Horary Astrology Question: Will My Book Be A Success?
I’m going to approach this as a 10th house matter, especially since the ruler of the 10th is in the 1st and the question is about success. I’m approaching this as a “Will my endeavor be a success?” question.
Natural Rulerships of Planets
Planets have natural rulerships. They are especially useful for horary. For instance,
- Jupiter is the natural ruler of wealth and fertility,
- Venus of love, pleasure, beauty
- Mars – Contentions, arguments, soldiers
- Sun – Royalty, Religion, fame, healing and divination
- Saturn – Obstacles, melancholy, labor, isolation
- Mercury – Speech, reading, writing, memory, books
Which House Rules Books?
In Liber Astronomiae, Guido Bonatti gives both the 5th (Valens) and the 9th (Al Quabisi). Looking at the chart that way, we now notice that Jupiter (L5) and the Sun (L10) are the only planets that are angular, and that the Moon (L9) is on the part of fortune, showing how those issues are in the foreground of the question. Notice also that the ruler of the 5th of books is in separating trine to Mercury, the natural ruler of books.
The Unseen Houses
Since success is primarily about recognition and visibility in horary astrology, I have a problem with the fact that both Mercury and Jupiter are in houses identified with the “unseen.” Mercury is in the 12th, which is about isolation and bondage. Jupiter is in the 4th, which is called “subterranean,” and is the house of secrets and hidden treasure. Neither house is a good placement for visibility.
But Will The Book A Success?
The most important thing in horary astrology is whether there is perfection or not. In other words, is there an applying aspect between significators. In the case of this question, the significators I’m looking for are connections between L1, Moon (L9) or L5 with L10.
First of all, notice that Jupiter is in Aquarius and the Moon and Mercury are in Libra. Both signs are respectively the detriment and fall of the Sun, Lord of the 10th. Then, because of the Sun’s wide orb of moiety (7.5 degrees) he is actually approaching the square of Jupiter (4.5) degrees. However, this is a square without reception, and Jupiter is in the detriment of the Sun.
The Moon is on the part of fortune, and with Mercury in Libra. She makes no aspect with the Sun. Mars is involved in a separating conjunction with the Sun, which renders him combust.
I would say you may see more exposure after as a many months as it takes Mars to get out from under the rays of the Sun. A planet is free from the rays of the Sun after 15 degrees, so may see an uptick in interest and sales after 7 months.
The Querent Speaks
Could Mercury in the 12th house refer to me using a pseudonym and preferring to be “hidden” like that? As to the visibility aspect, I am hoping sales will be via one of those word-of-mouth things as I will not be doing any visible marketing. I’m not doing this book to be the next 50 Shades as it’s not at all that kind of book. It’s a collection of short stories and poetry I wrote before I was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Since I had no children or partner, I wanted to publish this as the only memento of myself that I felt could live beyond me. The poetry was what I originally intended to publish, the erotica was my publisher’s idea so I added in the short stories to satisfy her. It’s still fairly tame, though.
The Role of the 12th House
The 12th house is hospitals and convalescences, anything where you are confined for some reason, so the it makes sense that the book is about your terminal illness. Mercury and Venus together tend to represent music, poetry, acting or dance. Venus is eroticism, so all of the subject matter seems to fit the chart. Note also that the Venus is the ruler of the 12th, and in the sign of the ruler of the 5th, Jupiter.
What also fits the chart is the combustion of Mars in the 1st house. The 1st house and chart ruler represent the body, health and vitality of the native. For Scorpio rising, Aries will be on the cusp of the 6th house of illness. Generally if the chart ruler is also ruler of the 6th or 8th, he is primarily determined towards life -1st house is the house of life – but in this case both the domicile ruler of the 6th, Mars, and the exaltation ruler of the 6th, Sun, are together in the 1st house of the body. In this case, the separating combustion is also referring to the regaining of your full health, which should still be in process.
