The Profections accordingVettius Valens

&
A graphic method to analyze them
Copyright Cllia Romano 2008

The Four Elements

VetiusValenssaysinhisAnthology,translatedbyRobertSchmidtandeditedbyRobert
Hand,BooklV,page24:

ForoftenImyselftookstarstobeincertainzoidiaaccordingtothetimedescriptionoftheevents,and
inothersaccordingtoappearances,andspeciallywhenevertheyshouldbeinthebeginningorendof
zoidia;similarlyalsobecauseonefailsbothinstationsandatnightfall.Tomakeajudgment,then,itis
necessarytoknowexactlyinwhatzoidiaanddegreestheyare,andespeciallytheHoroskopos
Letthebeginningoftheexegesisbefromhere.Afterdeterminingthecurrentyearofthenativity,we
knockoutasmanytwelvesaswecan;andafterdeliveringovertheremainderfromastarthatiscapable
oftakingover,wewillcometoknowtheyearwhichithandsovertoacertainstar.Thatwhichhasbeen
saidisconciseinapprehension,butdiverseinjudgment.Allthestars,then,andtheHoroskoposandSin
andMoonhandovertoeachotherandreciprocallytakeoverfromeachother.
In order that we make the introduction clearer, let it be the case, as an illustration that the Sun and
HermesareinAquarius;theMooninScorpio;KronosinCancer;ZeusinLibra,AphroditeinCapricorn;
Ares,theHoroskoposinVirgo.Weseekthe35thyear.
Takeawaytwotwelves,whichare24.11areremaining.Wereckon,then,fromwhatsortofstarcoming
firstthereare11years.Wefindthem:11yearsfromtheHoroskoposandArestoKronosinCancer,and
againfromtheMoontoAres,andfromAphroditetotheMoon.Allthesehandingsoverareactiveinthe
35thyear.Andaccordingtothepowerofeffectwhicheachofthestarshas,itwillproducegoodorfoul
inthehandingsover,whichwewillindicateinaforthcomingaccount.

AtafirstsightwecanhardlyrealizewhatValensissaying.But,usingwholesignsand
castingthechartwiththesupplieddata(givenbyValens),andcastinganotheronefor
the35thyearbesidesthefirstchart,wewilllearnthattheAscendantfallsinthe11th
house.Atthismomentwebegintounderstandtheauthorsreasoning.
Heisdoingnothingbutprofectingthehousesfortheyearhewantstostudy,thesame
technique used in Medieval astrology as one of the most effective way to predict
annualevents.
ThedifferenceisthatinMedievalastrology,withmuchproperty,thecountingofthe
first year of life starts in the very degree of the Ascendant and the first year is
extendeduptothirtydegreeslater.Thesecondyearoflifebeginsthirtydegreesafter
the first one, i.e., thirty degrees after the degree of the Ascendant; the third year is
reachedaccordingwiththethirtydegreeafterthesecondone,andsoon.
Bellowwewillpresentafigureshowingthewayprofectionschangeyearafteryear.
IntheexamplesuppliedbyValens,though,inaccordancewiththeMedievalmethod,
thereisamistake,sincethe35thyearwouldfallinthe12thsignandnotinthe11th.
Valens counting was presumably based on the idea that the native was 35 not
completeyears,sohewas34yearsold,asamatteroffact.
Valenss concepts are very useful and suggested me a diagram that, once designed,
turnstheastrologersjobeasier.
Anytechniquethatfacilitatesourreasoning,directingthemindforasafetrack,isvery
welcome.
Theobjectiveofthisarticleisexactlythat:tosupplyinasimplewaythelines,givenby
Valens, to analyze the profections taking into account the planets positions on
determinedhouseinthenativechart,substitutedforothers,whichtakeplaceinthe
profectedchart.ThetechniqueofValensisadelineationoftheannualprofectionand
considerstheannualeventsonly.ToforetellabouteachmonthValensusesatotally
differenttechnique,whichwecantcomparewiththeMedievalone.
Toexplainhismethodtothatpointisnotourtarget,though.
Continuing, we will follow the idea of planets handing over to others that are
tookingover(meaningtakingover).Theplanetshandingoverarelikekingsgivingthe
throne to the successor, with the prerogative of remaining as prime ministers. The
crownisloadedwiththequalityofthegiver.
Theemphasisisontheplanetthathandsover.Thatisunderstandable,sinceitsa
traditiontotakeintoaccountfirstofallthemundaneandcelestialnatureofaplanet
inthenativity.
ValensusedwholesignsandIllusethemaswell,evenbecauseIhaveaffinitywith
thatkindofdivisionofhouses,andIbelievethat,ifwewantatrustworthyresultinour

prediction, independent of the division of houses we chose, its necessary to pay

attentiontothedivisionbyentiresigns.

