Astrology Encyclopedia

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Face. There is so much contradictory testimony with reference to this term that the entire subject has been ignored by many modern authorities.

 

(1) As employed by Ptolemy, a planet in a House that is distant counter-clockwise from the Moon, or clockwise from the Sun by the same number of Houses as the Sign, is in its Face. This means that Mercury is in its Face when in a House preceding that of the Moon, or following that of the Sun; Venus, when two Houses preceding or following; Mars, three Houses; Jupiter, four Houses; or Saturn, five Houses - duplicating in Houses from the actual Sun and Moon positions, the scheme of Sign-Rulership from Cancer and Leo, around to Capricorn and Aquarius.

 

(2) James Wilson gives a series of 10° Faces which are merely the scheme of Decanates with their Rulers according to one of the ancient Systems. Since this is only a distinction of terms without a difference in meaning, the employment of the term Face in this sense is confusing and unnecessary.

 

(3) Alan Leo defines a Face as one of a series of 5° subdivisions of a Sign. His fondness for symbolism is reflected in the interpretations which he applies to those who have a rising Degree in each of the 72 arcs in this series of what might better be called demi-Decans. v. Signs, Subdivisions of.

Fall. A planet in the Sign opposite that in which it is said to be Exalted. v. Dignity

False Angle; False Arc. v. Directions.

 

Familiarity. A term used by Ptolemy to indicate an aspect or parallel between two bodies; or their mutual disposition, as when each is in the other's Sign or House.

 

Fate. The belief that astrological influences determine Man's fate, that the issues of all events is predetermined, and that no effort can avail him to alter it, is an extreme view to which few modern astrologers subscribe, since it would deprive his active will and effort of mind of any effective part in determining the events of his life. The doctrine of Fate should therefore be regarded as somewhat misleading on the ground that it is in conflict with the modern concept of Man as a free moral agent. v. Free Will.

 

Feminine Signs. The even-numbered signs: Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn, and Pisces. (v. Signs.)

 

Feral. A wild or undomesticated animal. A term anciently employed whereby inference was made to the bestial nature of those with an Ascendant in Leo or the latter half of Sagittarius; also those with either Luminary so placed and with the malefics in Angles. The Moon was said to be feral when void of course (q.v.).

 

Figure. An astrological or Celestial Figure, variously called Geniture, Map, Scheme, Chart, Theme, Mirror of Heaven, Nativity or Horoscope, as cast, erected or drawn by modern astrologers, consists of a circle of the heavens, representing the 360° of the Earth's orbit, divided into twelve arcs - resembling a wheel of twelve spokes. These arcs may represent Signs of 30° each beginning at the Spring equinoctial point, or Houses of an indeterminate number of degrees beginning at an ascending degree. A Solar Figure, used where a specific moment of birth is not known, employs the Sun's degree as the point of beginning, or Ascendant. The Houses or geo-arcs, based upon the degree rising in the east at the specific moment for which the Figure is cast, supposedly represent the number of degrees which pass over the horizon in two hours from that particular longitude and latitude and on that day. The Sign-divisions, or heliarcs, are thus subdivisions of the Earth's annual orbit round the Sun, while the House-divisions, or geo-arcs, are subdivisions of the daily orbit of a particular point on the Earth's surface around the Earth's axis. READ COMPLETE ARTICLE

 

Fire Signs. The inspirational signs: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius. v. Signs.

 

First point. 0º Aries; from which point Longitude is reckoned along the Ecliptic, and right ascension along the Celestial Equator.

 

Fixed Signs. Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius, constituing the Fixed Quadruplicity. v. Signs, Qualities.

 

Fixed Stars. v. Stars.

 

Flexed. An alternate term for the mutable signs, preferred by some modern authorities.

 

Fortified. Strongly placed; either elevated, in a congenial Sign, or well-aspected.

 

Fortitude. An ancient term indicating a quality or strength possessed by a planet when posited in its own sign or that of its exaltation.

 

Fortuna. Pars Fortuna. The Part of Fortune. One of the Arabian Points (q.v.). A point that bears the same relation to the Rising Degree that the Moon bears to the Sun. It occupies the same House-position in a Figure based on a birth-moment, that the Moon tenants in a Solar Figure. Its symbol, a cross within a circle ED, is that utilized by astronomers to represent the Earth. It is the ancient Chinese symbol Tien, a field; used by the Egyptians to signify territory. It is generally considered that the House position of Fortuna is an indication of the department of life that will most readily contribute to the financial welfare of the native. If so it tends to lend emphasis to the theory that one succeeds best at that which one likes best; that congeniality of occupation is a contributing factor to success therein. v. Arabian Points.

