LEO Alan [William Frederick Allan]
British astrologer, businessman and author, a Theosophist who is considered the father of modern astrology. Leo wrote a series of astrological text-books, founded a successful astrology magazine, and established an organisation that remains vibrant some 90 years later. He shifted the focus of astrological work from prediction to personal analysis and is responsible for articulating the popular astrological precept that “character is destiny”.
[https://www.astro.com/astro-databank/Leo,_Alan]
Alan Leo, born William Frederick Allan, (7 August 1860 – 30 August 1917) was an English astrologer, author, publisher, astrological data collector and theosophist. He is often referred to as "the father of modern astrology"
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Leo]
source : "The Life and Work of Alan Leo" by his widow Bessie Leo (London: Modern
Astrology, 1919), p. 177: "Alan Leo was born at Westminster on August 7,
1860, and Mr Lacey has mentioned that the time originally given was 6
a.m."
This hour was rectified by Alan Leo at 5:49 am. We will use the un-rectified time. Note also that it seems unlikely that the LMT was already used at the time (it was used officially from 1880 in the United Kingdom and for the very first time the Greenwich Time on January 29, 1948, cf. Leo Alan, 'Casting the Horoscope', note 1, p. 43, 1933).
Mr Leo's wife wrote his biography until his last moments. It is not easy to know what has died her husband: it is quite possible that he presented a septicaemia, perhaps in relation to an inflammation of the bile ducts, accompanied by convulsive phenomena in relation to the fever. At that time, angiocholitis or cholecystitis was practically equivalent to a death stop in the absence of antibiotics ...
THEME (rectified by Alan LEO at 5.49 a.m., originally 6 a.m.)
THEMA at original hour transformed from LAT to LMC (6.05 a.m.)
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HYLEG – ALCHOCODEN – domification ,
We will first look for the somatic factors of the theme: hyleg and alchocoden. We see that MO is in X, well positioned in TAU (Exaltation) in a tropical zodiac. In the sidereal zodiac, it is in ARI (Peregrine). In global position, SA is in TRI aspect with MO and in dignity of TERM. In this occurrence, MO is HYLEG and SA is ALCHOCODEN. In zodiac position, JU is in TRI aspect with MO but has no dignity. The scope of this information depends on whether or not MO is hyleg and alchocoden at the same time because MO is in TAU. According to tradition, when the hyleg is SU or MO and does not have an aspect with another planet, this is the case. So it seems that here MO cannot be considered both hyleg and alchocoden.In the upper chart we see that the nativity is diurnal (or nocturnal) and the moon is waxing (waning). This immediately makes it possible to orient the search for the hyleg towards SU or MO. We then seek the point which is both in Ptolemaic aspect and in dignity with the hyleg. This is the alchocoden. In the lower table, information is given on the alchocoden point (including dignity, power, retrograde, the house situation and especially the important fact of knowing if the alchocoden point is within 5° of the next cusp, in which case it must be removed (or added if he is retrograde) a certain number of degrees (life points).Finally, it may be necessary to add points depending on the place of JU and VE in relation to the upper meridian or the rising.
ZODIACAL – MUNDANE
In our research, we hypothesised that the mundane chart alone should be considered; also we must base on the aspects taken in the semiarcs the research of the degrees likely to be considered in the duration of the life.
In the case of LEO Alan we have the table above which allows us to estimate the breakdown of aspects between the different planets and the alchocoden.
When considering a theme, the first thing is to observe whether it is diurnal or nocturnal. In the case of LEO Alan, it is DIURNAL.
In this case, the first point to check is SU. If SU is well disposed, it can claim 1st stage to be HYLEG.
SU is Ru and therefore seems strong, with a dignity score of [4],
Moreover, when we look for the dignities that appear in the zodiacal inscription of SU, we find at least one
we find at least one aspect to match with the dignities
We'll see later what we get when we search for mundane dignities.
So : the hyleg is SU as dignity is Ru and aspect is conjunction
Now we must look for the alchocoden: it is the planet which has the maximum dignity with regard to the hyleg and which exchanges a Ptolemaic aspect with the hyleg.
if we consider the MUNDANE system, we observe a conjunction aspect of SU.
At the same time, it appears that SU has dignity of RUL over POF.
