Horary Astrology: The Complete Beginner's Guide to Yes/No Questions

"Will I get the job?"

"Is he cheating on me?"

"Should I move to Austin?"

These aren't questions you can answer with a natal chart. Your birth chart tells you who you are. But it won't tell you if that specific guy is going to text you back.

That's where horary astrology comes in.

TL;DR for Beginners

• Works best for yes/no questions about specific situations
• Chart is cast for when the question is understood, not when you first thought about it
• William Lilly codified the rules in 1647 (and they still work)
• You look at the Ascendant ruler (you) and the house ruler (what you're asking about)
• Applying aspects = things coming together = yes
• Separating aspects = things falling apart = no
• Can be learned in days, mastered in months

What Is Horary Astrology, Really?

OK so here's the thing about horary.

Most astrology looks at your birth chart. Where were the planets when you were born? What does that say about your personality, your life path, your karma?

Horary doesn't care about any of that.

It's wild when you think about it. The universe is supposedly encoding the answer to "Will my ex come back?" into the position of planets right now, at this very second.

But here's the weird part: it works. Like, suspiciously often.

The History (Quick Version)

Fun fact: Lilly predicted the Great Fire of London in 1666 so accurately that he was actually investigated for potentially starting it. He was cleared, but still. That's how good this guy was.

The method he developed is based on traditional house rulerships, planetary dignities, receptions, and aspects. Sounds complicated. It's actually not that bad once you get the basics.

Why Horary Instead of Natal?

Your natal chart is like your DNA. It's fixed. It tells you about your tendencies, your patterns, your potential.

But your natal chart can't tell you:

• Whether this specific job interview will go well
• If you'll find your lost phone
• Whether that person on Hinge is actually interested
• If now is a good time to buy a house

Horary can. Or at least, it tries to. And it's been doing it for 400 years with enough success that people haven't given up on it.

How Horary Actually Works

Here's the basic process:

Step 1: You Ask a Question

The best horary questions are:

• Yes/no format ("Will I get the job?" not "What job should I get?")
• About a specific situation (not vague life advice)
• Something you're emotionally invested in

Bad horary questions:

• "Should I do X?" (that's a value judgment, not a prediction)
• Testing questions ("I already know the answer, let's see if it works")
• The same question you asked yesterday (the chart won't change just because you didn't like the first answer)

Step 2: The Chart Is Cast

This is important. The theory is that the moment of sincere questioning creates a kind of cosmic snapshot. The answer is embedded in that moment.

Step 3: Identify the Players

This is where it gets technical, but stay with me.

• 1st house: You, your body, personal matters
• 2nd house: Money, possessions
• 3rd house: Siblings, neighbors, short trips, communication
• 4th house: Home, family, father, real estate
• 5th house: Romance, children, creativity, fun
• 6th house: Work, health, pets, daily routines
• 7th house: Relationships, partners, enemies, "the other person"
• 8th house: Death, taxes, other people's money, sex
• 9th house: Travel, education, legal matters, spirituality
• 10th house: Career, reputation, mother, authority figures
• 11th house: Friends, groups, hopes, social networks
• 12th house: Hidden enemies, self-undoing, secrets, isolation

So if you're asking "Will I get the job?", you look at the 10th house ruler (career). If you're asking "Will he text me back?", you look at the 7th house ruler (the other person).

Step 4: Check the Aspects

Here's the core of horary interpretation:

• If your planet (Ascendant ruler) is applying to aspect the quesited's planet, something is developing
• Trines and sextiles are easy yeses
• Conjunctions are strong yeses
• Squares and oppositions can still be yes, but with difficulty or complications

• If the planets are moving away from aspect, the opportunity has passed
• Whatever was happening is now over

• If there's no applying aspect between the key planets, the answer is usually no
• Nothing connects you to what you want

Step 5: Consider the Moon

The Moon is always important in horary. It shows the flow of events, what's happening next.

Look at:

• What aspect is the Moon making next?
• Is the Moon void of course? (not making any aspects before leaving its sign)

A void of course Moon often means "nothing will come of this" or "the matter won't develop as expected."

The Yes/No Cheat Sheet

Want to cut to the chase? Here's the simplified version:

But wait, there's more nuance...

