horary lessons anthony louis
TRANSCRIPT
I apologize that the following is NOT well-formatted.
I did not have time to put it in the same form as the
previous entries in this series. Below you will find
a collection of all the lessons which I posted on Genie
in 1992. Please enjoy them. The charts are best viewed
in COURIER font. They will appear distorted in any other font.
You may wish to Right-Click with your mouse and choose
View source. This will show you this file in WordPad where you
can view it in Courier font with all the original formatting
preserved.
--- Anthony Louis
MINI-LESSON #1: WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA?
The idea behind horary and electional astrology is that the
quality or nature of the time you ask a question or start a
new venture will influence its future development and outcome.
The best analogy is the weather forecast.
If you were traveling to Maine in January, would you pack your
bathing suit, suntan lotion, and scuba gear? Assuming there are
no weirdoes in the audience, I'd bet most of you would answer "no."
The time of year you plan the trip tells you something about its
future development.
Now, astrology, that is, the horoscope chart for a particular time
and place, reflects the nature or quality of the time.
There are good times and bad times, rough times and smooth times,
peaceful times and stormy times. The chart tells us what the time
looks like. In fact, in my view, astrology is simply the study of
the qualitative nature of time.
Because astrology lets us determine the nature of time, we can
use astrology to select a good time to act -- that's what electional
astrology is all about: electing the proper time for a venture.
Horary is the other side of the coin. Horary analyzes the nature of
the time you asked a question. The idea is that you are embedded in
the space-time continuum (matrix) so that what you are thinking and
doing at a particular time is part and parcel of the space-time matrix
of which you are a part.
To say it a different way, ASTROLOGY DESCRIBES WHAT I CALL
THE TERRAIN OF TIME.
If you were setting out on a hike, you would look at a map to see the
type of terrain you were about to traverse. Astrology allows you to
preview the type of time-terrain you are about to enter.
Horary and electional astrology have a data base that spans over
two thousand years of astrologers studying such charts and noting
the outcome. In that sense, this branch of astrology is an empirical
science.
Let me end here as far as the theory goes. Next time I'll get into
some basic astrological principles for JUDGING such charts. I use
the word JUDGE advisedly because you must weigh all the factors and
come up with your best guess as to the outcome. This is akin to what
a physician does in making a diagnosis. Like physicians, astrologers
can make wrong judgments based on their skill and experience.
Bye till next time.
(c)opyright Anthony Louis, 1992.
------------
LESSON 2: SOME BASIC IDEAS OF HORARY AND ELECTIONAL ASTROLOGY.
Here's the chart for the time I ELECTED to start these
lessons:
SOUTH
M.C.
0 2 MO 15 Ar 56 2
11th 1 10th 1 1
G A P
m r 9th i 8th
SN 7 Cn 45 4 5 0
---08 Cn 29--7-------------2-------------3--27 Aq 35---
| | 7th
| BEGIN HORARY LESSONS | SU 19 Aq 22
| | ME 16 Aq 45
12th | FEB 8, 1992 | SA 10 Aq 26
| 16: 0: 0 ZONE 5.00 S T | WEST
05 Le 23-----| 41 N 19.0 73 W 1.0 |-----05 Aq 23 DSC
ASC | GEOCENTRIC TROPICAL | MA 22 Cp 54
EAST | Regiomontanus | VE 17 Cp 54
1st | | NE 17 Cp 39 6th
| | UR 15 Cp 55
| | NN 9 Cp 0
---27 Le 35--2-------------2-------------0--08 Cp 29---
1 1 1
2nd V PF 1 Li 57 L PL 22 Sc 53 S 5th
i i a
JP 12 Vi 12r0 3rd 5 4th 4
3 2 7
I.C.
NORTH
It helps to know some basics about astrology.
I will assume the reader knows very little.
The chart reflects the planets' positions in space as they
are projected on the Ecliptic, the apparent path of the sun in
space.
The point at which the horizon crosses the ecliptic in the
East is called the Ascendant. In this chart 5 LEO 23' was the
point on the ecliptic which was rising when I started these
lessons. The point at which the horizon crosses the ecliptic in
the West is called the Descendant.
You will note that the chart looks upside-down and backwards
from a typical map (in which East in on the right and South is on
the bottom). There are a couple reasons for drawing the horo-
scope this way. First, it mimics the shadow of the sun on the
sundial. Second, when astrologers actually looked at the sky in
ancient times, they faced south so that east was to the left,
west was to the right, and north was behind them.
The Ascendant carries with it the symbolism of sunrise, the
beginning of a new day. Thus, the Ascendant always symbolizes
the beginning or initiation of any action or question. The
Ascendant signifies the person who asks the question or starts
the venture. The Ascendant symbolizes the baby which has just
emerged from the womb.
The Ascendant is also called the CUSP of the 1st house. In
horary and electional work, the following four factors can and do
signify the person asking the question (the QUERENT) or the
person initiating the action:
1. The Ascendant or cusp of the first house.
2. The planet which rules the rising sign.
3. Any planets posited in the 1st house.
4. The Moon always co-rules the querent.
Most commonly the planet ruling the Ascending sign is the
chief significator of the querent. But, if a planet in the first
better describes the querent, then that planet is a better choice
for the primary significator. Except when Cancer rises (ruled by
the Moon), the Moon is a secondary significator and carries less
weight that the planet ruling the Ascendant.
In this chart, I am represented by the 5 Leo 23 cusp and by
the sun which rules Leo. There are no planets in the 1st house.
The Moon co-rules me.
THE BASIC PRINCIPLE IN HORARY AND ELECTIONAL WORK IS TO
IDENTIFY THE PLANET OR PLANETS SIGNIFYING YOU AND THE PLANET OR
PLANETS SIGNIFYING THE MATTER ASKED ABOUT AND TO SEE HOW THEY
RELATE TO ONE ANOTHER IN THE CHART. IF THEY RELATE WELL, THE
MATTER WILL GO SMOOTHLY. IF THEY RELATE BADLY, WELL THEM'S THE
BREAKS.
To do this, you must know what each planet and what each
house represents. I'll say more about rulerships in the next
lesson. In this example, you should know that the 3rd and 9th
houses have to do with teaching and communication.
In this example, Virgo rules the 3rd cusp so Mercury is the
signifier of the 3rd. Pisces rules the 9th cusp so Jupiter is
the signifier of the 9th. In addition, the Moon occupies the 9th
and becomes a co-signifier of the 9th.
