ELECTIONS AND OBSERVATIONS,
Concerning Journeys:
Collected by NICH. CULPEPER Gent.
Concerning Journeys:
Collected by NICH. CULPEPER Gent.
Student in Astrology and Physick. Virgo 1647.
LONDON, Printed for Rich. Moone, & Steph. Chatfield.
1654.
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The first 20 or so aphorisms show an interesting point; They can be used 'backwards'. For example, by aphorism no. 15, i should try to avoid starting a journey, at a time when Mars is in the 3rd or 9th houses. On the other hand, supposing I left in a hurry, and some time later came to analyse the chart, then I would predict the presence of thieves along the way.
Some historians inform us that horary astrology arose from a similar idea: Electional astrology began to be used backwards (Eg: Is it auspicious to travel now? ~> What happens if I travel now?) This form of astrology was known as 'inceptional astrology' as you took the moment of the inception for casting the chart. From there it is but a short step to actually casting the chart the moment the question occurs to you(eg: Should I travel?) That is the essence of Horary astrology,
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Observations.
[Going to see a king by the moon sign.]
1. HE that goes about any business to a King or Prince, when the Moon is in Aquarius, he may be received: but the King will not regard him, nor his Suit.
2. If the Moon be in Pisces, the King will not let him see his face.
3. If any demand any thing of another (which may in Reason be granted) when Capricorn is in the Mid-heavens, and Jupiter in it, and the Moon applying to him; or if separating from him, she apply to the Lord of the Ascendant ; or if the Lord of the Ascendant apply to Jupiter, he will quickly obtain his desire.
[weather]
4. Venus causeth rain and moisture; Mercury, short journeys and changes.
5.Venus in the first degree of Cancer at the Conjunction of the Luminaries, or any other great Conjunction, causeth great Rains.
6. In all Elections, fortify the Lord of the Ascendant , and the Lord of the house of the thing desired.
E.W. For example, if I wanted to go on a long journey, I should begin it at a time when the ascendant ruler and the ruler of the 9th house are essentially dignified; the two rulers need not be the same planet.
[Planetary conditions in elections]
7. Saturn doth most mischief in long journeys, Mars in short.
8. Fixed Signes forbid journeys, moveable Signes urge them, the later end of Libra excepted.
9. The Moon increasing in light, in good Aspect to the Sun, helps forward Journeys.
10. When an Infortune receives a Fortune by good Aspect, it works no mischief.
11. In Journeys, the greatest impediment a Planet can have, is to be peregrine.
12. Cancer regards the Sea most; and Pisces, Rivers.
[Bad configurtions]
13. Every thing which is suddenly made, and suddenly destroyed, and suddenly re-made, the cause is in Mars.
14. Every thing that is suddenly made, and suddenly destroyed, and remains long in destruction, is caused by Saturn and Mars.
15. When you go a journey by land, 'tis bad to have Mars in the ninth or third, because he signifies thieves: but 'tis worse to have him in the second.
16. When you would go into the Country, let the Lord of the second house be in a fortunate place, and not in the fourth house, nor in the Ascendant .
17. At the very time when you enter a journey, take heed there be no ill Planet in the seventh house: for that signifies evil will befall thee, in the place to which thou goest.
18.Yet if he be well dignified, and in good aspect to the Lord of the Ascendant , the mischief will not be much.
[More general aphorisms]
19. If the Lord of the ninth house be in the Ascendant , the journey will be made with honour and profit.
20. If the Lord of the Ascendant give power to the Lord of the ninth, the Journey will be good and profitable.
21. In short Journeys, view the Lord of the third, because he is Lord of short Journeys.
22. In all Journeys, view the Moon, because she is general Significatrix of Journeys.
23. And have a special care to the Lord of the hour: for if he be impedited when you take a Journey, he will do as much mischief as the Lord of the Ascendant if he be impedited.
24. The Significator of Messengers and Ambassadors is the Lord of the fifth house.
25. The hours of Saturn and Mars are ill to take a journey in; the hours of Jupiter, Venus, and the Luminaries, is good.
26. In Journeys, the impediments of Saturn are very many; and may be known by the nature of the Signe he is in.
27.For example: if in a Sea-journey, at the setting forth, Saturn ascend in Pisces, the ship will suffer ship-wrack.
