Primary Motion:
Angles, Quadrants and Houses

© Jonathan James, Saugerties, New York . . . This article is an abridged version of Lesson one from my course on medieval Astrology. It was written and taught in Woodstock, for modern Astrologers, by request. It is in revision for self-publishing in paperback in late 2005 or early 2006. It will be available, one copy at a time thanks to the wonders of Print-On-Demand technology.

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Life is the original teacher of Astrology. Astrology is the study of life. Today we are going to study life, and begin our study of Astrology.

Our planet has vegetable and animal life. Some say minerals are alive, as well.

Earth is a garden and it lives and dies by the seasons. The seasons are the result of our relationship to the Sun. One solar year is split into four seasons. Summer, a hot and dry time, results from the Sun staying high and long in our sky. Winter is due to the Sun spending less time above our horizon, with a lower peak at noon (closer to the horizon at midday than in summer). We can all agree that this is how the earth seems to work.

Our ecosystem is an interwoven fabric of diverse life forms that depend on one another, just as our bodies depend on our organs and the four elements.

“As above, so below,” is an ancient hermetic philosophy, perhaps one of the first astrological teachings (by Hermes Trismegustis, or Hermes thrice great). The adage goes both ways: “As below, so above,” for we are all reflections the universe around us.

Our bodies are admixtures of fire, air, water, and earth, the structure of our body. Without heat we would die. Without air we would die. Without water, we would die. Without earth we wouldn’t be incarnate. The key of life is to have a moderation of the qualities indicated by the elements. Too hot and there is a drought and famine. Too cold and nothing sprouts, leaving the animals to hibernate or starve through a winter famine.

DIVISION OF THE CIRCLE INTO 4 QUARTERS

Now, let’s slow down and just look at our day and its major points. Like the seasons, the day is divided into four parts as well.

From dawn to dawn the whole sky appears to rise in the East and set in the West. It takes the fixed stars 24 hours to circle our earth. This is the cycle of the day. It’s clockwise movement is known as the “Primary Motion”.

Primary Motion Describes the Sun’s apparent path from the eastern horizon at dawn, to the zenith at noon and the Western horizon at sunset; then the Sun seems to pass beneath the earth and head into the world of darkness and hidden things.

There are four critical points in the day: dawn, high noon, sunset and midnight. To understand the Astrology of the old and dead dudes we need to observe Nature and her cycles.

The nature of our Sun is heating and drying, as it is a fiery star. Let’s trace its apparent path across the sky and note the critical points along way.

The path the Sun travels on is known as the “Band of the Ecliptic.” It appears to circle the earth over the course of the year and is the path Sol traces across our skies. Other planets also follow along this path, never travelling more than 8 degrees above or below the sun. (Remember, planets make slight loops as they travel in their orbits, like a curly lock of hair).

About one hour and thirty minutes before the dawn the sky faintly lightens. The closer to the cusp of the Eastern horizon it gets, the more light shines out on the earth. About one half hour before sunrise the sky changes from deep blue to lighter shades, even to oranges, pinks and purples. Just minutes before the Sun appears to crest the eastern horizon, the sky is afire and earth leaps to life. The birds are first to shed their slumbers and greet the day. A few night creatures beat a hasty retreat to their dens and caves. Most life rises and begins its new day. Once the center of the Sun has crossed the horizon line, the day has officially begun.

The Sun rose and brought new life. The morning dawned like a child taking its first breath in our world. The Sun’s heat helps bring plants to life and animals to breed. The Sun’s dawn is like the appearance of our bodies in the world.

The eastern horizon is found on the left in an Astrological birthchart, or natus figuris (natal figure). That would be where the hour hand rests at nine o’clock on a watch. [See Figure #1 on the included handouts, please.]

Next the Sun slips awake from the eastern angle (eastern horizon) and begins its trek toward high noon. We know that the earth is spinning and this makes the Sun appear to rise and set. We are dealing with a geocentric perspective, however, with Astrology. [Geo * centric = earth * centered].

Between dawn and noon the Sun appears to travel a 90 degree arc of the ecliptic (a 360 degree circle around the earth). The halfway point between Sunrise and Sunset is the highest point, or zenith, of the Sun’s apparent path through our skies. It is called the midheaven, or Medium Coelum (MC).

High noon can be imagined as twelve o’clock on a watch. [See Figure #2 in handouts]. On most maps this would be due north. On an astrological natal chart this is South. When the Sun is half-way across the heavens, or at the mid-heaven, it is at its highest point for the day. Planets, in orbit around the Sun, can only travel 8 degrees above or below the belt of the sun’s path. So, the midheaven is the highest point any planet, star or moon can reach in our skies.

