Perfection

Perfection is a geomantic technique used to determine whether a particular event will take place.

For example:

“Will I move to a new residence?”
“Will I win the lawsuit?”
“Will I get the new job?”
“Will the bank give me the loan?”
“Will I travel to another country?”
“Will we get married?”
“Will my team win the match?”

Perfection does not show, by itself, whether the event will be pleasant, useful, or desirable. First and foremost, it shows whether the event will happen.

The quality of that event—whether it is fortunate or harmful, easy or difficult, welcome or regrettable—is judged from the nature of the figures, the kind of Perfection, Reception, aspects, and the other testimonies in the chart.

In other words, Perfection shows whether there is an active path by which the matter can come to completion.

When Perfection Is Needed

It is not necessary to look for Perfection in every chart. Perfection is needed when the question asks whether something will come to pass.

Perfection is not required in questions of state, condition, or status, whether present or future:

“Does she love me?”
“Is my sister pregnant?”
“What will my financial condition be next year?”
“Do I have a heart problem?”
“What does my dream mean?”
“Is there an evil eye upon me?”
“Is this food safe to eat?”

Such questions concern the present or future condition of a matter. They do not necessarily ask whether a definite event will occur. In such cases, the chart is judged by the figures, the houses, Reception, and the general logic of the question.

Still, if Perfection appears in a question of state or condition, it should not be ignored. It does not turn a state-question into an event-question, but it may confirm the main judgment, qualify it, or show an additional connection between the figures.

Major Perfections

In authentic geomancy there are five major kinds of Perfection. In the list below, they are arranged in order of strength and importance.

Occupation
Conjunction
Mutation
Translation
Collection

1. Occupation

Occupation, also called Seizing or Possession, occurs when the same figure appears in the houses of the Querent and the Quesited.

Reception between the figures in these two houses will always be  Populus, because adding any figure to itself always produces  Populus.

This is the most direct kind of Perfection: one and the same figure occupies both houses and unites the Querent and the Quesited through a single nature.

At the same time, the passage of the Querent’s figure—or, in horary astrology, the Querent’s planet—into a particular house may show that the Querent is interested in the affairs of that house, directed toward them, involved with them, or connected to them in some way.

The nature of the figure remains essential. Occupation shows that the event may occur, but it does not guarantee that the result will be fortunate. If the figure is harmful or unsuitable for the question, the Querent may obtain the desired thing and later regret it.

2. Conjunction

Conjunction, or Union, occurs when one of the figures in the house of the Querent or the Quesited passes into a house immediately next to the house of the Querent or the Quesited. It does not matter which figure makes the passage: the figure of the Querent or the figure of the Quesited.

Planets in R conjunction are like two companions standing together.
Abraham Ibn Ezra, The Beginning of Wisdom, Chapter VIII, § 104

Geomantic Conjunction is analogous to bodily R conjunction in traditional astrology. Strictly speaking, in traditional astrology R conjunction is not an aspect in the proper sense, because an aspect is based on beholding, sight, and relation through distance. In R conjunction, the two powers do not behold one another from different places. They are together.

A relation may arise either by bodily R conjunction or through one of the traditional aspects.
Claudius Ptolemy, Tetrabiblos, Book I, Chapter XXIV

The same principle is reflected with remarkable precision in geomantic Conjunction. When the figure of the Querent passes into a house next to the house of the Quesited, or the figure of the Quesited passes into a house next to the house of the Querent, those houses still do not behold one another. Neighboring houses, like planets joined bodily in astrology, do not form an aspectual gaze. There is no beholding through distance; the connection is made by immediate nearness.

For this reason, the connection is not aspectual. It is not Perfection by sight, but Perfection by adjacency, contact, and bodily nearness.

This is why Conjunction belongs among the Major Perfections, not among the Minor Perfections by aspect.

Conjunction has the nature of B Mercury, because B Mercury connects, carries, translates, delivers, joins, and brings separated things into contact. In geomantic judgment, it may show approach, union, meeting, delivery, arrival, contact, or the direct involvement of one side in the affairs of the other.

Conjunction is possible even when the houses of the Querent and the Quesited already stand next to one another: for example, houses I and II, III and IV, V and VI, VII and VIII, IX and X, or XI and XII.

In such a case, the original adjacency of the houses is not enough. One of the figures must appear on the outer side of the second house in the pair.

If the two relevant houses stand side by side, the figure from the right-hand house must appear in the house before the left-hand house, or the figure from the left-hand house must appear in the house after the right-hand house. In this way, the figure goes around the other house and stands beside it from the opposite side.

