Sign InIntroduction
Methods used to assess planets' strength were devised by noted astrologers ranging from Alexandre Volguine, Jacques Berthon, Christophe de Cène, Gilles Verneret, to Catherine Aubier, Yves Lenoble, etc.
Almost all astrologers started to develop their own system when they got involved in programming. All these methods are historically interesting as, most often, they have led to improvements in the determination of dominants and offered remarkable results. Our purpose here is not to dismantle them, but only to briefly explain in which ways our efforts may have taken the process a great leap further, by applying our mathematical weighting to each criterion, and not mere numerical valuations.
After a whole year of devising and testing, we have put into practice our own method in our Dominants and Celebrities pages. We based our approach on two major points: pragmatism and analysis in its most elaborate form. With regard to pragmatism, a good example is the planets' qualities: each and every student of astrology knows that all planets have a sign in which they are in domicile, exaltation, fall or exile.
The varying degree of the strength of a planet, when in one of the above cases, constitutes quite a strange debate in the sense that, on the one hand, it is written that a planet in domicile or in exaltation is most potent and gives of its best, and that when in exile or in fall, it is thwarted. On the other hand, it is also mentioned that calculation methods include a bonus in the first two cases and a penalty in the other two. Both bonus and penalty increase the importance of the said planet and they impact on the whole series of usual criteria: hierarchy of the elements, modes, houses, signs, etc. Should a planet in exile be considered less powerful than a planet in domicile and that it cannot become a dominant due to its difficult position? Some people would answer no, because a so called malefic planet in exile or in fall has its incapacitating potential increased, hence its power, owing precisely to this position. Therefore, is it reasonable to grant a power bonus only to planets with a favorable influence? One must remain level headed on this matter, lest one gets results that do not match those produced by manual analysis.
Actually, caution and common sense dictate that the use of bonuses and penalties must be limited when dealing with rulerships. Indeed, Volguine's method is quite far fetched and its distorted results are not confirmed by our experience. Lepoivre de Vesle's method for dominants calculation, which is used by Astrotheme, significantly reduces the bonus penalty system in order to avoid distorted results and get a better estimate of the planets' strength.
In other similar arguments, such principles as swiftness of motion, polarity or even retrogradation seem very dangerous to us. An exaggerated numerical grading of this type of criteria produces dominants that prove wacky, therefore erroneous.
A few words about our Method
Which factors should be taken into account? Our view is that the most important criteria are mainly angularity and the principle of activity, along with Ascendant and Midheaven's rulerships and, to a lesser extent, the two luminaries' rulerships, the Moon and the Sun.
In this way, we have developed a sophisticated programming to determine the activeness of each planet according to all the aspects formed with other planets and with the angles, fine tuning with the nature of aspects, the planets involved and the exactitude or orb of the said aspects. Our very thorough calculation allows the measurement and rating of the level of the planets' activity. Then, the said rate is included in the calculation of the overall power of the planet, with a precision that remains unparalleled. A conjunction with an orb of 10 degrees is considered less potent than a conjunction with an orb of 2 degrees. The same holds true for every aspect, including minor aspects such as quintiles and sesquiquadrates.
We do not intend here to explain all the details of our Method, which we may publish at a later stage, but we wish to provide a few indications to justify it, as our opinion is that our Method is the most interesting and reliable one among those we have tested so far.
Angularities are also processed numerically, which is more common, of course. The criterion is an orb of 15 degrees since it is when the influence starts to manifest. One of the major difficulties was obviously to balance the importance of all these criteria, quality, activity, angularity, rulerships, as delineated earlier.
Once we have at our disposal a good estimate of each planet's strength, the said strength being the result of an accumulation of criteria that rate activity, angularity, rulership and quality in a subtle way according to orb exactitude, it becomes possible to compute the power of each planet in order to determine the usual dominants. These are Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western hemispheres, quadrants NE, SE, NW and SW, Yin and Yang polarity, elements Fire, Air, Earth, Water, modes Cardinal, Fixed, Mutable, house accentuations angular, succedent, cadent, esoteric decanates and above all, dominant planets, dominant signs and dominant houses, that is to say eleven dominants. They constitute a good start for the evaluation of the human personality and allow us to enrich a portrait already delineated with the usual meanings of the planets in signs and in houses, along with aspects and rulerships.
The rich features of Astrotheme's method stem from our will to work with the most extreme precision, which implies that the exactitude and nature of planet criteria are thoroughly dealt with. The hindsight we have gained with other currently available methods has also played an important part. Finally, a painstaking and huge programming work has resulted in reliable values for all the dominants.