So we have two possibilities with our hypothesis : first choose SU for hyleg ; second choose the MUNDANE system and try to find another couple of hyleg/alchocoden,
If we choose now SU we must know that no trad authority agree with this choice
In case of SU is the Hyleg, there is then one candidate to be the alchocoden: SU
First, we have to see which candidate has the most dignity: here, SU has candidate alcho dignities referring to SU : [RUL]
First, SU is linked with SU by a [conjunction] aspect and a [RUL] dignity,
However, SU is [Ru] and has a power of [4], and so SU has a good Kadkhudah score of [1]
SU is located at 134,89° at more than 5° from [Δ degrees cups sup [XII] : 9,83° (330)] and has a domitude Regio of : [339,83] for a latitude of [0°]
Now, we have to take account of the radix zodiacal aspects.
We have a stellium in XII (♌in tropical)
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STELLIUM
SU/ ME JU SA
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| rank | Trad | power | dignity | rank | Lilly | power | dignity |
| 1 | SU | 4,00 | Ru | 3 | SA | 14 | D |
| 2 | MA | 2,00 | E | 2 | MA | 4 | E |
| 3 | SA | -6,00 | D | 1 | SU | 1 | Ru |
| 4 | MO | -7,00 | P | 4 | MO | -6 | P |
| 5 | JU | -11,00 | P cb | 5 | JU | -11 | P cb |
| 6 | VE | -13,00 | P | 6 | VE | -13 | P |
| 7 | ME | -17,00 | te cb | 7 | ME | -21 | te cb |
We see that in 'Trad' mod, SU has a power of 4 and that with 'Lilly' mod, power is only 1, in contradiction with its ruler dignity.
Almuten Lilly is SA and we have 3 planets retrograde : MA, VE and ME.
SU is Ru with a [7] score - house rgo 12
MO is P with a [-9] score - house rgo 9
ME is te cb with a [-11] score - house rgo 12
VE is P and retrograde with a [-20] score - house rgo 11
JU is P cb with a [-16] score - house rgo 5
MA is E with a [3] score - house rgo 12
SA is D with a [-16] score - house rgo 12
points to specially watch for the duration of life: 0 in house VI ; SU ME in house XII
no point
we see below the list of aspects :
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MO[0 Or 90]JU
Algol (𝛃 Persei) domitude regio 268.8 ☌ MC
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The traditional almuten (Omar, Ibn Ezra) is SU
we see below the list of dignities for SU :
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[ term 0 tri 4 rul 3 exn 1 fac 0 ]
[ su 2 mo 2 asc 2 syg 0 pof 0 ]
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Note 1 : the ‘almuten figuris’ is the lord of the chart, but its determination obeys somewhat different rules according to the schools. The tradition is based above all on the zodiacal dignities. (see p,e, Alcabitius, Introduction, 59-61, 117 and Avenezra, Nativites, 101) – almuten = al-mu’tazz (arabic term)
[7] As for the governor which is the <planet> predominating (al-mubtazz) over the birth from which one indicates the conditions of the native after the haylāğ and the kadhudāh,n it is the planet having the most leadership in the ascendant, the position<s> of the two luminaries, the position of the Lot of Fortune and the position of the degree of the conjunction or opposition which precedes the birth. When a planet has mastery over two, three or four positions by the abundance of its shares in them, it is the governor and the predominant <planet> (al-mubtazz) and the indicator after the haylāğ and the kadhudāh. From it one indicates the conditions of the native. Some people use it instead of the kadhudāh in giving life. [Al-Qabisi , Charles Burnett, Keji Yamamoto, Michio Yano, The Introduction to Astrology, IV, 7, p, 117, Warburg, 2004]
Note 2 : There are at least 4 systems for determining the almuten depending on whether the combinations of triplicities and terms are used: the Ptolemaic almuten (followed by Lilly) with Ptolemaic terms ; the same with Egyptian terms; the almuten of Dorotheus with Ptolemaic terms ; the same with Egyptian terms, knowing that one can embellish the whole thing with different weighting system (like Lilly or not using weights like Montanus) [cf. Temperament: Astrology's Forgotten Key, p. 79, Dorian Gieseler Greenbaum 2005]
The Lilly (Ptolemaïc) almuten is SA
