Hoary
Horary Analysis–The Basics
Volumes have been written about horary astrology. The best I can hope to do in the short space I’m allowing myself is to offer some basic guidelines–which basics should, in fact, be enough to get anyone started reading charts.
This lesson gives a method of horary analysis in its broadest strokes. In later lessons, I will elaborate on these guidelines, as well as add the insight of other astrologers whose methods I might not necessarily employ, but who are widely respected and worth trying out.
There remains much debate in horary circles on the subject of “well-it-works-for-me” strategies of analysis. Traditional horary astrologers, especially, eschew (sometimes with the same amusing vehemence with which they deny their own fundamentalism) any technique not espoused by William Lilly, Henry Coley, Bonatus, Ptolemy, and other long-dead astrologers. While the contribution of these old astrologers–and the lasting usefulness of many of their techniques–remains, in my opinion, inarguable, it may be prudent to remember that astrology is not a hard science. The “rules” of the ancients are not scientific laws, and even they tried out the techniques of their predecessors, and kept what worked and discarded what didn’t. Astrology remains largely an art, and as such ought to be subject to the beneficial vagaries of intuition, hunches, and daring . . . and, of course, most importantly, experience. Some horary astrologers, however, will not even look at a chart unless it has been cast in Regiomontanus (the house system preferred by William Lilly). Such fundamentalism is unnecessary. If you pick up a variety of horary astrology books, you will find that the techniques taught in them differ, sometimes only slightly, sometimes a great deal. This is because astrologers find that certain techniques work better for them than others do. Experience, built on an appreciation for and understanding of the best the tradition has to offer, will show you what works best for your style of analysis.
In other words, explore the tradition, but don’t be imprisoned by it. That’s what you’ll find here . . . tradition explored, and a variety of sources drawn upon.
First, a short list of books I’ve found useful:
Horary Astrology Plain & Simple, by Anthony Louis Christian Astrology, by William Lilly Simplified Horary Astrology, by Ivy Goldstein-Jacobson The Only Way To Learn About Horary and Electional Astrology, by Marion March, and Joan McEvers The Art of Horary Astrology in Practice, by Sylvia DeLongAlso, if you want to save yourself having to calculate charts by hand, download Allen Edwall’s excellent free astrology program, Astrowin , and browse his site.
1. Asking the Question & Casting the Chart. Virtually any question can be answered by horary astrology. The easiest questions are those requiring simple yes-or-no answers, but even more complex ones such as, “Should I move to Arizona, Las Vegas, or Oregon,” or, “Where did I leave my glasses, will I find them, and when?” can successfully be answered using horary. You can even ask several unrelated question at the same time, and answer them all with the same chart.
I always cast a chart for the time and place that I first understand the question, even if the querent first asked the question at a different time in a different place. This is the only way I can be certain of an accurate “birth time” for the question. It makes sense, of course, that the better time for which to erect a chart would be the moment when the question is first asked . . . so experiment. I find that more often than not, at least as far as divination is concerned, consistency of procedure is often more important than precisely which procedure you favor.
Finally, ask the question only once, unless circumstance have changed considerably, and the situation warrants another chart. If you cast a chart, don’t like the answer, cast another chart for the same question, and like the answer . . . the first chart remains the only valid one.
2. Determine the Appropriate Planets and Houses. The querent is always ruled by the first house. The Moon is considered a co-ruler of the querent. In some cases, it may rule the question–for instance, it may co-rule a lost object. Planets in the first house are also co-rulers of the querent. If Libra is rising, and the Sun and Mercury are in the first house, then the querent is ruled first by Venus, then by the Moon, Sun, and Mercury. In some cases it may be more useful to use a co-ruler to rule the querent, such as when the same planet rules the sign on the cusp of the querent and the quesited.
To receive an accurate answer, you must successfully place the question in its house. This subject deserves– and will get–its own lesson. Briefly, though, the nature of a question determines which house it is assigned. Questions about money & possessions are assigned to the 2nd house; neighbors, writing, siblings, to the 3rd; the home, father, family to the 4th; and so on. The ruler of the question is that planet that rules the sign on the cusp of the appropriate house.
Generally, other people are ruled by the 7th house. If you ask about a relative, though, he belongs to the house that rules that relative. So, too, do questions asked in such a way that a relationship is established. For example, since the 11th house rules friends, and the 4th house rules fathers, if you asked, “Will my father’s friend get his promotion?” the friend would be ruled by the chart’s 2nd house (the 2nd is the 11th of the 4th), and the promotion would be ruled by the chart’s 11th (which is the friend’s 10th house of career). Complicated, huh? More about this in Lesson 3.
A rule of thumb I’ve found useful is to determine in which house I will place the question before casting the chart, to avoid being swayed by any bias. Often, though, the chart itself will reveal other things that need to be considered.
3. Are There Any Strictures Against Judgment? Strictures are conditions within a chart restricting its interpration. Traditionally, charts were not to be read if they contained certain strictures. In my own experience, I have found that while strictures may make interpretation difficult, they don’t necessarily prohibit it; often, they merely warn the astrologer to proceed with great care.
Here are “Lilly’s Considerations Before Judgment.”