These eleven calculations have been integrated into all Astrotheme's portraits of celebrities. You are offered the possibility to sort, search or screen all the celebrities of our entire database according to our eleven new astrological criteria. For instance, you can get the list of celebrities with a strong influence of Fire, or highlighted cadent houses, or prominent mutable elements, or else the supremacy of the Southeastern quadrant. You can also search the most Neptunian or Solar celebrities, or those who have the strongest 8th House, or else the most powerful Sagittarius. Later, you can even run a multiple criteria search and enrich these eleven criteria with other existing criteria using the planets' positions in signs and houses and defining the exactitude parameters as you please.
Note: When the birth time is unknown, it is obvious that astrological houses and angles cannot be taken into account. In that case, we work with six planetary dominants instead of the usual eleven. Although results are less precise, they remain very valuable nonetheless.
The Activity Parameter
Each planet usually receives a number of major and minor aspects, with a wider or narrower orb in most cases. Orbs refer to the space within which an aspect is active. An orb of zero degree means that the aspect is perfectly exact, for instance, an angle of 90 degrees for the square and 180 degrees for the opposition. An orb of 5 degrees means that for these aspects, the angle measures 85 or 95 degrees, and 175 or 185 degrees, respectively. Each aspect has an intrinsic strength. For example, a conjunction is stronger than a trine, a sextile is stronger than a semisquare.
All factors are weighed according to their nature and exactitude, the orb, so as to deduce a value that is included in the calculation of the planet's strength. Aspects to angles are of course taken into account when the time of birth is known. Besides, we also add a differentiation, depending on the planets involved, so as not to overrate generational aspects. For example, a Neptune Pluto aspect carries less weight than a Moon Mars aspect.
The Quality Parameter
We pay relative attention to rulerships. The position of a planet in domicile, exile, exaltation or fall is processed with a mild bonus or penalty.
The Rulership Parameter
The planet ruling the Ascendant always has an increased value in a natal chart, sometimes to the extent that it becomes the dominant planet. Therefore, it is logical to give it a significant bonus. To a lesser extent, the planets ruling the Sun, the Moon, and the Midheaven also get a bonus.
The Angularity Parameter
Tradition has it that a planet positioned near the four angles of the natal chart has its strength dramatically increased. The Ascendant, the Midheaven, the Descendant and the Nadir, in decreasing order, bring about a bonus whose importance depends on the angular distance existing between the angle and the planet involved. This parameter is included in the overall calculation process.
Conclusion
Our calculations of planets' strength are carried out in differentiated ways, depending on the types of amplification we have chosen. For instance, bonuses for angularity, rulership or quality do not consider the planets' initial value, whereas the activity parameter does take a series of initial values into account. In the end, we integrate them all. One of the major difficulties encountered has been to numerically grade the parameters pertaining to each factor on the one hand, and on the other hand, to grade factors among themselves. The price we had to pay translated into months spent testing in order to ensure that, in practically every case, our computer analysis produces the same results as the very detailed analysis carried out by the professional practitioner of astrology.
In hindsight, months after we started our calculations, we can say that they are entirely satisfactory and we are going to use them for other various themes.
Annex: a few words about Planetary Typology
This annex is an excerpt from an Astrotheme article, "Money and You".
We thought it might be interesting to broach the subject of planetary typologies in spite of the fact that they constitute only one among the eleven criteria mentioned in these pages and that they are considered from a money perspective. The topic of dominants has caused a lot of ink to flow and it is worth bringing it to your attention.
In the above graph, the different human typologies are delineated in the guise of caricatures. Their corresponding planet glyph is also displayed. They are arranged in elements, hot cold dry moist principles, and bilious lymphatic nervous sanguine psychological characteristics. We all belong to several typologies blended together, which constitute as many different cases.
There is a tendency to talk about dominant planets rather than dominant signs. It is also common to use such expressions as a dominant Mars Mercury on a Scorpio backdrop, meaning that Mars characteristics, fighting spirit, courage, action but also fits of anger, along with Mercury characteristics, quick wittedness, sociability, curiosity, but also some superficiality, are prevailing, on a background of strong Scorpio features, desire to provoke, masterminding, endurance, stubbornness, intransigence.
Therefore, before we even start to examine aspects related to a given area, such as finance, marriage, health, it becomes obvious that, depending on the native's deep nature, some questions may be less relevant than others. For the sake of simplification, let's look into a few pure case studies.
The Saturnian is the very prototype of the individual who is quite detached from material and financial contingencies. Since he is less interested than other people in this area, it is most unlikely that he will become one of Earth’s billionaires. Unlikely, but not impossible, and should the case occur, it will be in spite of, not owing to, this Saturnian characteristic. Since Saturn’s nature is dry and tough, expressing contraction, concentration, and long-term aims, is he compatible with “easy money”? Obviously not.
In general, the Saturnian is defined by rigor, patience, and a sharp sense of responsibility, with a preference for productive solitude, clear structures, and commitments that unfold over time.
The Saturnian type above is more concerned with research, science, or inner values rather than festivities and opulence.