Mercury intrinsically rules teaching and communications.
The Moon intrinsically rules The People.
Note how the Moon (my co-ruler and natural ruler of the
people) will sextile (60 degrees) both Mercury (3-ruler) and sun
(1-ruler). The sextile is a harmonious aspect and shows the
significant planets relating well to one another. Hence, these
lessons should be reasonably successful. Time will tell.
There are 12 houses in the chart. The houses are a way of
cutting the circular pie. I used Regiomontanus houses here
because they are the houses traditionally used by horary astrologers.
Regiomontanus cut the equator into twelve equal pieces and
projected those pieces of the equator onto the ecliptic (which is
angled at about 23.5 degrees from the equator). There are many
other ways to slice the pie.
Stay tuned for Lesson 3: The houses and planets, and what they
rule.
(c)opyright Anthony Louis, 1992.
------------
LESSON 3: Houses and Planets in Horary/Electional Astrology
There are twelve houses around the wheel. Each house sym-
bolizes a different area of experiences. It helps to think of
the 12 houses as six pairs of related houses. The houses below
the horizon (1,2,3,4,5,6) have to do with personal matters. The
other six houses (7,8,9,10,11,12) have more to do with other
people and with public matters.
The FIRST house represents the QUERENT (person asking the
question or initiating the action). The 1st house stands for the
querent's body, state of health, appearance, current location.
ARIES (ruled by Mars) is the 1st sign of the zodiac. Mars is the
initiator, the warrior, the daring young man.
The SEVENTH house (opposite) the 1st stands for those who
are on equal footing with the querent: partners, spouse, mate,
open enemies, opponents, significant other people, and strangers
unrelated to the querent. Because the 7th is opposite the 1st,
it represents opposition such as lawsuits, but also contracts and
legal or binding agreements. If the querent is planning to re-
locate, the 7th signifies the place he or she would move to.
LIBRA (ruled by Venus) is the 7th sign of the zodiac. Venus is
the peacemaker, the conciliator, the goddess of love.
The SECOND house stands for the MOVABLE GOODS and MONEY of
the querent. If you're looking for lost items, look to the 2nd
house. Taurus (ruled by Venus) is the 2nd sign of the zodiac.
The PART OF FORTUNE has a special connection with the 2nd house.
(The part of fortune is that point on the wheel which is as from
from the Moon as the Ascendant is from the sun. The ancients
called it the Ascendant of the Moon.)
The EIGHTH house stands for other people's money. This
includes bank loans, mortgages, legacies, profit from a partner-
ship, etc. The 8th house also rules DEATH. Scorpio (ruled by
Mars and Pluto) is the 8th sign of the zodiac.
The THIRD house stands for communications, learning, writ-
ing, local travel, siblings, kin, close relatives, and means of
travel. Gemini (ruled by Mercury) is the 3rd sign of the zodiac.
Mercury is the speedy messenger of the gods.
The NINTH house (opposite the 3rd) stands for distant trav-
el, higher education, the Law, religion, worldviews, broad per-
spective, legal proceedings, publication, broadcasting, dreams,
and prophecy. Sagittarius (ruled by Jupiter) is the 9th sign of
the zodiac. Jupiter (Zeus) was king of the gods on Mount Olym-
pus. He was expansive and quite a philanderer.
The FOURTH house (opposite the 10th) was traditionally
called the HOUSE OF THE FATHER. It signifies the father, old
people, the home, real estate, land, and the base of operations.
It has special significance as the END OF THE MATTER house in
horary. Cancer (ruled by the Moon) is the 4th sign of the zodi-
ac. The Moon represents all that is ephemeral and passing, the
tides, the moods, the populace; also travel, change, and fluctuation.
The TENTH house (opposite the 4th) is the house of the
MOTHER. Also the house of the career, vocation, standing before
the world, reputation, honor, public office, and success. Capricorn
(ruled by Saturn) is the 10th sign of the zodiac. Saturn is
old Cronos who cut off the genitals of Uranus to gain power.
Saturn symbolizes loss (think of what happend to Uranus), ambi-
tion, discipline, limitation, and confronting reality.
The FIFTH house (opposite the 11th) is the house of CHIL-
DREN, offspring, creativity, speculation, risk-taking, gambling,
and all forms of pleasure. Leo (ruled by the sun) is the 5th
sign of the zodiac. The sun is the king of the solar system.
The ELEVENTH house (opposite the 5th) is the house of
friends, advice, hopes & wishes. Aquarius (ruled by Saturn and
Uranus) is the 11th sign of the zodiac. Uranus signifies sudden
happenings, breaks, and separations (he got his genitals unex-
pectedly severed).
The SIXTH house (opposite the 12th) signifies ILLNESS, pets,
small animals, appliances, service, servants, workers, drudgery,
and toil. Virgo (ruled by Mercury) is the 6th sign of the zodi-
ac.
The TWELFTH house (opposite the 6th) is the house of SECRET
ENEMIES, self undoing, and large animals. Pisces (ruled by
Jupiter and Neptune) is the 12th sign of the zodiac. Neptune was
god of the sea. He rules deception, illusion, nebulousness, and
Hollywood.
These are some basic meanings of the houses and planets. In
horary you need to select the house and planets that most clearly
represent your concern.
(C)opyright Anthony Louis, 1992.
----------------
Lesson 4: Considerations before Judgment
This is probably a good point to introduce the so-called
STRICTURES or CONSIDERATIONS BEFORE JUDGMENT.
Astrologers did not always get the right answers to their
horary questions, and election charts did not always produce the
most favorable results. As a result, astrologers over the centuries
studied charts to determine if there was any indication in the
chart that gave the wrong answer that would have alerted the
astrolger to be careful.
The following quote comes from the Regulus Edition of the
book on horary by Guido Bonatus written in the 12th century:
"..beware of those cases in which the astrologer is subject
to err and mistake....
1. When the querent comes only to try him, or put a trick on him,
as many do, saying, 'Let us go to such an Astrologer, and ask
him such a thing, and see if he can tell us the truth or not.'
Just as the Jews propounded questions to our Lord Jesus Christ,
not so much to be resolved, as to tempt ad ensnare Him.
2. Wherein the Artist will be liable to err, is when the Querent
does not ask out of a serious or settled intention, as some do
when they meet an astrologer by chance or go to him on other
business; on a sudden they think of something, and so ask, as
it were, by-the-bye; wherein 'tis a thousand to one but mistakes
happen.
