Christian Astrology Outline – Second House Questions.

Christian Astrology Outline – Second House Questions.
Christian Astrology (1647) by William Lilly – Outlined by Rhys Chatham (2024).

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This outline (c) 2024 Rhys Chatham.

Chapter 27 Judgments Concerning the Second House.

Whether the querent shall be rich or have a competent fortune?

Page 167 – Whether the querent shall be rich or have a competent fortune? By what means shall he attain it? The time when? Etc. and if it shall continue?

General rules:

• The querent is signified by the Ascendant, its Lord, and the Moon.
• Consider (a) Sign of Second House cusp and its Lord, (b) any planets in that house, and (c) planets aspecting L2 or H2 cusp.
• Consider the Part of Fortune (POF), its sign and placement, and any planets aspecting to it. (see page 145 of POF fortitudes and debilities).

POF Lilly would have calculated the POF the same way for both day and night charts as this was the way Ptolemy did it.

• If the planets are all angular, it is “one sign of substance”, if they are joined together by conjunction.
• If they are in succedent houses, direct and swift in motion, this is a good sign.
• If the planets are in good houses and moderately dignified if is a hopeful argument.

Page 168:

The querent will not fear poverty, will be competently rich, or have enough to subsist on if:

1. IF L1 or the Moon is conjunct L2,
2. Or if L1 and the Moon both have friendly aspects to L2,
3. Or if Jupiter and Venus both are in trine, sextile, or conjunct the POF,
4. Or if L2 be emplaced in the Ascendant (first house),
5. Or if the Moon or L1 is emplaced in the second house,
6. Or if any planet transfer Light from L2 to L1,
7. Or if any benevolent planets are in sextile or trine with the cusp of the Ascendant or the POF,
8. If any fixed star of the nature of Jupiter and Venus touch the cusp of H2,
9. Or if the POF be conjunct any such fixed star.
10. Or if Jupiter, Venus, or the Moon’s north node be in H2 with no misfortune casting rays upon it,
11. Or if all the planets (significators) are above average speed in motion.

Lilly goes on to say that we should take into consideration the station of the querent when taking the above into consideration, i.e. to use common sense when making the judgement.

By what means attain it:

• If L2 is in the second house, by the querent’s own labor and industry.
• If L2 is in the first house, it will come unexpectedly, or it will come easily.
• If L2 and the Moon have a good aspect, check from what house the aspect is, or what house the Moon is Lady of, if neither of these “provide substance” see what house the POF is in and what house the POF’s Lord is in.
• If the planet promising wealth is the L1, then the querent himself by his own diligence will advance his fortune.
• But if the planet is L2, wealth will come through management “of his own stock” and well managing his private fortune. He will buy and sell things that naturally fall his way or that are indicated by the planet in question.
• If L3 is fortunate in the second house, or cusp of the second, or the POF, he will get his “Estate” by third house means: from a neighbor, kindred, by some short journey, or by moving to the quarter of heaven from where the L3 planets casts their ray, or if L3 is bodily joined by conjunction to the significator of “substance” (subsistence).
• If the fortunate planet is L4, or if it is placed in the fourth, the querent will attain wealth by fourth house means: father, grandparents, purchase of farms or residences, managing the stock of his ancestors, inheritance (overlaps with H8), money from kindred (overlaps with H3).
• If L5 promises wealth, then it is by fifth house topics varying depending on status: through games, sports, embassage, through selling spirits, having a tavern, a bowling alley, etc.
• If L6 promises wealth, or the planet is in the sixth and the sign of the sixth is Human, then the querent may expect good servants and profit from them, if it is a king who is the querent, then his subjects provide profit.  If a landlord, then by letting leases, if from a wealthy family, it will be through their fund managers.  Lilly goes on to list various professions (farmers, scholars, noblemen) it is common sense really.
• If L7 makes fortunate L2, or the H2 cusp, or the POF, or a planet positioned in H2, then fortune comes through the wife or partner. It could also be from a court, by the sword or a war.
• If L8, then it will be through a legacy, or from his wife’s fortune, or of his own volition he goes to another country and there finds riches unexpectedly (H8 is the fourth turned house from the radical fourth house).
• If L9 makes fortunate the POF or L2 or second house cusp, then riches by voyage to sea; if Cancer or Pisces on the cusp of H9, and the Lord of the same sign is in H9, this also means riches by voyage to sea. HP is third turned house of wife, so increase of income from wife’s siblings, or from a neighbor near the place where the querent married the partner. Other H9 possibilities: some religious person or minister befriends the querent resulting in increase of revenue.
• If an Earth sign is on the H9 cusp, and the Lord of that sign is in the house, he might thrive in whatever geographical location the chart indicates by sign and quarter.
• If L2 is fortunate in H10, or if L10 and L2 are in reception, or if L10 beholds L2 or the cusp of H2 or a planet therein, or the POF is in any benevolent configuration, the querent will have a fortune by entering into the service of a king or person in a high position; Lilly goes on to list varying possibilities of people in different stages of life, but essentially the person gains fortune through their career.
• If L11 is fortunated through any of the usual means, then wealth comes through friends or patrons of some kind.
• If L 12 is fortunated, then fortune through cattle, if the sign be human, then prisons or something of the like, Lilly tells us to use common sense here.

