Title:
Delphic Oracle
Author:
Curtis Manwaring
Tech Email:
Version:
5.0.1.2
Last Updated:
Jun 23, 2009
File Size:
3.3 MB
Download Time:
10 - 15 minutes at 28.8 kbps
Download Sites:
Windows Vista/Xp/2000:
Requirements:
Vista/Xp/2000, 256 MB RAM, 50+ MB HD
License:
Demo - 30 day trial evaluation
This software is based upon Robert Schmidt's reconstruction of the "System of Hermes" and is designed to meet the needs of astrologers who wish to use the ancient techniques of Hellenistic astrology to investigate birth charts. Version 5 is nearly a complete redesign of version 4. The ChartDesigner now uses value list editors to edit different wheel types that have the capability to show up to 4 charts at the same time (quad-wheel). These are fully customizable and there are settings for wheel types, colors, user defined glyphs and visibility. Since there are many settings for each of these areas, each setting group has the capability to be saved as a theme on the themes tab. Wheel themes, color themes, visibility themes and glyph themes have already been defined for the average user, and trying each of these out only requires a double click on the theme and a re-draw of the chart.
Version 5 makes heavy use of docking to streamline the interface. Gone are all of the floating windows that take up space on the task bar. There is only 1 space on the taskbar taken up by an instance of Delphic Oracle and multiple instances can be run side by side. Other windows within the program are either dialogs that do not dock or dock on the right by default. Splitters handle the layout and retain their spacing through different sessions. There is a group bar on the left with all program functions that slides in and out by clicking on the splitter control.
The chart database has been set up to save multiple charts in user defined files. These files can be searched individually or globally for saved charts and you can define chart groups such as "horary" or "electional", etc. Also the database can be sorted by date, name, etc. The chart inputs for accuracy rating on the time and a note field have been added to each chart that you save.
There is no setup window that is separate from the chart viewer. The viewer is in the center of the main window and is tabbed to display different views of the same chart (square view, circular, etc). These views will be expanded in the future to include a planetarium, circular time lord graph, etc... For now I'm finishing up the print routines and will finish what I started in implementing Schmidt's reconstruction of the Antiochus Definitions.
Preliminary Natal Analysis (PNA)
- The PNA Report gives a thorough accounting of the planets ability/fitness, energy and completion stages all from 3 points of view: local horizon, planetary and zodiacal. This is a completely unique way of looking at the details.
- The PNA Wizard is there to explain the report in detail and gives the meanings behind the dignities, sect status, phasis conditions (heliacal phenomena), lunar application, house status (topical, dynamical and fortune), and various joy conditions such as the winds relative to the exaltation degree, etc... In both formats, you select a planet to investigate one at a time so that you get an in-depth perspective of whatever planet you are interested in.
- Acrobat file generation and printing of the PNA report is included.
Universal Hermetics
- The Universal Hermetics Report gives an outline of the life as a whole and includes 3 wizards. The Nautical Metaphor wizard, the Kurios wizard and the Predomination wizard. There are sections on the state of the trigon lords, what is known as "the grand logos", and the rulers of the nativity known as the kurios and oikodespotes which are like the ships captain and political officer.
- The Predomination wizard aids in finding the predominator according to hellenistic astrological methods which is either the Sun, Moon or Ascendant. There are options (F3) on the Predomination Tab for finding the domicile master (oikodespotes) and cooperating domicile master according to Antiochus / Porphyry or Rhetorius. In medieval astrology, these are known as the hyleg and alchochoden.
- The Kurios wizard aids in finding the "top nautical officer". While the predominator defines the "Political Officer" (Oikodespotes), the Kurios wizard walks through the officers list to find the "Captain". The relationships that these planets have define the general course of the native's life. The Wizard shows each of the planets claims to the kurios position and directs you through the rules of selection. Schmidt says that Porphyry describes this as the most difficult thing of all. I hope this wizard helps you to more thoroughly objectify the choices.
- The Nautical Metaphor wizard walks you through the ideas in the universal hermetics to give you an overall view of the journey the native is likely to take through life.
- Acrobat file generation and printing of the universal hermetics report is included.
Topical Approach
- The Complete Hellenistic Lot list is included with information on location in the zodiac, the topic it specifies, the hellenistic author who used it, the formula(s) for calculation and a short description.
Time Lord Methods (the western equivalent of the Hindu dasas)
- Circumambulation through the bounds / confines according to Ptolemy and Dorotheus. This is the first program to have this method available (along with most of the rest of this list). It is similar to primary directions, but the ancients used these ascensional times as a way of defining the general periods of life.
- Method of Decennials according to Valens and Hephastio. Another general time lord method. Schmidt says this is used when the Sun is judged to be more chrematistikos (busy or telling) in the universal hermetics.
- Quarters of the Moon method according to Valens. This is the analog of the Decennials, but Schmidt says that it is used when the Moon is more chrematistikos in the birth chart.
- The 129 year system of the Egyptians. Another general time lord procedure. Schmidt thinks this might be an idealized version of the Balbillus procedure (see below). We are not sure when this is supposed to be used, but the ancient texts clearly describe the method.
