Advanced Level

Horary Astrology
Diploma Course
GUIDELINES

Setting out your judgement: overall approach p.2

Compiling your judgement; explaining the outcome p.3
Chart presentation p.4
Quick check points for chart submissions p.6
Adding footnotes & references p.7
Use of superscript p.8
Essential qualification criteria p.9
The 3-step assessment procedure p.10
Course policies, terms, and requirements p.15
Completion benefits p.16
Example of a recent qualifying judgement p.17
 STA

ADVANCED LEVEL HORARY DIPLOMA

Chart submission style guide & qualification criteria

- Compiling horary judgements for publication -

Qualification on the STA Advanced Level Horary Diploma requires a compilation of three separate horary judgements
to a professional standard, following the traditional methods of judgement taught and advocated by the STA.
Besides the use of horary technique, we assess the style of presentation, the use of references, the incorporation of
graphics or diagrams, and the quality by which thoughts on horary are presented to others. This style guide advises
on how to prepare a chart judgement for submission and sets out the criteria by which submissions are assessed.

Setting out your judgement: overall approach

Every chart tells a story, and every chart judgement Be sure to include all the necessary information
should include the basic components that a story that explains what the chart is describing, and how
has: a beginning, a middle, and an end. it might offer insight or provide a solution. Your
---¯--- discretion on what to share will be also assessed:
don’t venture into details that are inconsequential
The beginning is your explanation of the problem.
and unnecessary and which might detract from
What was the question, and why was it asked?
your judgement by drawing attention away from
Include any relevant details here, so that
the main issues being explored.
astrologers who want to follow your judgement
have all the information needed to scan the chart Having explained the query, you should then
and look at the indications before reading about the include a copy of the chart wheel – for this, see our
approach you took. (Astrologers are naturally advice on the chart set up on pages 4-5. It is not
curious readers, and most will want to do this.) necessary to include extra tables (such as essential
dignities, nearest aspects, etc.) but your assessors
For example, if the chart concerns a work-related
will want to check these, so you should mention if
problem the nature of the querent’s job might be
you use an approach that deviates from the norm
highly relevant and captured in the symbolic
taught in the STA Practitioners Level Horary
details of the MC, so it is not enough to say “the
Certificate Course. For example, if you use the
querent was having problems at work and was
Egyptian terms rather than the Ptolemaic terms,
considering applying for a new job.” What was that
please include this information with your
job, and why was the querent having problems?
submission. Also, state if you have used any
In other questions, it might be essential to know the quadrant house system other than Regiomontanus.
age or physique of the querent, and in relationship (NB: we don’t accept submissions using equal or
queries it might be important to know how long whole sign houses, because of the value that horary
the querent has been single, or to know some back- places upon the position of house cusps and
ground on a relationship they are looking to end. aspectual contacts made to them.)

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Compiling your main judgement
The explanation of the judgement is the middle
task, and also the main event. Start by explaining
the identification of the main significators, then Feel free to include some details on your
demonstrate how and why these offer appropriate experience of judging the chart. Did something
representations of the people or things they strike you as fascinating? Did you struggle to
symbolise. Draw interpretive detail from any amalgamate certain details before ultimately
striking or notable features, such as whether a bringing conflicting testimonies together in a way
significator is especially strong/weak (why?), that made sense? Was there anything interesting in
combust, conjunct a prominent fixed star, etc. your interaction with the querent, or in how they
Always ensure that any technical detail you responded to your advice? Don’t go too much into
mention is given an interpretative explanation that your own personal experience, but sometimes
ties that feature into the judgement of the chart, describing your process of making and delivering
and never assume that the reader will ‘just know’ the judgement adds interest for the reader, who, as
what that symbolism is expected to mean. an astrologer, will be able to share your concerns
It may be good to make points relating to the and empathise with any dilemmas that the
chart’s radicality, but do not state that the chart is judgement created for you.
radical or not based purely on the planetary hour-
ruler: include reference to the hour-ruler if it forms
part of your judgement, but it is misleading to
Explaining the outcome
promote the idea that a chart’s radicality rests This is your ending. Wherever possible, include
entirely on this (we assume the chart is radical if follow up details on how the situation progressed
the question is sincere and well-considered and the or concluded (remember to ask your clients to
chart is appropriately descriptive).† It may be keep you informed of developments and provide
useful to refer to notable connections between the updates on important times or dates, if they can).
horary chart and the querent’s natal chart if these
Primarily, we want to see evidence that your
are known and noted; this is a more persuasive
judgement proved useful or illuminated the
way of demonstrating radicality.
situation in some way. It is possible to have a
You might also wish to point out, at the start, if good judgement that does not have a known
any of the well-known considerations before outcome, for example, in situations where there
judgement exist in your horary since other was a satisfying resolution because the querent
astrologers will be curious to know whether and related well to the information given, and it helped
how you accounted for them. For example, if the them to feel more confident in facing the problem
chart has a late degree rising on the ascendant, before them. If that is the case, explain their
show your awareness of this and explain how you reaction, as all judgements should end (as stories
integrated that consideration into your judgement. do) with the feeling that the narrative served a
purpose and led to a conclusion.
Having explained/explored the descriptive details
of the ascendant, main significators and the Moon,
† As
then make it your task to succinctly explain how explained in the STA certificate course, planetary hour
correspondence is used to help eliminate doubts of radicality, not to
you brought various points together to form a
secure it. No historical astrologer began a judgement by declaring
unified judgement. their judgement radical because of the planetary hour-ruler.

