Where is Elio, the cat? Oct 24, 2025 ay 8:00:44 Melbourne, Australia
Sometimes I get a request for a horary that needs to be done now. This was one such request. My daughter called me from her home in Los Angeles, in a bit of a panic. She was about to leave for the airport to catch a flight to New Orleans, but she could not find Elio, the kitten she had recently rescued. He was nowhere to be found and she was worried that he may have slipped out. She needed to know whether he was still in her apartment or had gotten out.
I immediately set the chart and did a very quick judgement. The time was 8:01 am on Oct 24, 2025, in Melbourne Australia. My daughters significator is Jupiter on the 8th cusp shows her anxiety and worry about the situation. Jupiter trines the Moon on the 12th cusp, she is thinking the worst. That Moon indicated the radicality of the chart as it was on the degree of her natal Sun/Jupiter/Pluto conjunct.
Seeing that Elio was signified by the 6th house and its ruler Venus in Libra in the 10th house, I quickly surmised that Elio was still in the apartment, somewhere comfortable (a bed of some sort). I noted the IC in mutable sign of Pisces, its ruler Jupiter and the Moon also in water signs; I told her that Elio was most likely near a source of water, inside something. She has 2 closets that have a wall adjacent to the bathroom. I advised her that Elio was probably there, potentially on a higher shelf because Venus is in an Air sign, elevated in the chart. She thanked me and went off as she was in a hurry to catch her flight.
Oooops!
I went to finish my breakfast, returning to my office an half an hour later. The above chart was still on my computer. Some of you may have already noticed the mistake I made. I realised (to my horror) that in my hurry to set the chart I had not noticed that it was still set for Fortune on the ASC, rather than the quadrant house system I normally use, Regiomontanus. The actual chart should have been:
Where is Elio, the cat? Oct 24, 2025 ay 8:00:44 Melbourne, Australia Regiomontanus Houses
The querent is still signified by Jupiter, here in the 9th… she was in a bit of a panic, because she needed to get to the airport. Her mind was on where she was going. Elio the cat is signified by Mars, in Scorpio, conjunct Moon very close to the ASC, but hidden in the 12th house. Mars applies to trine Jupiter, showing Elio and querent coming together.
The Moon can also be taken as a significator for missing/wandering animals; and here its first aspect will be to the ASC after it changes signs. While it will trine Neptune just before, this is not a prohibition as Neptune is an outer planet that does not signify anything/one.
Aquarius is now on the cusp of the IC, ruled by Saturn in Pisces, in the 5th house, still suggest that he is inside something and close to a water source. This is supported by both Moon and Mars watery Scorpio. But now I wasn’t so sure that he would be elevated (as Venus in the 10th in Libra had suggested). Even though Aquarius on the IC could describe an elevated place, all the other testimony showed that he probably is closer to the ground.
I quickly called my daughter back to let her know my mistake. She was waiting to board her plane and informed me that she found Elio minutes after our first conversation. She had gone directly to the closet that was adjacent the bathroom and found him sleeping inside a box on the bottom shelf; so not on the ground but just above. He was well hidden (as Mars in the 12th house would be).
So there you have it. The mysterious ways of horary strikes again.
Would this property be worth it financially? Oct 17, 2025 at 16:43 AEDT -11:00 Melbourne, Australia
BACKGROUND
The question was asked after the querent and her husband saw a property that interested them. The property would need quite a bit of work, but had great potential. They had renovated several old properties so were aware of the work involved. They loved unique properties and this one seemed to tick all the boxes. They were drawn to the creative challenge & potential that this property offered them.
There were two building on the property: a small three bedroom circa 1839 cottage, classified by the National Trust, with heritage overlay; and a small double story ‘studio’ that could be converted into a one-bedroom maisonette. The property promised a two-income stream, once works were completed.
CONSIDERATIONS
There is no accord between the Lord of the hour, Moon and the ASC or its ruler, Jupiter. This indicates that there maybe an emotional pull regarding the issue in question. Another consideration would be the presence of Saturn in the 1st house warning that there may not be a satisfactory resolution to this question.
This chart is radical as both the querent and her husband’s natal charts have strong connection.