| Do the Ascendant Ruler and Planetary Hour Match? | Lilly says the ruler of the hour at the time the question is proposed must be the same as the ruler of the Ascendant, or of the same triplicity or nature. Lilly’s example: “Let the Lord of the hour be Mars, let the Sign of Scorpio, Cancer, or Pisces ascend, this Question is then radicall, because Mars is Lord of theHour, and of the Watery Triplicity, or of those Signs Cancer, Scorpio or Pisces.” Also, if Mars rules the hour, and Aries is on the cusp of the 1st, the chart is radical, because Mars rules both the hour and the Ascendant. If Leo Ascends, the chart is radical because the Sun (ruling Leo) is hot and dry, like Mars. You might also compare the horary ascendant to the querent’s natal chart ascendant. Similarities between them, or the conjunction of a natal planet with the horary ascendant can indicate a radical chart. |
| Less than 3 Degrees Rising | Lilly warns against judging a chart with 0 – 3 degrees rising, unless the seeker is very young, and his physical charateristic “agree with the quality of the sign ascending.” Early degrees may also signify that the matter in question is too premature to judge. |
| More than 27 Degrees Rising. | “It’s no wayes safe to give judgment, except the Querent be in yeers corresponding to the number of degrees ascending; or unlesse the Figure be set upon a certain time, viz. a man went away or fled at such a time precise . . .” In other words, you may safely judge a chart with late degrees rising if the time of the chart corresponds to an actual event that you are judging. Late degrees may also signify that the question has been asked too late, that conditions have changed making the question obsolete, |
| Where is the Moon? | According to Lilly, a chart is not safe to judge when the Moon is in the later degrees of a sign, especially Gemini, Scorpio, and Capricorn. The chart is also not safe to judge when the Moon is in the Via Combusta, or “Fiery Way,” which lies from 15 degrees Libra to 15 degress Scorpio. |
| Moon Void of Course | According to Lilly, things rarely progressed as hoped when the Moon was Void of Course, unless other factors in the chart were very strong. Lilly says that sometimes “she performs if void of course, and be either in Taurus, Cancer, Sagittarius or Pisces.” Lilly and Dariot regarded a void of course Moon as a Moon that did not begin any applying, major ptolemaic aspects (conjunction, sextile, square, trine, opposition) before leaving her sign. Modern astrologers, however, regard a VOC Moon as one that does not complete any major aspects before leaving her sign. I tend to favor Lilly’s definition because I have not found that a VOC Moon by the modern definition necessarily disqualifies a chart. If the Moon is within orb of a major aspect, I do not consider it VOC. |
| What’s Going On in the 7th? | Lilly advises that the astrologer be wary when the cusp of the 7th house is afflicted, or the planet ruling that house is retrograde or otherwise afflicted (in its fall, or terms of a malefic, for instance). Except when the astrologer asks a question for himself (in which case she is ruled by the 1st), the 7th house, as the house of “other people,” rules the astrologer, and an affliction can indicate difficulty reading the chart, or mistaken analysis. Astrologers, especially traditional horary astrologers, always prick up their ears when Saturn is in the 7th. An exception to this rule occurs when the question itself is a 7th-house matter. |
| Where’s Saturn? | If Saturn is in the 1st House (or, presumably, conjunct the Ascendent), then the matter will rarely work out as the seeker hopes, especially when Saturn is retrograde. An exception to this rule may be when Saturn’s placement in the first is somehow descriptive of what’s going on. Look at the chart, “Will I get the Anullment?” (in the drop-down menu below) for an example of a retrograde Saturn conjunct the Ascendant. In this case, the seeker did indeed get what he wanted: the anullment. It was, however, delayed, and Saturn often signifies delay. As already noted, “Saturn in the seventh either corrupts the judgment of the Astrologer, or is a Sign the matter propounded will come from one misfortune to another.” Thus spake Lilly. |
| Is the Asdendant ruler combust? | When the Moon is too close to the Sun, it is–so the wisdom went–“burned up” by its heat, and therefore unable to perform. A planet is combust when it is:
If a planet is between 8-1/2 degrees and 17 degrees of the Sun, it is considered “Under the Sunbeams,” where it is weakened, but not as severely as when combust. If, however, a planet is withing 17 minutes of the Sun, it is considered “Cazimi,” and is greatly strengthed. According to William Lilly, , “If the Lord of the Ascendant be combust, neither the question propounded will take, nor the querent be regulated.” In other words, the matter the seeker hopes for will not come to pass, and/or he will remain unsatisfied. |
| Equal Testimonies | In other words, the chart does not give any clear answer. The positives are balanced equally by the negatives. In such cases, I will reluctantly resort to minor aspects, and Lilly’s point system as tie-breakers. I always feel as though I’m on thing ice, though. |
4. Does the Chart Describe the Question? William Lilly believed that it was of primary importance that a chart’s Ascendant ruler matched the planetary hour ruler, or that the triplicity of the Ascendant was the same as the planetary hour ruler, or, finally, that the Ascendant ruler and the planetary hour were of the same nature. If there is no match, then the Ascendant should physically describe the querent (more on this in a later lesson).
I do use these means to validate charts, but generally, I look at the chart as whole to see if it describes the situation in some way. Particularly, I look to see if the lights (Sun and Moon) reside in houses pertinent to the question, or if the Moon’s separating aspects somehow describe some recent event. Also, do the houses with the signs ruled by the lights (Cancer and Leo) have something to do with the question?
To be wholly comfortable with the “fit” of a chart, I like to see at least three confirmations, but I will read a chart when there are fewer, especially if they are particularly descriptive. Here’s are some examples of how one may gauge a chart’s fit. They were cast in the Koch house system.
“Should We Move to California?” “Will I Get the Anullment?”In the first chart, the Ascendant is ruled by Saturn (I always use the ancient planets as primary rulers, and often, if not always, ignore Uranus, Pluto, and Neptune as primary significators). The planetary hour is also ruled by Saturn. The Moon is in the 9th house of long-distance travel, which a move to California would involve since the seeker would be moving very nearly across the country. The Ascendant ruler, Saturn, is in the 2nd house of money; the seeker was concerned about the considerably higher cost of living in California. Finally, Leo, the sign ruled by the Sun, is on the cusp of the 7th. In questions involving relocation, the 4th house rules the present home, and the 7th rules the place you are moving to. That the sign of a light is on the cusp of the 7th, then, is entirely appropriate. The Moon’s last major aspect (to a traditional planet) is a sextile to Mercury, which rules the 4th. The querent felt a keen attachment to his current home and did not want to leave. Saturn, the querent, is applying to a square of the Sun, ruling California in this chart: he does not want to go. In fact, this aspect alone seems to be urging them not to go. The chart adequately describes the situation. (They did, in fact, move to California. It was a difficult and expensive move and the querent is very unhappy there.)
The second example regards a seeker’s attempt to secure a marriage anullment from his first wife. He had since remarried and wished to join the Roman Catholic Church, and they were requiring him first to endure a protracted and complicated anullment process. His ex-wife was inexplicably bitterly opposing the anullment.
