The Profections accordingVettius Valens

&
A graphic method to analyze them
Copyright Cllia Romano 2008


The Four Elements

VetiusValenssaysinhisAnthology,translatedbyRobertSchmidtandeditedbyRobert
Hand,BooklV,page24:
ForoftenImyselftookstarstobeincertainzoidiaaccordingtothetimedescriptionoftheevents,and
in others according to appearances, and specially whenever they should be in the beginning or end of
zoidia;similarlyalsobecauseonefailsbothinstationsandatnightfall.Tomakeajudgment,then,itis
necessarytoknowexactlyinwhatzoidiaanddegreestheyare,andespeciallytheHoroskopos
Let the beginning of the exegesis be from here. After determining the current year of the nativity, 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
Hermes are in Aquarius; the Moon in Scorpio; Kronos in Cancer; Zeus in Libra, Aphrodite in Capricorn;
Ares,theHoroskoposinVirgo.Weseekthe35
th
year.
Takeawaytwotwelves,whichare24.11areremaining.Wereckon,then,fromwhatsortofstarcoming
firstthereare11years.Wefindthem:11yearsfromtheHoroskoposandArestoKronosinCancer,and
againfromtheMoontoAres,andfromAphroditetotheMoon.Allthesehandingsoverareactiveinthe
35
th
year.Andaccordingtothepowerofeffectwhicheachofthestarshas,itwillproducegoodorfoul
inthehandingsover,whichwewillindicateinaforthcomingaccount.

AtafirstsightwecanhardlyrealizewhatValensissaying.But,usingwholesignsand
castingthechartwiththesupplieddata(givenbyValens),andcastinganotheronefor
the 35
th
year besides the firstchart, we will learn that theAscendant falls in the 11th
house.Atthismomentwebegintounderstandtheauthorsreasoning.
Heisdoingnothingbutprofectingthehousesfortheyearhewantstostudy,thesame
technique used in Medieval astrology as one of the most effective way to predict
annualevents.
The difference is that in Medieval astrology, with much property, the counting of the
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.
In the example supplied by Valens,though, in accordancewith the Medieval method,
thereisamistake,sincethe35
th
yearwouldfallinthe12
th
signandnotinthe11
th
.
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
determined house in the native chart, substituted for others, which take place in the
profectedchart.ThetechniqueofValensisadelineationoftheannualprofectionand
considers the annual events only. To foretell about each month Valens uses a totally
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.
The emphasis is on the planet that hands over. That is understandable, since its a
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.
At a first sight we think that is nonsense, but its the way we have to do in order to
rememberingallthesignificators,whenwearedealingwithprofections.
Infact,theplanetsplacedintheexteriorofthechart,areconfiguredforthehousesin
whichtheyhadbeenplaced,andthatcamefromthenatalpositionofthem.
Itremainsstilltoremembertheirzodiacalpositionaswellasthemundaneone.
Valens differentiates between the planet that hands over i.e. that delivers and that
onethatreceives,whichistookingover.

Theplanetsplacedoutsidethewheelinredaretheplanetshandingover,delivering
its respective meaning and the meaning of the house they were in the nativity chart.
Thedeliveredmeaningisdroppedtotheprofectedhousesandsigns.
YouwillseebellowthatIwroteinsideofthechartthenameoftheplanetsinblue,to
stresstheoneswhicharetookingover,thatiswhicharereceivingthepower.They
are the same planets in the same signs they occupied in the natal chart. In that way
Valens makes a link between houses and signs profected and the radical ones. It
becomes easier to the astrologer take a look at the scheme to catch the significators
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.
The planets will be considered independently of the degrees they occupy in the sign.
We will use whole signs, that is, independently of degrees, the planets will be
consideredinallPtolemaicaspectsbysign.
Then,whatkindofthingscanwepredictthroughthedelineationofthe2
nd
house,its
rulerandtheLotofFortune?
Wecanseethatinthenativitysfigurethe2
nd
houseisoccupiedbyJupiterandSaturn
which,inthepresentyear,arehandingovertoJupiter,therulerofSagittarius,signin
the profected 2
nd
house. In principle it seems positive, since Jupiter is a beneficial
planet. However, first of all, lets take a look at the condition of Jupiter and Saturn in
theconfiguration.
WeseethatbothareinconjunctioninTaurus,the7
th
housesignoftheprofection.So
the2
nd
houseandthe7
th
housearelinkedinthepresentyear.The7
th
houseisrelated
topartnerships,marriagesandopenenemies.
The 7
th
house planets, Jupiter and Saturn, are tooking over from Mars and Venus.
Venusisinitsdomicile,butMarsisinabadcelestialstate.
Wecanconcludethatpartnersareresponsibleforfinancesintheyear,promisinghigh
and downs in that matter. The best possibilities are given by Jupiter handing over
and tooking over, namely in the 2
nd
house and in the 7
th
house and the worse
because of Saturn handing over and Mars tooking over respectively in the 2
nd

