A book by Charles Obert, 2018 edition. Review and analysis.

Started 5th September 2025

PD = Primary Directions

AC = AstroConnexions app. iPad/iPhone/ Mac

SR = Solar Return

Terms = bounds

Obert uses Morinus a MS Windows astrology app throughout his book. This article will show how AC can be used to get the same results as Morinus. Obert claims that Morinus can be used on a Mac. I haven’t been able to get it working on a silicon (M1) Mac.

Obert uses four techniques:

1. Profections
2. Directing through the Bounds
3. Solar Returns
4. Transits

All available in AC. To follow along Morinus is not required.

The page numbers refer to the hard copy of the book, not the PDF, which I don’t have.

Swipe left to copy the chart to Your Charts

Unfortunately Obert doesn’t state the lat and long of the chart anywhere. I need the same lat and long to get the same Asc. And PD’s are very sensitive to geographical differences. A quick look at Astrodatabank on the web reveals the same ascendant as his Hendix chart in his book. So I use the lat and long from Astrodatabank in AC which gives me the same Asc and the same chart. Long-press over lat and long in the Edit Chart view to change the lat and long.

Natal Chart

Page 50

Jimi Hendrix natal whole sign houses

Profections

Page 24

Jimi Hendrix Profections

Directing through the Bounds/Terms – Primary Directions

Page 50, 51

Z (Capricornus) Venus D —> Asc 29.080430 1962.12.26

Terms to the Asc

Showing the settings and results.

Jimi Hendrix Terms to Asc

Z Sextile Mars D —> Asc 23.275900 1966.03

Mars directed to sextile Asc

Jimi Hendix PD direction

To be updated and continued…… held up by impact of iPadOS 26.

PD = Primary Directions

Bounds = Terms

Many parts of this post were written before AC for iPhone was released. Note that although most AC screenshots are for the iPad they apply to the iPhone and Mac too as they share the same underlying code with some minor teaks.

All images/designs/procedures subject to change without notice.

Here’s an excellent introduction to Primary Directions.

Astrological Predictive Techniques | Primary Directions | 1. Ascensions and Bounds

Whitney Houston’s Chart and Primary Directions through the Bounds/Terms (iPad/Mac – same  results for iPhone) – see Seven Stars Astrology link above.

Whitney Housten Chart and PD directions

This post shows AC’s primary direction calculations in comparison with :

• Valens (Mac)

• Morinus (Windows)

• Astro.com (internet)

• Astro Gold ver 9 (Windows)

Note Valens and Morinus invariably agree in their results as Valens is a slimmed-down version of Morinus.

Antiscia

Example Chart: Winston Churchill: Tropical, Mundane. Antiscia. iPad/Mac – ver 3.35, iPhone ver 1.38

“A” prefixed to promissor = Antiscia

“CA” prefixed to promissor = Contra-Antiscia

Note that all antiscia aspects are conjunctions even when contra-antiscia aspects are shown. Enabling (by a tick) the opposition aspect from the Aspect table has no effect on the displayed antiscia aspects.

PD with Antiscia aspects – Churchill #1

PD with Antiscia and Contra aspects – Churchill #1

PD with Antiscia aspects – Churchill #2

PD with Antiscia and Contra aspects – Churchill #2

For comparison: Morinus – Churchill tropical antiscia aspects Primary Directions mundane example

Morinus Churchill tropical antiscia aspects Primary Directions mundane example

iPhone

PD with Antiscia and Contra aspects – Churchill – iPhone

Settings

Antiscia PD Settings for Results table

Note: Lat and long adjusted to Morinus’ lat and long for Churchill.

Primary Directions through the bounds/terms

Example Chart: Winston Churchill: Sidereal. Placidus cusps, Egyptian Terms/Bounds, Zodiacal.

Terms to Asc.

AC Churchill Sidereal Terms to Asc Primary Directions zodiacal

AC Churchill Sidereal Terms to Asc Primary Directions zodiacal #2

Morinus Churchill Sidereal Terms to Asc Primary Directions zodiacal

Example Chart: King Charles III, aka Prince Charles: Tropical. Placidus cusps

Note that all King Charles III charts have their lat and long adjusted to match the Astro.com chart so that comparisons are geographically valid.

