Electional Astrology

ee-LEK-shuh-nuhl

Definition

Electional astrology is the branch in which an astrologer picks the most favourable moment to begin something specific — a wedding, a business launch, surgery. It works in the opposite direction from natal or horary astrology: instead of reading a chart that already exists, the astrologer decides what configuration they want and then finds when the sky actually produces it. The Hellenistic name for this is katarchic astrology, from the Greek katarche, "beginning."

In Tradition

In traditional Western astrology, electional is one of the principal branches. It rests on the same premise as natal astrology — that the configuration of the sky at a beginning describes how that beginning will unfold — but it puts that premise to work proactively, choosing the start rather than reading one already past.

In Practice

Astrologers use electional technique to choose favourable moments for an undertaking. They count only applying aspects — the ones still forming, not separating — and they avoid a void-of-course Moon, when the Moon will make no further aspects before leaving its sign. The ruler of the Ascendant, the Moon, and the ruler of whichever house governs the matter are the main factors weighed.

Historical Origin

The branch is attested in the Hellenistic tradition under the name katarchic astrology. Book V of Dorotheus of Sidon's *Carmen Astrologicum* (1st century CE) contains electional rules.

Etymology

Origin: Latin. Meaning: From electio, "a choosing" or "selection," from eligere, "to pick out".

Definition

In Tradition

In Practice

Historical Origin

Etymology

Further Reading