Robert Cross Smith

 Robert Cross Smith (1795-1832) was an English astrologer, writing under the pseudonym of "Raphael".

There is a series of small monographs - often unintentionally humorous (sic) - in the journal 'Modern Astrology' (series the Astrologers magazine, vol II, 1891-1892, pp. 294-296) particularly on the life of Sibly; we give it below with annotations.

ASTROLOGICAL students, and all others who maybe interested in the science, owe a debt of gratitude to two men whose names, or rather noms de plume, have become household words, and justly so, for it is due to their efforts that the science holds its present position. Up to the time of their labours Astrology had degenerated to a mere form of predicting, of a very low order ; its truths had been obscured by rubbish. These two men came, and, to a great extent, cleared the obstacles from the path by the publication of their works, and we, in this 19th century, have reaped the benefit. These are "notable" men in every sense of the word, and it is but fitting that their horoscopes should be in the hands of every astrological student, and we should be doing injustice to their memory if we did not include their horoscopes in our columns. Commander R. J. Morrison, R.N., or " Zadkiel," the name he is generally known by, is the author of " The Grammar of Astrology," and the founder of the almanack that bears his name. He likewise produced a modern edition of Lilly's " Christian Astrology " (the horary part), besides many other works on Astrology.
His contemporary, R. C. Smith, or "Raphael," (1) is the author of several works, the best of which is undoubtedly " The Manual of Astrology." He also produced an almanack which bears his nom de plume. His horoscope follows ;  that of Commander Morrison will appear later. Both of these are " notable" men and will be revered by all Astrologers.
RAPHAEL was born under the 19th degree of the celestial sign Gemini, a sign noted for the number of fixed stars of the first magnitude therein. His significator is Mercury (2), who is just entering the notable sign Aries, in conjunction with the solar orb, and beneficially configured with the two superior planets Saturn and Jupiter, but in ill aspect with Venus (semi-square). Venus is culminating in' a sign I consider peculiarly suitable to Mercury ; this position would give him popularity, but the ill aspect to his significator would cause much ill-feeling on the part of certain members of the opposite sex, and who would somewhat affect his honour and reputation. He was a true " son of Mercury," which his numerous writings bear testimony to, the good aspect to Saturn giving him that patience so necessary when making researches and experiments, and the good aspect to Jupiter giving that high moral tone which permeates the whole of his writings. Three planets in fixed signs gave him his determination, the parallel of Moon and Uranus the originality that bore chiefly on the occult, the force and energy that characterised his studies and publications on astral philosophy emanating from Mars' trine aspect to Uranus, assisted by the Moon's parallel to them both ; whilst the Moon, in a fruitful sign near the cusp of the eleventh, produced him many friends, yet as she separates from the opposition of Uranus, he would experience annoyances at the hands of many so-called occultists, who doubtless were jealous of his popularity, from the fact of Saturn squaring Uranus both from earthy signs.
I judge his financial affairs were not very grand, although the Sun and Saturn are in good aspect to Jupiter. Mars upsets their good intentions by an evil square, and he also afflicts the Moon, who rules his house of finance. Space forbids further elucidation, I therefore leave the natus of this worthy apostle of astral science for the student's closer investigation.

'Smith died just as he was planning to move to another publisher for The Prophetic Messenger as he was paid a fixed sum, whatever the sales were, which were steadily increasing. In 1831 he moved to 75 Castle Street and fell ill "caused by much study". He spent a bad winter suffering from a violent cough and frequent fits. He died at 16:15 on 26th February 1832 of consumption.'
[https://www.skyscript.co.uk/raphael.html]

(1) Raphael I ; Mr. John Palmer (1807-1837), who succeeded R.C. Smith as Raphael II and is copied from the "Prophetic Messenger for 1837. There are no fewer than 7 astrologers who have taken the nom de plume Raphael (cf. https://www.astro.com/astrowiki/de/Raphael).
(2) it seems that JU is the alchocoden (SU is the hyleg). ME is combust