But thou mayest be ready to say, 'How shall I know whether the
querent come out of a solid intention, or only to try me?'
To which I answer, that it seems a very abstruse and difficult
point, perfectly to find out; but this I have often experienced
and found true, viz., I observed the hour of the Question, and if
the Ascendant then happened to be very near the end of one sign
and the beginning of another, so that it seemed as between both;
I said they did not ask seriously, or that they came to try me;
and I have had many that have thereupon confessed what I said to
be true, and began to think that I knew more than before they
believed."
So we see that even in the 12th century astrologers had to put
up with ridicule of their art.
The consideration Bonatus is describing has come down to us as
the rule of the early or late Ascendant; namely, if less than 3
degrees rise on the Ascendant or if more than 27 degrees rise on the
Ascendant, the chart may be difficult to judge or give an erroneous
answer because the querent is insincere or tyring to "ensare" the
astrologer.
We saw an example of a late Ascendant in Topic 5 where EPOS
asked if she got the job. She knew full well the answer and was
just testing to see what I would say. When I ran the chart 29+
degrees were rising. Clearly, EPOS was trying to put a trick on me
as Bonatus would say. Tricky EPOS and her late Ascendant.
Generally an EARLY ASCENDANT means the matter is premature.
It's too early to render a judgment. More information must come to
light. A LATE ASCENDANT means the matter has past its prime. The
question is "post-mature." Often the querent knows the answer and
is just testing to see what you think.
EPOS chart also contained another STRICTURE. The Moon was
VOID OF COURSE. This simply means that the Moon will make no further
aspects of the major kind (0, 60, 90, 120, 180) before leaving its
current sign. The Moon is then traveling in an "aspect vacuum."
A void of course Moon usually means very little will happen with
regard to the question. Sometimes it means the question is moot and
the answer you would give is irrelevant. It can also mean the
querent is testing or toying with you. The exception to the void of
course stricture occurs when the Moon occupies a sign where a benefic
planet (Venus or Jupiter) is exalted or rules. These signs are
Taurus, Sagittarius, Pisces, and Cancer. This exception only holds true
if the chart is otherwise very promising.
Another stricture is the Moon in the VIA COMBUSTA from 15 Libra to
15 Scorpio. This is a traditionally malefic zone of the nature of
Scorpio. The Moon here is in the "burning way." It often symbolizes
an element of chaos or unpredictability.
In the 1992 Super Bowl chart, the Moon was in the Combust Way.
At the start of the game the Buffalo Bills unexpectedly kicked off
prematurely and made for a chaotic beginning of the Super Bowl.
In that chart the Moon was also a significator of the Bills and they
got "burned" by the Washington Red Skins.
Another important consideration is the condition of the 7th house.
In horary the 7th house represents any personal consultant to the querent,
including the astrologer. If Saturn occupies or rules the cusp of the
7th, or if the 7th ruler or cusp is badly afflicted, the astrologer is
at a decided disadvantage in judging the chart and may err in his or
her interpretation.
There are numerous other strictures, but these are the main ones
most horary astrologers consider. If you see one of these, the universe
may be warning you to proceed with caution.
(C)opyright Anthony Louis, 1992.
------------
Lesson 5: Fate vs. Free Will
When I lecture on horary, the audience often asks about fate
versus free will. If the chart can predict the outcome, is
the event simply fated to happen? Do we have any control in the
matter?
My answer is that we do have control over much of what happens
in our lives. The chart simply reflects the current conditions
surrounding the time of the question or the start of a venture.
What we do with those conditions is up to us.
Remember the analogy with the weather forecast. The horary or
electional chart is a temporal forecast. The chart reflects the
quality of the space-time continuum we are traversing.
Suppose the weather person (I'm trying not to be sexist) forecasts
a hurricane tomorrow. Suppose you had been planning to go swimming
in the ocean tomorrow. You could ignore the forecaster's prediction
and go swimming anyway. Chances are you would not fare well. If
you
are an excellent swimmer, you might come out O.K. Or, the weather
forecast could be wrong. Maybe the hurricane would move out to sea
and miss your section of the coast; then you'd have a great time
despite the forecast. Like weather forecasters, astrologers can't
be 100% accurate. No mortal can take into account all the possible
factors affecting a future event. A good horary or electional
astrologers can be accurate about 75 to 80 % of the time. Anyone
who claims close to 100% accuracy is a liar and a fool.
So the horary or electional chart simply tells you what astrological
"forces" you are dealing with. The rest is up to you. I think
some of what happens must depend on your natal chart. If you were
born with lots of squares and oppositions and have learned to
master them in the course of your life, then a horary or electional
chart with squares and oppositions might not affect you as adversely
as it would the average person.
Suppose you asked about a relationship. Assume futher that Cancer
rises and Capricorn occupies the 7th cusp of the partner. Now let's
let the Moon (you) be forming a square with Saturn (your potential
mate). If you and the Saturn person entered into a relationship,
it
would be of the nature of a square: full of friction and obstacles.
Some marriages are full of friction and obstacles and last forever.
Some people just love to fight. This reminds me of the comment of
the family therapist Carl Whitaker. When his client complained that
all her parents ever did was fight, he responded, "An orgasm is an
orgasm is an orgasm." I'll bet they had lots of squares between
their charts.
In conclusion, we do have free will, but the universe does not bend
to our wills (even if we have a god complex).
(C)opyright Anthony Louis, 1992.
------------
LESSON 6: A SAMPLE CHART - BUSH ANNOUNCES HIS CANDIDACY
Here is a timely chart for us to analyze. This is an
event chart, but we can analyze it using horary methods.
The Ascendant represents George Bush who made the
announcement. Taurus (a fixed sign) rises. Fixed signs favor
projects that are enduring. Venus rules Taurus and so signifies
George Bush.
The 10th house is the most prominent and successful place
in the horoscope. Venus (Bush) lies in the 10th within 2 degrees
of the Midheaven (the place of prominence). By making his announce-
ment as this time, Bush assures himself a spot in the limelight.
Venus is applying to a conjunction of the nighttime part of fortune,
a very fortunate point in a chart. It is more favorable in a night-
time chart, but it also works in day charts.
Announcements are a form of communication and, as such, are
3rd house matters. Cancer lies on the cusp of the 3rd so the Moon
rules the announcement. Moon lies in the 1st, another public and
prominent house. The natural ruler of announcements in Mercury.
Here Mercury occupies the 11th house of Bush's hopes and wishes.