The MC on the querent natal Saturn degree Mercury on the querent Mars/IC degree Mercury on the querent Mars/IC degree The Moon opposes the querent natal Moon and squares her Sun Mars on her husband’s natal Saturn degree Mercury on the husband’s natal MC The ASC on the husband’s natal Mars
SIGNIFICATORS
Querent/husband –Pisces ASC (double bodied sign: querent & her husband, they are one relative to the question); and its ruler Jupiter in Cancer on the 5th cusp, as well as the Virgo Moon in the 6th.
The Property – Gemini IC and its ruler Mercury in Scorpio in the 9th house conjunct Mars. We could also look at the Moon.
The querent’s finances – The Aires 2nd house and its ruler Mars in Scorpio.
Debt/ money owed – Libra 8th house, ruler Venus in Libra and Libra Sun in the 8th house
Potential profit – Sagittarius MC/10th and Jupiter in Cancer.
The significators are very descriptive of the situation. Jupiter on the 5th cusp signifies the querent and her husband, which is very indicative of their excitement at the creative potential before them. Jupiter’s partile aspect with the Sun, shows their strong vision of what could be done with place. Jupiter’s exalted state, and Neptune in the 1st is indicative of the illusion they are under regarding the amount of work required to make their vision a reality. The exact square between Jupiter and the Sun, ruler of the 6th, in the 8th; their vision and its cost, in time and money, are at odds.
The overall state of this property is described by the 4th house, its ruler Mercury and the Moon. The double-bodied sign of Gemini on the IC indicating two buildings. Gemini like most Air signs, can describe a hilly or high place; this property is on a hill, the front cottage being on the lower side, the back rising high behind.
Mercury, is peregrine in Scorpio, cadent and just beginning to slow down; the place has been neglected and seen better days. Mercury is conjunct the 9th ruler Mars; this warns of potential legal or bureaucratic issues and delays regarding permits. The peregrine Moon in Virgo is slow, located in the 6th house and applying with reception to Mercury by sextile. This is indicative of the amount of work required to renovate this property; and how much the property would benefit from it. Supporting this testimony is the placement of Mercury/Mars in the turned 6th from the 4th… indicating that the property is currently unwell:)
Mercury and Mars in Scorpio (stagnate water), and Lord of the 12th, Saturn retrograde in Pisces in the 1st house warns there are likely to be issues with water and drainage. The closeness of the water grand trine between: Mercury/Mars, Jupiter (querent) and Saturn reaffirm that water/moisture may be a problem. As the property is on a hill this is not unexpected. Saturn retrograde shows time being slow, so not only are there problems but they may take far more time to fix.
Their money signified by Mars in Scorpio, shows that at present their finances are fine, but being Mars there is a danger of overspending in regards to this property. The potential for debt is great as Venus the Lord of the 8th is the most dignified and well-placed planet in the chart. Being in the 7th this shows that debt could be their enemy. The Sun, ruler of the 6th in the 8th, indicates that some work needed to be done on this property may currently be invisible, underground and unknown; all of which will be expensive.
Exalted Jupiter rules the 10th house of the potential for profit, would at first seem a positive testimony, but on closer inspection it appears to be an illusion. The MC is conjunct the querent’s natal Saturn and Jupiter is on the contra-antiscia of her natal Sun; and it is also on the husbands DES.
JUDGEMENT
The overall judgement is simply that this is not a good investment to make at this time. The property needs more work than may be obvious. While the vision they have for the place is exciting and could result in a great investment, the reality of the work and time required to make it happen is greater than their finances can support. The money commitment far exceeds their ability to fund it. They would need to borrow a lot of money putting them into debt that would put undue stress on them. This stress is also indicated by the fact that the querent’s natal Saturn is on the degree of the MC (potential profit from the property); and her husband’s natal Saturn is at the degree of Mars (their finances).
As a final testimony showing that this property would be an unwise deal for their finances, the ASC of this horary at 17 Pisces, has its antiscia degree at 12 Libra, the degree on the 8th house cusp… the house of debt.
One of the most important and mysterious aspects of horary is the asking of the question. While it may be true that almost any question can be asked, some question make for better horary. Without a clear, concise and honest question, the resulting chart will be vague and confusing. The symbolism inherent in the horary will reflect the state of the querent relative to the matter in question. Any vagueness or dishonesty in the question (be it conscious or not) will be evident in the resulting horary.