Probably the first thing to note is that there are two obvious strictures against judgment. First, the Ascendant is within the last 3 degrees of the sign, and the Moon is void of course (it makes no major aspect before leaving its sign). Nevertheless, look at how well the chart describes the situation. First, the Moon is in the 9th of relgion and legal matters. The Catholic church has its own court–a “marriage tribunal”–to judge these cases according to canon law. One of the seeker’s main reasons for joining the church was because his daughter, who lived with her mother, was being raised in it, and he wanted to share this part of his daughter’s life with her. Leo is on the cusp of the 5th of children. The Ascendant ruler is Mars, and the planetary hour ruler is the Sun–planets of the same nature, fiery. Saturn rules the tribunal, and is retrograde in the the 12th, on the cusp of the Ascendant. This could signify delay, and in fact, the seeker’s Advocate at the tribunal told him that his ex-wife was using every obstructionist tactic she could come up with, and successfully delay the procedure (prompting him to ask this horary question). The Moon’s last aspect was a trine to Saturn, which rules the 10th (the tribunal).
Sometimes, a Void of Course Moon, or an Asc. in late degrees will simply indicate that there is nothing to be done about the matter, and in this case, there wasn’t. There was nothing the querent could do to speed up the process.
Ivy Goldstein-Jacobson regarded some degrees as critical, among them, 29 degrees of any sign. About this, she writes, “The 29th degree shows some misfortune connected with the matter: The person or matter asked about is changing, at the end of his rope or patience, or desperate.” The seeker was fed up, so, in this case, that both the Moon and the Ascendant were in critical degrees aptly described the situation.
Guido Bonatus, and ancient astrologer, regarded early- and late-degree Ascendants as an indication of the seeker’s insincerity: that the seeker was only trying to test the astrologer.
This was a difficult chart to judge. There were no strong indications one way or another. I told the seeker this, and that I was not comfortable rendering a judgment on this chart, but that if I had to choose–with a gun to my head–I would say that after much delay it would be judged that his case was stronger, and that therefore he would get the anullment. I based this judgment primarily on the fact that using Lilly’s point system for judging the strengths of the planets, Mars (him) was considerably stronger than Venus (the ex-wife). Also, the Part of Fortune resided in the first house. Also, the Moon’s next major aspect was a distant trine to Jupiter in the 11th house of hopes and goals. Jupiter also rules the 9th of legal matters. Eventually, he got his anullment.
5. The Moon is A Co-Ruler. Generally, the Moon is considered a co-ruler of the querent, secondary in weight to the ruler of the ascendant. Often, the Moon’s house, sign, and aspects will describe some aspect of the querent’s situation, or an area of concern. A favorable aspect involving the Moon may not be enough in itself to ensure a favorable outcome to the question, but it certainly helps.
In matters involving lost objects, the Moon is considered a co-ruler of the lost object.
The Moon’s past major aspects describe events leading up to the question (as do other separating aspects made by other pertinent planets). The Moon’s applying aspects describe situations the querent will encounter; only the aspects the Moon makes through until it leaves its current sign are significant.
6. Favorable aspects indicate a favorable outcome. Only the major ptolemaic aspects are considered, generally. Joan McEvers also looks at the quincunx, and may consider minor aspects if no others are made. Of course, other considerations may need to be taken into account, but generally this rule holds true. Conjunctions, sextiles, and trines indicate positive relationships. In some cases a conjunction may be negative, if the joining, or coming together that it symbolizes is undesirable. Similarly, negative aspects indicate a negative outcome. Squares indicate frustration, oppositions show separations.
Generally, no major aspect indicates no major action. It doesn’t necessarily mean “No,” however.
If the chart is radical, and there are no major positive or negative aspects, look for other positive or negative indicators, such as significant planets conjunct strongly positive or negative degrees, or fixed stars, or malefics rising (see below). Always search the chart for additional conditions, aspects, and so on, that confirm the major aspect. Two or three confirmations should be sufficient. More are even better. In some cases, where there are conflicting aspects, go with the preponderance of indicators.
7. Pay Attention to Rising Planets. Malefics rising confirm (but don’t in themselves usually yield) a negative answer. Benefics rising confirm a positive answer.
Saturn Rising. This can show delay and worry.
Mars Rising. This can show disagreement or quarreling. Disruption and change.
Neptune Rising. Can indicate deception, confusion, indecision, weakness. Seeker may not have a clear or accurate picture of what he desires.
Uranus Rising. Sudden events. Disruption. Seeker may change his mind. Expect unexpected. Separation.
8. Are There Any Other Strongly Positive or Negative Factors? Malefic degrees, fixed stars, Arabic Parts . . . all these can contribute to a positive or negative answer. Other factors that affect planetary strength and the perfection of aspects will be further discussed in later lessons.
End of Lesson 1
Assigning the Matter to a House
Simply, if you can’t place the question in the right house, you can’t answer the question.
True, signs and planets are important, but natural rulerships are of secondary importance to house rulership. For instance, Mars might be a natural ruler of soldiers, policemen, accidents, and so forth. But if you were asking a question like, “Will the police catch the thief?” the ruler of the the 10th (authority figures) would be a good choice to represent the police. (And the 7th house would represent the thief.) When judging a question, always look first to the rulers of the appropriate houses.
I always try to assign a house to the matter before looking at the chart. I may change my mind while reading the chart, but only if there is a compelling reason within the chart to do so, or if I have made an obvious error. Choosing the house ahead of time helps me avoid wishful bias in my interpretation, and allows me better to see in a chart what I might not see in the querent’s description of the situation, or even the querent himself.
Choosing a House System
You also need to decide which house system to use. Among traditional astrologers, Regiomontanus is the house system du jour because it is the house system favored by William Lilly. I have successfully used Regiomontanus, Koch, and Placidus. For a long time, I used Regiomontanus. Lately, I’ve been using Koch–for no good reason other than the pleasure I get from experimenting.
If you use Regiomontanus, keep in mind that William Lilly observed a 5-degree cusp orb. When a planet was within 5 degrees of the cusp of the next house, he considered the planet to be a resident of that house. Say, for instance, that the Ascendant is at 15Aq27. Say, too, that Venus is at 8Aq40, and Uranus is at 11Aq32. Employing the 5-degree cusp rule, Venus would reside in the 12th House, but Uranus would be considered a resident of the 1st House, regardless of where you drew it on the physical chart.
