what is horary astrology?

What is Horary Astrology?


“Horary is the branch of astrology in which we set up a chart for the time that a question takes shape, either

seriously in the mind or put into words. The position of the planets at that moment will reveal the problem, its background, and also its final outcome or answer.”

Ivy M. Goldstein-Jacobson “Simplified Horary Astrology “ 1960

“Quite simply, horary astrology is the art of astrological divination. A question is posed; the astrologer erects a

chart for the moment of the question, and then makes a judgement as to the likely outcome of the matter enquired

about.”

Derek Appleby “Horary Astrology: the Art of Astrological Divination” 1985


With the development of horoscopic astrology in about the 4th century BCE, the notion of casting a chart for the start of an event or inception of an idea was born.

• This spawned a branch of astrology the Greeks called Katarchic astrology meaning: “related to beginnings” or more specifically to the creation of a beginning.

• This led to the use of many different types of charts most of which could be understood to have their root in a specific moment in time. This being a birth or “seed” moment.

The horary chart is the only astrological chart that does not have an identifiable beginning or

birth point.


• Natal chart: set for the birth of a child. • Event chart: set for the time when an event occurs or begins. • Decumbiture chart: set for when an individual first takes to their

bed with the illness and used to diagnose, treat and trace the development of the disease.

• Electional chart: a chart for an event still in the future. It is set for an astrologically chosen moment most suited to begin an event or enterprise.

• Ingress chart: set for the ingress of the Sun into a cardinal sign, generally the Aries ingress. Used to make mundane predictions.

• Consultation chart: a chart set for the beginning of an astrological consultation used to help unravel what is on a client’s mind.

These are examples of charts that use the notion of a “seed” moment from which future

events can be seen to unfold.


Horary astrology need to be understood within the context of astrological history.

• The earliest evidence we have of the practice of horary astrology is from Dorotheus’s “Carmen Astrologicum”: 5th book, On Interrogations, written in 75 CE.

• Vettius Valens (2nd century CE) makes some mention of horary charts in book VIII and IX of his Anthology.

• Neither Ptolemy or Firmicus Maternus mention horary.• Horary was in common use by the Arabs as they

followed Dorotheus more than Ptolemy or Firmicus. • The Arabs developed and refined the Hellenistic

techniques and rules of astrology including those for horary.


With the reintroduced of Arabic astrology into Europe in the 12th Century, came horary which

proved very popular from the 12th through the 17th centuries.

• The principle and rules of horary come from the work of 9th century Arab astrologer Sahl bin Bishr. He was the source for most medieval horary astrologers.

• Guido Bonatti in the 13th Century wrote “The Book of Astronomy” which has an extensive section on Horary.

• The high point for Horary astrology occurred in 17th century England when William Lilly wrote his classic “Christian Astrology”.

• Horary along with astrology in general, declined substantially from the 18th century onward.


The 18th , 19th and 20th Centuries were not so kind to Horary, though it did continue to survive despite

the negative backlash against it.

• Horary does not figure in either of the two major astrological developments of the 20th century: cosmobiology and humanistic or archetypal astrology.

• Ivy Goldstein-Jacobson wrote “Simplified Horary Astrology” in 1960. She used the outer planets giving them co-rulership of Scorpio, Aquarius and Pisces.

• In 1990 Olivia Barclay wrote “Horary Astrology Rediscovered” a work inspired by her discovery of William Lilly’s work. She is responsible for the revival of horary astrology.


Horary astrology has often been denigrated by astrologers of the day and even today it is dismissed, ridiculed and scorned by many.

• Ptolemy in his attempt to defend astrology from criticism, gave it a scientific and theoretical structure that removed any divinatory elements from the astrology he presents in his Tetrabiblos.

• Jean-Baptiste Morin a contemporary of William Lilly wrote a book on Interrogation in which he spent 9 out of 11 chapters “proving” the falseness of this Arabic invention.

• AJ Pearce said that it was: "The absurd and unwarrantable use made of the horary branch of astrology, in the Middle ages.” which was the blame for astrology’s reduced status by the 19th century


“Horary astrology, as practiced today, is the vilest rubbish imaginable, and not worthy of the name. Indeed, it is not astrology at all, but simply divination, for which purpose

geomancy or card laying would answer just as well… IT IS THE CURSE OF THE SCIENCE AND THE RUIN OF THE

ASTROLOGER.”

“It requires very little skill to become a successful Horary Astrologer, and it will very often happen that those who shrink from the more abstruse study of natal Astrology may become experts in divination by the aid of horary

figures.”

Alan Leo, one of the most influential astrologers of the early 20th century.


Modern astrology was birthed out of Theosophical ideas and Jung psychology; it was synthesised and presented as a totally new type of astrology, which was different to traditional astrology

and had left the old and archaic concepts behind.

• Horary lacks any easily conceived “rational” or material basis.• Horary threatens any claim that astrology may have to being

based in natural or psychological science and therefore taken seriously by the public.