- Exaltation period reduction method of Balbillus. This method proportionally reduces the length of the circular period according to how far a planet is from it's exaltation degree; such that if a planet is in the degree of its fall, then the period is 1/2 of its circular period. This is another general time lord method.
- Annual, monthly and daily profections according to Valens and others. As in medieval astrology, hellenistic astrologers used profections, but instead of thinking of them as planets that moved through the signs, the profections here are sections of time that belong to a given zoidion. This is a topical method and allows selection of most points in the birth chart. (Topical methods focus on a given area of life such as marriage, children, career, etc... whereas general methods look at the life as a whole.)
- Lunar Monomoiria method of Critodemus. This is probably a topical method used when the Moon is chrematistikos. This is based upon what degree the Moon is in at birth and each successive degree is given a specified number of years.
- Zodiacal Aphesis from Fortune, Spirit (or user defined). This is a topical method that looks at matters pertaining to health and well being, and to actualizations of the soul and reputation and was used by Vettius Valens. It is a highly potent method and a good one for beginners to start with.
- Nine Years of the Moon. Valens gives 9 years per sign starting from the sign that the Moon is in but apportions the first period as being less than 9 years according to how far the Moon is along in its sign.
- Yearly, Monthly and Daily Circular Period division. Similar to the circumambulation method, but apportions years, months or days for each degree according to the circular period of the planet.
- Annual Divisions. Divides up the year among the 7 planets according to their birth order and circular period. Used in solar returns.
The Basics
- Easy birth chart setup with Asc & MC calculated before display, with 12 house systems and 22 zodiacs (tropical and sidereal) to choose from.
- Swiss Ephemeris level accuracy. Delphic Oracle uses the Swiss Ephemeris which is one of the most accurate planetary calculation engines in existence and has a range of 10,110 years (can calculate birth charts between Jan 1, 4713 BCE - Dec 31, 5,399 CE).
- Programmed access to the ACS Atlas with over 250,000 locations & time zones. Users of Delphic Oracle can get a substantial discount on the ACS Atlas (saving $125.00 currently). Contact Bill Purchase for more information.
- Multiple chartwheel styles such as circular with bounds, square chart, etc... This version has a new chart viewer window that gives a graphical display of the planets positions in the zodiac signs and houses. There are a series of buttons to help you analyze the chart in more depth and easy access to change chart displays between uni-wheel, bi-wheel and square chart format. The chart viewer window can be as large or as small as you want it to be without distortion. Positions for over 30 objects optionally displayed in chartwheels.
- Chart Designer with user defined themes to manage display settings. <F2> will bring you to the chart designer window where you can set glyph colors, sizes and visibility for the various types of display. All windows are customizable to suit your display habits, maintaining a memory of size and position on the screen. Switching between displays is as simple as pressing <F2>, clicking on a theme, then clicking Apply or Save.
- Hi-resolution printing of chartwheels and reports. There is a new hi-resolution printing standard that uses the Rave reporting engine. Includes 2 types of print preview.
- Adobe Acrobat file generation. Delphic Oracle creates Adobe Acrobat files of chart display and data. Here is a sample pdf file to give you an idea of the type of document Delphic Oracle generates (I had to shrink it so the quality is not as good as the real thing, but be warned: it is still 864 Kb).
- Animation of charts forward and backward in time with time lord support. The time lords window has a new transit animation feature that shows planet positions at the start of a new period. A popup window allows automatic adjustment using the built in timer that you can set for various time increments foreward or backward in time.
- HTML web publishing tool. One of the most exciting new features is a new html web publishing tool designed for astrologers posting case studies to the web. Once you modify the html template to suit the design of your site, an html report containing the birth chart graphic (as a Gif file) and data generated by Delphic Oracle is available in a single click! You can of course use the default template already provided and just copy the report contents over to your site template. Either way, this tool will save the publishing astrologer hours of web programming as all that remains is your comments about the chart.
- Return charts for the Sun through Pluto. There is also an ability to cast charts for the 3rd, 7th and 40th days of the Moon according to hellenistic tradition. Now also includes the hellenistic style of Solar Returns with the option to use the transiting lord of the year as the ascendant degree.
- Delineations of birth chart factors such as planet in sign and house. Each planet and sign is clickable and will show a delineation window for each point's meaning and what to look for in the chart to judge a planet's testimony in the cosmic courtroom.
- Interactive Graphic Ephemeris with heliacal phenomena and time lord support. This feature is unique to Delphic Oracle. Sure other programs have graphic ephemerides, but you can't click on the graph and get planet positions and currently active time lords for the location of the click! The mouse provides information of the date and degree location in the status bar. Also completely unique is the ability to see heliacal phenomena in the graph. Just as in hellenistic tradition, the line disappears and reappears (under the screen dots) when it makes a phasis! This feature can be toggled.
- Reports for the lots, planetary speed, ascensional times, eminence, etc. The basics. The good astrology programs have them, but his one covers hellenistic methods.
- Birth chart rectification. Delphic Oracle has the ability to rectify birth charts after they are cast and can be saved from the chart viewer window.
- Online help files. Delphic Oracle comes with help files for practically every situation you will find yourself in while using it. Just press the <F1> key.
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