A dictionary definition of the word void comes up with the following – empty, vacant, without contents, containing nothing, blank, bare, unfilled, unoccupied, uninhabited, desolate and barren.

Sounds like some kind of Saturn in Pisces wilderness.

A contract that is void is ” not valid or legally binding.”

However there are situations where a void is not necessarily a bad thing. 

In Bridge if you are dealt a void it means you have no cards in one suit. 

I googled “ what are the chances of being dealt a void in Bridge “ and soon realised that whatever they are, they are much greater than the chances of getting a statistics nerd to give you a straight answer.

I have come across this before. When shown a distribution where the chance of it occurring by chance is 0.0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000010094 %, these people are prepared to argue to the death that you haven’t presented the findings in the way that they traditionally do rather than acknowledge the obvious truth of the link, despite the fact that they have never seen a probability so gobsmacking as that one.

And when you finally get sick of it and tell them that’s the best future for them, they perform an instant stellium swap from Virgo to Cancer and get you thrown off Twitter. 

I do know enough about both Statistics and Bridge to know that if dealt a void you need to make sure that you get the contract to cash in on all those early trumping opportunities. 

If you don’t, said contract will certainly be taken out on you.

So a void can be very helpful or a massive hole of failure depending on who’s declaring.

This neatly reflects the situation in horary astrology. 

A Void Of Course Moon is the name for a situation where the Moon has no more applying aspects to make to any of the other planets before it moves into the next sign.

This is generally accepted to mean there is no future in the question, or nothing new can happen in relation to it.

So if a client asks ” Will I get this job ” and there’s a void Moon, you would just say no.

A Void moon sounds bad doesn’t it.

But it doesn’t always work that way. If the question is ” Will my wife leave me ? ” and you get one, it means that she won’t slip away into the endless night and leave you with a desolate sense of nothingness.

It just means nothing will come of it.

But don’t try asking traditional astrologers why a Void Moon works like this. If you do they will simply say because them’s the rules.

If you question them further, they will get all sensitive and say it worked for all their heroes of yore.

It all starts to get a bit like some old school dad defending his use of corporal punishment on his kids – ” my Dad gave me the odd slap and it never did me any harm ”

But apart from that they never actually tell you why it works.

A Void Of Course Moon works in the way it does because it has to in order for horary to be a functioning system.

With all questions there has to be some kind of cut off time.

The Moon is principally the thing that makes things happen. Even if there’s no applying aspect between the planet signifying the querent and the one that identifies the question, the Moon can bring about a solution to it.

If the Moon is applying to the planet signifying the question that means that it will come to pass, maybe as a result of intervention by a person or thing symbolised by it.

If we allow the Moon to carry on having an effect once it has left the sign its in, then aspects to all the planets in the chart are on the table so every horary asked would always be answered in the affirmative.

Horary’s use of the end of the current sign is a natural boundary which allows the method to work. Without this end point the whole method would be useless.

So a Void Moon is definitely a smack administered for your own good. Without it you would be cast into a horary void of your own.

So it’s a good rule.

And traditional astrologers stick to those rules right up to the point where they don’t, then claiming that horary is divination and it’s therefore ok to just go with what feels right.

Apparently it’s ok to allow a Void Of Course Moon to continue to make aspects with planets in the following sign, if it falls in Cancer, Taurus, Sagittarius or Pisces.

Why you might ask ?

Because everyone’s old school Dad, William Lilly said so and if it was good enough for him….

This all feels a bit like ” its ok to smack your kids, but just not in public because some ” woke ” twat might refer you to social services.

But traditionalists never question stuff like this, they just nod their heads in agreement because its Lilly and say well of course because those are the Moon’s signs of dignity and exaltation with the Jupiter signs thrown in.

But Capricorn Research would say ” that’s actually an argument for sticking to the void principle because by extending it you’d be allowing the Moon to work powerfully in Leo, Gemini, Aries and Capricorn. “

So far from sounding like a solid principle it has the appearance of saying ” stick with a Void Moon unless it’s the 3rd Wednesday of the month.”

At which point there’d be a whole load of blocking and muttering about ” Capricorn troll “.

Some try to argue the point by saying it’s all taken out of context or that the language used was misleading.

There’s a whole debate that centres around William Lilly’s use of the phrase that things “ go hardly on “ when the Moon is Void.

Most say it means they don’t go on at all. Some say it means they go on but hardly – as in with difficulty.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not attacking William Lilly. He was the one astrologer, ancient or modern that I truly take my hat off to.

But like every astrologer functioning before the late 18th century he was having to draw and interpret his charts with one hand tied behind his back.

In those days there were only seven known planets, so the Moon would be void if it had no more aspects to make to the other six.

Consequently quite a lot of horaries would have a Void Of Course Moon.

With Uranus, Neptune and Pluto added to the mix, the number of aspects that would avoid a Void Moon would be nine.

So how to compensate for the likelihood of missing out on one third of these question failing possibilities ?

Maybe by extending one third of the signs into the next one.

Obviously such sleight of the Zodiacal hand would not work 100% of the time but its a reasonable stab in the dark to try and compensate for a problem that you have a hunch about but with no sense as to what it was.

Christian Astrology contains 35 examples of horary charts hand picked to teach the reader how best to go about this noble art.

