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PRIMARY DIRECTIONS REVIEWS
American Astrology - Kenneth Irving
Good books on complicated astrological techniques have
always been hard to find, if only because they naturally have such a small audience that they are usually published by the author, as this one is.
For that reason alone, anyone with a bent for mathematical techniques ought to pick this up. There are at least a couple of reasons that anyone who's not so mathematically inclined might consider it as well. For one thing, Makransky's plain-English explanations of the basics of the celestial sphere, especially in relation to the various popular (and some not so popular) house systems are very good. For another – especially important in these days when most charts come from a computer – it helps to have some technical background on techniques you may want to use. No matter what the technique involved, however, one first needs a book or a teacher who can explain the basics in clear language without (or at least alongside) the mathematics. This is something that Makransky manages very well, so his book can be used as a reference even if one is not interested in getting into the calculations.
"Primaries" are little used by modern astrologers, even though the basic idea is as simple as the popular secondary (or day-for-a-year) progressions.
The idea is that one degree on the Midheaven equals one year, but though the idea itself is simple, its execution is not. The problem is that while there is complete agreement on the basic time measure of the chart (that is, a "degree") there are several possible frames of reference in which movements of the planets can be measured. A simple situation is thus immediately complicated for those who might be interested in trying out primary directions, but oddly enough it is just that complication, and Makransky's efforts to deal with it, that make his book a useful reference work even for those who may have little interest in dealing with primary directions.
Makransky focuses solely on the technical side of primaries – definitions, calculations, and a comparison between various systems – and for the most part leaves the problem of interpretation to others. After
covering the basics of the celestial sphere and trigonometry, the author defines primary directions and discusses the various ways of calculating them. The systems he covers include Campanus, Regiomontanus, horizon, meridian,
Placidus, and even the recently-faddish "topocentric" system, which he critiques in some depth.
Most of these discussions are illustrated with diagrams that help to clarify the technical explanations, as well
as the formulas needed for each technique. The book, in fact, is a treasure-trove of formulas for everything from calculating the Julian Day number from scratch to finding the Regiomontanus Part of Fortune. Not very many
people actually want to do these things, of course, but those who like to collect mathematical odds and ends will find many methods and procedures here that they've never seen before and may never see all in one place again.
Considerations - Ken Gillman
A thorough description of the techniques and calculations involved in primaries.
All types of directions are covered, and there is a clear explanation of how to equate arcs of direction to time. Twelve house systems are evaluated and how to calculate primary directions in each system is clarified. Just about every arc of direction that has ever been seriously suggested is examined: arcs in longitude, declination and RA, solar arcs, ascendant and vertical arcs, together with symbolical, zodiacal, mundane, field plane, and azimuth directions. There are also chapters on the Arabian Parts and Fixed Stars. The tables of stellar oblique ascensions and descensions at 0 to 60 North latitude, at 5 intervals, will be most useful to all astrologers, whether they use primary directions or not. This book is clearly written and should be a very useful and frequently referenced addition to any serious astrologer's bookshelf.
Dell Horoscope - Richard Nolle
Here's one for technically-minded serious students of classical astrology, and particularly those with an interest in forecasting techniques, house systems, and/or
fixed stars – there's nothing like it in print! Primary Directions is several books in one. First, it is a mathematical tutorial on the formulas and methods involved in setting up various house systems: Alcabitius, Campanus, Equal, Horizontal (local space), Koch, Meridian, Morinus, Placidus, Porphyry, Regiomontanus, and Topocentric. Anyone familiar with the history of astrology will immediately recognize that Makransky covers a lot of ground here! Makransky provides complete formulas for setting up all of these house systems, as well as for directing planets in each of them. He seems to avoid picking one house system over another, although he does point out practical and logical problems associated with the Equal and Topocentric systems in particular.
What's this directing stuff? In brief, it's a forecasting technique astrologers use (in addition to transits and progressions) to determine when and what kind of events are likely to happen in a person's life. Aside
from providing formulas to use in directing planets with any of the major house systems, Makransky briefly summarizes his findings based on a study of directions in 50 horoscopes. He concludes that planets directed to the
angles of a horoscope (the ascendant and midheaven and their opposite points) are effective by conjunction and opposition, and that they correspond with significant events within a period of one to three months. ("Claims
of zero-orb accuracy," Makransky opines, "seem to be based on a combination of wishful thinking and gross miscalculation.")
Besides house systems and direction techniques, Primary Directions also makes a brief foray into the significance of fixed stars in the horoscope, furnishing a set of interpretations for each of 41 bright stars plus a table of positions for a total of 137 stars. Considering its technical nature – chock full of spherical trigonometry equations and diagrams – it's clear that Primary Directions is
not for everyone.
On the other hand, Makransky's clear exposition of the technical issues involved in house division is bound to appeal to mathematically-minded advanced students of traditional astrology who will be hard pressed to find anything like this in print. If that's your cup of tea, look no further!
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