• Horary challenges the accepted paradigm on which we base most of our astrology; the idea of the birth or “seed” moment.

• Horary highlights astrology’s roots in astral divination making it more akin to superstition than a serious study, in the eyes of many.


• Astrology, including modern astrology, is based on Ptolemy and his orthodox understanding of the cosmos which has its roots in the Aristotelian concept of Celestial Causation - that is the position and motion of the planets and stars cause things to be and event to happen.

• Both the modern and the ancients had the notion that planets influence us and unless we make a concerted effort to use our reason, to become aware, or conscious of this influence, we will stay under planetary influence.

This is basically a view of a Causal Universe, in which the Soul with effort is capable of rising above the causal

influence of the star, but the body and Nature are at their mercy.


In contrast there is the Platonic/Hermetic inspired notion of Cosmic Sympathy – the position and motion of the planets

and stars mirror the external and internal qualities of the moment.

• This implies long chains of correspondences linking different celestial planets with certain places, plants, minerals, animals, human traits and moments in time.

• The notion of a “Doctrine of Signature” comes out of the principle of Cosmic Sympathy.

• Hermeticism takes this notion one step further and proposes that we can use or influence this cosmic sympathy in order to create a desired outcome; this is the basis of astrological magic.


The practice and success of horary interpretation challenges the concept of Celestial Causation and validates the idea of Cosmic Sympathy and astrological signification.

• Whatever rational justification we can make for natal, mundane or event charts, falls apart when applied to horary charts.

• The success of horary charts reveals to us the mystery of the connections of time, place, life and human soul in a way that other forms of astrology doesn’t.

• Horary is best understood from the perspective of an ancient world view in which the mythic, scientific, spiritual, physical, cosmic, animal and human were inseparable.

Horary Astrology reveals the sacred mystery of the moment and allows entry into the realm of magic.


Differences between Horary and Natal astrology

• The astrologer is present in the horary chart: Generally a horary chart is drawn, not for when the question is first conceived, but for when the astrologer understands it.

• The use and emphasis on accidental significators: In contrast with modern natal astrology’s reliance on natural significators.

• The use of derived houses: signifying real people or concrete objects.

• Considerations before judgement: as they provide possible clues to the matter in question. With time and experience we come to witness the mysterious process which connects the horary chart with the chart of the querent or some other related to the query.

• Horary is unforgiving; you either get it right or you have made a mistake.

Adrian’s significator is the

Moon, who applies to trine

Mars significator of the property, with reception.

He gets the house.

But will it profit him?

Adrian got the house; but he did

not profited from his

acquisition.Venus is also the

ruler of the 5th house signifying

my daughter, which is in Fall, in the 8th house and

besieged between two

malefics. The Moon’s

sextile to Uranus begins to reveal

itself

This chart connects with

both Adrian’s and my daughter’s natal charts:

His ASC aMXaQ

HerMa the MCPaQ

There are also hiddenantiscia connection.• The North

Node’s antiscion degree falls on Adrian’s natal Uranus.

• The antiscion of Jupiter falls on my daughter’s natal Uranus.

• The antiscion of this chart’s Uranus falls on Adrian’s natal Mars.

• The Nodes are conjunct Adrian natal 2nd/8th cusps, money issues.

• Communication issues, Jupiter in Fall in the 12th and Uranus in 3rd

• When they broke up both Jupiter and Uranus were at 27 degrees of Pisces opposite Mars.

Harry is Mars exalted in the

house of death, on the

antiscion with Jupiter, his

allies, who are strong… Saturn also signifies his

allies, is in detriment,

retrograde & in the 3rd house.

Professor Snape at Hogwart’s perhaps?

Lord Voldemort is signified by Venus exalted on the MC. His

allies are Mercury and

the Moon, both in bad

shape. Saturn is on the antiscion of LV’s 12th house of hidden

enemies.

Moon’s last aspect was a

simultaneous dR, cQ and bT

Showing the great battle and death of Dumbledore.

Moon is now VOC Her next aspect

being in Libra, an almost

simultaneous eR, dQ and cN.

Death is signified by the Lords of the 8th & turned

8th houses: Jupiter and Mercury.

Neither make aspect Mars or

the Moon.Harry does not

die!But the antiscion

between Mars and Jupiter indicates that Harry may appear to come

under the shadow of death.

But the next aspect Venus,

Lord Voldemort makes is a

square to Jupiter, along with her conjunction to

Uranus.Death receives him; the final blow coming from one of

Harry’s allies.

Fixed stars: Ascella on Mars and Bungula on

7th cusp.Skat on Venus and

Alcyone, one of the Pleiades, on

the ASC.The Pleiades were the 7 daughters of Atlas and Pleine, 6 are visible, but the

7th is not. She is the lost sister

Merope, who hid her face in shame

of having married a mortal.

what is horary astrology?

Education

lord voldemort

great battle

natal astrology

celestial

money issues

horary charts

8th house

mars exalted