2021.08.8.

The Moon in Horary Astrology - Nina Gryphon

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 The Moon in Horary Astrology

September 8, 2015
By
Nina Gryphon
A student asked me recently whether the condition of the Moon in horary was more or less important than the condition
in Blog
of the other significators. I thought this was a particularly valuable question deserving of a deeper answer than just
“more” or “less.”
Tags: astrology,
horary, moon,
william lilly Tucked away in the middle of William Lilly’s epic work on horary astrology, Christian Astrology, is a mini-chapter
entitled “Aphorisms and Considerations for better judging any Horary Question.” (298-302)

I recommend that the student of horary read these forty-three aphorisms as they are pithy and useful even to
experienced horary practitioners. However, I wanted to highlight a few specifically on the Moon’s role that will lead the
student to think more deeply about the Moon in the horary chart.

Aphorism 5: Have special regard to the strength and debility of the Moon and it’s far better the Lord of the ascendant
be unfortunate than she, for she brings to us the strength and virtue of all the other Planets, of one Planet to another.

[NG: Well, that answers that question! We are done here. More seriously, many traditional texts on astrology and
2021.08.8. The Moon in Horary Astrology - Nina Gryphon

astrological magic refer to the Moon’s changes and aspects as reflecting our constantly morphing reality. The importance
of the Moon in horary cannot be overstated due in large part to her visibility from the earth and her malleable, reflective
nature.]

Aphorism 9: Generally consider the state of the Moon, for if she be void of course, there’s no great hopes of the
Question propounded, that it shall be effected; yet if she be in Cancer, Taurus, Sagittarius, or Pisces, your fear may be the
less, for then she is not much impeded by being void of course.

[NG: Note that Lilly does not say you cannot judge the chart with the Moon void of course, just that it’s an argument the
matter will not succeed, unless the Moon is in one of her more favorable signs.]

Aphorism 10: See from what Planet the Moon is separated, that Planet shows what has already been done: if from a
Fortune good; if from a malevolent, ill; according to the nature of the house, &c.

Aphorism 11: The application of the Moon shows the present condition of the thing demanded, viz. her applying by a
good aspect, and in a good house, to a good Planet, intimates the strong hopes of the thing intended.

[NG: Note that the other planet should be good (dignified and/or benefic) and in a good house, and the aspect should be
good – conjunction, sextile, or trine. Few questions will live up to this ideal, but it is worthwhile having the mental
checklist in place.]

Aphorism 12: The application of the Moon to a Planet in his Fall, signifies anguish, trouble and delays in the thing
demanded.

Aphorism 31: If you find the Moon impeded in any Question, be it what it will, there will be the like stay, demur or
hinderance in the thing quesited: and indeed there’s seldom good end comes of a Question where the Moon is impeded;
if it be in going to War, you may fear the life of the Querent; if in a Journey, ill success; if Marriage, an ill end of Wooing,
&c.

[NG: The Moon bears quite a heavy burden here, does it not? Certainly this aphorism would give her 50% or more of the
weight of a horary judgment.]

Aphorism 32: If the Lord of the question or the Moon be in a Sign opposite to his own house, as Mercury in Sagittarius
or Pisces, &c., the Querent has no good hopes of his demands, he despairs, nor does he delight in it, nor does he care
whether it be performed or not.

[NG: Watch out for those charts with the Moon in Capricorn!]
2021.08.8. The Moon in Horary Astrology - Nina Gryphon

Aphorism 35: In all Questions, now there’s not so great an affliction to the Moon, as when she is in conjunction with
the Sun; the ill aspects of the Infortunes does much afflict her, but none so powerful as her Combustion.

[NG: The journey of this aphorism through time is interesting. Many of my more modern-oriented colleagues do not
consider combustion an affliction if they consider it at all, though in contrast, traditional authors consistently state that
combustion is the worst thing that can happen to any planet, especially the Moon.]

