Recently, I came across a discussion where someone was using horary astrology to predict the outcome of a political election. However, this is not doable because horary astrology, like a natal chart, is exclusively personal, and we cannot draw any meaningful conclusions about world events from it.
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Book consultation nowThat being said, there are some situations in which we can expand astrological symbolism beyond the personal sphere. Yet, this only makes sense if the querent has the capacity and opportunity to take action within their sphere of influence. This principle holds true for birth charts as well. The following example will illustrate this concept.
The Moon of the Question
This question was asked two weeks after the compulsory COVID vaccination came into force in Germany. The querent was in a medical profession and had reasons for not wanting to vaccinate. The new epidemic law made losing the job she held for years a real possibility.
Upon first glance, the horoscope makes an impression that the job may be lost. The Moon, which is as important as the main significators in the horary chart, appears weak due to her combustion and her position in a cadent house. In most situations, combustion is considered one of the worst impediments to the Moon.(1) Moreover, Venus, the Ascendant's ruler and the querent's significator, is located in the invisible 4th (2) house and does not make any aspects to the ruler of the 10th house. Additionally, three malefic planets, Mars, Saturn and Uranus, are posited in angles, indicating a negative underlying theme of frustration, worry and unpredictability. However, the careful examination of the symbolism reveals another perspective.
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Astrological consultation with Viennese astrologer Tanja Ristovski. Explore your birth chart and annual horoscope. Make use of horary astrology. Online consultations available.Although the Moon is combust, it separates from the Sun and is about to escape its influence. (2) Sun is disposing of the Moon by exaltation, indicating that the combustion is not damaging enough to doom the prospect of staying in the job.
Significators of change
Another important consideration is that the Ascendant occupies the final degree of Libra. This can mean that certain actions have already been set in motion and will impact the final outcome. Or, the matter has progressed so much that it is impossible to influence the result. (3)
Venus, the querent's significator, is in a fixed sign Aquarius, which represents a person who is patient and steady. (4) However, Venus has no connection with the Sun, which is the significator of the job. The Moon will form a sextile aspect with Venus only after it has made aspects with Mars and Saturn. Despite this connection between the Moon and the main significator, additional testimonies are needed for a positive outcome.
The applying aspects
The first aspect that occurs in time is a sextile between the Moon and Mars, Mars being the dispositor of the Moon in Aries. This brings the focus back to the Ascendant, that is changing signs and passing rulership from Venus to Mars, which becomes the querent's significator. At the same time, the Moon translates (5) the light from the Sun to Mars in a friendly sextile aspect, aiding the connection between the significator of the job and the significator of the querent. But even without the help of translation, the Sun in Aries will complete the sextile to Mars with reception. (6) Furthermore, the MC is in a fixed sign, an argument which corroborates the continuation.
These strong testimonies indicate that the upcoming change will create a more favorable environment for the querent, who hopes to keep her job despite the new legislation.
The Sun, by its natural significance and rulership of the 10th house, represents the superiors at work. (7) It is connected to both rulers of the 9th house, the Moon and Mercury. Mercury is in a trine to the MC, which presents another argument for the legal aspect of the solution. However, Mercury is cadent, combusted and applies to the Sun. Although Mercury is ruled by the Sun through exaltation, its potential to act as a helpful legal tool is significantly weakened, if not impossible. At the time of the question, I felt the position of Mercury was unclear, and I saw the Moon as better suited to help here.
The Moon strengthens the existing connection between Mars and the Sun, indicating that a change will occur through legal means, ultimately securing the querent's job. My recommendation was to seek legal support, particularly a union lawyer, since the Moon is located in the sixth house.
In summary, my interpretation of the chart was that despite the current challenges, there's reason to believe that the querent will retain her job. The angularity of Venus and Mars promised some degree of strength and agency. A lawyer may discover legal possibilities that can be used to retain the employment, and her superiors may also seek legal assistance to ensure she remains at work.
