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is revealed through practical application. As
in life, soul and its manifestations are not
immediately obvious to the naked eye. This
passage, credited to Lao Tzu, sums up the
importance of space:
"We make a vessel from a lump of clay;
It is the empty space within the vessel that
makes it useful.
"We make doors and windows for a rooml
it is these empty spaces that make the room
liveable.
"Thus, while the tangible has advantages,
it that makes it useful."
is the intangible
Soul, Arabic parts
and incarnation
The arrangement of the Arabic parts around
the birth chart reveals the chart within the
chart;the soul within the psyche; the essence
or heart within the practical demands of your
life. Each Arabic part is calculated using a
unique formula that incorporates planetary
placements as well as key angles (like the
ascendant or midheaven).
It is said that itt the relationship between
the parts and the planets in the horoscope that
becomes the selling point of each life. After
each part is calculated, it is then allocated a
planetary ruler to follow throughout the life.
The philosophical perspective inherent
in much of astrology regarding incarnation,
is described in The Myth of Er at the end of
Plato's Republic. This story details the journey
of Er through the afterlife as he encounters
new souls waiting to incarnate. Their choices
around selecting a "lot" or life show how
you engaged in a co-creative dance to select
your life this time around, with the kinds of
experiences necessary for your soul growth.
The story is magical, as after selecting their
lots, the new souls have their lives confirmed
by the three fates, who select a time when
the cosmos and planets are aligned just so
for birth to ensure one's horoscope supports
the themes of the life selected. Once this is
set, the newly chosen souls cross through the
Plain of Forgetfirlness and camp by and drink
from the River of Unmindfi;lness, explaining
why once here you have little or no memory
ofthis "choosing your life" experience.
As the Arabic parts reflect the soul, the
language around interpreting them is sparse.
How does one describe the etheric soul in
human language? Their placement in the
birth horoscope refects primary themes and
dominant archetypes in the story ofyour soul
journey. By sign, house and ruling planet, the
Arabic parts reveal the inside story of what's
really going on for you this lifetime. They
indicate areas of life that carry more charge
and potency from a soul perspective for you.
The Arabic parts are particularly effective in
dynamic or predictive astrology. By observing
where and when in your life the Arabic parts,
md therefore the soul, bump into day-to-day
living (aka the planets), important times of
change where your soul asserts itself over
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your self or lower mind can be identified.
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Technically, this can occur when the Part of
Fortune triggers birth planets or chart points
by progression or when the parts, inserted
around solar return or synastry charts, trigger
birth themes.
Interpreting the
Arabic parts
Each primary Arabic part has a theme or
quality. Work out what it is you want to know
more about and then focus on the appropriate
part. Most important when interpreting each
part is the planet that rules it. That is to say,
whatever Zodiac sign the part falls in, it is
the ruling planet of that sign that signifies
whatever that part represents in your chart
and in your life as if the ruling planet
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By sign, house and ruling planet, the
Arabic Parts reveal the inside story
of what's really going on for you this
lifetime. They indicate areas of life that
carry more charge and potency from a
soul perspective for you.
of the part is the guide or representative
of the part in your day-to-day life.
As the Arabic parts come through from
older branches ofastrology, it is the traditional
planetary rulers that matter here. They are:
Leo............... .................... Sun
Cancer......... ...............Moon you know your birth or natal moon phase
Gemini,Virgo ......... Mercury it can be fairly easy to approximate. New
Taurus, Libra........... ... Venus Moon birth phases have the POF close to the
Aries, Scorpio .................................. Mars
Sagittarius, Pisces .......................... Jupiter
Capricorn, Aquarius....................... Saturn
Calculating parts
Though the parts reflect the seven visible
planets, each partt formula is based on an arc
the distance between two specific points,
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which is then carried over to a third point and
projected from there. It is the arc itself that
has meaning.
These seven main parts are referred to as
the Seven Pillars ofWisdom.They are noted
by both al-Biruni and Paul of Alexandria,
with only slight variations between the two
(al-Biruni doesnt include the placements
of Mercury and Venus : the inferior
planets in his formulas, whereas Paul of
-
Alexandria does).