Thereadercanseenowagraphicshowingtheprofectedhouseforeachyearoflife:

Nowwewillseeamalenatalchartwhichwewillworkwith:

Profectingthechartforthe67thyearsofage,wecanseethatScorpio,thesignofthe
8thhousewillbetheAscendant.
Theprofectedchartforthechosenyearis:

As we see I placed the planets in the same houses where they were in the radical
chart.Valensdidthesame.
Atafirstsightwethinkthatisnonsense,butitsthewaywehavetodoinorderto
rememberingallthesignificators,whenwearedealingwithprofections.
Infact,theplanetsplacedintheexteriorofthechart,areconfiguredforthehousesin
whichtheyhadbeenplaced,andthatcamefromthenatalpositionofthem.
Itremainsstilltoremembertheirzodiacalpositionaswellasthemundaneone.
Valensdifferentiatesbetweentheplanetthathandsoveri.e.thatdeliversandthat
onethatreceives,whichistookingover.

Theplanetsplacedoutsidethewheelinredaretheplanetshandingover,delivering
itsrespectivemeaningandthemeaningofthehousetheywereinthenativitychart.
Thedeliveredmeaningisdroppedtotheprofectedhousesandsigns.
YouwillseebellowthatIwroteinsideofthechartthenameoftheplanetsinblue,to
stresstheoneswhicharetookingover,thatiswhicharereceivingthepower.They
arethesameplanetsinthesamesignstheyoccupiedinthenatalchart.Inthatway
Valens makes a link between houses and signs profected and the radical ones. It
becomeseasiertotheastrologertakealookattheschemetocatchthesignificators
thatmustbetakenintoaccount.

Ifweuseprofectionsaselementsofpredictionforthe67thyearofthenativelifeand
we want to know about the financial condition of the year we will emphasize the
secondhouseandtheLotofFortune.

IhavetosaythatfrequentlytherulerofthesecondhouseandtheLotofFortuneare
not the financial significador of the native and therefore our prediction will not be
accurate,sincewedidnotanalyzethenatalchartproperly.
However,theobjectiveofthisarticleisonlytodescribeapracticalprojecttodealwith
profections,linkingnatalandannualsignificators.
Theplanetswillbeconsideredindependentlyofthedegreestheyoccupyinthesign.
We will use whole signs, that is, independently of degrees, the planets will be
consideredinallPtolemaicaspectsbysign.
Then,whatkindofthingscanwepredictthroughthedelineationofthe2ndhouse,its
rulerandtheLotofFortune?
Wecanseethatinthenativitysfigurethe2ndhouseisoccupiedbyJupiterandSaturn
which,inthepresentyear,arehandingovertoJupiter,therulerofSagittarius,signin
the profected 2nd house. In principle it seems positive, since Jupiter is a beneficial
planet.However,firstofall,letstakealookattheconditionofJupiterandSaturnin
theconfiguration.
WeseethatbothareinconjunctioninTaurus,the7thhousesignoftheprofection.So
the2ndhouseandthe7thhousearelinkedinthepresentyear.The7thhouseisrelated
topartnerships,marriagesandopenenemies.
The7thhouseplanets,JupiterandSaturn,aretookingoverfromMarsandVenus.
Venusisinitsdomicile,butMarsisinabadcelestialstate.
Wecanconcludethatpartnersareresponsibleforfinancesintheyear,promisinghigh
and downs in that matter. The best possibilities are given by Jupiter handing over
and tooking over, namely in the 2nd house and in the 7th house and the worse
because of Saturn handing over and Mars tooking over respectively in the 2nd
houseandinthe7thhouse.
Ifwelookcloserwecomeacrossthefollowingfact:VenusandMarsthatareplanetsin
the7thradicalhousearenowinthe12th.house.
Thatisahouserelatedtolimitationsingeneral,itsamalefichouse.Andthereallybad
newsisthatMarsistheruleroftheprofectedAscendant.
We conclude then, that our native will have more limitations and sufferings than
happinessinhisfinanciallife.
It remains to investigate the Lot of Fortune, to verify if it adds something new,
confirmingornotourpreviousassumptions.
WeseethattheLotofFortuneishandingovertotheMoon.
InthenatalcharttheMoonoccupiesthe11thhouse,aprofitableplacethatisrelated
to hopes and friends. Valens says to take into account the significators that are
transferringitspositionanditsnatalconfiguration,buttotakealsothatonesthatare
tookingover,receiving.

