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ought to be taken, most especially because all the foundations of these operations derive from the power of the planets, the Sun, and the Moon, and from their motions according to the qualities of the degrees that receive the forces and powers of the planets in their courses, for the powers pass from planet to planet through their aspects. For this reason, one planet will receive qualities belonging to the significance of other planets according to the different aspects that are formed by their positions in the heavens. When any aspect is in force, it is evident that all composite bodies are changed and altered in all their changeable qualities during that period of time, according to the interaction of the motions of the planets with the signs they occupy, and vice versa, and these changes are called separate mutations. Those other primary things that we mentioned before, that are the foundations and properties of all things, are called common and permanent mutations, and they are not changed or altered because, if they suffered any alteration or change, the whole universal pattern of things in this world would be corrupted and destroyed; for this reason they are permanent and common. The conclusion we ought to draw from all that we have said up to this point is that everything in the world, and all their qualities, orders and ends, are from the aspects of the Moon with the Sun, because this includes everything that is contained in trees and composite bodies because of the stars and the Moon. This is what causes the greater part of the influence and harm they receive from an eclipse of the Moon or other planets that are eclipsed. From the Sun, the Moon, and the fixed stars come permanent mutations; from these, things suffer change, receiving benefits from good qualities and harm from bad ones. Eclipses affect the Sun and Moon and other planets, and influence them to the harm of other composite bodies. Do not believe for a moment that the Sun or Moon receive any harm in their nature or accidents thereby; and we will call this an impediment of the heavens, so that you will understand that the reason that harm comes to animals, trees, and other composite bodies from eclipses of the Sun, Moon, and the other planets happens because the four elements are altered, changed and damaged.1"5 Next in order, you ought to search for a place"*' appropriate and suitable in all its effects and convenient for your workings, noting the true and false signs in things that influence this world both in generation and corruption, so that the place is the kind that will have great power in the world in all its qualities. Similarly, you should seek to make the Moon free from impediments and infortunes, and be sure it is not in the Via Combusta, 105 One of the central principles of medieval cosmology was that destruction only happened in the realm of the four elements; the celestial realm was exempt from all generation and corruption. 106 That is, a celestial place, a part of the heavens where the Moon will provide the influence needed for the working.