AC Chart

AC King Charles III natal

Solar Fire Chart

Solar Fire King Charles natal

Speculum (natal) comparison (especially for Asc, MC), with lat and longitude as per astro.com, 51°N30’00” 00°W10’00” :

Astrodatabank

Valens speculum

Valens – Speculum King Charles

AstroConnexions Speculum

AC – Speculum King Charles

Primary Direction, Saturn Trine MC, promissor no latitude, calculation results comparison

Valens results

Valens King Charles Primary Direction Saturn Trine MC

AC results

Primary Directions King Charles III

Primary Direction, Saturn Trine MC, with promissor latitude, calculation results comparison

AC results

Primary Directions King Charles III – Promissor

Valens results

Valens Saturn trine MC King Charles with Lat Naibod key

Latest AC PD view

Latest AC PD

Promissor’s directed to the ASC. No latitude. Added 39 secs to birth date

AC

Aspects to the ASC results

Morinus (MS Windows) comparison:

Morinus King Charles aspects to the ASC no latitude

Moon aspects to King Charles III – direct and converse

AC King Charles PDs Results Moon aspects to ASC

Valens results

Valens King Charles PDs Results Moon aspects to ASC

AC latest PD view

Interplanetary PD aspects – Tropical

Valens PD Mercury aspects to Mars – Einstein

Valens PD Mercury aspects to Mars Einstein

AC Mercury aspects to Mars – Einstein

AC PD Mercury aspects to Mars Einstein

PD Terms/Bounds as Promissors to ASC

Einstein PD terms to Asc – Morinus (Windows) – Direct

AC Einstein PD Terms to Asc – Direct

AC Einstein Terms to Asc

Einstein PD terms to Asc – Morinus (Windows) – Converse

Morinus Einstein tropical Terms to Asc converse

AC Einstein Terms to Asc – Converse

AC Einstein Terms to Asc PD aspects

AC Einstein Terms to Asc PD aspects – more

Sidereal Examples, Sassanian ayanamsha

AC Allen Ginsberg Sidereal PD terms to Asc and Desc

Terms – sidereal Ginsberg

Morinus – Ginsberg Sidereal PD terms to Asc and Desc

Morinus Ginsberg Sidereal Terms to Asc sass

Calculating Terms as Promissors – tropical. for King Charts III.

If the terms are not shown in the chart:

Show terms in the chart

Show terms

Terms wheel choice

Results:

Terms to Asc results

Sidereal Interplanetary Aspects, Sassanian ayanamsha

King Charles III, Jupiter aspecting Moon

AC King Charles III planet to planet Jupiter Moon Sidereal

Morinus results

Morinus King Charles III planet to planet Jupiter Moon Sidereal

Primary Directions. Placidus semi-arc zodiacal, fixed stars as promissors

From AC ver 3.29, AC for iPhone ver 1.34

Comparison with Morinus

Primary Directions Mundane Promissor and Significator for South Node.

Solar Fire Mercury Churchill to true node, asc, mc Primary Directions Mundane Direct

AC Mercury Churchill to true node, asc, mc Primary Directions Mundane Direct

Comparison: Solar Fire Gold ver 9.029 vs AC Mundane Direct aspects to Asc

Please note that the following will apply to the iPad as the code is the same, although the UI is different.

Comparison Solar Fire Gold ver 9.029 vs AC Direct mundane aspects to asc

Comparison Solar Fire Gold ver 9.029 vs Morinus vs AC Direct Mars Sun Mundane aspects to the Sun

Comparison Solar Fire Gold ver 9.029 vs Morinus vs AC Direct Mars Sun mundane aspects to the asc

Rectification – Comparison – Morinus vs AC, Mundane.