The wait and the resolution
Before contacting me, the querent consulted with her superiors, who instructed her to wait. After eight months, the government announced that the legislation, which mandated vaccination, would expire by the end of the year and would no longer be compulsory. The legislation was a pressure tactic, and the threat of job loss was the final measure to be implemented, which the government never consistently enforced. Fortunately, the querent was able to keep her job.
The moon in the cadent house, which emerges from the combustion, fittingly symbolizes the new development after the crisis, but also the slow progress and the waiting time. The symbolism of eight months is contained within the eight degrees between the Sun and Mars in their applying aspect.
Mercury and Moon beyond the private sphere
In retrospect, the significance of Mercury and Moon in this chart becomes clearer. While the question asked may have been of a personal nature, the problem went beyond the private sphere as it was caused by the government and public administration. In this particular context, Mercury represents legislation, while the 10th house and the Sun represent the government. Mercury is combust and perfects the conjunction with the Sun, before Sun perfects the sextile with Mars, symbolizing the end of legislation and the resulting retention in the workplace.
In this context, the co-ruler of the 9th house, the Moon, represents the development initiated by the government. After the Moon separates from Mercury, the significator of the legislation, she goes through the combustion of the Sun, which symbolizes the government ending the legislation. The Moon then applies to Mars, which takes over the signification of the querent after the Ascendant had accomplished the change and entered the sign of Scorpio.
Mercury, which was initially the source of crises, was "burned" by Sun. The end of the legislation was conveyed by the Moon's sextile to Mars, symbolizing staying in the job.
It is interesting how, in this chart, the Moon's combustion and separation from Sun supports the idea of change, as suggested by the late-degree Ascendant.
From the same perspective, the square of Pluto to the Ascendant, which I initially saw as symbolizing the enormous emotional pressure of the question, can also be interpreted as overwhelming political influence.
…
I hope the reader can see how the symbolism and interpretation of the horary horoscope are highly dependent on the context of the situation.
I want to point out another interesting aspect of this horoscope: the malefic influence of the Sun. Although a negative outcome is often expected when the main significators are Combust, particularly when the Moon is afflicted, the result is positive in this case. The signification of success is closely linked to that of a crisis, as combustion represents the end of negative influences.
(1) The 17th century English astrologer, William Lilly, followed the tradition of Guido Bonatti and Arabic astrologers. His extensive work “Christian Astrology” presents the basic principles of astrological symbolism and case studies. He writes: “...and you must know that the combustion of any Planet is the greatest misfortune that can be.” Lilly, W., Christian Astrology (hereafter CA); Astrology Center of America (2004); p.311. About the Moon’s afflictions, “...the ill aspects of the infortunes doth much afflict her, but none so powerful as her Combustion.” CA, p.301.
(2) When a planet applies to the Sun to enter the combustion, it is at the end of its synodic cycle. The beginning of the separation from the Sun is initiating a new cycle. For different phases of combustion, see CA, p.405.
(3) When examining a horary chart, it's crucial to consider the position of the Ascendant and whether it falls on a sign's early or final degrees. While this doesn't make the chart unreadable, it's a warning sign for the astrologer to be extra cautious and carefully evaluate if the chart is reliable for judgment. The significance of these degrees refers to "early" or "late" in terms of time, age or place. The final degrees of every sign are linked to malefic planets because they govern the last Term and, therefore, are ascribed negate meanings. However, final degrees on the Ascendant don't necessarily imply that the matter will fail. For considerations about early and late degrees on Ascendant, see CA, p.298
(4) CA, p.90
(5) Translation of Light occurs when two planets not joined by aspect are connected by a third planet that separates from one and applies to the other. CA, p.111
(6) Reception occurs when the applying planet is in the dignity of the weightier, receiving planet. See CA, p.112
(7) CA, p.70
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The Sun-Moon modification and planetary aspects
Horoscope of a Gentleman from "English Phrophetical Merline" by William Lilly, 1644
The Ukraine Crisis in 2022 and the Pluto-Uranus Cycle