Electing by the Moon: Positive and Negative aspects

Electing by the aspects of the Moon is the poor man's version of electional astrology. William Ramesey, whose Astrologie Restored (1653) contains an extremely thorough treatment of elections, sniffily remarked that the method is best suited to people who "have not the capacity to understand or judge the Rules of Art", though he conceded that time pressure sometimes prevents the setting of a proper electional chart. Vivian Robson saw some value in the method and commented in his Electional Astrology (1937) that "at least [it] is better than no method at all, for it ensures favourable lunar conditions if nothing else". 

Two cardinal rules of electional astrology should be noted even if you are only planning to use this simplified form. Firstly, the elected moment must harmonise with the nativity of whoever intends to benefit from it. Even a technically perfect election will fail if it afflicts the angles or important significators in the nativity. Secondly, most authors agree that the Moon should never be placed in the 1st house at the beginning of any new enterprise or venture. 

The general rules that follow are adapted from Ramesey's Astrologie Restored p.128-9 and the 'Aphorismes of Bethem' given in Henry Coley's Key to the Whole Art of Astrology (1676) p341-3.

 

Moon conjunct Saturn

Bad for most purposes, especially for dealing with elderly or saturnine people. Also bad for travel, business and beginning new ventures.

 

Moon Sextile Saturn

Bad for love affairs and friendship with women. Favourable for building, excavation, agriculture &c. and also for dealing with elderly people, magistrates and officials.

 

Moon square Saturn

Bad for everything, especially medical treatment, travel, love affairs and dealing with saturnine people.

 

Moon trine Saturn

Favourable for repairing and renovating old buildings and objects; good for building, agricultural work and dealing with saturnine people.

 

Moon opposition Saturn

Unfavourable for starting new ventures or hiring employees; also bad for business or for seeking favour and advancement.

 

Moon conjunct Jupiter

Generally favourable; especially good for lawsuits and for dealing with lawyers, doctors and professional people generally

 

Moon Sextile Jupiter

Good for decision making and legal transactions. Favourable for marriage.

 

Moon square Jupiter

Good for study and getting advice, otherwise generally doubtful.

 

Moon trine Jupiter

Favourable for starting new ventures and for dealing with influential people.

 

Moon opposition Jupiter

Said to be good for journeys, but generally unfavourable for most purposes.

 

Moon conjunct Mars

Unfavourable for most purposes but especially for journeys and dealing with martial people

 

Moon sextile Mars

Good for contests and fights; also favourable for buying weapons, tools, machinery, &c.

 

Moon square Mars

Generally unfavourable, especially for marriage, forming new liaisons or dealing with influential people. Avoid contention.

 

Moon trine Mars

Good for undertaking any strenuous or challenging activity, starting controversies, lawsuits or fights; also for buying animals and dealing with martial people.

 

Moon opposition Mars

Unfavourable for new ventures, journeys, friendships and dealing with women.

 

Moon conjunct Sun

Favourable only for matters designed to be kept hidden, secret or private.

 

Moon sextile Sun

Good for seeking favours from titled or influential people, also for short journeys, changes, new friendships and advancement.

 

Moon square Sun

Unfavourable for new undertakings, travel or dealing with influential people.

 

Moon trine Sun

Good for beginning new ventures, influencing important people and seeking advancement.

 

Moon opposition Sun

Bad for business and unfavourable for starting new ventures or making important changes. Good for dealing with titled people; but not with rich men.

 

Moon conjunct Venus

Favourable for love affairs, having fun, showing off, relaxing.

 

Moon sextile Venus

Good for marriage, love affairs, financial matters and buying ornaments and jewellery.

 

Moon square Venus

Favourable for sports and games; also good for marriage and hiring employees.

 

Moon trine Venus

Good for marriage, love affairs and for wearing new clothes (providing the Sun is not in Leo).

 

Moon opposition Venus

Generally unfavourable. All venusian concerns should be approached with caution.

 

Moon conjunct Mercury

Good for writing and correspondence, sending messages, letters, etc. Favourable for preparing accounts, signing contracts and for most commercial transactions.

 

Moon sextile Mercury

Favours study, learning and dealing with clever people. Good for business and for entering into contracts and agreements.

 

Moon square Mercury

Good for travel, buying and selling, sending messages, study and dealing with influential people.

 

Moon trine Mercury

Good for undertaking new studies and work which requires ingenuity or flexibility. Also good for dealing with lawyers, secretaries and literary people.

 

Moon opposition Mercury

Favourable for dealing with literary or clerical people, travel and study. Good for business, but not for signing contracts.

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© David Plant.