---------------------------------
Cross Robert
19 Mar 1795 GREG CAL
thursday GREG
| lat 51° 27' 0" | N 2°35' W
0
---------------------------------
natal (bt) 13 h 30 min
raas-rams :23h 52' 0"
reckoned bt Lat --> lmt 9 h 15 min
tu 9h 15' 0"
tsn 20h 51' 56"
---------------------------------
timezone : 0
DST : 0 (-)
Equation of time -0h 7' 59"
ΔT 0h 0' 16"
---------------------------------

 

list of mundane aspects 
--------------------------------------------------
SU[-0,48 Occ 0]ME                          ME[-7,28 Occ 60]JU    VE[8,37  Or 60]MA 
--------------------------------------------------
The score of engaged aspects with ME is explained by the bad values ​​of ME in the celestial and zodiacal rankings.
Note that the axial aspects are already in AO with ASC and AR with MC
--------------------------------------------------
HYLEG – ALCHOCODEN – domification ,

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 Cross Robert 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 Cross Robert, 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 P and therefore seems weak, with a dignity score of [-1],
But, when we look for the dignities that appear in the zodiacal inscription of SU, we find none.
we find none 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 P 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 JU.

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 0
First, we have to see which candidate has the most dignity: here, JU has candidate alcho dignities referring to SU : [TRI]
First, JU is linked with SU by a [conjunction] aspect and a [TRI] dignity,
However, JU is [P] and has a power of [-3], and so JU has a bad Kadkhudah score of [6]
JU is located at 300,92° at more than 5° from [Δ degrees cups sup [IX] : 11,89° (240)] and has a domitude Regio of : [251,89] for a latitude of [-0,27°]

THEME

SU is P with a [-3] score - house rgo 11
MO is T with a [10] score - house rgo 11
ME is D cb with a [-23] score - house rgo 11
VE is te  with a [9] score - house rgo 10
JU is P with a [-11] score - house rgo 12
MA is Ru with a [5] score - house rgo 9
SA is T with a [2] score - house rgo 12

points to specially watch for the duration of life: 0 in house VI ; MA SA in house XII
points to specially watch for the social destiny: VE  in house X
we see below the list of  aspects :
---------------------------------------
  SU[-0,48 Occ 0]ME                          ME[-7,28 Occ 60]JU    VE[8,37  Or 60]MA          
---------------------------------------



The traditional almuten (Omar, Ibn Ezra) is VE
we see below the list of dignities for VE :
---------------------------------------
[ term 3 tri 0 rul 1 exn 2 fac 3 ]
[ su 1 mo 3 asc 2 syg 1 pof 0 ]
---------------------------------------
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 VE

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)
---------------------------------------
Ω  173,59 / -3
---------------------------------------

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) 

[ ⊕ Brunacci : 65,01°] 

the Fumagalli method is the so called horary method from Brunacci and Onorati : we find it in 'de parte fortunae ptolemaica, pp, 8-14 ex libro iii, cap i, in physiomathematica,,, cursino francobacci et africano scirata are anagrams for francesco brunacci and francesco maria onorati,

Primary directions

1)- direction directa : ☌☉ ☌♄

This direction is one of the most classic relating to the somatic aspect of a person. It seems that Cross was seriously ill as early as the autumn of 1831. At that time, we note in the placidus direction (Brahe key) an arc of 33.57 which leads to an orb of 3.67 Y. In the Regio direction, the arc is 31.49 with an orb of 5.75 Y. If we take the Placidus step, we note in the placidus direction an orb of -0.73 Y and in Regio, an orb of 2.81 Y.

