Dr. Jones' Methodology

December 2, 2006

by Bob Makransky

In his books (particularly Essentials of Astrological Analysis) Dr. Marc Edmund Jones established a framework of metasymbolism to analyze the meanings of various factors in the natal horoscope (such as retrograde planets, aspects, planets in ruler / detriment, etc.). This system consists of three principles: preponderance, absence, and negative indication (which is a special case of absence).

When there is a preponderance of some factor in a natal chart (for example, a preponderance of retrograde planets, or of square aspects, or of planets conjunct critical degrees) the native's life is skewed at that point. What is shown is a weight, a self-consciousness, a sense of onus or burden, a heavy responsibility which the native must bear and bear up under. There is a depth and compulsion to act with thoroughness in this area of life, but also a heaviness and slowness. Even if the horoscope factor is nominally good, a preponderance of it becomes a source of imbalance in the life. For example, a preponderance of planets in their ruling signs comes on strong, is domineering and positive in its opinions – that is, liberates an unwieldy amount of energy and creates problems in the life.

When there is an absence of some factor in the natal horoscope, then in the area of life symbolized by that factor there is lightness, a freedom of action, and a lack of compulsion, which on the negative side can become a lack of motivation, interest, and understanding. The absence of some horoscope factor shows a freedom from responsibility, but with a concomitant lack of attunement to the environment.

By way of example, when there is a preponderance of retrograde planets (five or more) in the horoscope, the natives are the slaves of their impulses. They are mavericks who put out the minimum amount of conformity necessary for survival in their social milieu. They are armored in their obstinacy, determined to carve out their own niche in life, on their own terms. As a result, their lives tend to lack cohesion or direction – rather, they have a patchy, makeshift quality which comes from living by feel rather than by plan. These natives have a burning need for emotional privacy, and can be impervious and rough in their handling of other people, because they're too bent upon their own inner vision and fancies to pay much mind to the sensibilities of others.

Conversely, an absence of retrograde planets in the horoscope gives a rather naive and hopeful outlook on life. These natives have an unquestioning acceptance of rational and socially approved solutions. They avoid making impulsive errors by avoiding impulse, and are too easily swayed by logic, by their conscious mind, to put much stake in following their hearts. They try to base their behavior on abstract standards of fairness and reasonableness. They are overly compliant because they never feel that they're standing on solid emotional ground; thus, other people who are surer of what it is they want easily impose on these natives.

The precise definition of what constitutes a "preponderance" or "absence" is open to adjustment depending upon the particular horoscope factor under consideration. For rare phenomena (such as stationary planets), three out of ten planets in a chart fitting the criterion is enough to constitute preponderance. Similarly, for very common phenomena (such as the presence of aspects in a horoscope, where a complete absence is unheard of), half the statistically expected number can be considered an absence. The point is that what is being shown by preponderance is a weighting in a given direction, and by absence a lack of pull in that direction.

For example, when there is a preponderance of aspects in the horoscope (at least three times as many Ptolemaic aspects as the orb in degrees – for example, at least eighteen Ptolemaic aspects within 6° orbs), the natives are critically dependent upon validation from other people for an assessment of their own worth. Since aspects are the lines that tie us to other people – compel us to seek their approval – a preponderance of aspects shows natives who are overly concerned with their images, with the impression they make on others, with being right. Therefore, they are easily bent out of shape by rejection, and they take other people's reactions too much to heart. They lack inner stability because their moods rise and fall with their current status in other people's eyes.

Conversely, an absence of aspects (less than the number of degrees in the allowable orb –that is, less than six aspects within 6° orbs) in the horoscope shows a relative freedom from worry about status in society. These natives are not particularly concerned with, motivated by, or even consciously aware of what other people think of them. They are naive and uninhibited, and say whatever's on their minds. Others accept these natives because they accept themselves, are at ease within themselves, and have a frank and natural manner. On the negative side, they can be headstrong, solipsistic, and aloof.

The third principle or metasymbolic technique for isolating the meaning of a horoscope factor is called negative indication, and it is a special form of absence. It occurs when there is a well defined set of related horoscope factors (such as four triplicities, three quadruplicities, angular / succedent / cadent etc.) and all but one of them are represented in the natal horoscope. Whatever is symbolized by the missing factor is emphasized in a negative way – that is, as a parody, an exaggeration of the symbolism, an intellectualized, artificial version constructed as if in compensation for a felt psychological lack or need. The interpretation is similar to that of the preponderance, but with a twist: the behavior is put-on rather than heartfelt; the native acts on mind rather than on feeling.

For example, an absence of planets in fire signs makes for peppery, ornery, theatrical Prima Donnas. This is in contrast to the aristocratic bearing and quiet air of self-assurance that characterizes the preponderance of planets in fire signs. Both the preponderance and the negative indication have a manner that is competent, dominating, and superior; but the preponderance assumes it where the negative indication asserts it.

An absence of planets in earth signs makes for natives who are busy and buzzing all the time, without actually accomplishing very much. In contrast to the down-to-earth, practical self-pacing of people with a preponderance of planets in earth signs, these natives are finicky, fastidious, and never quite comfortable with things. Both the preponderance and negative indication are thorough and conscientious, but the preponderance has a clear sense of the possible (what they are comfortably capable of), whereas the negative indication is over-reaching and over-exacting of both themselves and other people.

An absence of planets in air signs makes for natives who talk a lot but don't say much of anything. Albeit sociable and gregarious, they are vague and uncommunicative on a feeling level. This contrasts with the preponderance of planets in air, which identifies people who are sharp, analytical, articulate, and tart. Both the preponderance and negative indication avidly seek relationships, but the preponderance has a clearly defined sense of who they are and what they stand for, where the negative indication is not actually comfortable with people, but go through the motions of what they feel is expected of them.

An absence of planets in water signs makes for natives who are cheerful, flighty busybodies rather than actually sympathetic or helpful to anyone. This contrasts with the sense of conscience and obligation to life which characterizes people with a preponderance of planets in water signs. Both the preponderance and negative indication are intimate, candid, and direct, but the preponderance possesses an inner dignity where the negative indication tends to be prissy and perfunctory.

These few examples illustrate the usefulness and versatility of Dr. Jones' methodology. It not only provides us with a useful investigative tool for delineating the meaning of any horoscope factor, but it also gives us a technique which can be directly applied to the interpretation of a natal horoscope.

More of Bob Makransky's articles are posted at: www.dearbrutus.com => Makransky Miscellany => Astrology Articles.

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