Electional astrology, despite what its name suggests, has nothing to do with political elections (thank the gods!). Put simply, electional astrology is the astrology of electing, or choosing, a time to do something.
Many people engage in some degree of very basic electional astrology. Perhaps the most common example is avoiding certain activities when Mercury is retrograde. Gardening by the Moon phases serves as another example of simple, everyday electional astrology.
Just as a birth chart can show the nature of an individual, the chart of the moment of a new endeavor can offer insight into its outcome. So, electional astrology’s basic objective is to find a time when the planetary placements best support the intended activity. Astrologically speaking, it’s the most opportune time to begin or to act. Will the most opportune time ever be perfectly opportune? Certainly not—nothing’s perfect.
How to Conduct an Electional Astrology Search
Below is the basic process of conducting an electional astrology search. You can use this process to determine a beneficial time to begin an endeavor or perform an important action. For example, I used electional astrology to time the launch of this website.
1. Establish the Time range & Limiting Factors
You must first establish the time range for the search, as well as any time-limiting factors involved. For example, certain times of day may be impractical or inappropriate for what you’re doing, or certain dates off the table. Figure these details out right away, and completely ignore those invalid times, if you can help it. Nothing hurts like seeing a really auspicious chart that you simply can’t use.
2. Determine Relevant Significators
Not every planet in your chosen chart will enjoy ideal condition, so you want to determine which planet(s) is most relevant to the activity. You’ll prioritize the condition and placement of that planet when conducting your search. For example, in marriage elections, astrologers commonly note the condition of and contacts between Venus and Saturn. This is due to their natural associations with love and long-term commitment, respectively.
Additionally, consider which houses bear the most relevance to the activity. Ideally, the planetary ruler will witness the relevant house and be fortified by dignity, or at the very least be free from affliction. Also note any planets present in the relevant house. Obviously, benefic presence here is ideal, while malefics are often better kept elsewhere, but that depends on the election. Keeping with the marriage example, you’d want to keep an eye on the 7th house of partnership, its ruler, and any planets present in the house.
3. Search For Periods of Planetary Strength & Weakness
Now, the search begins. It’s helpful to begin by determining when each of the planets will have particular strength or weakness. How do you do that? Look for:
a. essential dignity or debility by zodiacal placement;
b. retrograde periods;
c. contacts with benefics and malefics
Ideally, as many planets as possible are fortified by dignity, but at the very least, you want as few debilities as possible and to ensure that your chosen planetary significator(s) is in as good a condition as you can get. This process should significantly narrow down your possible times, depending on the size of the search window.
4. Use the Moon to Further Narrow the Search
Because the Moon moves so quickly and is traditionally deemed important in elections, it helps in narrowing down potential times. The Moon has particular importance in electional charts, serving as a crucial indicator of the election’s success. Ancient astrologer Dorotheus of Sidon advises that the condition of the Moon in the election indicates the beginning of the venture, while the condition of the Moon’s ruler indicates the outcome. By this logic, as far as sign placement, a Cancer Moon is ideal. In Cancer, the Moon has dignity by domicile and thus rules itself. This indicates a consistently beneficial influence over the success of the venture, from beginning to end. That said, I certainly wouldn’t limit my electional options to only Cancer Moon periods.
More so than seeking dignity, you want to prioritize avoiding afflictions to the Moon. This includes essential debility, contacts with malefics, a debilitated ruler, and conjunctions or oppositions with the Sun (ie. new or full Moon, and absolutely avoid eclipses). A waxing Moon is generally more favorable, increasing in strength. If the intended activity relates to a goal of decrease, such as beginning a weight-loss routine or a massive home de-cluttering operation, then a waning Moon may be more favorable.
Pay close attention to the Moon’s applying aspects within 13° (Moon’s average daily motion), as these contacts offer further insight into how the endeavor plays out in the future. If the Moon makes no aspects within 13°, it signifies a lack of development and is thus an unproductive election. If you can’t avoid lunar contact with malefics, try to wait for the Moon to separate from the aspect.
5. Use House Placement to Reach Final Decision
At this point, depending on your search window size, you should likely be down to a few possible individual dates. If you have a lot of time-limiting factors, or little personal control over the precise moment of the activity, you’re likely just about finished.
To arrive at an exact time, software is helpful for its chart animation capability. This is when house placement comes into consideration, and is also a good time to check applying aspects. Important considerations include:
a. house placement of the Moon*
b. house placement of the Moon’s ruler
c. ascendant-ruler’s condition and house placement
d. planets conjunct angles
e. house placement of chosen significator(s)
f. planets present in house(s) relevant to the election
g. planets present in the 1st house*
*A common consideration is to avoid placing the Moon in the 1st house of the electional chart, as this connotes changeability in the endeavor
6. Weep, Because You Thought You Were Finished, Didn’t You?
Huzzah! You’ve (hopefully) found a suitable chart. You have your elected time!
Sit. Back. Down.
You still must consider how this chart interacts with your chart, or the chart(s) of the individual(s) engaging in the activity. In a marriage election, that means comparing the electional chart to each of the natal charts of the parties to wed. You may have found a beautiful electional chart! But if it doesn’t constructively interact with the relevant radix chart(s), then the outcome, or at least the process leading to it, may be less harmonious than the electional chart alone would have suggested. For example, Mars in an otherwise lovely electional chart is conjunct the bride-to-be’s natal descendant—perhaps not the best contact for a potential marriage election.
Once the electional chart passes this final test, your search is finally complete.