Note: if changing from Zodiacal aspects to Mundane aspects or vice versa when using rectification you must start again by changing the chart from Transit to Natal. This only applies to the rectification result.

iPhone model: XR

Al Pacino chart

Morinus rectif mundane moon sq mercury

AC rectif mundane moon sq mercury

Rectification by 5 minutes

Morinus rectif mundane moon sq mercury plus 5 mins

AC rectif mundane moon sq mercury plus 5 mins

Adding 10 seconds

Morinus rectif mundane moon sq mercury plus 10 secs

AC rectif mundane moon sq mercury plus 10 secs

• Receptions table – traditional aspects aspecting traditional planets. By triplicity, terms, face, ruler (house), exaltation, and -ve receptions by fall, and detriment. Mutual receptions. Both applying and separating aspects are analysed.

• For charts: natal, transits, sec. prog, solar arc, SR/LR etc. Single-wheel and bi-wheels.

• Excludes Synastry, Gauquelin, Antiscia charts/aspects, midpoint aspects and heliocentric charts, and long-press Aspect Table (iPad/Mac) from full landscape views.

• For: Your Charts and Provided Charts

• Traditional Aspects  = 0, 60, 90, 120, 180
• Traditional Planets = Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn

Note that if Decans are selected from the Wheel Choice option Receptions are not applicable/appropriate and a warning message is given.

Decans warning

Terms/Triplicities Settings – abbreviations only used by iPhone.

Terms/Trip Settings

Show Terms/Trip Text (Bottom left) – for iPad/Mac

Show Terms and Triplicities around displayed chart wheel

Wheel Choice for terms trip

Accessing Planetary Aspect Receptions – iPad/Mac

1. Tap second icon bottom left – main view
2. Tap icon as show below in the screenshot

Receptions Menu Icon

iPhone

Tap top left of Aspect Table

Tap top left for planetary receptions

Example: iPhone 12 receptions

Speculum – printing/PDF

AC for iPhone ver 1.15, iPad/Mac AC ver 3.10

For All Aspects and Traditional Aspects

Aspect Receptions – Speculum

Settings

Speculum Aspect Settings

This setting is saved

Receptions table showing some receptions – the table is the same for the iPhone

Receptions Table

Receptions Table Help (updated on release)

Receptions table help

Some Examples (iPad Dark mode):

Receptions BTC Term Face

Isolate the receptions aspect – tap the aspect record. To return to show all the aspects – tap the refresh button – bottom right.

Isolate Receptions Aspect

Isolated aspect – receptions.

Wheel Choice

Plain or Traditional

Plain or traditional wheel

Proportional

Proportional chart wheel

Proportional chart wheel with Terms – single wheel only

Proportional chart Wheel with Terms

Proportional chart wheel with Terms and Triplicities – single wheel only

Proportional chart Wheel with Terms and Triplicities

Please note: Decans can also be shown around the chart wheel but the Essential Dignities and Debilities table is not accessible.

In appreciation of the book Annual Predictive Techniques by Martin Gansten. Showing how to use AC with the chart examples given. With comments and observations.

Please see AC Blog post:

Please also see:

Mundane Primary Directions

Some comparisons/instructions/notes – using Primary Directions

The Primary Directions view is not available for iPad mini, or 9.7″ iPads in portrait orientation if using iPadOS 26+. It is available in landscape orientation.

Primary Directions Promissor and Significator fix for South Node.

Solar Fire Mercury Churchill to true node, asc, mc Primary Directions Mundane Direct

AC Mercury Churchill to true node, asc, mc Primary Directions Mundane Direct

Added Sorting control for Primary Directions print view.

Print added a Sort control

Added chart snapshot view for Primary Directions (iPad/Mac – ver 3.26, not iPhone)

Snapshot of natal Chart for Primary Directions Module

• Radix/natal only. Your Charts and Provided Charts

• Aspects of Promissors to Significators

• Keys: Naibod, Ptolemy, Cardan

• Type: Mundane, Placidus semi-arc

• Direct And Converse

• Tropical and Sidereal

Ensure that all promissors and significators (that are required by the Primary Direction module) are shown on the currently displayed natal chart.

This is essential for all calculated points such as POF, POS, all other Arabian parts, Vertex. Not required for the Nodes.