The 11th is a generally fortunate house. Mercury is also CAZIMI,
meaning it is very closely conjunct the sun and therefore strongly
fortified.
The 4th house shows the "end of the matter." Here the
fourth house also has a Cancer cusp. The Moon rules both the 3rd
of the announcement and the 4th of the end of the matter. The Moon's
future aspects will show the outcome of Bush's announcement.
In chronological order the Moon's aspects are as follows:
TRINE SATURN, SQUARE JUPITER, SEXTILE P.F., TRINE SUN, TRINE MERCURY.
The only stressful aspect the Moon will make is a square to Jupiter
which is one of the least stress aspects it could make. The fact
that the Moon ruling the 3rd of announcements will make a final
trine to the natural ruler Mercury of announcements assures the
success of Bush's announcement.
The Moon is a natural ruler of the populace or the
electorate.
The Moon trine Mercury show the People being favorably disposed to
Bush's announcement. The 7th house can also show the electorate.
Bush's ruler Venus will conjoin Mars the ruler of the 7th, showing
his coming together with the electorate (after passing through the
nightly P.F.). The 7th also rules Bush's opponents. Bush's ruler
Venus lying closer to the M.C. (point of highest prominence) than
Mars suggests he will outshine his opponents.
All things considered, Bush picked an excellent time to
declare his candidacy for the presidency.
Here's the chart. The technical information below the chart
comes from Allen Edwall's Horary Helper program. Don't let it scare
you. We will cover the topics in future lessons.
M.C.
1 VE 22 Cp 32 2 NE 17 Cp 46 0
SU 23 Aq 10 2 PF(night): 0 UR 16 Cp 6 2
ME 23 Aq 22 A 23 CP 52 C C
q MA 25 Cp 45 p NN 8 Cp 54 p
5 SA 10 Aq 52 4 1
---18 Pi 16--6-------------6-------------9--10 Sa 29---
| |
| BUSH ANNOUNCES |
| WASHINGTON, DC | PL 22 Sc 55
| FEB 12, 1992 |
ASC | 10:10:15 ZONE 5.00 S T | DSC
05 Ta 57-----| 38 N 54.0 77 W 2.0 |-----05 Sc 57
| GEOCENTRIC TROPICAL |
| Regiomontanus |
| Natal |
| |
MO 5 Gm 9 | |
---10 Gm 29--0-------------2-------------1--18 Vi 16---
2 0 2 JP 11 Vi 46r
C SN 7 Cn 33 C L
n n e
1 4 5
9 6 6 PF 17 Le 56
I.C.
Here is Allen Edwall's data (from his program AstroWin):
BUSH ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY, WASHINGTON, D.C., 10:10 AM EST.
12 FEB 1992 10.10 A.M. LONG. - 77.02 WEST LATITUDE: 38.54
NORTH
G.M.T. = 3.10 P.M. LMT = 10.02 Mercury day
SUNRISE = 7.00 LMT SUNSET = 17.27 LMT Jupiter hour
Planet Sign Exlt. Trip. Term Face
------ ---- ----- ----- ---- ----
SUN SATURN --- SATURN JUPITER MOON
MOON MERCURY --- SATURN MERCURY JUPITER
MERCURY SATURN --- SATURN JUPITER MOON
VENUS SATURN MARS VENUS* MARS SUN
MARS SATURN MARS* VENUS SATURN SUN
JUPITER MERCURY MERCURY VENUS VENUS VENUS
SATURN SATURN* --- SATURN* MERCURY MERCURY
PART F. SUN --- SUN VENUS JUPITER
[The * means an ESSENTIAL DIGNITY.]
=========
Planet Speed Pos to Sun
------ ----- ----------
SUN FAST 1 D 1M
MOON FAST 13 D 56M OCCIDENT
MERCURY FAST 1 D 48M OCCIDENT
VENUS FAST 1 D 14M ORIENTAL
MARS FAST 0 D 46M ORIENTAL
JUPITER FAST R 0 D 7M ORIENTAL
SATURN FAST 0 D 7M ORIENTAL
PART F. 14
==========
Peregrine - SUN MERCURY JUPITER MOON
(Peregrine means "having no essential dignity").
Detriment - SUN JUPITER
Fall -
Cazimi - MERCURY
Under Sun's Beam - SATURN
Fixed Stars - PLUTO - UNUK
SUN CONJUNCT MERCURY 0.2 DEG
SUN CONJUNCT sep SATURN 12.3 DEG
SUN SQUARE sep, dex, PLUTO 0.3 DEG
SUN SQUARE MOON 12.0 DEG
MERCURY CONJUNCT sep SUN 0.2 DEG
MERCURY SQUARE sep, dex, PLUTO 0.5 DEG
VENUS CONJUNCT app MARS 3.2 DEG
VENUS CONJUNCT sep URANUS 6.4 DEG
VENUS CONJUNCT sep NEPTUNE 4.8 DEG
VENUS SEXTILE app, dex, PLUTO 0.3 DEG
MARS CONJUNCT VENUS 3.2 DEG
MARS SEXTILE sep, dex, PLUTO 2.9 DEG
MARS TRINE MOON 9.4 DEG
JUPITER TRINE sep, sin, URANUS 4.4 DEG
JUPITER TRINE sep, sin, NEPTUNE 6.0 DEG
JUPITER SQUARE MOON 6.6 DEG
SATURN CONJUNCT SUN 12.3 DEG
SATURN TRINE MOON 5.7 DEG
URANUS CONJUNCT app NEPTUNE 1.7 DEG
NEPTUNE SEXTILE app, dex, PLUTO 5.1 DEG
MOON SQUARE sep, dex, SUN 12.0 DEG
MOON TRINE sep, dex, MARS 9.4 DEG
MOON SQUARE app, sin, JUPITER 6.6 DEG
MOON TRINE app, dex, SATURN 5.7 DEG
PART OF F. OPPOSITE SUN 5.3 DEG
ASCENDANT TRINE JUPITER 5.9 DEG
====================
Lilly's Point System -
Planets' Strengths:
SUN: -4 MERCURY: 12 VENUS: 17
MARS: 22 JUPITER: -5 SATURN: 16 MOON: 9
===========
00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15
MO NN SA JU
5 7 10 11
GE CP AQ VI
8 33 52 45
R
AS
5
TA
51
============
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
UR NE VE SU MA
16 17 22 23 25
CP CP CP AQ CP
6 46 32 10 46
PF PL ME
17 22 23
LE SC AQ
49 53 23
============
In Critical Degrees: MARS
Critical degrees are the cusps of the Hindu Lunar Mansions.
