By the ancients the planets were caned chronocrators, or markers of time. It was presumed that different periods of life are ruled by different planets, as:
Planet |
Period |
Ages |
Moon – growth |
4 years |
1-4 the mewling babe |
Mercury – education |
10 years |
5-14 the scholar |
Venus – emotion |
8 years |
15-22 the lover |
Sun – virility |
19 years |
23-42 the citizen |
Mars – ambition |
15 years |
43-57 the soldier |
Jupiter – reflection |
12 years |
58-69 the judge |
Saturn – resignation |
30 years |
70-99 slippers |
These appear to correspond to the Seven Ages of Man, as listed by Shakespeare in "As You Like It," which he apparently took from the Chaldeans. Sepharial suggests a slightly altered set of measures, to include the planets of recent discovery:
Planet |
Duration of Years |
Age Period |
Moon |
7 |
0-7 |
Mercury |
8 |
7-15 |
Venus |
9 |
15-24 |
Sun |
10 |
24-34 |
Mars |
11 |
35-45 |
Jupiter |
12 |
46-57 |
Saturn |
13 |
57-70 |
Uranus |
14 |
70-84 |
Neptune |
15 |
84-99 |
Pluto |
16 |
99-115 |
From the sign position and aspects to the chronocrators, judgment was formed as to the fortunes of the native and his environment during the period ruled by each planet. Thus an afflicted Moon indicates ill health and an adverse environment in infancy; an afflicted Mercury, retarded education; an afflicted Mars, unfortunate in love; and so on.