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 Chart presentation

When including a copy of the chart wheel ensure the chart is set to standard house representation, not
proportional representation. Standard representation shows the houses as equal in size; proportional
representation distorts house sizes according to how many degrees of the zodiac they cover.

ü û

NB: the fashion of displaying astrological charts with proportional houses is a modern
astrological convention. Historical astrologers never distorted the size of the houses to try to
show the planetary positions as fitting within an equalised circle of the zodiac, because they
understood that the ecliptic circle the zodiac is based upon is oblique.
The astrological chart aims to depict an equal division of a circle of celestial space that
surrounds the observer; in putting the oblique circle of the zodiac inside this, then some of the
zodiac’s divisions are astronomically obliged to cover more or less of the house divisions: this is
exactly as it should be, because this is how it is. Far more astronomical distortion occurs if we
depict a diagram where the surrounding circle of space is squashed or stretched, in an attempt
to make the 360° of the chart-wheel align with the degrees of the zodiac.
Note the difference in representation in the two charts above, and how the prominent position
of Venus (due south and culminating on the MC) fails to strike the eye in the proportional chart.
Professional horary astrologers need a quick, fluent connection of planetary positions with the
houses, and easy recognition of the details of strength or weakness attached to angularity and
cadency, which is why we recommend standard representation, not the modern proportional
representation.

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Historical chart forms were stylised in many ingenious ways, often with attempts to increase focus on the four angular
houses, but never displacing the 10th from its position of crowning the chart, or the 4th from acting as its foundation.

§ Avoid cluttering up your chart wheel with symbols for asteroids, planetoids, or dwarf planets
that you may use in other astrological techniques, but which don’t form part of the horary
judgement. Include the Part of Fortune (or any other part that is actually used) if you wish to,
but do not include any astrological parts that are not considered in the chart’s interpretation.
This will help keep the interpretive focus of the reader on the most salient points of judgement.
§ Using lurid colours in your chart wheel can give an unprofessional appearance to your work.
Many astrological organisations request that presenters use only black and white charts and
avoid the use of colour – the reason is that colourful glyphs can create an initial sense of
confusion and might be difficult to discern if the software uses a soft colour or yellow set
against a white background. If using colours in your chart wheel, make sure your use of tones is
discreet and does not detract from the clarity of the chart.
§ If your software does not provide a good quality chart image, consider using the free web-
based app at https://pocket-astrologer.com/en/olga – this allows the calculation of an uncluttered
and attractive horary chart image that can be saved as an image file and imported into your
work (the app only allows the calculation of horary charts using Regiomontanus houses).

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 Quick check
Things to avoid when submitting your judgement

Each chart submission is subject to an intensive 3-part assessment process as detailed on

pages 10-14. The bullet points below briefly encapsulate some of the pitfalls to avoid;
these are the main reasons why a chart submission might be rejected, as not being of
publishable quality or not representative of the methods recommended and endorsed by the STA:

§ The overall quality of the text is too poor – e.g., not enough attention is paid to
spelling mistakes or grammatical inconsistencies; or the text is abbreviated so it is
difficult to read; or the judgement is too long, badly phrased, too complex, or
contains too many weak points that are a strain to read.
§ The chart, or its judgement, is not clearly aligned to the methods advocated by the
STA school, which are primarily centred on the teachings and techniques of
horary judgement exemplified in the works of William Lilly – e.g., the chart
format does not follow our recommendations or does not use a quadrant house
system; signs are used rather than planetary orbs to demark aspect connections;
the core judgement leans too heavily on techniques that are peripheral and should
be supporting the judgement rather than leading it (dodekatemoria, antiscia,
Arabic parts, declinations, fixed stars, etc.).
§ The question seems to be asked out of curiosity over something that does not
directly involve the querent (such as a report of some dramatic event reported in
the media), or there is a suspected lack of intent, radicality or purpose, or no
obvious way for the querent or the situation to benefit from the judgement.
§ It is not obvious where the logic of the astrological reasoning has come from.
§ There is no natural flow to the narrative, or not enough effort made to detail
various points and then bring them together in a way that makes sense. Or there
are too many testimonies listed that conflict with each other without explanation
of how these are amalgamated into something uniquely descriptive of the matter
discussed.