Pg. 172:

The most assured testimony that a querent be rich, Lilly tells us, is this:

• L1, L2, and Jupiter joined in H2, or the first, tenth, seventh, fourth or eleventh house.
• If they aren’t joined by conjunct, they must apply by sextile or trine with mutual reception.
• If by square or opposition with mutual reception, they will have an estate and thrive, but with many problems and much labor, but they will never be in want.

Cause of why the querent will NOT obtain wealth.

Pg. 172: Of the reason, or from whence it proceeds, or what is the Cause, why the QUERENT shall NOT attain Wealth.

If it happens that the horary shows no signs of wealth an the querent wants to know why:

Carefully observe the planet who most obstructs or afflicts (a) the Lord of the Second, (b) or the Lord/dispositor of POF, (c) or the Cusp of the Second house, (d) or the Moon, (e) Dispositor of the POF.

• If the L1 Lord is that planet, then the querent himself is the cause.
• If the L2 Lord is in square or opposition to the POF, or the cusp of the second, then want of money or want of a sufficient stock to set himself in employment is the cause. 
• If the L3 lord, then siblings or malicious neighbors will be the cause.
• And so on through the twelve houses.

Lilly gives a general caution:

• If the L2 or POF dispositor are unfortunate (i.e. malifics), yet they have essential dignity or aspects to good planets, or are in good houses, they may be signifiers of substance.
• Also, an afflicted Jupiter or Venus may be obstructing planets even though they are benefics.
• Keep in mind that wherever you find the south node (Cauda Draconis), it promotes detriment and impediment in the things signified by that house, thusly:
• In the second: by the querent’s own fault or laziness or negligence.
• In the third: hindrance by evil, beggarly, peevish kindred.
• Etcetera through all the houses.

Will I get the money/goods from the person from whom I intend to demand it?

p. 173 If the querent shall obtain the substance he demands, or hath lent, or the goods he hath pawned.

This is for when the querent wants to know if he shall obtain money from the person of whom he demands it or borrows from.

• Lord of the Ascendant and the Moon are the signifiers of the querent. And the L2 lord of his substance.
• The seventh house and its lord signify the one of whom he intends to demand or borrow money.

See if the L1 lord or Moon is joined to L8.