I only observe the 5-degree cusp rule with Regiomontanus houses, although the ancients, who used house systems other than Regiomontanus, observed the rule with whatever house system they used. It seems to me, though, that one ought to draw a line somewhere: Either a planet is in a house or it isn’t. Horary analysis can be difficult enough as it is without adding additional mugwumping.
I’ve found it instructive to look at the same chart using different house system, although this sort of comparison hasn’t really shown one system to be preferable, overall, over another, at least not in my own studies. Although reading the same chart in different house systems will often yield remarkably similar results (even when a change of houses changes significators), I think it’s wise to consider the chart drawn in house system the chart was “born” in as the question’s “real” chart, and to use it to answer the question. For the same reason you don’t ask the same question more than once, you also don’t shop around for a house system that yields the desired answer. A horary chart maps a moment in time, and convergence of chance and choice, part of which involves the astrologer’s choice of house system, even if that choice is somehow accidental. This, at least, has been my experience.
House Rulership
The table below employs house rulerships drawn both from modern and traditional sources. Reading horary astrology books, you will come across some apparent contradictions. For instance, modern astrologers generally assign the mother to the 4th house, and the father to the 10th. Traditionally, this is reversed, and the father is ruled by the 4th, the mother by the 10th. Noel Tyl advises that you let the 10th represent the “dominant parent,” whoever it might be.
Modern astrologers’ reasoning for assinging mothers to the 4th and fathers to the 10th runs something along these lines: The 4th is ruled by Cancer and represents the home and security, therefore, it is natural that mothers and motherhood should be associated with this house; the 10th is a house of authority, and traditionally fathers are the authority figures within a family, so it is natural to place fathers and fatherhood in the 10th.” Not a bad argument.
Nevertheless, while I follow Tyl’s advice when doing natal astrology, I follow Lilly’s when doing horary. It was what I learned when I started doing horary, and it has yielded good results, so I have found no need to change. Lilly says:
The Mothers Significators are,
First, the 10th house.
Secondly, the Lord thereof.
Thirdly, Venus in a diurnall Nativity, Moon in a nocturnall.
Fourthly, a Planet or Planets in the 10th house.
Although Lilly was talking about natal charts, the same rulerships can be applied to horary charts.
About fathers, Lilly says:
The Significators of the Father in every Geniture are:
First, the 4th house.
Secondly, the Lord thereof.
Thirdly, the Sun in a diurnall Geniture, Saturn in a nocturnall.
Fourthly, the Planet or Planets in the 4th are considerable.
I think it’s easiest to choose whichever rulership you prefer, and to stick with it.
Derived Houses & Turned Charts
When the seeker asks a question about another person, you may find it necessary to skip around the chart to “derive” the house suitable to that person inquired about. For the most part, this skipping will depend on ther quesited’s (i.e., the person/thing asked about) relationship to the querent. For instance, say you ask a question about your grandmother–your father’s mother. If you take the 4th to rule the father, then the 10th from the 4 will rule the father’s mother, or your grandmother, which places paternal grandmothers in the 1st house.
If you ask a question about your grandparents, say, both your father’s parents, then the correct house would be the 4th of the 4th, or the 7th. If thegrandparents you’re asking about are your maternal grandparents, then the correct house would be the 4th of the 10th.
Nieces and nephews, as your siblings'(3rd house) children (5th house), would reside in 5th house from the 3rd, or the 7th. You would find your nieces and nephews by marriage (i.e., your spouse’s niece or nephew) by starting at the 7th. The 7th represents your spouse, the spouse’s sibling would be in the 9th (3rd from the 7th), and the spouse’s sibling’s childres would be in the 5th from the 9th, or the 1st.
Ownership/Kinship Relationships
Often, a horary question will require you to differentiate similar, related objects. For instance, say you own a vacation home in the Catskills, but most of the year you live in your home in the Bronx. You get a notion to sell the Catskills home, because you no longer see what the Catskills has to offer that the Bronx doesn’t (queer thinking, but maybe you like noise and hordes). You ask, “Should I sell my home in the Catskills?” Your first home would be ruled by the 4th house, and your second home–your vacation home– would be ruled by the 3rd from the 4th, or the 6th. The Catskills home is regarded as a sibling of the Bronx home. If you own a third home in Vermont, and ask, “Should I sell my 2nd or 3rd home?” the third home would be ruled by the 3rd from the 6th, the 8th.
The same can be done with people. Charlie Chan would place Son Number One in the 5th house. Son Number Two would be in the 3rd from the 5th, or the 7th . . . and so on. If, however, Mr. Chan referred to Son Number Two simply as “my son,” then Son Number Two would be a resident of the 5th house of children. It all depends on how the question is asked.
The thing asked about must bear some sort of relationship–either one of ownership or of kinship–to the querent to be derived using 3rd-house sibling relationships.
Non-related Relationships
That doesn’t make much sense, does it? Simply, it means that something asked about does not bear a kinship/ownership relationship to the querent. For instance, if the Querent lives in the Bronx and asks, “Should I sell my vacation home in the Catskills and buy one in Vermont?” the home in the Catskills would enjoy the sibling relationship to the Bronx home, and thus represented by the ruler of the 6th, but the “one in Vermont” would not in this case be placed in the 8th, because it is not yet owned.
The rule is this: If the querent bears an ownership/kindship relationship to a certain object, and asks about another similar object to which he does not bear that relationship, then that 2nd object bears the same relationship to the first that the first does to the querent.
This sounds terribly confusing, but an example should make it clearer. Imagine you’ve accepted an unusually well-paying job as cowpunch in Texas. You currently live in the Bronx. You have travelled to Texas and looked at houses, and see one you like. You ask, “Should I buy the darling cottage in Seely, Texas?” The house you own and live in now belongs in the 4th house. The one you don’t own but are asking about would be the 4th from the 4th, or the 7th. The 7th house bears the same relationship to the 4th that the 4th does to the first (the querent). Simple, right?
Back to the previous question, “Should I sell my vacation home in the Catskills and buy the one in Vermont?” The vacation home is the 6th, and the vacation home in Vermont, the one not yet owned, would be the 6th from the 6th.
