All 52 chapters
  1. Part 1 · The sky and the chart
  2. The sky above us
  3. Time and place of birth
  4. Two zodiacs
  5. How a chart is drawn
  6. Part 2 · The building blocks
  7. The 9 planets
  8. The 12 signs
  9. The 27 nakshatras
  10. The 12 houses
  11. The lagnas
  12. Part 3 · How planets work together
  13. How planets interact
  14. Friends, dispositors, exchanges
  15. House lords
  16. Reading one placement
  17. Part 4 · Strength and condition
  18. Dignity in depth
  19. A planet's mood
  20. Planetary strength
  21. Ashtakavarga in depth
  22. Part 5 · Patterns: yogas and doshas
  23. Yogas
  24. Doshas
  25. Part 6 · The nakshatras up close
  26. Reading a nakshatra
  27. Tara Bala
  28. Part 7 · Divisional charts
  29. Divisional charts
  30. Navamsa in depth
  31. Part 8 · Timing
  32. Dashas
  33. Transits
  34. The annual chart (Tajika)
  35. Part 9 · Relationships
  36. Compatibility
  37. Marriage in depth
  38. Part 10 · Advanced systems
  39. Special points
  40. Jaimini astrology
  41. Arudha padas
  42. KP astrology
  43. Nadi astrology
  44. Part 11 · Choosing the moment
  45. Panchanga
  46. Muhurta
  47. Prashna (horary)
  48. Part 12 · Life areas
  49. Career, money and business
  50. Travel, abroad, spirituality
  51. Health and longevity
  52. Karma and past lives
  53. Remedies
  54. Rectifying a birth time
  55. Part 13 · Western astrology
  56. Western astrology basics
  57. Aspects and chart shapes
  58. Western prediction
  59. Synastry
  60. Horary and electional
  61. Part 14 · The wider world
  62. Mundane astrology and eclipses
  63. Astrocartography and branches
  64. Part 15 · Putting it all together
  65. How it all fits
  66. How AstroMatch4u scores a chart
  67. Using astrology well
Part 13Western astrology
CHAPTER 47

Western horary and electional astrology

How does the Western tradition answer questions and pick dates?

Horary

Like prashna, horary casts a chart for the moment a question is asked. Its rules come from medieval and 17th-century astrologers such as William Lilly.

Radical chartA chart "fit to judge". Warnings include an ascendant in the first or last 3° of a sign (too early or too late to ask).
SignificatorsThe ruler of the 1st house is the person asking; the ruler of the question's house is the thing asked about. The Moon is a co-significator.
PerfectionThe two significators coming to an exact aspect: the matter happens.
Translation of lightA faster planet separates from one significator and applies to the other, carrying the matter between them.
Collection of lightA slower planet receives aspects from both significators and joins them.
ProhibitionAnother planet reaches one significator first and blocks the meeting.
FrustrationOne significator perfects with a third planet before meeting the other.
ReceptionA planet in a sign ruled by the other: goodwill between them, which can save a difficult aspect.
Void-of-course MoonThe Moon makes no more major aspects before leaving its sign: "nothing will come of it".
TimingThe degrees still to perfection, turned into days, weeks, months or years by the type of sign and house.

Electional

Electional astrology is the Western muhurta: choosing a date and time to begin something. Its usual guidelines:

  • A strong, well-placed ruler of the matter (Venus for a wedding, Mercury for a contract).
  • Benefics on the angles (1st, 4th, 7th, 10th houses) and malefics away from them.
  • A waxing Moon that is not void of course and is applying to a benefic.
  • Avoiding retrograde rulers (for example signing contracts during Mercury retrograde) and hard aspects to the key planets.

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