Thema Mundi
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The Thema Mundi was a mythical horoscope used in Hellenistic astrology that shows the believed positions of the seven visible planets (including the Sun and Moon) at the beginning of the universe. It exemplifies the logic behind the sign rulerships, exaltations, and meanings of the aspects, among other things.
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[edit] Structure
The Thema Mundi shows:
- Cancer rising, with the Moon in Cancer
- The Sun in Leo
- Mercury in Virgo
- Venus in Libra
- Mars in Scorpio
- Jupiter in Sagittarius
- Saturn in Capricorn
[edit] Rationale
The Thema Mundi's structure provided a backing for many of the concepts in Hellenistic astrology.
[edit] Planetary domiciles
The Sun and Moon, the two luminaries, are assigned to the two signs that correspond to the brightest and warmest times of the year, Cancer and Leo. The other planets are assigned to signs by halving the zodiac between Cancer and Leo and assigning each planet to one sign on the solar half and each on the lunar half. Mercury is assigned to the two signs next to the luminaries, Gemini and Virgo, because it never travels more than one sign away from the Sun. Venus is assigned to the next two signs, Taurus and Libra, because it never gets more than two signs away. Jupiter and Mars are assigned to their signs Sagittarius and Pisces, and Aries and Scorpio, respectively, in this same way. Finally Saturn is assigned to Capricorn and Aquarius because of the cold and lack of light during this time of the year.
[edit] Aspects
The natures of aspects are determined by the planets' configurations to the luminaries in the Thema Mundi. In it, the aspects made by the planets correlate with their benefic or malefic classification.
- Saturn makes an opposition to the Moon, and so the opposition is said to be of the nature of Saturn. Saturn is the greater of the two malefics, and so the opposition is the most negative and harmful of the two negative aspects.
- Mars makes a square to the Sun, so the square is said to be of the nature of Mars. Mars is the lesser malefic, so the square is the least negative of the two aspects.
- Jupiter is making a trine to the Sun, so the trine's nature is that of Jupiter. Since Jupiter is the greater of the two benefics, the trine is said to be the most desirable positive aspect.
- Venus is making a sextile to the Sun and thus the sextile is of the nature of Venus, the weaker of the two benefics.
