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Horary astrology
From Wikipedia
Astrology
Horary astrology is an ancient branch of horoscopic astrology by which an
astrologer attempts to answer a question by constructing a horoscope for the exact
time at which the question was received and understood by the astrologer. There is
disagreement amongst horary astrologers as to whether to use the location of the
person who asks the question - the querent - or the location of the astrologer.
Normally they are in the same place, but in modern times many astrologers work
online and by telephone. These days the querent could be in Australia and send an
email with the question to an astrologer in Europe. The horoscope would in this case Background
History of astrology
be radically different. Many European practitioners take the location of the querent,
History of astronomy
but there are strong voices in traditional English schools who advocate using the Astrology and astronomy
location of the astrologer. Traditions
Babylonian · Hellenistic
The answer to the horary question might be a simple yes or no, but is generally more Islamic · Western
complex with insights into, for example, the motives of the questioner, the motives of Hindu · Chinese
others involved in the matter, and the options available to him. Sidereal vs. Tropical
More...
Branches of
horoscopic astrology
Contents Natal astrology
Electional astrology
Horary astrology
1 History
Mundane astrology
2 Approach More...
3 Assigning Houses Categories
4 Turning the chart Astrologers
5 Interpretation Astrological texts
6 See also Astrological writers
Astrology Portal

History
Horary astrology has been practiced for centuries in India known as Prasna Shastra (Sanskrit prasna =
question). It is a branch of Vedic astrology which is still widely used across the Indian subcontinent. The more
advanced form is the Astamangalam Prasna and Deva Prasna methods of Kerala. The state of Kerala, in India,
is famous even today for its traditional use of horary astrology.

The English astrologer William Lilly (1602–81) was the last major horary astrologer, and probably the
best-known horary practitioner in history.

Approach
Horary astrology has its own strict system. The position of and aspects to the moon are of prime importance.
The person asking the question, or querent, is represented by the ruler of the sign the first house cusp falls on in
the horoscope. Planetary aspects to the house cusps are considered more important than in other branches of
astrology (although it is the planetary rulers of the houses in question that take precedent in analysis). Other key
elements used in horary astrology include the lunar nodes, the planetary antiscia, the fixed stars and the Arabic

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parts.

Typically, a horary chart is read by first assigning the thing asked about, the quesited, to a particular house in
the chart. For instance, asking "Where is my lost dog?" would be represented by the sixth house, as it is the
house that governs small animals (traditionally, smaller than a goat). The house cusp of the sixth house will be in
a particular sign, for example Libra. Libra is ruled by Venus, so Venus is considered the significator of the lost
dog. Venus's state in the horoscope (its dignity, aspects, etc.) will give clues to the animal's location.

Assigning Houses
Houses play a more crucial role in horary astrology than they do in other branches of astrology. Any house
system preferred by the astrologer may be used, but commonly horary astrologers choose to divide the chart
using the Regiomontanus house system.

Understanding the correct house for the context of the question is pivotal to the correct interpretation of a
horary question. Everything can be assigned to a house and it is to that house, and its ruler, that the assignation
of the quesited is derived. Whatever planet is ruling the sign on the cusp of the house is called the quesited. The
context of the horary will often determine the house. For example, if the horary is about matters pertaining to
career, the ruler of the 10th House, natural house for careers and jobs, will be the quesited.

A short, non-exhaustive, list of possible associations with houses follows:

The First House

The querent (person asking the question). The querent's general vitality and life force. It may also
describe the querent's appearance or temperament. It is considered the 'ship that you sail in'.

The Second House

The querent's finance, wealth and general material and financial possessions. Moveable possessions
as opposed to immovable possessions. Allies or supports for the querent, such as your lawyer in
court cases. Any personal (moveable) goods and belongings, immovable possessions such as houses
are fourth house. Questions about the value of any of your possessions would be second house, for
example the buying and selling of a car would be second house (not third).

The Third House

Siblings, neighbours and the local neighbourhood. Any general concern about relatives may be
considered third house. Communications and contracts. General comings and goings and short
journeys and travels. Letters, emails and paperwork. (Cars may be second or third depending on the
context of the question- in matters of travel, the third may be used, in matters pertaining to the
value of the car, or of buying or selling a car, then the second may be used.)

The Fourth House

Parents generally but the father in particular. Immovable possessions as opposed to moveable
possessions, e.g. your houses, garden, orchard. Mines, oil, buried treasure and anything which
comes from the 'bowels of the earth'.