In our experience, it seems that Ptolemy's almuten allows one to first appreciate the static side of the natal chart and that the Lilly-type elaboration allows one to deepen the more ‘temporary’ or ‘dynamic ‘ relationships (cf, Shlomo Sela, Ibn Ezra, on Nativities and Continuous Horoscopy, appendix 6, quot 2 ; Horary astrology p, 458, Brill, 2014)
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Ω 12,94 /
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the lot of Fortune has been computed according to Placidus's revised method (see 'Primary directions', A primer of calculation by Bob Makransky, 1988, cap X: the Arabian parts, pp. 98-103; see also Mario Fumagalli, 'Il calcolo delle sorti secondo Placido', Linguaggio Astrale 103, June 1996 and 'La sorte oraria, il vero oroscopo lunare.' (Phôs 2, giugno 2001) and Placidus, Coelestis philosophiae, 1675, Brunacci and Onorati ; see finally the english traduction of Placidus, Primum mobile, John Cooper, 1814, Canon of the Part of Fortune, pp, 308-318) ; help will be found also from: : Sepharial, directional astrology, cap XII, the part of fortune, pp, 81-85, 1921 and Oxley Thomas, The Gem of Astral Sciences, cap VII, of the part of fortune or lunar horoscope, pp,45 - 48, 1848) [Placidus : 40,53° ♉]
PRIMARY DIRECTIONS
1)- at death 30 AUGUST 1917
a)- directio conversa in mundo [C] ☌☉ ◻♂
| speculum | Lat | Dec | AR | MD | SA | HA |
| SU | - | 16,38 N | 137,36 | 89,87 N | 68,31 N | -21,56 W |
| □MA | 1,4 N | 1,07 N | 177,53 | 49,71 N | 88,65 N | 38,94 W |
MD = meridian distance (from MC if SA f [SU] is diurnal or IC if Sa f is nocturnal)
– SA = semi-arc (if f is diurnal, SA f [SU] is D and all MD’s and SA’s are D, otherwise N
– HA = horizontal distance (from the nearest horizon W or E for f [SU] and m □MA)
under bracket [] the fixed point, (here SU)
- Lat □MA 1,4 N and lat MA : -6° 13' 30"
| DP REGIOMONTANUS (5) | DP REGIO-CAMPA D | DP REGIO-CAMPA C | ||||
| DIRECTIO CONVERSA | A2 □MA | A1 SU | A1 SU | A2 □MA | A2 □MA | A1 SU |
| Tan A | tan dec/cos dm | 90,43 | 1,65 | |||
| B (1) | +LG-A or -LG+A | 38,93 | 53,15 | |||
| Tan C | cot DM.cos B/cos A | -167,00 | 26,96 | |||
| Sin pole (2) | Cos C.sin LG | -49,69 | 44,23 | |||
| Sin DA (3) | Tan pole A1.Tan Dec A2 Tan pole A2. Tan Dec A1 |
DAP (6) | -20,27 | -1,26 | 1,04 | 16,63 |
| AO (4) | AR ± DA | 117,09 | 176,27 | 176,49 | 120,73 | |
| arc | AO1 – AO2 | -59,18 | 55,75 | |||
| DIRECT | CONVERS |
(1) B must be treated as positive number
(2) sign of pole has the same sens of LG for DA Here, DA = DA/pole A
(3) sign [-] if pole and Dec have the opposite sign – sign [+] if planet located in western half, sign [-] if planet located in eastern half ; Signs [+] and [-] must be reversed for births in the southern hemisphere
(4) to find AO of a star A2 under the pole of A1, we calculate the DA of A2 under the pole A1 ex: tan pôleA1.tan DecA2=sin DA A2/poleA1
(5) algorithm from : a)- Gouchon (‘Dictionnaire astrologique’, Dervy, 1946, 1975, p, 276, attributed to H. Selva) ; b)- Martin Gansten (‘Primary directions’, pp, 155-157, 2009, Wessex Astrologer) - instructions for use only appear in Gansten – c)- Astrologia gallica, Morin de Villefranche, trad Holden (appendix 5, pp, 151-153)
(6) ascensional difference under own pole
| ARC CONVERS | ARC DIRECT |
| Y 55,75 Δ = 3,74 | Y 59,2 Δ = -0,3 |
| BRAHE : 0° 57' 32" | BRAHE : 0° 57' 32" |
| key convert 1,043 | key convert 1,043 |
| DP PLACIDUS | Plac direct | Plac conv |
| sa1/dm1 | 1,78 | 1,24 |
| sa2 | 68,31 | 91,35 |
| x | 38,30 | 73,72 |
| dm² | 89,87 | 130,29 |
| sign | -1 | -1 |
| arc | 51,57 | 56,57 |
FOMALHAUT-CHOISNARD
X = sa2.dm1/sa1 = and the angle x = SAm x DM f/SA f, so : SA m [68,31°] x DM f [49,71°]/SA f [ 88,65°]
sign : if the two points are on either side of the meridian, take +1 ; otherwise -1
Arc = dm2 ± sign.x We find the direction by DMm - x, so : DM m [49,71°] ± x [38,3]
| precision | direct | convers |
| REGIO | -3,74 | -0,32 |
| PLAC | -7,92 | -2,92 |
b)- directio directa : ◻♂ ☌⊕ (POF)
We have noted above how weak the SU radix was in XII. However, its position in tropical LEO (traditional even if it is appropriate to imagine its real place in VIR) imposes it in RULER and as such gives it the dignity of HYLEG. However, it appears that the POF can also play the role of HYLEG in this theme (the alchocoden then being ME, in XII under the dignity of TERM).