A planet in a critical degree shows the person represented by
that planet undergoing a crisis. Here Mars represents Bush's
opponents as well as the electorate. That means you and me -
Bush's announcement will put us in a crisis situation!
============
Planet name Degree Antiscion Contrantiscion
SUN 23 AQU 10 6 SCO 50 6 TAU 50
MERCURY 23 AQU 23 6 SCO 37 6 TAU 37
VENUS 22 CAP 32 7 SAG 28 7 GEM 28
MARS 25 CAP 46 4 SAG 14 4 GEM 14
JUPITER 11 VIR 45 18 ARI 15 18 LIB 15
SATURN 10 AQU 52 19 SCO 8 19 TAU 8
URANUS 16 CAP 6 13 SAG 54 13 GEM 54
NEPTUNE 17 CAP 46 12 SAG 14 12 GEM 14
PLUTO 22 SCO 53 7 AQU 7 7 LEO 7
MOON 5 GEM 8 24 CAN 52 24 CAP 52
NORTH NODE 7 CAP 33 22 SAG 27 22 GEM 27
PART OF F. 17 LEO 49 12 TAU 11 12 SCO 11
ASCENDANT 5 TAU 51 24 LEO 9 24 AQU 9
MIDHEAVEN 20 CAP 42 9 SAG 18 9 GEM 18
SUN conjunct contrantiscion of ASCENDANT
MERCURY conjunct contrantiscion of ASCENDANT
MARS conjunct contrantiscion of MOON
Antiscions and contrascions are reflections in the soltitial
and equinoctal axes of the chart. Contrascions act like
squares and oppositions. Mars contrascion Moon fits because
Bush's announcement (Moon) puts him at odds (opposition) with
his opponents (Mars).
=============
ASPECTS TO MIDPOINTS
VENUS CONJUNCT MAR/NEP 0.8 DEG.
VENUS CONJUNCT MAR/MC 0.7 DEG.
VENUS OPPOSITE JUP/MOO 0.9 DEG.
JUPITER OPPOSITE URA/ASC 0.8 DEG.
JUPITER OPPOSITE NEP/ASC 0.1 DEG.
URANUS CONJUNCT MAR/NN 0.6 DEG.
NEPTUNE CONJUNCT URA/MC 0.6 DEG.
NORTH NODE CONJUNCT SUN/PLU 0.5 DEG.
NORTH NODE CONJUNCT MER/PLU 0.6 DEG.
MIDHEAVEN CONJUNCT VEN/NEP 0.6 DEG.
MIDHEAVEN CONJUNCT MAR/URA 0.2 DEG.
Text is (c)opyright Anthony Louis, 1992.
------------
LESSON 7: ESSENTIAL DIGNITY
You have probably noticed the constant talk among horary astrolgoers
about the dignity of the planets. Just what is dignity and why is it
important?
The ancient astrologers considered the planets to be gods who lived
in the firmament. Considering the sun and moon to be planets (i.e.,
wandering bodies), the ancients totaled up 7 known planets. As
gods, each of the planets owned or had an affinity for particular
sections of the zodiac. When a planet occupied a region of the
zodiac where it had some claim, that planet was in its DIGNITY.
There are several types of essential dignity. The five that have
stood the test of time are essential dignity by HOME SIGN (DOMAL),
EXALTATION, TRIPLICITY, TERM, and FACE.
When a planet occupies its own sign, it's AT HOME so to speak and has
DOMAL dignity (from the Latin for home). Being in your own home is
the strongest dignity. A man is king of his castle, etc.
There are certain signs where planets are EXALTED. For example,
George Bush lives in Kennebunkport (has domal dignity there), but
he is EXALTED in the White House (which he does not own). This is
the second best dignity.
The opposite of domal dignity is DETRIMENT. A planet in its opposite
sign is in detriment. George Bush was in detriment when he visited
Japan recently.
The opposite of exaltation is FALL. Bush is exalted in the White House,
but he would be in FALL if he visited Baghdad. A planet is in FALL
in the sign opposite its exaltation.
Lilly gives 5 points to a planet in domal dignity and 4 points to a planet
in exaltation. He gives -5 for a planet if detriment and -4 points to
a planet in fall.
Planets also belong to triplicties, but not the way we think about them
in modern times. Triplicity is worth 3 point according to Lilly.
Here's a table of triplicities by day and night. To determine the
triplicity ruler you have to note whether the sun is above or below the
horizon.
Triplicity | Day Ruler | Night Ruler
Fire .... Sun ...... Jupiter
Earth ----- Venus ---- Moon
Air ..... Saturn ... Mercury
Water ---- Mars --- Mars
The terms of the planets are little sections of each sign where
planets have some dignity. Each sign is divided into 5 terms, and
each term is ruled by one of the NON-LUMINARIES. That is, the terms
can only belong to Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Venus, or Mercury. I don't
have the patient to type in the table of terms here. It is available
in most books on traditional horary, including mine. Terms are worth
2 points. The American embassy in Baghdad would be akin to the TERMS
of Mr. Bush.
FACES are the weakest dignites. Lilly gives them only 1 point.
Faces are the same as the Chaldean decanates or decans. The 1st
FACE of Aries belongs to Mars. Each face is 10 degrees so there
are 3 faces in each sign. The faces go in the Chaldean order of
the planets which is from the outermost to the innermost:
Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Sun, Venus, Mercury, Moon (with earth as
the center of the Chaldean universe). So the 2nd face of Aries goes
to the sun, the 3rd face of Aries to Venus, the 1st face of Taurus
to Mercury, the 2nd face of Taurus to Moon, the 3rd face of Taurus
to SATURN, the 1st face of Gemini to Jupiter, etc., through the
entire Zodiac.
These five dignities are called the ESSENTIAL DIGNITIES because the
planets are in a part of the zodiac they are essentially compatible with.
When a planet does not occupy an essential dignity, it is called
PEREGRINE (wandering aimlessly) because it's in a place it has no
compatibility with. Imagine George Bush wandering around the slums
of Baghdad. He would be peregrine there, having no dignity, and also
be in his fall. If he made it to the American Embassy in Baghdad, he
might be in his terms and have some dignity.
One final concept: MUTUAL RECEPTION.
When one planet occupies any dignity of another, and the second planet
also occupies a dignity of the first, they are in MUTUAL RECEPTION. This
is a very favorable condition. The stronger the dignity involved, the
stronger the mutual reception. It's like house swapping.