Regarding the Martian type, the native is not really favored, except as far as energy, audacity, and courage are concerned. These qualities are more suitable for sports careers and for behavior that certainly yields many results, although not necessarily “converted” into financial success.
In general, the Martian is frank, dynamic, and decisive, hungry for concrete challenges and quick initiatives, sometimes abrupt yet remarkably effective at opening the way.
The Martian above, daring and combative, will always prefer being honored by his peers and having his courage acknowledged rather than being rewarded with money.
The Solar type (Sun dominant) is not naturally drawn to material abundance. The nobility of his ideals, along with his innate charisma and disposition, prompts him to obtain, without even seeking them, honors and often power, with no pejorative meaning implied.
In general, the Solar type radiates calm authority and a unifying dignity, seeks order and exemplarity, inspires trust, and proves as magnanimous as he is demanding with himself, with a marked taste for visible responsibilities and for bringing others’ talents into the light.
The Solar type above, so noble and so pure, will not be attracted to money.
The Mercurian does not pay much attention to his material well-being or to his bank account: as long as his constant flight from boredom and his curiosity are satisfied, he is happy.
In general, the Mercurian is recognizable by the mobility of mind and body, insatiable curiosity, the knack for linking people and ideas, a light sense of humor, and steady adaptability, though he can seem changeable when novelty calls.
The Mercurian above, living to satisfy his curiosity and thirst for contacts, will see money only as a tool for communication, nothing more.
The Lunar type, receptive and lymphatic, aspires to physical comfort and emotional security, and is unlikely to wear himself out amassing a large fortune.
In general, the Lunar lives to the rhythm of deep sensitivity, endowed with a rich memory and a protective imagination, attached to reassuring habits, highly receptive to atmospheres and to others’ needs, sometimes fluctuating like the tide.
The Lunar above, guided by emotion and sensuality, is receptive rather than active: interest in wealth and money will remain secondary.
The Venusian, by contrast, is another story… Venus is the planet of desire, activating the thirst to please and for well-being. She is in analogy with possessive Taurus, itself in analogy with the 2nd House, the house of money earned by oneself and of material goods. A Venusian is therefore naturally inclined to obtain, often through charm, the resources needed to secure well-being and, from his point of view, the indirect means to please. Living in a beautiful home with fine furniture, being surrounded by luxury as often as possible: the Venusian has this in his blood, and if the rest of the chart concurs, money comes because the Venusian native feels concerned by it.
In general, the Venusian seeks harmony, nurtures social bonds, cultivates a taste for beauty and ease, prefers conciliation, and advances by attraction rather than constraint.
The Venusian above is naturally oriented toward money and riches; perhaps with little brute effort, but he will think of it quite naturally at every turn.
A Jupiterian is perfectly equipped to obtain wealth and material goods. More than the somewhat passive Venusian, who often sees money as an indirect means to please and to enjoy, the Jupiterian is active, skillful, and warm, sociable and charismatic, often far from spiritual values and the quest for austerity, one of the paths to wisdom. He is concerned with material life, with the concrete here and now. His wallet and what it contains matter more to him than the rest, and his energy together with his certainty on the subject are generally winning assets to obtain what he covets, usually before his forties.
In general, the Jupiterian is confident, organizing and rallying, sensitive to legal frameworks and prestige, carried by optimism and social ease, with a pronounced sense of initiative and, at times, excess.
The Jupiterian above is the very type oriented forcefully toward power and opulence: the dominant most suited to money and wealth.
The Uranian, the Neptunian, and the Plutonian are derived types from the seven above. They are neither strictly suited to nor far removed from material wealth: the Uranian will prefer to stand out through genius rather than money; the Neptunian will aim to win over the public and merge with it in moments of shared inspiration on a subject that enthralls him; and the Plutonian, as long as he has power, will tend to seek money through others, and it will come after his appetite for control over people and affairs.
In general, the Uranian cherishes independence, inventive thinking, and freedom of tone, feeling at his best when he can surprise, reform, and weave networks free of rigid codes.
By nature, the Neptunian has broad intuition, a permeability to symbols and to the music of things, genuine compassion, and a tendency to dissolve contours in favor of a unifying imagination.
In depth, the Plutonian is marked by lucid intensity in power dynamics, an attraction to hidden zones and transformative processes, a capacity for radical renewal, and a magnetism that impresses.
With a bit of imagination, one might suppose that Christopher Lee, the English actor who portrayed the finest Dracula with virtuosity, could fairly represent the Uranian type, individualistic to the extreme. For the Neptunian type, Honoré de Balzac might be a fair physical example, his face expressing fusion with the outer world and a remarkable imaginative capacity. For the Plutonian type, it is probably the most difficult, but the actor Jack Nicholson could, it seems to us, fit the bill.
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