How To Read A Horary Chart - Basic Rules
How To Read A Horary Chart - Basic Rules
How To Read A Horary Chart - Basic Rules
Are the planets separating from an aspect? This shows something that is
ending or going away. Are the planets applying? This shows something (or
someone) moving toward one another. Do the planets not aspect one
another at all? No aspect = no relationship.
In relationship questions, the quesiteds significator in conjunction with
another planet (often Venus) means, literally, that the quesited is with
someone else. Venus in the 7th house often shows this, too (if you or the
quesited is not Venus in the chart).
In lost object horaries, which house is the 2nd house ruler in? This will often
show you right away where your lost object is. Is the 2nd house ruler placed
in the 9th house? Try the upstairs study. Is it in the 10th? You might have
left the object at work. In the 6th? Check under your washing machine or
out in the tool shed!
Rule Number Four: The Moon is very important!
Many beginners overlook how important the Moon is in horary. The Moon is
often thought of as a co-significator for the person asking the question, but
the Moon really should be thought of as the engine in the car of the chart:
the Moon drives the action of the chart (or not).
What is the Moon doing? What house is she in? Is she in a strong house
(1st, 4th, 7th, 10th)? Is she in a weak house (6th, 8th, 12th)? Is she in a
strong sign (Cancer or Taurus)? Is she weak (Capricorn or Scorpio)? Is she
applying to one of the significators, or to an important angle? Is she
separating from a significator? Is she Void of Course?
A comment on the Void of Course Moon:
There are a lot of arguments about what makes the Moon void, but here is a
simple way to think about it: if the Moon has left an aspect to an inner
planet, and does not make another aspect until it changes signs, it is
probably void. If it will make an aspect to another planet immediately after
changing signs, it is not void (but you will need to think about what
changing signs means to your question). If the Moon has just entered a
sign, and does not make an aspect to another planet for several degrees
(say 10 degrees at the least), it is void...for now. This implies a waiting
period for the engine to start. There are more accurate orbs for each
planet, so this is just a rough estimate. The point is, for the Moon to be the
most effective an aspect needs to happen soon.
Rule Number Five: You cant ask twice just because you didnt like
the first answer.
Well, you can, but you shouldnt. This is self-explanatory. Many people like
to give a you can ask again after three months answer to this, but this is an
erroneous time-period. You can ask again when the situation changes and
most situations dont change in a matter of hours or days or even months.
Asking, Does he love me? over and over (often in different forms of the
question) will not give you a different answer, if he doesnt love you!
Rule Number Six: Context is EVERYTHING.
People often mistakenly believe that a square means no and a trine means
yes, but this isnt always the case! You must understand the context of
the question, and the reason they asked the question in the first place. A
square can still mean a yes if the planets are friendly to one another and
are applying: this might mean yes, but youll have to work hard for it.
Likewise, an applying trine in a question of divorce might mean that they
wont get divorced, but will reconcile instead. Be careful with this!
Dont understand what the querent is asking? They probably dont, either.
Ask for clarification. If you dont understand the question, youll get a wrong
answer. Dont make assumptions about what the querent is asking, either!
Ask them whether they broke up already, or if they are actually looking for a
job right now.
Rule Number Seven: Considerations are not strictures!
William Lillys Considerations to better judge a horary chart are just that:
considerations, or things to consider. Having one or more of the
considerations present in a horary chart does not prevent you from reading
the chart. What it does is send up a little red flag: be extra careful about
reading the chart; go slowly and ask a lot of questions.
Late ascendant? The querent is either in despair and asks out of
hopelessness, or, more likely, already knows what the answer is (and feels
hopeless about it). This doesnt stop you from reading the chart. However, it
probably has an answer the querent doesnt want to hear.
Early ascendant? To quote a former US President: Not enough information.
Wouldnt be prudent. The situation is developing; there is a LOT of room for
things to change. Keep this in mind.
Moon in Via Combusta? This shows that the querent is stressed out and
anxious, and may not be thinking clearly. The situation (or the querent,
sometimes) is unstable.
Saturn in the 7th? The first thing to figure out is whether Saturn is one of
the significators; if so, no problem. If the question is about a relationship (it
often is) and Saturn isnt a significator, take heed: Saturn rules blockages
and obstacles, so the querent doesnt have an easy ride ahead.
Horary has a vast and ancient body of knowledge behind it; it is a subtle art
and takes years and years of reading and practice to really understand. But
using these basic rules and some common sense will help you to read all but
the most complicated of horary charts.
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