(C)opyright Anthony Louis, 1992.
------------
LESSON 8: AN EXAMPLE OF AN ELECTIONAL CHART THAT FAILED.
The following chart is set for the time my friend Clare left her
driveway to visit Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, 2/13/92, at
9:42 a.m. She had not consulted me to set up an electional chart,
but, because I had done travel charts for her previously, she noted
the exact time she left her driveway. Studying real examples from
your own life in an excellent way to learn when to elect a proper
time to act.
The trip went terribly. Her son began vomiting the next day from a
stomach flu. She decided to return to CT but her train ticket was
not valid for the date she wanted to return with her sick son. The
trip
ended up being much more expensive than originally planned, and she
accomplished nothing of what she set out to do.
If we were trying to find a good time to travel, we would make sure
that the Ascendant ruler (the querent) made a good aspect to the
3rd ruler (local travel) and to the 9-ruler (long distance travel).
Also, we would want Mercury and the Moon as the two general
significators of travel to be well-situated in the chart.
Maybe we can figure out where Clare went wrong.
Here's the chart:
SA 10 Aq 59 0 1 NE 17 Cp 48 0
9 VE 23 Cp 44 8 UR 16 Cp 9 1
SU 24 Aq 9 A MA 26 Cp 31 C NN 8 Cp 55 C
ME 25 Aq 8 q p p
5 5 1
---14 Pi 32--2-------------1-------------7--09 Sa 54---
| |
| CLARE TO D.C. |
| | PL 22 Sc 55
| FEB 13, 1992 |
| 9:42: 0 ZONE 5.00 S T |
04 Ta 21-----| 41 N 18.5 72 W 59.0 |-----04 Sc 21
| GEOCENTRIC TROPICAL |
| Regiomontanus |
| Natal |
| |
| |
---09 Gm 54--0-------------1-------------0--14 Vi 32---
1 8 9 JP 11 Vi 39r
C SN 7 Cn 29 C L
MO 18 Gm 48 n n e PF 29 Le 0
1 5 5
7 1 2
The 1st house ruled by Venus represents Clare. Venus (Clare) makes
no aspect with 3-ruler Moon or with 9-ruler Saturn or with the
natural signifier of travel Mercury. Furthermore, Venus is about
to conjoin Mars, the lesser malefic and the ruler of her 12th house
(because Aries is intercepted in the 12th) of self-undoing.
Clare's co-ruler is the Moon because the Moon always co-rules the
querent. The Moon makes no aspect to 9-ruler Saturn. Moon will
trine Mercury, sun, and Part of Fortune. These aspects are
favorable. However, Moon is peregrine, having no essential dignity
in the chart. Moon also occupies the 12th house of the 3rd house
of local travel. These are negative factors.
Moon is almost exactly quincunx (150) the Midheaven. Ptolemy did not
regard the quincunx as a major aspect. Modern authors pay attention
to the quincunx and regard it as a 6th (illness) and 8th (death)
aspect. In addition the M.C. is the 6th (illness) house of her
son's house (the 5th = her children).
Mercury, the natural ruler of travel, is applying to an opposition
of the Part of Fortune. Mercury is also contrascion the Ascendant.
Recall that contrascions act like oppositions and squares so this
is like have Mercury (travel) squaring or opposing the 1st cusp
(Clare).
All in all, Clare did not pick a good time to set out on a journey.
No doubt the good aspects of the Moon helped salvage the trip to
the extent that it was possible.
Here is Allen Edwall's data (from his program AstroWin):
CLARE-D.C.
13 FEB 1992 9.42 A.M. LONG. - 72.59 WEST LATITUDE - 41.19
NORTH
G.M.T. = 2.42 P.M. LMT = 9.50 Jupiter day
SUNRISE = 7.02 LMT SUNSET = 17.26 LMT Venus hour
Planet Sign Exlt. Trip. Term Face Speed Pos to
Sun
------ ---- ----- ----- ---- ---- ----- --------
--
SUN SATURN --- SATURN JUPITER MOON FAST
MOON MERCURY --- SATURN VENUS MARS FAST OCCIDENT
MERCURY SATURN --- SATURN MARS MOON FAST OCCIDENT
VENUS SATURN MARS VENUS** MARS SUN FAST ORIENTAL
MARS SATURN MARS** VENUS SATURN SUN FAST ORIENTAL
JUPITER MERCURY MERCURY VENUS VENUS VENUS FAST R ORIENTAL
SATURN SATURN** --- SATURN** MERCURY MERCURY FAST ORIENTAL
PART F. SUN --- SUN MARS MARS 16
Peregrine - SUN MERCURY JUPITER MOON
Detriment - SUN JUPITER
Fall -
Combust - MERCURY
Under Sun's Beam - SATURN
Fixed Stars - PLUTO - UNUK PART F. - REGULUS
19 ARI 53 P of ILLNESS
9 CAP 43 P.F. - night
Moon's Aspects -
From - TRINE SATURN SQUARE JUPITER
To - TRINE SUN TRINE MERCURY SEXTILE PART F.
