John Gadbury has included a list of Aphorisms to aid in the judgement of Solar Returns/Annual Revolutions. I have included these for the Astrology student to gain a greater grasp of interpreting these important predictive charts.
1. If the Lord of the Ascendant in the Radix be well posited in the Revolution, and well aspected of the good Planets from good places of the figure, it indicates much good unto the Native, and declares him to be healthful of body in that year.
2. When the Ascendant of the Revolution shall happen to be the place of the Moon in the Radix, and she in the Revolution come to her Radical place, and in good Aspect of the Fortunes, it denotes safeguard unto the Native from evil, loss or prejudice in that year; it also declares him to be healthful of body and mind, and he shall receive an augmentation of delight and pleasure from or by means of a woman or women.
3. The Ascendant of the Revolution pestered with the presence of the nature of that Infortune which (so) beholds it, according to the nature of the Sign and House of Heaven in which it happens.
4. When the Part of Fortune shall be in a good place of the Figure, viz. where the Fortunate stars in the Radix were placed, or in good Aspect of them, chiefly if either of them be Lord or Governor of the second House in the Revolution, it declares unto the Native in that year an augmentation of his Estate, and much gain. Here by the way give me leave to acquaint you, that you ought to take your Part of Fortune of the Revolution, as you did of that Radix; for the Revolution is a new Birth or Radix, and the figure in all parts (viz. the Cusps and Planets places) change, except the Sun, who is the Center of (the World, as well as) the Radix of the Native. I see no reason thereof why the Part of Fortune should be projected from the radical places of the Sun and Moon, and the Ascendant of the Revolution, as Ptolemy teaches. If it be part proper to one Figure, why should two have to do in its finding out?
5. The Lord of the second of the Revolution in the Ascendant, portends much increase of gain and substance unto the Native; and this to come unto him without much labor, or without his own seeking.
6. If a Planet were Peregrine in the second House of the Radix, and he happen to be in the Ascendant of the Revolution, it portends unto the Native gain by some person or thing he never imagined or hoped for : the nature of the Planet may in some measure discover the mater, if compared with the Nature of the House he is Lord of.
7. When the Lord of the Ascendant of the Revolution shall apply to the Lord of the second, the Native shall gain much that year
by his labor. But if the Lord of the second shall separate from the Lord of the Ascendant, it denotes the contrary. But if the Lord of the Ascendant shall separate from the Lord of the second, the Native will then be solicitous and desirous of gain; but he will very rarely attain much.
8. If a Fortune shall be in the Ascendant of a Revolution, or the Ascendant happen to be the place of a Fortune in the Radix, the Native shall in that year acquire riches and great honors; and (if in a condition suitable) he shall have a Child. But if the Ascendant be hindered, neither of them can come to pass but with much difficulty; and if the Infortunes behold the Ascendant, all the hopes of good are utterly destroyed.
9. An Infortune in the second of the Revolution, denotes unto the Native much damage and loss according to the nature of the Infortune, (i.e.) if Saturn happen to be him, the Native loses by Saturnine men and things; if Mars, he denotes much expense of treasure, and loss of prejudice by thieves and robbers, by fire, and by men martially inclined.
10. If Saturn be the Lord of the third in a Revolution, and posited in the Ascendant, it indicates much melancholy, and many troubles and perturbations to happen unto the native by reason of Brethren and Kindred. And if Mars fortune to be in the place of Mercury in the Radix, he shall expose himself to many losses and eminent dangers for their sakes; his journeys also will be unsuccessful in that year.
11. When the Lord of the Ascendant of a Revolution shall be in Combustion of the Sun, portends heavy and grievous detriments unto the Native; and this according to the nature of the Planet who is Lord of the year, partaking also with the nature of the Sun. But if he shall be in the dignities of the Moon, or in his own Essential Dignifies, the evils will be abated : but if he shall be debilitated, and out of all his Fortitudes, you may pronounce the greater evils.
12. When the Figure of a Revolution shall happen to be the same (or near it) with the Figure of the World, and if the same Planet shall be Lord of the Year and Revolution also, it generally denotes the Native much good, unless the Sign ascending and his Lord shall be impedited in the Radix.
13. If in a Figure of Revolution you find the lights conjoined in the seventh or fourth Houses, the Father or Mother of the Native shall die in that year; chiefly if their places in the Radix shall be infortunated : if Saturn afflict the Sun by square or opposition, or if he be conjunct of him in an angle, the father dies only; if the Moon be afflicted as aforesaid, the Mother then dies; for the Sun hath Signification of the father; the Moon, of the Natives mother.
14. When the Lord of the Ascendant of the Revolution shall be Retrograde in the eighth House without the help of the fortunate Planets, he portends a sickness even unto death unto the Native; an evil Direction then operating, certainly kills him.
15. The Lord of the sixth of the Revolution in conjunction with the Tail of the Dragon, denotes much sickness to the Native, his life will be much endangered : if at the same time, Mars afflict the Lord of the Ascendant, he imports poison or a stab, or some violent death or mischievous distemper in that year.
