Lot of Theft

Definition

Nearly every lot is cast from the rising point; the Lot of Theft (Greek klēros klopēs) is cast from Saturn. It is taken by sect — the Mercury-to-Mars arc by day, Mars-to-Mercury by night — and that arc is then projected not from the Ascendant but from Saturn. The lot signifies theft and ill-gotten gain.

In Tradition

Valens lists this among his special-purpose lots and reads it for a livelihood won through violence or crime — chiefly when the lot's ruler joins the Lots of Fortune, Daimon (Spirit), or Accomplishment. He groups Theft with Debt and Deceit as a triad of "unwholesome-activity" lots. Its defining feature is that the final arc is counted from Saturn, not the Ascendant.

In Practice

Measure from Mercury to Mars for a day birth, or Mars to Mercury for a night birth. Then count that arc forward from Saturn, not from your Ascendant. Mind that Saturn projection: it is the detail most easily mistaken, since almost every other lot is cast from the rising point. Read the lot by its place and its ruler's condition. Watch above all whether that ruler falls together with the Lots of Fortune, Spirit, or Accomplishment — the configuration Valens ties to gain through violence or crime.

Historical Origin

The sect-conditioned formula — and its distinctive projection from Saturn rather than the Ascendant — come from Vettius Valens, Anthology (Book II), in Mark Riley's translation. It belongs to the wider Hellenistic catalogue of topical lots, each tied to a life-topic.

Etymology

Origin: Greek. Meaning: lot of theft.

Further Reading

• Vettius Valens, Anthology
• Chris Brennan, Hellenistic Astrology