Sect is an ancient astrological concept in which the seven traditional "planets" are assigned to two different categories: diurnal or nocturnal sect. As can be seen by the example of Mercury, which is more obscured by being occidental, sect is a form of astrological, much as the distinction between masculine and feminine planets. Since some planets were seen to be stronger in a positive or masculine environment, and others were seen to be more effective in a negative or feminine environment, whether a planet is in sect in any given chart was of particular importance to Hellenistic astrologers, who gave sect greater weight than any other astrological factor. The luminary of sect is the luminary which is said to rule each sect. The Sun is the luminary of sect in a day chart and the Moon is the luminary of sect in a night chart This distinction was crucial in determining the location of the astrological Lots--especially in Hellenistic astrology.
The planets
Diurnal planets are more comfortable and powerful when they appear in charts in which the Sun is abovethe horizon. They include:
Nocturnal planets are more comfortable and powerful when they appear in charts in which the Sun is below the horizon, or at night. They are:
Moon
Venus
Mars
Mercury, a hermaphroditic and very adaptable planet, possesses no inherent sect. Mercury changes its sect orientation depending upon whether it is oriental of the Sun, in which case it is diurnal in sect; or , in which case it is of nocturnal sect.
astrology became even more complex in its treatment of sect – although the factor itself became considerably less important. The Arab astrologers of the Middle Ages, defined three forms of sect:
a planet is in sect when it is in a chart where the Sun's position corresponds to its sect ;
a planet can still be in some sect if its signpolarity corresponds with its inherent sect Therefore, Venus in Virgo is in sect by sign because Virgo is a negative, or feminine, or nocturnal sign;
a planet might yet have some shred of sect dignity if it is in the hemisphere of the chart corresponding to its inherent sect--for example, if Jupiter is in the same hemisphere as the Sun, whether or not the Sun is above the horizon, or if Venus is in the hemisphere opposite the Sun, whether or not the Sun is below the horizon.
Planets satisfying all three of these sect conditions were said to be Hayz, but it is not clear how Hayz strength compares to strength from essential dignities.