The Fifth House

Children, love affairs and sex (not the eighth house). Gambling, speculation, games and pleasure.
Any venue that caters to our pleasures or provide entertainment including restaurants, pubs/taverns,
theatres and music venues.

The Sixth House

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Illness and disease or sickness. Also servants, or anyone who works for you, such as a plumber,
electrician or anyone in your employ. Pets and small animals, traditionally considered smaller than a
goat (larger animals are twelfth house).

The Seventh House

Marriage, partners and partnerships - both business and personal. Competitors and opponents of all
kinds. It is the house of open enemies, by which it is meant enemies that you are aware of. Hidden
enemies are the twelfth house. If no other house suffices, use the seventh house to represent 'any
old person'.

The Eighth House

Death, fears and anxiety. Inheritances, taxes and wills. It is also commonly used to indicate the
financial status of partners or opponents (see 'Turning the chart' below).

The Ninth House

Long distance travel, or, travel to unknown or 'exotic' locations. Foreigners and foreign lands.
Universities and students of any subject of higher education such as doctors, lawyers, priests and
astrologers. Visions, dreams and religion, as well as churches and philosophies. Books. Pilgrimages
or journeys for spiritual or religious reasons.

The Tenth House

Career, jobs, employers and persons of authority. Heads of state, the government generally, judges
and royalty. It is also commonly used to indicate the property belonging to the partner or opponent
(see 'Turning the chart' below).

The Eleventh House

Close friends or groups. Wishes, hopes and aspirations. It is considered the house of 'Good Fortune'
and is often likened to 'pennies from heaven'. It is commonly used to infer the income from a
profession or job as well as state benefits (see 'Turning the chart' below).

The Twelfth House

Secrets, hidden motives and enemies, captivity, imprisonment and self-undoing. Things not yet
known to the querent. Any form of non-voluntary bondage or captivity, monastries, being voluntary
and religious are ninth house. Witchcraft or any manner of secretly undermining the querent.

Turning the chart

In addition, houses may gain extra meaning by way of 'turning the chart'. If you know that the fourth house
relates to the father, and that the third house relates to siblings, you can turn the chart to get the father's sibling
by taking the third house (siblings) from the fourth house (father), in other words, by counting three house from
the fourth. In this manner the sixth house (third from the fourth), in addition to its natural meaning, may also be
used for any brothers and sisters of the father. In a horary question about, for example, your aunt or uncle, it
would make sense to turn the chart and use the sixth house if it is your father's brother or sister, or, alternately,
to use the twelfth house (third from tenth) if it is your mother's brother or sister. Turned houses are called
derived houses, as opposed to the normal radical houses.

Interpretation
Fundamental to horary astrology is the concept of planetary dignity and reception. Dignity comes in two forms,
essential and accidental. Essential refers to the quality of a planet at a particular degree of the zodiac and its

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ability to express its true/good nature. For instance, a horoscope is drawn and Mars is in Scorpio. Using
traditional rulerships, Mars here is in its own sign, so it is considered essentially strong; a well-behaved Mars.
Mars in Taurus, on the other hand, is in its detriment, so is essentially weak. In a horary question where Mars is
a significator, Mars's essential dignity will indicate something of the quality of the quesited. Accidental dignity
refers to how the planet "finds itself". That is, if the planet is in a traditionally bad house (6th, 8th, or 12th) in
the chart, if it is retrograde, aspected by a malefic planet (Saturn or Mars), combust, etc., then it is considered an
accidental debility.

As an example, consider a valuable ring which happens to be lost. Its inherent condition is that it is valuable and
so has lots of essential dignity. However, its current state is that it is lost and so has little accidental dignity. The
significator for the ring in this horary might, for example, be Venus in Taurus (good essential dignity) but
retrograde and combust (accidentally debilitated).

Reception refers to how each planet in a horary question chart "view" or "receive'" each other, either
favourably, unfavourably, or somewhere in between. If Mars is in Taurus, and Venus is in Scorpio, then each of
the planets is in the sign the other planet rules. (Venus is ruler of Taurus, Mars of Scorpio). This is called mutual
reception by rulership, and although each planet is in its detriment, it nevertheless receives the other planet
favourably. In some horary questions, a thorough understanding of receptions (and the above example skims the
surface of this topic) is required to delineate the interplay of how the various significators view each other what
sort of attitudes are taking place in the area of the question.

See also
Electional astrology
Katarche - ancient horary
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