Some House Rulerships |
| 1st House. The querent. His state of mind, temperament. Influences surrounding him. His physical appearance. His health. The head. Accidents befalling querent. Vehicles inquired about, and ships at sea. The head and face. Absent person of no relation to querent. “The People.” The present, today. Self-promotion. Derived: Paternal grandmother. Maternal grandfather. Nieces/nephews by marriage. Great grandchildren. End-of-the-matter house of mother (4th from 10th). Death of small animals (8th of 6th). 2nd House. Moveable possessions. Money. Money lent. Profits. Querent’s assistants. Lilly says, “In private Duels, the Querents second.” Allies. Ammunition and resources. Lost items. Income. Penury. Self-esteem (i.e., sense of self-worth). Ancestors, querent’s stockbroker. The immediate future, tomorrow. Derived: Spouse’s death, children’s careers, health of brother- or sister-in-law. 3rd House. Short trips. Cars and other transportation. Communication. Messages. Letters. Books. Visits. Writing. Speech. Teachers. Writers. Gossip. Siblings. Primary education. Neighbors. Neighborhoods. The immediate environment. Derived: Higher education of spouse. Friends’ children. Children’s friends. Long journey of spouse. Step-grandchildren. 4th House. Father. Parents (both). Household & domestic concerns. The house one lives in. The end of the matter. Land. Things underground. Digging. Wells. Mining. Fields. Mineral rights. Farms. Real Estate. Things mislaid. Buildings. Financial investments. Graves. Estates. The womb. Secure places. Derived: Cousins (mother’s sibling’s children). Sibling’s money & other 2nd-house affairs. Spouse’s job, career, business. 5th House. Children. Gambling. Pregnancy. Dates and dating. Casual amorous relationships. Flings. Recreational sex. Lotteries. Games & sports. Fun, in general. Creative pursuits. Poetry, fiction writing, painting, etc. Financial speculation (depends on the degree of risk involved). Risky activities. Loved pet. Contests. Affairs, if querent is married. Someone acting on behalf of Querent. Secondary education. Derived: Father’s money & moveable possessions. Death of mother. 6th House.Health. Sickness. Small animals. Tasks, work, employees. Tenants. Nurses, doctors (in general). Non-traditional healers. Pets. Detailed work. Food. Derived: Children’s money. Homes or land owned by siblings. Aunts & uncles (i.e. father’s siblings). 7th House. Significant others. Business partner. Marriage & divorce. Thieves. Open enemies. Opponents. Other people. Competitor. Other party in a court case. Fugitives. Love affair. Other places. Agreements & disagreements. Doctor, laywer, etc. Derived: A place you would remove to (as in, “Should I move to California?”). Paternal grandfather, sibling’s children. 8th House.Sex. Reproduction. Cutting. Surgery. Death. Taxes. Garbage, sewage, plumbing, dead people. The occult. Psychoanalysis. Rape. Violence. Poisons. Derived: Child support. Alimony. Wills, legacies, loans. Other people’s money. Mate’s money & moveable possessions. Money from a business partnership. Mate’s sense of self-worth. 9th House. The law. Lawyers, in general. Philosophy. Higher education. Religion. Professors. College classes. Publication of one’s writing. Publishers. Legal entities (such as corporations). Legalizing procedures (such as marriage ceremonies). Ritual. Long-distance travel. Standards & rules. Derived: Grandchildren, sister- or brother-in-law. 10th House. Career. Business. A career job. The King. The President. The CEO. The boss. Honor, prestige, reputation. Fame. Government & government officials. Authority. Officers. Law enforcement officers. Success. Career promotion. Derived: Sibling’s death. Health/illness of querent’s child. 11th House. Hopes. Goals. Wishes. Friends. Social organizations, clubs. According to Ivy Goldstein-Jacobson, the 11th, coming between the 10th of success and the 12th of failure, represents circumstances in general. Falseness of friends. Derived: Father’s death. Money from job. Mother’s money. Boss’s assets. A corporation’s assets. Children’s marriage. Health/illness of aunt or uncle (paternal), and small animals. Son- or daughter-in-law. Stepchildren. 12th House.Charity and kindness. Personal undoing. Institutions. Hospitalization, institutionalization, prison, bondage, fears, nightmares, misfortune, black magic, drugs, alcohol, addiction, drug addicts, madness, secret enemies, suicide, seclusion, large animals. Mysterious and hidden things. Crime. Lying. The past. Ancient things. Yesterday, the past. Derived: Health of spouse, partner, business partner. Aunt or uncle (maternal). |
End of Lesson 2
Planets and Signs in Horary Astrology
Planets
In horary astrology, planetary rulership of a matter is determined first by locating the question in the correct house, and then using the ruler of the sign on the cusp, as well as the planetary ruler of the seeker, to answer the question. Planets have “natural” rulership over things, too, though, and sometime you’ll find it useful to consider them as a means of confirming an answer, or even, in some cases, as primary rulers. If you ask a question like, “Will I find the money?” and you have Aquarius on the cusp of the 1st, and Capricorn on the 2nd, with no other planets in the 2nd, you might consider using Venus, the natural ruler of money and precious items, to signify the lost money, and Saturn to signify you, the querent, since you can’t very well expect Saturn, which rules both houses, to make an aspect to itself.
Planets and signs also play important roles in providing detail to a chart. They can be used to describe people, places, even plants and animals. Some of these other qualities of the planets and signs will be treated in later lessons dealing with physical description, and finding lost objects.
The table below presents some rulerships of the planets, most of them compiled from Lilly’s descriptions in Christian Astrology, and Ivy Goldstein-Jacobson’s Simplified Horary Astrology.
Astrologers treat the so-called modern planets in different ways. Lilly and his crowd–and of course those who preceded him–did not know of Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. Many contemporary astrologers who favor traditional horary techniques do not consider these three outer planets when reading a chart. Others regard them only as secondary rulers of the signs to which they’ve been assigned by modern astrology. In other words, a house with Pisces on the cusp would still be ruled by Jupiter, first, and Neptune, second. Some use Uranus as the primary ruler of Aquarius, and follow traditional rulerships for Pisces and Scorpio.
