be recovered: but if Mercury be in the second so that he be his Lord, and bringeth contrarity, then it shall be recovered; and if a good Planet be in the second house, he signifies recovery, although he be the Lord thereof.

Mark therefore the concord and discord of the Planets: the Moon and Jupiter are friends, the Moon and Mars enemies; Mercury and the Sun are friends, Mercury and Venus enemies; Venus and Jupiter are friends, Jupiter and the Moon are enemies.

The Planets are said to be friends, when they agree in one nature and quallity, as Mars and the Sun, because both their natures is hot and dry; Venus and the Moon do agree in cold & moisture; or when Planets do agree in substance and nature, as Jupiter and Venus are friends: or when the house of one is the exaltation of another, or on the contrary.

Questions of the third House.

IF that you desire to know, how many brethren a man hath, see the Lord of the third, and it is to be held, that to so many Planets as he is joined, so many brethren the Querent hath; and the Masculine Planets signify brethren and the female Planets sisters; and note, that Saturn and Mars, the Sun, Jupiter, and the Dragons Head, are masculine; but the Moon, Venus and the Dragons Tail are feminine: but Mercury is promiscuous, sometimes masculine and sometimes feminine; he is masculine when he joined to masculine Planets, or when he is in a masculine quarter of the Zodiack; and he is feminine, when he is joined to feminine Planets, or when he is in a feminine quarter of the Zodiack.

Questions of the fourth House.

IF thou wouldst know whether it be good for thee to stay in any Land, City, Village, Territory, or House, or not, behold the Lord of the Ascendant of the fourth, and of the seventh; and if the Lord of the fourth be in the seventh, and be good, and the Lords of the first and the tenth house be good, and with good Planets, then it is good for thee to continue in that place wherein thou art. And if the Lord of the seventh be with a good Planet, & the Lord of the fourth with an evil Planet, then it is not good for thee to abide there, because if thou dost continue there, thou shalt suffer many losses, and have evil reports raised on thee in that Country.

But if thou wouldst know when any one that is absent will return, behold the Lord of the Ascendant; and if you find him in any one of the four Angles, he will return in that year; and if he be not in an Angle, then see how far he is distant from the first Angle; for so long he will stay, & so many years as there be houses.

If you would be informed of the dearth or plenty of things, behold the strong houses, the Succedents and the Cadents; for the strong houses signify dearth and scarcity, the Succedents a moderate season, neither too dear, nor too cheap, the Cadents signify plenty and profitableness of things. Consider also the Planets, and their places, which if they be in strong houses, the things which are signified by those Planets will be rare: and note, that Saturn doth signify fields, vines, and instruments to work in fields; and leather, and of fruits, corn, acorns, oak-apples, and pomgranates. Jupiter hath oil, honey, silk-worms, cloth, wine, and grass, and things that are odoriferous. Mars signifies wine, and flesh, and especially hogs, wars, and armour, and such things as belong thereunto, and red garments. The Sun hath signification of wheat, and wine, purple colours, and cloth, and all things that are affimulated unto gold, horses and birds, such as hawks & falcons. Venus hoth signify fatness & grapes, sigs & dates, fish and pastimes. Mercury hath barley, millet, grain, money, and quicksilver. The Moon signifies oates, milk, cheese, fire and salt, cows, rams, hens, and silver, and accordingly plenty and scarcity of them.

Questions of the fifth House.

IF you would know whether a woman be with Child, or whether she will have any children, or not, look if the Lord of the Ascendant be in the seventh, or the Lord of the fifth in the first, or the Lord of the first in the fifth, or if the Lord of the fifth be in the seventh, or if the Lord of the seventh be in the fifth, or the Moon will them; or if good Planets be in the first, or the fifth, or with the Lord of the fifth, or *R* in Angles, she is with child, or may have children; but if you find none of them, but evil Planets in the same places, she neither is with child, neither will she have any children: and if there be both good and evil Planets in the said places, then happily she may have children, but they will not live; but if Cancer, Scorpio or Pisces shall be in the first or fifth house, she may have children; but if Leo and Virgo be there, she is not with child neither shall she ever have any children; or if the Lord of the fifth shall be in them houses.

And if you would know, within how many years she shall have children, look where you find the Lord of the fifth; for in that year she shall have issue; if he be in the first, in the first year; if in the second, in the second year; and so you may number unto the twelfth house. And if mean signs be in the Ascendant, she that is with child hath twins in her womb, which will live, if a good Planet be in the first; and if an evil Planet, they will die; and if there be one good and another evil, one shall live, and another die; and if a mean sign shall be ascending, and Mars in that sign, the mother shall die, and not the child; if Saturn, both the mother and child shall die; and if the Dragons Tail be there, it's possible they will both die; but the infant shall not escape; & if the Dragons Tail be in the first, and the tenth house fallen: the mother shall die; likewise Mars & the Moon, or Mars & Saturn be in the first, seventh or tenth, the mother shall die.

