Triplicity

In astrology, a triplicity is a group of three signs belonging to the same element.

Trines

Western astrology assumes that each sign of the same triplicity is 120 degrees apart, forming angles to one another called trines, which are each equivalent to the 360 degrees of the circle divided by three. Trines are considered to be very powerful and yet very comfortable, free-flowing connections. This suggests that the signs in each element are very comfortable and compatible with one another and tend to have many of the same qualities in common.

Method of organization

In traditional astrology, the concept of triplicity embodied several factors concerning the four classical elements and were considered of particular importance. Besides the four classical elements, two other ways triplicity could be organized were by "rulership" type and by "season". However, neither are given much attention by modern astrologers. However, astrology by season, in particular has been adopted by astrologers who practice in modern Neopaganism, Druidism and Wicca.

Classical elements

In traditional Western astrology there are four triplicities based on the classical elements. Beginning with the first sign Aries which is a Fire sign, the next in line Taurus is Earth, then to Gemini which is Air, and finally to Cancer which is Water -- in Western astrology the sequence is always Fire, Earth, Air, & Water in that exact order (except in sidereal astrology, where currently Pisces is the first sign). This cycle continues on twice more and ends with the twelfth and final astrological sign, Pisces. The elemental rulerships for the twelve astrological signs of the zodiac (according to Marcus Manilius) are summarised as follows:

* Fire - Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius - hot, dry, ardent

* Earth - Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn - heavy, cold, dry

* Air - Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius - light, hot, wet

* Water - Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces - wet, soft, cold

Rulerships

In traditional astrology, each triplicity has several planetary "rulers," which change with conditions of sect--that is, whether the chart is a day chart or a night chart.

Triplicity rulerships are a very important essential dignity--one of the several factors used by traditional astrologers to weigh the strength, effectiveness and integrity of each planet in a chart. Many Hellenistic astrologers (for example, Dorotheus of Sidon [ Dorotheus of Sidon, "Carmen Astrologicum", tr. by David Pingree. Originally published in Teubner series (Leipzig, 1976). Re-published by Ascella Publications (London, 1993). Re-published by Astrology Classics (Bel Air, MD), 2005.] ) considered triplicity rulership the most powerful and demonstrable of the several essential dignities of a planet.

Triplicty rulerships (using the "Dorothean system") are as follows: [ "Late Classical Astrology: Paulus Alexandrinus and Olympiodorus (with the Scholia of later Latin Commentators)". [Translated by Dorian Gieseler Greenbaum.] Archive for the Retrieval of Historical Astrological Texts [ARHAT] [http://www.robhand.com/availpub.htm] , 2001. P.6. (This is a translation of Paulus' "Introduction" along with the "Commentary" by Olympiodorus and related Byzantine scholia.)]

Notes

ee also

*Astrology and the classical elements