SUN CONJUNCT MERCURY 1.0 DEG
SUN CONJUNCT sep SATURN 13.2 DEG
SUN SQUARE sep, dex, PLUTO 1.3 DEG
SUN TRINE MOON 5.4 DEG
MERCURY CONJUNCT sep SUN 1.0 DEG
MERCURY SQUARE sep, dex, PLUTO 2.3 DEG
MERCURY TRINE MOON 6.3 DEG
VENUS CONJUNCT app MARS 2.8 DEG
VENUS CONJUNCT sep NEPTUNE 5.9 DEG
VENUS SEXTILE sep, dex, PLUTO 0.9 DEG
MARS CONJUNCT VENUS 2.8 DEG
MARS SEXTILE sep, dex, PLUTO 3.6 DEG
JUPITER TRINE sep, sin, URANUS 4.5 DEG
JUPITER TRINE sep, sin, NEPTUNE 6.2 DEG
JUPITER SQUARE MOON 7.2 DEG
SATURN CONJUNCT SUN 13.2 DEG
SATURN TRINE MOON 7.8 DEG
URANUS CONJUNCT app NEPTUNE 1.6 DEG
NEPTUNE SEXTILE app, dex, PLUTO 5.1 DEG
MOON TRINE app, dex, SUN 5.4 DEG
MOON TRINE app, dex, MERCURY 6.3 DEG
MOON SQUARE sep, sin, JUPITER 7.2 DEG
MOON TRINE sep, dex, SATURN 7.8 DEG
PART OF F. OPPOSITE SUN 4.8 DEG
Planets' Strengths:
SUN: -4 MERCURY: 2
VENUS: 17 MARS: 22
JUPITER: -10 SATURN: 16
MOON: 7
Planet name Degree Antiscion Contrantiscion
SUN 24 AQU 9 5 SCO 51 5 TAU 51
MERCURY 25 AQU 8 4 SCO 52 4 TAU 52
VENUS 23 CAP 44 6 SAG 16 6 GEM 16
MARS 26 CAP 31 3 SAG 29 3 GEM 29
JUPITER 11 VIR 38 18 ARI 22 18 LIB 22
SATURN 10 AQU 59 19 SCO 1 19 TAU 1
URANUS 16 CAP 9 13 SAG 51 13 GEM 51
NEPTUNE 17 CAP 48 12 SAG 12 12 GEM 12
PLUTO 22 SCO 53 7 AQU 7 7 LEO 7
MOON 18 GEM 48 11 CAN 12 11 CAP 12
NORTH NODE 7 CAP 29 22 SAG 31 22 GEM 31
PART OF F. 28 LEO 59 1 TAU 0 1 SCO 0
ASCENDANT 4 TAU 21 25 LEO 39 25 AQU 39
MIDHEAVEN 18 CAP 51 11 SAG 9 11 GEM 9
MERCURY conjunct contrantiscion of ASCENDANT
------------
LESSON 9: MORE ON THE CHART IN LESSON 8 -- DEBILITIES.
Here are more comments about the ill-fated trip to Washington,
D.C., whose chart appears in the previous lesson.
At first it looks like the Moon's trines to the sun and Mercury
are promising. The problem is that the Moon, the sun, Mercury,
and Jupiter are all peregrine, having no essential dignity in
the chart. Peregrine planets wander aimlessly and are usually
ineffective. Sure, the trines are nice, but the planets forming
the trines are peregrine and ineffectual. Here the sun was also
in its detriment in Aquarius (because sun rules the opposite
sign Leo).
I neglected to mention that Jupiter, a natural ruler of the 9th
house and of long-distance travel, is peregrine, in detriment in
Virgo, and is retrograde. These are all DEBILITIES, that is,
conditions which hinder the action of the planet.
So one of the lessons of the chart in lesson 8 (Clare's trip) is that
HARMONIOUS ASPECTS ALONE ARE NOT SUFFICIENT FOR A GOOD OUTCOME.
If the harmonious aspect (sextile, trine, favorable conjunction) occurs
between two very debilitated planets, the promised outcome may not
materialize.
Another lesson is that the Moon as a secondary or co-ruler of the
querent
is less efficacious than the primary ruler (usually the planet ruling
the house cusp). Here the primary ruler Venus made no aspects to
the planets ruling travel so it was not an auspicious time to start the
trip.
Another DEBILITY that occurred in the chart was Mercury COMBUST the sun.
In traditional horary and electional astrology proximity to the sun
is a no-no unless it is very close proximity.
There are three conditions related to the sun. Authors give various
guidelines. These are CAZIMI, COMBUST, and UNDER THE BEAMS.
A planet is CAZIMI (in the heart of the sun) when it is conjunct
the sun within 16 MINUTES of arc. A planet is strongly fortified
when so close to the sun. It takes on the power and majesty of the
sun. Bush chose to announce his candidacy when Mercury was CAZIMI
the sun. Mercury rules announcements and is strongly fortified when
cazimi the sun. CAZIMI is an ACCIDENTAL DIGNITY. Clare took her
trip a day after Bush made his announcement. What a difference a
day makes!
Once you get a little farther from the sun, you're in trouble.
At about 17 minutes or more from the sun, you start to get burned
up or COMBUST. This is a serious debility. In Clare's trip
chart Mercury (ruler of travel) is combust the sun. No good as
she found out. To be COMBUST you must be in the same sign as
the sun. If you are close to the sun in a different sign, the
other sign acts like a sunscreen. You can still get burned but
not as bad. In electional charts it is wise NOT TO START A VENTURE
WHEN THE SIGNIFICATORS ARE COMBUST THE SUN. You'll get burned if
you do.
Once you get more than 8.5 degrees from the sun till about 17
degrees from the sun, you're under the sun's beams. This is a
milder debility.
Being RETROGRADE is yet another debility. A planet is
retrograde when it has apparent backward motion with reference
to the earth. In Clare's chart Jupiter (natural ruler of long
trips) is retrograde. Matters proceed to some extent the
opposite of the way you planned when the ruler is retrograde.
One good thing about a retrograde significator is that
a retrograde planet shows a return or going back. That's good
if you lose something and sometimes in travel charts because
you want to return.
It may seem like we're covering a lot of trivia. We've gotten
a lot of it out of the way. We'll cover more in future lessons.
If you use Allen Edwall's program, he lists most of the factors
in traditional horary and electional work that you'll need to weigh
to make a judgment of the chart. Some of the matters he omits
are TRANSLATION AND COLLECTION OF LIGHT and some of the obscure
dignities and debilities like HAYZ. I'll cover those too at a
future date.
I've said before that electional is the other side of the coin
from horary. When you elect a time, you pick a chart that maximizes
the beneficial factors and minimizes the inauspicious ones. There
is NEVER a perfect electional chart. You simply find the chart that
tips the balance most in your favor.
(c)opyright Anthony Louis, 1992.
------------
LESSON 10: NOTES ON ELECTIONAL ASTROLOGY
Electional astrology deals with finding the most propitious times
to act or start a project in motion. The principles of horary
astrology apply to electional charts.
The best way to learn electional astrology is to keep a notebook in
which you record the start of major activities (or even minor ones)
and their outcome. I simply jot down the TIME and PLACE of events
in my daily appointment book. When I have time, I study the charts
of those events to see how the symbolism in the chart fits what
happened in reality. For instance, I jot down the times I leave on
trips, the times I make significant purchases, the times I sign
legal documents, the times I mail articles for publication, etc.
When I have a chance, I run the chart on the computer (thank God for
computers) and note the outcome on the printout.
Here are some of the things I look at in those charts:
1. The ASCENDANT which represents the querent (me) who initiates
the action.
2. Any planets in the first house which also represent the querent.
3. The planet ruling the sign on the Ascendant because the 1-ruler
is usually the primary signfier of the querent.
4. The planet ruling any sign intercepted in the 1st because it
co-rules the querent.
