Iltârer Astrology and Calendar

The skies of the Thekashi world are the same as our own. The Moon, Sun, and planets follow the same courses. The solar year formed the primary basis for the calendar. The year was divided into eight seasons, which were reckoned according to the motion of the Sun along the ecliptic, and so were not quite of equal length:

neñeal, winter	December 21 to February 3 (44 days)
tiliper, firstlight	February 3 to March 20 (45 days)
tepimal, spring	March 20 to May 5 (46 days)
enehtal, glorification	May 5 to June 21 (47 days)
narsimal, summer	June 21 to August 7 (47 days)
mamphantal, harvest	August 7 to September 22 (46 days)
cheal, autumn	September 22 to November 6 (45 days)
ipineniltal, return	November 6 to December 31 (45 days)

The winter season received an extra day every fourth year. Shorter periods of time (months, weeks) were seldom used. The Iltâr followed the 18-year saros cycle, which was called sehtia, and historical dates were usually only recorded by which saros cycle they fell in.

The beginning of the year at the winter solstice was marked with a major celebration. Otherwise, sacred days were not tied to the solar year, but rather to the motions of the planets, particularly Saturn.

For the Iltâr, Saturn (Ces-Ceretener) was the eldest light and the image of the Creator himself. It thus presided over the creative faculties of the people, and innovation in the world. Jupiter (Ces-Echelith) governed fate and endings. Mars (Ces-Tâtaner) was the planet of health and personal ambition. The Sun (Sâtil) was energy, power, and the driving force of life. Venus (Ces-Petâllâsa) governed esthetics, and Mercury (Ces-Ninilith) represented wandering interest and personal restlessness, although it was generally ignored except around the time of greatest elongation. The Moon (Pammâl) ruled rest, repose, and meditation.

The Iltâr believed that the planets had originally been created in a different order, with the Sun and Moon between Jupiter and Mars, and appearing starlike, as the other planets do. When they acquired their luminance, they "dropped" closer to the Earth.

The important sacred days were the Saturn-Sun opposition, the conjunctions of Saturn with Jupiter, Mars, and Venus, Mars-Jupiter conjunction, and conjunctions of Venus with the Moon and with Jupiter. The oppositions of Jupiter and Mars to the Sun were also observed in some times and places. These are summarized in the table below

Saturn-Sun opposition	Pinan Ahtepitantelisilithin, Day of Butterflies	A celebration of creativity, new ideas, new beginnings, and mental rejuvenation
Saturn-Jupiter conjunction	Pinan Mesepîmeta, Day of Wisdom	Rituals and conversations honoring the balance of new and old
Saturn-Mars conjunction	Pinan Câpha, Day of Health	The major feast day of the Iltâr calendar, also a favorite time for bonding and unbonding rituals
Saturn-Venus conjunction	Pinan Htepisilithin, Day of Blossoms	A celebration of the arts and also natural beauty
Jupiter-Mars conjunction	Pinan Thantsa, Day of Death	Rememberance of ancestors, and losses
Jupiter-Venus conjunction	Pinan Philinâthsa, Day of Song	Night-long recitation of epics, songs, chants, and ballads
Venus-Moon conjunction	Pinan Assatenler, Day of Dreams	Evening of quiet personal meditation, divination, and psychic sensitivity
Jupiter-Mars opposition	Pinan Taphea, Day of Dignity	Honoring of personal accomplishments
Jupiter-Sun opposition	Pinan Pemâtâner, Day of Warning	Counsels for settling disputes and making long-range plans

The ecliptic was divided into eight mansions, corresponding to the seasons of the year. Each was named after an animal. A planet passing through a mansion acquired the qualities of the animal and thus expressed itself differently in human affairs.

Htirârer Âmâpircalith, The Mansion of the Bear	Cancer through mid Leo, ruled by Saturn	Power, magnitude, momentum
Htirârer Sartantelith, The Mansion of the Eagle	mid Leo through Virgo, ruled by the Sun	Leadership, ambition, dignity
Htirârer Phicartîthalith, The Mansion of the Beast	Libra through mid Scorpio, ruled by Mars	Violence, aggression, predation
Htirârer Sâñchialith, The Mansion of the Horse	mid Scorpio through Sagittarius, ruled by Mercury	Independence, friendship, practicality
Htirârer Pâmpâlith, The Mansion of the Tortoise	Capricorn through mid Aquarius, ruled by the Earth	Reliability, stability, loyalty
Htirârer Arñilith, The Mansion of the Serpent	mid Aquarius through Pisces, ruled by Jupiter	Secrecy, inscrutibility, deviousness
Htirârer Mîrilith, The Mansion of the Fish	Aries through mid Taurus, ruled by the Moon	Flexibility, patience, calmness
Htirârer Mâchañelith, The Mansion of the Squirrel	mid Taurus through Gemini, ruled by Venus	Kindness, empathy, helpfulness

In natal astrology, an individual's primary traits and prospects were determed by the mansion in which Saturn was located at the time of birth. The location of Jupiter referred to the person's nemesis animal, an area of weakness or possible downfall. The mansion opposite the Sun at time of birth was also considered important, even if there were no planets in it, as a place where the person's private learning was likely to take place.

The Sun was held to void the influence of any planets in its mansion, and people born near a Saturn-Sun conjunction were thought to be unlucky, or at least unfocused. The Moon, to a lesser degree, weakened planets in its own mansion. Planets in their mansion of rulership were strengthened, but this was regarded with mild suspicion, as it was thought to lead to imbalance or single-mindedness. The sacred days noted above were not celebrated if they occurred when one of the planets was in the same mansion as the Sun, and were not celebrated if the Moon was within three days of full.

Conjunction and opposition were the only geometrical aspects noted in Iltârer astrology, but planets sharing a mansion were thought to be allied.

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