In the previous two posts we contrasted the general aspect doctrine with the Picatrix’s more specific principle of aspected planetary nature, which gives us a different rubric for evaluating the Moon’s aspects to other planets. Specifically, the principle of aspected planetary nature provides us with a different picture of the Moon’s aspects to benefic and malefic planets, which we explore in more detail in this post.
The Moon’s Aspects to Benefic Planets
It is worth noting that the principle of aspected planetary nature is not a theoretical extrapolation. We do not need to just infer that Picatrix considers a square or opposition to Jupiter or Venus to be positive. This is stated directly in the context of a passage that adds some nuance to the hierarchies described in Part I:
“The trine, sextile, square and opposition aspects of the Moon to Venus are appropriate to all effects, nevertheless it is not as good as the aspects of Jupiter which are indeed useful and powerful in all operations. Still, in works of agreement, love, and lasting friendship with women and in similar works the aspects of Venus are better and more powerful for all of the preceding things that are specifically attributed to Venus, the strongest of which is the trine aspect with the Moon in an earth or water sign.”
—Maslama al-Qurtubi, Picatrix, Book II, Chapter 12, tr. Greer & Warnock
Thus, it is not enough when evaluating Moon aspects in a talismanic election chart to look at the raw valence of the aspect. Picatrix is also instructing us to consider the narrative harmony of the aspect with the intentions of the petition. Thus, although we would consider a trine to Jupiter superior to a trine or sextile to Venus in the abstract, for a talisman of love or friendship—or perhaps even for any Venus talisman—soft aspects to Venus would be preferable than aspects to Jupiter.
Marsilio Ficino gives us one further consideration for aspects to benefic planets. Although he is speaking of aspects with any planet, we can apply them directly to aspects of the Moon as well:
“[T]he fortunate planets are of greater usefulness, when, besides their sextile or trine aspect and their conjunction, they also thus receive the other planets into their houses.”
—Marsilio Ficino, Three Books on Life, Book III, Chapter X, tr. Kaske & Clark
This passage directly follows a quotation that we examine below regarding the malefic planets that references the houses, exaltations, and terms as relevant conditions of reception. In short, aspects to benefic planets are even more benefic when the benefic planets receive the Moon.
Moon Aspects to Retrograde or Afflicted Benefics
In all of the above, we have tacitly been assuming that the benefic planets aspected by the Moon are direct in course and otherwise unafflicted. But it would be reasonable to wonder: so far as Moon aspects are concerned, does a benefic still function the same way when retrograde, or if the benefic is in detriment or fall?
Unfortunately, the Picatrix does not answer this question directly. The best we get is a paragraph on bonifications and afflictions of the Moon in Book II, Chapter 3, in which we are given this passage following a list of configurations that improve the condition of the Moon:
“[The Moon’s improved condition] will be even more so if the Moon is conjunct with one of the fortunes, and that fortune is not diminishing in light or retrograde”
—Maslama al-Qurtubi, Picatrix, Book II, Chapter 3, tr. Greer & Warnock
This passage seems to be stating the best case scenario for improving the condition of the Moon. We are left to work the rest out for ourselves. The previous passages that emphasize the goodness of aspects to Venus and Jupiter do not come with red flag warnings about what happens if the benefic in question is not in the best shape. The text does not tell us, for example, “a sextile to a retrograde Venus, or Venus in Aries, is more like a square to a malefic.”
Rather, I believe we are to understand that the principle of aspected planetary nature always applies: a Moon aspect to a benefic is a benefic aspect of the Moon. If that benefic planet is afflicted, retrograde, or in poor essential dignity, the aspect is simply less benefic, not reversed.
Consider an analogy. Suppose you have not seen your best friend, or a cherished family member, for some time, and you happen upon them while going about your business. Supposing you yourself are not seriously beleaguered or harried, most people would probably welcome seeing a friendly face even if your friend or family member was having a hard time. Though it may pain us to see our loved one suffering, the connection, camaraderie, and opportunity for mutual support would likely still be a boon and a moment that could potentially brighten our spirits.
Similarly, in a medieval understanding, aspects to benefic planets will assume the nature of that planet, even if the light is dimmed or weakened.
Benefic Enclosure
Students of astrological magic would do well to attend to a special condition called bonification by enclosure, also known as benefic enclosure. In the preceding discussion we have been exclusively considering the Moon’s applying aspects. Benefic enclosure occurs when the Moon’s last separating aspect (inclusive of conjunctions) was to one of the benefic planets, and the Moon’s next applying aspect is to a benefic planet as well.
Benefic enclosure represents one of the finest conditions for the Moon, in which she is surrounded on all sides by benefic rays. Such bonification is given pride of place for Lunar Mansion elections in particular. Immediately following a description of the 28 Lunar Mansions in Book I, Chapter 4, the Picatrix states:
“In all these [good works] see to it that the Moon separates from one fortune and applies to the other.”
—Maslama al-Qurtubi, Picatrix, Book I, Chapter 4, tr. Greer & Warnock
Examples of benefic enclosure can be seen in Idola Stellarum’s fixed star Aldebaran talisman for Riches & Honors and 24th Lunar Mansion talisman for Esoteric Knowledge.
There are also rare instances in which the Moon separates from one benefic planet, for example Jupiter, and her next aspect is to the same benefic planet. Idola Stellarum‘s fixed star Vega talisman for Charm & Creativity provides an example of this phenomenon.
Benefic enclosure can vary in its power and positivity according to the nature of the aspects. For example, benefic enclosure of separation from a square to Jupiter and application to an opposition to Venus will be less preferable, all else being equal, than, say, separation from a sextile to Venus and application to a trine to Jupiter.