For example, if the relevant houses are V and VI, the figure from VI must appear in IV, or the figure from V must appear in VII. In both cases, Conjunction is formed, because one figure approaches the other by immediate adjacency.

3. Mutation

Mutation, or Change, occurs when both figures—the figure of the Querent and the figure of the Quesited—leave their original houses and appear in other neighboring houses, as though meeting in a new place.

The houses into which the figures pass may be important for judgment. They show where, through whom, or through what circumstances the matter may come to completion.

In its inner mechanism, Mutation is close to Conjunction. The difference is that in Conjunction one figure approaches the other near its original house, while in Mutation both figures leave their original houses and meet next to one another elsewhere in the chart.

Mutation may therefore be understood as union after a change of circumstances. First the place of action, the position of the parties, or the situation itself changes; then the figures stand next to one another and bring about Perfection.

This also explains why Mutation does not belong to the Minor Perfections by aspect. In their new position, the figures stand in neighboring houses, and neighboring houses do not behold one another. There is no aspectual gaze and no mingling of rays through distance. Perfection arises not through aspect, but through immediate adjacency after a change of place.

This is why the houses into which the figures pass are so important. They show where the change of circumstances has occurred and through what area of the chart the matter is brought to completion.

Mutation often shows that the event occurs not by a direct path, but through a change of circumstances, a shift of place, a new approach, or an unexpected development. The Querent may obtain the result somewhere else, in another manner, or under conditions not originally expected.

4. Translation

Translation, or Translation of Light, occurs when a figure different from the figures in the houses of the Querent and the Quesited appears in houses adjacent to the houses of the Querent and the Quesited.

Translation usually shows that the event occurs through a third party or some external factor.

In traditional astrology, Translation of Light means that a third planet receives the light of one significator and carries it to another. The event occurs not because the two principal parties join each other directly, but because a carrier of light appears between them.

In geomancy the meaning is the same: a third figure creates a working link between the Querent and the Quesited. It may signify a person, document, message, mediator, circumstance, or other external link that sets the matter in motion.

This may be a messenger, relative, official, employer, physician, bank, lawyer, courier, document, circumstance, or any other factor that connects the Querent and the Quesited when they do not connect directly.

The nature of the translating figure is especially important. It shows how the third party or external factor brings the matter to the event: by helping, linking, compelling, delaying, damaging, or creating the necessary contact.

5. Collection

Collection, or Collection and Translation of Light, is the fifth Major Perfection.

It differs from Translation in this way: in Translation, the third figure carries light between the Querent and the Quesited; in Collection, one of the principal figures, or both of them at once, has already left its original house, and the third figure collects their changed condition and brings the matter to completion.

In traditional astrology, Collection of Light means that two parties move toward a third power, which gathers their light and holds the matter together. In geomantic Collection, this principle appears through a change of circumstances: the principal figures have already shifted, the situation has already begun to change, and the third figure gathers that change into one event.

The difference between Translation and Collection is that, in Collection, circumstances may change before the third party intervenes and brings the matter to Perfection.

For example, the Querent asks whether a package will arrive on time. The Perfection shown in the chart is Collection. The Querent waits for the package on the expected day, only to learn from the people at home that it had already arrived the previous day while the Querent was asleep.

Knowledge of this kind of Perfection is transmitted in the oral geomantic tradition.

Minor Perfections or Ptolemaic Aspects

Perfection may also arise through the formation of aspects, as in traditional astrology.

In such a case, the figure of the Querent passes into another house and from there forms an aspect with the figure of the Quesited; or the figure of the Quesited passes into another house and forms an aspect with the figure of the Querent; or both figures pass into other houses and form an aspect between their new positions.

As in traditional astrology, there are only four true aspects in geomancy:

T Sextile;
U Square;
V Trine;
X Opposition.

In traditional astrology, R conjunction is not formally an aspect, because it is not based on beholding through distance. It is a bodily union; therefore, in geomancy, Conjunction belongs to the Major Perfections, not to the Ptolemaic aspects.

Any one of the four true aspects may indicate the occurrence of an event, but only when there is suitable Reception between the two figures.

The most difficult part of the judgment is to determine whether Reception brings the matter to Perfection or cancels it.

This difficulty is not accidental. In horary astrology, aspects may be of two kinds:

Exact aspect—the moment when two planetary significators meet; their rays mingle, and this produces an event.
Close aspect—not a single event, but a continuing influence, connection, pressure, or background condition.

