Triplicity
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In astrology, a triplicity is a group of three signs belonging to the same element. In Western astrology each sign of the same triplicity is 120 degrees apart, forming angles to one another called trines, which are each equivalent to the 360 degrees of the circle divided by three. Trines are considered to be very powerful and yet very comfortable, free-flowing connections. This suggests that the signs in each element are very comfortable and compatible with one another and tend to have many of the same qualities in common.
Each triplicity is governed by a planetary ruler, which varies according to the sect of the chart. Triplicity rulerships are one of the most important essential dignities of each planet.
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[edit] Signs within each element's triplicity
In traditional Western astrology there are four triplicities based on the classical elements. Beginning with the first sign Aries which is a Fire sign, the next in line Taurus is Earth, then to Gemini which is Air, and finally to Cancer which is Water -- in Western astrology the sequence is always Fire, Earth, Air, & Water in that exact order (except in sidereal astrology, where currently Pisces is the first sign). This cycle continues on twice more and ends with the twelfth and final astrological sign, Pisces. The elemental rulerships for the twelve astrological signs of the zodiac (according to Marcus Manilius) are summarised as follows:
- Fire - Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius - hot, dry, ardent
[edit] Elements in classical astrology
In traditional astrology several factors concerning the elements were considered of particular importance. These include Triplicity Rulerships and Triplicity by Season.
[edit] Triplicity rulerships
In traditional astrology, each triplicity has several planetary rulers, which change with conditions of sect--that is, whether the chart is a day chart or a night chart.
Triplicity rulerships are a very important essential dignity--one of the several factors used by traditional astrologers to weigh the strength, effectiveness and integrity of each planet in a chart. Many Hellenistic astrologers (for example, Dorotheus of Sidon[1]) considered triplicity rulership the most powerful and demonstrable of the several essential dignities of a planet.
Triplicty rulerships (using the "Dorothean system") are as follows:[2]
| Triplicity | Day Ruler | Night Ruler | Participating Ruler |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fire (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius): | Sun | Jupiter | Saturn |
| Air (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius): | Saturn | Mercury | Jupiter |
| Earth (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn): | Venus | Moon | Mars |
| Water * (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces): | Venus * | Mars | Moon |
"Participating" rulers were not used after the Hellenistic period. [5]
One way in which triplicty rulerships were used by earlier astrologers was to divide a person's life into three periods: early, middle, and late. The condition of the triplicity ruler that is in sect in the chart is evaluated when considering the tenor of the early part of life; the ruler out of sect is examined for the middle of life; and the last third of life is evaluated by looking at the condition of the participating triplicity ruler. [6]
In medieval systems of astrology, each essential dignity was given a different weight. Domicile rulers were given 5 points of weight; exaltation rulers were given 4 points; and triplicity rulers were assigned 3 points of weight. This gives some idea of how much power medieval astrologers accorded to each essential dignity. [7]
Triplicity rulerships are not however, given much attention by modern astrologers.
[edit] Triplicities by season
In ancient astrology, however, triplicities were more of a seasonal nature, so a season was given the qualities of an element, which means the signs associated with that season would be allocated to that element. The seasonal elements of ancient astrology are as follows:
- Spring - Earth - Aries, Taurus, Gemini
- Summer - Fire - Cancer, Leo, Virgo
- Autumn - Air - Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius
- Winter - Water - Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces
These associations are not given any great importance in modern astrology, although they are prominent in modern Western Neopaganism, Druidism and Wicca
[edit] Elements in modern astrology
In modern astrology, the elements have become associated with different personality types. These are summarized in the following table:
| Element | Horoscope | Description | Misused... |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fire | Aries, Leo, Sagittarius | These signs are fiery, bright, ardent, enthusiastic, leaders, confident, proud, spontaneous, self-sufficient, and romantic. | They can be very arrogant, self-centered, bossy, forceful, and hungry for attention. These signs don't have time to sympathize and comfort others; they have no patience for emotionalism or heaviness. They also tend to take credit for things that others have also taken part in. |
| Earth | Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn | These signs are practical, stable, consistent, rigid, determined, dependable, patient, conservative, and sensual. They love material comforts and have good recuperative powers. | They can be dull and too materialistic. |
| Air | Gemini, Libra, Aquarius | These signs can talk and communicate well; they tend to be intellectual, and they are able to handle abstract reasoning. They are logical, objective, talkative, social, spontaneous, flexible, cautious, idealistic, and unprejudiced. | They can be cold, superficial, and impractical. These signs fear something new and hunger for freedom. |
| Water | Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces | These signs are feeling, sustaining, and receptive. They are emotional, intuitive, responsive, sensitive, psychic, and deep. They tend to be susceptible to mood swings, and it takes a while to get to know them. They are also nurturing and base many actions they take on sense. | They can be self-protective and like to spoil themselves. If their emotions become too strong, these signs can become addicted to drugs, alcohol, food, or anything that keeps them from being overloaded. Along with their empathy, also comes a tendency to actually absorb the emotions of others. |
[edit] Notes
- ^ Dorotheus of Sidon, Carmen Astrologicum, tr. by David Pingree. Originally published in Teubner series (Leipzig, 1976). Re-published by Ascella Publications (London, 1993). Re-published by Astrology Classics (Bel Air, MD), 2005.
- ^ Late Classical Astrology: Paulus Alexandrinus and Olympiodorus (with the Scholia of later Latin Commentators). [Translated by Dorian Gieseler Greenbaum.] Archive for the Retrieval of Historical Astrological Texts [ARHAT] [1], 2001. P.6. (This is a translation of Paulus' Introduction along with the Commentary by Olympiodorus and related Byzantine scholia.)
- ^ [2] Claudius Ptolemy, Tetrabiblos online [tr. by Frank Egleston Robbins] in the Loeb Classical Library, 1 volume, Greek text and facing English translation: Harvard University Press, 1940. Pp. 79-83.
- ^ William Lilly, Christian Astrology, Book 3: An Easie And Plaine Method Teaching How to Judge upon Nativities, 1647. 2nd ed., 1659. Re-published by Astrology Classics (Bel Air, Maryland), 2004; by Ascella Publications, ed. D. Houlding, London, 2000; and [in facsimile of 1647 edition] by Regulus Press, London, 1985. [orig.] P. 104.
- ^ Joseph Crane, A Practical Guide to Traditional Astrology. ARHAT publications (Reston, VA). 1997, 2007. ISBN 9-780966-226614. Pp.6-10.
- ^ Crane, Ibid.
- ^ J. Lee Lehman, Essential Dignities. Whitford Press (West Chester, PA), 1989. ISBN 9-780924-608032. Pp. 132-138.
