Talk:Primary Direction
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This presentation of primary directions is really superficial. I would propose rewriting the whole entry.
The main idea of primary directions is to move radix points on the celestial sphere in the direction of their daily motion in ascension (some people also use converse directions, moving them in the opposite direction). Effective use of primaries depends on a precise radix time. But this is also the reason that primaries are a powerful rectification tool.
Aspects of directed points to radix points (planets, cusps, sometimes even abstract points such as the PoF) are considered meaningful, as are reflections of radix and directed points around the main axes.
There are variations in method along several dimensions:
1. Domification method. All systems of primary directions are associated with a quadrant house system that is capable of yielding "mundane" positions or "house longitudes". Historically, Regiomontanus, Topocentric and Placidus have been most used, though other well-defined systems such as Campanus can be used. Placidus is the most common method.
2. The kind of points to direct (promissors) and to which to direct (significators). The choice is between bodies with latitude ("mundo directions") or between ecliptic intersects of points ("zodiacal directions"). The latter is the more traditional method, while most modern astrologers who use primaries use the former.
3. The key used. This is the mapping of motion relative to the RAMC to time. There are two kinds of keys: static and dynamic. Static keys use an uniform rate of motion (degree for a day, Naibod, Cardan, etc). Dynamic keys vary the mapping based on astronomical motions (the Kepler key, equation of progressed sun in longitude to RAMC).
4. Uniform movement of all points or use of a time equivalence that includes actual planetary motion. Traditionally, all points are moved uniformly with their directed positions being calculated on the basis of advancement of the RAMC, but ignoring any proper motion due to the passage of time. Another view is to consider the direction to be a mapping of an earlier time in the native's life to a transit time. In this approach, sometimes called "primary progressions", the proper motion of the planets between the radix and directed times is taken into account by erecting a normal chart for the directed time.
When using software to calculate primary directions, it is important to understand how the program decides among the above alternatives, and what options it offers to select among them.
- please, rewrite!--Alois 22:50, 25 November 2008 (UTC)