Early in my horary studies, I used modern rulerships, with good results. When I started learning traditional horary astrology, I used traditional rulerships only. Now, I’ve settled somewhere in between. I still consider the traditional planets the primary rulers, but will use Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto to answer a question when no aspects are made by traditional planets, or for confirmation, or added detail.
| Planet | Rulership | Nature & Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Sun | The giver of life. Gold. Mature men, royalty, aristocrats. Authority. Employers. The father. Bankers. Fidelity. | Hot and dry. Masculine. Diurnal. Equivalent to a benefic when well-dignified. Well-dignified: confident, truthful, direct, humane, charitable. Ill-dignified:Vain, arrogant, untrustworthy, prone to vulgar displays of personal magnificence. |
| Moon | Queen, First lady, women in authority. Women in general. Mothers. Changes. Emotions. Nurses. Wanderers, runaways. Seas, oceans. Domesticity. Children. The “masses.” | Cold, moist, phlegmatic. Feminine. Nocturnal. Benefic. Well-dignified: Well-mannered, soft-spoken, mild, prodigal and easily frightened. Freedom-loving. Sensitive. Ill-dignified: A vagabond, drunkard. A malcontent, impossible to please. Lazy. |
| Mercury | Books, writing. Documents and contracts. Briefcases. Papers. Cars, transportation. Intellectuals. Teachers. Short trips. Luggage. Clerks. Writers, stenographers, etc. Learning, school. Clever people, pranksters. | Cold and dry. Neutral gender, except when conjunct another planet, in which case Mecury assumes the gender of that planet. Neither benefic nor malefic, except when joined to a benefic or malefic planet. Well-dignified: Represents a clever thinker or learned person. An eloquent speaker. Witty and cunning and curious. Ill-dignified: “A troublesome wit . . . his tongue and Pen against every man” (Lilly). A liar and gossip and cheat. |
| Venus | Called “The Lesser Benefic.” Jewelery, money, fine things in general. Presents. Partners, mothers, young women. Fine art. Pleasure and celebrations. Social events. Elegance. Cooperation. | “Temperately Cold and Moyst,” according to Lilly. Feminine. Nocturnal. Benefic. Well-dignified: Quiet, refined, pleasant. Prone to romantic entanglements. Sybaritic. Cheerful. Trusting. Ill-dignified: Given to excess. “Riotous.” Debauched. Adulterous. Lazy. |
| Mars | Called “The Lesser Malefic.” Fire. Combat. Strife. Courage. Argument. Guns, knives, weapons in general. Men, young through early middle-age. Aggression, generally. Impulsive actions. Danger. Ego. | Hot and Dry. Masculine. Nocturnal. Malefic. Well-dignified: Strong, courageous, victorious. Confident and bold, “yet of prudent behaviour in his own affaires” (Lilly). Ill-dignified: Cruel. A bully and braggart. Treacherous and violent. Someone not to be trusted. |
| Jupiter | Called “The Greater Benefic.” Optimism. Expansion, generally. Higher education. Mature men. Lawyers and judges, legal clerks. Foreigners, long journeys. Priests, ministers. Abundance. | “Temperately Hot and Moyst . . . author of Temperance, Modesty, Sobriety, Justice” (Lilly 62). Masculine. Diurnal. Benefic. Well-dignified: Lilly says it best: “Magnanimous, Faithfull, Bashfull, Aspiring in an honourable way at high matters, in all his actions a Lover of fair dealing, desiring to benefit all men, doing Glorious things, Honourable and Religious, of sweet and affable Conversation, wonderfully indulgent to his Wife and Children, reverencing Aged men, a great Relievaer of the Poor, full of Charity and Godliness, Liberal, hating all Sordid actions, Just, Wife, Prudent, Thankfull, Vertuous: so that when you find Jupiter the significator of any man in a Question, or Lord of his Ascendant in a Nativity, and well dignified, you may judge him qualified as abovesaid.” Ill-dignified: Hypocritical, falsely pious. Careless, miserly. Ignorant. |
| Saturn | Called “The Greater Malefic.” Time. Old age. Elderly men. The father. Discipline. Constraint. Restriction. Delay. Penury. Loss. Structure. Loneliness. Debility. Discipline and seriousness. Practicality. Severity. Frugality. | Cold and dry. Masculine. Diurnal. Malefic. Well-dignified: “Prfound in imagination” (Lilly). Reserved. Austere. Frugal. Patient. Grave in speech. Ill-dignified: Covetous and jealous. Avaricious, mistrustful. “Outwardly diessembling, sluggish, suspicious, stubborn, a contemner of women, a close lyar, malicious . . . never contented, ever repining” (Lilly 58). |
| Uranus | Accidents. Sudden events and surprises. Unpredictable events, generally. Inventions and inventors. Freedom. Revolution. Astrology. Sudden changes in fortune, good or bad depending on other factors in the chart. | Gender neutral, considered by many astrologers to by the “higher octave” of Mercury. Zadkiel says, “The nature of Uranus is extremely evil.” Well-dignified: Humanitarian, ingenious, creative, autonomous, eccentric, spontaneous. Ill-dignified: Violent, unpredictable, unreliable, forgetful. |
| Neptune | Confusion, drugs and alcohol. Addiction. Depression and other psychological ailments. Idealism. Inspiration. ESP. The Arts. Mystery. Fog. Intuition and instinct. Deception. | Well-dignified: Visionary, creative, telepathic, intuitive, gentle, dreamy, spiritual, other-worldly. Ill-dignified: Out of touch with reality, hypochondriacal, given to substance abuse, impractical to a harmful degree, neurotic or psychotic. |
| Pluto | Death, sex. An inexorable force. The “masses.” Putrefication. Other people’s money, debts. Cutting and penetration. Perspective and transformation. A strong force. Reproduction. | Well-dignified: Powerful, unyielding, irresistable. Ill-dignified: Violent. Using wealth and power for ignoble purposes. |
A Note About Benefics and Malefics
From the table above, you see that Jupiter and Venus are called the Greater and Lesser Benefics. That is, they are naturally fortunate planets. They may become unfortunate, though, depending on the question asked and the house they rule. For example, if Jupiter rules the 8th house of death, it may very well not be fortunate at all. Similarly, a malefic (Saturn or Mars) may rule the 11th house of wishes, and may be applying to a sextile with the Ascendant ruler, indicating that the querent will get his wish.