Terms/fixed stars as promissors not applicable for Mundane.

Placidian mundane POF is not currently calculated.

Skyscript – informed discussion – Primary Directions

Examples

See article – “IN MUNDO” DIRECTIONS

Lucrezia Borgia – Heaven Astrolabe

See AstroDatabank for the natal chart

Lucrezia Borgia

Borgia astrodatabank

AC Borgia chart

Enter the Julian date and select LMT to get the correct AC  chart

Borgia AC

AC Settings

Borgia Settings

AC Mundane Primary Directions

Borgia PD iPad

Note date is Julian in AC chart. Equivalent Gregorian date is 25/06/1507

iPhone 15

Borgia Natal Chart-  iPhone

Mundane Results Borgia iPhone

Comparison Solar Fire Gold ver 9.029 vs AC Direct mundane aspects to Asc

Please note that the following will apply to the iPad as the code is the same, although the UI is different.

Comparison Solar Fire Gold ver 9.029 vs AC Direct mundane aspects to asc

Comparison Solar Fire Gold ver 9.029 vs Morinus vs AC Direct Mars Sun mundane aspects to the Sun

Comparison Solar Fire Gold ver 9.029 vs Morinus vs AC Direct Mars Sun mundane aspects to the asc

Rectification – Comparison – Morinus vs AC

Note: if changing from Zodiacal aspects to Mundane aspects or vice versa when using rectification you must start again by changing the chart from Transit to Natal. This only applies to the rectification results.

iPhone model: XR

Al Pacino chart

Morinus rectif mundane moon sq mercury

AC rectif mundane moon sq mercury

Rectification by 5 minutes

Morinus rectif mundane moon sq mercury plus 5 mins

AC rectif mundane moon sq mercury plus 5 mins

Adding 10 seconds

Morinus rectif mundane moon sq mercury plus 10 secs

AC rectif mundane moon sq mercury plus 10 secs

Primary Directions Module (Tropical and Sidereal) – Zodiacal, Placidus semi-arc

• Radix/natal only. Your Charts and Provided Charts

• Keys: Naibod, Ptolemy, Cardan

• Type: Zodiacal, Placidus semi-arc

• Aspects of Promissors to Significators

• Direct And Converse

• Terms (bounds) to Asc

• Latitude: None, Promissor, Significator, Both

• Bianchini latitudes

• Fixed Stars.

Ensure that all promissors and significators (that are required by the Primary Direction module) are shown on the currently displayed chart.

This is essential for all calculated points such as POF, POS, all other Arabian parts, Vertex. Not required for the Nodes.

Inspiration and calculation comparison:

Primary Directions book – Martin Gansten

Astrological Prediction book – Oner Doser

Valens astrology app (Mac)

Morinus astrology program (MS Windows)

Solar Fire Gold ver 9, astrology program (MS Windows)

Bob Makransky Primary Directions book – essential

AC Primary Directions Menu

Please note that PD rectification will not work correctly with a Transit Relocated chart

Primary Directions Menu

AC Primary Directions Example – most recent view shown – from AC ver 3.23, AC for the iPhone ver 1.30

Differs from previous AC versions/view with the addition of Bianchini, and Mundane aspects.

Borgia PD iPad

iPhone

Rectification via Primary Directions for iPhone

Note: if changing from Zodiacal aspects to Mundane aspects or vice versa when using rectification you must start again by changing the chart from Transit to Natal. This only applies to the rectification results.

Rectification for PD

Primary Directions for the iPhone

Differs from previous view with the addition of Bianchini, and Mundane aspects.

Mundane Results Bogia iPhone

Primary Directions – tap icon bottom right. From AC ver 1.10 Drop Down menu option removed.

PD icon

PD icon – Display Zoom set to Larger Text

PD icon – Display Zoom set to Larger Text

Primary Directions Example annotated – iPad/Mac (similar for iPhone)

Printing

Primary Directions Print Preview

PD Print Option

Bianchini latitudes method – iPhone (similar for iPad)

Checked with Valens (Mac python app)

Valens Einstein Natal

Valens PD Bianchini settings

Bianchini results Valens

AC Bianchini

AC Einstein natal

AC Bianchini

iPad Bianchini

Bianchini Einstein Natal

Here’s a link to many AC Primary Directions examples

Notes and Caveats

Promissor: applying planet/point

iPhone: Prom.

