Benefic and malefic

Definition

Benefic and malefic is the classical polarity that classified the seven traditional planets by symbolic mood. Jupiter and Venus are the benefics, planets associated with ease, growth, and pleasure. Mars and Saturn are the malefics, planets associated with friction, limit, and difficulty. The Sun, Moon, and Mercury are neutral and take on the mood of their context. Modern astrology has softened the labels but still uses the distinction.

In context

If natal Saturn sits on your Ascendant, traditional astrology would call that a malefic on the angle and read the contact as a heavy or restrictive opening to the world. A benefic on the same angle would be read as expansive or charmed. Today most astrologers read both planets as ambivalent (Saturn brings structure as well as restriction, Jupiter brings excess as well as expansion), but the underlying polarity still tints how their aspects are received.

To go deeper

Benefic-malefic is one of several polarity axes:

• Diurnal-nocturnal: day-night sect polarity.
• Personal-transpersonal: inner-outer planet groupings.
• Major aspect: geometry the labels color.