Whether the party with child shall miscarry, or not. Consider if a moveable sign be ascending, because if it be so, she will miscarry.

If you would know whether a woman shall bring forth a man-child, or a woman-child; behold the Ascendant and his Lord, which if he be masculine, and in a masculine sign, or in a masculine quarter of the figure, it is a male-child; but if the Lord of the Ascendant be feminine, and in a feminine sign, or in a feminine quarter of the Circle, it will be a woman-child; and so you shall consider also of the Moon. Consider also if more of the Planets be in masculine signs, then it will be a male-child; & if many Planets be in feminine signs, then it is a female-child.

And if you would know whether the child be legitimate or adulterate; see if Saturn, Mars or the Dragons Tail be in the fifth, or with the Lord of the fifth; because if it be so, it is adulterate; but if a good Planet shall be there, it is legitimate: and if the Lord of the first, be in the fifth, or with his Lord, it is legitimate; and so likewise if the Lord of the fifth be found in the first, or with the Lord of the first.

If you desire to know whether rumours be true or false, see if you find Saturn, Mars or the Dragons Tail, in the Ascendant; because if they be so, then the rumours are false; but if you find the Sun, Jupiter or the Dragons Head there, then they are true; and if there be masculine Planets in masculine Signs, and feminine Planets in feminine Signs, then they are true; & if both good & evil Planets be there, then they are partly true & partly false: & if there be good sign with the Planet, it testifies the truth; & if the Planet fall with an evil Sign, then it is false: likewise if Mercury be in the first, the news is false: but if the Moon be in the first in a feminine Sign, or joined with the Lord of the ascendant in a feminine sign, then the rumours are true; also if good Planets be in the first, fifth or ninth, & feminine Signs, they are true; but if otherwise, they are not.

If you would know whether any one that is absent will return, and when; see the Lord of the Ascendant & the first, which if you find them together, for certain he will come, and is now begining his Journey. Likewise if the Lord of the fifth be in the first, or with the Lord of the first, and if he be in his fall, the messenger is sick in his way; but if the Lord of the fifth be exalted, then he cometh joyfully. And if he be in a cadent Sign, he shall be grievously afflicted with sickness, or shall die.

If you would know if he bringeth that with him for which he went, or not, behold the Lord of the seventh; which if he be good, he bringeth that which he sought for; and if he be in his fall, or an evil Planet be there, he bringeth nothing with him.

Questions of the sixth House.

WHether the sick shall recover his health, or die. If the Question be concerning his sickness, see if Saturn, or Mars, or the Dragons Tail be in the first, and whether his Lord be joined with an evil Planet, then he shall die soon. And if the Lord of the first be good, and evil Planets be in the first with his Lord, or likewise in the first or the eighth, for certain he will die: but if the Lord of the first be in the eighth, or with the Lord of the eighth; or the Lord of the eighth in the first, or with the Lord of the first, there is doubt of his death. And if evil Planets do possess the Angles, evil and destruction is threatened to the sick. But if good Planets shall be in the first, sixth and eighth, and likewise in the Angles, and the Lord of the first be from the eighth and his Lord, then the sick person shall live and recover his health.

If you desire to know whether he will be cured by medicines, give the first house of the Physician, the tenth to the sick, the seventh to his diseases, and the fourth to the medicines. If evil Planets be in the first, the Physician shall profit him nothing; but they testify that this will be worse for the diseased: but the fortunes do signify, that he shall be profitable to him. And if evil Planets do occupy the tenth house the sick person is the cause, for they testify, that he himself is the cause of his own disease: but the Fortunes being there, signify the contrary. But if evil Planets be in the tenth house, they change the condition of the sick out of one disease into another; but the Fortunes being there, do deliver him without the help of Physicians or medicines. Also evil Planets being in the fourth, do testify, that the medicines do augment his grief; and the Fortunes being there, do mitigate and heal him.

If thou wouldst know if thou shalt go unto the person and heal him; consider the place then: for if he shall be with Saturn, Mars or the Dragons Tail, or *R* with the Sun, go not unto him; but if Jupiter, Venus or the Dragons Head be in the first, or in the seventh, go, for it will be good: and if there be the Moon with a good Planet, go, and give him Physic; but if she shall be with an evil Planet and especially in the seventh house, then thou shalt not go; because thou shalt profit him nothing: and if there be good Planets there, go and look diligently to him, where or in what members he suffers; because Aries hath the head, Taurus the neck, Cancer the breast and lungs, Leo the heart and stomach, Virgo the belly and intestines, Libra, the reins & loins, Scorpio the secret members, Sagittary the thighs, Capricorn the knees, Aquary the legs, and Pisces the feet.