We often hear of the need for a horary chart to be radical, but in fact it is the question that needs to be radical. The term ‘radical’ means rooted. A radical question is one that is firmly rooted to the client’s core. The more understanding on why they are seeking clarification on the issue, the more thought and reflection on the matter by the client; the more radical the question and resulting chart will be.
William Lilly stated that one should contemplate the question for a good 24 hours before asking the astrologer. There is much to be said for taking as much time as is needed to get the question right. Think of it as a gestation period!
Our responsibility as astrologers, is to ensure that not only we understand the question fully, but that our client is also clear. Context is everything. In order to gather the relevant background to the question, we may need to probe them for details that they may not recognise as important or want to share. The original question often transforms, ending up looking very different to what it started off being.
Not all questions will appear to or need to have a deep ‘soul’ connection. Some questions are more mundane, for example a lost object question. Though seemingly simple and clear, this question would still need clarification. When was the object last seen? Where? What are the circumstances that led to it going missing? What is the layout of the house and/or locality where the thing has been lost. With this understanding we can interpret the symbolism in the chart to fit the circumstance of the loss. Remember that if it is important enough for a client to ask about, then that lost object may have a far deeper importance to them than it appears on the surface.
The chart will reveal whether it is worthy to be read by its symbolic description of the players in the drama behind the questions. This is why it is crucial to understand all the facts surrounding the question. Sometimes the very thing that could be described as a “consideration before judgement” is what describes perfectly the circumstances surrounding the question. I have often found that in these circumstances the question may not be easily answered, but the chart still reveals something to the querent about the matter. Every horary chart has a function, but it is not always to provide an answer.
The question is the most important step in the horary process. Without a clear question there will not be a clear chart to interpret. It is not the subject matter that is important, but rather the motivation in its asking. There needs to be a soul intention to the question, it must be genuine and carry an unconditional resolve to accept the judgement made. Only then will the question must be radical or rooted. A radical question will result in a radical chart fit to be judged.
Such a horary will provide clear symbolism and clear answers. However, it is wise to understand that life is complex and multi-facetted, this fact is reflected in astrology. The depth of insight that can be gleaned from a simple horary is astonishing.
When you work as a horary astrologer you quickly learn that the horary chart is a powerful tool which must be given respect. Horary is never to be treated lightly. There is much written in the astrological literature about the importance of the question and warnings about asking your own question, but honestly there would be few horary astrologers who have not done so.
I asked a question that produced a chart so full of ominous testimony that at first, I simply refused to engage with it. Experience has taught me the power and accuracy of horary and so my heart sank on first viewing this chart: what it showed I did not want to face. But as always, the chart proved overwhelmingly accurate.
In order to interpret a chart, we must understand the background to the question. I was about a week away from leaving for an overseas trip that was going to take me to Cambodia to visit my son, then to England where I was to present a talk on Medical horary at the AA conference and speak at the Lodge in London, spending the final two weeks visiting my family in the US; three continents in just over five weeks. An important background factor was that I had undergone a brain surgery on Feb 12 of that year, and had only been cleared to travel by my neurosurgeon two months previously. I was generally apprehensive about travelling as I was still feeling fragile, having minor concerns with dizziness and balance.
My question was simple: “Will my trip go well?”
The natal contacts to my chart make this a very radical chart1. The angles of this chart are the reverse of my natal angles (21 Leo rising and 14 Taurus MC) symbolically this shows circumstances that maybe contrary to or oppose my natural inclination. My natal Mars is at 13 Scorpio 43 conjunct the MC and my natal Moon at 6 degrees Pisces in on the horary Neptune (meaning that I was having a Neptune transit to my Moon). The hour ruler Mercury does not accord with the ASC or its ruler in this chart, indicating that there will be no easy outcome to the situation in question.
In a nutshell this was the judgement: the indications are that this trip will not go smoothly as the two malefic planets Mars & Saturn sit on the MC and the Moon is combust the Sun on the cusp of the 8th house of death, loss and anguish of mind. The testimony for this judgement are:
My significator is the Aquarius ASC(which sits on my natal DES – the portal of death) and its ruler Saturnat 17 Scorpio, peregrine2 and conjunct Mars on the MC; as well as the Moon at 10 degrees Virgo, combust the Sun at 2 Virgo (opposing my natal Moon) and conjunct the 8th house cusp. Mercury ruler of the 8th house is very strong, being in rulership and exaltation; he is making a close sextile to Saturn and Mars.
