Planetary Conjunctions and Medieval Astrology
towards these phenomena, for which planetary conjunctions have a preponderant importance in determining the events of the kingdom. Conjunction of all the superior planets Messahallah said: Know that from the conjunction of the superior planets great and wondrous events follow, and this occurs by virtue of the slowness of their motion. When the three planets are conjoined in the same bound or in the same face, [14] and the Sun observes them, they signify the annihilation of political regimes and kingdoms and their mutations and greatest events, [15] according to the quantity of force of whoever among them wins and predominates over the signs. This is the maximum conjunction of the superior planets and has significance over prophecy, over the destruction of some regions and over the greatest events, especially if one of the inferior planets cooperates with them. Greater Conjunction However, there are diverse conjunctions of the superior planets that have significance over the most important happenings. The conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter is the maximum conjunction and has significance both over great events and over regimes. Through it one has knowledge of events by observing the ascendant and the planets in the hour of the conjunction and considering which of them has dominion over the figure. If the dominator is benevolent it signifies benefits and a condition of progress, if it is malevolent, losses, drought, sterility of the earth, wars. Know that when Jupiter is stronger than Saturn, it will indicate good in that conjunction, but if Saturn prevails, it will signify wars and travails. And their conjunction in signs of fire and air signifies dryness and sterility of the earth, high prices of commodities; in earth signs, the destruction of seeds and famine; in water signs, excess of rains and pestilences. He finally adds a reference that also makes us understand why this conjunction was so esteemed by the Arabs. These things, nonetheless, on condition that they are impeded, but if they were turned to good, they indicate every increase and profit in all their significations and the diminution of evils. Know furthermore that when the greater conjunction is in some angle, especially at the midheaven, it signifies the appearance of a king or a prophet in the part connected to that same sign. It is precisely with a Jupiter-Saturn conjunction that one presents oneself in Arabia. Medium Conjunction (Mars-Saturn) Messahallah said: The medium conjunction is that of Mars and Saturn, which has significance over wars and disputes. And if you want to know these events, consider the dominant planet in the figure of their conjunction: if it is benevolent, it indicates benefits and condition of progress, if it is malevolent it indicates damages and obstacles. Know furthermore that their conjunction in human signs signifies great abundance of diseases in men and their conjunction in some angle [of the revolution] of the year signifies the opposition of the rich and kings and many wars and these conditions will endure until [the planets] conjoin a second time. Minor Conjunction (Jupiter-Mars) How the most important one is structured, which is that of Jupiter-Saturn, the triplicities, the change of triplicity Theme of the Prophet Muhammad and his Vocation Jupiter-Saturn have great influence on spirituality. Abu Masar himself notes the horoscope of Christ in the Introductorium "And there rises in his first face a maiden [...] and she is a beautiful virgin, full of dignity and grace, with long hair, pleasant to see, with two ears of grain in her hand; she sits on a covered seat and nourishes a child giving him to drink in the place called Abril. A people call that child Jesus, which in Arabic sounds Eice." Theme of the Birth of Jesus and the star of Bethlehem The three Magi go to Herod and tell him they have seen that the Son of God will be born there. Part II The Middle Ages and Free Will Chapter 9 AN OVERVIEW: Astrology and Free Will One of the most controversial arguments and which, ultimately, has represented the engine of all historical transformations of astrology is represented by the apparent irreconcilability between Astrology and Free Will. Astrology, like all divinatory disciplines, in fact poses a natural question regarding the freedom of the individual in constructing their own future. Is not the prediction of the future itself proof that a preordained plan independent of individual will exists? Yet subjective consciousness does not perceive sensible constraints to its own will. Nonetheless, almost like an actor in a Greek tragedy, one ends up accomplishing what had been prophesied. How then to reconcile destiny and individual freedom? These questions, typical of every divinatory discipline, in the case of Astrology, the noblest of the divinatory arts, assume special relevance. In particular we can note that at the root of every astrological epistemological revolution resides a reworking or a reproposition of the problem relative to free will. A splendid example of this phenomenon we can find by referring precisely to the passage from Medieval to Renaissance Astrology. If in antiquity astrology was a hieratic science belonging to few priests and sages capable of overcoming without problems the apparent doctrinal antinomies of this discipline, with the diffusion and divulgation that occurred in the first centuries after Christ, the conflictual problem between destiny and individual freedom became increasingly evident and increasingly pressing. Certainly various elements contributed to catalyze this natural process. First, a role not to be underestimated must be attributed to the astrological technique of the era, well distinct from the current one. Before the special attention toward the psychological dimension of the horoscope subject implemented by Cardano in the XVI century, the contrast between free will and astrological predestination was in astrological practice certainly more acute. Before this psychological turn, in fact, most of the astrological technique was almost exclusively aimed at determining specific future events, thus highlighting the contrast between the predestination of events and the freedom of individual initiative and choice. To further promote awareness of the problem certainly contributed the attention toward the individual operated by nascent Christianity. Christianity...