Considerations Before Judgment

Traditional horary has these things called "considerations before judgment." They're basically warning signs that the chart might not be readable.

• The question might be premature
• Situation hasn't developed enough yet

• The matter is already decided
• Too late to change anything

• Traditional warning sign
• Some astrologers say it means the astrologer can't help
• Others ignore this rule entirely

• Nothing will come of the matter
• Or: the situation will continue as-is without major change

Here's my honest take: some traditional astrologers treat these as absolute rules. Others see them as additional information. Modern horary practitioners often read the chart anyway and note the considerations.

Common Horary Questions (And How to Read Them)

"Will I Get the Job?"

• Is there an applying aspect between the Ascendant ruler and the 10th house ruler?
• Where is the 10th house ruler? Strong or weak?
• What's the Moon doing?

• Ascendant ruler in the 10th house (you're going there)
• 10th house ruler in the 1st house (the job is coming to you)
• Applying trine/sextile between significators
• Jupiter or Venus in the 10th

• Separating aspects
• Malefics in the 10th
• 10th house ruler combust (too close to the Sun)

"Will They Come Back?" (Relationships)

• Applying aspects between 1st and 7th rulers
• Moon applying to the 7th ruler
• Reception (do the planets "like" each other?)

• 7th ruler applying to aspect your ruler (they're moving toward you)
• Mutual reception (both planets in each other's signs)
• Venus strong and involved

• 7th ruler in a cadent house (they're weak, unavailable)
• Separating aspects
• No connection between significators

"Will I Find My Lost Item?"

This is actually one of horary's specialties. William Lilly was famous for this.

• 1st house: On you or near your stuff
• 2nd house: In your financial areas (wallet, purse, near money)
• 3rd house: In your car, near communication devices, with siblings
• 4th house: At home, in the kitchen, basement
• 5th house: In fun places, children's areas, entertainment rooms
• 6th house: At work, with pets, in utility areas
• And so on...

• Fire signs: Near heat sources, high up
• Earth signs: On the ground, in practical places
• Air signs: High up, near windows, in airy rooms
• Water signs: Near water, bathrooms, kitchens

My Honest Take: Does Horary Actually Work?

OK, here's where I get real with you.

I've been building astrology software for over a decade. I've seen thousands of horary charts. And I'll be honest: I was a skeptic. Like, a hardcore skeptic.

I remember reading about horary for the first time and thinking "this is absolutely ridiculous." The idea that you could ask "will I get the job?" and the universe would encode the answer into planetary positions at that exact moment? Come on.

But then I started testing it. Not because I believed - because I wanted to prove it wrong.

I asked about a package delivery. The chart said Thursday. Package came Thursday.

I asked about whether a client would sign. Chart said no, with Saturn involved suggesting delays and obstacles. Client ghosted, then came back 6 months later. Still hasn't signed.

I asked about finding my lost AirPods. Chart pointed to a water sign, 4th house influence. Found them in the kitchen, near the sink.

Coincidence? Probably. But it kept happening. Not 100% of the time - nothing is 100% - but way more than random chance should allow.

One astrologer on AstrologyWeekly shared something that stuck with me: "I was originally a thorough-bred modern astrologer. I heard of horary and instantly dismissed it as pure nonsense - I was supremely confident of this as only ignorance can bestow you. When I eventually tried it... it worked."

Another practitioner who's been doing horary for over a year wrote: "I have seen where missing people were. Found when packages would arrive. If I'd do well in court cases... pretty shocked how accurate it is when done correctly."

Several experienced practitioners point out that horary "is only good for things 6-9 months out" and "only good for things that are about you and deeply personally about you."

One astrologer put it bluntly: "Horary charts predict situations as they stand now. So, a horary chart would stand up against the test of time...until the situation changes in some fashion."

The pattern matching is too consistent to dismiss entirely. When someone asks a genuine question with real emotional investment, and I cast the chart, and the symbols align in a clear way... it's uncanny how often the answer is right.

Is it magic? Is it accessing some collective unconscious? Is it a sophisticated pattern-matching system we don't understand? Is it just confirmation bias?

I honestly don't know. And I've stopped trying to figure it out. I just use it.

