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What Is Electional Astrology?

Astrology, the process of divining the cosmos, can be broken down into 4 basic types: Natal (which also includes predictive timing techniques such as Solar Returns and locational Astrocartography); Mundane (encompassing forecasting as well), Horary Astrology (the most divinatory of all, in which a Chart is cast for the moment a question is asked and understood and then interpreted for the answer and outcome); and Electional.

Election Astrology is the act of electing an auspicious date based on the Astrology of that moment in time. This can also be used retroactively to infer an inception chart, of a business or event say, to ascertain the characteristics and nature of said business or event.

It could also technically be used for anti-elections, i.e. finding the worst time not to do something. But generally it would be more efficient, effective, and productive to simply use Electional Astrology as a way to gauge when the best time to do something will be based on the intentions you have.

Read on to learn more about what is Electional Astrology and how to do it:

Electional Astrology

To pick an auspicious date, first you must have an intention for what you are picking the date for. This is because different Planets and Houses will play more or less of a significant role based on your intentions.

For example, Mercury as significator (meaning a Chart with a Gemini or Virgo Rising) or in the 10th House, could be ideal for launching a book.

You can pick an Election Chart for anything you like. Even getting a haircut or going on date- using Venus as significator or in a prominent angular House (1st House, 4th House, 7th House, 10th House) can lead to pleasant results in this regard.

Generally, we are trying to get the Moon, significator (usually the Planetary ruler of the 1st House, the Ascendant ruler, but in some situations the significator of a Chart may be the the ruler of the 7th House or 5th House even if you are electing for your child for example), and benefics, if possible, in one of the angular Houses, where they are most prominent, and in Signs they are happy in, unaflicted from the malefics, Mars and Saturn.

Then, you can also elect for them to be in a House that is relevant to your situation, such as the 9th House for higher education, travel, or publishing.

We also want important Planets to be in a Sign they are comfortable with (where they have essential dignity) and making harmonious aspects to one another. This will all be done by moving the date and time of day on a Chart to see where the Planets fall and when.

The aspects the main Planets in question make to each other are extremely important. As well as if it is an applying (perfecting) or separating (already occurred) aspect.

Applying aspects (those that are preparing to be exact), indicate that something will occur in the future. For example, if Venus is applying to a trine to Jupiter for a business launch Election Chart, it suggests that it will be profitable in the future. If the Moon is separating from a square to Saturn, while not an ideal situation (especially if a Night Chart as Saturn is more malefic), it can imply that the severance or Saturnian difficulty has already occurred and challenges may be overcome with effort.

For Electional Astrology, you must be extremely comfortable with compromise. There is no perfect Election Chart, ever. It is always about bonifying the benefics (Jupiter and Venus), emphasising the Moon and significator, and mitigating the influence of the malefic Planets (Mars and Saturn), as much as you can within reason. Again, this will never be possible to achieve in its entirety. Because of this, the more wiggle room you can give yourself and time in advance to explore (without exaggerating), the better.

If you have a small timeframe, however, that is still OK and there are some minor things you can always do such as putting the Moon in as beneficial position as possible (good House and aspects- i.e. harmonious aspects to malefics if at all and potentially to benefics) and the benefics in favourable Houses if available. This can be done by electing the hour of the day in which the Rising Sign gives the best outcome for this.

(For Astrological magic, the Planetary day and hour will also be taken into account, but it is not necessary for standard Electionals.)

It is important to note that this is an ancient Hellenistic technique and so the traditional significations are taken into consideration. This means that the 6th, 8th, 12th (and 2nd House to a certain extent), are considered to be “bad” or more negative Houses and so we are trying to avoid putting important Planets there. Traditional rulerships are also used and Chart Sect (day or night) is taken to consideration, as well as essential dignities and the Whole Sign House system.

Finally, once you have elected your Chart, it must always be taken into consideration with the relevant “Natal Chart”, whether that be yours or the person you are electing for, or the inception of the business, the first date of a relationship etc. so it is rooted into reality.