The same distinction must be kept in geomancy. A true aspect, confirmed by suitable Reception, may perfect the chart and bring about an event. A close connection may show influence or a background relation between the figures, but that alone is not yet an event.

An aspect can create active contact. Reception shows whether that contact is accepted, rejected, helpful, harmful, desired, or regretted.

Different aspects bring the matter to completion in different ways.

T Sextile shows a gentle opportunity, moderate help, and favorable contact, but its force is limited. It may produce the event if Reception supports the connection between the figures.

U Square does not deny the event by itself. It shows that the matter comes to completion through difficulty, resistance, delay, effort, conflict, or the need to overcome an obstacle. If U Square perfects the chart, it still remains U Square: the event happens, but not easily.

V Trine shows ease, agreement, and the natural possibility of the event. But ease does not always mean good. If the event itself is harmful or undesirable, V Trine may simply make it easier for the unwanted thing to happen.

X Opposition may bring the event to completion, but usually through opposition, separation, regret, loss, or an unpleasant consequence. It joins the parties through conflict and often shows contact followed by separation.

Between V Trine and X Opposition stands Aversion. It is not an aspect, but an anti-aspect—a condition of non-beholding. It must be considered here because it shows what happens when, after the passage of the figure, the figures stand through four houses.

1. Sextile (Incomplete Friendship)

T Sextile is a weak benefic aspect of the nature of C Venus.

After the passage of the figure, the figures stand through one house. In astrology, this is one-sixth of the zodiacal circle: two signs, or 60°.

T Sextile is called an aspect of moderate and incomplete friendship because the two signs beholding one another through this aspect are related by only one quality.

The qualities meant here are Aristotle’s primary qualities—hot and cold—and secondary qualities—dry and moist.

T Sextile connects either two hot signs—🜂 fire and 🜁 air—or two cold signs—🜃 earth and 🜄 water. Yet one of the signs in T Sextile is dry, and the other is moist. Therefore, there is agreement along one line only, not complete compatibility.

Planets in T sextile are like two people seeking one another’s affection.
Abraham Ibn Ezra, The Beginning of Wisdom, Chapter VIII, § 105

2. Square (Incomplete Enmity)

U Square is a weak malefic aspect of the nature of F Mars.

After the passage of the figure, the figures stand through two houses. In astrology, this is one-fourth of the zodiacal circle: three signs, or 90°.

U Square is called an aspect of incomplete enmity because, in half the cases, the signs beholding one another through this aspect do not agree by both qualities.

All left-hand squares from hot signs—that is, signs of 🜂 fire and 🜁 air—connect signs that are completely opposite in quality. This is complete enmity.

By contrast, all left-hand squares from cold signs—that is, signs of 🜃 earth and 🜄 water—connect signs that disagree by hot and cold, but agree by dry and moist. Such a square may be called incomplete enmity.

Complete enmity is disagreement by both primary and secondary qualities:

a Aries—d Cancer;
c Gemini—f Virgo;
e Leo—h Scorpio;
g Libra—j Capricorn;
i Sagittarius—l Pisces;
k Aquarius—b Taurus.

That makes 6 out of 12 cases. The remaining squares disagree by primary qualities, but agree by secondary qualities.

Planets in U square are like two people struggling for command.
Abraham Ibn Ezra, The Beginning of Wisdom, Chapter VIII, § 107

3. Trine (Complete Friendship or Compatibility)

V Trine is a strong benefic aspect of the nature of K Jupiter.

After the passage of the figure, the figures stand through three houses. In astrology, this is one-third of the zodiacal circle: four signs, or 120°.

It is called an aspect of perfect and complete friendship because the qualities of the signs beholding one another through it fully agree.

V Trine connects signs of one element: 🜂 fire, 🜁 air, 🜃 earth, or 🜄 water. Therefore, they have the same nature by hot and cold, and by dry and moist. Between them there is not partial agreement, but full agreement of qualities.

Planets in V trine are like two people of the same temperament.
Abraham Ibn Ezra, The Beginning of Wisdom, Chapter VIII, § 106

0. Aversion (Non-Beholding or Inconjunction)

Aversion is the condition in which, after the passage of the figure, the figures stand in houses that produce invisibility for the figures placed in them—that is, through four houses.

In astrology, this is five-twelfths of the zodiacal circle: five signs, or 150°.

No aspect is formed here. On the zodiacal circle, this position means that the signs do not behold one another. For example, a Aries and f Virgo are in aversion, because four intermediate signs stand between them.

