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William Ramesey on the Great Conjunctions

Copyright 2010

William Ramesey had this to say about the Jupiter-Saturn conjunctions. This is a
selection from my book, Astrology of Sustainability (2011; Schiffer Press: Atglen,
PA), and includes my commentary on the passage.

The 1653 work, Astrologia Restaurata, by William Ramesey (1627-1675/6) is the

1
first comprehensive work on mundane astrology published in English. It follows
the structure of Bonatti quite strongly, even preceding the section on mundane
with a section on electional, just as Bonatti had done with Treatises 7 and 8. One
component of the earlier systems which has become vestigial by Ramesey’s day is
the location system of climata. Perhaps the discovery of the New World as well as
Asian and Pacific exploration made the old system seem naively stunted as it de-
fined a center of civilization that simply no longer applied. This would only be re-
placed wholesale in the modern period by new systems of pinpointing locations.
But even by Ramesey’s time, the climata were not strictly necessary, since Aries
Ingress charts could be run for multiple locations. In any case, they had developed
lists of countries and cities that were ruled by particular signs, and these listings
had replaced the climata, although it remains to be determined how much of the
lists had in fact been derived from them.

Where Ramesey and his other contemporaries differed was in beginning to lay
greater emphasis on using the aspects besides the conjunctions of the superior
planets. Thus, we see the following:

“Wherefore then know, that years of War, Dissention, Quarrels and Bloodshed, are
to be judged from the Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter, as also from their Square
and Opposition, also from the Ascendant and Angles of the Revolution of the year;
for if these Superior Planets be either in Conjunction, Square or Opposition of each
other, or applying to each other by any of these Configurations, wars are to be
feared, and that they shall then begin when they are in Partil Conjunction or Aspect,
if they are in Angles, or else they shall begin when Jupiter enters his exaltation or
one of his houses [i.e., Pisces or Sagittarius], or any of the Angles of the Figure at the
time of the Revolution; and judge that party to have Victory that is signified by the
Planet most elevated in his excentrik; for if Jupiter be most elevated, and be exalted
above Saturn, they shall overcome who make insurrection or begin the strike.

“Also if Mars be in any of the Angles at the time of the Revolution, whichsoever it be,
he excites and stirs up wars according to his strength and power; for if he be strong
and well dignified, it will be the more certain, also the strife and war will be the
more invective and grievous; in like matter if he be in a Square of Saturn or Jupiter,
because these are the Superior Planets; for take this as an approved Aphorism, that
when any of the Superiors, viz. Saturn, Jupiter or Mars (who are thus termed be-
cause they are above the Sun) are in Conjunction, or any Malevolent Configuration
one of another, there happens great and manifest Alterations in this Elementary
2
world, according to their strength and natural and accidental Significations.”

Let’s tease out the ideas here that were already present in the Arabic material:

This quotation began by referencing the Jupiter-Saturn cycle as the source of

wars and other contentions, which is exactly like the material we have already
been examining from the Arabs. But immediately, Ramesey adds the other hard
aspects to the conjunction as being significant. Now, instead of a twenty year
cycle for Jupiter-Saturn, we are talking intervals of, on average, five years, de-
pending upon the retrograde cycles. Also note that, since he references all the
superior configurations, that there is a guarantee of an approaching aspect of
Mars-Saturn to consider in every Aries Ingress, unless Mars is retrograde, be-
cause now the 2+ year cycle of Mars and Saturn can be divided by four to give
well less than a year. We should note that the Arabs recognized the hard as-
3
pects as being significant: Abu Ma’shar discussed them in The Book of Flowers.
One does detect a somewhat subtle shift, from the minor to the normal.
An additional activation factor needed to make the promise of the hard aspect
or conjunction come true is the presence of the superiors in angles; Abu
Ma’shar discussed that in Part Seven of his work, On the Great Conjunctions.
They still have signification over mischief by house placement regardless; it’s
just that the angles are more significant for actual war.
The other additional factor, which comes right out of the Arabic material as
well, is that Jupiter in his Exaltation can push things over the edge. Abu Ma’shar
 discussed the exaltations of the planets at length, giving the impression that the
exaltations were at least as significant from the standpoint of strength as sign
rulership. To our modern ears, we might not think of the exalted Jupiter as so
warlike, but perhaps this is a function of overconfidence and self-righteousness
on the part of the ruler. As a cultural artifact, it seems that moderns view war
as an aberration of peace, whereas the ancient view was that war was the busi-
ness of princes.

