Page 23 - Talented Astrologer • Volume 1 Number 2 • October 2016

Directions, I would be able to identify at least major life events and meet some of my expectations of what predictive astrology is supposed to be able to do. Unfortunately, I encountered a few problems with primary
directions.
The rst problem was the math.
emathbehindprimarydirections is incredibly complicated, and there are a disconcerting number of variables that can alter the results and shift the timing of the triggers by decades. Because primary directions were so obscure and unpopular, they weren’t an integrated or documented feature in most astrology programs.
Solar Fire v8 could produce reports of primary directions, with limited options, and Solar Fire v9 expanded that support in signi cant ways. Morinus was a free program speci cally designed to calculate primary directions, but it was virtually incomprehensible, had no documentation, and I couldn’t reconcile its reports with the reports I got from Solar Fire.
In the scheme of things, these were minor inconveniences. I was con dent that once I started working with the interpretations, considering primary directions and signi cant events across multiple celebrity charts, that I could gure out which sets of data produced consistent, practical results. But that was when I encountered the next problem with primary directions.
There are very few examples of how to interpret primary directions once you’ve calculated them.
e most comprehensive guide to interpreting primary directions comes from Volume 3 of Christian Astrology by William Lilly. Lilly devotes an entire chapter to interpreting primary directions, and provides detailed, cookbook-like delineations for a variety of triggers. It’s clear, precise, and practical. And I had no idea how to use any of it. e language Lilly used to describe primary directions is often confusing, and it’s not always clear which planet is the natal planet and which planet is the directed planet.
But I persevered. If I could just connect examples of primary directions with speci c events over a sample of celebrity charts, I was con dent that I could gure out Lilly’s terminology and create keywords and blueprint sentences to interpret primary directions. I analyzed hundreds of reports, searching for connections between primary directions and key events. en my faith in predictive astrology su ered another crushing blow when I became aware of my third, and most signi cant mistake.
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