True Primary Directions

[Albert_Timashev]

I'd like to discuss the basic idea underlying the technique of Primary Directions. The goal of my query is to raise this technique to the modern level of astronomy and computer capabilities and comprehension.

Hypothesis #1. For me it is obvious that the basic idea of Primary Directions is to correlate Earth self-rotation with the life of the individual. I think so because the Earth self-rotation is the only natural movement that correspond to Primary Directions kind of momement. If we accept this hypothesis, then we should calculate Primary Direction as a Progression with extremely low ratio of about 1 day for 360 years of life. This means that luminaries and planets of True Primary Direction will move with their natual angular velocities, e.g. Moon will move 1 degree in about 30 years of life. This motion is hardly tracable by astrological means, but I'm sure there are some situations at well-rectified charts those can prove or disprove this hypothesis. Everybody interested in Primary Directions is welcome to share the charts and the opinions those could throw light on this matter. Namely, is True Primary Direction: (a) equatorial direction with ratio of 1 degree for 1 year of life; or (b) progression with ratio 1 day for 360 years of life? Or, asking the same question in a different way, do PD points actually move with their natual angular velocities or stand still?

Hypothesis #2. According to my studies, ancient Egyptians used correlation ratio of 1 degree of Earth self-rotation (i.e. 1 degree of Right Ascension) for 1 year of life. The question is what year did they mean? Is it tropical or sidereal year? The exact direction/progression ratio depends on the answer to this question. What are your opinions?

[Ed_Falis]

Hi Albert,

These are questions of interest to me. Regarding question #1, my experience (obviously anecdotal) is that the motion of the planets should be taken into account, giving what some have called "primary progressions", though I'm not sure I prefer to change the name from "direction". Vitaly Krivodub of the "Kiev School" uses this method (or an approximation) in his "Complex Prediction Technique" http://www.astrologer.ru/book/kpm/index.html.en.

"Ptolomei Svarogich" also uses this kind of method. His "Conceptual Basis" paper at http://www.levante.org presents his rationale for this, and a general theory of "symbolic times" based on the correlation of fundamental astrological frames of reference. I find his approach quite appealing, and my experience has been that it works (I started working with it ~2000).

His hypothesis goes like this.

Important astrological frames of references are based on the spatial and temporal relationships between the native and important bodies with mass in the native's vicinity. He applies a fairly straightforward mathematical model to the generation of solar, terrestrial and lunar frames of reference. These correspond reasonably closely to the traditional tropical zodiac, Placidus domification and (more remotely) to a potential lunar or draconic frame of reference. The differences between his generated frames of reference and the more traditional frames are due largely to the topocentric (not Topocentric houses!) basis of his general model.

His resulting model for what he calls "symbolic times" is that they are all mappings, perhaps of some magical kind, between transit events and events earlier in the native's life. By "event" he means a set of space and time coordinates such as we those for which we draw up charts. Each kind of symbolic time is based on a correlation of two or more of the above frames of reference in a prescribed manner. He identifies three kinds of symbolic time correlations: progressions, directions and profections.

Progressions are the simplest correlation. Movement of the generating body of one frame of reference is correlated with that of the generating body of another frame of reference, each in its own frame.

For example, secondary progressions using the quotidian method for advancing the angles is quite close to the correlation of the solar and terrestrial frames. For a given transit time, one determines the movement of the sun in celestial longitude, including cycles, since the radix. One then moves the RAMC of the natal chart the same number of degrees, including cycles, in right ascension. The result is the progressed time (and date), for which one erects a standard chart for the location of the native at that progressed time.

Tertiary progressions correlate the lunar and terrestrial frames in the same manner. Minor progressions correlate the solar and lunar frames of reference.

Directions are a double application of one of progression mappings. Primary directions taking account of planets' motions in longitude are similar to a double application of the solar-terrestrial progression mapping. That is, having determined the progressed time, move the natal RAMC the same amount in RA as the progressed Sun has moved in celestial longitude to determine the directed time. Then erect a chart for that date/time and location of the native. This implies a dynamic key for the mapping.

Profections in his scheme are the application of two different mappings, the most common of which would be the solar-terrestrial mapping followed by the solar-lunar, yielding approximately 30 degrees of movement of solar celestial longitude per year.

A fascinating approach to me.