When the Sun is highest, the day is hottest and dryest. It is at its peak, equally in its height and distance from the eastern and Western horizons (or angles, as we call them). This is like bosses and authorities in our life. It represents the highest success, honors and mastery that we can achieve. It also represents the structures of power that are above us and hold the power over ourselves and our enemies alike. When the Sun is at its peak it is shining equally on all. When the Sun first rises it only shines to the east, leaving those on the Western slopes of mountains in shadow. At Sunset it does not so kindly lend its rays to the East, but blesses the Western horizon with the most light. At noon it is seen by all. This is like our successes where we are seen by all.

Next, the Sun falls, or slides down, from its crest. It is making its descent toward the Western horizon (or the Western angle). It is moving from the 12 o’clock mark on a watch toward the one, two and three o’clock mark. [See Figure #3 in the handouts, please.]

As it moves away from the noon hour it is waning in warmth and light. When it reaches the Western horizon it is completing its day journey and our section of earth grows cooler and cooler. Shadows are cast and the Sun is close to its journey ‘under the earth’.

When the center of the Sun crosses the Western angle, night has come. The warmth fades and the air and ground grow cool. The air is no longer heated by the Sun and it leaves its water as dew. The night is cool and moist.

The Western angle represents the end of the day and so the end of life, in some respects. As the dawn angle, or Ascendant, is us and our bodies, the opposing angle is other people in our lives. Those who join with us and those who oppose us. It is others in our lives, but can also be how we are seen by these others. As it is still light out, it represents being able to see others, thus it is open enemies and publicly known partners. This angle, the Descendant, can also represent our contacts with others and our negotiations with them, for they are equals opposing us or tempering us. When we sell goods, we sell it to others directly, and these are the people we sell to. It also represents marriage partners — people we openly acknowledge to our community and family as our mate.

As the Sun descends deeper ‘under the earth’ it grows darker and cooler in our world. The Sun keeps shining of course, but it is out of the public eye (or out of our eyes). It is hidden below the earth and is illuminating hidden things.

By true midnight the Sun has travelled a 180 degree arc since noon (half the circle of the day), and 270 degrees of a circle from dawn (three quarters of the daily circle of the skies). On a clock the hands would both be pointing down to the six mark. [See Figure #4 in handouts.]

The Sun has reached the angle of the earth, at midnight. It would roughly be considered to be the point directly below our feet.

As the Sun, the jewel of our skies, is hidden under the earth, this is called the angle of the earth; it’s also known as the Nadir and Immun Coelum (IC).

Like the hidden Sun, his angle indicates hidden things, gems, jewels, and buried treasure. Even stronger it signifies the land we walk on and the buildings and unmoveable structures that we build on the soil. So, the Nadir / IC (northern angle) represents real estate and the things we can dig up from within it.

Our first trip around the circle of the day helps us remember the four strongest points in the sky and some of their natural meanings in Astrology, as derived from nature.

We have also divided the heavens into quarters, the first being the arc from the Ascendant to the Midheaven. The next is the 90 degree arc between the Midheaven and the Western angle. The third quarter is from the Descendant (Western angle) to the Nadir, or IC. The final quarter is from the Nadir to the Ascendant, where we had started.

THE DIVISION OF THE CIRCLE INTO HOUSES

The circle is divided into quarters by the the angles. Now we shall divide each of those quarters into into three equal parts, just like slicing a pie. This means we would have twelve slices if it was a pie. [See Figure #6]

Each of these slices is called a House, or Tower (Tower is archaic). The dividing lines between them is called the House Cusp. You can visualize a cusp as the line in a pie’s crust, left by a knife.

So, a house starts at its cusp, or the slice mark, and continues on in 30 degree increments (counter-clockwise) where it reaches the next houses cusp. The signs are counted, one through twelve, in a clockwise motion, beginning at the Ascendant angle.

Each of these houses represents different parts of our lives.

The best way to see understand houses may be to imagine the Sun travelling through them, once again.

* 12th House *

Shortly after dawn the Sun “falls away” from the Horizon in a clockwise motion. It has passed the critical point of Sunrise. It is no longer being inexorably drawn toward the eastern Angle (Ascendant).

This falling away is a weakness, according to the old and dead dudes.

For example: after our birth we are weak and in the care of others. We are vincible as infants, laying in cribs and too helpless to protect our toys from older siblings’ grabbing hands. Our only defense is our tears and loud cries, calling for help (or food, or for diaper change). We are wholly tended and watched over by others.

This weak zone in space is called the 12th house. It extends from the eastern angle to 30 degrees above it, clockwise. It would cover the area between the 9 and 10 o’clock marks on a watch. [See Figure #6, please]

Once the Sun has travelled more than 8 degrees above the eastern horizon, he is no longer considered as strong, for then he is falling away from the angle. It’s like a child, an elder, or an ill person needing the help of others to walk, eat and expell, falling or or bumbling without their support.

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* 10th House *

Now the Air is growing dry and people seek shelter. The Sun has the authority of the day as it rises to the midheaven, drives back the shadows and burns bare skin dry during summer. This is the time when the sun is strongest, relative to our location on earth.

