I have never actually cast a horary chart until today, and I could use a little help. The question I asked was whether a book I am proposing would see print with a particular publisher. I cast the question on May 21, 2007, 2:56pm EST, in Gaithersburg, MD.

Mercury (the sign of the writer) is in the Ascendent - I took this as a sign that my question is on target. The querent is represented by Mercury in the 10th in the ruling sign of Gemini, or the Moon in the 11th house in Leo. Since Mercury sounds more like an author to me, I'm going to give it more weight.

The buyer/publisher (or third party) is indicated by the ruler of the 7th house. Now here's where I get confused. If I use the modern ruler, which is Neptune (6th house placement in Aquarius), I see a nice, big, fat trine to the Ruling Mercury. This sounds like a "yes".

If I use the traditional ruler of the 7th house, which is Jupiter (4th house placement), I see it in its ruling sign of Sag, nearly directly opposite my Mercury. Even though Mercury and Jupiter are both in powerful ruling signs, an opposition like that looks like a big, fat "no".

[I tried to paste the chart in here, but couldn't figure out how to do it. Does anybody know how?]


Outcome: Spoke with publisher - they don't want it. I think that legal liability is an issue, even though this wasn't expressed, because they did seem to enjoy the proposal and sample chapters.

Further question: I'm too depressed right now to cast another horary. Is there anything further I can determine from the first one about its chances with a different publisher? I've even thought about just putting the whole thing on a website in the future.

Actually, the publisher would be the 9th house, I believe, not the 7th. In a chart such as this, the condition of the Moon is very important. I'll look further.

Best wishes,
GH

Hi Sunny,

What house system are you using to get Mercury in the 10th? I get it in the 9th. That makes Mercury essentially dignified but cadent, so in a weak position (so it may not be your ability that?s at fault, but your lack of experience causes problems). Saturn is sextile Mercury in the 11th house and the Moon applies to the trine of Jupiter and then the conjunction of Saturn and the sextile of your significator. I don?t get a sense of doom from this, but rather a message that there will be obstacles, but enough good reason to keep trying and persevere. Try another publisher?

Good luck, and well done for sticking a toe in the horary pool

Hi Sunny Dawn, I am not very experienced in horary but I think that for publisher you should use significator of the 9th house.
However, the Asc of the chart is in conjunction with a not so fortunate fixed star Alkaid the star of Mars-Uranus-Saturn nature. I have found the following interpretation for this star on the internet: "...this fixed star is supposed to be bound up with the realm of the dead and is therefore associated with death and mourning..."

http://users.winshop.com.au/annew/Alkaid.html

Because of this star, I am very curious as to the theme of your book?

Deb,

I ran the chart at work on www.0800-horoscope.com/birthchart, and I have no idea what system they are using. The exact sextile between mischief-loving 12th house Saturn and my Mercury (19 degrees) significator could be me (no doubt about it).

It occurs to me that there is another layer of meaning here. Jupiter in Sag (16 degrees) is the significator for the guy that I loved. (See my response to Dan of Maryland question about "love of your life" vs "spouse" in the General section.)

Since we both appear in ruling signs, but opposite each other, I wonder if this indicates our natural attraction to one another despite our inability to stay together.

If this is an accurate way to look at it, I really wonder what the tight T-square to Uranus (18 degrees Pisces 7th house) indicates for us. It is in Jupiter's co-ruling sign.

LeeLu, so interesting that you should mention this. This book is about the death of a relationship, and its subsequent mourning. It is called "Life on a Broom: A Memoir of Love and Covens".

It's (um) an irreverant and rather shocking look at what happened inside a coven - an unglamorous look at paganism from a pagan perspective. Memoirs written by pagans have so far been rather idealized, as we try to convince outsiders of our spirituality. This book would ask readers to acknowledge that we have our problems, too.

What does MD mean? Can you specify the country, i have difficulty in finding in Astrodiesnt.

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Ok. I got a place in USA. The ascending degree is 26 Virgo 39. Can you confirm?

The only thing I know about horary is the things I've learned on this forum, but the ASC ruler Mercury describes an author perfectly. It is also in its sign of rulership, meaning that it is quite strong. You as the author are strong, so don't give up.

What house rules publishing? Its seems like it would be a communication house, so maybe the third? But it is publishing, or communicating on a large scale, so perhaps the 9th. But this isnt a question about if the book will be published, it is a question of whether the book will be published by this specific publishing house. So perhaps a relationship question? So maybe 7th, general significator of the other in a relationship, in this case querant and person granting the permission to publish. Or perhaps 10th the significator of career goals. Is this a career goal?

I think the moon would be very important in this situation as to describe why the book isn't being picked up by this specific publishing house, because you as the author are strong in the chart. Perhaps its just not the right time.

Good luck!

Hi all,

I have tried to answer a similar publishing question. So I wanted to share these ideas:

You, Mercury are dignified, and in the 9th house of publishing. You are separating from opposition to Jupiter, Lord 7, and you receive each other into detriment. Jupiter is essentially dignified in the 3rd house of contracts. Jupiter sounds like the publisher who denied the deal.

I wasnt sure whether to take Mars [lord 3] or Saturn [lord 5 house of your creations] as your book/application, but both took me to the Sun in the chart.

Mars [lord 3] is essentially and accidently dignified, so very good and strong. It is in the 2nd sign of the 7th house, which made me wonder if it was showing success in a 2nd deal. The Sun, in the 9th receives Mars into exaltation and will aspect it shortly by sextile.

Saturn [Lord 5]: Saturn in Leo seems descriptive of a book dealing with death, rather than it being in detriment. Saturn is in the terms of Jupiter [lord 7] so Jupiter receives it by terms. That sounds like the testimoney that the 1st publisher liked your idea for your book but perhaps not enough as terms is a minor dignity. Looking for confirmation that the 5th house is the book: the 5th cusp is near "Altair" which is a powerful fixed star of Mars-Jupiter nature. Its a star in the eagle, so it seemed that the book should want to soar, to me. But Manilus describes it as hurling thinderbolts, so I thought that matched your description as well.
http://users.winshop.com.au/annew/Altair.html

The next aspect of the Moon, is an applying trine to Jupiter, the 1st publisher. I wondered if you should speak to that same publisher again. They may have suggestions.

Then I noticed there is a mixed mutual reception between Saturn [Lord 5, the book] and the Sun. Sun is in the triplicity of Saturn and Saturn is in the Sign and triplicity of the Sun. I was hoping the moon may be carrying the light between them, but there do seem to be some obstacles.

So who is the Sun?

Sun sits in the 9th house of publishing, in the 2nd sign of the 9th. Sun has just entered Gemini, so it newly sits in your sign and terms. It shows a change and you receive it. I wondered if the Sun shows a new publisher. I found it interesting to look at the receptions between the Sun and Jupiter. Sun has just moved into the detriment and face of Jupiter, While Jupiter is in the triplicity of the Sun. I wondered if Sun was a rival publisher or someone working under the publisher that likes your book.

Good luck, I hope there is something of merit in this. Im not an expert by any means.

Red Shoes

This is a really good assesment, redshoes. I do not yet have the horary skill to read a chart this way, so I totally appreciated these comments.

The next aspect of the Moon, is an applying trine to Jupiter, the 1st publisher. I wondered if you should speak to that same publisher again. They may have suggestions.

They told me they have included comments in the manuscript they are returning to me.

I wondered if Sun was a rival publisher or someone working under the publisher that likes your book.

You are correct. The assistant read it carefully, and she also delivered the news. You hardly ever get a publisher on the phone.