Tara wrote: I don't see how we can measure which aspect is more difficult in a natal chart, as a general rule, but only in particular cases you might judge based on which planets are involved and that sort of thing.

Writes Valentin Nabod commenting Ptolemy:

"Now the stars predominating on the dispositors ALWAYS damage the soul, make it heavier and harsher, alter it, dissipate it, modify in some way. Even when they are of the same sect, the more they favor activities, the more they damage the soul. "

margherita

"Now the stars predominating on the dispositors ALWAYS damage the soul, make it heavier and harsher, alter it, dissipate it, modify in some way. Even when they are of the same sect, the more they favor activities, the more they damage the soul. "

Am I the only one who isn't understanding this? ? Now the stars predominating on the dispositors ALWAYS damage the soul . . .?. ?. . . the more they favor activities, the more they damage the soul?. I'm just not getting it.



Oh, by the way, I haven't a single opposition in my chart. Not even a planet conjunct an angle to activate the polarity. Even the few squares I have tend to be pretty wimpy. I'm loaded down with trines. Trines everywhere. Here a trine, there a trine, everywhere . . . I'm all about peace, love and harmony. I am.

Without any oppositions could I be somehow seriously deficient? I'll ask my mother.

I'll ask my mother.

Please post her response.

As I understand it in 2010 having a load of trines, particulary if they are granded together, is oft seen as a right old malevolent fate!

The optimal pattern seems to be a healthy mixture of colouful lines splayed, bucketed, locomotived......... about ones nativity.

Please post her response.

She always says questionably nice things, bless her heart. It would make for dull reading.

As I understand it in 2010 having a load of trines, particulary if they are granded together, is oft seen as a right old malevolent fate!

A very closely knit Grand Trine involving 5 of the 7 traditional planets. I was so excited about it as a budding teenage astrologer ? Grand Trines were very cool back then. I'm now middle-aged and rather bitter about the whole thing.

So I guess my peace, love and harmony approach would be seen these days as somewhat warped?





OH!!! I almost forgot! I have a singleton Mars beneath the horizon. It's even all by itself between the Moon's north and south nodes. That's better than any crummy old opposition. Hah!

Hello Kirk

Kirk wrote:[

Am I the only one who isn't understanding this? ? Now the stars predominating on the dispositors ALWAYS damage the soul . . .?. ?. . . the more they favor activities, the more they damage the soul?. I'm just not getting it.

Nabod says the predominating squares are in some way positive for material side of life, (which fact Ptolemy does not mention ) but always very negative for what now we would call the psychological side of the native.

For example a malefic predominant on an ill-placed almuten makes the soul inclined to dishonesty and evil,

margherita

Kirk wrote: A very closely knit Grand Trine involving 5 of the 7 traditional planets. I was so excited about it as a budding teenage astrologer ? Grand Trines were very cool back then. I'm now middle-aged and rather bitter about the whole thing.

So I guess my peace, love and harmony approach would be seen these days as rather warped?

In theory a sense of bitterness would go with numerous trines as without the requisite energies to develop ones latent gifts the native is disposed to, in time, resent their not being sufficiently acknowledged.

Thank you, Margherita. I have a growing suspicion that I may not have known what I was talking about concerning predominating squares. Don't tell Gabe.



Now, I suppose we need to get back to oppositions before Deb comes running out of the house shaking a broom at us.

In theory a sense of bitterness would go with numerous trines as without the requisite energies to develop ones latent gifts the native is disposed to, in time, resent their not being sufficiently acknowledged.

That doesn't sound at all fun. I should have traded my chart in for the newer model when I had the chance. There was no square or opposition to push me into action. [sigh]

Kirk wrote:

A very closely knit Grand Trine involving 5 of the 7 traditional planets. I was so excited about it as a budding teenage astrologer ? Grand Trines were very cool back then. I'm now middle-aged and rather bitter about the whole thing.

So I guess my peace, love and harmony approach would be seen these days as somewhat warped?

Which element is your Grand Trine in Kirk?

Well if you were having your chart delineated by Noel tyl or one of his students your Grand Trine would be seen as a 'problem'. Tyl regards a Grand Trine as a classic symbol for a defence mechanism in the personality. He differentiates between the different elements. For example the Air Grand trine = mentally self sufficient and isolating. The grand trine is seen as whats easy for the native.However, the view taught by Tyl is that the person with the Grand trine likes staying in their comfort zone of what comes easily. There is also a view that if neither luminary is involved the Grand Trine, it can operate independently from the luminaries. Especially if different elements are involved.

I think you are I better stay with traditional astrology Kirk. Our Grand Trines and lack of hard aspects make us suitable cases for treatment for budding modern astrologers.

On a personal basis I do think I have a generally content personality. However, people with a tranquil, easy going outlook are seldom high achievers. There is little doubt in terms of inner peace the Grand Trine should be a gift. However, there is frequently not the inner discontent/tension to try to make it manifest in the material world. Certainly in my case that is often true. Although I could also explain this by a lack of fire, hard aspects and Venus being my Ascendant ruler on the MC. Still, I dont think its abn accident that there is a high incidence of T squares in materially successful people.

I think aspect patterns is one of the areas modern astrology has made an interesting and insightful contribution to natal analysis.

I think you are I better stay with traditional astrology Kirk. Our Grand Trines and lack hard aspects make us easy prey for budding modern astrologers.

I'm not so sure we are safe with traditional astrologers either. Discussing the grand trine on page 31 of The Principles of Astrology, 5th edition [Lordy, how many times can a person patch up a book?], C. E. O. Carter writes:

?Such a configuration was considered evil by medieval writers and unfortunately this view appears to be not without foundation. Often the fortunes seem to be greatly involved in those of others, both for good and evil, and the character may tend to weakness and lack of moral fibre. The element in which the grand trine falls my be too prominent in the temperament.?

I haven't come across such medieval writings about grand trines. I would appreciate it if anyone has information and is up to starting a new thread in the traditional section.




I hear Deb coming . . . . . . Yes sirree, those oppositions are mighty important.

I'm not sure I've met someone who does not like ''staying in the comfort zone of what comes easily''. Sounds like a somewhat psychologically naive comment to have made!