There is a new Moon indicating a new beginning, which by definition means there was an ending. Saturn on the MC shows that the trip was partly taken for career reasons and to visit my parent particularly my mother3 who had not been well for a number of years.
As this is an overseas trip taking me to foreign places, it is signified by the 9th house and its ruler Venus on the DES (the portals of death) and approaching a partile square of both Saturn and Mars at 17 Leo. There is a negative reception between Saturn in Scorpio and Venus in Leo, mitigating the positive testimony of an angular Venus. Pluto makes a square the cusp of the 9th house. So the trip will encounter malefic influences.
Outcome
The chart proved to be accurate, as on September 4th, the day after arriving in Cambodia I received word that my mother had had a bad fall. At her age and in her fragile physical state, I knew that this was not something which she would likely recover from. Though my father told me not to change my plans as she was currently in hospital and being well looked after, I began to contemplate getting to the US as soon as I could. In the interim I focused on sending her much love and light; I sent messages that I would be there as soon as I could.
A few days later I was having trouble sleeping, I awoke thinking of my mother, tearfully trying to let her know that I was there with her in spirit if not in body. I finally got up as I could not sleep and turned my computer on to see the time. There was a message from my brother saying that he did not think I would make it in time as my mother was having difficulty breathing. I knew that she had died. Minutes later the phone rang; my mother had died (September 8) at 4:39 pm Chicago time, exactly 4:39 AM Cambodian time (September 9). It was then 7:15 AM.
I would like to think that she felt the love I was sending to her, but I shall always regret that I missed her. The last time I was in Chicago had been in April 2013, having planned to return in April 2014, however a benign brain tumour derailed my plans and delayed my trip.
The angles on my mother’s solar return chart for 2014 are almost identical to those of my natal chart so the horary chart plugs into her chart as well as mine. At the moment of my mother’s death in Chicago, the MC was at 17 Scorpio and the Moon was full with the luminaries straddling the 2nd/8th cusp of the horary chart.
Mars as ruler of the 10th house signifies my mother in this horary. The testimony of her death in this chart are: Saturn on her Turned ASC (MC), Mercury the lord of both the radical and turned (from the 10th) house of death being the only dignified planet in the chart. The Moon’s next aspect will be to Mars/Saturn after which she carries their light to Mercury.
A radical chart is connected to the querent or the moment. It has roots and will provide a clear answer. ↩︎
A peregrine planet is one that has no essential dignity in any of the five dignity levels: rulership, exaltation, triplicity, terms and face. It is lost, wandering, unconnected to its location. ↩︎
In traditional astrology the 10th house signifies the mother in particular. ↩︎
In the past astrologers were called upon to answer all manners of enquiries: from lost objects, missing animals, health & money concerns, interests related to work & and public life and the perennial, matters of the heart. The use of natal charts was not as common as it is today, as few had accurate birth data; and on a practical level, the information that can be extracted from a natal chart is not detailed enough to shed light on specific everyday concerns. To assist with their enquiries, astrologers would use a ‘consultation chart’ cast for the moment they met with their client and understood their concerns.
Over the centuries this evolved to become known as Horary; the art of answering a specific question posed to the astrologer. The word horary means ‘of the hour’ and relates to the measure of time. Horary astrology is the astrology of the moment. A question is asked; once the astrologer fully understands it, and makes a commitment to judge the matter, a horoscope is cast.
The historical importance and prevalence of horary in practice, is attested to by the many ancient texts that have codified the technical and philosophical foundations of horary judgement. Take for instance the first of Guido Bonatti1 “146 Considerations”; it relates to the question.
“The first consideration is of those things which move a man to pose a question (and there are three motions). The first is the motion of the soul, when someone is moved by his intention to pose a question…”2
A horoscope captures & anchors a moment, crystallizing it into a symbolic framework that provides a wealth of information. Past, present & future are all present in the horary. In essence horary is astrological divination, a system of prognostication that comes to us from the divine realm; the Cosmos.
“The second is the motion of the superior bodies, namely when someone asks, that they at that time imprint on the thing enquired after, what shall become of it…“3
The Cosmos provides a clear and profoundly detailed snapshot of a moment, that captures what was, what is and what could be within the confines of the horoscope. The Cosmos speaks to us via the planets (the superior bodies), through their movement, placement, condition and influence. It is our responsibility to understand what the Cosmos is communicating through the symbolism present in the horoscope.