TheFortuneisgivingitsplacetotheMoonandtheMoonis,asoneoftheluminaries,a
benefic:thatisanindicationofsomethingusefuloccurringinthe4thhouse,relatedto
immovable properties. We can say that some gain will be possible coming from real
state.Friendsmightbeinvolvedonitinapositiveway,sincetheMoonisinthenatal
11th house. ButtheMoonisnotexactlyperfectinthenativity:itisperegrine,outof
sect,andisdisposedbySaturn,theMCruler,amaleficwithnodignity,occupyingthe
natal 2nd house. They both are in mutual reception but they have nothing to give to
eachother.So,wecansaythatthegoodnessandthegainarelessenedbecauseofthe
zodiacalpositionoftheMoonwitnessedbyamalefic.
IntheprofectiontheMoonishandingover,fromthe11thhouse,toMercury,the
ruleroftheprofected11thhouse.Mercuryoccupiesthe8thhouseinthenativitychart,
andisrulingthepresent8thhouse,aswell.
WeseethereforethattheLotofFortunedrivesourreasoningtolinkthehouses4th,8th
and11th.Wecanassumethatthenativewillgetsomefruitsfromdeath,inheritances
andmoneyofpartners,withemphasisinrealestate,affectingpositivelyhisownself,
since Mercury is directly linked to the Ascendant but, again, the goodness will be
lessenedbecauseMercuryisretrogradeinthenativity.

The first house and the Ascendant

IfwedonotbeginbytheAscendantourdelineationisemptyofmeaningfulness,thisis
animportantfacttopointout.Innatalorannualchartsthenativeistheaxlewhereall
thefactsinhislifewillcirculatearound.
TheprofectedAscendantfallinginacertainnatalhousehasalotofsignificationandis
thedimensionofalltheotherfacts,mundanehousesandaspectsofthelife.
LetusobservetheannualAscendantinthestudycase.Itoccupiesthenatal8thhouse.
Weknowthatthe8thhouseisrelatedwithdeathandpartnersmoney.Whatcan
happenhereifwelookattheplanetsintheexternalsideofthechart?Wewillseethat
SunandMercuryaregivingroomtoMars,Scorpiosruler.Ontheotherhand,whereis
Marsinthepresentyear?
ItswithVenus,lordofthe7thhouse,inthe12thhouse.Marsisinitsdetrimentand
nowitisinamalefichouse.TheAscendant,thenative,isnotinagoodposition,just
theopposite,hewillbesufferingbecausepartnershipsandmarriage.
MarsishandingovertotheSunandMercury,planetsinthenatal8thhouse.Wecan
thinkaboutdeathandinheritance(inthiscaseproblemsandargumentsarepossible
sinceMarsrulesthenative8thhouse)orevenproblemswithmoneyinthepartners
hands.The8thhousereferredtoloss,aswell,sowecansaythatthereareindications

oflossesandthenativewillnotbeinacomfortablepositionthisyear.Moreover,Mars
rulesalsothe6thhouse,andthefactthatMarsisinthe12thhousetellusabout
illnesses.Healthproblemsandbodyweaknessmustoccur.
GiventhefactthatVenusisinthe12thhouse,inthesamehouseofMars,mitigatesthe
problem,sinceVenusisabeneficinagoodcelestialstate.
Venusisanimportantplanettojudgerelationshipandmarriage.Itspositioninthe12th
houseconfirmssomelimitationsandsufferinginmarriagematters,though.

Conclusion

Allthehousesmustbeexaminedinsuchaway,inaccordancewithitsmeaninginthe
natalandintheprofectedchartandalltheplanetsmustberelatedtotheir
configurationsineachaspectstudied(handingoverortookingover).
ItremainstosaythatValensstandsfortheaccomplishmentoftheprofection
departingfromtheMoon,whenwewanttolearnaboutsubjectsofthebodyandfrom
theSun,tolearnaboutreputationandbrightness.Basically,atleastthesethreecharts
mustbeerectedifwewanttofollowValensandevenBonatti.Forlearningaboutlove,
thereleaseisfromEros,andifthematterisailmentstheprofectiondepartsfromthe
LotofNecessity.
IntheabovechartthedelineationwasmadeaccordingtoMedievalsourceswiththe
differencethatIintroducedaschemeinspiredbythestudyofValensworks.
IprofectedonlytheAscendantandthepartialconclusionofthestudyisthattheyear
promiseslimitationsandlosses,weakhealth,problemsinthenativemarriageand
partnershipandopportunitiesrelatedtoinheritancesandrealstate.
Excusedtosaythatsuchanalysishasonlyadidacticpurpose,sinceitdidnttake
enoughcareofthenataldelineation.
Thegraphicaldemonstrationrepresentsaprojecttoanalyzewithpropertythe
profectionoftheyear.
Cllia Romano,DMA