Onomantic Astrology – Arcana and Astrological Houses

Placement of various factors

Italian version

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When creating an onomantic natal horoscope, a critical aspect involves organising the data and planetary combinations using numerical decomposition criteria as previously examined.

Tenth House

To draw up the Tenth House table, one must employ the outcomes obtained from the Vertex of the Horoscope calculation. The broken-down number of the Vertex of the Horoscope is vertically placed in the Numbers column of the Tenth House table, and each digit represents a symbolic position within the Tenth House. In the Rosicrucian Cycles‘ table, under the section dedicated to the planetary cycle of Venus, the column of numerical scales is examined for the first occurrence of the first digit immediately after the Starting Arcanum, which in this instance is the Arcanum XLIX (Nine of Cups); the Arcanum, the symbols, and the decan are noted in the respective columns of the House table. Subsequently, one proceeds in descending sequence with the following three digits, initiating each time from the last position reached. It is crucial to remember that one never takes two numbers in a row on the same line; instead, one descends at each number. Moreover, when one completes the circle, one does not go backwards but starts over every time.

Note

In the event of multiple first names, the orientation table shall be expanded by allocating the numerals of the secondary names in the 1st House, 2nd House, and so forth. As a result, subsequent attributions such as degree, sign, and year will slide into the subsequent Houses. The same principle applies naturally to dual surnames.

House	Numbers	Arcana	Symbols	Decans
X	10	L – Ten of Cups	Saturn
	8	LXII – Eight of Swords	Jupiter in Cancer	3rd
	90	LXVII – Knight of Pentacles	Jupiter in Aquarius	3rd
	8	LXXVI – Eight of Pentacles	Moon in Aquarius	1st

Eleventh House

For the Eleventh House, the numerical values assigned to the Surname are utilised, with a descending sequence always followed, commencing from the last Arcanum of the preceding House (which, in this scenario, is Arcanum LXXVI). In the provided example, the sequence recommences from the beginning after the number 100 and the initial occurrence of the number 30 is sought:

House	Numbers	Arcana	Symbols	Decans
XI	100	LXXVII – Nine of Pentacles	Sun in Pisces	2nd
	30	XLII – Two of Cups	Jupiter in Libra	1st

Twelfth House

For the Twelfth House, the digits of the Name are used. The number 1, the next digit, is on the same line as the number 20; in this case, you must search for the next occurrence by starting from the beginning of the cycle:

House	Numbers	Arcana	Symbols	Decans
XII	20	LXIX – Ace of Pentacles	The Crowned Shekel
	1	XXVII – Ace of Wands	Arcanum of the Sceptre

First House

For the First House, the figures of the Thebaic Degree are used:

House	Numbers	Arcana	Symbols	Decans
I	20	XLI – Ace of Cups	Mars
	3	XLIII – Three of Cups	The Reaper’s Arcanum

Second House

For the Second House, the numbers of the zodiac sign of birth are used:

House	Numbers	Arcana	Symbols	Decans
II	10	L – Ten of Cups	Saturn
	2	LVI – Two of Swords	Moon

Third House

For the Third House, the numbers of the year of birth are used :

House	Numbers	Arcana	Symbols	Decans
III	10	LXIV – Ten of Swords	Moon in Virgo	2nd
	8	LXXVI – Eight of Pentacles	Moon in Aquarius	1st
	70	XLVI – Six of Cups	Sun in Capricorn	1st
	9	XLIX – Nine of Cups	Venus in Pisces	3rd

The Ages of the Moon

We use the Table of Epacts to obtain the Age of the Moon. This Table comprises the Epact number, listed in the leftmost column, which corresponds to the year of birth, the number of days in the birth month, and a special monthly coefficient derived from the Table of addition coefficients present in the Table of Epacts. If these three values exceed 30, 30 is subtracted in months with 31 days, and 29 is subtracted if the month has 30 days or less. For instance, in our case:

Number of the day of birth		14
Epact number		+ 6
Coefficient		0
	Total	20
	March has 31 days	0
	Age of the Moon	20

The Author does not specify either the use or the function of the number obtained or include it in his example graph.

The missing planets

When a planet is absent from the horoscope, it is considered to be in detriment and placed in its nocturnal domicile. In the example provided, the planet Mercury is the only one missing and is placed in the first decan of the Virgo sign, as instructed by the author. However, Del Bello does not elaborate on the reason behind selecting the first decan as the domicile location.

The Four Substantial Arcana

The placement of the Four Substantial Arcana in the Houses must be carried out based on precise calculations. Unfortunately, Del Bello has provided explanations relating to the meaning of only the first of these, while the titles of the remaining three are expected to be self-explanatory.