Let us first return to the determination of the POF. The traditional calculation (i.e. since Ptolemy) had been imposed until Placidus by:
"The part of fortune must be calculated, both day and night, by counting the number of degrees separating the Sun from the Moon, and by reporting this same distance from the horoscope in the direction of the signs, in such a way that the ratio and configuration of the Sun with respect to the horoscope are also those of the Moon with respect to the part of fortune, the latter appearing as a lunar horoscope" (Tetr. III, 11)
'The formula for composing a lot, which is usually expressed algebraically in modern times,
starts with the longitude of the ascendant (A) which is then added to the longitude of a planet (B), and
then the longitude of a second planet (C) is subtracted from that number in order to determine the
specific position of the lot in the chart. Thus the general algebraic formula looks like this:
Lot = A + B – C
While this is the most precise method for calculating the lots, it is not necessarily the most conceptually
satisfying, nor is it the way in which the lot calculations were actually presented in the texts of the
Hellenistic and Medieval astrologers themselves.'
[cf. Chris Brennan, The Theoretical Rationale Underlying the Seven Hermetic Lots, Tradition journal, issue 2, spring 2009, available online at http://thetraditionjournal.com.]
The arc is determined from the sect luminary – the Sun by day and the Moon by night.
POF ⊕ = Asc + Moon – Sun (D) or Asc + Sun – Moon (N)
and these arcs are taken in longitude. Let us now read Placidus in Primum Mobile :
'This man [Negusantius] subscribes to the truth of every thing I lately mentioned in my Celestial Philosophy, wherein I said, that the ⊕ moves upon the orbit or way of the ☽'s latitude, and, therefore, not in the ecliptic. But as I have shown that the distances and rays to the angles are, by no means, made in the zodiac, but upon the parallel of every star, he argues, and, indeed, very ingeniously, that the ☉, in like manner, is elongated from the East, viz. upon his parallel; and, also, the ☽, who has not by any other method nor way different than when the ☉ is in the horizon, by her real presence, posited the place of ⊕ ; for no other fundamental principle is seen to constitute this part in nature, unless by such an assignation and impression of virtue, exhibited by the ☽, at ☉ rise. When this learned man adds, “ For when the ☉ comes to the Cardinal Sign of the East, then it is necessary the ☽ be found in its horizon ; afterwards, in an equal space of time, the ☉ digressing, he is removed from it according to his ascension ;" wherefore, if we study the matter with accuracy, we shall find that, entirely in the same manner as the ☉ departs from the East, the ☽ is likewise separated from the ☉ that is, both upon their parallels, so that as many degrees as the ☉, in his parallel circle, is elongated from the East, so many is the ☽ in her parallel, distant from the ⊕ : whence it follows, that the true place of ⊕ does not always remain in the zodiac, but always under the ☽’s parallel circle, that is, with the ☽ ’s declination. the same both in number and name, and, therefore, the ⊕ does not receive any aspects from the stars in the zodiac, but only in mundo. We may make a calculation of the ⊕ several ways, but it will be shorter, as well as easier, if, in the diurnal geniture, the ☉’s true distance from the East is added: to the ☽’s right ascension, and, in the nocturnal, subtracted, for the number thence arising will be the place and right ascension of ⊕ : and it always has the same declination with the ☽, both in number and name, wherever it is found. Again, let the ☉’s oblique ascension, taken in the ascendant, be subtracted always from the oblique ascension of the ascendant, as well in the day as in the night, and the remaining difference be added to the ☽'s right ascension, the sum will be the right ascension of ⊕, which will have the ☽'s declination." [Canon de Parte Fortunae, pp. 409-413, Tabulae Primi mobilis..., Placido de Titis, Patavii, MDCLVII ; Primum mobile, trad John Cooper, pp. 308-316, London, 1814]
Add to this that the ⊕ cannot be directed in converse movement in the world because it does not participate in the universal movement of the Primum Mobile, nor in the aspects of the zodiac in direct or converse direction.