Note that we have no specific guidelines on length: short and pithy judgements can be
valuable, and lengthier judgements that examine certain points in more detail can be
valuable too. In general, aim for at least 700 words but not more than 2000 words for a
judgement concerning a single chart situation. We include a good selection of recent
qualifying judgements which have been published in credible astrological journals as a
resource for delegates to access and study from on the course teaching portal.

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 Adding footnotes & references
When compiling your testimonies add footnoted references to acknowledge the work of others or to
support your reasoning whenever:
– you include a direct quote from another published work, or draw support from another
astrologer’s unique explanation or expressed point of view
– a point of interpretation may not be immediately obvious to the reader
– e.g., there is no need to reference your use of the 6th house to describe an illness (that
point is obvious), but you should include a reference to support a statement that Mars
on the 6th house cusp, placed in Libra, specifically describes problems with feet (here
you could provide a reference to Lilly’s table showing how body parts are attributed to
planets in various signs: CA, p.119)
– you use an unusual or controversial point – the purpose here is to show you are informed
about and aware of alternate opinions. You do not need to resolve the controversy; however,
you can add your own view on the matter if you wish
– the reader might benefit by knowing where they can obtain a more extensive explanation or a
historical account of that point
Err on the side of generosity and provide references or footnotes wherever they might prove useful.
By adding these additional points to the bottom of the page, or the end of your narrative, they rarely
prove distracting and are usually appreciated by the interested reader.
What to include in footnotes, references & quotes
Record as much information as necessary in references to make it easy for readers to find the relevant
information or the original source text you are quoting. A full reference to a modern text will look like
this: Houlding, D., The Houses: Temples of the Sky; Wessex (2006); pp.4-6. This is based on the following
components:

Author(s) & title

Include the author/s name/s first. Write the surname (last name) first followed by any initials. If
there are more than three authors cite the first author and use the abbreviation et al, meaning ‘and
all’. Then include the title in italics. If a book has volumes include the volume number too.

Publisher information/date of publication

Include the publisher’s name and then the year of publication in brackets. It is important to
include the date of publication as this identifies the specific edition of the work. Often when books
are republished information may be reordered, so page numbers may change between editions.

Page numbers
Include the page number(s) you have consulted in your work. Use p.98 to indicate page 98 or
pp.96-98 to indicate a span of multiple pages.

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 For translated historical works:
Include the year or period of original publication in brackets after the title, then include the name
of the translator, the publisher, year of publication and the page reference – for example:
Bonatti, G., Book of Astronomy (13th cent.); translated by B. Dykes, Cazimi Press (2007); p.572.

For online resources:

Include the full URL (http://www... etc.) and the date you accessed the page. The web is not static,
and webpages can be updated or removed at any time, so it is important to record when you
found the information you are referencing. For some sources the name of the author may not be
known; in this case use the organisation name and the title. Use the following format:
Author(s), title of article, title of website, date of posting/revision; name of any organisation or
institution affiliated with the site if applicable, (date of access); the web address of the article.
For example, a reference to the Skyscript article Questioning our Horaries by Deborah Houlding, in
a printed publication, would read:
Houlding, D., Questioning our Horaries; Skyscript, 2003; (24/11/03);
www.skyscript.co.uk/horary_questions.html.

Adding quotes:
If you are directly quoting someone else’s words in your text enclose the quote in quotation
marks, and include a reference as described above. If you want to omit words, indicate that some
parts of the text have been left out by using an ellipsis: … (three dots). If you need to add words
(for the sake of clarity) put them into square brackets; e.g.:
“Two peregrine planets that are significators in quartile or opposition of one another …
signifies that one thief will accuse another, probatum est [‘this is proven’].”

