top of page


study guides
study guide for superdomain02b ["augury"]
Material from: Lilly, W. (1835). Introduction to astrology. (Zadkiel, Ed.). London: Sherwood, Gilbert, and Piper.
1. Know whether or not the ascendant and the Moon) signify the ship and cargo; the lord of the ascendant, those that sail in her. Know whether or not, if the ascendant (and Moon) be unfortunate, and the lord of the ascendant fortunate, the ship is lost, but the men saved. Know whether or not, if you find the infortunes in angles, or succeeding houses, there will chance some hinderance unto the ship. Know whether or not, if the signs afflicted by Saturn, Mars, [unknown glyph] (and Uranus, if he be ill aspected), be those that signify the vessel's bottom, or parts under water, she springs a leak.
2. Know whether or not, if Mars be in the 4th, and afllicted, it denotes fire beneath; and if Uranus be with him, spontaneous combustion. Know whether or not, if Saturn be in the midheaven, and shew damage, it will be by rotten sails or gear, and bad weather, foul winds, etc. Know whether or not, if the lord of the ascendant be retrograde, it denotes that she will put into some harbour; and if he be in a moveable sign, she returns to the very port she sailed from. Know whether or not, if the lords of the ascendant, of the Moon and their dispositors be slow in motion, the voyage will be long. Know whether or not the Master, or Captain, is ruled by Aquarius.
3. Know whether or not Paul Kurtz and the Nobel Prize winners who proclaimed against astrology wouldn't care… if we said we were doing poetic astronomy. Know whether or not it is disingenuous of astrologers to even hint at a scientific basis of the sort understood in physics or biology. Know whether or not there can be no doubt that, strangely and mysteriously, there is some type of response in the universe - captured in the old doctrine of correspondences - that is worthy of a spiritual-scientific endeavor, or of a science of the future. Know whether or not it's quite possible for something to have a genuine physical reference and connection to a mysteriously organized universe…and, at the same time, for each of our acts of horoscope interpretation to be very purely subjective.
4. Know whether or not [in Example 1], the ascending degrees of Cancer showed the bulk or body of the ship. Know whether or not [in Example 1], from the ascendant affiicted by square of Saturn and presence of fixed stars of his nature, [Lilly] judged the ship was of Saturn’s nature, sluggish, heavy, and not very sound. Know whether or not [in Example 1], Lilly judged that the ship had been in some distress in her voyage, occasioned by such casualties as Saturn signifies, viz. some leak or damage in or near her breast, as Aries, the sign Saturn is in represents that part. Know whether or not [in Example 1], the Moon, lady of the ascendant, is in the 11th in her exaltation, in no way impedited, and by a benevolent trine aspect applying to the Sun and Mercury.
5. Know whether or not [in Example 1], Lilly judged the ship, sailors, and officers, were safe, and in good condition. Know whether or not [in Example 1], all factors made Lilly judge that the ship was south-west from London, and upon our own coasts, or near those which lie between Ireland and Wales. Know whether or not [in Example 1], Lilly judged [the ship] at that time to be in some harbor, because where the Moon is, is fixed, and in the 11th, or bouse of comfort and relief, and that she was put in to repair.
6. Know whether or not [in Example 1] Because the Moon applied to a trine of Mercury and the Sun, and they in an angle, and all three very swift in motion, and did want but a few minutes of a perfect trine, [Lilly] judged there would be news, or a certain discovery of the ship in a very short time. Know whether or not [in Example 1], the significators being so near a perfect aspect, Lilly said, either that night, or within two days the news would arrive. Know whether or not [in Example 1], the Moon did so well apply to the Sun, lord of the 2nd, or house of substance, a sign that the merchant should gain by that adventure.
7. Know whether or not [in Example 1], usually when the Moon applies to a good aspect of a retrograde planet, it brings the matter to an issue one way or other speedily, and when least expected. Know whether or not [in Example 1], if the Moon apply to the fortunes, or by good aspect to any planet or planets in angles, it is reason that we hope well, etc. Know whether or not [in Example 2], here the ascendant and the Moon are significators of the ship, and those who sail in her. Know whether or not [in Example 2], as Mars is in his fall near the cusp of the 2nd, [Lilly] judged…loss to the merchant.
8. Know whether or not [in Example 2], the Moon lately separated from a square of Saturn, lord of the 8th and 9th, and afterwards applied to trine of Saturn, then to opposition Mercury, lord of the 12th and 4th houses. [showing] that the ship had lately been in danger of shipwreck. Know whether or not [in Example 2], there being so many ill testimonies, [Lilly] judged [the owner] would lose much, if not all, in this ship; and so consequently that she was cast away. Know whether or not [in Example 2], the principal significator in the 4th and afflicted was a sure sign of the ship sinking.

"As Below, So Above"

[Graphics by Descript's Overlord and Microsoft's Powerpoint. Background videos by Wix.com].
bottom of page