Okay, enough dry theory! I should mention here that one of my hobbies is looking through old books on horary and
reviewing the examples to see if I can get the answer right. (In the words of Edmund Blackadder, “the long winter
evenings must just fly by.” In my defense, when one is of the cold/dry temperament, this is one’s idea of a wild evening.)
Here is a horary from Doris Chase Doane’s Modern Horary Astrology, published by the AFA. I cannot really see the
author’s theory, but her examples are quite interesting and varied.
2021.08.8. The Moon in Horary Astrology - Nina Gryphon

Will my financial situation suffer if I buy a new car? 1/22/1949, 3:35 pm PST, 49N20 123W10

The question is “Will my financial situation suffer if I buy a new car?” There are multiple testimonies indicating that
buying a new car is not recommended right now, but direct your attention just to the Moon in the horary. Its poor
condition lights up several of Lilly’s aphorisms like a pinball machine. She is in her fall, and though she is not void in the
traditional sense (she is already in orb of a sextile to the Sun in Aquarius), she has little light. Precious little of Aphorism
11 is present – she applies to the Sun with a good aspect, the friendly sextile, but the Sun is not in a good house, being on
the cusp of the eighth, and he is in detriment. The Sun rules the Querent’s second house of money, so the Sun’s weak
state shows he has little cash now and would have to borrow to buy the car. Note also the Moon’s last aspect (Aphorism
10) was a square to Mercury in the eighth house of loans, and the news wasn’t good – either he couldn’t get credit, or,
more likely, the terms would have been ruinous.

As a parenthetical, I wonder if the Querent bought the car anyway. The applying sextile to the Sun suggests a possible
purchase, and the Moon will imminently sextile the fourth house cusp which rules the item itself, as well as the end of
the matter. The Moon-Mercury square indicates that there was a poor decision made recently, the Querent being
stubborn (both Moon and Mercury in fixed signs), but wanting some reassurance from the astrologer which was not
forthcoming.
2021.08.8. The Moon in Horary Astrology - Nina Gryphon

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8 Comments

Victoria Cooper

FEBRUARY 10, 2019 @

9:31 AM

I do not see how the Moon is applying by sextile to the Sun or by square to Mercury – she has gone past them both.

Caroline

AUGUST 23, 2019 @

2:54 AM

Should I use fifth or sixth house in whether to adopt two cats – if I treat them as loved ones, children?

 Nina Gryphon

AUGUST 25, 2019 @

4:48 PM

Definitely, the sixth, Caroline, unless they are literally the progeny of your own body.

Kind regards,

Nina

Caroline

AUGUST 26, 2019 @

4:17 AM

Then with south node, Saturn and Pluto there, I guess the answer is no – despite sextile from Moon in Pisces in eighth?
Or could this refer to the death of my previous pet/best friend/companion?
2021.08.8. The Moon in Horary Astrology - Nina Gryphon

Edward

MAY 6, 2020 @
9:03 AM

My issue has to do with the Moon’s importance in a horory chart as well. The chart’s harmonics seems to describe me to
a T at this point in my life. But all the planets lie below the horizon except the Moon, which is conjunct with the MC. I am
an introvert BTW. The Moon has three aspects: an opposition with Chiron; a quincunx to the Sun; and a quinunx to
Mercury, both these latter planets in the fifth house. I understand from your comments above that the moon is espeially
important in horory astrology. I don’t know if the Moon is Void of Course, but she is in the House of Sagittarius.

What is the implication of this Moon on the cusp of my 10th house just inside my 9th House?

Dan

JUNE 3, 2020 @
2:27 PM

With moon/chart lord in Scorpio and square Pluto, Mars, and Mercury, doesn’t that mean that his finances will NOT
suffer do to the wording of the question?

The chart is negative and the question was negative so your finances should not suffer. The chart is giving a negative
response to the quesited. Finances suffer if car? Chart – NO to the quesited. Your finances will not suffer. It does not say
it is a wise financial decision, it just says that finances will not suffer if car is bought That’s how I see it anyway.

Dan

JUNE 3, 2020 @
2:28 PM

Meant to say “your” not “his.”

 Nina Gryphon

JUNE 4, 2020 @
9:14 AM

Dan,

No – the wording of the question is irrelevant. It would be quite an inversion of horary technique – indeed,
astrological symbolism – if we assumed that the Moon in her fall square three malefics would bode well for
anyone’s finances.
2021.08.8. The Moon in Horary Astrology - Nina Gryphon

Nina

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