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS REGARDING USE OF SUPERSCRIPT

Do use superscript numerals to reference footnotes and

citations, by inserting the superscript number next to the
statement, fact or quotation being cited.
Do not use superscript characters elsewhere – this is
unnecessary and will make your work look messy. When
including ordinal numbers in dates or comments relating
to astrological houses our protocol is:

Correct Incorrect
16th April 2022 16th April 2022
6th house 6th house

Microsoft Word is notoriously problematic for automatically generating superscript characters where
they are not needed. To disable this feature in Word go to Preferences > AutoCorrect > AutoFormat As
you Type and uncheck the Ordinals (1st) with superscript option.

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 STA HORARY DIPLOMA COURSE

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATION CRITERIA

The purpose of this program is for the applicant to develop and demonstrate professional competence in the
application of the traditional principles of horary astrology, such that the STA is willing to endorse their
chart work and recommend it to those looking for horary consultation services.
Qualification from the program requires:
The successful submission of three different horary judgements on three different topics, only
one of which may relate to a personal question that the astrologer asks for their own benefit.
Each judgement is submitted separately, so it is only possible to move to stage 2 of the
program after the first judgement submitted for stage 1 is deemed acceptable for qualification.
At least one of the three chart submissions must be accepted for publication in an independent
and reputable astrological magazine or journal (tutors will help to secure this as part of the
program).
At least one of the three chart submissions must be used as the basis of a presentation, by
which the applicant shares and discusses the experience of the consultation and its judgement
with other interested astrologers (tutors will help to secure this as part of the program).

For a judgement to qualify it should be based on the widely accepted principles of horary interpretation
advocated by the STA, written to a professional standard, and fulfil the following key criteria:
§ The judgement must demonstrate the resonant or substantial in their impact on the
applicant’s own personal use of horary and be matter asked about.
free of plagiarism or copyright issues. § The judgement must demonstrate a wise and
§ The overall chart judgement must read well, ethical approach to the matter asked about,
and present a natural flow in describing the present no problematic concerns about
problem and moving between identification of radicality, and show appropriate sensitivity to
significators, the details of the judgement, and the emotional needs of the querent.
the explanation of how the matter concluded. § The judgement must be free of astronomical
§ The judgement should demonstrate well- errors or obvious astrological mistakes (such as
established principles of horary astrology, as identifying the wrong planet as the ruler of a
taught in the STA certificate course syllabus. house cusp, or describing an aspect as a square
We want to conclude that the chart is logically when it is actually a trine).
assessed, with the main points of interpretation § The judgement should include footnoted
demonstrating good correspondence with the reference to the page/text source of any
mainstream principles of horary. We will also traditional quotes included, or any modern
look for an appropriate distinction between astrological work consulted; or to any point in
points in the chart that act as key factors in the the judgement that may be considered
judgement, with less focus given to peripheral unusual, controversial, or in need of additional
details or planets/chart points that are not so explanation.

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 STA HORARY DIPLOMA COURSE

3-STEP ASSESSMENT PROCEDURE

It is said that the best way to learn a subject well is to explain it to others, a notion that contributes to the
conceptual basis of this program. In being tasked with demonstrating your own chart work to the best of
your ability you will push yourself at every level, bringing enhanced focus to your symbolic reasoning as
you naturally adopt a more discriminating mindset towards elements of chart interpretation. The ritual of
doing this over a series of examples will catalyse an internal change: you will cease to perceive yourself as
a novice following what other astrologers do, and enter an enlivened realisation of your own capability,
buoyed by the observation that horary theory really does hold up and support you in practice.
Although our criteria for qualification may sound daunting, we know that your study of the STA
Practitioners Level Horary Course has equipped you with sufficient knowledge of horary theory for you to
venture into the next step of receiving and judging your own horaries. This is now a vital step for you to
undertake because no amount of theoretical knowledge can be grounded and developed to a masterful
level without the wisdom and experience gained through personal practical application.
Rest assured that the purpose of this program is to help applicants refine their innate skills and express
best-practice standards regularly and habitually in consultation chart work. The program is designed to
support its applicants, not to set anyone up for failure. Throughout the assessment process tutors engage in
helpful correspondence, drawing on their own expertise to illustrate how points of judgement can be
strengthened, recommending additional passages of study material, and guiding the compilation of robust,
professional-level judgements. As part of our commitment to encouraging confidence, the STA also
endeavours to find its diploma students suitable publication opportunities.
The main responsibility of the tutors in this course is to ensure that students:
§ do not miss vital points of interpretation in the analysis and commentary on their judgements
§ learn how to keep the written narrative succinct, informative, and interesting by bringing the focus
to the right places and not dwelling unduly on less substantial indications
§ appropriately reference any controversial or particularly important point, and draw due distinction
to any symbolic interpretation that may be innovative, original, or creative (for example, a certain
use of the symbolism that may seem suitable and appropriate within the context of that chart, even
though it is not part of commonly accepted horary tradition)
§ gain opportunities for increased exposure of their horary skill
NB: despite the emphasis given to well-written judgements, our primary concern is a focus on good,
solid, interesting astrology. This is an English language course and all applicants must be competent in
their use of the English language; however, we are not expecting expert grammar or the narrative skill
of a novelist! Most judgements benefit when the principle “keep it simple, tell it straight” is applied. It
will be part of our task to help students strengthen their own voice and express themselves effectively.
Current limitations require this course to be delivered in English. Whilst we are happy to help second
language students find a more eloquent manner of expression in English, non-native speakers may
require additional second-language support on their judgements so that they meet publishing
standards for English-language publications. If it appears that significant time and commitment will be
required, this extra support will incur an extra tutorial fee of £30 per submission.