The formulas listed below are from
al-Biruni's 77e Book of Instruction in the
destiny IASTROLOGY
Elements of the Art o1: Astrology, written in
70294D. He states, "In each case there are
three things to be attended to, Place 1, the
beginning, PTace 2, the end and Place 3, the
casting-off point." Al-Biruni was an 11th-
century Persian scientist, mathematician
and anthropologist.
The parts represent the essence or ideas
of things, so as you contemplate what each
part means for you (by natal sign and house
placement, or any planetary conjunction),
consider its expression in your life as a highest
principle, ideal or aspirational concept.
The seven primary parts
Part of Fortune (POF) (the Moon)
Formula = Ascendant + Moon - Sun
This part is the one most commonly used in
modern astrology.This formula of al-Biruni is
based on the method ofcalculation adopted
by Ptolemy, which he never altered.
It takes the phase of the moon at birth (the
distance from the Sun around the Zodiac to
the Moon) and projects that arc of space out
from the ascendant, the start or beginning
point of the horoscope. This part highlights
the importance of the birth moon phase. If
ascendant. Frrst-quarter Moon birth phases
have the POF near the IC. FulI Moon birth
phases have the POF near the Descendant.
Third-quarter Moon birth phases have the
POF near the MC.
This part is about fortune, but not in the
liberal, modern materialistic sense. Fortune
refers to positive energy: good things and joy.
This one point in the chart reflects energy (by
sign and house) that helps you tap into your
deepest happiness. Astrologer John Frawley
describes this as the 'pearl ofgreat price" and
the part of fortune as "where you think the
springs of livingwater fow".It is your fortune
in the purest sense of the word, and drawing
this energy into your life ensures you are
forrunate and always have "wealtti'. It is also
quite probable that following your joy in life
will lead to financial fortune, too. Essentially,
it is an energy that helps bring you into inner
balance and harmony. q
wellbeing.com.au I 69
ASTROLOG\ | destiny
Part of Spirit (the Sun)
Formula = Ascendant + Sun - Moon
This is a supremely spiritual part that is out of
reach for most ofus. It can be hard to describe
linguistically and often shows up in the charts
of prominent leaders those who are truly
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inspired by goodness. It is said to be a part of
abundance, as being the part of the Sun it's
about giving (the Sun as the light- and heat-
giving star or entity).
The house in your horoscope this part falls
into is an area oflife where you experience the
goodness oflife or abundance in the universe.
This part takes the other arc between the Sun
and Moon (this time starting at the Moon
and moving round the Zodiac to the Sun)
and projectsit offthe ascendant.The concept
ofgiving on all levels is reflected here.
Part oflove (Venus)
. Formula = Ascendant + Part of Spirit - Part
ofFortune
This part takes the distance between the Part
ofSpirit and the Part ofFortune and projects
it off the ascendant. It describes love at
lower, human level.
Love ultimately means wanting, which
refects the distance betr,veen what you love
and you. This part describes that desire to
embrace that which is missing. It is a personal
point that describes your personal approach
to human, realJife love (as opposed to
devotionai love reserved for deities or faith).
Part of Despair (Mercury)
Formula = Ascendant + Part of Fortune - Part
of Spirit
This part again uses the distance between the
Part of Spirit and Part of Fortune, but in the
opposite direction to the Part to Love. This
part is sometimes referred to as the Part of
Necessity and describes the unavoidable
challenges oflife.
Mercury is a mental planet and often the
despair is about over thinking, too much
worrying or over-analysing. It is about the
logic or rationality ofreality and shows how
you approach choices. Mercury represents
negotiation. By sign and house, this part
shows how you handle the realisation that
you must endiessly make choices and shows
howyou deal with them.
Part of Captivity (Saturn)
Formula = Ascendant + Part of Fortune
- Saturn
This is both the part ofcaptivity and the escape
from captivity. It is also described as the part
of those who rise in station or standing in
life; ie, those who become less "imprisoned"
by their circumstances.
Sometimes described as the part of sin, it
shows how not using Saturn (discipline, focus
and commitment) can lead you into trouble.