 

Fortunate Signs. A positive Sign, especially on the Ascendant, is sometimes so characterized; but, unless the Ruler thereof is well aspected, this ought not to be taken too literally, for too often it is overbalanced by other considerations.

 

Fortunes. The benefic planets: Jupiter, the 'Greater Fortune"; and Venus, the "Lesser Fortune". The Sun and Mercury, or by some authorities the Moon and Mercury, when well placed and aspected, particularly if by Jupiter or Venus, are sometimes so classed. Simmonite in his "Arcana of Astrology" says: "If Jupiter be with the Part of Fortune in good aspect with the Moon and angular, especially in the First House, the native will become rich".

 

Four-footed Signs. Aries, Taurus, Leo, Sagittarius and Capricorn, sometimes termed "animal Signs." One whose Ascendant is posited in one of these Signs was anciently presumed to possess some of the qualities of that particular animal; as bold as the Lion, lustful as a goat, and so on.

 

Fourth Dimension. The interrelationship of space and time, as developed by contemporary physicists, makes Time the Fourth Dimension of Space. The concept has no immediate application to Astrology, but its comprehension makes more understandable the factors upon which all astrological considerations are based. In occult terminology the Fourth Dimension has to do with internal qualities that when seen in the astral light become visible. It is defined as "the sum of the other three" dimensions; also as "Man's expanding sense of time." In another sense Astrology is the Fourth Dimension of Psychology, in that it alone takes cognizance of the added factor of time.

 

Free-Will. A doctrine that applies to the exercise of the will in overcoming the obstacles of terrestrial environment and cosmic influences, whereby so to control and direct cosmic forces operating at a given time, as to transmute them into power under control. It is opposed to any such yielding to an influence as that which is called Fate. According to this concept the hour and place of birth, and the planets thereby located in the Figure, represent the tools with which the individual is enabled to work out his destiny. How he uses them, how he applies his individual gifts, is in his own hands by virtue of the divine gift of Free Will. This philosophy thus removes from astrological teachings the fatalistic doctrine which is repugnant to all who believe that Man's control of his ultimate destiny is in his own hands.

 

Friendly planets. Ptolemy appeared to believe that those planets which have rulership, exaltation or triplicity in each other's Signs should be classed as friendly planets. Other authorities class them as follows:

 

Sun - unfriendly only to Saturn.

Moon - unfriendly only to Mars and Saturn.

Venus - unfriendly only to Saturn.

Mars - friendly with Venus only.

Jupiter - unfriendly only to Mars.

Saturn - friendly only to the Sun, Mercury and Jupiter.

 

Just how Saturn can be friendly to the Sun when the latter is unfriendly to him is nowhere explained, and James Wilson says the entire concept is nonsense. However, a little thought will discern its basic truth when the qualities of the various vibrations are considered, and as regards the Sun-Saturn objection what Ptolemy probably meant was Saturn's application in beneficent aspect to the solar orb, for no one can deny that a sextile or trine from Saturn to the Sun mightily strengthens the latter and agrees with its purpose.

 

Fruitful Signs. Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces. The Water Signs. In Horary Questions the Ascendant, Moon, or Lord of the Ascendant, if strongly placed in any one of these Signs, become symbols of children. Some deem this equally applicable to the Natal Figure, and that the 5th or its Lord in a fruitful Sign is a symbol of children. v. Signs.

 

Frustration. A term used in Horary Astrology when one planet is applying to an aspect of another, which aspect would tend to signify some event; but before such aspect culminates, a third planet, by its swifter motion, interposes to anticipate the culmination of the forming aspect by completing one of its own. It is said to produce an Abscission of Light that will frustrate the promised effect of the slower-moving aspect, constituting a prohibition (q.v.) against its operation. The indication is that the matter thus subjected to the prohibition will be retarded or utterly prevented, through influences connected with the House of which the frustrating planet is Ruler, or in which it was posited at birth. In his "Arcana of Astrology" Simmonite gives this illustration of its application to an Horary Figure: "If Venus, Lady of the Ascendant, were hastening to the trine of Mars, Lord of the Seventh, in a question of marriage, it might denote that the match would take place; but if Mercury were to form an opposition to Mars before Venus reached her trine of that planet, it would be a frustration and would show that the hopes of the querent would be cut off, and if he were Lord of the Twelfth, it might denote that it would be done by a private enemy; if Lord of the 3rd, by means of relations, and so on."