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 3-STEP ASSESSMENT PROCEDURE

SUBMISSION ASSESSMENT STEP : 1

Judgement is accepted as a viable submission for the program

Each chart submission undergoes a 3-step process of analysis and assessment. Step 1
establishes whether the judgement constitutes a viable submission for the full and
detailed assessment process. Providing the judgement passes step 1 it is anticipated that it
will go on to be a successful application; however, several layers of revision and
enhancement are likely to be required before the judgement is deemed a qualifying one.
A submitted judgement will be checked against the criteria listed below. All of these
details must be ticked by the assessor for the judgement to pass beyond step 1 and be
accepted as a viable submission on the program.
Please read these details carefully to ensure you understand, and are happy, with the
standards we apply and the principles we set, by which we consider the judgement to be
appropriately formatted and aligned with the methods and ethics we advocate as a school.

Technical construction, chart calculation and display Fixable?

1 The chart uses the tropical zodiac and a quadrant method of house division, (if the house P No
division is not Regiomontanus, please detail the house division method used).
2 The submission includes the chart data that allows the chart to be replicated by other P Yes
astrologers (date, time and time zone, plus specific location or longitude and latitude).
3 The judgement includes a clear and professional looking chart wheel, set to standard and P Yes
not proportional house representation (see pp.4-5).
4 The chart wheel is free of distracting elements that are not used in the judgement (see p.5). P Yes
5 The primary points of judgement align with the methods advocated by the STA P Perhaps
(exemplified in the works of William Lilly) and do not rest unduly on peripheral
techniques that should support the judgement rather than lead it (antiscia, Arabic parts,
declinations, fixed stars, dodekatemoiria, etc.).
6 The judgement shows understanding of the traditional calculation of planetary orbs and P Perhaps
does not place major emphasis or undue stress on out of orb aspects.

Radicality and conceptual or ethical issues

7 The judgement does not adopt an insensitive, illegal, unethical, or highly controversial P No
approach towards the matter asked about (e.g., it doesn’t lead the querent to reject
potentially life-saving modern medical advice in favour of conflicting astrology advice).
8 The question pursues a purposeful intent or shows a genuine desire to explore and resolve P No
a matter of immediate or ongoing concern. It is not trivial or suggestive of a passing whim
or idle curiosity.

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9 Radicality is not doubted on the basis that the querent is uninvolved in the matter asked P No
about. (The question should not be asked about a celebrity, or some dramatic event
reported in the media where there is no way to demonstrate the radicality of the chart, no
way for the querent to influence the matter, and no scope for the querent or situation to
benefit from the judgement.)
10 The situation has a known outcome or has sufficiently resolved to the point where the P Perhaps
judgement made of the chart can be seen to have value and merit.

Presentation and narration issues

11 The horary question and its judgement are substantial enough to be worthy of another P No
astrologer’s attention and interest.
12 The overall quality of the text is such that any technical errors or grammatical problems P Perhaps
and inconsistencies can be resolved through reasonable follow-up attention.
13 The judgement is based on clearly recognisable and widely agreed horary principles. P No
14 The judgement is not severely weakened by being too long, overly complex, or so P Perhaps
disorganised and disconnected that it is a strain for other astrologers to read.
15 The choice of significators is appropriately explained and there is a suitable flow between P Perhaps
the description of the problem, the identification of significators, the details of the
judgement, and the explanation of how the matter concluded or resolved.
16 The judgement includes footnotes that reference quotations or controversial/unusual P Perhaps
points and is free of plagiarism and copyright concerns.
17 The judgement is not repeating a personal question asked by the applicant (only one P No
personal horary is allowed) nor is it repeating the theme of a previous submission (to pass
the course, three horaries are required on three different question themes).