If we continue our example, our youth has reached her prime. She is successful at what she does. She is recognized for her work. She gains both awards and power. She is giving the charge of others and drives them, at work, whether she is kind or not is another matter. But she is shining in the public eye, strong, proud, successful, in authority and at her absolute peak of both youthful strength and authority. She has mastered her skill or business.

The Sun becomes most closely associated with the MC angle about 8 degrees before it and 8 degrees after it.

This is a place of full strength and authority. It occupies the 30 degrees between the 11th house cusp and the Midheaven. [See figure #6, again please.]

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* 7th House / Descendant / Western Angle *

The Sun has gained momentum and is now 30 degrees or less from the Descendant (Western horizon). It will soon set in a radiant orange glow, taking with it the last direct heat of day. Much of the east is already in shadows, but when we look west, we see the bright sun shining in our eyes, perhaps blinding us. It is now delivering less heat and the air is cooler, while still dry from the day.

The space between the hour markers of 3 and 4 o’clock would show you where to find the seventh house. [See Figure 7, yet again, please. Put your finger where appropriate to help you remember.]

To continue the example, we are now faced with our impending death (sunset) and with all people who oppose us clearly and openly. As the ascendant indicates the newborn and their life, the descendant shows those who are that child’s partners, wives and enemies. In this house our partners, mates, and open enemies are indicated. It is those who start opposite of where we started, and also are making their way to success and authority. Our hero is concerned with others, his relationship to them and with coming to successful agreements.

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* 4th House / Nadir / IC / Angle of the Earth*

Now the sun is in an angular house, the fourth, and is soon to join with the angle of the earth, the IC. This is one of the darkest hours before dawn. The sun is equally distant from sunrise and sunset on our horizon. It is directly below us and the world is dark when it transits the Nadir (IC). It is illuminating the hidden places, or seems to be from our perspective in North America.

The fourth house, a strong and angular house, covers the 30 degree arc between the 5 and 6 o’clock markers, if we visualize it on a watch dial. [See ... ta-da ... Figure #7]

Our hero is now concerned with the earth beneath his feet. He works to gain land and homes. He is establishing a foundation for himself and his future family. Perhaps he is working the land of his father, helping bring back to health an old orchard or forest. He is finalizing projects and land deals. He is drawing matters to a close. New things will come eventually, but he must finish the old work aright.

If he were up at the midnight hour (when the sun is hitting the fourth house cusp, the IC), he likely would be putting the finishing touches on projects. Perhaps he is looking to put his book down is is jusst trying to find a good page to put his book down at. With friends? he’d be having that last bon-bon and saying goodnight, ending the day finally.

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* 1st House / Ascendant and horoscope, too *

The sun is now ready to rise into our world and crest the horizon in two hours or less. Most of nature is stirring, not just early birds. The sun is growing in strength as it gets ready to change night to day, in a burst of color, light and warmth. All of earth is alive — the day is born anew.

The first house is the space contained between the 8 and 9 o’clock markers on a watch dial. [See Figure #7]

Now our hero is at the true beginning. She is concerned with the effort it takes to make her desires happen and to bring her body the enjoyments and things it needs in the world. She is concerned with creating, being in the public, and she is driven by the need to do things, or to be involved in things. She is learning about her will, about success and failure. She is taking care of her body and working for herself. She is sure she is in control of her destiny and will be carried to her fate. This is a sense of absolute confidence, of sureness of purpose even when the details are unclear. Destiny rides on her shoulder and she is successful in her endeavors. Like the day bursting into light, warmth, birdsong and plant growth, she is brimming with life, force, vitality and power.

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SUMMARY NOTES

Now we have examined Primary Motion, the daily apparent rotation of the fixed stars and the wandering stars (planets and luminaries) around the earth, once every twenty four hours.

We have considered how the day is divided by the four critical points of dawn, high noon, sunset and midnight. We have considered the strength and nature. Dawn is warm and moist. Noon is hot and dry. Sunset is cool and dry. Midnight is cool and moist.

We have considered how these different mixtures of hot, cold, wet and dry affect life, plants and their growth on earth. Extremes of hot and dry, or cold and dry — or even extremes of cold and wet and hot and wet — will destroy life. In situations of moderation, they create verdant fields and forests.

We also observed that the closer a planet or the sun was carried to an angle (by the diurnal turning of the primary motion), the stronger its affects on earth are. This is most easily observed with the sun and its daily effect on the environment.

An angular house gives 100 percent of its nature, strength and indications. A succedent house only gives 50% percent. A cadent house is weak with only 25% power of an angular house.

We observed that different parts of the sky indicate different arenas of daily life. There is lovers, enemies, bosses and employees. We know where to look to find cats (the sixth house) or our secret enemies (the 12th house). Our friends and their conditions we find indicated by the 11th and the 3rd houses.

We also have observed how some of the houses are stronger than the others and why this is. Enjoy!