Considerations 17–25 of Guido Bonatus
The 17th Consideration
Here the question is whether the planet serving as significator stands safe and prosperous—that is, untouched by affliction from the infortunes—while one of the fortunes casts its beams or light upon the beams of that significator. In such a case the planet is called safe and guarded only until the fortune has passed by one minute, and this signifies the perfection of the matter. Once the fortune has moved one minute beyond, however, the thing will not be perfected or accomplished, for such an aspect merely raises hopes; as noted, a malevolent in the same position could do nothing but create fear. Yet the hope is of a kind that the querent will believe, fancying himself almost certain, though not without some doubt.
Take an example: a question is put concerning some weighty and difficult business—whether it will be done and brought to pass or not. Suppose 17 degrees of Scorpio ascend, Mars is at 12 degrees 13 minutes of Taurus, and Venus at 12 degrees 14 minutes of Capricorn. Venus is then joined to Mars by a trine and receives him in her house, while he in turn receives her in his exaltation. The querent, and all others concerned, firmly believe the matter will be accomplished through that aspect of perfect friendship, and they persist in these flattering hopes until Venus has passed the aspect of Mars by one whole degree. In the end the business comes to nothing at all, because Venus was already one minute past Mars when the question was proposed. Still, a thing may possibly be brought to pass in such a case, though not without extraordinary labour and trouble.
Zaell likewise affirms: "That if the Fortune be cadent from the Ascendant, so that it cannot behold the same, it onely flatters with splendid hopes, but never compleats the business."
The 18th Consideration
Observe when a planet is in the angles of the infortunes, for unless these receive him there, he is said to be in an ill condition, in straits and troubles—like a man set upon by assailants, with many to fight and none to take his part; or like one struggling against the stream, or fallen into a deep pool without knowing how to swim. By thrusting out hands and feet he may yet reach the bank and escape, though this seldom happens.
A planet is said to be in the angles of a malevolent when the malevolent or infortune—Saturn or Mars—is in one sign and the other planet is in the fourth, seventh, or tenth from him. For instance, if Mars is in Aries and Mercury in Cancer, Libra, or Capricorn, Mercury is said to be in his angles; understand the same of their corporal conjunction. Where reception exists, however, he does not afflict, for reception abates all malice, as stated elsewhere.
The 19th Consideration
Look at the Moon to see whether she is void of course, for then it signifies an impediment to the matter in question: it will not come to a good end nor be accomplished, and the querent will be forced to desist with shame and loss.
The 20th Consideration
Observe whether the Moon or significator is joined to any of the planets, since from this you must derive your judgment of what is likely to happen in the business. Note whether the planet to which the Moon or significator joins receives them; if so, there will be a good and laudable end, and the matter will be accomplished with success, provided the receiver is a fortune. If there is no reception, but the Moon or significator gives virtue to that planet, the thing will still come to pass. If it is an infortune, the matter will not succeed without reception even when they do not give him virtue; with reception, and if he is not afflicted, it signifies a good end to the matter, though not without much labour and tediousness.
The 21st Consideration
See from which planet the Moon separates, for that signifies what is past in the business: from a fortune, the good; from an infortune, the ill that has been.
The 22nd Consideration
Note which of the planets the Moon is now joined to, for that signifies what is presently at hand; from this we must judge the present state of the matter.
The 23rd Consideration
Behold to whom the Moon is now joining, so that her conjunction is not yet complete, for that signifies what is to come. Therefore, if you would judge of a thing that does not yet exist but is hoped for hereafter, you must see to whom the Moon will next join, and by her signification judge whether good or evil.
The 24th Consideration
Note whether the planet that is significator is in his declension, for then it causes a hindrance to everything thereby signified, along with trouble and grief about it. If the question concerns a prison the querent fears he will be put into, it signifies he shall be cast into it together with disgrace and prejudice; if the question concerns one already in prison, it signifies confinement and more affliction than he believes.
The 25th Consideration
Consider whether the planet that is significator is retrograde or stationary to retrogradation, for then it signifies mischief and damage, discord, contradiction, and going backward with loss. Being stationary is not so bad as being retrograde: the latter notes the mischief as, so to speak, present and in being, while the former notes that it is past and over.