Chapter XIV. The SEVENTH House.—Marriage, PARTNERSHIPS, ENEMIES, ETC

THe SEVENTH House.—MArRIAGE, PARTNERSHIPS, ENEMIES, ETC.

MarriaGE is the chief influence of the seventh house. The seventh house in every horoscope is the complement of the first, and represents the unifying of all that is separated or isolated in the ascendant; it indicates the subjective side of the nature as distinguished from the objective side indicated by the first house: * and successfully to unify all that is denoted by the first and seventh means an enlarged experience which can be gained in no other way. In the abstract, it means the blending of Mars and Venus, Mercury and Jupiter, or the luminaries and Saturn. In other words it signifies the transmutation of the passions into pure love, the exchange of intellect for wisdom and the perfect individualisation of the conscious Self.

Just as there is to be a divine marriage of the Personality with the Individuality when man attains to the perfection he is destined to reach; so on a minor scale, on the physical plane, the union of the sexes is a commencement of that unification which is eventually to unite the self to all other selves. The triangle that has its apex in the ascendant, when interlaced with the opposite triangle that has its apex in the seventh, symbolises the formation of the divine tetractys, or the union of opposites. |

We have been considering hitherto the first half of the circle in the six houses that are under the earth, these being chiefly concerned with the Personality, starting full of life and force from the ascendant, and culminating in the sixth, where the life is either expended through sickness or work, or transmuted through the psyche or Soul into the human stage where the true individual begins. The chord from the first to the seventh houses divides the dark from the light half of the circle, the animal from the human, the latent from the active, the objective from the subjective. It is true that the one is but the reflection

* See remarks in early part of Chapter XI.

of the other, but from the seventh house the dividing line leads onward to the ‘ascending arc’ ef human progress, and to the broad daylight of the solar half of the circle, which is not only less limited and restricted in its expression but more potent and real than that which is foreshadowed by the dark and lower half.

Each house directly or indirectly affects the native in a definite manner according to a fixed law; but the house alone is not wholly responsible for the event. In the order of the signs Venus governs the seventh and the second, love and money; but although Venus is the planet most active in the majority of cases when marriage takes place no hard and fast rule can be applied in every case of marriage, and it is therefore advisable that the student should carefully study what is meant by the term marriage. In our own country, forinstance, marriages take place at any time, and at any age. In India, on the other hand, marriages are arranged from birth, and in the majority of cases the native has no voice m the matter. In all parts of the world marriage laws differ, and the work of the astrologer is by no means an easy task when marriage is the subject for consideration.

If the word ‘union’ is substituted for marriage many grave errors will be avoided, for it is possible to see a union of the sexes when it is difficult to be sure that a legal marriage has been contracted.

In the course of practice an astrologer hears some very remarkable stories. In one instance the author was aware of a case where a highly respectable couple lived together as married, without having passed through the legal ceremony, for many years without the fact being in the least suspected. In another case a housekeeper had formed a union with her master which lasted for over twenty years. Three months before the birth of a child she was forced to marry a man she disliked to save herself from public dishonour. Cases are on record of marriage and separation taking place on the same day; and in fact the whole subject is one that requires the most careful judgment before any definite prediction can be safely made.

There are four factors concerned in all cases of union; the Sun, the Moon, Mercury and Venus.

In a male horoscope, note the planets to which the Moon, Mercury and the ruling planet make first application: they will describe the partner. Ina female horoscope substitute the Sun for the Moon.

These three significators respectively represent the mental, psychic, and physical unionsor attachments. Ifa planet is found in the seventh house it will describe the partner and give what is practically the history of any union. :

NeprunE in the seventh house denotes peculiar and exceptional unions, and in some cases marriage to cripples or deformed persons. Extremes of good and evil seem to be the latent possibilities of the planet Neptune; therefore grave risks are run by the native who has . this position. It may bring about a platonic union or one that is the very reverse; long expected happiness often meets with disappointment at the last moment, though often the seeming misfortune proves a boon, this depending on the aspects Neptune receives at birth. If Neptune is much afflicted in the seventh then marriage is inadvisable unless exceptional experiences along this particular line are required. If well aspected much of the evil is mitigated, but in all cases it is a very doubtful and uncertain position, showing marriages that are unique and out of the common.

Uranus in the seventh house denotes romantic attachments, hasty and impulsive engagements. It also denotes the possibility of marriage to a genius, or to an original character. This influence may be very good or very evil according to the horoscope. There is an element of uncertainty about this position and the unexpected usually happens to those who have this influence operating at birth. To them romantic love is always the spice of life, and they often end by marrying the last person they thought they would marry. If well aspected, the marriage partner turns out to be a true friend of the native and has original and ingenious methods of ministering to the domestic comforts. If afflicted the partner brings about ruin, and eventually separation or grievous misunderstanding.

SATURN in the seventh house shows a faithful partner or marriage to a person older than the native. Saturn is exalted in Libra, and as this sign is equivalent to the seventh house Saturn in the seventh denotes faithfulness and sincerity on the part of the marriage partner. It does not give affection of the demonstrative and emotional order, but it makes love a duty and gives stability to the affections, which become permanent and enduring. If Saturn is much afflicted in this house then sorrow and grief may be expected in the married life. If well aspected the marriage partner is prudent, steady, persevering and industrious,

though not especially fortunate. If Saturn and the Moon are afflicted in the seventh the domestic happiness is spoilt.

JuPpiTeR in the seventh house promises a good and faithful partner and much happiness in the marriage state, also success and gain resulting from marriage. It brings social advantages after marriage and financial prospects, the partner having independent means in which the native shares. |

This position often denotes marriage to one who has been previously married or a partner older and more religiously inclined than the native. If afflicted lawsuits and litigation are threatened by this position, but principally when the affliction is from Mars or Uranus. Marriage is delayed if afflicted by Saturn and may be denied if the luminaries afflict. When well aspected all goes well in the marriage state, and marriage often turns the life into pleasant paths and favourable conditions.

Mars in the seventh house when afflicted denotes quarrels and unpleasant conditions in the marriage state. It is very unfavourable in a male horoscope, denoting a wife that is combative and over-forceful. In a female horoscope it is also evil and is somewhat disastrous to the husband, showing the probability of a violent death. If Mars is afflicted in the seventh, separation through the uncontrolled temper and passionate nature of the partner is denoted. Even when well aspected this is not a good position for marriage, Mars ever tending to extremes and excess, in affection as in other things. It is more favourable in a female horoscope than in a male nativity, females represented by Mars being far too masculine and forceful, while males represented by Mars express the force as energy and enterprise. Note the szgn occupied by Mars.