Janus 3.0

By Mark Griffin, Hamish Saunders, and Angela Thomas for Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000, and XP

Janus states a calculation range of 7299 BC to 12299 AD for the planets, and the asteroids and Chiron can be calculated from 1487 AD to 2102 AD.

With the release of version 3.0, Janus has become a powerful astrology software program. It includes access to the full ACS atlas data for over 250,000 cities, and has more interpretive text than most top-of-the-line programs. Janus 3.0 is pretty stable, and remarkably easy to use. While the listed computer system requirements are minimal (32 megabytes of RAM, a CD-ROM drive, 150 MB of hard disk space, and Windows 95, 98, 2000, or ME), you’ll be much happier using the program, especially if you want to generate interpretive transit reports, if you have a more powerful computer (500 megahertz or higher Pentium III and 128 megabytes of RAM).

Janus 3.0 has all of the standard capabilities of most professional programs including single, bi-, tri-, and quad- wheels; natal, return, progressed, composite, Davison, coalescent, relocated, and harmonic charts; a synastry grid; lists of natal aspects (including true body aspects), interaspects, Arabic Parts, fixed stars and aspects to fixed stars (with interpretations of the fixed stars at hand), rising/MC/IC/setting times, midpoints, and complete transit/progressed/directed hit lists including stations, eclipses, entering and leaving times, lunar phases, and ingresses. Janus 3.0 can import files from Janus 2.0, Quick*Charts, Solar Fire (via Quick*Charts), AstroDatabank, and AstroCalc formats and can export files to the Quick*Charts and Janus formats. Janus can calculate planets for a period from 7299 BC to 12299 AD, and for the asteroids and Chiron from 1487 AD to 2102 AD.

Janus has a few weaknesses: There are no inter-aspect lines in bi-wheels; there is no transit/progressed time graph, no research functions, no interpretation for synastry, the texts used for interpreting progressions are the same texts used for interpreting transits, and over half of the computer’s system resources are used when you run the Page Designer -- don’t try to use it with other programs open.

While Janus does not come with a manual, its help screens are completely context-sensitive (which means that when you click on help at any point in the program, you get the precise help you need for the function you’re working with), exceptionally well detailed, and can to help you not only learn how to use the program, but also how to use many of the astrological techniques. The program also thoughtfully provides detailed bibliographies for most techniques. You can also pop up a screen that shows all of the glyphs used in Janus, for planets, points, signs, angles, aspects, etc.

In addition to progressed/directed/transit hit lists, Janus offers many additional predictive tools. The dynamic quad-wheel shows the transiting, progressed, directed, and natal positions concentrically. You can easily relocate the chart, or change the progression or direction method or house system, or switch to a quad-dial, and you can either step forward or backwards in time or have the wheels shift automatically. This tool can be used for watching the impact of present cycles (especially conjunctions). The Advanced Rectification tool is almost identical to the dynamic quad-wheel, except that you can shift the birth time forward or backwards by any time increment very easily to see changes in the four wheels.



There are three types of Graphic Ephemeride in Janus: the standard longitude graph, a Uranian graph that includes TransNeptunians and optionally midpoints and formulae, and a declination graph. In all three, in addition to graphing planets, you can display lunar phases, ingresses by house and sign, and eclipses, and use converse, precessed, and relocated positions. These are nice touches. The Cycles function allows you to see planetary aspects (e.g. Saturn square Saturn) and planetary returns quickly and easily for any time period. You can also see recurrences of midpoint patterns, e.g. when the Sun/Uranus midpoint aspects itself. Janus also enables you to quickly see listings of Primary Directions, using Actual , Mean, or Birthday Solar Arcs, or the Degree for a Year arc methods.

The Wheel Designer and the Page Designer in Janus are amazingly easy to use. I was able to design wheels and pages without even consulting the help screens. While the process of designing your own wheels and pages may be time-consuming, even computer novices will be able to use these features effectively. Both modules are operated by the same methods, so if you learn to use one, you’ll be able to use the other.

Janus’ Print Chart selection is wonderful. You can see an alphabetical list of all of the pages included with Janus (and those that you’ve created) and view large previews of each page. You can select different charts (up to ten at one time) for multi-chart pages, e.g. using different people’s charts and/or dynamic charts like returns, composites, etc. that you’ve calculated. You can change the aspect set, turn on or off aspect lines and symbols, and even apply an orb percentage to the lines, which means that you can precisely control what aspects are drawn (i.e. you can tighten the orbs and only show exact aspects, use the full orbs, or any increment in between). This is the most functional page printing module I have seen in any software.



Janus offers several special advantages. Among these are a full natal interpretation report and a full transit interpretation report. Both may be edited with your word processor and sold commercially. The comprehensive natal text is comparable to commercially sold natal report software, and includes delineations for planets by sign, house & aspect, for elements & modes, and for natal house rulers by house & sign. Here’s a sample:

Your Saturn is in the First House:

You have a serious personal manner, and can come across to others as cool and reserved. Generally, you don't speak or act without good reason or intention. You are naturally prudent and careful with good self-control and self-discipline. Your early life may have been difficult, with hardships or limitations to overcome. Yet, you have the power to achieve positions of prominence and responsibility in life, through sheer hard work and perseverance. At times, you can be too serious and given to bouts of discontent and gloominess. You tend not to suffer fools.

