半刑

is a quarter of the circle, and the semi-square, 45°, and sesquiquadrate, 135°, are respectively half a square and a square and a half.The question is certain to be asked here as to why the threefold and fourfold divisions of the circle should be the one good and the other evil? Ifa given planet, say Jupiter, is on the whole more good than evil, so far as its influence upon the inhabitants of this earth is concerned, why, even when it is in square to a given point in the horoscope, should its good side be entirely suppressed and only its evil side be allowed to manifest, so far as that point is concerned ?The question is not at all an easy one to answer, and we can do little more than indicate analogies. The religious philosophy of the mystic assures us that there is a basic three-fold mode of operation underlying the whole universe, and that it can be stated in terms of consciousness and in terms of force working through matter. The former aspect of it is seen in the continually recurring doctrine of the divine Trinity found in nearly all religions; and the latter side in the Hindu teaching as to the “three qualities” or modes of operation of force when involved in matter and termed Rajas, Tamas, and Sattva. If, then, three is the basic number underlying, permeating, creating and sustaining the whole universe, the astrological doctrine of the harmonious nature of those aspects based upon a three-fold division of the zodiac, falls into line with this general philosophy of things. We are apparently justified in conjecturing that the angle of 120° harmonises with the material constitution of the solar system and with the modes of operation of vitality, consciousness and force. ‘The evil aspects are based upon a wholly different mode of vibration, and start from numbers two and four instead of number three. It is philosophically impossible to suppose that there is such a thing as radical evil anywhere, evil deliberately planned and worked into the universal scheme of things by the Creator. All the evil we know of or can imagine is the result either of ignorance or of distorted free-will, which itself perhaps is only another name for a higher form of ignorance. Good is harmony, evil is discord. In music, two notes harmonise if their vibrations accord with one another; and if they do not, discord is the result. We seem, therefore, bound to suppose that aspects based upon the square represent clash, conflict and discord; and that the soul which finds itself surrounded by forces working in this fashion has itself created the discord from which it is now suffering. The effect, although temporarily painful, is spiritually good, because the soul learns by its own experience to distinguish between that which will produce discord and that which will produce harmony; so that the clash and conflict of opposition end in wisdom.This may be illustrated in practical Astrology. The opposition aspect is when two planets are situated at exactly opposite points in the zodiac. Let us suppose that these are Venus and Mars. In this case the soul and the senses will be at war and the person will suffer. He will find it a hard task to preserve a straight course morally through life; his passions will be continually overstepping the bounds ofmoderation, especially in the direction of sex. When he truly realises this, and that it is a highly undesirable phase of character, he will have made a big step in the knowledge of the difference between good and evil, wisdom and foolishness. But mere knowledge will not of itsel suffice to undo the harm done ; action, will, is necessary. A strong will may gradually rein in the runaway passions, and the knowledge acquired will direct them into the right path. This may take a lifetime or even more to accomplish, but the result is good, doubly good indeed, for there is an increase of wisdom and a greatly increased strength of will brought out by the continual effort at self-control. If Venus is elevated or is otherwise the stronger of the two, the task will be rather easier than it otherwise would be.