• Or if L1/Moon is joined or aspects a planet in H8. If the planet is a fortune or if the aspect itself is fortunate, the querent gets the money, or if asking for a loan, the money will be lent, if something was pawned, it will be restored. Reception is not necessary.
• If the L8 lord is unfortunate and L8 receives the ascendant or Moon Lord, the querent will receive the substance, but will not if no reception is present. Or with so much difficulty the querent will wish he had never asked.
• p. 174 – If L8 is in the first or second house and L8 is received by L1 or L2, then probably the querent will get what he wishes, but only if reception is present. If no reception is present, it is an argument that his demand will be denied.
• If L1 or the Moon is joined to a fortune that has dignity in the ascending sign or any sign intercepted in the H1, the matter will be affected.
• If L1 or the Moon be joined to an Infortune that has dignity in any of the signs of the first house and the infortune receives L1 or the Moon, the business will come to pass.
• If L1 or the Moon is joined to a fortunate planet placed in H10 or H11, the matter will be perfected, even with no reception.
• Lilly finishes by saying that these judgements will always hold true, except for kings and royalty, who pay slowly and on whom the law takes little notice.

Gaining profit from a king, any great person or authority.

Pg 174, next topic:  If one shall acquire that gain or profit, wages or stipend from a king or nobleman, general or commonwealth LT. General or any great person which he expects.

• This formula will work for any situation where the querent is placed in a less powerful position than that of the quesited.
• Ascendant and L1 and Moon signify the querent; the tenth house and L10 signify the quesited or person sought after. The second house goes with the querent, the eleventh house “estate, money or substance” of the quesited.
• If L1 or the Moon is joined to L11, or joined to any eleventh house planet that is benefic and not in any way impedited or ill disposed, then the substance (wealth/money) shall be obtained from the great person.
• If the Moon and L1 be joined to an unfortunate planet and is received into one of his essential dignities, the querent obtains substance but only after much effort and pain. Without reception, the querent will receive nothing.
• Lilly counsels to look very carefully at the essential dignities and mutual receptions, and by which mutual dignities the planets receive each other, when analyzing the chart.

Timing for the events listed above.

Pg 175 – next topic: Of the time when the aforesaid accidents treated in this chapter may happen:

Basically, this next section concerns timing issues:

Pg 175:

• Look at what planet either L1 or the Moon applies or is joined to (that signifies the quesited).
• It doesn’t matter if the planet is a fortune or if there is reception or if it is perfecting to sextile, trine, or conjunct.
• See how many degrees to perfection, and it will be that many units of time.
• If both (L1 & Moon) are in cadent houses, count days.
• If both are in succedent houses, count weeks.
• If both are in angles, months.

Lilly goes on to say one has to use common sense and context.

• If one planet is in an angle, and the other succedent, it could be months.
• If one succedent and the other cadent, weeks.
• If one in an angle and the other cadent, months.

Lilly says that the ancients say:

• If the planet that signifies perfection is in the sign of the Lord of the Ascendant, the matter is brought to a conclusion when the planet and L1 perfect.
• This is true when L1 is the more ponderous planet, whether or not there is reception.
• If L1 is the lighter planet, there must be reception for the matter to be concluded.

Pg 176: If L1 is the lighter planet and there is no reception, the mater will not come to pass UNLESS:

• The two significators are in an angle when they perfect,
• Or in one of his/her own houses.

In the final paragraph of the section Lilly says:

• If in the first house (in the Ascendant) there be a fortune, the Moon of the thing quesited, the number of degrees between the cusp and the Ascendant can denote the units of time, according to the sign, the nature of the business, etc.

Pg. 177: A Tradesman of this City in the year 1634 propounded these several Demands unto me: Because I have seen the experience of my Judgment, and his Queries were pertinent for Resolutions of the Demands of this second House; I have inserted his several Queries, with the Reasons in Art of my so judging them. His Queries were;

1. If he should be rich, or subsist of himself without Marriage ?
2. By what means he should attain wealth ?
3. The time when ?
4. If it would continue ?

Here is the chart: (pg. 177)

^{Image from Christian Astrology, annotated by Deborah Houlding, pg 84 (used with permission)}

 Chapter 28: Will the querent be Rich or Poor?

If the Querent shall be Rich or Poor?