What I do know is this: horary has been practiced continuously for 400+ years. Smart people have used it. William Lilly advised the Parliament during the English Civil War using horary. If it were complete nonsense, wouldn't it have died out by now?

Use horary as one data point among many. Don't make life-altering decisions based solely on a horary chart. But if you're on the fence about something and want another perspective... it's a fascinating tool.

And if nothing else, learning horary will teach you a lot about traditional astrology, planetary dignities, and aspect theory. That knowledge transfers to natal work.

Getting Started with Horary

Want to try this yourself? Here's my recommendation:

1. Learn the Basics First

You need to understand:

• The 12 houses and their meanings
• Planetary rulerships (traditional, not modern)
• Aspects and orbs
• Essential dignities (domicile, exaltation, detriment, fall)

2. Read the Classics

• Christian Astrology by William Lilly (Book 1 and 2 especially)
• The Horary Textbook by John Frawley (modern but traditional)
• On the Heavenly Spheres by Helena Avelar and Luis Ribeiro

3. Practice on Questions You Already Know

Find old horary charts where the outcome is known. Try to read them. See if you would have gotten it right. This builds pattern recognition.

4. Keep Records

When you do your own horaries, write down:

• The question
• The chart
• Your interpretation
• What actually happened

This feedback loop is essential. You'll learn what works for you and what doesn't.

5. Use Good Software

When NOT to Use Horary

Some questions shouldn't be asked:

The Future of Horary

Here's something interesting: horary might be more relevant than ever.

In an age of information overload, people are paralyzed by choices. Should I take this job or that one? Should I date this person or keep looking? Should I move or stay?

Horary offers something rare: a definitive answer. Yes or no. This or that.

Is it right? Sometimes. Maybe often. Maybe it's just giving people permission to make the decision they already wanted to make.

Either way, the demand for horary readings is growing. And as astrology apps become more sophisticated, expect to see horary features showing up in mainstream products.

Key Takeaways

1. Horary = one question, one chart, one answer
2. Best for yes/no questions about specific situations
3. Applying aspects = yes, separating = no
4. William Lilly's 1647 rules still work today
5. Moon is always important (void of course = nothing happens)
6. Considerations before judgment are warnings, not absolute rules
7. Works best with genuine emotional investment
8. Not for testing, repeated questions, or "should I" queries
9. Can be learned in days, mastered in months to years
10. Useful skill whether you're a believer or a skeptic

Horary won't solve all your problems. But when you're stuck on a specific question and need an answer... the stars might just have something to say.

FAQ

What's the difference between horary and natal astrology?

Natal astrology looks at your birth chart - who you are, your tendencies, your potential. Horary looks at a chart cast for the moment you ask a specific question. Natal is about your whole life. Horary is about one situation.

Can I do horary for myself?

Yes, but it's harder. You're emotionally invested, which can cloud interpretation. Many horary practitioners ask colleagues to read charts about their own important questions.

How accurate is horary astrology?

That depends who you ask. Practitioners claim 70-80% accuracy on clear questions. Skeptics say it's confirmation bias. The honest answer: it's accurate enough that people have used it for 400+ years and keep coming back.

What if I don't like the answer?

The chart shows the likely outcome based on current circumstances. It's not absolute fate. You can change your actions, and that might change the outcome. But asking again hoping for a different answer doesn't work.

Can horary predict timing?

Yes, but it's complex. You look at how many degrees before the aspect perfects, then convert to time units (days, weeks, months) based on the signs and houses involved. Traditional timing rules are detailed but learnable.

Is horary fortune-telling?

Kind of? It's predictive astrology. Whether that's "fortune-telling" depends on your definition. It's certainly not pretending to read your personality from your handwriting or whatever. There's a systematic method based on astronomical positions.

Why do some astrologers say horary doesn't work?

Modern psychological astrology focuses on natal work and sees astrology as a tool for self-understanding, not prediction. Traditional astrology was always predictive. Different philosophical frameworks lead to different conclusions about what astrology can or should do.

What's the best first horary question to practice on?

Lost objects. It's specific, you'll find out quickly if it worked, and the house meanings are clear. "Where is my wallet?" is a great starter question.