Electional & Horary Astrology (擇日占星與卜卦占星)
While natal astrology reads the chart of a person, horary and electional astrology read the charts of questions and chosen moments. These branches — among the oldest in Western astrology — apply the same planetary principles to entirely different contexts, demonstrating the universality of astrological symbolism.
Horary Astrology (卜卦占星)
Horary astrology casts a chart for the exact moment a question is seriously asked and understood by the astrologer. The premise: the moment of genuine inquiry is itself a 'birth moment' — the birth of the question — and its chart reveals the answer.
William Lilly's Method
William Lilly (1602–1681), author of Christian Astrology (1647), is the gold standard for horary practice. His method:
- Querent (問者): The person asking the question, always represented by the 1st house and its ruler.
- Quesited (所問事項): The matter asked about, represented by the relevant house (7th for marriage, 10th for career, 4th for property, etc.) and its ruler.
- Significators: The planets ruling the querent's and quesited's houses. Their condition, dignity, and relationship to each other reveal the answer.
- Applying aspects: If the two significators are forming (applying to) a major aspect — especially conjunction, trine, or sextile — the answer tends toward yes. Separating aspects suggest the matter has already passed or is dissolving.
- Reception: If the significators are in each other's dignities (mutual reception), there is willingness and mutual benefit.
Strictures Against Judgment
Certain chart conditions warn the astrologer that the chart may be unreliable:
- Void of Course Moon (月空): The Moon makes no further major aspects before leaving its sign — 'nothing will come of the matter.'
- Late or Early Ascendant: First 3° or last 27° of a sign on the ASC — the question may be premature or too late.
- Saturn in the 7th house: Traditional stricture indicating difficulty for the astrologer (the 7th represents the astrologer in a horary consultation).
Advanced Horary Concepts
- Refranation: A significator turns retrograde before completing the applying aspect — the matter falls apart at the last moment.
- Prohibition: A third planet interposes its aspect between the two significators, blocking the outcome.
- Translation of Light: A fast-moving planet (usually the Moon) separates from one significator and applies to the other, carrying the energy between them — a go-between or intermediary brings the matter to completion.
Electional Astrology (擇日占星)
Electional astrology is the art of choosing the most favourable time to begin a venture — a wedding, a business launch, a surgery, a journey. Where horary reads an existing moment, electional creates a moment.
Key Electional Rules
- Fortify the relevant house: For a wedding, strengthen the 7th house (benefic planets in or aspecting it, the ruler well-dignified). For a business, strengthen the 10th and 2nd.
- Avoid Void of Course Moon: Nothing comes of actions begun under a void Moon.
- Place benefics (Jupiter, Venus) on angles: Angular benefics support the venture.
- Minimise malefic influence: Keep Mars and Saturn away from angles and from the house of the matter.
- Match the Moon's applying aspects: The Moon's next aspects describe what happens after the moment — ensure they are to benefics.
Cross-Cultural Parallels
Horary astrology shares a deep structural similarity with the I Ching (易經) — both cast a reading for a moment of genuine inquiry and interpret the resulting pattern as an answer. The philosophical premise — that the moment of sincere questioning is cosmically meaningful — is identical.
Qi Men Dun Jia (奇門遁甲) is perhaps the closest Chinese parallel to horary: both cast event-moment charts using planetary and stellar factors to answer specific questions and select optimal timing.
Chinese Ze Ri (擇日, date selection) parallels electional astrology directly — both traditions select auspicious moments for important life events based on celestial configurations.
'The heavens declare not only the character of the born, but the nature of the asked.' — William Lilly