Primary Directions Notation:

Towards a Uniform Presentation Standard

Regulus Astrology LLC, all rights reserved.

April 21, 2010

November 5, 2011 update
Changed promittor to promissor (following Gansten).
Changed participator (Project Hindsight) to partner (following Dykes).
Clarified definition of converse directions.

Introduction

This article is adapted from the Users Guide to my second book: American is Born:
Introducing the Regulus USA National Horoscope. Since publication of that book, Janus
software has introduced a complete overhaul of their primary directions module with
versions 4.0 4.3. This has helped straighten out some confusion in terminology and
presentation for former students of Robert Zoller who used Janus 3.0 in their coursework.

Note: References to Chapter 5 are to America is Born which includes further background
on the mechanics of primary directions.

Note: Bounds are the five-fold sign division also referred to as terms. As of 2009,
Robert Schmidt of Project Hindsight has taken to calling them confines. I am sticking
with bounds and use the Egyptian system.

Presentation

How we choose to label and speak about primary directions plays an important role
in how well primary directions as a methodology is communicated. In A Rectification
Manual, 1st edition, I chose to present primary directions results based on report output
directly from Janus 3.0 software. As readers will soon learn, recovery of the centrality of
bounds to primary directions theory has caused me to revisit the notation question. In
making changes to the presentation format of primary directions for American is Born
and A Rectification Manual, 3rd edition, I have considered the work of primary directions
specialist Rumen Kolev as a starting point (for further information see Kolevs website
www.babylonianastrology.com).

Historically there has been confusion among authors on definition of the terms
significator and promissor. The significator is the planet or point which is held fixed
on the celestial sphere. The promissor is the planet, aspect, or point which moves with
the celestial sphere as the sphere rotates on its axis. In presenting notation, the promissor
always appears first; the significator, second. This is the convention adopted by Rumen
Kolev and the one I have chosen to follow.

www.regulus-astrology.com 1
Definitions and Suggested Presentation Format for an Article or Book

PT D Mars/Sagittarius P dex. sextile Moon (l=0) d. ASC 22-Jul-1777

PT D Mars/Sagittarius P dex. sextile Moon (l=MO) d. ASC 1-Aug-1779

Promissor. This is the planet, aspect, or point which moves with the celestial sphere as
the sphere rotates on its axis. For the first example, the promissor is the dexter sextile
aspect of the Moon, labeled as dex. sextile Moon (l=0).

Significator. This is the point held fixed on the celestial sphere. Originally, only the
Ascendant, Midheaven, Sun, Moon, lot of fortune, and prenatal syzygy were allowable
significators. Examples in the main portion of America is Born adhere to this convention
using the Ascendant as significator. For this example ASC is the symbol for the
Ascendant. Note the significator always appears to the right of the arrow. Later authors
allowed planets to take on the role of the significator. Examples of this variation are
found in America is Born, Appendix C. But no matter what is listed as the promissor or
significator, the same principal holds that any planet or point listed to the right of the
arrow is held fixed on the celestial sphere.

Distributors and Partners. Ab Mashar introduces two new words to primary directions
vocabulary. The distributor is the Egyptian bound placement of the promissor. Central
to Ab Mashars system of distributors and partners, the distributor contributes roughly
half the effect of the actual direction by effectively setting the stage for actors to play out
roles as partners. The partner is nothing more than the grouping of a single promissor
and significator. In the example presented above, I abbreviate distributor with D and
partner with P.

D = distributor = bound = Mars/Sagittarius

P = partner = dex. sextile Moon (l=0) d. ASC

Because bounds function differently across signs, bounds need to be identified beyond
the planet itself. Stating the bound of Mars tells us little because the bound of Mars in
Sagittarius behaves much differently than the bound of Mars in Capricorn. Bounds
need identification by both planet and sign.

Aspect. The type of aspect between the promissor and significator. Either conjunction,
sextile, square, trine, or opposition. For this example sextile denotes the aspect.