“The third is the motion of free will, which can itself be an act of the one asking, because even though the soul is moved to ask, it does not suffice unless the superior bodies lead him to pose the question, nor does the motion of the stars suffice, unless from the motion of the free will the act of asking is reached.”4
The act of asking involves two people; the one who poses the question and the one who receives it. Both must engage their free-will to offer and accept the responsibility of engaging with the Cosmos in seeking its assistance. The one making the enquiry, must be prepare to accept the judgement unconditionally. As astrologers, we have a choice to make judgement on a question, but once we choose to do so, we are committed to judge the matter regardless of its outcome.
The study of horary helps us to decipher the symbolism inherent in a chart. Approaching a chart in order to find an answer to a specific question, we are called upon to understand the power of planetary movement, diurnal and zodiacal; to know the nature of the planets, how they interact and bestow influence within a particular context.
The practice of horary hones our skill in interpreting astrological symbolism within any focused context; be it horary, natal, or event. It teaches us to recognise that which is of primary importance and that which is inconsequential relative to the issue being investigated. It improves our ability to understand a moment as a dynamic, unfolding potential.
Horary, like all astrological applications reveals different levels and facets on the matter at hand. Seeing a chart unfold and reveal the answer to a seemingly simple question is to experience the magic of astrology in action. branch of government having full or limitless power over an area of governance.
Guido Bonatti was an Italian mathematician, astronomer and the most celebrated astrologer of the 13th century. ↩︎
Guido Bonatti “Book of Astronomy” Benjamin Dykes translation (2007) page 263 ↩︎
Where is the cat? This is a horary question that has almost become cliché. Why do these loveable creatures seem to get into so much trouble? Maybe it is our love and dedication to them that is the real problem. In any case it is wonderful when a chart can alleviate the stress and worry of an owner.
November 4 2007 at 16:48 AEDT Melbourne Australia
BACKGROUND
The querent showed up at my house very distressed; she was making the rounds of all the neighbours looking for her cat, Pukka, who she thought may have hidden in someone’s garden after an incident 2 days prior. Pukka had followed her to the milkbar (in Australia this is a small corner store) and as the cat followed her across the street she appeared to have been hit by a car. Pukka ran under a parked car, but when the querent went looking for her, she had she was not there and she didn’t respond when she called to her.
SIGNIFICATORS
The Querent is signified by the Aries ASC and its ruler Mars. Mars is in fall in the 4th house trining and receiving the Sun in the 8th. The querent was thinking the worse; her significator was in the house of the grave and trine a planet in the 8th house of death, anxiety and anguish of mind. She strongly feared for Pukka’s safety. Luckily Mars is receiving the Sun by trine, indicating that the querent will get some benefic and joyful light on the matter. The Sun rules the 5th(of children and pleasure) and she spoke of Pukka as being her baby.
Pukka the cat is signified by Lord 6 Mercury and the Moon. Mercury has dignity by term and has accidental strength being angular and free from the Sun’s beams. He is also helped by his sextile aspect to Jupiter. Mercury is also favoured by his conjunction to the lucky fixed star Spica; a fortunate omen!
As Mercury has only just gone direct, he was moving very slowly, under 30 minutes. A fitting description of a cat having just been injured and hiding away somewhere, probably sleeping and not being very active. As Mercury is now starting to pick up speed, we have yet more positive testimony that Pukka’s fate is improving, not getting worse.
The fact that neither Mercury nor the Moon are applying to, or making an aspect to either Lord 8, Venus or the turned Lord 8 (the 8th from the 6th being the radical 1st)Mars, as well as the mutual reception between Venus in Virgo and Mercury in Libra show us that Pukka is still alive.
The Moon is on the cusp of the 6th, indicating Pukka is very close by, possibly somewhere behind her house. The Moon’s last aspect was to Saturn 2 degrees before indicates the incident with the car; which had occurred 2 days before. Saturn rules the turned 6th house, so this fits in well with the cat being hurt. The Moon’s next aspect is to Mars Lord ASC in 3 degrees, suggesting the cat will be back in 3 days. And she was!
WHERE WAS PUKKA?
