This week we take a break from
Electional Astrology, Astrological Magic and
Astrological Talismans and turn to traditional
Horary Astrology.
Horary astrology begins with the
time of the birth of a question, rather than the birth of a person and judges the answer
to the question from a chart of the time of its asking.
In this question the querent (person asking the question)
asked, "Should I Sell My Gold Stocks?" The price of gold had shot up due to fears
of war with Iraq and a weaker dollar. The querent had stocks in gold mining and refining
companies whose value tracks the price of gold.
I received and understood the question on 10:00 am EST (+5), February 5, 2003 in
Washington, D.C. 38 N 55 77 W 03.
While there are many possible times that can be
used for horary questions, the famous English astrologer William
Lilly says, "...that very hour and minute of hour when I...perceive the intention
of the Querent, is the time that I ought to erect my Figure, and from thence to draw
mine Astrological Judgment..." Christian Astrology, page 166.
In this chart Aries rises and it is Jupiter hour. As Jupiter
rules the fiery triplicity by night, the chart is radical and has initial indications of
accuracy. As Aries rises Mars is the significator of the querent (person asking the
question). Mars is weak, as he is peregrine in the 8th house. The Moon, significator
of action is peregrine in the malefic 12th house.
One of the key factors in any horary question is the
proper choice of significators. The fifth house was traditionally the house assigned to
gambling. Henry Coley, Clavis Astrologiae Elimata [London, 1676] Book II, page
249. Lee Lehman in her Martial Art of Horary Astrology (Whitford, 2002) gives
a number of examples of financial and stock speculation questions using the fifth house.
So we will use the fifth house as the significator of the gold stocks.
We note that Leo is on the cusp of the fifth and that
therefore the Sun is the significator of the gold stocks. This helps validate the
chart as the Sun is the natural ruler of gold. Christian Astrology, page 72.
The Sun is afflicted by being in detriment and is in the 11th of hopes and dreams.
We also note that Jupiter, dignified only by face and retrograde is also in the
fifth and thus shares signification of the gold stocks.
In her examples Lee advises that a querent sell a stock
when its significators are afflicted, as this indicates that the stock will lose value.
This is very clearly indicated in this chart as the Sun, ruler of the fifth of speculation
and natural ruler of gold is afflicted. In addition, Jupiter, the natural significator
of wealth, is in the 5th and retrograde. The Italian astrologer Guido Bonatti says
that being retrograde indicates, "going backwards with damage..." Animae Astrologiae,
Aphorism 25. (JustUs ed.) page 10. In addition, Jupiter is only weakly dignified by face,
which Lilly says, "...is almost like a man ready to be turned out of doors, having
much adoe to maintain himself in creadit and reputation: in Genealogies it represents
a Family at the last gasp, even as good as quite decayed, hardly able to support itselfe."
Christian Astrology, page 103. Clearly the price of gold is about to take a
tumble!
I advised the querent to sell the stock, but I felt that
he would probably not follow this advice due to the weakness of his significator, Mars
and the weakness of the Moon. Indeed February 5, 2003 marked the 6 year height of the
price of gold, which peaking at almost $380 an ounce fell for the next week until it
stabilized in the $350 an ounce range. The querent could not bring himself to sell
the stocks, as predicted.
