03/27/2026
Most of us first hear of astrology as a kind of personality profile. There are twelve types of people; all you need to know is your birthday and you can join one of the twelve guilds. This idea has been around since ancient Sumeria, when the signs of the zodiac were invented to make the math easier when observing the night sky.
The twelve signs are human inventions, not a feature of nature. But they contain a rich vein of secret knowledge. Over millennia, they have become a teaching tool for magicians and scholars to investigate the patterns of the universe, including the inner cosmos. Like Tarot cards, astrology can also be used for divination: to answer specific questions by reflecting on seemingly random messages that appear when you ask.
Astrologers call this technique Horary (a word related to Hour). Ancient and medieval astrologers considered the time of day to be more important than the date, and Horary reflects that focus. Quite simply, you ask the astrologer a question, and they create a chart for that moment, just like they would create a chart for a person at the moment of birth. That may seem arbitrary, and I suppose it is, just like the card you draw from a Tarot deck. Why did that particular card come up? Why did you ask your question at the moment when the planets were in the positions they are? These are deep questions of fate and interconnectivity that are fun to ponder, but not a prerequisite for using Horary astrology to answer questions.
Then how can Horary astrology work? In my view, the planets really do reflect "what time it is" in the solar system. They, as well as we, were set in spiralling motion from the same cosmic impulse. But there's also a psychological explanation. When we draw a chart, we are taking time to think about cosmic forces, patterns and processes bigger than ourselves, and how we fit into them. It’s a special container that puts us in a powerful state of mind. Those powers are always present in our lives, but when we have an important decision to make, it’s useful to invite them to participate. Just the act of considering the symbolism of each planet helps us feel the gravity of our decision, and identify what is really important. A professional astrologer, who has been working with these concepts for years, can guide you to understand their workings at the right level to help you where you’re at.
But there’s magic to it as well. In every reading, there will be at least one moment when the planets reveal something the client has not brought up, or did not realize was relevant to their question. Maybe it’s a relationship dynamic with a parent or sibling that’s too close for you to see. Maybe it’s a connection between two goals or desires that you thought could never work together. If you come to me with an open and curious mind, the planets will surprise you with unexpected insight.
Learn more about Horary at my class this Saturday 28 March at Earth & Sky in Market Square, Victoria-- or ask me about attending online
