LIBER SEXTUS

In the six book of Mathesis are presented the interpretations for the aspects between planets. After that you'll find many examples of complex aspects characteristic for different types: ill people, incest, eunuchs, hermaphrodites, lyric poets, prostitutes, beggars, murderers, blindness, leprosy, mental affliction, wealth, frigidity etc. Probably are charts found in practice by the author, because for every situation he gives many details, almost describing an entire chart, for example: 

"Dangerous blindness is also indicated by the Sun on the ascendant, Saturn on IMC and the Moon holding a right trine from the ascendant. If Saturn and the Moon are in tropical signs, or the Sun and Mars are in opposition with them, this combination always mean danger to the eyes".

The final part is filled with interpretations for what the Greek called Chronocrator, the ruler of time.

LIBER SEPTIMUS

Liber Septimus keeps presenting complex configurations like in Liber Sextus. Here the author presents aspects specific for: charts of exposed infants, charts of twins, charts of slaves, number of masters, parents as slaves, charts of animals, physical infirmities, death of parents, hostility to parents, orphans, number of marriages, lover of boys, number of wives, murder of spouses, kinds of mates, children, mental deficiencies, royal charts, violent death, court sentences, sexual desire, occupations. One can find a great number of examples but are not very well organised and I don't think all are specific for their subject. Probably, like in the former chapters, are examples from his practical experience. 

LIBER OPTIMUS

The last book of Mathesis starts with the analysis of the ninety degree from the Ascendant and Moon which should reveal the whole essence of the chart. It is another technique hard to explain.  After that are presented the signs which see and hear each other and the constellations with their interpretations when are placed on angles.

The book ends with an interesting section named Myrogenesis, a technique about forecasting from individual degrees. The author reveals the interpretations for every degree where the Ascendant can be placed. It is something similar with the Sabian Symbols. Of course, several problems rise like: the time of birth must be precise, the degrees from the tropical zodiac can be different from what he indicated. Anyway, even it is hard to believe, you may have surprises reading the forecast for your Ascendant degree. Let's see two example:

"In the sixth degree [Libra] they will be wealthy and carry on great affairs" - Bill Clinton has the Ascendant at 5,30 degree in Libra

"Whoever has the ascendant in the eleventh degree of Virgo will gain fame and honor as an athlete will be rich and he husband of a wealthy woman; but he will die a violent death" - Roger Federer has the Ascendant at 11,01 Virgo

MY EVALUATION: 8,8

Conclusion.The book, which is one of the biggest texts that survives from that period, it is a testimony for what meant traditional astrology and for the great number of astrological techniques used by Julius Firmicus, Dorotheus of Sidon, Manilius that now are lost. Or, at least, are not used anymore, being considered obsolete. This book it is an invitation to discover a new world of astrology and, nevertheless, a different way of thinking.

The text is enjoyable, easy to read, clear and full of practical examples. It is not theory at all, everything is pushed toward concrete forecasting. Sometimes, exaggerating, the predictions give sentences hard to believe, fierce, cruel. It is, again, a characteristic of traditional texts of astrology and the readers should mitigate the weakness by understanding the reasons which stand behind every prediction and not to take literally every proposition.

Overall, it is a good book and a pleasant lecture. My evaluation is 8,8.