28. Take no journey by Sea, when a fiery Signe ariseth: for then a watery Signe is in the eighth house.
29. If you go to a Prince or King, let the Sun be fortunate, and let Aries or Leo ascend.
30. In all journeys, let not the Lord of the Ascendant nor hour be impedited, nor in combustion, nor Square, nor Opposition to the Sun; neither let the Moon be in the Ascendant .
31. When the Sun is in his own house or exaltation in the day, or the Moon in hers in the night, and one of them Lord of the hour, it is good to take a journey.
32. If at such a time the Sun or Moon behold the tenth house, it is so much the better.
33. If the Sun or Moon give power to the Lord of the Ascendant , it is good.
[The best part of the world to live in]
34. By a Nativity you may judge which part of the world is best for any to live in: if you have not the Nativity, you may judge it by a Question.
In other words, if you do not know the exact moment you are born, cast a horary chart for the moment the question ‘where should I live’ occurs to you, and interpret accordingly.
35. If the Fortunes be joyned with the Lord of the Ascendant , between the M. C. and the Ascendant , it is best for him to live eastward.
36. This is also so much the better, if the Question be demanded in the forenoon.
37. But if the Fortunes be between the seventh and fourth house, the Western part is best for him, and most profitable for him to live in. And if the Question be demanded between sun-set and midnight, it is more prevalent.
38. The other parts of the heaven may easily be gathered from these.
39. These all will be far more significant, if the Lord of the hour be a Fortune, and the Lord of the Ascendant joyned with a Fortune.
[Horaries for absent persons. ]
40. If a Question be demanded, to know the return of a man, behold whether the Lord of the Ascendant , or the Moon, be in the tenth, or in the Ascendant : for then he will return.
41. If the Lord of the Ascendant be retrograde, he will quickly return: if direct, it makes his return the slower.
42. Moveable Signes hasten his return; fixed, delay it; mean Signes make him travel from one place to another.
43. If the Lord of the Ascendant give his strength to the Lord of the ninth or third houses, or to any Planet in those houses, his return will be slow enough.
44. If the Lord of the Ascendant be in the tenth, in a moveable Signe, he will not stay a day before he come home, but certain hours only
45.By considering the Signe the Significator is in, whether fickle, fixed, or mean, and his difference from the Cusp of the Angle, or from the body or Aspect of the Significator of the Querent; and guiding your judgement by Reason, according to the thing quesited, you may judge how many hours, days, weeks, months, or yeers, it will be before he return.
[The role of the Moon in questions]
46. The Moon also hath great strength in such Questions.
47. Notwithstanding, if she be in the second, sixth, eighth, or twelfth houses, regard her not.
48. Also, if the Ascendant be Leo or Aquarius, Gemini or Sagittary, the Moon is of little force: not so in other Signes; the reason is, because these Signes have no aspect to Cancer the house of the Moon.
[The role of the 5th house in elections]
49. Also, give the Lord of the fifth house to the Messenger or Ambassadour; and the Lord of the Ascendant to the Querent; and give judgement of his return by the former Rules.
50. If the Question be about any that is sent to receive money, see what application the Lord of the fifth hath with the Lord of the second, and judge accordingly.
51. If the Lord of the fifth house be separated from the Lord of another house, you may see what hath been done already, by the signification of that house; and whether it be good or bad, by the signification of the Planet he is separated from.
[more general aphorisms]
52. And also, you may know whether the business be effected wholly, or in part, by the strength of the Significators.
53.Also, you may note what Planet either impedites or strengthens the Significators; and so you may know the cause of it.
54.If the Question be about Honour, take the Lord of the tenth house, and work accordingly.
55. Another way to judge of returns, is this: See if the Moon be Lady of the hour of the Question: if so, and she be strong, she is Significatrix of the return: if she give beams to the Lord of the fifth house, he will return when she comes to his place, or perfect Aspect.
56. But if she aspect the Ascendant , he will return when she comes to the degree ascending at the Question.
57. But let judgement herein be ruled by Reason; namely, if there be a possibility of his returning so speedily.
58. By these Rules may any Astrologer, that is not troubled with the Simples, easily make Elections for the beginnings of any of these businesses.
This Treatise was revised, Sun 12m. 1648 . NICH. CULPEPER.