5. The Moon which is the universal co-ruler of the querent.
6. The sign on the cusp of the house inquired about. For example,
if the question is about a trip, I'd look at the 3rd and 9th
houses. About a child, the 5th. About health and illness,
the 1st and 6th. About death, the 8th (death) and 4th (grave).
ETC.
Then look at the planet ruling that sign,
at any planets in that house, and
at the planet ruling any intercepted sign in that house.
7. The natural rulers of the matter at hand. Each planet intrinsically
rules certain matters. For example:
Sun: authority, honor
Moon: women, cycles, fluctuation
Mercury: travel, communication
Venus: luxury, pleasure, love
Mars: action, energy, war, contention, mechanical things
Jupiter: the Law, religion, long-distance travel, college
Saturn: death, loss, restriction, structure, organization
Uranus: surprises, sudden breaks, divorce, modernity, electonics
Neptune: illusion, mysticism, Hollywood, drugs & alcohol, deception
Pluto: power, the underworld, probing, the unconscious, the deep
8. The idea in electing a time to act is that you want the chart to
favor your action. Here are some conditions to look for:
Select a time when favorable aspects are forming between the
querent's ruler(s) and the ruler(s) of the matter at hand.
An aspect to the cusp of the house in question is also helpful.
Avoid squares and opposition between the primary rulers or
between the rulers and house cusps.
Seek to have the primary planetary rulers well-aspected and
in at least one of their dignities. The more dignity, the better.
Mutual receptions between rulers are a great plus in electional
work.
Avoid major debilities to the significant rulers.
Do NOT let a primary ruler be COMBUST the sun.
Do NOT let a primary ruler be conjunct (or closely square
or opposite) the malefics Mars and Saturn. But if Mars
or Saturn signify the matter or the querent, and are well
placed, a conjunction is desirable.
Avoid the horary strictures: Moon Void of Course, Moon in
the Via Combusta, very early or very late Ascendant (unless
these early or late degrees describe the situation), Moon
in the very late degrees of signs.
Avoid a RETROGRADE SATURN IN THE 1ST HOUSE. Matters rarely
go well in elections or horary charts with Saturn retrograde
in the first house.
It's a nice touch to have the rising sign describe the situation.
It's helpful to have to Moon WAXING when you start a new project.
The Moon waxes from the New Moon until the Full Moon, but wait till
24 hours after the New Moon to let the Moon get away from
combustion with the sun.
Because the Moon is a general signifier of the flow of events,
it's nice to have the Moon form predominantly favorable aspects
until it leaves its sign. You can easily spot such days in an
astrological date book like Llewellyn's or Jim Maynard's. It's
also nice, but not essential, to have the Moon's last aspect
before going Void of Course, be a positive one.
Mars and Saturn are the traditional malefics. Be sure they are
not prominent in the chart. One way to do this is to "bury"
them in the cadent (3,6,9,12) houses away from the Angles. But
use your common sense. Don't "bury" Mars and Saturn in the 9th
if you're about to travel abroad, or in the 6th if you're on
your way to the doctor's office.
By the same token, place the benefics Venus and Jupiter in
prominent positions. The angular houses (10,1,4,7) are the
most prominent. Jupiter closely conjunct an angle is a nice
touch.
Pay careful attention to the Part of Fortune both by day and by
night. This is a benefic point in the chart.
PF by day = Asc + Moon - Sun.
PF by night = Asc + Sun - Moon
I always put both PFs in electional charts. A primary ruler or
a benefic planet CONJUNCT the PF is very favorable. The conjunction
is what to strive for. If you can't get a conjunction, then try
for a trine or sextile in that order. Avoid squares and oppositions
to PF. Use an orb of 1 degree.
In Bush's announcement chart, his ruler Venus was about to conjoin
the night PF (very nice)! In Clare's ill-fated trip, Mercury
(travel) was about to oppose the day PF (not great).
If you're up to it, check out the antiscions and contrascions.
Antiscion contacts (conjunctions) act like trines and sextiles.
Contrascions contacts (conjunctions) act like squares and
oppositions.
In Clare's trip (lesson 8) Mercury (travel) was CONTRASCION the
Ascendant (querent), thus not favoring a trip.
Finally, avoid conjunctions with malefic fixed stars. I'll
deal with fixed stars in another lesson. There are only a
handful that cause any significant trouble in an electional chart.
I'm sure I left some factors out of the above list, but these are
some of the major things to look for in setting up an electional
chart.
A final trick from Dorotheus of Sidon in the 1st century.
Dorotheus says to ACT WHEN THE TRANSITING MOON IS IN YOUR
NATAL SUN SIGN OR IN A SIGN THAT IS SEXTILE OR TRINE TO
YOUR NATAL SUN SIGN. This is a good general guideline that
can be quite helpful.
(c)opyright Anthony Louis, 1992.
------------
------------
Regiomontanus cut the EQUATOR into 12 EQUAL pieces and then
projected those EQUATORIAL equal segments back onto the
ECLIPTIC (sun's path around the earth in geocentric astronomy).
If you look at a globe, you'll see that the ecliptic and the
equator are at 23.5 degrees inclination from one another.
The projections create unequal houses on the ecliptic where
we measure everything in traditional astrology.
Re: Scorpio and the Moon.
Scorpio is the home of lecherous Mars. The Moon is pure and
lily white. Would a nice Moon hang out in Scorpio's domain?
Would Anita Hill (Moon) work for Clarence Thomas (Mars, Scorpio)?
Mars has one thing on this mind and it's not basket weaving.
------------
I've been using REGIOMONTANUS here because that's what William
Lilly used in the 17th century when horary was in its heyday.
Feel free to use Placidus or Koch. The cusps usually aren't too
far off, usually by about 5 degrees or so tops. I would not use
equal houses for horary work but I can't give you a good reason why:
they seem too arbitrary to me and not derived from any of the great
circles around the earth. In my book I used Koch houses which I
favor for natal work. This may sound too "metaphysical" but I think
if you stick to a house cusp system that you like or feel at home with,
then the universe will see to it that you ask or receive horary
questions at a time suitable for your house system. I find that
if I get a gut feeling to try a different house system for a
horary question, it almost always gives a good reading. My advice is
to use the house system you've grown accustomed to.
By the way, I prefer Porphyry to Equal house. The Porphyry system
simply trisects the distance between the Asc and MC to get three
"equal" houses in between.
I can see the scientists in the audience cringing as they read this
message.