"The Great Introduction" By Abu Ma'shar

JUPITERASC said:

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He argues that a planet's malefic/benefic nature doesn't come from their qualities, as in have inherent natures like in ptolemy's scheme, but its conditions of being benefic or malefic comes from their interactions of the four elements at that specific time of the universe.

People who have agreeable movements [of the planets] and conditions, the planet is benefic. And a malefic if not agreeable.


If I'm interpreting it correctly
These chapters are starting to get complex with their theories

He really wants to emphasize not to get hung up on the classification of benefic/malefic of the planets because they change constantly depending on the chart. He did write reasons based on weather of Mars/Saturn being malevolent, but also emphasized that these change.

Each one of the benefics and malefics on its own indicates life, survival, and acquisition of wealth and real estate in some conditions, but at another
time both indicate death, loss of wealth, decline in value and loss. They both
may come to have the indication of harm at one time, just as they both may indicate benefit at another, through the difference of their conditions.

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p 405. The Great Introduction to Astrology by Abū Maʿsar. Yamamoto and Burnett

Y'all should just skip to page 403 when you get this book honestly.

Okay so I finished it. It’s just a wordier version of ITA. It has a lot of underlying philosophy and justifications of astrology. It’s valuable if you want a more coherent view of astrology based on their own reasoning. It also shows the discussion of techniques and philosophy back then, and agrees or disagrees with astrologers in that sense. It’s very interesting. Y’all should read it if you have the time.

Not recommended if you just want to see techniques concepts and terms.