This is a kind of anti-aspect. It may show that the event will not occur, that someone is trying to hide, that something has gone unnoticed, that an opportunity has been missed, or that a normal connection between the figures is absent.

Analogies between aspect and aversion:

Light—Darkness
Connection—Lack of connection
Knowledge—Ignorance
Control—Lack of control
Sequence—Discontinuity
Presence—Absence

Ancient Interpretations of Aversion

Stars found in averted signs become disharmonious. They bring enmities, factions, separations, and exile.
Paulus Alexandrinus, Introductory Matters, Chapter XI

It is not only the placement of stars in separated signs that makes the native hateful and hostile. The same is true when two people—brothers or sisters, father and son, husband and wife—have nativities in separated signs: they will be hostile and unfriendly toward one another.
Olympiodorus, Commentary on Paulus Alexandrinus, Lecture VII

A planet that does not aspect its own domicile is like a man absent from his own house, unable to repel or forbid anything from it.
Sahl ibn Bishr, On Elections, § 23b

If a planet aspects its own domicile, it is like the master of a house guarding it: those inside fear him, and those outside fear to enter.
Sahl ibn Bishr, On Elections, § 23c

Factors That Soften Aversion

Signs in aversion may become sympathetic through like-engirding or through rising in equal times.
Paulus Alexandrinus, Introductory Matters, Chapter XII

1. Signs of the same belt, that is, signs sharing the same ruler:

a Aries—h Scorpio;
b Taurus—g Libra;
j Capricorn—k Aquarius.

2. Signs of equal rising:

a Aries—l Pisces—short (oblique);
c Gemini—j Capricorn—short (oblique);
d Cancer—i Sagittarius—long (direct);
f Virgo—g Libra—long (direct).

4. Opposition (Complete Enmity or Incompatibility)

X Opposition is a strong malefic aspect of the nature of L Saturn.

After the passage of the figure, the figures stand through five houses. In astrology, this is one-half of the zodiacal circle: six signs, or 180°.

X Opposition is called an aspect of full and complete enmity because the signs beholding one another through this aspect stand in opposite parts of the sky.

They oppose one another by place, direction, and quality. This is not partial disagreement, as in U Square, but full opposition between two sides.

Planets in X opposition are like two men fighting one another fiercely.
Abraham Ibn Ezra, The Beginning of Wisdom, Chapter VIII, § 108

The Nature of the Aspects

T Sextile and V Trine have the nature of the benefics, while U Square and X Opposition have the nature of the malefics. At the same time, the nature of the aspecting figure is mixed with the nature of the aspect.

The general rule is this:

a benefic figure with a good aspect produces good and protects from evil;
a benefic figure with a bad aspect produces the matter, but with deprivation and misfortune;
a malefic figure with a good aspect produces the matter, but with deprivation and misfortune;
a malefic figure with a bad aspect produces the greatest evil.

They made the A Sun an infortune by assembly and X opposition, a fortune when looking by T sextile and V trine, and a blended condition of good and bad fortune by U square.
Abu Maʿshar, The Great Introduction to the Science of the Judgments of the Stars, Book IV, Chapter 6

These rules show the quality of aspectual contact, but they do not replace Reception. Reception shows whether the connection brings the matter to Perfection or cancels it.

Comparative Strength of the Aspects

X Opposition → 100% strength
U Square → 90° ÷ 180° = 1⁄2 of opposition (50% strength)
V Trine → 120° ÷ 180° = 2⁄3 of opposition (66% strength)
T Sextile → 60° ÷ 180° = 1⁄3 of opposition (33% strength)

This scheme shows the comparative strength of the aspects as channels of action. But the strength of an aspect is not the same as its favorability. X Opposition is the strongest of all, but it is malefic. V Trine is weaker than X Opposition, but it is favorable. U Square is weaker than V Trine by numerical measure, but remains an aspect of tension. T Sextile is weaker than the others, but may be sufficient when Reception is suitable.

Multiple Perfections

In the Wheel Chart, more than one way of perfecting the chart may appear. All of them must be considered, but the stronger the Perfection is according to the order given above, the more important it is.

Major Perfections are generally more important than Minor Perfections by aspect. Yet even when a Major Perfection is present, the nature of the figures, Reception, the houses into which the figures pass, and the overall direction of the chart must still be judged.

When several Perfections appear in the same chart, they may show different paths, different stages of the event, or the involvement of several parties in bringing the matter to completion.

The rules of Perfection are also applied automatically in the author’s own application, available at Geomancy.tools, where both Major and Minor Perfections are shown in the Details section.