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Anima Astrologiae or A Guide for
Astrologers by William Lilly 1676
TO THE INGENIOUS LOVERS OF
ART
We have formerly some thoughts of
revising our Introduction to Astrology, now out of print,
and to have enriched it from another
edition with the choicest aphorisms, both from the writings
of the ancients and our own many years’ experience, but the laboriousness
of that work, considering our age and many infirmities of body, with the
discouragements we have already me with from some ungrateful persons,
caused us to lay aside (at least for the present) those intentions.
Yet that we might not be wholly
wanting to promote anything that might tend to the advancement of Art
and gratification of its painful students, and knowing how necessary the
ensuing Considerations of Guido Bonatus and Aphorisms adjoined, are to
be known and regarded, which many of our ingenious countrymen could not
do, for they have hitherto remained in the Latin tongue with the rest of
the works of these authors in large volumes, difficult to be got at and
too chargeable for man to buy, we therefore recommend them to a friend
to be translated by themselves, which he has judiciously performed in
plain significant language, so that we judge the work may deserve the
title Anima Astrologiae
which we have given it, comprehending the marrow and substance of
Astrology, and much excellent matter necessary to be observed by all
honest students that practice Art to discover truth and not to vapour
with.
We doubt not but the legitimate Sons
and well-wishers of Urania will find considerable advantages from hence,
directing them to a certainty in giving judgments upon all occasions,
and they will for this
publication have cause to thank their old friend.
William Lilly
Walton-upon-Thames, 2 August,
1675.
PROEM
Amongst those things that appertain
to giving judgment in questions of Astrology, there are six to be
considered: - 1st -Nations, and their particular kinds. 2nd Families,
and the constitutions and ordinations of Families and Houses. 3rd -
Rich and potent persons,
Dispositions and affairs. 4th
- Regard is to be had to the
Individuals of human kind. 5th Elections or times proper for the
beginning of any Work or
Enterprise. 6th -Questions as well universal as particular, pertinent
and fit to be demanded.
But first of all there are some
things necessary to be premised: As the fit manner of propounding a
question, and divers other points to be observed in diving judgment. Of
which sort of considerations we shall reckon up no fewer than One
Hundred Forty and Six, which though ‘tis impossible they should happen
or be so observed altogether; yet they all deserve to be known, and
without them an Astrologer shall never be able to give true and perfect
judgement. But before we treat distinctly of them it will be convenient
to say a little of the right
way or manner how a question should be proposed; for to judge of things
to come is no easy task, nor
indeed can it always be exactly performed; but we may come near the
truth, and differ from it only
in some small time or circumstances; which difficulty should not at all
discourage us from studying and endeavouring to obtain as great a knowledge therein,
as Human minds are capable of;
for since inferiors are governed by superiors (as all agree), and that
the nature and disposition of such superiors may be known by their
motions, which arc now exactly found out by the learned in Astronomy; we
may thence undoubtedly arrive at an ability of judging of things to
come: That is declare what will happen by or from such their motions,
and by consequence foretell future accidents; for this art has its
peculiar rules and Aphorisms and its
end in judgement, which takes off
their objection who say that Astrology is nothing worth; for it
would not be an Art, unless it had its proper precepts; but that it is an
Art, we have sufficiently
proved elsewhere, and the same is generally acknowledged; and its end is
to give judgements as
aforesaid, which are accidents imprinted on inferiors by the motions of
the superior bodies and their qualities and effects in or upon the same.
Thou art here presented with two
choice pieces of Art in our mother tongue; the first, the Considerations
of Guido Bonatus, a person no less happy in the practice than skillful
in the theory of Astrology of
which I will here give thee one instance as it is recorded by that
eminent Historian Fulgusos,
That Guido Earl of Mount-Serrant being besieged in that city, our Author
Bonatus sent him word, that if such a day and hour he would make a sally
on the enemies’ camp, he should give them an absolute defeat, and force
them to raise their siege and quit the place, but should himself receive
a dangerous (but not mortal) wound in the thigh. The Earl providing
himself of all things necessary in case of a wound, and according to the
prediction, though vastly inferior in numbers, obtained a most signal
and entire victory, but following the
pursuit was wounded in the place
foretold, of which in short time he recovered.
The second, consists of the choicest
Aphorisms of Cardanus, a man famous to the learned
world, and of whom the judicious and
severe Scalier (though an adversary) in the preface to the book he wrote
against him, gives a most respective and applauding character. These
Aphorisms (by which is meant
short comprehensive and approved rules of Art) were in the original
delivered promiscuously, but I for better method have taken the pains here
to marshal them under their distinct and proper titles, and that I might
not unnecessarily charge the reader, have
omitted such as seemed trivial or
superfluous; this much I thought fit to premise, and have only
more to add, that by reason of my
absence some faults have escaped the press, besides those which myself may
be chargeable with in the translation; the Reader will show his judgment
in distinguishing, and his good
nature in pardoning them.
Henry Coley April 29, 1675
The 1st, is to
observe what it is that moves a person to propose or ask a question of
an Astrologer; where we must
take notice of three motions: the First, of the mind, when a man
is stirred up in his thoughts and
bath an intent to enquire; a Second, of the superiour and celestial
bodies; so that they at that time imprint on the thing enquired after,
what shall become of it; the
Third, of the free will which disposes him to the very act of enquiring;
for although the mind be moved to enquire, ‘tis not enough unless the
superiour bodies sympathize therewith; nor is such motion of the stars
enough, unless by the election of his will the person does actually
enquire.
2.The course the Querent
should take when he goes to an Astrologer |
