UNDERSTAND THE METHOD
Arabic names and symbols
Learn the Arabic names of the twelve zodiac signs, the historical names of Fortune and Spirit, and how to distinguish a Lot symbol from an associated planet.
Arabic names & symbol key
السهام · al-sihām · the Lots. Arabic names connect this chart to its Arabic-language transmission. The zodiac glyphs refer to the same twelve signs used in the calculation.
The seven Lots
Fortune’s crossed circle is its conventional symbol. The other icons identify the Lot’s associated planet. They are not a separate set of ancient Arabic Lot symbols. Fortune and Spirit have historical Arabic names here; the remaining five labels are descriptive translations.
- Lot of Fortuneسهم السعادةsahm al-saʿādaHistorical name
Associated planet: Moon - Lot of Spiritسهم الغيبsahm al-ghaybHistorical name
Associated planet: Sun - Lot of Erosسهم الحبsahm al-ḥubbDescriptive translation
Associated planet: Venus - Lot of Victoryسهم النصرsahm al-naṣrDescriptive translation
Associated planet: Jupiter - Lot of Necessityسهم الضرورةsahm al-ḍarūraDescriptive translation
Associated planet: Mercury - Lot of Courageسهم الشجاعةsahm al-shajāʿaDescriptive translation
Associated planet: Mars - Lot of Nemesisسهم الجزاءsahm al-jazāʾDescriptive translation
Associated planet: Saturn
The twelve zodiac signs
- Ariesالحملal-ḥamal
- Taurusالثورal-thawr
- Geminiالجوزاءal-jawzāʾ
- Cancerالسرطانal-saraṭān
- Leoالأسدal-asad
- Virgoالعذراءal-ʿadhrāʾ
- Libraالميزانal-mīzān
- Scorpioالعقربal-ʿaqrab
- Sagittariusالقوسal-qaws
- Capricornالجديal-jady
- Aquariusالدلوal-dalw
- Piscesالحوتal-ḥūt
Virgo is also called السنبلة (al-sunbula, “ear of grain”). We write al- consistently in transliteration; spoken pronunciation may assimilate it to the next consonant.
Go deeper: the full reference
The same twelve-sign zodiac
The Arabic names here refer to the same twelve zodiac signs shown in the calculator, from Aries through Pisces. Synastry uses a tropical zodiac for these results: twelve equal 30° signs beginning at the March equinox. Changing a sign’s display language does not change its longitude, its boundaries or a Lot formula. This is not the separate weapon-based horoscope sometimes marketed as an “Arabic zodiac.”
Aries through Cancer
Aries: الحمل (al-ḥamal). Taurus: الثور (al-thawr). Gemini: الجوزاء (al-jawzāʾ). Cancer: السرطان (al-saraṭān).
Leo through Scorpio
Leo: الأسد (al-asad). Virgo: العذراء (al-ʿadhrāʾ). Libra: الميزان (al-mīzān). Scorpio: العقرب (al-ʿaqrab).
Sagittarius through Pisces
Sagittarius: القوس (al-qaws). Capricorn: الجدي (al-jady). Aquarius: الدلو (al-dalw). Pisces: الحوت (al-ḥūt).
Historical names and descriptive labels
Fortune’s historical Arabic name is سهم السعادة (sahm al-saʿāda). Spirit’s is سهم الغيب (sahm al-ghayb); al-Biruni’s text also records the fuller name سهم الغيب والدين, “the lot of the unseen and religion.” Arabic labels marked descriptive are modern translations supplied to explain the English topic. They are not presented as universal names used by every medieval Arabic-language author. Transliteration renders the Arabic spelling in Latin letters; it is a reading aid, not a different Lot.
Fortune’s crossed circle
The crossed circle is the established visual form used for the Lot of Fortune. Unicode also encodes a dedicated Lot of Fortune character, , named pars fortunae. Synastry displays the familiar form. Fortune is associated with the Moon, but its crossed-circle Lot symbol and the Moon’s planetary symbol identify different things.
Planetary associations for all seven Lots
Lot of Fortune: Moon ; Lot of Spirit: Sun ; Lot of Eros: Venus ; Lot of Victory: Jupiter ; Lot of Necessity: Mercury ; Lot of Courage: Mars ; Lot of Nemesis: Saturn . The planet symbols identify these traditional associations. In particular, beside Spirit identifies its association with the Sun. These are not seven distinct ancient Arabic symbols for the Lots, and a planetary association is not the ruling planet of the sign in which a Lot falls.
Read the label as well as the symbol
When comparing charts, look for the full Lot name and the stated formula convention. A symbol alone may be a software convention or a planet association. The source notes distinguish evidence for Arabic names, the encoded Fortune symbol, the seven planetary associations and the calculation formulas.
Follow the Lots in your own chart
Use your recorded birth time and birthplace to calculate the seven Hermetic Lots. Compare the stated sect and formulas with this lesson, then read each placement as a symbolic question in its chart context.
Method and context
These references support the historical context and the Paulus formula convention. Interpretations and reflection questions are original Synastry work.
The Astrology Podcast: The Lot of Fortune and Spirit in Astrology ↗ · Historical discussion of Lots, the Paulus scheme and differences between authors such as Paulus and Valens.
Arabic parts: The Hermetic lots ↗ · A secondary reference table for the seven day and night formulas attributed to Paulus Alexandrinus.
Al-Biruni: The Book of Instruction in the Elements of the Art of Astrology ↗ · R. Ramsay Wright translation, §475–476: Fortune and the Sun’s Lot (Spirit). The latter is given more fully as the Lot of the unseen and religion; names and formulas vary across authors.
Arabic names of the zodiac signs ↗ · Arabic-language reference for the familiar twelve zodiac signs. These labels do not define a separate zodiac or change the calculation.
Arabic zodiac vocabulary and transliteration ↗ · Arabic zodiac terms. We consistently write the article al-; its pronunciation can assimilate to the following consonant.
Unicode: Lot of Fortune ↗ · U+1F774 LOT OF FORTUNE (pars fortunae), cross-referenced with U+2297 ⊗. Synastry uses the familiar crossed-circle vector form.
Connect the ideas
What are Arabic Parts?
Arabic Parts, also called Lots, are calculated zodiac points. Their formulas connect the Ascendant with relationships between other chart positions.
2 min readRead a Lot formula and follow the degrees
Convert each position to a longitude from 0° to 360°, apply the stated formula and wrap the answer around the zodiac.
2 min readDay, night and the meaning of sect
Sect distinguishes a chart with the Sun above the horizon from one with the Sun below it. The seven formulas here reverse between those two conditions.
2 min readWhy birth time and birthplace matter
Every Lot here uses the Ascendant, which depends strongly on the birth instant and location. An uncertain time should remain visible in your interpretation.
2 min read