2. Eclipses in Earthy signs. These foreshadow a scarcity of corn and products of the earth by drought, and cause earthquakes, mining disasters, and great agricultural depression.
3. Eclipses in Airy signs. Famine, sickness, pestilence, and tempests and stormy winds hurtful to mankind.
4. Eclipses in Watery signs. These denote much mortality among the common people, great destruction of fowls and fishes, and such things as live in or near the sea.
The strength of the planet ruling the sign in which the eclipse falls should be considered, and its position in the figure of such eclipse duly noted, for the significations of this planet will principally appear.
Thus, if Mars rule over the sign in which the eclipse falls, and is placed in the eighth house of the figure, it will denote some grievous calamity, causing many sudden and terrible deaths: if in the sixth house much sickness, if in the third many terrible railway accidents. The same with the other malefics. When the benefics rule over the place of the eclipse, the effects are better, but much depends upon the strength of the ruling planet.
The effects of eclipses are spread over a long period in proportion to the duration of the eclipse. If a solar eclipse, then the effects will last as many years as the eclipse is hours in duration. Thus the total eclipse of November 1st, 1910, lasts 4h. 35m., equal to four years seven months. If a lunar eclipse, then the effects will last for as many months as the eclipse is hours long. The lunar eclipse of November 16th, 1910, lasts for 3h. 14m., equal to three months seven days. It is not altogether certain whether this period of duration means from the date of the eclipse, or from the commencement of its effects, but it is more probably the latter.
Several rules are given in regard to this matter, and experience alone can best decide which are correct. Cardan says, “To know when the effects of an eclipse will begin to be felt, take the distance of the rising of the luminary to the middle of the eclipse, or from the middle of the eclipse to the next rising of the luminary in hours and minutes. The proportion of time the length of day may bear to the year in the case of a Solar eclipse, and the proportion of time the night may bear to the year in a Lunar eclipse, will show the proportion of the year due to the interval obtained. ” Ptolemy says:
1. If the eclipse falls in the eastern horizon, the effects will manifest themselves about the next four months, and most strongly will operate during the first third of such period.
2. If it falls in the midheaven, the events thereof will begin to appear from the fourth to the eighth month following the eclipse, and the chief effects will happen during the second or middle part of that period.
3. If falling in the western horizon, the effects will appear from the eighth to the twelfth month, following the eclipse, and the chief effects will be felt in the last part of that period.
The most reliable rule, as far as experience goes, is to calculate the time of Sunrise or Sunset from the middle of the eclipse, and reckon this time at the rate of one day for every four minutes, or 24 hours to the year.
In the next two chapters are given the effects of solar and lunar eclipses when falling the three decanates of each sign. These observations have been handed down to us, and have been found to be very reliable, if not entirely so.
It should be observed here that a decanate is the third part of a sign, and consists of ten degrees. The first decanate of a sign extends from 0° to 10°, the second from 10° to 20°, and the third from 20° to the end of the sign.
CHAPTER XXIII
The following are the principal effects of Solar eclipses when falling in the decanates of each sign.
Aries.
First decanate. -War, tumults, seditions and controversies, motion of armies, and an inclination of the air to excessive drought.
Second decanate.-Imprisonment and sadness of some king, and danger of death to him; the corruption of trees bearing fruit, and of things growing on the earth.
Third decanate.-Grief and sadness to mortals, death of some great woman, and destruction of cattle.
Taurus.
First decanate. -Afflicts trade and business, and destroys corn and food crops.
Second decanate.-Causes danger to travellers, and to women in childbirth.
Third decanate. -Brings pestilence and famine.
Gemini.
First decanate.-Dissension and strife among clergy and religious denominations; also causes hatred, neglect and contempt for the laws of God and man.
Second decanate. -Causes piracies, thefts and murders.
Third decanate. -Death of some king, and many troubles to the country.
Cancer.
First decanate.-Disturbs the air, and causes great changes and alterations in the weather.
Second decanate.-Dries up rivers and fountains, and stirs up incontinency and wantonness among women.
Third decanate.-Sedition, pestilence and much disease.
Leo.
First decanate.-Denotes the death of some famous prince, and scarcity of corn.
Second decanate. -Many troubles, anxieties to kings, princes, and great men.
Third decanate.-Profanation of hold places, churches, and sacred edifices: captivity, besieging and ransacking of towns.
Virgo.
First decanate. -It denotes great calamity, and death of some king.
Second decanate.-Famine, pestilence and sedition.
Third decanate. -Great troubles and adversity, probably imprisonment to painters, poets, and to those who live by their wits.
Libra.
First decanate.-Corrupts the air, causes pestilence, and a scarcity and dearness of corn.
Second decanate.-It portends the death of a great king, sedition and famine.
Third decanate.-Trouble to the nobility and detriment to their estates.
Scorpio.
First decanate. -Causes war, tumults, slaughter, captivity and treason.
Second decanate. -Mischief to some peace-loving king.
Third decanate.-The rise of a tyrant, and idleness and slothfulness of the former king, hateful to all.
Sagittarius.
First decanate. -Much dissension and hatred among men.
Second decanate. -Deaths of camels, and such cattle as chew the cud.
Third decanate. -Variously affects horses and armies.
Capricorn.
First decanate. -Unhappiness to great men, the transmigration of some king, and the rebellion of nobles and common people.
Second decanate.-Causes military riots, and the mutiny of soldiers against their officers.
Third decanate.-It induces the tumultuary motion of some king, and causes famines.
Aquarius.