How do you tell if a planet is afflicted
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conspiracy theorist
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As well, it depends on which planets are doing the squaring or opposing. Mars and Saturn are traditionally seen as the afflicting influences, while the outer three have been added into the modern practice. Squares and oppositions between Venus, Jupiter, Mercury, the Sun and Moon and angles aren't seen as afflictions per se.
waybread
Well-known member
clip11, it sort of depends whether you do modern or traditional astrology or a blend of both.
I take conspiracy theorist's point. I would put it that a square, opposition, or sometimes a conjunction from the moon, or benefics Venus, or Jupiter can sometimes cause problems for a person, but they're much easier than a hard aspect from Mars, Saturn, or the modern outer planets.
And this works natally as well as by transit.
Modern astrology, however, tends to see hard aspects as ultimately more beneficial. It's like a tough square gives valuable life experience and ultimately builds character. It's a challenge, not a total hardship.
Traditional astrologers tend to see that as blissfully ignoring the really difficult things that happen to people. Bad things happen to good people, and malefic Saturn is typically the planet ruling those bad things. (Mars is a traditional malefic, as well.)
Traditional astrology has some additional debilities, like a planet between Mars and Saturn is "besieged," and planets in the 6th, 8th, and 12th houses have a tough time of it, also.
I take conspiracy theorist's point. I would put it that a square, opposition, or sometimes a conjunction from the moon, or benefics Venus, or Jupiter can sometimes cause problems for a person, but they're much easier than a hard aspect from Mars, Saturn, or the modern outer planets.
And this works natally as well as by transit.
Modern astrology, however, tends to see hard aspects as ultimately more beneficial. It's like a tough square gives valuable life experience and ultimately builds character. It's a challenge, not a total hardship.
Traditional astrologers tend to see that as blissfully ignoring the really difficult things that happen to people. Bad things happen to good people, and malefic Saturn is typically the planet ruling those bad things. (Mars is a traditional malefic, as well.)
Traditional astrology has some additional debilities, like a planet between Mars and Saturn is "besieged," and planets in the 6th, 8th, and 12th houses have a tough time of it, also.
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So is it possible for Mars and Saturn to be afflicted or do they always do the afflicting?
conspiracy theorist
Well-known member
Mars can be afflicted -- say it gets a square/opp from Pluto, Uranus, Neptune or Saturn. Because, although it is a "malefic", its status as a personal planet makes it susceptible to the influences of the greater/"collective" energies, with potentially challenging effects on one's sense of masculinity, energy, drive, assertiveness/"approach behaviours", etc.
Saturn is a heavier energy, and the consensus is that although it provides virtues that are integral to survival and even success in life, it's basic nature is acerbic and harsh. Astrologers have historically seen Saturn as something to be mitigated or honed in some way. Even when it shows up in aspect patterns with heavier energies, due to its basic nature as a malefic, it tends to be treated with it's outer counterparts as patterns that represent forces greater than oneself that can undermine the will/stability of someone's life. It is notable that prior to the introduction of the outer planets, Saturn was seen as the final planet in the astrological universe, before one went on to the realm of the fixed stars. It's role as the barrier to which nothing can cross has been well established in astrological history.
The elephant in the room in this discussion is Jupiter -- which can also be afflicted. Now why would that be the case, when it is not a personal energy per se, but "social" on the level of Saturn? I think a good way to conceptualise it is that Jupiter's energy signature is not as harsh as Saturn's, so a pinch of Saturn might make a substantial difference in an astrological outcome, while Jupiter's more temperate nature means that it's ability to felt may not be as acute for the native.
One major trait that characterises malefic energy is it's intemperance. Under the Aristotelian Rubric of humors, Mars was described as "very hot" while Saturn was "very dry". One could say that outers' inability or great difficulty in being seen by the naked eye can symbolize a sort of intemperance -- the need to use technological assistance to see these planets being an analog for the ethereal nature of these energies.
Saturn is a heavier energy, and the consensus is that although it provides virtues that are integral to survival and even success in life, it's basic nature is acerbic and harsh. Astrologers have historically seen Saturn as something to be mitigated or honed in some way. Even when it shows up in aspect patterns with heavier energies, due to its basic nature as a malefic, it tends to be treated with it's outer counterparts as patterns that represent forces greater than oneself that can undermine the will/stability of someone's life. It is notable that prior to the introduction of the outer planets, Saturn was seen as the final planet in the astrological universe, before one went on to the realm of the fixed stars. It's role as the barrier to which nothing can cross has been well established in astrological history.
The elephant in the room in this discussion is Jupiter -- which can also be afflicted. Now why would that be the case, when it is not a personal energy per se, but "social" on the level of Saturn? I think a good way to conceptualise it is that Jupiter's energy signature is not as harsh as Saturn's, so a pinch of Saturn might make a substantial difference in an astrological outcome, while Jupiter's more temperate nature means that it's ability to felt may not be as acute for the native.
One major trait that characterises malefic energy is it's intemperance. Under the Aristotelian Rubric of humors, Mars was described as "very hot" while Saturn was "very dry". One could say that outers' inability or great difficulty in being seen by the naked eye can symbolize a sort of intemperance -- the need to use technological assistance to see these planets being an analog for the ethereal nature of these energies.
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