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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 and place at which the question was received
and understood by the astrologer. A common misconception is
that the horoscope must be constructed for the place and time
the querent establishes the question. In the previous centuries
this issue did not create any problems as the astrologer would
consult with the querent face to face. These days the querent
could be in Africa and send an email with the question to an
astrologer in Australia. Hence, it is neccessary to emphasize
the point. The answer might be a
simple yes or no, but is generally more complex with insights
into, for example, the motives of the questioner, the motives
of others involved in the matter, and the options available
to him.
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, and the Arabic
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.
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 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
a metaphor, consider an actor who breaks his leg on opening
night; essential good, accidentally debilitated. The converse
is true. A planet in poor essential dignity may have considerable
accidental power. Taking the earlier example of Mars, if Mars
was in Scorpio, and in an angular house in the horary chart
(1st, 7th, 10th, 4th) then it is considered accidentally as
well as essentially strong. It has quality, and power to act,
to express.
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.
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