AP9 Core Principles IX
The Sun King – Planetary Relations to Helios
In a nativity the all-seeing sun, nature’s fire and intellectual light, the organ of mental perception, indicates kingship, rule, intellect, intelligence, beauty, motion, loftiness of fortune, the ordinance of the gods, …
Valens – The Anthology 1:1 (Riley trans)
The Sun is unavoidably central to everything. For without the Sun there is nothing, no life on earth or no astrology, as we know it. This is the most ‘active’ light principle, all other celestial bodies being visible or invisible due to the Sun’s light. Each of the planets has its special relationship to the ‘king’, and this is observed in their relative motions and visual appearances. Movement and light, orientality and occidentality, rising, culminating, and setting, were always keenly observed.
And this, because he is posited in the middle of the others (just like a king), and the others stand next to him – certain ones on one side, certain ones on the other side (namely the superiors to his right, the inferiors to his left). And he has power in all the planets because he burns them all up. Moreover, his motion is practically uniform, and is not varied or altered, but always keeps the same similar advancement annually. And his motion is most noble above the motions of the other planets …
Bonatti – Book of Astronomy 3:4 (Dykes trans)
Astrology is never a static picture, for there is always some kind of ever moving process in play. The planets should be regarded as in a constant form of dynamic movement, or an active ‘dance’, with the Sun (and with each other). They are generally conditioned depending on their position relative to the Sun. However, to what effect will ultimately depend on judging a range of other factors – there is a wealth of heritage technique to explore in this Intensive.
Within astrological tradition there were reference categories of planetary positioning to consider in overall delineation. These categories affect how the planets may be conditioned in quality, strength, and effectiveness. They may be called:
i) Luminary – concerning the relationship of the planets to the lights, and particularly to the Sun.
ii) Zodiacal – concerning the zodiac and the planets.
iii) Horizonal – concerning the ascending and descending axis of the local place.
This intensive will focus upon the ‘Luminary’ category, where archetypal and mystical symbolism concerning the principle of light is central. Light is related to illumination and consciousness, highlighting the concept ‘to see’. It also concerns ideas of spirit and purity, and all degrees of heat, energy, and vitality. In short, the Sun is the par excellence arbiter in astrology of awareness and action.
A deeper exploration of this topic will provide information around ideas such as the Greek definitions of anatolikos and dutikos, plus more familiar concepts as combustion, cazimi, acronycal positioning, and retrogradation.
The stars, when they become morning and go out of the sunlight, they show clearly their operation and they have great force.
Abu Ma’shar – The Astrological Metaphors (Bezza/Dudziak trans)
This intensive (AP9) was first presented in Brisbane(QFA) in November 2009 and on the Gold Coast(GCAS) in April 2010.
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