2)- directio conversa : [c] ☌♂ ◻♀

This is a true converse direction, that is to say that the planet (MA) is "dragged" towards the eastern square of VE. This "dragging", once again, is only the apparent result of the primum mobile.

speculum	Lat	Dec	AR	MD	SA	HA
MA	-0,03 S	10,57 N	25,56	107,43 N	76,45 N	-30,98 W
□VE	0 S	22,99 N	77,86	55,12 N	57,82 N	2,7 W

– MD = meridian distance (from MC if SA f [MA]  is diurnal or IC if Sa f  is nocturnal)
– SA = semi-arc (if f is diurnal, SA f [MA] 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 [MA] and m □VE)
under bracket [] the fixed point, (here MA)
- Lat □VE 0 S and lat VE : 1° 40' 48"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

PLACIDUS	CUSPAL DIST	(*)	□ VE	MA	PLAC DIR – POLE
directio conversa	OA ASC	42,99	signif	promissor	□ VE [E] | MA [E]
	OA □ VE	45.66	OA	OA	asc or desc
	dist horiz	2,70	4	1	□ VE under earth | MA above earth
	house □ VE	1	□ VE [MA 103,55 D]
	horary time (ht)	9,64	57,82	90	pole □ VE
	double ht	19,27	55,12	85,80	50,25
houses		33,01	DM	PM
1	1,00	33,01
2	0,67	22,00		DA MA / □ VE	OA MA / □ VE
	pole 2	40,80	51,45	21,92	55,95
	dec □ VE	22,99			OA MA
	DA □ VE /2	21,49	32,18	9,45	16,11
	RA □ VE	77,86		5,19	39,84
	OA	56.37	110,04		dir
	dist □ VE cusp / 2	10,69	8,58	19,27

(*) Sepharial (Walter Gorn Old), cuspal distances, debatable ground, the horoscope, 2, 5, 19-23, Oct 1903
directional astrology, p, 72, Sepharial, 1921
(**) according to Max Duval, 'Les Moyens de pronostic en astrologie', pp 11-15, direct zodiacal directions, Ed Traditionnelles, 1986
(***) if 0<b<90;b=b' ; if 180<b<90; b'=180-b (use sign of b)
cf, Alan Leo, Casting the horoscope, (Astrology for all, II,, appendix, pp 180-183, L. N. Fowler & Co., London, 1912

arc = 39.84 (corresponding to 40.16 with Brahe key)

δ	22,99	10,57
REGIOMONTANUS	□ VE	MA
(a)	49,04	69,70	Sina = cos dec x sin MD
(b)	126,58	58,06	tan b (b') = cot dec x cos MD (***)
(c)	33,55	-2,87	X = tan a x cosec (latgeo +b (b'))
PM	87,26	60,78	Tan PM regio = tan(X x cos(latgeo))
(mod ∟)	2,74	330,78	dom regio
house	1	12
	2,74 [ d, I ]	0,78 [ d, XII ]	domitude
(**)	51,42	47,60	pole regio
A	coA=tanp/tanλ	29,22	∠ meridian↑ p/λ
B	117,70	cosB=-tanp tanδm	SA D □ VE / pole 47,6
Arm	77,86		AR □ VE
TS	312,986		AR MC
1	36,40	(ARm-TS) ± A-B	pf Or N - pm Or N
quadrant MA	arc	formula (mod 360°)	orient pf – pm

This calculation method was inspired by an article found in 'Casting the horoscop' by Alan Leo entitled 'How to find the Mundane Positions'.

'In the diagram HAZA' is the meridian, HOA' is the horizon, O the centre, Z the zenith, OEq the equator, and A the North Pole. The position of the star is represented by a large dot, and is shown in two positions B and B' with respectively S. and N. declination. AB'B is a declination circle drawn from the N. Pole through the star. The figure is drawn for a place in the northern hemisphere, and shows the star in a position between the cusps of the seventh and tenth houses. By suitable modification the figure can be adapted to a place in the southern hemisphere, or for a star in some other quadrant. Two House Position Circles are shown A'BDEH and A'D'B'E'H, such as the star would have with a given declination, either S. or N. The arcs BC, B'C' are arcs of great circles, and are therefore NOT parallel to the equator; but they are drawn such that the angles at CC' are right angles, a fact which it is important to bear in mind; but AB'C', ABC are NOT right angles.

