Chapter 6. The Hellenistic Lots

The author writes from the beginning that "I have found that using lots greatly enhances our understanding of the natal chart" and presents the most important formulas for Hellenistic lots:

The most important lots are the Lot of Fortune and Lot of Spirit. The difference between them is that the Lot of Fortune:

"pertains to the natural flow of events in our lives. [...] It describes the influence of the world on us, not of ourselves on our world."

while the Lot of Spirit:

"describes the change that occurs because of our intention. [...] If the Lot of Fortune describes our overall health, the Lot of Spirit describes how we try to keep our bodies healthy. The Lot of Spirit is a place of will more than circumstance."

So, the Lot of Fortune is more about luck and events that appear independent from our desire while the Lot of Spirit represents what you consciously want, objectives we want to achieve and for which we struggle. Then, the author gives some practical examples with famous people charts. In the analyze he uses another unusual technique for modern astrology, casting houses not only from the Ascendant, but also from lots and planets. Hellenistic astrologers cast houses for planets to gather information for the specific area governed by that planet, for example, Venus for love. Unfortunately, the interpretation becomes too complex, even fuzzy because we have too many possibilities. For example, Venus is in the 6th house from the Ascendant, which is bad, but, in the same time, is in the 10th from the Lot of Fortune which enhances her position. I think this kind of judgment can become dangerous for an accurate interpretation.

Chapter 7. The Twelve Places

This chapter starts with a lesson of etymology where Crane explains why he chose to replace the word house with place and sign with zoidia. Then he presents the house system used in Hellenistic astrology, Whole Sign Houses system, the best in his opinion. Also you'll find some brief descriptions for each house, the planetary joys and, in the final, an interesting commentary about religion, spirituality and their relation with the 3th and 9th houses.

Chapter 8. Aspects and other Connections

In Hellenistic astrology were used aspects from sign to sign, not dissociated aspects. Also, they were using only the big aspects (trine, square, opposition and sextile), not new aspects like semi-sextile or quincunx. It was more simple and more clear for the astrologer, although near those simple rules they had few other concepts like spear bearer, looking ahead, hurling rays, signs which equally ascend or signs of equal power. Other things good to remember about aspects are that the nature of the planet involved (malefic, benefic) is more important than the nature of the aspect (trine, square etc.) and the planet that looks ahead in an aspect (example, from Virgo to Sagittarius) has superiority over the planet that casts rays back. All this is explained in a piece of simple, natural astrology lesson.    

In Chapter 9. The Planets and when You See Them the author analyzes the Moon phases in relation with the visual evolution of the Moon on the sky. In the same manner are explained the planets relations with the Sun and other concepts specific for Hellenistic astrology like morning riser planet, morning setting planet, evening rising planet or evening setting planet.