Lilly starts off saying we should look at the motion (speed) of the planets.

• Then look at the dignities and debilities.
• Lilly does a mathematical analysis of this on pp 178-179.
• On page 180, he gives the overall situation:

Note that in the above Saturn is minus 8 and the POF is minus 2!

^{Image from Christian Astrology, annotated by Deborah Houlding, pg 86 (used with permission)}

Pg 181:

Lilly asks us to carefully consider each planet’s fortitudes and debilities. He has given us a table with numerical values on pp 179-180 to enable us to do this.  We make our calculations and judge accordingly.

• Lilly found that most of the planets (especially the fortunate) were swift and well positioned.
• Venus was near Regulus.
• Moon was waxing.
• Jupiter almost culminating
• Even though Mars is in detriment, it was considered “strong” (c.f. pg. 179) due to being in the ascendant, swift, free of combustion and conjunct with Spica.
• L2 is Lord of POF and in a fixed sign, Moon transferring by sextile light from L2 (Mars) immediately to Mercury and then to L1 ( Venus). We note that Lilly considers the light transferred to Venus even though Mercury is first contacted.

With these general indications Lilly judges that the querent would do well, “according to his standing”.

Will the Querent be Rich or Not?

Pg. 181 para 3:

Should he be rich or not?

• L2 deposited in eastern angle.
• L2 is Lord of the POF.
• L2 is near Spica in 18 Libra.
• L1 (Venus) is near Regulus (Cor Leonis).
• The Moon is waxing.
• Jupiter is culminating.
• Jupiter (significator of wealth) exalted & angular, casts a sinister square to Ascendant.
• Lilly reminds us that a square in signs of long ascension are like a trine.
• Moon transferring by sextile light from L2 (Mars) immediately to Mercury and then to L1 (Venus).
• Moon disposed by the Sun who is strong in Leo and in H10.
• POF is in a fixed sign and thus stable in the term/bound of Mars.

Lilly’s judgement: The querent would acquire estate and fortune in the world, but because L2 was a misfortune, it would come through “labor and care”. Because Mars is also L7, wealth would come from his wife, so Lilly advised the querent to marry.

The Means by which the Querent will become Rich.

Pg 182: By what means he shall obtain riches:

• Consider the planet or objects promising wealth, in this case Mars and POF.
• No planet in H2, L2 is in H1, so estate will come through native’s own efforts.
• Because Mars is an infortune, this lessens the ease of achieving fortune, but Mars rules H7 and Venus is in good shape at the cusp of H11, and Venus rules H8, so money will come from his wife.
• Lilly considers that the Moon is the Lady of H10.

Lilly advised his client to apply himself to his trade, and that he would profit from it.  Lilly later found out that the querent had good fortune with his wife (both money and land) and trading had been very good.  Lilly says Jupiter in the tenth always shows good trading and that the querent does well in his profession.

Timing for the above.

P 183. The time when…

All significators are either in the ascendant or in the oriental quarter and swift in motion, indicating that Substance arrives in a short period of time.

• Mars being Lord of second house and the POF indicates the same thing.
• Distance from ascendant to Mars being 2 degrees signifies 2 years.

Querent got married two years after the question was asked.

Lilly speaks of Mars being peregrine and wonders how any good can come of this.  In fact, the querent’s situation wasn’t all the great, evidently, until about six months after the marriage.

The Moon perfects to Venus (significator of the wife) after six degrees.  Accordingly, Lilly predicted that after six years of asking the question, he would be doing very well indeed by means of his wife, as well as having many friends who would help him, because Venus was on the 11^th house cusp.

Lilly advises us to always consider the nature of the house the significators are applying to.

Concerning Planets Blocking the Demands of the Querent.

p.184 – Of the Planet or Planets impediting the effecting or performance
of what is demanded in every Question.

Lilly begins by saying it is important to identify the planet that hinders the matter under consideration because he destroys or perverts the nature of the question when otherwise it would come to a good conclusion.

