the-astrology-book

In electional astrology, the astrologer must not only construct an inceptional figure
(electional chart) that will accomplish the intended purpose, but also select a
moment that will bring concurrent influences in the client’s natal chart into alignment
with the desired end. In other words, contrary influences in the client’s chart
will counteract favorable influences in the election chart.
There is, however, a shorthand approach, using the position of the Moon, for
selecting the proper moment to initiate actions. As the nearest and fastest-moving
celestial body to Earth, the Moon has the most influence over the continuously
changing astrological “atmosphere” of our home planet. For day-to-day choices, it is
thus the most significant planet to examine. The first rule of thumb in electing
actions by the position of the Moon is to pay attention to the Moon’s waxing and
waning cycle. Activities one hopes will quickly expand, such as a new business venture,
should be initiated during a waxing moon (increasing in size from new to full).
On the other hand, activities one hopes to stop or slow down, such as the growth of
hair after a haircut, should be undertaken during a waning moon (decreasing in size
from full to new).
A second consideration when using the position of the moon in electional
astrology is the variable speed of the Moon. The Moon travels in an elliptical orbit
around Earth. During its perigee (the point at which it passes closest to Earth), it is
traveling faster than during its apogee (the point farthest away from Earth). As with
the waxing and waning cycle, activities one wants to come quickly to fruition should
be undertaken close to the Moon’s perigee, and activities one wants to stop or slow
down should be undertaken close to its apogee.
A third consideration is to avoid certain actions when the Moon is void of
course (often abbreviated VOC). A planet is void of course after it makes its last
major aspect with another planet before transiting out of a given sign. It remains void
of course until it enters a new sign (referred to as ingress). The influence of void-ofcourse
moons is on par with retrograde motion—these are poor periods during which
to sign contracts, initiate new projects, or acquire new possessions. They are good
times, however, to reflect and “recharge.” Many of the major ephemeredes (tables of
planetary positions) note when the Moon goes void of course as well as when the
Moon enters a new sign. Astrologers who have studied void-of-course moons assert
that the last aspect must be a major one—conjunction, sextile, square, trine, or opposition—with
the Sun or one of the planets (asteroids and other celestial bodies are not
considered significant for the purpose of determining VOC moons).
A fourth consideration in using the Moon’s position is the nature of the
Moon’s last aspect before going void of course; this concluding aspect shows the outcome
of any action undertaken while the Moon was in that sign. A hard aspect, such
as a square or an opposition, tends to indicate an unfavorable outcome, whereas a sextile
or a trine indicates a favorable one. A conjunction is usually regarded as favorable,
although conjunction with a difficult planet such as Saturn might cause delays.
A fifth consideration when using the lunar position to determine timing is the
next aspect the Moon makes after an action is taken (called the applying aspect).
Thus, if one goes to a job interview when the Moon is applying a square to Neptune,
Electional Astrology
THE ASTROLOGY BOOK
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