The relative elevation of the superiors is also an Arabic concept: that the planet
most elevated is stronger. The Arabic material had gone so far as to specify
combinations, according to which of the three was most elevated. Elevation is a
measure in this case of proximity to the MC. Later, we shall see how bodies at
the IC can be extremely unpleasant – just the flip side of the elevation idea.

Lest it be thought that Ramesey was putting too much emphasis on the Aries
Ingress at the expense of the major conjunctions, his Chapter XI and the succeed-
ing ones address these conjunctions directly. First, he lists the seven sorts of major
conjunctions one needs to consider:

“The first and greatest of all the rest, is the Conjunction of the two superiour Planets
Saturn and Jupiter in the first term or degree of Aries, which happens but once in
nine hundred and threescore years.

“The second is the Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in the first term or degree of
every triplicity, and this is accomplished once in two hundred and forty years, yet
once in twenty years, they come into Conjunction in one part or other of the Zodiack.

“The third is the Conjunction of Saturn and Mars in the first term or degree of Can-
cer, and this is once in thirty years.

“The fourth is the Conjunction of the three superiours, Saturn, Jupiter and Mars in
one term or face of any sign.

“The fifth is the Conjunction of Jupiter and Mars, which is a mean and the least Con-
junction of the superiours, and therefore is not the fore-runner of such great mis-
chiefs as the other;…

“The sixth is the Conjunction of the Sun with any of the rest of the Planets at the time
of his entrance into the first point of Aries.
“The seventh and last is the Conjunction of the Sun and Moon, which happens once
4
every month.”

Notice that points 1-3 follow exactly from Abu Ma’shar, with the addition in the
enumeration of the specific definition of the first degree or Term of the sign in
5
question. The thirty year cycle of Mars-Saturn is mentioned twice in Abu
6
Ma’shar.

This material does raise a point that, in my opinion, was never addressed ade-
quately in the classical literature. That question concerns malefics in dignity and
debility. I refer specifically to the 44th Aphorism of Guido Bonatti:

“The 44th is, To consider if the Significators, Fortune or Infortune, be in his own
House, Exaltation, Triplicity, Terms or Face (but the latter being not of that virtue
with the rest, ‘tis necessary it should be assisted with another Dignity, which is Hayz
or Light); for in such case the Infortune loses his sting; and being rein’d in like a wild
horse from doing mischief, his malice is converted into good, and though this seems
7
strange, yet the ancients affirm and I myself have often found it true by experience.”

The idea here is that malefics dignified behave rather well. This is an aphorism
that I have used for years, because in horary, either Mars or Saturn dignified hard-
ly need be counted as a malefic at all. When it reverts to a sign of no dignity, the
change can virtually be described as catastrophic.

1 Ramesey, William. Astrologia Restaurata. London,: Printed for R. White, 1653.

2 Ramesey, pp 280-281.

3 Holden, James Herschel. Five Medieval Astrologers. Scottsdale, AZ: American

Federation of Astrologers, 2008.

4 Ramesey, p. 327.

5 Abu, Ma’shar, Keiji Yamamoto, and Charles Burnett, 2000, p 11.

6 Abu, Ma’shar, Keiji Yamamoto, and Charles Burnett, 2000, p 11 and 149. The au-
thors have a rather curious footnote on the later page questioning what was going
on with the thirty year cycle and weakness: I would read it as simply referring to
the weakness of both planets in the sign Cancer.
7 Lilly, William, Guido Bonatti, and Girolamo Cardano. Anima Astrologiae: Or, a
Guide for Astrologers. Being the Considerations of the Famous Guido Bonatus,
Faithfully Rendred into English. As Also the Choicest Aphorisms of Cardans Seaven
Segments, Translated and Methodically Digested under Their Proper Heads. With
a New Table of the Fixed Stars, Rectified for Several Years to Come, and Divers
Other Necessary Illustrations. microform. Printed for B. Harris at the Stationers
Arms in Sweethings Rents near the Royal Exchange, London,, 1676, pp 22-23.

 December 21, 2010  Lee  Mundane

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