In calculating the peculiar times when good or ill fortune will occur, the ancient and modern Astrologers have made use of various different methods; thus the followers of Ptolemy, still make use of the system of zodiacal directions, which is the art of computing the length or shortness of the celestial arc or space of the heavens intercepted between two significators; thus for instance, were a star in four degrees of , and another in eight degrees of , the celestial arc intercepted between these (or the distance between each) would be what is termed an "arc of direction", which measured either by right or oblique ascension according as the star should be posited, ascendant, or vertical, would give a certain number of years and months, when the event signified by the meeting of these stars might be expected to happen.

The Arabian and Persian Astrologers make use of another method, which is by giving for every day after the birth, a whole year in time, and for every two hours motion of the Moon one month; thus were a native born at noon-day, (on the 1st of June for instance) the positions of the various stars and planets that took place precisely one day, or twenty-four hours succeeding the birth, would give events corresponding to a whole year in time; this has been by modern Astrologers termed " secondary directions".

A third set of Astrologers use the Placidian system, which in addition to the " zodiacal directions" of Ptolemy, comprehends another complete system of direction, termed mundane, being formed entirely by the motion of the Earth around its own axis; thus, supposing a star to be on the cusp of the mid-heaven or zenith, and another within twelve degrees of the horizon or ascendant, these stars are virtually approaching a mundane , and the arc or space intercepted between these, when measured by the ratio of the stars proportional progress to either angle, constitutes another number, which equated by certain rules, distinguishes the exact time when the expected (or predicted) event will happen. Each of these methods are not only correct, and approved by long tried practice, but may be said to defy the least contradiction, from those who will but take the pains to examine them, - (and no one else should deliver an opinion upon the subject.) Although each of the above methods are different, yet they by no means contradict each other, but each lead to true results, and in many instances they each lead to the foreknowledge of the same event; in which respect they may be compared to the ascent of a mountain by different paths, where although some paths are longer and more difficult than others, they notwithstanding all lead to the same object.

The foregoing considerations, and the almost universal dislike which persons express towards calculations where many figures are requisite, first led the author of this work to bend his most serious attention to the subject, of discovering (if possible) a more concise method of acquiring the exact period when the most marked or important events of life would happen. In this, he trusts he has' succeeded, (even beyond his first wishes) and therefore he now introduces, for the first time in the memory of man, his system of ascertaining the time of events, by the Celestial Period of the planets.

The " wise man" has declared that " there is nothing new under the Sun", and hence it is almost certain that the ancient Astrologers were well acquainted with the author's discovery; although it is not only absolutely unknown to the present generation, but has never been divulged in any manuscript or printed book whatever. Ptolemy in his Centiloquium (aphorism LXXXI) has these remarkable words: " Times are reckoned in seven ways; viz. by the space between swo significa-tors,by the space between their mutual aspects, by the approach of one to the other, by the space between either of them and the place appropriated to the proposed event, by the descension of a star with its addition and diminution, by the changing of a significator, and by the approach of a planet to its place",

It is the latter, "changing of a significator", to which the author claims the reader's attention, since he has found that in addition to the art of " directions", each of the wandering stars or planets has a complete period of its own, entirely distinct from every other motion which it may acquire either in the zodiac or the world. The "changing" of these planets from sign to sign, and thus forming various configurations with their actual places at birth, or with the luminaries, produce events in many instances of equal magnitude with " directions;" and in some instances producing the most powerful good or evil fortune as the testimonials may warrant, nay, they frequently increase, accelerate or retard the time of primary directions. To this cause may be also assigned that seeming power of transits over the places of the luminaries or other significators; which a modern student in the art in a recent publication was so enraptured with, as to write himself down for an apparent simpleton, by exclaiming against every thing else but the object of his adoration.

The foregoing observations will be best exhibited to the readers view by * *.

A Table Of The Celestial Periods Of Each Planet, As Solely Applicable To Nativities

It is presumed that the strident or attentive reader will and no difficulty in understanding the foregoing: Table; the first column has the character of each planet whose celestial period in years, and months, is noted in the succeeding columns; and for the sake of facilitating the calculation the time each planet takes in forming an aspect with its place at birth is also set down. By these means the process of using the above is comparatively simple and easy.