houseandinthe7
th
house.
Ifwelookcloserwecomeacrossthefollowingfact:VenusandMarsthatareplanetsin
the7
th
radicalhousearenowinthe12
th.
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.
InthenatalcharttheMoonoccupiesthe11
th
house,aprofitableplacethatisrelated
to hopes and friends. Valens says to take into account the significators that are
transferringitspositionanditsnatalconfiguration,buttotakealsothatonesthatare
tookingover,receiving.

TheFortuneisgivingitsplacetotheMoonandtheMoonis,asoneoftheluminaries,a
benefic:thatisanindicationofsomethingusefuloccurringinthe4
th
house,relatedto
immovable properties. We can say that some gain will be possible coming from real
state.Friendsmightbeinvolvedonitinapositiveway,sincetheMoonisinthenatal
11
th
house. But the Moon is not exactly perfect in the nativity: it is peregrine, out of
sect,andisdisposedbySaturn,theMCruler,amaleficwithnodignity,occupyingthe
natal 2
nd
house. They both are in mutual reception but they have nothing to give to
eachother.So,wecansaythatthegoodnessandthegainarelessenedbecauseofthe
zodiacalpositionoftheMoonwitnessedbyamalefic.
In the profection the Moon is handing over, from the 11th house, to Mercury, the
ruleroftheprofected11thhouse.Mercuryoccupiesthe8
th
houseinthenativitychart,
andisrulingthepresent8
th
house,aswell.
WeseethereforethattheLotofFortunedrivesourreasoningtolinkthehouses4
th
,8
th

and11
th
.Wecanassumethatthenativewillgetsomefruitsfromdeath,inheritances
and moneyof partners, with emphasis in realestate, affecting positively his own self,
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.Itoccupiesthenatal8
th
house.
Weknowthatthe8
th
houseisrelatedwithdeathandpartnersmoney.Whatcan
happenhereifwelookattheplanetsintheexternalsideofthechart?Wewillseethat
SunandMercuryaregivingroomtoMars,Scorpiosruler.Ontheotherhand,whereis
Marsinthepresentyear?
ItswithVenus,lordofthe7
th
house,inthe12
th
house.Marsisinitsdetrimentand
nowitisinamalefichouse.TheAscendant,thenative,isnotinagoodposition,just
theopposite,hewillbesufferingbecausepartnershipsandmarriage.
MarsishandingovertotheSunandMercury,planetsinthenatal8
th
house.Wecan
thinkaboutdeathandinheritance(inthiscaseproblemsandargumentsarepossible
sinceMarsrulesthenative8
th
house)orevenproblemswithmoneyinthepartners
hands.The8
th
housereferredtoloss,aswell,sowecansaythatthereareindications

oflossesandthenativewillnotbeinacomfortablepositionthisyear.Moreover,Mars
rulesalsothe6
th
house,andthefactthatMarsisinthe12
th
housetellusabout
illnesses.Healthproblemsandbodyweaknessmustoccur.
GiventhefactthatVenusisinthe12
th
house,inthesamehouseofMars,mitigatesthe
problem,sinceVenusisabeneficinagoodcelestialstate.
Venusisanimportantplanettojudgerelationshipandmarriage.Itspositioninthe12
th

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