Maltreatment

greek: Κακοποιία (Kakopoiia)

Definition

Maltreatment, the Greek kakōsis (κάκωσις, "ill-treatment, affliction"; the related form kakopoiia means, literally, "evil-doing") is the Hellenistic idea of affliction — the way a harmful planet (a malefic, meaning Mars or Saturn) damages what another planet promises, either by aspecting it or by sitting in the same sign. Maltreatment is the negative twin of bonification, and it is the chief way pre-modern astrologers read harm into a chart.

In Tradition

In Hellenistic and traditional doctrine, maltreatment is graded by sect, dignity, and the quality of the aspect. Brennan, Hand, and Crane, following Vettius Valens, Dorotheus, and Ptolemy, read the out-of-sect malefic as more destructive — Mars in a day chart, Saturn in a night chart — and rate the square and opposition as harshest. A malefic in its own dignity expresses with discipline rather than damage; a peregrine or weakened one does unchecked harm.

In Practice

You weigh maltreatment after finding which planets receive aspects from Mars or Saturn, or share a sign with them. It is read in tiers. In the severe tier, an out-of-sect malefic in a close square or opposition, weakened and angular, does direct, unmoderated harm to what the planet promises. In the moderate tier, an in-sect malefic in a similar aspect, or an out-of-sect one at a wider orb, brings difficulty the person can manage. In the mild tier, a dignified malefic by trine or sextile brings a disciplining or constraining influence rather than damage. Maltreatment of the Sun or Moon carries extra weight — a harmed Sun points to long-running vitality issues, a harmed Moon to emotional or bodily disturbance. The full judgment weighs maltreatment against any bonification at work: a planet helped more than harmed tends toward a positive outcome, one harmed more than helped toward an obstructed one. Severe maltreatment of a house ruler disrupts that house's themes.

Historical Origin

The maltreatment doctrine is documented in Vettius Valens' Anthologiae (c. 145-175 CE), Ptolemy's Tetrabiblos III-IV (c. 150 CE), Dorotheus of Sidon's Carmen Astrologicum, and Hephaistio of Thebes' Apotelesmatics. Its pairing with bonification gives Hellenistic astrology its chief framework for affliction and repair. Bonatti and Lilly carry the doctrine through the medieval-Latin and English transmission as the "afflicting" of significators by a malefic aspect.

Etymology

Origin: Greek. Meaning: Evil-doing, causing harm.

Definition

In Tradition

In Practice

Historical Origin

Etymology

Further Reading