Medical Electional
Astrology
by Nancy R. Fenn
Electional and horary astrology are two areas of astrology that deserve
more attention from students and professionals than they sometimes get.
Related in interpretation but different in intent, horary and electional
astrology are two forms of astrological chart analysis that are similar
by analogy to the relationship between deductive and inductive
reasoning.
In horary astrology, a question is asked at a specific time and a chart
is cast for that moment. Then the chart is interpreted according to the
rules of horary interpretation to yield an answer.
In electional astrology, someone wants to choose an auspicious or lucky
time for an event in the future that can be planned, such as a marriage,
signing real estate papers, or, in the case of Ronald Reagan, a
presidential swearing-in ceremony. The astrologer begins by speculating
with the client on a desirable time in the future and then casts a chart
for that time and date. This chart is interpreted according to the
guidelines for electional astrology in order to determine if this is the
best possible date to insure success.
In reviewing a tentative electional chart, the astrologer must decide
whether or not the date and time are satisfactory. In truth, since it is
not possible to get a “perfect” electional chart, s/he usually winds up
casting half a dozen charts and trying to choose the one that makes the
most sense.
Ivy M. Goldstein-Jacobson is the High Priestess of Horary and Electional
Astrologer. She has done the most recently to develop and refine the art
of this kind of interpretation. Mrs. Jacobson lived from 1893 to 1990.
Another expert in the field is William Lilly. He wrote in the 17th
Century!
Mrs. Jacobson’s wonderful books are now back in print and available on
several Internet sites. Many are available secondhand through amazon.com
Mrs. Jacobson’s book on horary is called “Simplified Horary Astrology”.
Another essential tool for interpreting charts this way is Rex E. Bills’
“The Rulership Book”, also widely available on the Internet. The
Rulership Book tells you what sign rules just about anything you can
think of from Israel to the kitchen sink. This information is critical
to horary and electional chart interpretation.
Let’s look at some of the basic steps for reading an electional chart
for an operation. Suppose a client has come to asking when is the best
time for surgery to remove her uterus.
1. The first thing is to identify the rulership of the area of the body
being operated on. We establish this through Bills’ “Rulerships” book or
general knowledge -- the uterus is a reproductive organ and is therefore
ruled by Scorpio and the planet Mars.
The rest of the interpretation follows these general guidelines.
2. The 8th house signifies surgery (Jacobson: “The 7th rules the doctor
or physician: the surgeon who usually cuts away a part that then dies is
ruled by the death-8th.”)..
3. The 1st house signifies the patient.
4. Mercury represents the instruments the surgeon will use.
5. The recovery process is signified by the 6th house.
Examine the rulers of these houses and the planets that inhabit them to
see what kind of aspects and information are revealed, positive or
negative.
For example, if Taurus rules the 6th house, the ruler of that house is
Venus. Look to see where Venus is in the chart and how it is aspected in
order to find out how the recovery process will go.
Electional astrology requires us to set aside neutral New Age
interpretations of planets and aspects and to label certain planets and
aspects as the ancients did: “benefic” planets are good; “malefic”
planets are bad.
The malefic planets are Mars, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. Any
planet in any aspect to these planets is considered “afflicted”. This is
bad.
The benefic planets are Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus and Jupiter. These
planets can aspect each other positively with conjunctions but
negatively with squares and oppositions, in which case they are
considered “afflicted”.
The Moon is of critical importance in electional astrology. We look
primarily to see what sign the Moon is in and what aspects it makes
before leaving the sign.
The best signs for the Moon are Taurus and Cancer. The worst sign for
the Moon is Scorpio. For a good ending to surgery, the Moon should not
be Void-of-Course (“nothing will come of it”) and it should make a good
aspect before leaving its sign.
Jacobson introduced a “Part of Surgery”, similar to the Arabic Parts
(such as the “Part of Fortune” with which most of us are familiar). The
Part of Surgery is derived by adding the cusp of the first house to
Saturn and then subtracting Mars. Look to see if the resulting point in
the chart is positive and well aspected.
There are some definite NOs in electional interpretation:
1.the Sun and Moon cannot be in the sign ruling the part of the body to
be operated on (in this case Scorpio)
2.the Ruler of the 1st, the Patient, cannot be in bad aspect to the
Ruler of the 8th, the Surgeon, or the surgeon cannot help the patient
and nothing will come of the operation
3.the Moon cannot be in the same sign as Mars or applying to a quincunx
with Mars
4.the Ascendant, its ruler, a planet in the 1st or 8th houses, the Sun,
Moon or Mars cannot be in conjunct with one of the “evil” fixed stars.
If you’re not sure what the evil fixed stars are, these are the greatest
offenders; Hamal, the Death Wound, at 6 Taurus; Caput Algol or Medusa’s
Head at 24 Taurus; Aldebaran at 8 Gemini; Serpentis, the Cursed Degree,
at 9 Scorpio; Antares, evil presages and danger of fatality, at 8
Sagittarius and Scheat, death by drowning (including pneumonia) at 29
Pisces.
Expect to see some affliction on the angles of the chart. After all, if
Saturn, Neptune, Uranus or Pluto were not hovering at an angle, there
would be no indication of serious surgery pending. However, more than
one of these planets indicates a need to pick another time.
There are some further distinctions to this kind of electional medical
chart interpretation, but these are the basics.
After you have the chart analyzed, you might do a few more for around
the same time period and see if you can get better results. There is no
such thing as the “perfect” time for an event.
Some astrologers are not willing to do electional astrology readings for
fear of taking on the responsibility. It is wise to prepare a potential
client for the fact that 85% or more of the success of the operation
relies on the intelligence and skill of the doctor and the odds given.
The rest of the process can be enhanced by timing and that is what a
good electional chart can do.
What I’ve found with my clients is that their intuition is good and in
most cases is already directing them to an appropriate date and time for
success
About the Author
Nancy R. Fenn has been an
astrologer and intuitive consultant in the San Diego for over 25 years.
She enjoys working with creatives, intuitives and visionaries to help
them discover their mission in life. Nancy's mission in life is to raise
consciousness about introversion as a legitimate personality syle. Visit
Nancy on the web at
www.theintrovertzcoach.com