If a judgement fails the step 1 assessment

If a judgement is rejected in the stage 1 assessment you will be notified by reference
to the criteria in the above table.
If the problem is deemed to be fixable, you will be asked to attend to the problematic
points and resubmit the judgement after the improvements have been made.
If the problem is not deemed fixable it is because it is too far removed from the core
criteria we set. It will only prove frustrating to take this submission further, so we
halt the submission at this stage and ask you to wait until you have another example
that suits our program better.
There is no disadvantage in having a submission rejected at stage 1 except that the
procedure will need to be repeated for the follow-up submission. A £30
administration charge is made for follow up submissions that are necessary because
the original submission was rejected at this stage.

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 SUBMISSION ASSESSMENT STEP 2:
The judgement is critically assessed

After being accepted as a viable submission your judgement will be carefully assessed. A
dedicated tutor will critique your work to identify any obvious flaws, spelling mistakes,
astrological or astronomical errors, or formatting inconsistencies. Your tutor will also draw
attention to any controversial comments, or areas where established points of art are overlooked or
treated strangely. Areas of weakness in the judgement, or places where your narrative could be
strengthened, or where explanations of the philosophical logic could be clarified, will also be
highlighted.
Proposals may be made at this stage to provide various ideas for improvement, which may include
some suggestions for recommended reading. You should consider the feedback provided, attend
to any necessary corrections, then resubmit the revised judgement for further evaluation. It is only
after the details listed below are approved that the judgement goes forward to the final level of
appraisal.

Spelling, formatting, grammar and errors

1 The submission has no spelling mistakes and no obvious or serious grammatical errors
3 The submission has no astronomical or astrological miscalculations
4 The submission has no inappropriate use of astrological technique – or no controversial use of
astrological technique that is not satisfactorily explained
5 The submission includes supplementary notes or referenced citations for:
a) quotes or notable ideas drawn from other works
b) unusual points of interpretation that may not be obvious to the average astrological reader
c) controversial or remarkable points that need additional explanation or the provision of
references to where the reader can find a more detailed explanation
6 All footnotes are consistently formatted, in line with the submission guidelines (see pp.7-8)
7 The submission has no use of superscript characters except for the demarcation of footnotes (see p.8)
8 The submission has no other formatting inconsistencies (such as an inconsistent use of fonts, font sizes
or styles; varying paragraph indentations; erratic use of italics, emboldening and quote marks; poorly
sized/misplaced images; superfluous white spaces, etc.)

Editorial and narration issues

9 The judgement aptly explains and identifies the main significators used, and demonstrates how the
symbolism is fitting or descriptive
10 Any conflicting points of symbolism have been suitably addressed or amalgamated in the judgement
11 Weak or unnecessarily repetitive points have been removed or strengthened
12 The overall flow of the narrative is appropriate: the details of the question asked are clear and well-
defined, and it is obvious how the judgement answers or in some way resolves the question asked.

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 SUBMISSION ASSESSMENT STEP 3:
The judgement is polished & prepared for publication

The concluding critique aims to proofread, fine-tune and polish every element of the judgement,
whilst preserving all the details that are unique to the way that you express yourself in your own
voice. This task will be handled by a different tutor, as part of our qualifying criteria that at least
two assessors agree the work to be of a good standard. In this final level of appraisal, the tutorial
focus falls on identifying any remaining passages of text that lack clarity, tailoring the narrative to
its best effect, and ensuring that descriptions of astrological points are as compelling as they
should be.
It is through the details of the personal correspondence that the teaching elements of this course
emerge. Throughout the process there is ongoing attention to finding ways to help you improve
the ease and flow of chart interpretation, and points of art are opened and evaluated for
discussion, but always within the context of how the principles are being applied within your own
personal chart judgement that is under examination.

FINAL QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Publication and presentation

For the STA to confidently recommend your services as a horary astrologer, we need to
know that you are competent in demonstrating and discussing horary techniques. As part
of the qualification criteria for this program at least one of the three chart submissions
must be accepted for publication in an independent and reputable astrological magazine
or journal, and at least one of the three chart submissions must be used as the basis of a
presentation about the judgement to other horary astrologers. Your assessors will help to
secure both elements of this as part of the program’s commitment to helping you gain
opportunities for increased exposure of your horary work.

It is also an entry requirement of this program that all qualifying judgements are allowed
to be published by the STA in its own publications and held in a database of charts that are
accessible for study by other STA horary students, and that (following graduation) your
name will be included in our formal list of graduates who hold the STA Advanced Level
Horary Diploma.

