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Hi Sam,

Have been searching Plato and the Neoplatonists, also with no results for either the Latin or English phrase (I don't read 
Greek). Some ascribe the saying to Plato quoting Socrates. 

Others ascribe the idea of this phrase to the later (later than Plato) Hermetic texts as the fusion of Egyptian and Graeco-Alexandrian thought, which then influenced later Greek interpretations of astrology to that effect. Allegedly Clement of Alexandria and later Thomas Aquinas champion free will and thereby this idea, that is to say it's a Christian project, taken up in the Renaissance by Marsilio Ficino and Pico della Mirandola. 

Since the exact phrase seems to be a moot point, I would have to comment that one could argue the presence of this idea in human thought on astrology within cultural artifacts much older than Clement of Alexandria's or Ptolemy's writings. The idea of free will as active agent in human destiny is as old as ritual itself, since rituals are often directed at bettering humankind's condition. Christianity (relatively late in human history) adopts and adapts what other human traditions have already set forth.       

If your inquiry is defined linguistically by Latin, do let us know if you locate a specific source!

Kathryn

Kathryn LaFevers Evans
Independent Researcher
 
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: S Garrard 
  To: [log in to unmask] 
  Sent: Thursday, August 26, 2010 11:11 AM
  Subject: Re: [ACADEMIC-STUDY-MAGIC] Inclinant astra non necessitant


  Thanks Ruth,  it's reassuring at least that someone else gave it a go! 
   
  Perhaps it's a case of Ptolemy reworded that simply became a common phrase?
   
  Sam
   

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  Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2010 15:39:51 +0100
  From: [log in to unmask]
  Subject: Re: [ACADEMIC-STUDY-MAGIC] Inclinant astra non necessitant
  To: [log in to unmask]


  Hello Sam,

  Everyone seems blithely to attribute the maxim to Ptolemy, and in fact I thought I'd tracked the quote down some years back. But if I ever did, I can't now find the reference (of course).  

  Verbum 5 of the Centiloquium states something not dissimilar: 'He that is skilful may divert many of the effects of the stars when he knows their natures...'  

  Sorry, that's not very helpful, but as no one else has replied I thought I'd mention it.  I hope someone else has better luck/knowledge.

  cheers,

  Ruth

    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: S Garrard 
    To: [log in to unmask] 
    Sent: Wednesday, August 25, 2010 11:36 PM
    Subject: [ACADEMIC-STUDY-MAGIC] Inclinant astra non necessitant


    Hey, can anyone help me locate the origin / author of the old astrological maxim "Inclinant astra non necessitant"?
     
    I believe they're derived from Ptolemy, but find no explicitly similar remarks in Tetrabiblos. 
     
    Thank you!
     
    Sam.