WTF is an Almuten and Why Should You Care: a thread

The term almuten comes from the Arabic al-mateen which means "strong in power"

An almuten is simply the planet with the most essential dignity in a specific degree

Almutens are often calculated for planets, angles, and house cusps (for those that use quadrant houses)

While the degree you are focusing on is chart specific, the almuten is not

For example, the almuten of 4° Libra is always Saturn, but 4° Libra may not mean anything in your chart

If you have a planet at 4° Libra, you could say that Saturn has the most authority over it, not Venus

I'm sure that sounds strange given how we usually use sign rulerships but that's what an almuten is

It'll make more sense once I explain the calculation

How to Calculate an Almuten

Almutens are calculated using the 5 Essential Dignities in a simple scoring system

1. Rulership +5
2. Exaltation +4
3. Triplicity +3
4. Bound +2
5. Decan +1

Rulership receives 5 points, exaltation 4 points, etc. Whoever has the most points is the almuten

Let's work through 4° Libra as an example

Venus gets +5 as domicile lord
Saturn gets +4 as exaltation lord
Saturn gets +3 for triplicity
Saturn gets +2 as bound lord
Moon gets +1 as decan lord

Saturn has +9 and is therefore the almuten

Only know the first two essential dignities? That's ok. I gotchu!

Triplicity refers to the element of a sign. Each element is ruled by 3 planets

Saturn is the day lord of Air
Mercury is the night lord
& Jupiter is co-lord

Generally, I only award points to the triplicity lord of the sect of the chart

So, Saturn would get +3 for Air signs in a day chart but Mercury and Jupiter wouldn't.

Even if they did in this case, Saturn would still be almuten because Mercury and Jupiter would only have +3

The decans are the division of 3 of a sign

The bounds are divisions of 5

On astro .com just scroll down and turn on Chaldean decans and Egyptian terms (terms and bounds mean the same thing)

Here's what it looks like on astro .com

Why Calculate an Almuten?

Almutens are used for specific natal calculations such as the Almuten Figuris (Almuten of the Figure) or Almuten Spiritus

Almutens are also used in horary and medical astrology

They each have their own specific applications

Figures shown are from Ancient Astrology by Demetra George which I highly recommend for learning essential dignity

If you enjoyed this and want me to calculate your Almuten Figuris and explain what it is then consider booking a consultation with me

I'm out of work from the Rona so any and all support is appreciated