So I'm reading a chart for a friend right now, using traditional Hellenistic methods, and no planet has any essential dignity, not even by decan. I'm thinking that might indicate a dilettante and wanderer by nature, which somewhat fits the native. However, the native is also extremely accomplished in some things; how can that be if there's no planet ready to act? How do you read such extreme peregrination?

Planets in-sect or in the places of sect-mates can function quite well in the Hellensitic model.

Thanks, Konrad. That helps a bit. It's a nocturnal chart, and Mars is in the first house, which does help explain a few things (esp. since it's lord of the 9th and 4th houses, major concerns for the native, and also the locations of daimon and tykhe). Venus is under the beams, so not much help there, but Mercury is in sect and in a succedent house.

What do you mean by in the house of sect-mates? Do you mean that Jupiter is strong if its in a house ruled by Saturn even in a nocturnal chart, or do you mean that in-sect planets are strong if ruled by other in-sect planets, and out-of-sect planets are just out of luck overall?

patrickd wrote:Thanks, Konrad. That helps a bit. It's a nocturnal chart, and Mars is in the first house, which does help explain a few things (esp. since it's lord of the 9th and 4th houses, major concerns for the native, and also the locations of daimon and tykhe). Venus is under the beams, so not much help there, but Mercury is in sect and in a succedent house.

What do you mean by in the house of sect-mates? Do you mean that Jupiter is strong if its in a house ruled by Saturn even in a nocturnal chart, or do you mean that in-sect planets are strong if ruled by other in-sect planets, and out-of-sect planets are just out of luck overall?

Yes, exactly. A planet in the sign of one of its sect-mates. I wouldn't say it is strong, but that it is able to produce more things in line with its nature as it is not in a completely alien place. It is much better if it is in one of its own places. Benefics will be benefics though, so even one out-of-sect will produce benefic things it is just they won't last or will come with some harm to the native. A good example would be Venus in the day making the native attractive but also a glutton for sex and pleasure. Same principle for malefics.