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Opus Astrologicum

Traditional Horary Aphorisms: Guidelines for Chart Judgment (Part 2)

The following collection presents early modern rules for assessing horary charts. It focuses on planetary condition, aspectual connections, and timing as key factors in deciding whether a question can be reliably judged and what result to anticipate. These aphorisms reflect the historical methods and priorities of seventeenth-century astrologers, illustrating how detailed criteria shaped their evaluation of everyday inquiries.

By Avery Carter3 min read

Contents4 sections ↓
  1. 1Conditions for a Radical Chart
  2. 2The Moon's Central Role
  3. 3Planetary Condition and Motion
  4. 4Limits of Planetary Promises

Conditions for a Radical Chart

  1. In a horary question, the chart is considered radical and suitable for judgment when the lord of the hour is either the same planet as the lord of the ascendant, or shares its nature, triplicity, or is in the same triplicity as the ascendant lord. Otherwise, it is not.
  2. Do not judge a chart when either the first or the last degrees of a sign are ascending. If few degrees ascend, the question is not yet ready for judgment; if the later degrees ascend, the opportunity has passed, and the querent has already consulted another astrologer about the matter.
  3. If Saturn or Mars is peregrine in the tenth house, or the Dragon's Tail is there, the astrologer gains no credit from that question.

The Moon's Central Role

  1. In every question, pay special attention to the Moon, for she conveys the strengths of the other planets to us. It is better for the lord of the ascendant to be unfortunate than for the Moon to be so.
  2. In all questions where the fortunes are significators, hope for the best; but if the infortunes are significators, fear the worst and shape your judgment accordingly.
  3. When the Moon is void of course in a question, there is little hope of achieving anything of substance. Yet if she is in Taurus, Cancer, Sagittarius, or Pisces, the concern is lessened.
  4. The planet from which the Moon last separated indicates what has already been done in the matter: if from a fortune, good; if from an infortune, ill. Note the house the planet occupies and judge accordingly.
  5. The Moon's application reveals the present state of the matter inquired about: a good planet in a good house, by a good aspect, gives strong hope for the desired outcome.
  6. The Moon's application to a planet in its fall or detriment signifies trouble and delay in the business.

Planetary Condition and Motion

  1. If a planet retrograde, or in its first station, is a significator, it denotes considerable discord and contradiction in the affair.
  2. A planet slow in motion, if it is a significator, greatly prolongs the matter sought after—especially if it is in a sign contrary to its nature or in the house of its enemy.
  3. When the infortunes signify evil, they bring it about with much violence; but if they signify good, they either do not bring it about at all, or if they do, it arrives with much care, delay, and vexation.
  4. When the infortunes signify any evil, check whether Jupiter or Venus casts friendly rays there. If they do, they mitigate the evil, and even more so if with reception.
  5. When the fortunes portend any good, if Saturn or Mars casts forward rays there without reception, it strongly hinders the promised good.

Limits of Planetary Promises

  1. Do not place too much confidence in what a fortune promises unless it is in essential dignities or received by another fortune; otherwise, it is like a person who wishes to help but lacks the power.
  2. Saturn and Mars peregrine are malicious beyond measure; they are not as harmful when in essential dignities, for then they resemble noble enemies who, having their foe in their grasp, scorn to harm him.
  3. If Saturn or Mars is in its house or exaltation and in angles, and promises any good, it brings it to pass.
  4. In a question, when fortunes and infortunes are equally weak and poorly placed, defer judgment until the heavens are better positioned.
  5. When a planet promising any good in a question is either combust with the Sun or in opposition to it, it never brings the good to pass.
  6. Saturn and Mars in conjunction: if they promise good, it never comes to pass; but if they promise evil, it comes with more malice than expected.

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