Conditional Mercury
Mercury changes natural classification according to association in the selected source profile.
Brihat Jataka 2.5 and Phaladeepika 2.27 both describe Mercury as malefic when joined with malefics, but the lists are not identical.
The source selector makes that difference explicit. Phaladeepika includes Rahu and Ketu among the malefics used by this rule; the narrower Brihat Jataka profile does not add the nodes to Mercury’s test.
Same-sign conjunction is used as the structural meaning of joined.
Synthesis is where you connect evidence without erasing disagreement. Keep three labels in your notes: calculated fact, traditional rule, and your final cautious synthesis.
When two layers disagree, write the disagreement instead of averaging them into a score. Good chart reading is traceable: another learner should be able to follow your sentence back to the house, planet, Varga or timing evidence that produced it.
How to read it
- Write chart facts first.
- Apply only named rule profiles.
- Group agreeing evidence.
- Write tensions/contradictions separately.
- Add timing last and use conditional language.
Key points
- Fact, rule and synthesis are different layers.
- Contradictory evidence should remain visible.
- A transparent chain is more useful than a confidence score.
Do not hide uncertainty by turning mixed evidence into one numerical rating.
Apply this lesson to a chart
- Choose one topic in Full Practicum.
- Write two calculated facts and one traditional rule separately.
- Write one synthesis sentence that cites those facts and includes uncertainty where needed.