"It is impossible to enumerate the lots which have been invented for the solution of horary questions, and for answering enquiries as to prosperous outcome of auspicious time for action; they increase in number every day [...]."
Al Biruni, The Book of Instruction in the Elemants of the Art of Astrology, p.66, No. 476

Is there any traditional text of the theory of lots?
How do they work?
Why do they work?
How are they construed as formula?
How their single Planets or cusps are to choose?
How are they used?

These are only some of the questions I have about this subject.

When lots occur, I try to understand them quasi as planet pictures or sensitive points, as teached by Alfred Witte.
But I would like to understand lots in the classical way, as they were meant and understood and used by the Ancients - previous to the time of Alfred Witte.

I would gladly appreciate every information or thought you are able and willing to give. Thank you very much to everyone in advance.

Johannes

The book ?ight of ?The Great Introduction to the science of the stars? from Abu Mashar is entirely devoted to the theory and practice of Lots.The critical edition of Richard Lemay (Introductorium maius, ?d. R. Lemay, Napoli, 1995-1996, 9 vols. ) contains the arabic text and two latin translations as well: the fisrt one made by John of Seville and the second one made by Herman of Carinthia. This book is devided into nine parts:

1. Extraction of the Lots
2. On the cause of various kinds of Lots and their names
3. The Lots of the seven planets
4. The Lots of the twelve houses
5. On Lots that are not listed nor with the seven planets, nor with the twelve houses
6. List of the all Lots, which are 97
7. The combination between Lot and place (house)
8. Knowledge of the general meaning of the Lots
9. On knowing significators by some other significators

Unfortunately, partial translation of this book can be found only in Italian language: Giuseppe Bezza, Arcana Mundi,1995, Milan, book II, pp.981-997

here is an article that i believe i have posted on this site before that some might be curious to know about if they are interested in the lots/parts.

http://astrosoftware.com/ArabicParts.htm

I wrote a paper a few years ago that dealt with the theoretical rational underlying one early set of lots associated with each of the planets, and you might be able to find answers to some of your questions there:

http://www.chrisbrennanastrologer.com/B ... ionale.pdf

In order to understand the rationale underlying the lots you kind of need to know how to calculate them visually, because sometimes the conceptual motivation only becomes clear when you draw them out by hand. For that I posted a video tutorial on YouTube a few years ago:

http://youtu.be/GpOVfJmEFH4

Sorry if this seems overly self-promotional, but it is something that I've focused on a lot over the past few years.