Significator: stationary planet/point

iPhone: Signif.

Terms: if Terms is selected (ie ticked) as a promissor – see above, no other promissor is allowed. Also Asc and IC should be the only Significators selected. Conjunction is the aspect that should be selected. See below for video. Egyptian Terms used in all examples.

Solar Charts, Draconic Charts

Not advisable for Primary Directions

Heliocentric charts

Not available for Primary Directions

Printing

if the results are sorted Print Preview (icon bottom right) shows the sorted results.

The last Primary Directions operation (provided the Calculation button is tapped) is automatically saved to the AC database so that on returning to use Primary Directions again the last operation is reloaded.

Calculating the Primary Directions – the Calculate/Calculated button

Note that the tick in the Calculate button only appears after the primary directions have been calculated and displayed ie the button has been tapped. The Calculate button text changes to Calculated and a tick appears. Tapping on the Key or Lat choices or Promissor or Significator or Aspects or D/C table records removes the Calculated button tick and changes the Calculated button text to Calculate.

Basically, changes to anything that might alter/affect the calculated results removes the Calculated tick and changes the text to Calculate. Tap the button again to re-calculate your choices. Please see video below.

Direct and Converse PD aspects

AC King Charles To show PD aspects Direct and Converse

Results illustrating the above chart

King Charles III Aspects

Rectification – module addedAC ver 2.91. Coming soon for the iPhone.

Please note that PD rectification will not work correctly with a Transit Relocated chart.

Rectification

Rectification for Primary Directions

Starting the process

Rectification annotated

Rectification enabled

Rectificatio started

Note that time changes using the rectification module does not remove the Calculated tick.

Primary Directions and Terms (Bounds)

Note that currently to use PD for Terms the settings are:

Desc may also be selected.

Terms for PD – direct results only shown – an option being tested.

Note that no other Promissors can be selected. This will be removed in the next AC version, 3.39 so that Directions and Terms can be shown

Next AC version, 3.89

Added: Terms | Directions | Terms + Directions for the Results table

PD Terms Setiings

Primary Directions and Terms (Bounds)

Note that currently to use PD for Terms the settings are:

Desc may also be selected. An opposition aspect must also be selected. Note that a conjunction to the Asc is automatically an opposition to the Desc.

Terms for PD – direct results only shown – an option being tested.

Note that no other Promissors can be selected. This will be removed in the next AC version, 3.39 so that Directions and Terms can be shown/selected together.

Next AC version, 3.39. iPad released first, iPhone to follow.

Added Primary Directions: Terms | Directions | Terms + Directions. Terms: Direct Only for the Results table.

New PD Settings. These are the default.

Terms output conj only, if selected. If not, direct and/or converse. Directions: any aspect.

Terms: Direct Only applies only to Terms and does not affect Direct/Converse for Directions.

How to set the Bounds/Terms – same for iPad/Mac/iPhone

Chart Settings iPhone

Terms/Bounds – iPhone

Settings

Terms/Trip settings – some text maybe missing for iPhone, and/or abbreviated. Show Terms/Trip is Bottom right for iPhone

iPhone abbreviations

Doro. =  Dorotheus

Trip = Triplicities

Ptol. = Ptolemy

Egyp. = Egyptian

Chal. = Chaldean

See also, Wheel Choice/Type

Face added for iPad/Mac

Wheel Choice – iPad

Wheel Choice – iPhone

Wheel Choice – iPhone

Added: Terms and Face (iPad/Mac)

Note that Planetary Sect was added after the animated GIF.

Changing Chart Wheel

Terms Example

Terms Example

Full Landscape (iPad/Mac only)

Full landscape wheel choice

Essential Dignities and Debilities View #9 (iPad/Mac)

For all charts, single and bi-wheel, excluding Gauquelin. For Your Charts and Provided charts.

