© 2000 David Stricker
In the past, I have laid out the considerations that Valens addressed in his
chart examples in Book II concerning eminence. I thought it would be
interesting to look at them with regard to the presidential candidates.
Obviously being one of the party's candidates already indicates a fair
degree of eminence. I would like to say at the outset that I do not have a
preference for any candidate for President and I am not trying to present a
case for or against anyone. I am only trying to layout some of the methods
of Vettius Valens.
As a quick review, the considerations are as follows (in no particular
ranking):
- Find the triplicity rulers of the Sun in a day chart and the Moon in
a night chart. Look at the triplicity rulers and their domicile rulers for:
a) placement in one of the chrematistikoi houses (1, 10, 5, 11, 4, 7) [that would be whole sign houses]
b) dignities
c) sect
- Find Lot of Fortune and the condition of its domicile ruler.
- Any planets in the angles from the Lot of Fortune
- Find Lot of Exaltation and the condition of its domicile ruler.
- Lot of Spirit and the condition of its domicile ruler.
- Is the domicile ruler of Lot of Spirit in 10th from Fortune or conjunct Fortune?
- Is the Lord of Spirit in its domicile or in 1, 4, 7 or 10?
- The Acquisitive place: What house is in it? What is the condition of
its domicile ruler?
It is important to understand this is NOT a matter of adding up and seeing
who has more of the factors. Each consideration is bringing up different
kinds of issues that may contribute to eminence. I also think it would be a
mistake to use the number of indicators as a way of determining who might
win the election. I believe they can be helpful and I will explain later.
Al Gore is a day birth and the triplicity lords of his Sun in Aries are Sun,
Jupiter and Saturn. The placement of all three of these by house position
are prospering and functional. Even though his Sun is in the ninth sign from
the ascendant, it is in the same sign as the MC which gives it the same
consideration as being in the 10th sign, as far as its ability to stand
forth and be noticed. The Sun is in Aries which is its sign of exaltation
and the Sun is in sect in a day chart. The Sun is ruled by Mars in Leo in
the 1st and is in a trine aspect to it by sign. These are all positive
factors for eminence. Jupiter is in the 5th sign, in his own domicile of
Sagittarius and in sect. Once again a very positive indication. Saturn is
in the first sign, in detriment in Leo and in sect. Saturn is ruled by the
Sun and is in trine aspect to it. Of the three planets, Saturn would be the
least helpful in terms of eminence because of his lack of dignity and
retrograde motion. Hellenistic astrologers besides Valens have used the
triplicity lords as a simplified time lord method. In this case, Gore would
most likely be in the Saturn phase of the three, indicating the least
fortunate period of his life.
Gore's Lot of Fortune is in Aries, with the Sun and the MC. The domicile
ruler is the Mars in Leo in the first house. This is a position where Mars
will stand forth. It is important to note that even though Mars is trine its
ruler (Sun), the Mars has no dignity in Leo. This is one factor that may
explain why Gore received criticism during the debates about his
aggressiveness. He has trouble being aggressive in a dignified way. There is
also no aspect between Mercury and the Mars. This might indicate that he
does not realize how he is being perceived when he is communicating or
debating.
The angular houses from the Lot of Fortune would be Gore's 9th, 12th, 3rd
and 6th. The only planet in any of these house is the Moon in Capricorn in
the 6th. The tenth from Fortune is considered to be an important place,
contributing to the person's reputation through tuche (luck or fortune).
This gives added emphasis to the Moon in this role for Gore.
The Lot of Exaltation is found as follows: by day, Asc + 19 Aries - Sun and
by night, Asc + 3 Taurus - Moon.
Gore's Lot of Exaltation is located at 12 Leo in the first house (conjunct
Pluto). Valens says to examine the sign the Lot of Exaltation falls in and
the ruler. The nature of Leo and its ruler the Sun in Aries in the 9th, need
to be considered. Leo and the planets in it indicate of the kind of
"material" Gore has that fuels his desires and drives for success.. The Sun
in Aries in the 9th points to the forms of success that Al Gore is likely to
experience. The trine aspect between Leo and Aries is helpful. The final
result of this success would be symbolized by his Mars in Leo.
The Lot of Spirit is important to consider when looking at the eminence of
an individual because the lot and its ruler give information regarding the
soul and intellect; actions through discourse and through giving and
receiving. It is calculated by reversing the Lot of Fortune formula. Gore's
Lot of Spirit is in Scorpio, in the fourth house, ruled by Mars in Leo in
the 1st. According to Valens, even though Mars is not in the house of the
Lot of Fortune or in the tenth house from Fortune, Mars in an angular house
is one indication that he will be effective and but estimable only to a
certain extent.
The Acquisitive Place is the 11th sign from the Lot of Fortune. Valens wrote
that this place can be the bestower of belongings and goods for a person. In
Al Gore's chart, this is Aquarius in the 7th. There are no planets here. The
ruler is Saturn retrograde in Leo in the 1st. If you look at Gore's
partners, this would give you some indications as to the way the nature of
Aquarius and Saturn manifests in his chart.
George W. Bush's eminence factors will be presented next. I will evaluate
Gore and Bush's time lords in relation to their eminence factors in another
article.
Dave Stricker is currently on an extended sabbatical retreat in the Ozarks.
