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Masculine/feminineIn many ways, the polarities of masculinity and
femininity are similar to those of sect (diurnal/nocturnal); masculinity
representing the active, solar principle, and femininity representing the
passive (or receptive) lunar principle. But diurnal/nocturnal definitions seem
to be more dependent upon the generation of heat (diurnal) or lack of it
(nocturnal), whilst the masculine/feminine definitions are more dependent upon
dryness (masculinity) or moisture (femininity). It may be that both divisions
arose as alternate ways to describe the same essential polarisation that modern
astrologers prefer to label ‘positive or negative’. The masculine/feminine
definitions are also heavily dependent upon Pythagorean numerological
principles, where all the masculine signs, (which are also the diurnal ones),
are the odd numbered ones; and all the feminine signs (which are also the
nocturnal ones) are even numbered. The masculine planets are the Sun and the superiors:Saturn, Jupiter, Mars;
the feminine planets are the inferiors: Moon, Venus;
with Mercury being
common to both genders. The distinction may be partly based upon the way that
the planets emerge from conjunction with the Sun – the superiors always emerge
on the right hand side, the Moon always on the left, with Venus and Mercury
able to emerge on either side. See ‘diurnal’, ‘occidental’, ‘dexter’ and
‘sect’. | |
Masha’allah - astrologer (c.740–820)Both Masha’allah, and his younger contemporary Sahl (Zael) descended from a Jewish settlement at Marw, the capital of Khorasan, in Persia (a.k.a. Merv: equates to modern Afghanistan). They moved to Arabia to act as court astrologers and help establish centres of learning at the new capital city of Baghdad, following the conquest of Al Mansur in the 8th century. Their early background gave them distinct advantages in the translation of Greek Hellenistic texts since Marw was a predominantly Greek colony which lay on a trade route from Alexandria and acted as an important outpost for Hellenism. Therefore, Masha’allah and Sahl (who refers to Masha’allah frequently), became perfect transmitters of the Hellenised Arabian astrological texts which were later conveyed to medieval Europe. As a young man Masha’allah helped elect the time of Baghdad’s formal foundation in 762, and he lived long enough to serve four succeeding caliphs, each of whom continued to develop the ‘House of Wisdom’ as a centre of translation and transmission of knowledge and science. Of all the philosophers of the era, he is described as being “the leading person for the science of judgements of the stars” (Al Nadim, Fihrist, p.650). He wrote numerous works on astrology in Arabic which were later translated into Latin to help establish the principles of Medieval astrology. | ||
MelancholicOne of the four humours, related to the season of
winter and the element of earth. It denotes a cold and dry temperament and the
word ‘melancholic’ is often used to describe someone who is slow to respond to
passions, profound in thought, with a serious (often pessimistic) outlook which
inclines towards depression and introversion. In physiology the melancholic
humour is traditionally reputed to be seated in black bile (faeces), which
supports the principle of retention by the function of compression. | |
Meridian | |
Midheaven (MC)The degree of the ecliptic
(zodiac) that culminates above the earth (this occurs due south in the northern
hemisphere; due north in the southern hemisphere). In quadrant systems of house
division it denotes the 10th house cusp. The Latin term was medium caelum,
‘middle heaven’; hence the abbreviation: MC. Not to be confused with the
zenith. | |
MundaneIn general terms: ‘earthly’, ‘elemental’, ‘relating to the earth’. | |
Mundane astrologyThe branch of astrology dealing with influences
affecting nations, collective experiences, weather, political leaders,
historical trends and world events. Also known as political astrology. | |
Mutable / Common SignsAlso known as double-bodied / bi-corporeal: Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces. | |
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NadirThe point directly beneath an observer (opposite to
the zenith) which is always perpendicular to the celestial horizon. | |