Full Landscape for Essential Dignities[dt_gap height="20"/]

Long Press over the displayed table

Long press Terms Triplicities settings

Essential Dignities and Debilities from the top menu icon – Planetary sect now available (see iPhone screenshot below)

New Top menu icons

Egyptian Terms

Dignities/Sect – iPhone

Dignities/Planetary Sect – iPhone

Planetary Sect is now included for iPhone/iPad/Mac

Dignities and Sect iPhone

AstroConnexions scores the essential dignities and debilities table as follows

A planet in its:

• Domicile/Ruler: +5
• Exaltation: +4
• Triplicity: +3
• Term: +2
• Face: +1
• Detriment: -5
• Fall: -4

Notes:

If a planet has no essential dignities nor debilities it is marked as peregrine, with a “p” and given a score of -5

Mutual reception is not included in the calculations for dignity or debility, but see:

dt_gap height=”15″ /]

See the Skyscript forum for interesting posts on this subject:

Skyscript article

Example of the Essential Dignities Table as shown in AC

Essential dignities table

Note the black star/asterisk next to a planet. This indicates that it has a value and is used to calculate the eventual score in the Score column. Eg Venus is in the Terms of Venus so is given a score of 2, but Venus is also in her detriment so she gets a score of -5. So the overall score is -3.

Solar Fire difference

You may notice a difference between the triplicity values in the Essential Dignities table shown by Solar Fire, Astro Gold and AstroConnexions.

There are three settings available according to the SF help.

• Ptolemy – As defined in his book “Tetrabiblos”
• Lilly – As defined in his book “Christian Astrology”
• Dorothean – According to Dorotheus of Sidon.

Apropos Reporting for AC

Reporting uses the Terms and Triplicities of planets for scoring.

Displayed Terms and Triplicities

terms trip annoted

Settings for Terms and Triplicities in the Essential Dignities Table

Terms trip setting

Notes on the Settings

Triplicites:

• Dorotheus: Day/night values are used.
• Lilly: Day/night values are used.
• Ptolemy: Day/night values are used.

Triplicities

D = Day N = Night P = Participatory

Terms

• Ptolemy: as defined in Christian Astrology.
• Egyptian/Chaldean: see various websites.

Here’s an explanation about the use of triplicity by Lilly.

Essential Dignities and Debilities View #9. Not for iPhone.

For all charts, single and bi-wheel, excluding Gauquelin. For Your Charts and Provided charts.

This is very useful when viewing bi-wheels, eg secondary progressed charts. Why? Bi-wheels do not show the terms and triplicities on the displayed chart. To see what term, for example the progressed sun is in check the dignities table. Alternatively view the progressed chart as a single-wheel.

Essential dignities View #9

Long-press over the Essential Dignities and Debilities table view #9

Dismiss the Dignities Settings to see the results reflected in the dignities table. To dismiss the Dignities Settings tap anywhere away from the Dignities Settings.

Single Wheel/Bi-wheel – Essential Dignities table display

When a single wheel chart is displayed the Essential Dignities table shows the calculations for the that display of planets.

When a Bi-wheel chart is displayed the Essential Dignities table shows the calculations for the outside wheel planets/points, ie the applying planets.

Note that a single chart can be natal, secondary progression, solar return. Same for bi-wheel charts.

Example Essential Dignities table showing Egyptian Terms

Egyptian Terms

Single Tap over a planets position on the displayed chart

Note that tapping a planet’s position shows the correct Terms for that planet and Triplicity as selected by the Terms/Triplicities settings. This has always been the case, except the Lilly triplicity was never shown.

Single Tap Planet position showing details

iPhone

Single Tap – iPhone

Abbreviations (for iPhone):

Terms/Trip Settings

ASC/MC/POF values cannot be shown in the Essential Dignities table or the Essential Dignities View #9 for bi-wheel charts unless the ASC and MC and POF are shown on the displayed chart.

Note that the plain chart does not show Terms or Triplicities as it would be impractical to do so.

Bi-wheels do not show the Terms or Triplicities on the chart display wheel.