Persian Nativities


Book Description

Dr. Benjamin Dykes produces essential new translations of traditional astrology texts for modern students. Persian Nativities I contains the first English translation of Masha'allah's natal work, The Book of Aristotle, and a new translation of his student Abu 'Ali al-Khayyat's influential On the Judgments of Nativities.




The Astrology of Sahl B. Bishr


Book Description

This volume presents six major works by the medieval astrologer Sahl b. Bishr, translated from Arabic into English by leading translator Benjamin Dykes.




Works of Sahl & Masha'allah


Book Description

Sahl bin Bishr (Zahel) and Masha'allah were two of the most influential medieval astrologers from the Arabic period. This essential work in medieval astrology translates 16 of their works, most for the first time, and includes many charts and lengthy introductory remarks and explanations by the translator.




The Introduction to the Science of the Judgments of the Stars


Book Description

Sahl lived in the first half of the 9th century. His five short treatises, Introduction to Astrology, The 50 Precepts, Judgments of Questions, Elections, and The Book of Times, appear to be the principal medieval source of rules for Horary Astrology and Elections. They constitute a corpus of detailed instruction for these two branches of Astrology. James Herschel Holden, the translator, is Research Director of the American Federation of Astrologers and is especially interested in early astrological works.




Choices and Inceptions


Book Description

Choosing auspicious times to act was an important branch of traditional astrology. Choices & Inceptions is the largest modern-language collection of traditional works in electional astrology to date. Translated from the medieval Latin by Dr. Benjamin Dykes, this volume contains instructions on lunar mansions, several types of planetary hours, and three of the most important traditional works on "complete" elections: Sahl's On Elections, al-'Imrani's The Book of Choices, and al-Rijal's The Book of the Skilled VII. With a lengthy Introduction that analyzes various ethical and philosophical issues in elections, it is essential for contemporary astrologers.




The Arabic Influences on Early Modern Occult Philosophy


Book Description

Investigating the impact of Arabic medieval astrological and magical theories on early modern occult philosophy, this book argues that they provided a naturalistic explanation of astral influences and magical efficacy based on Aristotelian notions of causality.




Astrology of the World I


Book Description

Astrology of the World I: The Ptolemaic Inheritance is the first in a series of three works of translations in traditional mundane astrology, from Latin and Arabic astrologers. Part 1 enumerates many methods of traditional weather prediction, including Lots and lunar mansions. Part 2 focuses on prices and commodities, predicting market fluctuations and supply and demand. Part 3 discusses the interpretation of eclipses and comets. Part 4 is an extensive look at chorography (assigning signs and planets to regions of the earth), including a complete discussion of climes and a guide to obscure place-names. Throughout, Dr. Benjamin Dykes provides commentary and extensive introductions to the astrology of Ptolemy, which is the basis of most of these techniques. It is a must-have for traditional astrologers and historians of astrology.




Abraham Ibn Ezra on Elections, Interrogations, and Medical Astrology


Book Description

This volume offers the first critical edition, with English translation and commentary, of seven astrological treatises by Abraham Ibn Ezra: the Book of Elections (3 versions); the Book of Interrogations (3 versions); and the Book of the Luminaries.




The Book of the Nine Judges


Book Description

The Book of the Nine Judges is a famous medieval compendium of traditional horary astrology, compiled from Abu Ma'shar, Masha'allah, Sahl bin Bishr, 'Umar al-Tabari, al-Kindi, Abu 'Ali al-Khayyat, "Dorotheus," "Aristotle," and Jirjis. It is the largest known compendium of these sources on answering horary questions, and in many cases is the first modern translation of these Latin/Arabic authors. Complete with an introduction to questions by the translator, with numerous diagrams, tables, and an extensive glossary, it is essential for traditional astrologers.




Apotelesmatics Book Iii


Book Description

This is the first English translation of Book III of Hephaistion of Thebes' Apotelesmatics, which focuses on inceptions or elections, event charts, thought-interpretation, and inquiries of many types. This 5th Century AD work explores everything from general principles of elections, to finding and identifying thieves, predicting the course of illness, analyzing general thoughts and plans, consecrating statues, and more. Throughout, Hephaistion includes lengthy and valuable quotations from Dorotheus of Sidon, one of our only ancient sources for these authentic Greek verses. Translated by Eduardo J. Gramaglia, and edited and introduced by Dr. Benjamin N. Dykes, it serves practicing astrologers and scholars of the Hellenistic, medieval, and modern traditions in astrology.