The program’s interpretive transit reports are also well-written. They include transiting planets by aspect & house, and transits to the midpoint of the Sun & Moon and the Ascendant & Midheaven. Here’s a sample that has the wisdom to take into account different results for different temperaments:

Before Sep 1 2001 - December 31, 2001, strongest around September 23, 2001 and December 5, 2001, Transiting Uranus is Sesquiquadrate your Radix Mars

This can be a difficult transit because it has the potential for explosive and volatile emotional or physical reactions, either by you or others. However, the types of experiences it can bring depend, to great extent, on the sort of personality that you are. If you are an essentially calm and composed person, you will probably only go through periods of becoming irritated and impatient with others, but not to such a degree that you're likely to blow your stack or "lose it". However, if you have a reputation for reactionary and aggressive behavior, you are more likely to experience the dramatic potentialities of this combination, which can include altercations, physical attacks or even accidents. If you misuse this energy, you run the risk of causing mishap or injury to either yourself or others. When all is said and done, the best way to counteract the destructive side of this combination is to be as circumspect as you can and to slow down when you feel yourself getting worked up or angry. In special circumstances, this transit can signify a need for surgery, but other factors need to be present to support such an event.

There are also delineations -- in a report that applies to all charts -- for all of the astro-locality lines, i.e. rising, setting, culminating, and anti-culminating for each of the planets and crossings. You can also see interpretations of 1individual fixed stars in the Sky Map module.

If you are motivated to create your own reports, Janus provides the framework (but no texts) for adding your own interpretations for natal Sabian (degree) symbols, synastry and composite aspects, synastry midpoints, and synastry and composite planets in houses.

Janus has truly excellent and well-organized Horary features. On its main Horary screen, you can view the chart and an excellent 30 degree horizontal dial of positions, as well as a wide range of options. With the greatest ease, you can Turn the chart to place any house in the first house position. Janus thoughtfully even provides significations for each house to help you make your selection. You can just as easily change the chart displayed, or the date, time, or location, see the Horary considerations or results, pop up an extensive Dignities table, or change the program’s Horary parameters (e.g. display only applying aspects, change the moiety for each planet, select Triplicity, Term, and Decan rulers; and much more.)

On the Horary Considerations screen, Janus examines the horary chart and displays all of the relevant considerations for you. This is an excellent tool.On the Horary Results screen, you can view the planetary day and hour, Moon phase, final dispositor, the aspects with their orbs and applying/separating tags for the horary chart, lunar aspects before and after the time of the chart, and 1 degree orb aspects to Fixed Stars and Arabian Parts. Its Electional screen follows the same format, but adds a dignities graph which shows " for each planet " the changes in their Lilly scores throughout the day.

Janus offers astrologers using Medieval techniques a Traditional Wheel display. This screen shows a large square chart, and can pop up a Results window showing an analysis of important chart features (such as the planetary day and hour, final dispositor, moon phase, void of course Moon, the Hyleg, what planets are in hayz, and more) as well as 120 year Firdaria tables, mutual receptions (by ruler, exaltation, triplicity, term, and face), seven Arabic Parts, strong aspects, and house and chart almutems. You can also pop up a Dignities window, showing all of the essential dignities, and also profect the chart. These functions will be of great value to those studying this branch of astrology.



While I am not versed in Cosmobiology, it is clear that Janus’ functions in this area are outstanding. The Cosmobiology screen shows a tri-wheel with the transits in the outer wheel, Solar Arcs in the middle wheel, and the natal positions in the inner wheel. One can shift the time and date forward, for all of the wheels simultaneously, from the birth date to any age just by using a slider bar. This is an incredibly easy to use tool. Clicking on any position in the circle shows both a visible midpoint tree and a midpoint table, and you can just as simply pop up windows showing exact planetary positions for all three wheels, harmonic positions, half sums, and sums to sensitive points; as well as view both Solar Arc and Trends listings (both coverings and indirect half distances) for any date range. You can also animate the tri-wheel " so that it shifts forward or backwards in time automatically before your eyes " to see patterns unfold.



Cosmobiologists and others will also relish the List Midpoints screen, which offers displays of midpoint trees and a variety of sorted midpoint lists, including half sum A/B aspecting half sum C/D, and allows you to easily change the modulus, orb, and coordinate system (from a wide range including Ecliptic, Equatorial, Horizon, Prime Vertical, Rationalized Semi-Arc, Galactic Longitude, and the Invariable Plane). You can also view individual chart wheels and dials from any of these coordinate systems. Uranian astrologers can view 22 dials, which can be re-sized and printed, and midpoints can be added to dials.

The Sky Map module allows you to view the celestial sphere, like a planetarium, Tropically or Sidereally, in ecliptical, equatorial, or horizon coordinates. You can customize the screen to show constellation names and boundaries, a coordinate grid (showing celestial longitude and latitude), stars and star names, zodiac signs, and more. You can animate the display one step at a time (forward or backwards) or in an automated manner, and even select an individual planet to track over time.



Finally, Janus has several separate mapping modules. You can view Astro*Carto*Graphy rising and culminating lines, or local space lines, or eclipse lines. You cannot, however, combine these methods on one map. You can zoom in on any area, copy any map to the clipboard (to paste into another document),and measure the distance between any two points. In the Astro*Carto*Graphy map, you can click on any planet line and see a well-written interpretation of the line, and look at a list of parans and see interpretations for any paran.

Janus is an amazingly comprehensive and accurate astrology program that will meet the needs of most astrologers, and especially those using Medieval, Horary, and Uranian techniques. It is filled with thoughtful touches, it’s the easiest to use of all of the top professional astrology programs, has great page & chart wheel design functions, and includes more interpretive text than any other program.