Let’s have a basic overview of some of things you can take into consideration below:

Picking An Electional Astrology Chart

First, you can begin by selecting your window of time available, let’s say you have a week to play with. You will always already generally know the Signs the slower moving Planets will be in (Jupiter and Saturn), as well as the Sun based on the Zodiacal season, and so that already gives you a starting base (for example, as I write this, Jupiter is about to enter Gemini, its detriment, and Saturn is in Pisces, it is also currently Pisces Season, i.e. the Sun is in Pisces).

You can draw up a free Birth Chart here (using Whole Signs) for the first day of your time frame and work your way through each day to see which one allows the Moon to be in the most favourable Sign (once you have seen the Chart of the first day you will likely know which Signs Mercury, Venus, and Mars will also be in, unless they are due to change Signs that week).

The Moon is particularly happy in Cancer and Taurus, and can struggle in Capricorn and Scorpio, but the final decision must be made based on your intention (e.g. a Moon in Scorpio may be favourable for deep shadow work or if this is your personal 10th House and are electing to ask for a promotion. To get a haircut, the Moon in Libra could be favourable etc.).

Planets that are retrograde are generally OK to work with, indeed Jupiter and Saturn, and Mars when it goes retrograde, do so for many months and so we have to work with that! If one of these Planets is your significator, say, it may simply cause some delays or minor mishaps (such as an event starting a bit late), but usually nothing too major. Also be mindful of where the Nodes are! These were considered points of instability and suspicion by the ancients and so we want to minimise their prominence in the Chart.

Once you have selected a couple of dates you like the look of, you can move the Chart forward by a couple of hours at a time to change the Ascendant and see what difference that makes for what the significator of the Chart will be, which is House it will be in, and which aspects it is making; as well as where and what the Moon is doing (or not doing, if it is not making any major aspects before changing Signs it is void-of-course which is usually not suggested for starting things in), along with the other Planets.

Planetary significators:

SUN (which rules Leo): The Sun is exalted in Aries, in detriment in Aquarius, and in fall in Libra. It is good for things relating to health and vitality, our sense of self, putting ourselves out there and being seen.

MOON (rules Cancer): As the fastest moving body, the Moon is always highly taken into regard for an Electional Chart, regardless of whether it is the significator or not. If it is a Cancer Rising Chart, then it will also be the significator. The Moon is exalted in Taurus, in detriment in Capricorn, and in fall in Scorpio. The “via combusta” is the point between 15º Libra to 15º Scorpio that is avoided if possible. The Moon is useful for dealing with aspects of the body, home and family (including real estate).
The phase of the Moon should also be taken into consideration and can be figured out by its position in relation to the Sun. For example a New or First Quarter Moon (conjunction or opening square to the Sun) can be good for starting new things, whereas a Full Moon or Last Quarter phase (opposition or closing square) can be better suited to closure or endings. The ruler of the Moon is also important to note!

MERCURY (rules Gemini and Virgo): Mercury is exalted in Virgo, in detriment in Sagittarius and Pisces, and in fall in Pisces. Mercury is good for matters relating to writing, speaking, connecting with people, learning, travelling, publishing, learning.

VENUS (rules Taurus and Libra): Venus is exalted in Pisces, in detriment in Scorpio and Aries, and in fall in Virgo. Venus is good for matters relating to relationships, beauty, social agreeableness, money, and love. As a benefic, even if it is not the significator, we will always try to place Venus prominently either way, especially for Night Chart or matters relating to its themes, such as love and money.

MARS (rules Aries and Scorpio): Mars is exalted in Capricorn, in detriment in Libra, and in fall in Cancer. It can be used if you need something that requires a lot of energy, fire, drive, action, or severance (like breaking up with someone). Generally, we are usually trying to mitigate Mars’ effects by making it behave nicely, being in a trine or sextile to Jupiter or Venus say, in a hidden House or its “joy” (the 6th House).

JUPITER (rules Sagittarius and Pisces): Jupiter is exalted in Cancer, in detriment in Gemini and Virgo, and in fall in Capricorn. Having Jupiter, along with Venus, prominently in the Chart, either as significator or in the angular Houses is generally always beneficial. In particular, Jupiter is good for spirituality, religion, expansion, growth, learning, or generosity. Again, as a benefic, we are always trying to amplify Jupiter’s prominence in Electional Charts, especially for Day Charts or for those dealing with Jupiterean themes, such as law, teaching, or spirituality.

