The Magus/Book 1/Part 2/Chapter 29

EVERY natural virtue works things far more wonderful when it is not only compounded of a natural proportion, but alfo is informed by a choice obfervation of the celeftials opportune to this (viz. when the celeftial power is moft firong to that effect which we defire, and alfo helped by many celeftials), by fubjectinge inferiors to the celeftials, as proper females, to be made fruitful by their males. Alfo, in every work there are'to be obferved the fituation, motion, and afpect of the ftars and planets, in figns and degrees, and how all thefe ftand in reference to the length and latitude of the climate ; for by this are varied the qualities of the angles, which the rays of the celeftial bodies upon the figure of the thing defcribe, according to which celeftial virtues are infufed. So when you are working any thing which belongs to any planet, you muft place it in its dignities, fortunate, and powerful, and ruling in the day hour, and in the figure of the heavens. Neither muft you expect the fignification of the work to be powerful, but you muft obferve the Moon opportunely directed to this; for you fhall do nothing without the affiftance of the Moon. And if you have more patterns of your work, obferve them all, being moft powerful, and looking upon one another with a friendly afpect; and if you cannot have fuch afpects, it will be convenient at leaft that you take them angular. But you fhall take the Moon either when fhe looks upon both, or is joined to one, and looks upon the other, or when when fhe pafles from the conjunction or afpect of one, to the conjunction or afpect of the other; for that, I conceive, muft in no wife be omitted. Alfo, you fhall in every work obferve Mercury, for he is a meflenger between the higher gods and the infernal gods: when he goes to the good, he increafes their goodnefs—when to the bad, he hath influence on their wickednefs. We call it an unfortunate fign or planet, when it is, by the afpect of Saturn or Mars efpecially, oppofite or quadrant, for thefe are the afpects of enmity; but a conjunéction, a trine, and a fextile afpect, are of friendfhip; between thefe there is a greater conjunction; but yet if you do already ​behold it through a trine, and the planet be received, it is accounted as already conjoined. Now all planets are afraid of the conjunction of the Sun, rejoicing in the trine, and fextile afpect thereof.