16. When the Moon shall be in conjunction of Saturn in a Revolution, and he behold the Lord of the Ascendant with a square or opposition, the native in that year shall be dangerously afflicted both in body and mind : and if the Ascendant happen to be the radical place of Saturn, or the place of his square or opposition, the Native will have a trembling fever : if Saturn be angular or succedant, it portends a Quartian or Tertian Ague : if Mars maliciously beholds him, it will prove a dangerous fever; such as may threaten death, unless the Fortunes interpose their Rays.
17. All the Planets in the Revolution strong and Angular, they give unto the Native good according to their natures, and the quality or disposition of the place in the which they are found. But if they be weak, ill dignified and cadent, you may judge the contrary shall happen to him.
18. If the Ascendant of the Revolution shall come to the place of Mars in the Radix, and Mars at the same time behold the Ascendant
evilly; that is to say, with square or opposition, it portends many dangers, strifes and contentions, wounds and acute diseases unto the native; chiefly, if he shall be in an Angle or Succedant House.
19. An Eclipse of either of the Luminaries any of the Angles of the Radix; chiefly, in the Ascendant, or in the place of the Sun or Moon, viz. near their degrees, threaten great danger of death unto the Native. Origanus says, If an Eclipse of the Sun shall happen in the same degree of Dragons Tail radical place, the Native shall die in that year; if near it, he will be in danger of death but escape.
20. When Jupiter in a Revolutional figure shall be in configuration with the Moon and Venus, or if he shall be in an Angle in his Radical place, (if at the Radix he were well posited) it inclines the Native to much mirth, and gives him pleasures and delights; sometimes marriage in that year.
21. The Moon in a Revolution in sextile or trine of the Fortunate Planets by Reception, denotes a good and prosperous year to the Native, according to the nature or Signification of the Fortune she is in Reception withal : but if there be Reception, and the Aspect fortune to be evil, the good then promised shall not remain or endure, but the end of that year will be evil.
22. If a fortunate Planet shall be Lord of death in the Radix, and he fortunate in a Revolution to come to the Significator of Life, or be himself significator thereof, in that year he destroys or cuts off the fury threatened by the position of unfortunate stars.
23. The Lord of the Midheaven of the Radix in the Ascendant of the Revolution, presages much honor and preferment unto the Native in that year. The Lord of the Ascendant of the Radix in the Midheaven of the Revolution, portends the same : or if their Lords shall be joined, or in Sextile or Trine in or from those Angles, the Effects will be very eminent, and the Native shall receive honor.
24. When the infortunate Planets shall be in the Ascendant of a Revolution, or in Signs (evilly) beholding the Ascendant, they portend impediments and sorrow to the Native, of the nature of the Infortunes, and of the Sign (or House also) in which they shall be posited.
25. The Sun in a Revolution in square or opposition to the Ascendant at birth, or to his Lord, imports many dangers, labors and difficulties unto the Native; he may be brought before a magistrate, or his father may detriment him. But if the Sun shall be in the twelfth of a Revolution, the Natives private enemies shall conspire against him, and shall do him much mischief.
26. Saturn and Mars conjoined in the tenth House of a Revolution, threaten death of the Natives Mother in that year. If Mars be there alone, the mother may receive damage, but will not die : he also threatens to the Native loss of honor and repute; sometimes danger by a kick from a horse, or by a fall from a high place, chiefly in an aerial Sign.
27. When the Lord of the Ascendant, or the Moon, in a Revolution, shall be in conjunction, quartile or opposition of the Infortunes, the Native in that year will suffer much loss and detriment; chiefly if either of the Infortunes happen to be Lords of the twelfth or seventh Houses of the Figure.
28. When Mercury shall be Lord of the year, and Combust of the Sun, he portends much detriment to the Native in Merchandizing of all kinds, in writings and accounts, with many molestations and troubles of the mind.
29. If in a Revolutional figure, benevolent stars be posited in the twelfth House, the Native shall in that year prevail against his enemies; but if malevolent stars be posited there, it denotes the contrary.
30. Saturn Lord of the Ascendant in a Revolution, declares the Native in that year to be timorous and fearful; miserable and greedy after gain. If Jupiter be Lord thereof, the Native will be inclined to good manners, and to honesty and religion : When Mars, he will then be given to rapine and cruelty, strifes, quarrels and contentions. If the Sun, the Native will be sorrowful, yet severe and rigorous. If Venus be governess of it, he will be given to wantonness and lasciviousness. If Mercury, he will be inclinable to wisdom and study. If Luna be Lady of the Revolution, the Native will go journeys, or travel in that year; will be inconstant, mutable, oft changing of his opinions.
31. When Aries shall ascend in a Revolution, the Native will be in fear of a violent death that year. If Taurus, sickness will invade him by reason of evil courses. If Gemini, he will be solicitous and curious in his search after secrets and occult knowledge. If Cancer, he will then prove a lover of public employments or matters, and will be laborious and studious. If Leo, he will be proud and pensive. If Virgo, he aims at honor, and is ambitious. If Libra, he will endanger his life by reason of gluttony, and such like courses. If Scorpio, he will be obstinate and confident, whence weakness and trouble of mind will follow. If Sagittarius, he shall be solicitous about buildings. If Capricorn, his solicitations shall be chiefly for moneys, & etc. If Aquarius, he will prove vile tongued, slanderous and malicious; and may meet with mischief thereby. If Pisces, he will be very proud. The same of Virgo, but not so much, saith Origanus, fol.78.
