← Encyclopedia of Astrology · lesson 125/235
Under the beams
What it means
A planet is under the beams — in Lilly's English, "under the Sunbeams" — when it is close enough to the Sun to be dimmed by its light, but not so close as to be combust. Lilly's rule: a planet is under the Sunbeams "untill he is fully elongated or distant from his body 17 degr. either before or after him". On this site the zone runs from 8°30' (where combustion ends) out to 17°.
| Distance from the Sun | Condition |
|---|---|
| within 0°17' | cazimi |
| 0°17' to 8°30' | combust |
| 8°30' to 17° | under the beams |
| beyond 17° | free of the Sun's beams |
Why it happens
The idea is rooted in what the eye can see. A planet near the Sun rises and sets with it and is lost in twilight. Ancient observers watched for the day a planet first reappeared in the dawn or dusk sky after its conjunction — its heliacal rising — and roughly 15° to 17° of separation is where most planets become visible again. Hellenistic astrologers spoke of planets "under the rays" as hidden or acting in secret; a planet emerging from the beams within a few days of birth was thought to be especially vigorous, like something stepping into the light.
Mercury and Venus pass in and out of this zone constantly; Mercury, which never strays more than about 28° from the Sun, spends a large share of every year under the beams. The outer planets are under the beams for several weeks either side of each conjunction.
How it is read
In the tradition, Lilly scored a planet under the beams −4, one point less severe than combustion (−5), and counted being free of the Sun's beams altogether as a fortitude of +5. The planet is not destroyed, but its testimony is weakened: in horary work it can show a person or matter that is concealed, unable to act openly, or waiting on a more powerful party.
In a birth chart, modern astrologers read a planet under the beams as one that works behind the scenes: present and capable, but less visible to others and sometimes to the person themselves. Its qualities may be expressed privately, through other people, or later in life. Whether it is moving towards the Sun (heading into combustion) or moving away (emerging into visibility) is worth noting — the emerging planet is generally read as gathering strength, the other as withdrawing.
In transit, a planet slipping under the beams is often read as a slow fade of its themes from view, and its clearing of the beams as their return to the surface.