In astrology

Astrology

Astrology consists of a number of belief systems which hold that there is a relationship between astronomical phenomena and events in the human world...

, an aphetic place is a place in the horoscope that is highly fortunate when the benefic planets, such as the Sun

Sun

The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...

, Venus

Venus

Venus is the second planet from the Sun, orbiting it every 224.7 Earth days. The planet is named after Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty. After the Moon, it is the brightest natural object in the night sky, reaching an apparent magnitude of −4.6, bright enough to cast shadows...

, Neptune

Neptune

Neptune is the eighth and farthest planet from the Sun in the Solar System. Named for the Roman god of the sea, it is the fourth-largest planet by diameter and the third largest by mass. Neptune is 17 times the mass of Earth and is slightly more massive than its near-twin Uranus, which is 15 times...

 and Jupiter

Jupiter

Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun and the largest planet within the Solar System. It is a gas giant with mass one-thousandth that of the Sun but is two and a half times the mass of all the other planets in our Solar System combined. Jupiter is classified as a gas giant along with Saturn,...

, are placed therein. These areas are 5 degrees above the Ascendant

Ascendant

The ascendant , or rising sign, is the zodiacal sign and degree that was ascending on the eastern horizon at the specific time and location of an event. According to astrological theory, celestial phenomena reflect or determine human activity on the principle of 'as above so below'...

 to 25 degrees below it, 5 degrees below the Descendant

Descendant (astrology)

In astrology, the descendant is the point directly opposite, or 180 degrees away from the ascendant. The descendant forms the cusp of the seventh house of the horoscope and refers to partners or relationships. The descendant is ruled by the seventh sign of the zodiac, Libra, and its ruler planet,...

 to 25 degrees above it, and from 5 degrees before the ninth house cusp to the middle of the eleventh house.

When a benefic planet

Benefic planet

In astrology, a benefic planet, or simply benefic, is considered to be very positive influence. Traditionally, Jupiter is considered to be the greater benefic, while Venus has been assigned the position of the lesser benefic...

 is placed within an aphetic place, it is referred to as Apheta, or Alpheta, and is said to have life giving qualities and expands the beneficial attributes of the planet.

When a planet that is placed in the aphetic place is afflicted by aspect, however, it is considered detrimental and is said to reduce vitality or endanger life.

See also

• Benefic
• Malefic planet
  Malefic planet
  In astrology, a malefic planet, or simply malefic, is traditionally thought to bring bad luck and misfortune. Mars is considered the lesser malefic, while Saturn is the greater malefic. In modern astrology Uranus, Pluto and for some Ceres are also considered malefic.-See also:*Benefic...
  
  
• Horoscope
  Horoscope
  In astrology, a horoscope is a chart or diagram representing the positions of the Sun, Moon, planets, the astrological aspects, and sensitive angles at the time of an event, such as the moment of a person's birth. The word horoscope is derived from Greek words meaning "a look at the hours" In...
  
  
• Solar system in astrology