ASTROLOGIA MUNDA - Classical Astrologer Weblog

Book IV – Astrologia Munda
Section III – Chapter II
Chapter II
Of the significations of the planets, Dragons Head and Tail, as also Blazing-Stars,
when they are (in any Revolution) exalted one above the other. 1
Unless I here remove a seeming obstruction or stumbling block, perhaps some
mistakes or errors might arise much to the damage and puzzling of the younger
student; which is this, in the foregoing chapter you have heard the significations
of the planets, especially the superiors, when in any Revolution they are in the
point of their proper exaltations. In this Chapter when we speak of their being
exalted one above the other, we mean as to their places in the heavens at the
time of the Sun his ingress into Aries; for he or she that is nearest to the cusp of
the midheaven or tenth house, is the planet most elevated or exalted, and shall
have signification as follows. Yet note that it is not meant barely by the position
of one above the other at that time, but when any two are in conjunction 2 or
other configuration and elevated the one above the other at that time, then I say
shall their significations be as is here expressed. 3
Contrary to the ancients who begin this matter with Venus, I shall as all along I
have done, begin with Saturn so give you their significations still in order as
they are placed in the heavens; as Saturn being in conjunction, square or
opposition with any planet, the Dragon’s Head, and Tail, or Blazing-Star, and
exalted above them, we shall begin thus: Saturn exalted above Jupiter, and then
above Mars, and afterwards above the Sun and so forwards and not as the
ancients have done who set down his significations as he is exalted above the
Moon first, then above Jupiter, then Mars, then the Dragons Head, Dragons
Tail, Blazing-Star, and lastly Venus; omitting his significations when in any
configuration of Mercury or the Sun, and exalted above them; which defect as
1 For my discussion of this chapter, please see Appendix I.
2 If two planets are conjunct, then it is not possible for one to be exalted above the other in the
manner Ramesey is describing! The only way it is possible is that one planet is transiting above
another and that teaching is something quite different than what Ramesey is describing which further
makes me wonder if Ramsey (or his source) is not here mixing up this particular teaching with
perhaps another! The conditions Ramesey describes were most certainly considerations to the
ancients, but these delineations seem to be mixed with what Abu Ma’shār describes when examining
transits!
3 This teaching is further clarified by Al Biruni in his treatise “On Transits” (cf. A Study of an Arabic
Treatise entitled Al Biruni on Transits, by Abū al-Rayhān, Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Bīrūnī (d.1048) –
translated by Mohammad Saffouri & Adnan Ifram with a commentary by E.S. Kennedy). Please see
Appendix I at the end of this text.
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