Why is Placidus so popular?

October 13, 2021 at 11:32 (UT/GMT)
(Aquarius) Catch-22
Why is Placidus so popular?
https://theastrologypodcast.com/202…

“It has become a cliche in the 20th century that the Placidus system later became the 19th and 20th century standard because it was the only one for which affordable tables were readily available. This is partially true, but the same thing could be said for the initial success of the Regiomantanus system.” Holden, A History of Horoscopic Astrology, p. 150.

OK, this may be a selection, but actually, it´s quite interesting stuff. Seems like Placidus was also easy to make tables of, had some good advocates and was based on an interpretation of Ptolemaeus. Now it´s almost standard stuff so most people start with it and continue to use it, a bit like Windows VS Linux :37:

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November 28, 2021 at 16:47
(Scorpio) Heßen Lutz » fishscales
I use both and for the reason mentioned.
November 27, 2021 at 10:17
(Aquarius) Catch-22 » LotusStar
There are more options than Placidus and Whole Sign. I like to work with Campanus for instance. But the main dichotomy is between quadrant systems and equal houses.
November 26, 2021 at 17:15
(Virgo) LotusStar
How is placidus calculated or based on, why does it look so much different than all the rest?

I tend to use more whole signs but I have early degree chart so it doesn´t matter much..

Looking at someone I know though, I can see placidus works. Because this one girl I knew she was obsessed with relationships, so codependent.. like couldn´t be alone, always going from man to man. In placidus her Moon is in 7th, in whole signs it´s in 8th. What kind of behaviours do you think that´s more like, a Moon in 7 or 8?

Another guy I know his Saturn in 10 in placidus and 11 with whole signs. His Mars is conjunct midheaven but 5 degrees from the 9 house. He is so careful about his job, cares a lot about his job and image at work, takes it very seriously and been a slow rise to him at the top but he has made it in his 40s. I see that more as his Saturn in 10. I don´t see it Saturn in 11, he has many friends and well liked by his friends and easy going. I mean he does have very long lasting friendships this is true but otherwise don´t see a restricting effect there.
November 26, 2021 at 12:29
(Aquarius) atlantickush
I also was brought up think placidus was just how it is, but in the back of my mind thought ´seems weirdly convenient that theres 12 signs, and 12 houses, wonder why they are disconnected in the chart though´.
I now just feel personally it makes more sense and have gone with whole sign. Since astrology is an art of making sense (of the planets and their omens), it probably is pretty important to go with what makes sense. Thats not to say placidus doesnt make sense, just doesnt to me personally.
November 26, 2021 at 07:29
(Pisces) fishscales » Catch-22
Still think Placidus is better for illustrating inner psychological workings...

Whole signs, for observable "phenomena"...

Yes, I realize both are connected, or one in the same...

But maybe one system is better than the other at delineating certain sides of things...

Just how I see it, based mostly on analasys of my own chart...
November 26, 2021 at 07:23
(Aquarius) Catch-22 » Rosincvist
Hand drawn charts... Must be fun to craft them out of ephemerides...
November 26, 2021 at 01:23
(Taurus) Rosincvist » Catch-22
Astrodienst has an automatic English Equal-house option.
So if my ascendant is 1 :176: 34 then my midheaven is 1 :173: 34 with the same identical micro-zone repeated in the same proportion twelve times!
We haven´t completely outgrown hand-drawn charts which are prettier when Placidus!
October 13, 2021 at 12:29
(Aquarius) Catch-22 » Leo Moon
In that perspective: why isn´t Whole Sign the standard? No tables at all, just drawing lines.

Honestly, I´m still in doubt about house systems. It´s one of the things many beginners like me struggle with. Some people say they don´t matter that much, other claim they are so important and advocate their system,...
October 13, 2021 at 12:18
(Aquarius) Leo Moon
That’s some interesting history.

When I began looking into astrology I didn’t know there were other systems for a long time.
This was before the internet and information wasn’t as available.

Like many standards it’s a matter of convenience and would be difficult to switch.


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