Male or Female

[p. 121] After the indications which regard brothers and sisters have been investigated by the foregoing rules, consonant with nature and reason; the actual native, or the person to whom the scheme of nativity is specially appropriated, demands attention: and the first and most obvious inquiry is whether the said native will be male or female.

[p. 122] The consideration of this question rests not on a single basis, nor can it be pursued in one sole direction only: it depends, on the contrary, upon the several situations of the two luminaries and the ascendant, and upon such planets as possess any prerogatives in the places of those situations; and all these circumstances should be specially observed at the time of conception, and, in a general manner also, at that of birth.

Observation of the said three places, and of the mode in which the planets ruling them may be constituted, is wholly indispensible: it must be seen whether all, or most of them, may be constituted masculinely or femininely; and prediction must, of course, be regulated in conformity with their disposition, so observed; as tending to produce a male or female birth.

The masculine or feminine nature of the stars is to be distinguished in the manner already pointed out in the commencement of this treatise^*. For instance, by the nature of the signs in which they are situated, by their relative position to each other, and also by their position towards the earth; as, when in the east, they are masculinely disposed, and, when in the west, femininely. Their relative position to the Sun also affords guidance in distinguishing them; since, if they should be matutine, they are considered to signify the male gender; and if vespertine, the female. Thus, from the sex chiefly prevalent, as observed by these rules, that of the native may be rationally inferred.