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 COURSE POLICIES, TERMS, & REQUIREMENTS

§ Course applicants must have successfully completed of the chart that was not approved. (In case of any
the STA Practitioners Level Horary Course and be able complaint, this course adheres to the STA’s
to submit a chart analysis as a Word document with complaints policy, available at
the chart graphic embedded within it. www.sta.co/pdf/complaints_policy.pdf.)
§ This is an English language course: students must be § One of the underlying objectives of this program is to
fluent in spoken and written English, and capable of encourage the applicant’s development into
giving studious attention to college-level texts. professional practice; for this, professional and
§ Although students step through the stages of this courteous behaviour is expected in all respects.
course at their own pace, it is expected that students Students can be removed from the program at the
will complete the program within 18 months. tutors’ discretion if anything about their
Students may be dropped off the program if they correspondence on the course or their public conduct
have been on it for more than three years and have off the course is deemed disrespectful or brings
failed to submit in more than one year. disrespect to the study of astrology.
§ Students must adhere to the format criteria requested § All elements of correspondence are to be treated in
in this style guide which is designed to ensure that confidence on both ends. The STA school will not
work is presented to a high standard. share any private correspondence; the applicant
§ This is a personally crafted program, so students agrees that any correspondence sent to them is treated
should allow two weeks for tutors to provide with privacy and not shared with other students or
commentary on a submission. In some circumstances members of the public.
it may take slightly longer than this, but if this is the § Course files are housed on our private server.
case students will be informed of the reason for the Graduates are allowed access to the course portal for
delay and when to expect the return of their work. 12 months after the formal completion of the course.
§ Qualifying graduates must be willing to have their After this period, the STA does not commit to
name, as printed on the Diploma, listed on the STA retaining records of all assessment interactions.
record of qualified diploma holders. Sadly, the STA § Advertised prices are locked in for enrolled students
has encountered incidents of astrologers claiming to for 18 months following registration. If price increases
be trained by the STA when they have never actually are later deemed necessary, these will be applicable
studied with us, so this official record protects the for enrolled students paying by instalments for any
interests of every legitimate diploma holder. payments they make after the initial 18-month period.
§ Students must be willing to have their qualifying chart § Once registration is made onto the course, the cost of
submissions published by the STA school, and made enrolment is non-refundable. The cost of any
available for study purposes by other STA students; individual submission is refundable until it begins to
this is in addition to our qualifying condition that one receive tutorial attention. If the submission is rejected
of the judgements must be accepted for publication by as an unviable submission at step 1 of our assessment
an external astrology organisation. process, a £30 charge is made for replacement
§ The instructor’s assessments and decisions are final. submissions. After a submission has passed step 1
The STA ensures fairness in its assessment process and entered into our more detailed assessment
and has policies to eliminate any prospect of process, the assessment fee for that submission is
favouritism or uneven comparisons. If a student does wholly non-refundable.
not pass an assignment or the course, once feedback § In the unlikely event of the course being cancelled, the
on the reason for failure has been provided, the administrator will refund any course fees paid but
instructor’s task is complete. No further will not be liable for any other personal or incidental
correspondence will be engaged regarding the details expenses incurred.

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 Extra benefits to students of this course

§ Students gain access to extra STA resources held on

the course portal, such as a database of previously
assessed showcase horaries, additional horary texts
and various resources that support the study of horary
astrology and the compilation of horary judgements.
§ Registered students who wish to book additional 1-2-1
personal tutoring receive an extra 10% off our lowest
discounted rate.

Benefits that follow qualification

§ Graduates receive the advanced level STA Horary Diploma to verify that their use of
horary has been rigorously and independently assessed and that they have demonstrated
sound knowledge of theory and competence in practice, such that the STA school board is
happy to recommend their services to people in need of horary consultations.
§ Graduates are entitled to advertise their fulfilment of our assessment criteria by using the
initials STA DipH (School of Traditional Astrology Diploma in Horary) in promoting their
astrological services.
§ Names of all diploma holders will be entered into a public record of our qualifying
students.
§ Graduates qualify for full membership of the APAI: Association of Professional Astrologers
International. Details of this organisation are available at www.professionalastrologers.co.uk.
§ Graduates are eligible for entry into the STA directory of approved and verified horary
consultants, which will be launched in 2023 to promote horary services to the public.
(There will be a nominal one-off fee for the initial inclusion of the promotional entry into
this directory – yet to be determined).