- Ed

[Kyle_Pierce]

Hypothesis #1. For me it is obvious that the basic idea of Primary Directions is to correlate Earth self-rotation with the life of the individual. I think so because the Earth self-rotation is the only natural movement that correspond to Primary Directions kind of momement. If we accept this hypothesis, then we should calculate Primary Direction as a Progression with extremely low ratio of about 1 day for 360 years of life.

For example, secondary progressions using the quotidian method for advancing the angles is quite close to the correlation of the solar and terrestrial frames. For a given transit time, one determines the movement of the sun in celestial longitude, including cycles, since the radix. One then moves the RAMC of the natal chart the same number of degrees, including cycles, in right ascension. The result is the progressed time (and date), for which one erects a standard chart for the location of the native at that progressed time.
- Ed

Thanks to you both for bringing up these topics. Some experts in primary directions might say that this is not closely related to the methods they use, but I find this kind of thinking very useful. It's an open question whether progressing the chart at the rate of 1 day per 360 years is equivalent to any method of primary directions. Even though they seem quite different conceptually, they may give some equivalent results.

In my own studies, I found that using a very slow progression rate with the quotidian method of progressing the angles was exactly what I needed to solve a problem I had with profections. I used the ancient profections (or Ruler of the Year) method for quite awhile before I started wondering if I might be able to refine the timing somehow. The problem is that the motion of one sign per year in profections gives only a very rough timing method.

After trying various methods, using ascensional times and such, I finally tried progressing the natal chart at the rate of 1 day for 12 years of life, using the quotidian method of progressing the angles. This method produces a mean motion of one sign per year over the angles -- just as in profections. If you've ever used quotidian angles, you can see this as another variation on that same approach.

This method also has another interesting property: it takes one week to move through 84 years of life, essentially a lifetime over the course of seven progressed days. For this reason, we might call this the "genesis" method of progression. This has the effect of extending the natal chart over a lifetime while more closely preserving the natal planetary configurations than other methods.

Kyle

[Albert_Timashev]

It's an open question whether progressing the chart at the rate of 1 day per 360 years is equivalent to any method of primary directions. Even though they seem quite different conceptually, they may give some equivalent results.

In my experience, they do! The events of the progressed (1 day = 360 years) chart projected to Prime Vertical plane (plane passing thru East-Zenith-West-Nadir) are absolutely equivalent to the directions by the Campanus (house system) arcs. Actually, the Prime Vertical projection shows Primary Directions of planets to angles (ASC, MC, DSC, IC) in any system of direction. And it shows planet-to-planet directions in Campanus system.

However, in my practice I use Whole-Sign house system and three pairs of angles: ASC-DSC, MC-IC and VX-AVX. I direct planets to angles both in Prime Vertical and by ecliptical Ptolemy aspects in progressed chart. This clearly indicates all the major events of life. The ASC ingress indicates the huge changes, the completely new stage of life (because all the houses and rulers are changed in Whole-Sign system if ASC ingress to another sign).

I finally tried progressing the natal chart at the rate of 1 day for 12 years of life, using the quotidian method of progressing the angles.
[...] it takes one week to move through 84 years of life, essentially a lifetime over the course of seven progressed days.

It's funny that you mention it. In fact my secondary method of refining forecast given by True Primary Direction (progression) is the progression with rate of 1 day for 84 years, i.e. 1 day = 1 lifetime. I came to this thinking on how to properly correspond a whole human life with a primary cosmic cycles such as 1 day, 1 month and 1 year.

The complete system of prognostication "turns" I use looks like this (in order of importance):
I) 1 day = 360 years (~Primary Direction) - shows global events and stages of life;
II) 1 day = 84 years - shows regular, but important events and peroids of life;
III) 1 synodic month = 360 years (~Profection) - shows global psycological changes and peroids;
IV) 1 synodic month = 84 years - shows regular psycological changes and peroids;
V) 1 year = 360 years (~Secondary Progression) - shows global changes in consciousness;
VI) 1 year = 84 years - shows regular changes in consciousness;
VII) transit - shows environmental conditions.

All these rates follow from the principle of similarity between and life cycles of the Earth (day), Moon (synodic month), Sun (year) and the life cycles of human being (84 years = 1 ideal lifetime at present time, and 360 years = 1 maximum lifetime according to Egyptians). By the way, Vedic Vimshottari Dasha has a total length of 120 years, that is 1/3 of 360 years; so the Hindus took a third of a maximum lifetime for their basic timing system