Egyptian Terms

Another reference you will need for calculating the almuten of pregnancy is this chart.

♈	♉	♊	♋	♌	♍
♃ 0-6	♀  0-8	☿  0-6	♂  0-7	♃ 0-6	☿  0-7
♀  7-12	☿  9-14	♃ 7-12	♀  8-13	♀  7-11	♀  8-17
☿  13-20	♃ 15-22	♀  13-17	☿  14-19	♄  12-18	♃ 18-21
♂  21-25	♄  23-27	♂  18-24	♃ 20-26	☿  19-24	♂  22-28
♄  26-30	♂  28-30	♄  25-30	♄  27-30	♂  25-30	♄  29-30
♎	♏	♐	♑	♒	♓
♄   0-6	♂  0-7	♃  0-12	☿   0-7	☿   0-7	♀  0-12
☿   7-14	♀  8-11	♀  13-17	♃  8-14	♀  8-13	♃  13-16
♃ 15-21	☿   12-19	☿   18-21	♀  15-22	♃  14-20	☿   17-19
♀  22-28	♃  20-24	♄   22-26	♄   23-26	♂  21-25	♂  20-28
♂  29-30	♄   25-30	♂  27-30	♂  27-30	♄   26-30	♄   29-30

When I first read Fertility Astrology: A Modern Medieval Textbook Paperback –by Nicola Smuts-Allsop, she mentioned the almuten of pregnancy and how you use the term in the calculation, but then she didn’t really explain it that much, and it was challenging searching the internet for information. It was hard to find an accurate chart, too. Finally, I ordered the amazing Chris Brennan’s book, Hellenistic Astrology, and at last, I had a reliable chart, so I share now with you.

Term is also called bounds. The Terms divide each sign into 5 unequal sections ruled by planets.

These rulerships come from ancient Hellenistic astrology, probably transmitted through Egyptian astrologers in Alexandria, which is why they are called Egyptian Terms.

A planet in its own term:

• has moderate dignity
• can act with some control
• is not dependent on the sign ruler

Medieval analogy:

A planet in its own term is like a person in a foreign country who owns land there.

Returning to the overall essential dignities calculation:

Dignity	Points	Meaning
Rulership	5	Full power
Exaltation	4	Honored
Triplicity	3	Supported
Term	2	Some authority
Face	1	Minor familiarity

Why are the terms seemingly so random? They are probably based on an older Egyptian system. Ancient authors such as Claudius Ptolemy said the terms were already very old and widely used before his time.

He wrote in Tetrabiblos that the “Egyptian terms” came from earlier Egyptian astrologers, and even he admitted their logic was difficult to explain mathematically.

So one theory is:

*They were empirically derived

*Based on observations of planetary influence at certain degrees

*Passed down through tradition

This is why later astrologers preserved them even though the pattern seems irregular.

One thing to note though is that the benefics often control the earliest degrees of many signs. Neutral planets such as Mercury tend to control the middle. Malifics tend to control the end. This may reflect a symbolic idea that early degrees are more fertile or constructive, while later degrees are more difficult. Another pattern is that planets never receive terms in signs where they are debilitated (or receive slight sections). Across the entire zodiac each planet receives almost equal total degrees so that no planet dominates excessively. That said Venus does seem to get the most. Jupiter a little less.

Astrologers may not fully understand the origin, but they seem to work somehow, in fact may even be the most reliable system. They are used for almutens, longevity calculations, medical astrology, horary.

Considering where Jupiter and Venus might be ruling in a term, we might find the more fertile or conception-supporting degrees of a sign.

Aries

• 0–6° — Jupiter
• 7–12° — Venus

Very fertile section of Aries despite Aries being a dry sign.

---

Taurus

• 0–8° — Venus
• 14–22° — Jupiter

Especially fertile because Taurus itself is fertile.

---

Gemini

• 7–12° — Jupiter
• 13–17° — Venus

Helps counter Gemini’s natural barrenness.

---

Cancer

• 8–13° — Venus
• 20–26° — Jupiter

Extremely fertile zone (water sign + benefic terms).

---

Leo

• 0–6° — Jupiter
• 7–11° — Venus

These early Leo degrees soften Leo’s dryness.

---

Virgo

• 8–17° — Venus
• 18–21° — Jupiter

Helpful since Virgo is typically barren.

---

Libra

• 15–21° — Jupiter
• 22–28° — Venus

Good degrees for conception charts.

---

Scorpio

• 8–11° — Venus
• 20–24° — Jupiter

Very fertile (water sign + benefics).

---

Sagittarius

• 0–12° — Jupiter
• 13–17° — Venus

Strong fertility section.

---

Capricorn

• 8–14° — Jupiter
• 15–22° — Venus

Softens Capricorn’s cold/dry nature.

---

Aquarius

• 8–13° — Venus
• 14–20° — Jupiter

Moderate fertility.

---

Pisces

• 0–12° — Venus
• 13–16° — Jupiter

Extremely fertile (water sign + benefics).

You would check to see if these fertility significators fall in Jupiter or Venus terms:

*Moon

*ruler of the 5th house

*ruler of the Ascendant

*Almuten of pregnancy

The term ruler acts like the “sub-governor” of the degree.

Fertility improves if key reproductive indicators fall in:

• Jupiter terms
• Venus terms
• Moon terms (secondary)

Difficulty increases in:

• Saturn terms
• sometimes Mars terms