Sydney Astrology School
ASTRO LEVEL 4 WEEK 9 The Part of Fortune
The Part of Fortune is a mathematical calculation using the degrees of the Sun, Moon and Ascendant.
The Part of Fortune is one of the many Arabic Parts or ‘Lots’ that is still quite widely used in modern western Astrology.
The traditional use of the Part of Fortune had two separate calculations depending on the time of birth.
The Calculations were the Diurnal (for a day birth) and the Nocturnal (for a night birth). This is understood easier by locating the Sun being above (day) or below (night) the Asc/Desc.
Most modern astrology uses just the diurnal (day time) system that was popularised by Ptolemy 2000 years ago as the calculation for all charts, making the Part of Fortune a more universal point.
Yet all charts of course have both the Sun and the Moon expressing two fundamental energies in very differing ways. This brings us to the realisation that both Parts of Fortune are still relevant in chart interpretation for very distinct reasons.
Some Astrologers believe that people born with a nocturnal chart are drawn more to the night Part of Fortune than vice versa, though understanding both is still recommended.
The manual calculation for the Part of Fortune is
Diurnal (day) = Ascendant + Moon - Sun
Nocturnal (night) = Ascendant + Sun - Moon
To make this calculation as easy as possible its best to bring the whole Zodiacal cycle down to a 360 degree wheel.
1
Sydney Astrology School
Aries 0-29 Taurus 30-59 Gemini 60-89 Cancer 90-119 Leo 120=149 Virgo 150- 179
Libra 180-209 Scorp 210-239 Sag 240-269 Cap 270 =299 Aqu 300-329 Pisces 330-359
This way adding and subtracting becomes clearer.
An Example is a person has Sun 3 degrees Aries, Moon 7 degrees Libra and Asc 0 Degrees Cancer.
The day formula would be
Asc 90 + Moon 187- Sun 3
90+ 187= 277 – 3 (Sun) = 274
In the 360 degree wheel degree 274 = 4 degrees Capricorn
You can also add the minutes into the calculation to be more accurate.
An example for the Nocturnal formula (night) is
Asc 90 + Sun 3 = 93 – 187 (moon) = - 94
(When a calculation goes under 0 or over 360 then either 360 is added or subtracted to get a degree between 0 and 360) therefore
-94 + 360= 266 which is on the Zodiacal wheel is 26 degrees Sagittarius.
These points are then placed in the chart as the day and night Part of Fortune.
Interpreting the Part of Fortune
The Part of Fortune calculates a point using the primal triad (Sun, Moon and Ascendant).
Its ingredients make up the core essence of who we are; our life force, emotions needs and our identity.
The calculation becomes much easier and brings to life its deeper meaning when you realise that the Part of Fortune is the degree of arc between the Sun and the Moon starting at the Ascendant.
In other words, for the day formula, you put the Sun on the Ascendant keeping the exact degree distance from the Sun, where would the Moon fall? It is exactly the same for the night formula, if you put the Moon on the Ascendant and kept the exact degree of distance between the Moon and the Sun, where would the Sun fall?
This now opens up an understanding of what the Part of Fortune means.
2
Sydney Astrology School
If your life force (Sun) where aligned with your identity in action (Asc) where would your heart (Moon) lie?
If your heart (Moon) where aligned with identity in action (Asc) where would your joy/purpose (Sun) lie?
The Sun and Moon both seek happiness and fulfilment in very distinct ways.
The Part of Fortune suggests the points in the charts where this could be accomplished.
If you allowed your love for life (Sun) to be fully activated (Sun/Asc) it will point to an area that would make your heart sing (Moon). This could feel like coming home and fulfils a highly emotional part of your being, like a yearning or where you are nurtured and emotionally fed.
If you allowed your soul, feelings and instinctive self to be fully activated (Moon/Asc) it would take you to an area that would fulfil your life essence (Sun). There is integrity and purpose around this energy as the Sun is very identified with the central ego, creation and existence.
Many believe the Part of Fortune is a point of ‘luck’ and looked on very favourably.
Here we are looking at a meeting point involving our primal triad. If we align our life force, heart and action positively, it is bound to guide us toward a deeper sense of purpose, thus via the law of attraction could possibly produce favourable results matching out intent.
3