To calculate ⊕ according to Placidus (corrected by Negusantius and Fumagalli), we must first determine the horary distance of ⊕ : to do this, we must first know in which quadrant the ⊕ is located: we will have its position in quadrant by calculating the difference between its oblique ascension (ao) and its right ascension (ar):
ao ⊕ = ao asc (137.23) + oa MO (-0.75) - oa SU (115.67) = 20.8
and ar ⊕ = oa asc (137.23) + ra MO (14.06) - ra SU (137.36) = 35.62
and hd ⊕ = oa ASC (137.23) - oa ⊕ (20.8) = -116.43
which gives
upper md = ra MC - ra ⊕ = 11.62.
So we know that the ⊕ is in IX (according to Gansten, see Primary directions, calculating the Placidean part of fortune, pp. 158-160, the Wessex astrologer, 2009). But we have another simpler method to determine that ⊕ is in quadrant 2 : it is to compute ⊕ with the traditional method and we find ⊕ = 32.26° ♉ (even though we now know that this purely ecliptic value is wrong.)
Let us now calculate th(temporary hour) in order to determine the horary distance (hd) of ⊕ :
th ⊕ = th MO = 17.47
Now, the hd ⊕ = upper md/TH = 0.665
We have now to compute the pole of POF (recall : in the Placidean method, we use the MO da and the MO dec) :
tan pole = sin(1/6*HD pof*DA MO)*cot(DEC MO)
pole ⊕ = 8.02
Now we compute the oblique descension under the own pole of ⊕ (the DOCH of italian astrologers, see Fumagalli and Il Calcolo delle coordinate dei Cardini e degli astri di nascita, introduzione alle Tavola del Primo Mobile.pdf) :
doch (pof) = ra mc - 15 x dh = 47.23 - 15*0.665 = 37.25
tang (𝛝) = sin(doch)/(cos(doch)*cos(𝛜) ± sin(𝛜)*tan(pole)
𝛝 = 40.31 ° ♉
| speculum | Lat | Dec | AR | MD | SA | HA |
| MO | 5,05 N | 10,74 N | 12,25 | 34,99 D | 103,8 D | 68,81 W |
| □MA | 1,4 N | -1,07 S | 357,53 | 49,71 D | 88,65 D | 38,94 W |
– MD = meridian distance (from MC if SA f [MO] is diurnal or IC if Sa f is nocturnal)
– SA = semi-arc (if f is diurnal, SA f [MO] is D and all MD’s and SA’s are D, otherwise N
– HA = horizontal distance (from the nearest horizon W or E for f [MO] and m □MA)
under bracket [] the fixed point, (here MO)
- Lat □MA 1,4 N and lat MA : -6° 13' 30"
recall : hd, dec and da of ⊕ <=> these of ☽.
At the age of 57 (exactly, 57.06 in 1917.66) the Primum Mobile has runed through 3h 56 which gives 1.94 of motu proprio for MO. Added to the lunar parameters, we obtain: ⊕ = 40°37'♉
At this time, we see a conjunction with the ◻♂ which then reaches: 42°12' ♉
At the time of Alan Leo's death, we therefore observe two directions to take into account and involving the hyleg.
additional bibliography
- Auguste Bouché-Leclercq, l'Astrologie Grecque, cap IX, $ II le sytème des sorts, pp.288-310 , Leroux, 1899
- Mark Riley, a survey of Vettius Valens, book II, the lot of fortune