(i) The CAMPANUS house-position will be shown by the arc ZE or ZE' which shows the distance of the House Position Circle from the Zenith measured along the Prime Vertical ZE'EO.
(ii) The REGIOMONTANUS house-position will be shown by the arc EqD or EqD' which shows the distance of the House Position Circle from the meridian measured along the Equator ODD’Eq. The angle BAC or B’AC' shows the M.D. of the star.' [Alan Leo, 'Casting the horoscope', Appendix, Determination of planets' mundane positions, pp. 180-181, London, 1912]

The arcs EqD or EqD' which show the distance of the House position circle are the ET arcs that we see in the Delambre's figure 129 of the 'Histoire de l'Astronomie du moyen âge',  pp, 486-491 (which are an explanation and development of Magin's ideas from Primum mobile duodecim libris,,, 1609).

EqD = ET = cot[sin(∆AR,AR')/sin(P)]+cot(P) = PM = tan(𝛑p)/tan(𝝀)

where ∆AR = DA from significator or promissor, P = horary angle , 𝛑p = pole REGIO of star, 𝝀 = lat geo, pm = mundane REGIO position.

from Delambre, fig. 129, here ET = 87.26, PM of ♂.

From the PM, we recover the domitudes: dom regio = 270 (90) ± PM (modulo quadrant) and the Regiomontanus poles.

We can thereafter use the formulas to find the Regio arc :

arc =36.4 (with the Brahe key, 36.7 Y).

3)- directio directa : ◻♄ ☌☽

speculum	Lat	Dec	AR	MD	SA	HA
MO	-2,5 S	-11,44 S	339,24	26,25 D	75,29 D	49,04 W
□SA	0 S	-19,35 S	305,99	7 D	63,85 D	56,85 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 □SA)
under bracket [] the fixed point, (here MO)
- Lat □SA 0 S and lat SA : -1° 50' 43"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MAGINI – REGIOMONTANUS    
direct    
    
    
modified from [ Delambre, Hist Astron Moyen Âge, Magini, pp, 486-491 Paris 1819]    Eq for Fig 129 (pl 12)  see fig for location and explanation of spherical triangles
    
    h (altitude  of the promissor) - H (latitude of the observer) - D (declination of the promissor) –
    D' (declination of incident horizon = position circle of promissor) - PH=H -
    
aspect [□ SA] orient control    control pole (0,1)
-1    0

P (horary angle, from midnight)    
-7,00    ||  cosP = (sinh-sin Hsin D)/(cosHcosD)
353,00    
PHA (HAO angle)    
-14,59    ||  TanPHA = sinP/((sinDA[MO]+cosP)cosH)
------------------------------------------    
PR (pole HAO)    DA [□ SA] with δ C MO -2,99
-11,365    ||  sinPR=sinPHsinPHA
DA [C MO] with δ □ SA -5,45

ET (arc meridian/HAO)    SA D prom [C MO] with δ □ SA 84,55
167,55    ||  tanET=cosHtanPHA

------------------------------------------    MAGINI – PROBLEMA XVI
H'    ||  H' (incident horizon = B50
15,14    ||  tanH'=sinETtanH
------------------------------------------    
PAR (position angle)    
16,07    ||  sinPAR=sinH'/cosD
    
QS, HPR (Az PR)    
77,55    ||  cosQS=sinET
    
ΔAR' (DA/HAO)    #VALEUR !
-5,45    ||  sinΔAR'=tanDtangH'
    