For any further information on this course,

email the administrator: [email protected]

Truth is the daughter of time,

& I feel no shame in being her midwife
– Johannes Kepler, Narratio de Observatis (1611) 16
 Example of a Recent
Qualifying Judgement

When will my herbs get here? Judged by Morgan Le Gall

On November 16th, 2020, I had ordered some herbs to make a salve for aching muscles and I was eager to
know when they would arrive. After a week had passed with no package in sight, nor any news from the
company that they had received my order, I decided to ask a question “When will my herbs get here?”
***
NB: Morgan does not use the outer planets, so we have omitted them from the chart details to enable you to
follow the logic applied without getting distracted by points that had no bearing upon his judgement.

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JUDGEMENT: When will my herbs get here? by Morgan Le Gall
Right away, I noticed the early ascendant of 0°á25' and took that as a warning that something was amiss.
However, the lord of the hour (h) is also the lord of the ascendant (confirming radicality), and I could see the chart
made valid connections to my own nativity, so I proceeded with a judgement. Because of that very early ascendant,
I concluded the company had not yet sent my order, or maybe had not even started processing it.
As the querent, signified by the 1st house, I am represented by Jupiter, placed in its sign of fall and conjunct Saturn
in the 2nd house – this seems apt since I was concerned (oi) about my herbs (2nd house), but I was also powerless
(fall). The herbs are also represented by Jupiter since Sagittarius falls on the 2nd cusp too. I had ordered eight kinds
of dried herbs, but the greatest quantity was for comfrey. We find a nice astrological signature with the placement
of Jupiter in Capricorn (cold and dry) and conjunct Saturn which describes the qualities of comfrey very well.1
Because the 1st house and 2nd houses are ruled by the same planet, which makes no relevant contact to the cusp of
those houses, I gave my main attention to the Moon, following the instruction of Bonatti on a query regarding the
arrival of a letter,2 and I also considered Mercury as a natural significator for postal issues and deliveries.
I first saw that Mercury will change sign and enter the ascendant in about 11°, but before doing so it will perfect a
sextile to Jupiter, after moving forward around 7° (both planets then being at 25°46' of their signs).3
Looking at the Moon, I saw she will aspect the cusp of the ascendant in slightly more than 1°, an argument that the
package will come to my possession soon. One day does not rationally fit an order I had judged to have not yet
been processed, but one week equals seven days, giving a nice parallel to the number of degrees Mercury must
move to perfect its aspect with Jupiter.
Because most testimonies point to 7 days (one week) I discarded the 11° of Mercury’s entry into Sagittarius and
checked the symbolic period of 7 days against the real-time transits. Looking at the ephemeris for 7 days later, I
saw that on that day (1st December 2020) Mercury entered Sagittarius and conjoined the ascendant; I took that as a
very promising sign.
As a side note, I noticed the Moon was at the end of Pisces, already in orb of her next aspect: a trine to the Sun on
the ascendant. Because the Sun brings things to light, this assured me that I would hear from the company or find
out what was happening soon. I noted that less than 4° were separating the Moon from the Sun and judged that I
would hear from the herb company in less than 4 days. Because I
knew the company was closed at weekends, and this was a busy
holiday period, I hoped for the best, and estimated I would hear
from them the coming Friday, November 27th. With all that in
mind, I concluded I would eventually get my herbs on, or close
to Tuesday, December 1st.

Outcome: around midday on Friday, November 27th, 2020, I

received an email confirmation that the order had shipped. The
package arrived in my hands at precisely 5pm, on December 1st.
Out of curiosity, I drew up the chart for when I got the package
and was in awe when I saw that Mercury was at 0°á12' in a
partile conjunction to the ascendant degree of the horary chart.
Looking at the Moon, the other significator, she was at 27°Å40'
in a partile opposition with the horary’s 2nd house cusp.

1 William Lilly classifies comfrey, which he calls Walwort, as a herb of Jupiter (CA, p.64) due to its all-round medicinal properties
and reputation for healing wounds. Its common name ‘knitbone’ portrays the influence of Saturn, however, and Culpeper says
of it: “This is a herb of Saturn, and I suppose under the sign Capricorn, cold, dry, and earthy in quality”. Culpeper, N., & Foster,
S., Culpeper’s Complete Herbal, (Annotated, Illustrated ed. 2019b). Sterling. p.62.
2 Bonatti, G., Book of Astronomy, (13th cent.), translated by B. Dykes, Cazimi Press (2007), p.572.

3 This detail was noted by looking at an ephemeris; the aspect perfects around 9 pm local time on 28th Nov 2020.

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