Part of Fortune
This is a point on the chart, not a planet. It and its dispositor can signify lost objects, money, possessions, and luck. I use it only to confirm answers. I’ve never had a well-placed POF provide a positive answer in itself.
Marc Edmund Jones uses the house location of the POF to show (or confirm) a querent’s area of interest.
The Lunar Nodes
A “node” is the point at which a planet crosses the eliptic. All planets have nodes. I’ve only seen the Moon’s nodes used in horary. The North Node (also called Caput Draconis, or the Dragon’s Head) is considered beneficial, having the nature of the Jupiter and Venus. Marc Edmund Jones calls the North Node “a point of definite assistance wherever it is found,” assuring cooperation and smooth transactions in areas ruled by the house in which it is found.
The North Node is the Moon’s ascending node. The South Node, or Cauda Draconis, is the descending node, and is always exactly opposite the North Node. Jones calls this point an impediment in any horary chart, and shows self-undoing or a lack of common sense.
The Signs
Planetary traits are qualified by the signs they inhabit. In a later lesson, I’ll provide more information for using signs to find lost objects, to describe illnesses, and to determine physical characteristics. Here, now, we’ll just look at some of the characteristics and correspondences of the 12 signs.
Qualities, Elements, and Signs Mode Fire Earth Air WaterCardinal Aries Capricorn Libra CancerFixed Leo Taurus Aquarius ScorpioMutable Sagittarius Virgo Gemini PiscesCardinal Signs. Also called “Moveable” signs. Cardinal signs signal initiation, beginnings, action. A Cardinal Ascendant can show a quick start. Cardinal signs on all the angles show a sustained, quick movement of the matter, and a quick resolution. Seasons change with the Cardinal signs.
Fixed Signs. These represent an established force. They show stability and rootedness. Change does not occur quickly. Prominent fixed signs can show that the querent is “dug in,” stubborn, conservative, stable. Ivy Goldstein-Jacobson says that a fixed cross shows that “there is no stopping the proceedings.”
Mutable Signs. Also called “Common” signs. They mark the end of one season and the beginning of the next. They signal imminent change, flexibility. Also, instability. A mutable cross signals changeability, or unstable conditions.
Questions described by a mixed cross often begin in the manner denoted by the mode of the signs on the ascendant and 7th house, and continue or end in the manner dentoed by the mode of the signs on MC and IC.
Sign Rulership and Planetary Dignity
In horary, at least traditional horary, there’s much more to Planetary dignity than we typical deal with in contemporary natal astrology. We’ll get the basics of essential dignity out of the way here, though, and go into more detail in a later lesson. The gist, though, is this: Planets are stronger–or more “comfortable” in some signs than others. The following table summarizes planetary standing in the signs.
PLANETARY DIGNITY–THE BASICS Planet Dignity Exaltation Detriment FallSun Leo Aries Aquarius LibraMoon Cancer Taurus Capricorn ScorpioMercury Gemini & Virgo Virgo Sagittarius PiscesVenus Taurus & Libra Pisces Aries & Scorpio VirgoMars Aries & Scorpio Capricorn Libra & Taurus CancerJupiter Sagittarius & Pisces Cancer Gemini & Virgo CapricornSaturn Capricorn & Aquarius Libra Cancer & Leo AriesUranus Aquarius Scorpio Leo TaurusNeptune Pisces Undetermined* Virgo Undetermined*Pluto Scorpio Undetermined** Taurus Undetermined***Jacobson claims Neptune is exhalted in Gemini, and in its fall in Sagittarius.
*Sylvia DeLong has Neptune exhalted in Cancer, and in its fall in Capricorn.
**DeLong has Pluto exhalted in Cancer, and in its fall in Capricorn.
Generally speaking, in horary charts planets reflect the debilitated state of that which they represent. When a well-digified planet represents the querent, for instance, it can show that he is healthy, held in high esteem, or able to accomplish his goals: he is “well-positioned.” Well dignified planets can confirm a positive answer. A poorly dignified planet, say, representing the quesited, can show that what the seeker hopes for will fall short of his expectations, or for some reason ought not be pursued.
Example
Here’s an example in which the quesited’s ruler is poorly dignified. The chart was cast in the Koch house system. There is no agreement between the planetary hour ruler and the Ascendant, so whether the chart is valid is arguable. I had the querent’s natal chart, though, and saw that the planetary hour ruler matched the natal Ascendant ruler–not in itself a compelling sign of validity. But the horary Ascendant adequately describes the querent, who is bookish and until very recently worked as a teacher. I decided to read the chart.
The Querent is ruled by Mercury, and co-ruled by the Moon. The quesited–the job–is a 10th house matter. With Aquarius on the 10th, Saturn rules the job. In Koch, the Moon is in the 10th.
The angles are mixed, with mutable signs on the Asc/desc., and fixed signs on the MC/IC. This suggests that the querent is currently in a period of transition that will resolve itself in some manner of increased stability. The Moon’s last major aspect was a sextile to Saturn, which in this chart rules the 8th, 9th, and 10th houses. Recently, he quit his job teaching to move to another state, where his wife was offered an excellent job opportunity. A long-distance move is apt 9th house symbolism. The Moon’s next major aspect is a sextile to Mercury, natural ruler of tests. He would soon be taking the written exam for the law enforcement job, and the sextile suggests he will do well. (He did, scoring 100%).
He is concerned that past health problems will automatically disqualify him from the race, even though his health now is excellent; this is what motivated him to ask a horary question. That Saturn is in the 12th house of hospitalization confirms that, at the very least, the people in a position to give him a job will be concerned about his past problems.