SATURN (rules Capricorn and Aquarius): Saturn is exalted in Libra, in detriment in Cancer and Leo, and in fall in Aries. Again, we are often trying to mitigate the effects of Saturn but it can be useful when used for things relating to long-term investments or commitments (sometimes even marriage!), signing contracts, boundaries, and structures. If you need to have a hard but mature and necessary conversation with someone about long lasting events, Saturn in a prominent place could be beneficial.

Electional Chart Example

Let’s say that you want to look at when to launch your new Astrology Instagram account. Mercury was traditionally associated with Astrology, as well as ruling communication and technology so would make a good significator.

As the ruler of Gemini, the Sign of social interaction and self-expression, this would make a fitting Rising Sign. So you would keep adjusting you Chart to see what time is Gemini Rising.

Then, you would look to where Mercury is in the sky. Let’s say Mercury is currently in Gemini already (which would put it in the first House, where it also has its joy); or in Virgo (where it is also ruler and exalted which makes it strong); or if it was in Leo, the performer, (which puts it in the 3rd House of Communication, fitting for social media); or in Sagittarius (where it is in detriment but would be in the beneficial 7th House in a Gemini Rising Chart); if it were in Pisces (where it is in detriment and fall, but in the prominent 10th House of Career); or potentially even in Aries (putting it in the 11th House of Community), could all be useful placements for Mercury to be in for you.

What if the time period in which you are looking doesn’t have Mercury in any of these Signs? Let’s say it is in Aquarius (which is actually the Sign of Astrology so would also be fitting). Then you can still keep the Gemini Rising, which would put Mercury, the significator, in the 9th House of Astrology so actually very fitting!

But what if Mercury was currently in Capricorn? Then that would put it in the 8th House, and so much less ideal placement for the significator. In that case, you would simply change the time of the Chart for different Rising Signs. Having a Capricorn or Aries Rising Chart would put Mercury (in Capricorn) in the 1st or 10th House, still prominent places, but now the significator would be Saturn or Mars. While it is not always ideal to have a malefic as significator, you may also be a Capricorn Rising and so it naturally aligns itself with you, it also softens their harshness as now they are on your team!

-> You can then look to where the Moon on those days and try and put it in favourable aspects (trine or sextile) to Saturn or Mars of possible. You can see which Rising Sign puts the Moon in a prominent House instead or how you can “hide” Saturn or Mars in a less-prominent House placement. However, if Mars was to be in the 1st House in a Capricorn Chart, it would be exalted and could then be used for taking action or being courageous in something. If you are Electing for a sport competition or when to have an argument this can help ensure that you win!

Once you have chosen the best Sign for the Moon to be in based on your available timeframe, and the House and aspects, look to the placement of the Planet ruling the Moon.

Finally, you will be looking at what Venus and Jupiter are doing to see how you can make the most of them too (with Sign, House, and aspects).

Basically, the art of Electional Astrology is trying to make the best of the Astrology you have at your disposal. That means lifting up positive Planets as much as possible, and softening the challenging Planets as much as possible. It takes trial and error, and getting used to, but eventually you can become fairly fast at low-risk Electionals, such as when to send a text. More important dates, such as picking a wedding date, will always require ample care and strategising. Sometimes narrowing it down to a few Charts and sleeping on them before making a final decision can help to see them in a new light.

You can also go deeper into each Chart by taking into consideration the decans and bounds if you like or combine other divinatory techniques such as Tarot or pendulums to confirm your final Chart.

If you would like to learn more, Chris Brennan has an auspicious elections podcast as well as an Electional Astrology course.

So that’s a brief overview of what electional Astrology is and how to use it, I hope it’s insightful for you! Let me know in the comments section below if you have any questions or anything else to add.

If you would like me to interpret the cosmos for you directly, book in an Astrology Reading with me :)

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