Sect

sekt

greek: Αἵρεσις (Hairesis)

Definition

Sect is simply whether you were born by day or by night. If the Sun was above the horizon at your birth, your chart is a day (diurnal) chart; if it was below, a night (nocturnal) chart. Each of the seven traditional planets belongs to one side: the Sun, Jupiter, and Saturn are the day team; the Moon, Venus, and Mars are the night team. Mercury shifts depending on its position. The Greek word for this is hairesis, meaning "choice" or "faction."

In Tradition

Astrologers in the Hellenistic and traditional schools treat sect as one of the most important things to check about a planet. A planet that matches its own side — a day planet in a day chart, say — tends to express itself more smoothly. A planet on the wrong side for its chart tends to have its themes either exaggerated or undercut.

In Practice

Working a chart, astrologers usually decide its sect first, because so much else follows from it. Sect tells you which of the two helpful planets (benefics) is your stronger ally — Jupiter by day, Venus by night — and which of the two harder planets (malefics) is likely to give the most trouble — Mars by day, Saturn by night. It also reshapes other judgments: the triplicity rulers, the planets assigned to govern the elements, are picked by sect; the formula for the Lot of Fortune flips depending on sect; and a planet's overall capacity to deliver leans on whether it agrees with the chart's sect.

Historical Origin

Sect appears in the earliest Hellenistic sources — Dorotheus of Sidon (1st century CE), Ptolemy's Tetrabiblos, and the Anthology of Vettius Valens. It was central to ancient practice, then fell out of common use for centuries, returning with the traditional-astrology revival of the late 20th century.

Etymology

Origin: Latin. Meaning: A way, path, or following.

Definition

In Tradition

In Practice

Historical Origin

Etymology

Further Reading