As to where Pukka was hiding, the testimony in this chart suggests that she was inside or under something, close to a dry and even ground, (L 4 Moon in Virgo, Mercury in Libra); maybe a garden shed (Moon with Saturn) that was old and abandoned. There was such a shed just behind the querent’s apartment block. The elderly woman who owned the property would not let the querent go into or near the shed as she feared it was unsafe and might collapse. It was an old wooden shed, grown over and totally abandoned; a perfect place in which a cat could hide and recuperate.
The important thing is that Pukka returned in three days as evidenced by the chart, she seemed to be fine though rather hungry. She was probably a bit shaken and sore by the encounter with the car and so hid away to sleep and heal.
The querent is a young woman trying to establish herself as a stylist in a competitive field. Initially she asked me whether she; should be involved in a project she had committed to? After a bit of probing we came to understand that what she really wanted to know was whether there was any benefit for her in being involved. So the question became “Will I benefit from being involved in this project?”
The project was a fashion runway show for some young emerging designers and included the shooting of a promotional video. There was no money involved, though it promised to be a creative and possibly good networking opportunity. As her focus of interest is photo and props styling, she was made responsible for all props. She was now having second thoughts about the project as she had a lot of paid work on and felt that it was going to take up far more time than she first had anticipated. She also had a sense that the woman in charge of the project had subtly manipulated her into getting involved and was very vague as to the time commitment it would involve.
Simple Judgement
The chart has Aquarius rising giving Saturn exalted in Libra as significator of the querent. Saturn is being sextiled by the Moon in Sagittarius who could also be taken as a significator for the querent. The project, being a creative project that falls into the category of entertainment, I gave to the 5thhouse and therefore was signified by Mercury in Leo in the 6th house. Mercury is disposited by the Sun in Cancer in the 5th house, which I took as the “Boss” of the project, the woman who was putting the project together and had asked my client to be involved.
Both Mercury and the Sun are in the signs of Saturn’s detriment. The answer was clear. She would not benefit from this project, in fact it was likely to be to her detriment. Mercury in the 6thimplies that she will be worked like a slave and the Sun’s position in Cancer shows us how the Boss could manipulate the Moon, our querent to do whatever it wanted.
The promise that this would be a good opportunity to network and make contacts, was not going to happen as Mercury, the project was already separating from Jupiter, the ruler of the 11thhouse who signified these contacts. However, Saturn being in a partile sextile with the Moon on the cusp of the 11thhouse indicates that the querent is already making contacts. A fact that the querent conceded.
Barbara Waters wrote in 1973 “Horary Astrology and the Judgement of Events” (page 14): “Saturn in the 7th house, the astrologer’s judgement is clouded…the reason for his blindness hardly matters because his judgement is clouded and cannot be objective.”
This chart has Saturn in the 7th house and I, the astrologer got it wrong. I even jokingly told the querent after giving my erroneous judgement that: “since Saturn is in the 7th house I am probably wrong”. On that point I was right. Looking back at the chart the answer seems obvious, however at the time “my judgement was clouded”.
“Where are my glasses?” (21 Jan 2012, 12:52 PM, Melbourne Australia)
The querent had a trade table at an astrological conference. While setting up she had misplaced her glasses which were a new pair of designer prescription glasses. I was speaking with the querent, a friend and fellow astrologer, joking around as one does at a conference surrounded by colleagues and associates. When she told me of her lost glasses I offered to find them with a horary.
Only having the querent’s computer at hand I set the chart, but when I first saw it, I was shocked to find a chart filled with a million aspect lines and various asteroids and other points. To me the chart looked a confusing mess and I said: “I can’t see anything!”… I asked to change the settings and finally “saw” a chart as I am use to; clean and simple with few lines.
The querent is signified by the ASC and its ruler Mars in Virgo (working at a marketing table at a conference), the glasses are signified by the 2nd house ruler, Venus in Pisces, exalted (being designer glasses), but this placement also indicated that they are not in a totally foreign place, but rather a place where they are being “honoured”. There were a number of indications that the glasses would be found: the Moon in Capricorn is making a trine to Jupiter a planet in the first house, both luminaries are above the horizon.
But the only thing I saw was that there was no aspect between, Venus and Mars or the Moon and Venus (or Mars). I also saw the peregrine Mercury was on the MC, and I concluded that someone had found them, picked them up and walked off with them. Not a thief so much as an opportunist.
I could not get beyond the fact that the Moon would first hit Pluto before he could complete his sextile to Venus; which I interpreted as a prohibition. (This chart adds to my growing understanding that the outer planets do not function in the same manner as the seven classical planets do).