Mercury is dignified by term, but weak by house (the 6th is considered a malefic house– it rules illness). The Moon is peregrine. It is, however, acidentally dignified by house. Using Lilly’s point system (which will be explained in a later lesson), the Moon rates a +8, and Mercury a +9. Not bad, either of them. Saturn, though–the job–is severely debilitated rating a -10. Saturn is not a surprising planet to show up representing a government job, but in this chart it is retrograde, and peregrine. It resides in the 12th house of self-undoing. Furthermore, Mercury is conjunct the fixed star Unukalhai, at 22Scorp04. Unukalhai signfies success, followed by downfall. Not a good sign. The Ascendant is conjunct Aldebaran, signifying courage, violence, and sickness.
Things don’t look good. There are no strong aspect between the major players. Regarding career questions, however, Lilly says that “if none of the Significators be joyned to the Lord of the 10th, see if the Lord of the 1st or Moon be in the 10th, he shall then attain what he desires, if that planet be not impedited.” In this chart, the Moon does indeed reside in the 10th, unimpedited.
At the time of this writing, the querent is still pursuing the job, but the chart seems to suggest this: That although the prospect for his obtaining the job does not look very strong, there is a chance that in spite of his past health problems he will be offered a job. He ought to think twice–seriously–about taking, it, though, because it will not be what he hoped it would be, and more likely than not he will be unhappy (at best) in the position.
More Signs Miscellany
Lilly uses various properties of the sign when considering charts. For instance, if a man or a woman asks, “Will we ever have children?” (and, believe it or not, Lilly did answer questions like this, and seemed unafraid to deliver an unequivocal “No”), a barren sign like Virgo on the cusp of the 5th house of children could contribute to a negative answer.
Here is a list of some of the properties described by Lilly in Christian Astrology:
Masculine, Diurnal Signs: Aries, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Sagittarius, Aquarius.
Feminine, Nocturnal Signs: Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn, Pisces.
Regarding these distinctinctions, Lilly says:
The use whereof is this, That if you have a masculine Planet in a Masculine Sign, it imports him or her more manly; and so if a Masculine Planet be in a Feminine Sign, the man or woman is lesse couragious, &c.
Northern, or Boreal Signs: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Virgo
Sourthern, or Austral Signs: Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces
Double-bodies Signs: Gemini, Pisces (Jones, drawing on James Wilson’s A Complete Dictionary of Astrology, includes Virgo and Sagittarius.)
Bestial, Four-footed Signs: Aries, Taurus, Leo, Sagittarius, Capricorn. (Jones says, “The last half of Sagittarius only.”)
“Manly” or Humane Signs: Gemini, Virgo, Libra, Aquarius. (Jones includes the first half of Sagittarius.)
According to Lilly, if the Ascendant ruler is in a bestial sign, the querent will shows some characteristics of the animal represented by that sign. Conversely, if the significator is in a human sign, or if a human sign ascends, the querent will be more refined, and of “civil carriage.”
Fruitful Signs: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces
Barren Signs: Gemini, Leo, Virgo
Mute Signs: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces, “the more if Mercury be in any of them, in conjunction, Square, or Opposition of Saturn.” (Lilly 89)
Signs of Long Ascension: Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra,Scorpio, and Sagittarius (in the northern hemisphere)
Signs of Short Ascension: Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, Taurus, and Gemini
More about the significance of these in the next lesson.
End of Lesson 3
Essential Dignity in Horary Astrology
A Table of the Essential Dignities of the Planets According to Ptolemy–D = Day House, N = Night House
Sign | Ruler | Exalt Degree | Triplicity | Term1 | Term2 | Term3 | Term4 | Term5 | Face 0-10 | Face 10-20 | Face 20-30 | Detriment | Fall |
Aries | Mars D. | Sun 19th | Sun/Jupiter | Jupiter 0°-6° | Venus -14° | Mercury -21° | Mars -26° | Saturn -30° | Mars | Sun | Venus | Venus | Saturn |
Taurus | Venus N. | Moon 3rd | Venus/Moon | Venus 0°-8° | Mercury -15° | Jupiter -22° | Saturn -26° | Mars -30° | Mercury | Moon | Saturn | Mars | |
Gemini | Mercury D. | North Node 3rd | Saturn/Mercury | Mercury 0°-7° | Jupiter -14° | Venus -21° | Saturn -25° | Mars -30° | Jupiter | Mars | Sun | Jupiter | |
Cancer | Moon D/N | Jupiter 15th | Mars/Mars | Mars 0°-6° | Jupiter -13° | Mercury -20° | Venus 27° | Saturn -30° | Venus | Mercury | Moon | Saturn | Mars |
Leo | Sun D/N | Sun/Jupiter | Saturn 0°-6° | Mercury -13° | Venus -19° | Jupiter -25° | Mars -30° | Saturn | Jupiter | Mars | Saturn | ||
Virgo | Mercury N. | Mercury 15th | Venus/Moon | Mercury 0°-6° | Venus -13° | Jupiter -18° | Saturn -24° | Mars -30° | Sun | Venus | Mercury | Jupiter | Venus |
Libra | Venus D. | Saturn 21st | Saturn/Mercury | Saturn 0°-6° | Venus -11° | Jupiter -19° | Mercury -24° | Mars -30° | Moon | Saturn | Jupiter | Mars | Sun |
Scorpio | Mars N. | Mars/Mars | Mars 0°-6° | Jupiter -14° | Venus -21° | Mercury -27° | Saturn -30° | Mars | Sun | Venus | Venus | Moon | |
Sagittarius | Jupiter D. | South Node 3rd | Sun/Jupiter | Jupiter 0°-8° | Venus -14° | Mercury -19° | Saturn -25° | Mars -30° | Mercury | Moon | Saturn | Mercury | |
Capricorn | Saturn N. | Mars 28th | Venus/Moon | Venus 0°-6° | Mercury -12° | Jupiter -19° | Mars -25° | Saturn -30° | Jupiter | Mars | Sun | Moon | Jupiter |
Aquarius | Saturn D. | Saturn/Mercury | Saturn 0°-6° | Mercury -12° | Venus -20° | Jupiter -25° | Mars -30° | Venus | Mercury | Moon | Sun | ||
Pisces | Jupiter N. | Venus 27th | Mars/Mars | Venus 0°-8° | Jupiter -14° | Mercury -20° | Mars -26° | Saturn -30° | Saturn | Jupiter | Mars | Mercury | Mercury |