Arcanum of the Birth Doorway

The Arcanum of the Birth Doorway is regarded as the epitome of life’s most significant point. It is computed by theosophically adding the figures of the Vertex of the Horoscope. If the resulting sum exceeds 22, the number of Major Arcana, then this figure is deducted from the outcome.

1 + 8 + 9 + 8 = 26 – 22 = 4

Major Arcanum of the Birth Doorway

IV – The Emperor

Del Bello uses a peculiar method to place the Arcanum in the House, based on the placement of numbers at the vertices of a hexagram. In our example:

This particular configuration is attained by considering the last two digits of the Vertex of the Horoscope during the calculation. The total is then subtracted by 12 (the number of zodiac signs) as many times as needed to obtain the desired outcome.

1 + 8 + 9 + 8 + 9 + 8 = 43 – 36 = 7

House of the Birth Doorway

VII

Birth Doorway predictions are based on the difference between the Horoscope’s Vertex and the birth year. These predictions are fulfilled in the year of age obtained from this calculation:

1898 – 1879 = 19

Age of the Birth Doorway Prediction

19

In essence, since this calculation is a reverse operation for the Vertex of the Horoscope, the data obtained corresponds to the Prophetic Number.

Arcanum of Providence

It is obtained by adding the numbers of the Surname and Name:

1 + 3 + 0 + 5 + 2 = 11

Major Arcanum of Providence

XI – Strength

To situate the Arcanum of Providence in the House, the number of zodiac signs, 12, is subtracted from the previously obtained number. The subtraction process is repeated until the result is less than 12. In this case, no subtraction is required as the number is already less than 12:

11

House of the Arcanum of Providence

XI

Arcanum of Destiny

The acquisition of the Arcanum of Destiny involves the sum of the degree, the sign, and the year of birth numbers, followed by subtracting 22 as many times as necessary.

2 + 3 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 8 + 7 + 9 = 33 -22 = 11

Major Arcanum of Destiny

XI – Strength

To determine the House’s location, repeatedly subtract 12 from the previous total. In this specific instance, no subtraction is needed.

11

House of the Arcanum of Destiny

XI

Arcanum of Free Will

The Arcanum of Free Will is obtained by adding the two previous Arcana (Arcanum of Providence and Arcanum of Destiny) and subtracting 22 if necessary:

11 + 11 = 22

Arcanum of Free Will

XXII – The World

In our example, the age-old question of the positioning of The Fool in the Tarot deck arises. Papus and Del Bello both place The Fool (Fatuus) in the twenty-first position before The World (Universum), which consequently becomes the twenty-second card. In contrast, Waite assigns The Fool the number zero, placing it at the end of the deck and making The World the twenty-first card. Crowley also assigns The Fool the number zero but places it at the beginning of the deck. Del Bello recommends placing the Arcanum of Free Will in the First House due to its importance in developing individuality.

Greater and Lesser Judges

The Greater and Lesser Judges system is a method used to obtain the Major and Minor Arcana symbolising, to some extent, the Houses of the horoscope. That is done by adding the Arcana of the concerned House in a natural (non-theosophical) way and then subtracting 22 (Major Arcana) or 56 (Minor Arcana) as many times as the numbers are contained in the sum. It is important to note that the Minor Judge does not necessarily need to represent itself with a Minor Arcanum. At the end of this procedure, one can obtain the Major and Minor Arcana, which will influence the whole life, by adding all the Arcana of the Houses, including the Starting Arcanum.

Greater and Lesser Judges of the Tenth House

255 – 242 = 13	Greater Judge of the 10th House	XIII – Death
255 – 224 = 31	Lesser Judge of the 10th House	XXXI – Five of Wands

Greater and Lesser Judges of the Eleventh House

118 – 110 = 8	Greater Judge of the 11th House	VIII – Justice
118 – 112 = 6	Lesser Judge of the 11th House	VI – The Lovers

Greater and Lesser Judges of the Twelfth House

96 – 88 = 8	Greater Judge of the 12th House	VIII – Justice
96 – 56 = 40	Lesser Judge of the 12th House	XL – Page of Cups

Greater and Lesser Judges of the First House

84 – 66 = 18	Greater Judge of the 1st  House	XVIII – The Moon
84 – 56 = 28	Lesser Judge of the 1st House	XXVIII – Two of Wands

Greater and Lesser Judges of the Second House

106 – 88 = 18	Greater Judge of the 2nd  House	XVIII – The Moon
106 – 56 = 50	Lesser Judge of the 2nd House	L – Ten of Cups

Greater and Lesser Judges of the Third House

235 – 220 = 15	Greater Judge of the 3rd House	XV – The Devil
235 – 224 = 11	Lesser Judge of the 3rd House	XI – Strength

Greater and Lesser Arcana of Life

944 – 924 = 20	Greater Arcanum of Life	XX – Judgement
944 – 896 = 11	Lesser Arcanum of Life	XLVIII – Eight of Cups