The fact that the Moon was in a partile trine with Jupiter in the ASC and had just separated from a sextile with Saturn (after which it ingressed into a new sign) shows that the glasses were probably in the possession of someone in authority, as Jupiter rules the 9th the conference was being held at a University) and Saturn rules the MC (also both Jupiter and Saturn tend to suggest a person with authority). The glasses were found at the front desk of the conference and the querent was reunited with them a couple days later.
As for the astrologer, she learnt a valuable lesson; never try to read a chart without giving it due reverence.
As a rule, I normally do not think that “should” questions are able to be answered with horary, but every once in a while I get a chart that is just so clear, the answer so obvious that it defies this “rule”.
The querent had recorded a song and wanted to get it released but was told that without a video clip this would never happen. He has been trying to get someone to “direct” the clip as he felt totally unqualified to do so himself, though he had lots of ideas about how he wanted it to look.
8:47 am on February 13, 2007 in Melbourne
This chart shows the significators of the querent highly dignified and fortified, while the significator of others ( 7th ruler, Mercury) or employees (6th ruler, Sun) are both in bad zodiacal condition and in weak positions, giving us the answer.
The querent is signified by Lord of the ASC, Jupiter in Sagittarius is on the MC. Venus being on the ASC would also signify the querent. Both are dignified benefics and on the major angles clearly providing the answer; yes he should direct the clip. The Moon also in the 10th close to the MC and conjunct Jupiter, is about to sextile the Sun (Lord 6), and Venus sextile Mars ruler of the 2nd (the money) and 9th (the vision), on the 11th cusp. With the help of friends ( 11th house) and hiring others (Lord 6) the job will be done. Mars being exalted the vision and the friends assisting will be of a good quality.
The sextile of the Moon and Sun can be understood as bringing the vision to light, as the Moon is ruler of the 5th house which could signify the creative project, especially relevant as the Moon’s last aspect was a sextile to Neptune (conjunct the Sun) and universal significator of film.
It is also interesting that the Nodes are conjunct the ASC/DES axis, showing a fated quality to this question. Having tried to find someone to direct this clip for quite a long time with no success; signified by the Sun (Lord 6) in detriment on the 12th cusp opposite Saturn in detriment retrograde, being let down by others promising one thing and not coming through. These others could also be signified by Lord 7 Mercury in Pisces and with Uranus in the 12th very unreliable. Neither Sun nor Mercury engenders any sense of reliability and trust.
The querent did go on to direct the clip with the help of friends and others. The exalted state of both Venus (the querent) and Mars (the vision and friends) show us that the querent was not 100% comfortable doing this but he was capable. It was a successful project whichsaw his vision realised.
It is often said that horary works best when dealing with concrete and verifiable matters and as such is concerned with the trivialities of life. Anyone can learn the rules and techniques of horary, but it is only through consistent practice that the inexplicable correspondence between the will of the soul, the moment of asking and the celestial movements come to be revealed. It is then that a horary chart mirrors the depth and magic inherent in the most basic events of human life.
The simplest of inquiries can hide a complex web of relationships and meaning that the horary chart will reveal in plain sight to any with the eyes to see. Astrology generally and horary in particular makes the truth known; but few really want to know the truth, they are happier to be told that what they already believe, is the truth. The rigorousness and discipline of horary gives the astrologer an objective framework from which to work and with which the truth and richness of life and human experience is exposed.
Some charts defy rational explanation and prove the truth that lies at the heart of astrology. Here is such a chart:
“Will Adrian get the house?” Aug 14, 2008 at 3:50 pm, Melbourne
Adrian had been planning to renovate and move into a property he owned, but he was not really happy with its location. He had recently seen a property which would suit his needs quite well and situated in a neighbourhood he wanted to live in. The asking price seemed pretty low, but it was going to be sold at auction. He had all his financing is place and planned to bid at the auction on the following Saturday. I asked this question as Adrian had been in a long term relationship with my daughter which looked to be headed for marriage and this property could end up being her home.
The first thing to note is that the ASC has a very late degree rising which could mean that the matter is already settled and nothing about this matter can be altered by the judgement of this chart. At the time I did not understand how this could be relevant but have later come to see this simple question in a different light.
