thanks deb. in thinking about this more, it seems that you or the article imply the condition of saturn is how it all hinges, but that is not how it is generally painted in the example from choices and inceptions that i was reading. bonatti is fairly clear on it representing kings for example, but perhaps that is mostly due the fact i was getting this from his mundane astrology section. i can understand if it has to do with the 'condition' of saturn. the same would go for the condition of any planet in that regard - expressing itself in a positive or negative light.

I went to find 'Choices' to see what you mean, but I can't find the book at the moment, so it's hard for me to know how the principle might be different to what I've suggested. The idea that planets shift in signification according to whether they are fortunate or unfortunate is a fairly consistent part of the tradition - for example, they are very evident in the significations listed by Alcabitius, but not every author makes a point of explaining this; and those that do don't bother to explain it at all times.