The 125th Consideration: The Ascendant and the Planet’s Second House
In a nativity or a horary question, first note which sign is ascending. If that sign belongs to a planet that rules two houses, the native or querent will experience the main difficulties of his life chiefly in matters signified by the planet’s other house. Such troubles will generally arise through his own actions.
For example, with Aries rising, the other house of Mars—Scorpio—falls in the Eighth House. This excuses the native from causing his own death or downfall. If Mars is well disposed and the Part of Fortune is in the Eighth, he will be very fortunate in all matters signified by that house.
If Taurus ascends, the native will be exercised in things that bring about his own weakness, because Libra, the other house of Venus, is then the Sixth House. But if Venus is well disposed and the Part of Fortune is in the Sixth, he will be especially lucky in Sixth House matters.
When Gemini is ascending, the native will be occupied with matters that lead to his being taken captive, since Virgo, Mercury’s other house, is on the Fourth. If Mercury is well disposed and the Part of Fortune in the Fourth, he will prosper in Fourth House affairs.
If Virgo rises, the native will be engaged in things that bring him honor and power, because Gemini, Mercury’s other house, is in the Tenth. Should Mercury then be conjunct the Part of Fortune and in the Ascendant, he will acquire what amounts to a king’s revenue. If Mercury is in the Tenth with the Part of Empire, fortunate and strong, he will undoubtedly obtain a kingdom or supreme command. And if the Part of Fortune and the Moon are also in the Tenth, he will infallibly become a mighty prince.
With Libra ascending, the native will be exercised in things that hasten his own death, because Taurus, Venus’s other house, is then in the Eighth. If Venus is well disposed and the Part of Fortune in the Eighth, he will be lucky in things represented by the Eighth House. The same reasoning applies to any other sign.
Scorpio rising brings diseases upon the native or querent himself, as Aries is the Sixth. Sagittarius rising leads him to fool himself into captivity, for Pisces is on the Fourth. Capricorn rising means he will gain much through his own industry, since Aquarius is then on the Second House. But if Saturn is ill disposed, he will squander and waste his substance idly.
Aquarius ascending causes him to procure many secret enemies, because Capricorn is then in the Twelfth House. Pisces rising will raise him to honor, and so forth.
The 126th Consideration: Mercury’s Condition and Mental Powers
In nativities and questions, observe whether Mercury is wholly or partly a significator, and whether he is fortunate and strong and placed in Capricorn or Aquarius. If so, the native will possess profound and piercing wit and great understanding—one who dives to the bottom of things and sees from the beginning what the outcome will be. This is all the more true if Saturn, fortunate, beholds Mercury with a good aspect, especially if Mercury is in Aquarius, which is Saturn’s delight. It is still stronger if a Fortune is with Mercury and Mercury is with one of the propitious fixed stars.
But if Mercury is in Aries or Scorpio, the native will be bold, faithless, inconstant, and arrogant, yet quick of apprehension—more nimble at repeating or discovering things said by others than at inventing them himself.