On the surface this is a clear and simple buying and selling question. Adrian is not the querent so is signified by the 7th house and its ruler, the Moon. The seller would be the ASC and its ruler Saturn and the property itself would be signified by the IC and its ruler, Mars and the profit from this property would be signified by the MC and its ruler Venus.
The next applying aspect of the Moon is a trine to Mars; there are no impediments to this aspect and it is being received, as the Moon is in the sign of Mars’s exaltation. This is about the best scenario you can get. It goes without saying that he got the property. The profit to be had from the property would appear bad as Venus is in her fall and conjunct Saturn, but he did buy the place for a relatively low price. Again I didn’t understand and thought something was wrong, but a different perspective would later make sense of this.
Looking under the surface
On further consideration, the lack of planets in the angles and all the main significators positioned in either cadent or the 8th house, gives reason for concern. Guido Bonatti’s 5th consideration tells us to “consider how many ways the Moon is ill affected…whereby hindrances and damage happen in all questions…”[1] Here the Moon is in the sign of her detriment as well as being peregrine, in the 12th house connected to Jupiter in the sign of its fall. After the Moon makes her aspect with Mars she will be VOC until she comes into orb of opposing the Sun, which is considered to be an affliction to her, especially as this opposition was in fact an eclipse of the Moon at 24 Aquarius, incidentally opposite Adrian’s natal Sun at 23 Aquarius.
Major alarm bells are now ringing. The poor state of this Moon certainly reveals that the matter will be “hindered and damaged” and the stellium of planets in the 8th house of death is a further warning that all may not be so rosy. Further more the Moon also rules Adrian’s turned 12th house of self-undoing and makes a partile sextile to Uranus in the 3rd house opposite Mars.
As it turned out Adrian purchased the property for a low price in dollar terms, but the price in emotional terms was very high; he did not profit from this move and neither did my daughter. The relationship which had been at its peak, went downhill very soon after moving into this property and ended thereafter.
In this chart the Sun is conjunct the South Node and Adrian’s turned 2nd house hinting of the money worries this purchase engendered. Even the fact that Mars signified the property suggests strife. Adrian’s natal chart connects with this horary proving this to be a radical chart[2]. The Moon is conjunct his natal ASC and Mars is conjunct his natal North Node indicating the fated nature of this matter. The North Node and Neptune of this chart sit on Adrian’s natal 2nd house cusp, mirroring the money issues highlighted in the horary chart.
Though I asked this question with no conscious awareness of my concern for my daughter, her natal chart also connects strongly with this horary chart. Her natal Moon at 16 Libra sits on this chart’s MC, her natal Venus at 26 Virgo 44 is exactly on the degree this horary’s Mars; and finally Saturn was on her natal 11th cusp, beginning to put his heavy damper on her “hopes and wishes”.
My daughter, being Adrian’s partner would be signified in this horary by the ruler of the ASC, Saturn peregrine in the 8th house, of “mental anguish” symbolically depressing both her mind (Mercury) and her pleasures (Venus). She has since told me she felt lost, unsupported and suffered from depression during the period that she lived at this property.
With the benefit of hindsight the 29 degrees on the ASC can be understood as indicating a crisis and a change of circumstance about to happen, but I did not see this at the time. After all, the question was simply about whether Adrian would get the property and the strong testimony that he would proved true. But behind this question was a desire to see Adrian and my daughter happy and secure; yet the testimony in this chart point to strife, depression and unhappiness for both.
Astrology never ceases to amaze and humble me. Far from being trivial, horary astrology is as deep and multi-layered as the world it reflects and reveals.
Postscript
The antiscion degree of the Jupiter ( 3rd house ruler) of this chart was on my daughter’s natal Uranus. The antiscion degree of the North node (on the 2nd house of money) was on Adrian’s natal Uranus. The Antiscion degree of this chart’s Uranus falls on Adrian’s natal Mars.
When they broke up Jupiter and Uranus were conjunct at 27 degrees Pisces opposite Mars in this horary and my daughter’s natal Venus.
[1] (page 3-4) Guido Bonatti 146 Considerations, from William Lilly The Astrologer’s Guide, first edited in 1778, reprinted by AFA 2005 from the 1953 edition.
[2] A radical chart is one deemed able to be judged. “Pertaining to the radix, or horoscope of birth, the root from which everything is judged.” Nicholas deVore Encyclopedia of Astrology, Astrology Classics 1947(page 328)
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