Dexter/Sinister. For sextile, square, and trine aspects, there are two aspect types to
consider. To specify which aspect, the terms dexter (abbreviated dex.) and sinister
(abbreviated sin.) are used. Dexter aspects are found by beginning at the planet and
moving against the order of the signs; sinister aspects, vice versa. (For visual examples
of these aspect types, see America is Born, Chapter 5). For this example, dex. is the
abbreviation for the dexter aspect of the Moon. With the Moons position at 27AQ51,
the dexter sextile aspect of the Moon is 27SA51. With the bound of Mars defined to be
the four degree range from 26SA0000 to 29SA5959, this dexter sextile aspect of the

www.regulus-astrology.com 2
Moon falls within the bound of Mars/Sagittarius. This is why Mars/Sagittarius is
designated the Distributor.

Latitude. Janus offers latitude assignments for both significator and promissor. There
are three latitude conditions: zero latitude, the planets full latitude, or an interpolated
latitude based on the method of Bianchini. Latitude is abbreviated as l. For zero
latitude directions, the number 0 is listed or omitted for the Sun and Nodes where
latitude is always zero. For full planet latitude directions, the planets name is
abbreviated. (SA = Saturn, JU = Jupiter, MA = Mars, SU = Sun, VE =Venus,
ME = Mercury, MO = Moon). For directions which employ the latitude adjustment of
Bianchini, B is listed.

For the first row in this example, (l=0) denotes the direction is computed with a zero
latitude assumption for the Moon. For the second row in this example, (l=MO)
indicates the Moons full latitude is used to compute the direction.

Direct or Converse. Whether the celestial sphere is moved by direct motion (abbreviated
as d.) or by converse motion (abbreviated as c.) requires identification. For this
example, d. indicates direct motion.

The projected event date is listed last. Ptolemys Key is used to convert the arc of
direction to the projected date when the direction is due.
Ptolemys Key: 1 degree = 1year = 365.2424 days.

Method - Mundo versus In Zodiaco. Medieval astrologers relied on zodiacal directions

which are based on the zodiacal projections of planets and their aspects. All directions
presented in America is Born are computed in zodiaco. Mundo primary directions,
sometimes referred to as mundane primary directions, use the earth as a point of
reference and were developed later by Placidus. Kolev uses the abbreviations M for
mundane and ZOD for zodiacal directions, a choice I support for those who choose to
present results for both systems.

Method - Interplanetary directions. Ptolemy, Regiomontanus, or Placidus were the most

commonly used systems for interplanetary directions in the medieval era. Whatever
computation method used for interplanetary directions requires disclosure. I recommend
PT for Ptolemy, REG for Regiomontanus, and PL for Placidus.

Distributor Changeovers. When the directed significator changes from one bound to
another, the following format is recommended. Added are the words Changeover and
bound. Absent is listing of any partner direction designated by the bold letter P.

D Changeover bound Saturn/Aries d. ASC 9-Jul-1863

www.regulus-astrology.com 3
Note on Definition of Converse Directions

In the period prior to 1600 when traditional astrology was practiced, converse directions
were defined as directions where the typical role of significator and promissor was
reversed. Instead of the ASC, MC, Sun, Moon, lot of fortune and prenatal syzygy held
fixed on the celestial sphere as significators, these planets or points were moved while the
promissor was fixed. This is the original meaning of the term converse.

As described here and used consistently through all my work, converse is defined as
arcs of direction which assume time is moved backwards from the time at birth. In the
field of primary directions, this use of converse directions was introduced in the late 19th
century by Alan Leo. In his 2009 book on primary directions, Martin Gansten names
these types of directions as neo converse directions and limits the term converse
directions to describe their original usage prior to 1600. Were I to be true to Ganstens
terminology, I would introduce nc for neo converse directions which move the
celestial sphere backwards through time.

My choice to maintain c or converse terminology for directions which move the

celestial sphere backwards through time is motivated by two reasons. First, I accept
converse motion, e.g., moving backwards in time, as a valid astrological technique not
only in primary directions, but also solar arc directions, progressions, and transits.1
Second, most modern astrological software programs (and some traditional ones
including Janus) define converse motion in this way. Sometimes it is easier to fall in line
with contemporary conventions rather than spend time mounting a campaign to change
naming conventions. The important point is to understand what methods were practiced
traditionally, which methods are modern innovations, and how to distinguish between
different methods with clarity of language and presentation.

1
Readers should be aware that most traditional astrologers consider this statement heretical.

www.regulus-astrology.com 4