Para. 1: We receive judgement on the question from:

• The planet who is joined to L1, or,
• The significator of the thing quesited, whether it be the Moon or not.

Para. 2: To find if any planets are impeding or destroying the quesited, consider:

• The planet to whom the querent is joined, or,
• The significator of the quesited, or
• The Moon.

See how the planet is disposed and to whom it is joined.

It signifies destruction of the thing quesited if:

• The significator of the querent or “the thing required” is ill-disposed and joined to a bad planet without reception,
• Or the Moon is ill-disposed and joined to an evil planet without reception,
•  Or if the significator or Moon not be ill-disposed, but joined to an ill disposed Infortune with no reception.

Para. 3: Lilly defines what an ill-disposed planet is:

• Retrograde
• Combust
• Cadent from ASC or from house of question.
• In aversion to the ASC or house of thing demanded.
• In fall or detriment.

If in aversion, it helps if the planet at least is in a Ptolemaic aspect to the Lord of the house, but it is better to be in aspect with the house itself.

Any planet in his or her fall or detriment may be called a destroyer or obstructer, or impeding planet.

Pg. 185 – Para. 4:

If significator for querent or quesited or Moon or planet to whom she is joined be joined to an unfortunate planet (i.e. retrograde, combust, cadent):

• If there is reception it signifies perfection to the matter, but with weariness and a lot of bother.
• If there is no reception, the matter will come to nothing, but it will have looked hopeful at the start.

Para. 5:  If the planet who received the planet of the querent, the Moon or the quesited, or the planet who receives any of them is free from misfortunes, neither receiving nor received, it perfects to the matter with ease.

Para. 6 If the significators (Lord of querent, Moon or quesited Lord) is free from infortunes and is joined to a benevolent planet who is in aspect to a malevolent, and the malevolent planet does not receive but impedes this benevolent planet, the matter will not come to perfection.

Para 7.

• If the planets mentioned just above have reception, then the thing will come to pass, though with trouble.
• If any planet cuts off light of any of the significators before perfecting to an evil planet, this doesn’t hinder things, it takes off the malevolence of the evil planet.  This is only if there is a transfer of light, if there is no transference, then the matter is prohibited.

Para 8:

• If reception happens in the context of an opposition or square, the reception profits nothing, esp. if it is prohibited.
• If reception happens with a sextile or trine, the matter will be affected.
• If the aspects are applying and the significator is a fortune, square, opposition sextile trine, all of these will be perfected.

Page 186: Para 9:

If a planet is translating light from one significator to the next, and the planet who is receiving the light is an infortune and impedited (hindered/obstructed), the matter is destroyed unless the infortune is received.

Para 10:

If perfection is brought about by collection of light, i.e. the significators connecting not to each other but to a weightier planet, if the more weighty planet is “infortune or unfortunate”, this destroyed the matter unless there is mutual reception. With simple reception, the matter is still destroyed.

Para 11:

• If L1 be in the house of the thing desired, or going conjunct to his lord, this indicates the querent is moving towards the thing desired.
• If the significator of the thing demanded is in the Ascendant, or applying to L1, it means the thing demanded will come to the querent, receptions or not, assuming all is well with the Moon and other aspects.

If the Querent Will  Continue to be Rich.

Pg 186-187: If the querent should continue rich.

Lilly judges the querent will have a stable income based on H2 being in a fixed sign with the POF on its cusp.  Jupiter exalted and angular, Venus depositing  Mars, and the Moon in Leo, a fixed and stable sign.

Talks about the antiscion not helping since none of them fell on any degrees of the chart, and the contrantiscion of Saturn in H3 falling near the degree of Jupiter indicating no great help from siblings: Saturn in H3 and Jupiter ruling H3.

Pg 187:  Lilly advised querent to stay away from solar men (kings, people in authority, nobles, etc.) due to contrantiscion falling on Jupiter and Sun L11 squaring with H2 POF.

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