People who seek astrological guidance often
want detailed answers to specific questions. However, modern astrology,
which is geared to psychological counseling and self discovery,
cannot predict events or answer specific questions with the accuracy of traditional
(pre-1700) astrology.
Traditional horary astrology
works by casting a horoscope,
an accurate map of the position of the stars and planets, for the moment of the
birth of the question you want answered rather than a horoscope for your birth.
It works best for serious questions, questions that have been on your mind
for a while or worrying you. I have my clients write down their question
in a sentence or two, then I cast a chart for the time and place of the question.
My interpretation of the chart, according to the careful and complex rules of
William Lilly, the 17th century English astrologer,
gives the answer to the client's question.
To illustrate with an example. I recently had a client
who was worried about her relationship with her boyfriend and asked,
"Is it time to end the relationship?" and "Is he involved with anyone else?"
I cast the chart that is next to this article and gave the following interpretation:
11:31 a.m. (EDT), October 25, 1999,
Washington, D.C. 38 N 55 77 W 03
Regiomontanus Houses
First, in the most accurate charts, there is a
sympathy between the sign rising in the East and the
planetary hour ruler.
In this question Sagittarius, a fire sign is rising and it is Sun hour.
Since the Sun rules the fiery triplicity in the daytime and Sagittarius is a fire sign,
this is a radical chart and an accurate description of the situation.
In this chart, since Sagittarius rises, the client
is represented by Jupiter. Jupiter is not in good shape as it is peregrine and
retrograde; in fact, it is the weakest planet in the chart.
Since it is weaker than Mercury, the 7th house ruler,
representing the boyfriend, this means that he, rather than the client,
will probably be determining the course of the relationship.
The most significant part of this chart is the
fact that there are no aspects between Jupiter, representing the client and
Mercury, representing the boyfriend. This means a lack of contact and
no future relationship. This is the most likely long term future outcome,
particularly since it keeps coming up repeatedly in the interpretation.
Now let's observe the short-term indicators.
If we look at the Moon, which represents action, it is just about to conjoin Saturn;
in fact Saturn is retrograde, so the Moon and Saturn are mutually applying to
each other, which emphasizes the aspect and speeds it up. Saturn is cold and dry,
indicating a cooling off of the relationship and probably coldness by both of the
parties to each other. Saturn is almost always an evil planet, and here its
maleficient effects are magnified by the fact that it is retrograde and peregrine.
So in the short term, a strong cooling off of the relationship.
The client also asked about other women.
Mercury, which represents the boyfriend, is not making aspects to any planet.
However, one of my reference books notes that if the planet representing the
boyfriend isn't making any aspects this means that he loves someone other than
the client or that he is "averse" to the client. So possibly there is an another
woman, but more probably this just indicates more problems with the relationship.
We can look further at some secondary indicators.
Mars, since it is in the first house, also represents the client and
the Sun is usually a secondary significator of a man. Mars is making a sextile,
which is a good aspect with the Sun, indicating that in between the short and
long term already discussed, there might be a good contact and perhaps a
temporary reconciliation. However, first Mars and then the Sun, after
this good contact, run into Saturn, reinforcing the view that in the long
term the relationship is cooling and eventually ending.
So it appears that soon there will be a
major cooling off. Then because Mars is strong, the client may have the
option of trying to renew the relationship and may succeed for a while,
but eventually, the relationship cools off drastically and probably ends.
Interestingly, Mercury is conjunct the part of friendship, so this
is some indication that the parties will maintain friendship.
This prediction proved to be very accurate as the
client informed me later that the relationship had ended and that the other
parts of the interpretation were "right on the money." One of the most interesting
things about horary astrology is that it shows
that both Free Will and
Fate are operating at the same time. We are not forced to follow
what the stars indicate, but neither do we have the ability to do
whatever we want.
I look at the chart like a river. You can see how the situation
is flowing and the force of the current, but a client may choose
whether to try to: (1) paddle upstream, (2) just sit back and go
with the flow or (3) move actively in the direction of the current.