This is the avoidable difficulties of 1ife, where
with personal control and dedication you can
overcome things that might be challenging. It
reflects how when you break laws you end up
under the influence of more laws. If you rise
70 lwellbeing.com.au
up the scale through success or financially
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you have access to more resources than
-you did beforehand and are able to deal with
challenging situations more easily.
Part ofVictory $upiter)
Formula = Ascendant + Jupiter - Part of
Spirit
This part reflects the essential meaning of
Jupiter, valour and grace, and shows where
mercy falls into your life. It is about receiving
the goodness or abundance oflife.
If you accept that it's through grace that
things grow or evolve out ofyour efforts, then
this placement reflects that heavenly sense
a
of being watched over. By sign and house, it
shows some of the areas or ways in which your
efforts will grow most quickly or abundandy.
Your personal quest around faith is shown by
this part.
Part of Courage (Mars)
Formula = Ascendant + Part of Fortune
- Mars
This part refers to right action and by sign
and house signifies the particular areas in life
or interests that challenge you to hold the
concept of always doing what is right, above
and beyond the call ofduty.
This part demands a transcendence ofego.
Have you got the courage to do the right
thing, not just from a 1egal view but from a
humanistic or moral perspective, regardless
of circumstance? Your personal path of right
action is summarised by this part.
The parts by element
The elemental outlines here give you some tips
on how to ellergise each ofthese parts in your
chart. Parts that fall in Fire signs (Aries, Leo,
Sagittarius) encourage action and movement.
Be bold and daring about these themes. You
are cailed to act as an initiator. Take charge
and lead the way forward.
Parts that fall in Earth signs (Taurus, Virgo,
Capricorn) seek stability and security. A 1evel
of material comfort that ensures basic needs
are met helps you develop. Slow and steady is
the best approach. Develop a good relationship
with your physical body and needs.
Parts that fall in Air signs (Gemini, Libra,
Aquarius) need stiinulation. Knowledge and
learning feature as ideas and concepts are
what help you embrace the parts in these
signs. Communities that support your ideas
or beliefs are essential.
Parts that fall in Water signs (cancer,
Scorpio, Pisces) crave human connection.
Relationships and emotional interaction are
paramount. Focus on connecting with other
people around the themes of your parts in
this element.
Zodiacal longitude
How to add and subtract planetary or chart
placements around the Zodiac The Zodiac
is a 360-degree circle. Each sign represents a
30-degree segment of the circle. To easiiy add
or subtract chart placements, the first step
involves converting the planetary placement
(ie, 10 Taurus) into Zodircal longitude.
This creates a common system. Most chart
placements have a degree/minute reference
but, for simplicity, degrees only are used in
the table above.
Once you have all three placements
required for the part, simply add or subtract
the numbers as they are. If your answer is less
than 0, add 360. Ifyour answer is greater than
360, subtract 360 so you end up with a figure
between 0 and 359.Then take this result and
apply it back to the table to give you the
Zodiac placement of the part in question.
Worked example
Part of Victory
- Part of Spirit
Ascendant + Jupiter
Ascendant 10 Taurus + Jupiter 27 Cancer
- Part ofSpirit 13 Sagittarius
10 Taurus becomes 40 (add 10 to the start of
Taurus which is 30)
27 Carcer becomes 177 (add 27 to the start
of Cancer which is 90)
13 Sagittarius becomes 253 (add 13 to the
start of Sagittarius which is 240)
Then insert the figures into your formula
as foliows:
40+777-253=-96
With a negative result, add 360. This brings
youto 264.
Take 264 to the table. This fal1s between 240
and 269 which is in the sign of Sagittarius.
Subtract 240 (the start of Sagittarius) from
the result of 264.1his leaves 24.This part falls
24 degrees into the sign ofSagittarius. @
A professional astrologer and writer, Kelly Surtees offers
private readings to clients around the globe, Kelly lectures
internationally and holds the professional pructitioners
Diploma in Astrologyfromthe Federatian of Australian
Astrologers (Fld). W: www.kellysurtees.cam