The Moon’s Aspects to Malefic Planets
As with the Moon’s aspects to benefic planets, further considerations add nuance to how we evaluate the Moon’s aspects to malefic planets. For example, the phase of the Moon impacts the nature of harmful aspects as well:
“The state and condition of the Moon is good when she is increasing by light and by the calendar, and swift of course, nor is the regarding Mars by any aspect, because when the waxing Moon beholds Mars, this is considered to be a great affliction of the Moon, and when she beholds Saturn while waxing, this is a grave affliction.”
—Maslama al-Qurtubi, Picatrix, Book II, Chapter 3, tr. Greer & Warnock
By extrapolation, we can infer that the Moon’s waning will somewhat mitigate aspects to Mars and Saturn.
As with the passage on aspects to Venus in the preceding section, there are circumstances that moderate how we evaluate aspects to malefic planets. We should not assume that the principle of aspected planetary nature means that we should never under any circumstances allow the Moon to aspect Mars or Saturn if we are trying to work toward positive ends. As with any operation, we need to consider the nature and intentions of the working. The Picatrix gives us an example of when we might consider Moon aspects to Mars fortunate:
“If your working is for success in lawsuits and battles and the like, see that Mars is received by the Moon in an amicable aspect.”
—Maslama al-Qurtubi, Picatrix, Book II, Chapter 3, tr. Greer & Warnock
So, for example, a Mars in Capricorn talisman for victory would benefit, other things being equal, by a trine by the Moon in Virgo in a night chart, since Mars would be in the sign of the Moon’s triplicity rulership.
The language in the passage immediate quoted above is intriguing, and we may be wise to take it at face value. Notice that it does not say ‘see that the Moon is joined to Mars in an amicable aspect.’ Rather, the precise language is “see that Mars is received by the Moon in an amicable aspect.” This implies that an amicable aspect (i.e., a trine or sextile) from the Moon to Mars is not sufficient: there must also be reception. That is, the malefic planet must also be in a sign (or possibly decan) in which the Moon carries essential dignity.
As above with the benefic planets, Ficino provides a similar nuance regarding reception:
“Saturn and Mars…are less harmful to the other planets through conjunction, opposition, and the quartile aspect, when they [i.e., Saturn or Mars] also receive [the aspected planets] as guests in their respective houses, exaltations, or terms.”
—Marsilio Ficino, Three Books on Life, Book III, Chapter X, tr. Kaske & Clark
Although our preference would be to avoid hard aspects to malefics entirely, Ficino suggests that the malefic planets’ reception of the Moon serves as a mitigation for the harmfulness of such aspects.
An Exception to the Moon’s Aspects to Malefics
Although the principle of aspected planetary nature tells us that the Moon’s aspect to a malefic is harmful, there is one exception to this rule. The Picatrix allows for an exception when the Moon beholds her lord by a friendly aspect:
“[W]hen the lord of the Moon’s house regards the Moon by a friendly aspect, even if it is an infortune, it will be favorable for petitions and in all that you wish to do.”
—Maslama al-Qurtubi, Picatrix, Book II, Chapter 3, tr. Greer & Warnock
This quotation occurs in a passage that provides some of the basic lunar conditions for a decent election. In context, the implication is that although it is not the ideal condition, it will prove acceptable to have the Moon applying by sextile or trine to one of the malefic planets only if that planet is the ruler of the Moon’s house (i.e., the sign that she is in).
So, for example, if the Moon in Aries next applies by sextile to Mars in Gemini or Aquarius, or by trine to Mars in Sagittarius or Leo, Mars’s rulership of Aries neutralizes the malefic nature of this aspect and we are entitled to treat this aspect as neutral rather than harmful. Similar conditions would apply if the Moon in Aquarius were applying by trine to Saturn in Libra or Gemini, or by sextile to Saturn in Sagittarius or Aries.
Note, however, that when evaluating any Moon aspect to a malefic planet, it would be wise to also consider the essential dignity of that malefic planet. Traditional sources generally tend to credit dignified malefics with less capacity for harm. Jean-Baptiste Morin, for example, notes that “malefics in good celestial state in fortunate houses are like a dissonance in music that has been resolved to produce a consonance” (Astrologica Gallica, Book 21, tr. Baldwin; see also Guido Bonatti, Book of Astronomy, TR 5, 34th Consideration, tr. Dykes). Inversely, malefics in exile or fall have a greater capacity for evil. Hence, a Moon in Aquarius applying to trine Saturn in Libra would likely be a significantly greater mitigation than a Moon in Aquarius applying to sextile Saturn in Aries.
Malefic Enclosure or Besiegement
Corresponding to the above concept of benefic enclosure is the concept of malefic enclosure or besiegement. If benefic enclosure represents one of the finest conditions of the Moon, besiegement represents the worst. Malefic enclosure occurs when the Moon’s last separating aspect was to a malefic planet and her next applying aspect is also to a malefic planet. Picatrix gives a nod to this condition as well, in the same section on Lunar Mansions quoted above:
“In all these [good works] see to it that the Moon separates from one fortune and applies to the other. Do the opposite in works of evil.”
—Maslama al-Qurtubi, Picatrix, Book I, Chapter 4, tr. Greer & Warnock
“Do the opposite” here means to see to it that that Moon both separates and applies to malefic planets. Should you observe the condition of besiegement in a talismanic election chart, it would be prudent to consider that talisman a curse talisman even if it is not presented as such. Even if the above exception were in play for the Moon making a friendly aspect to a malefic who was the Lord of her house, if the Moon were besieged by malefics we would consider the besiegement an overriding factor that marks the aspect as powerfully malefic.
Aspects to the Sun, Mercury, and Fixed Stars
In Part IV of this post series, we examine the Moon’s aspects to the Sun in some detail, since context matters significantly more for a planet such as the Sun that is neither benefic nor malefic in essential nature.