Dear Friends:

I have a very interesting horary question on a metaphysical topic. I would love some solid, practical feedback on how to interpret this chart (if it isn?t contradictory to ask for ?practical? feedback regarding matters of the spirit!).

Last weekend, I met a woman who describes herself as a lifelong seeker. She reads hands and is apparently quite good at it. I told her that I study astrology and am particularly interested in horary astrology. She didn?t know what horary was; when I explained it to her, she became very excited, and told me that she had a spiritual question that she has often asked herself. ?What I want to know,? she said, ?is what I am. What is my essence? I know that it?s not this,? she remarked as she tugged at some flesh on her arm.

I told her I wasn?t completely certain if this type of question could be answered by a horary chart. We spoke a little bit more, to see if she could rephrase her question. Finally, she came up with this query: ?What is my soul?s journey in this lifetime?? Essentially, she wants to know why she is on this earth at this time. What is she supposed to accomplish?



Data: 2-21-2010, 1:46pm EST, Flagler Beach, Florida USA

Of course, one can look at the birth chart for this type of information?however, the querent was very taken with the idea of asking a horary on this issue. Because I like a challenge, I decided to try and read the chart for her. I suppose that some forum members may feel that even this question is not appropriate for horary; honestly, I don?t want to get caught up in a debate about that. I?d like to stick to feedback on the chart.

Cancer rises, so the querent is signified by the Moon. The Hour Lord is the Sun, which is not of the same triplicity or nature as Cancer or the Moon. Neither the AC nor the Moon are in any of the Sun?s dignities. However, the Sun does behold the AC by trine. Moreover, the moon seems an apt significator in this chart, because it is the natural ruler pilgrims and travelers; the Moon is also a traditional significator of the soul.

My instinct is to look at the first and tenth houses, and their rulers, for an answer. However, do people think that the ninth house is relevant? The question specifically refers to a ?journey.?

The Moon?s condition is most interesting in this chart. Technically, it is in its exaltation in Taurus, but it is also about 26 seconds away from entering Gemini. I take this as a depiction of the soul trying to leave the world of matter (Taurus is an earth sign) and enter a state of higher consciousness, symbolized by airy Gemini. According to the myth associated with Gemini, one twin (Pollux) was physically strong and immortal; the other (Castor) was greatly intelligent but mortal. They switched back and forth between heaven and earth, sharing immortality and mortality. I think the Moon here suggests soul?s struggle to free itself from the world of matter, but at the same time it needs the world of matter.

I am looking forward to hearing people?s comments.

Leo-poet

I strongly believe that natal is better for this kind of thing. The question is too broad. Besides, how can you even be sure you are correct? I have a friend who asked me what her past life was for a horary question. I told her I couldn't do it for that reason.

Hi Leo_poet,

I am a novice but wanted to share what I saw in the chart.

The first thing I noticed is that that Lord 1, the moon is technically in the 12th house, using the 5 degree rule.

Then I saw it was conjunct the Pleiades.

I always look carefully at a planet in exaltation, as although it is a dignity and implies a good person, it sometimes indicates self-importance. Lilly has interesting comments on exalted planets. The moon is just hanging onto its dignity and is about to become peregrine in Gemini, and is technically in the 12th house of self-undoing, hidden matters and witchcraft.

Some may consider the moon to be void of course, however it does immediately apply, within orbs, to sextile the retrograde Mars in Leo situated on the 2nd cusp.

I also note that Moon's antiscion is at 0LEO01. Therefore the debilitated Mars, a natural malefic, is applying to the antiscion of the moon, but will turn direct only minutes before making the aspect.

However, the moon is applying to the antiscion of mars and that is a contact which will be made when moon changes sign and loses dignity. Antiscion implies something hidden. I wonder if the person may be motivated by money at this point in time, as the antiscion placement does sit on the 2nd cusp with a nasty mars. Perhaps its a warning for her not to use her spiritual talents to make money? Im not sure, but that may explain the sign change, a sudden loss of dignity and why Lord 1 is in the cadent 12th.

Alternatively, your client may simply be about to go through a period of withdrawal and that would explain her placement in the 12th about to become peregrine, and the issues with mars on the 2nd cusp may be about self worth, rather than money.