OTE, HTQ, ETH (equat/HAO angle)    
74,86    ||  tanOTE=cotH/sinET
------------------------------------------    MAGINI – PROBLEMA XVII
KO (≠AR □ SA C MO)    Eq for Fig 130 (pl 12) see fig for location and  Explanation of spherical triangles
34,61    ||  KO=AR□ SA - ARC MO
------------------------------------------    
A (AET angle)    ||  EA = 90-H
19,51    ||  sinA=sinETsinOTE/sinEA
    MAGINI – PROBLEMA XVIII
T (angle horizon/OTH)    ||  pole of PRS (=90-H')
74,86    ||  cosT=sinAETsinH
    
[+] TO ΔAR' □ SA    ||  D austral --> sign OT [-]
-5,45    ||  sinTO=tanDcotT
1    -
[-] TV ΔAR' C MO    ||  D' austral-> sign TV [+]
-2,99    ||  sinTV=tanVZcotT
-1    +
tasyir    ||  If OS (D) [+], TO ~ sign,  If RK (D') [-], TV ~ sign
37,07    ||  KV=KO – OT – TV
    
VZ    ||  D' (declin of C MO)
-10,90    
    
OS    ||  D (declin of □ SA)
-19,35    
    
ST    distance ST
-20,08    ||  sinST=sinD/sinT
    
TZ    distance TZ
-11,30    ||  sinTZ=sinD'/sinT
    
ZS    ≠dist
-8,78    ||  If D/D'<0 [-]
    
EPA (EPV, EV) ± ΔAR'    horary angle of □ SA
173,00    ||  if d is [-] ~ ΔAR'
    
IOANNIS ANTONII MAGINI  PRIMI MOBILIS LIBER NONUS QUI AGIT DE DIRECTIONIBUS pp, 214-232 PROBLEMA XVI p, 229 – PROBLEMA XVII p,229  PROBLEMA XVIII p, 230 Venezia: Damiano Zenaro. 1604    
    
KV = KO [-] TO [+] TV    
37,07    ||  KV = KO [+] TO ΔAR' □ SA [-] TV ΔAR' C MO
2,47    ≠AR'

arc = 37.07 Y.

Problem XVI gives the means of finding if a star is in the same circle of position, with a planet or any significator. Find the arc position ET, which assumes the hour angle of the star and its semidiurnal arc. With ET and H you will have the angle O of the position circle with the meridian; you will compare this circle to that of the significator and you will see if it differs from it. Problem XVII. The significance being placed in any angle, direct or lead him to the promissor, following the order of the signs. He [Magini] calls, following the usage of astrologers, significator, the one who holds the first place in the zodiac, and promissor, the one who holds the second place according to the order of the signs.  To direct means to seek the arc of the equator which, by the movement of the sphere, while the promissor will be transferred to the position of the first, that is to say of the significator, will pass through the meridian or through the horizon, if it is in one of these circles, or through the circle of position of the significator, if it declines from one of these angles. We have already seen that astrologers counted four angles; the angle of the east and that of the west, that of the upper meridian and that of the lower meridian; that is to say the two points of the ecliptic which are on the horizon and the two which are at the meridian. The angle of the upper meridian was also called the middle of the sky, that of the lower meridian was still called the bottom of the sky. This problem, quite complicated, depends only on the most ordinary rules of spherical trigonometry. 

Problem XVIII. Wherever the signifier is, outside the angles from the meridian and the horizon, lead him to any promissor, following the order of the signs, by the rational path. The operation, says Magini, is very painful. You must have right ascension and the distance to the meridian, both of the significator and the promissor; their declinations and the semi-diurnal or semi-nocturnal arc, depending on whether it is above or below the horizon; it is necessary to find the elevation of the pole on the position circle and the position arc. We reported the necessary formulas for all these calculations. Then let S be the significator, R the promissor (fig. 130), RZN the parallel of the promissor, OK the difference of  right ascensions; R will cross the ASC position circle in Z; K.V will be the movement of the equator, which will take R to point Z; the time interval will be therefore measured by  KV = KO — OT — TV = direction,  These last problems bring the theory of directions into the greatest light ! This theory belongs exclusively to the Middle Ages. No one has exposed it as completely as Magini.