Zodiacal releasing
Zodiacal releasing —<i>aphesis</i> in Greek— is a Hellenistic technique that divides a life into successive chapters starting from a lot, and marks when each stage begins and ends.
The Greek name of the technique is aphesis, “release”; “zodiacal releasing” is the term that became established with the modern translations, and it is often abbreviated ZR. All of them name the same procedure.
It comes from Vettius Valens, second century, and it was lost until the modern translation of his Anthology put it back into circulation. It is the Hellenistic technique that generated the most enthusiasm in the recovery of recent decades.
What it reveals
The long structure of a life, in chapters that last years. Each chapter has a sign that colors it, and that sign describes the tone of the whole stage.
The chapters nest across four levels: the first spans decades, and inside it run subchapters that get shorter and shorter. It is like a book with parts, chapters, sections, and paragraphs.
And it marks turning points: the changes of chapter tend to coincide with biographical inflections that are recognizable in hindsight. That is where its reputation comes from.
The two lots
The technique is normally released from the Lot of Spirit, which in the tradition speaks of one's own action, career, and what a person does with their life.
It can also be released from the Lot of Fortune, which speaks of the body, health, and what happens to a person. They are two different readings of the same life: what you do and what befalls you.
Frequently asked questions
What is zodiacal releasing?
It is a technique of Hellenistic astrology that divides a life into successive chapters starting from a lot, generally the Lot of Spirit. Each chapter has a sign that gives it its tone, and the changes of chapter mark biographical turns.
Are zodiacal releasing and aphesis the same thing?
Yes. Aphesis, “release”, is the Greek name of the technique; “zodiacal releasing” is the English term that became established with the modern translations of the Hellenistic sources.
Where does zodiacal releasing come from?
From the Anthology of Vettius Valens, an astrologer of the second century. The technique was lost for centuries and returned to circulation with the modern translations of the Hellenistic sources.