Moon is disposited by the sun in pisces in the spiritual 9th, but the sextile aspect is not within orb and without reception. So its not benefitting.

Jupiter, natural significator of spirituality/religion is dignified by sign and placed in its natural house, the 9th, but it may be significant that it is combust the sun, Lord 2, money or self esteem. A combust planet is hidden, but this one is dignified so I am not sure if combustion applies.

I wonder about that Pluto on the 7th cusp. That is her house of relationships, partners and clients. It is also the astrologers house. Perhaps its a warning that this chart should cannot be read.

redshoes

I agree that the natal is literally a representation of our soul's journey, though I always find such questions interesting! I have asked a few spiritual questions myself. It's hard to apply traditional notions though, or, at least, I can't think of any classical examples of such charts.

Obviously the first place I would look at is where is the ASC ruler via house/sign and what does it aspect. That will show a great area of focus because that is essentially the body/mind/spirit of the person by being the 1st house ruler. Here she is in the 11th in a sign of Venus, so she seems to have a strong connection to friendships, social gatherings, having dreams/aspirations. She may have artistic talents that she needs to express. I'm sure we all know that the lights (hyleg) in aspect with a alcoccoden in general represent our/body soul usually based on the dirunal/nocturnal rulership, and here we have a day chart. So you could even look at the Sun as her physical being, and Jupiter as her alcoccoden (spirit). Pisces 9th Sun/Jupiter would likely show a very spiritual and even psychic person. I tend to see Pisces as the more evolved sign, and are usually old soul types.

I think the nodes are especially important in natal to look at some important key things. Mainly, the karmic focus on this life (north node) and what you are bringing in with you into this life/your past life (south node). The north node is in the 7th house of partnerships in a conservative sign of Capricorn, so maybe she is here to learn how to be more grounded/ambitious, etc. via people that she meets, especially 7th house types (romance, etc.). The Moon is about to change signs to Gemini and lose dignity and enter the 12th house of confinements, so she is probably going through some sort of change that may be difficult for her. Mercury rules the 12th and is in her 8th house of loss, and unaspects, so she may have to go through some painful losses to grow too. Maybe lose a father figure, since Mercury rules the 4th and is in a sign of Saturn. Saturn is in her 4th and rules her 7th, and there is a future trine of Moon-Saturn, so perhaps she will need to work on building a family of her own with someone who is very Saturn-like. It seems like her north node in Capricorn and the losses indicated here are trying to make her be less of a dreamer and more grounded. Pluto is also on the DSC, showing a strong transformative power via relationships with other people. There may also be chronic financial issues for her, because of the Moon-Mars aspect and Mars being in her 2nd and retro. Perhaps some poverty type issues are meant to make her appreciate what she has in the here and now.

Dear Tanit & Redshoes:

Thanks for the feedback. I really appreciate it that both of you took the time to look the chart and offer some insights on how to read it.

Best--

LP

This is an interesting chart. Here's my take on it:

The Querant is ruler of the 1st or the Moon, in the 11th, house of friends.
The soul's journey is the 9th house ruler, Saturn, located in the 4th house.

Look at all those planets in the 9th house! And that includes the Joy of the Sun! So this woman receives regular illumination, despite the rather poor dignity. And Jupiter is conjunct and Venus nearby. Saturn is exalted and sits in the 4th and has an applying trine to the Moon. This tells me that the querant is indeed aware of her soul's journey and she is consciously treading it with regular illumination from friends. The Moon is exalted and is in mutual reception with Saturn by face.

So, to answer the question, all you have to do is look to the meaning of the 9th and 4th houses. The 9th house is 'where we reach out into the unknown in search of widening our knowledge and understanding. Dreams, visions, inspired thoughts, divination, astrology, mysticism, philosophy, beliefs; the desire to unit with something greater than oneself. Religion and clergy of any kind.' (The Houses: Temples of the Sky, D. Houlding, pg 82).

The 4th house is about the foundation and roots of our existence, parents in general and fathers in particular, including grandparents and ancestry. Inheritance from parents and actual land as well as the beginning and end of all things.

Still, I would also be looking at the querant's natal chart to get a clearer picture in order to answer the question. Thanks for the opportunity.

Sandra Lacey