There are only two of them that contain Void Moons in one of those four a-voidable signs.

Unfortunately both of them are not altered by later aspects to one of the three outer planets so there is no way we can test this theory with these examples but I’ve included them anyway, to give you a flavour of Lilly’s work.

I’ve tried to space the writing a bit better than in the books because its difficult to consume complex astrological observations in long paragraphs. I’ve also added a few bits in brackets to help with comprehension.

” Viz. A Woman being at my House in the country, demanded if her Sonne were with his Master, or at her owne House. “

This is not typical of the kind of horary questions astrologers get today because the mother would obviously just text her son to find out but its interesting nonetheless to see how Lilly goes about finding out where the boy is.

“In this Figure Venus is Lady of the Ascendant, and shall signifie her that asked the Question;

The matter quesited after must be required from that house which signifies Children, and that is the 5th

I considered Jupiter who is Lord of the Signe Pisces, for Pisces is the house of Jupiter, and I found Jupiter, the Youths Significator, in the Angle of the East, or Ascendant;

( This is ) one argument, that the Party sought after was at home at his Mother’s house at time of the Question.

I observed further, that the Moon did apply to a Sextile Dexter of Saturn, Lord of the 4th, which signifies the house or dwelling place of the Querent.

From which two testimonies, I judged the Youth was at his Mothers, and that she should find him there at her comming home, as indeed she did “

Lilly goes on to say

” Now had I found Jupiter, Lord of the 5th, in the 10th, because that is the house which signifies the Master, or had the Moon separated from Jupiter, Significator of the youth, and presently applied to a good or indifferent aspect of the Sun, ( 10th ruler ) and she, viz. Moon been in an Angle, I would have adjudged him at his Master’s house, &c.

I did further consider that the 25 of July ( about a week by today’s calendar ) following, at two hours after noon, Jupiter and Venus being both their Significators, viz. both the Mothers and the Sons came to a ( Trine ) aspect, and therefore I judged she should see him that very day, but hardly any sooner, or before; (and indeed she stayed in the country till that very morning ).

But when the strength of the influence grew powerful, and as well her Significatrix, as his, were so neer their perfect aspect, she could not be induced to stay any longer, and so (volens nolens) went away, and it was about three in the afternoon the same day before she could get home, where she found her Sonne in her owne house, abiding her comming.

For usually about that day when the Significators came to a Trine or Sextile aspect (which you may know by your ephemeris) it’s very probably you shall have a Letter, or newes of the Party quesited after (if the distance of places betwixt you can afford it,) but if the Party enquiring, and Person inquired after be not farre asunder, without question they meet “

For the sake of this article the point is Lilly’s use of ” the Moon did apply to a Sextile Dexter of Saturn, Lord of the 4th, which signifies the house or dwelling place of the Querent. “

This sextile of course would not be allowed if a late Pisces Moon was considered as Void.

I feel that Pisces is the most bizarre sign to use in this context because not only are we allowing the Moon to go on into the next sign, but even into the next run through the Zodiac. The step between Pisces to Aries seems like a symbolically large one.

I don’t feel the alleged sextile to Saturn adds anything to this horary.

It’s an unusual question anyway because horaries are usually about what is to come, rather than what is.

The fact that Jupiter ( the son ) is in the 1st ( mother’s ) house is enough to answer the question.

The fact that the Venus applies to a trine with Jupiter means she will go there to meet him.

The Moon is Void of course which basically means there is no change to that situation.

So there is absolutely no need to bring any kind of applying aspect to Saturn into this and it doesn’t add anything.

This horary offers no proof of Pisces capacity to avoid the void.

” The true state of this Ladies cause stood thus: A Gentleman had been a long time an ernest Suitor unto her for Marriage, but she could never master her affection so much as to incline to Marriage—thoughts with him, but slighted him continually

And at last, to the great discontent of the Gentleman, she gave him an absolute deniall

After which deniall so given, she became passionately affectionate of him, and did sorely repent of her folly, and so churlish a carriage, wishing she might againe have former opportunities. This was her condition at what time she propounded the Question unto me.

The ascendant and Sun are for the Querent

Saturn Lord of the 7th, is for the man Quesited after.”

I would never judge a horary for someone without seeing their natal chart and in a case like this the chart of the gentleman.

There are two reasons for this.

One is you can often get a good sense of this kind of question just by checking their synastry and transits and I would use that in tandem with the horary to judge this question.

Two is knowing the major placements in their natal charts gives me insight into whether the horary fits the person or not. I would always expect some connection between the Ascendant, Moon or ruler of the horary and an important feature of the client’s natal chart.

If I don’t see that I would doubt whether the horary can really answer their question.

Some clients will contact you when a particular question is really uppermost in their mind, some might just do it on a whim.

This wasn’t generally a problem for William Lilly because the querent couldn’t just text him with a question ( like the mother wondering where her son was ), they would have to take the trouble to walk round to his house so there was some considerable energy invested to try and find out the answer to the question.

Lilly often would not have access to the natal details of his clients but he had other methods of corroborating the horary chart with person in front of him.

He details these methods here quite beautifully.

” The Querent was moderately tall, of round visage, sanguine complexion, of a cheerfull, modest countenance, gray eyed, her haire a light browne, occasioned, as I conceive, by Sun Lord of the ascendant, in the Termes of Mars, she was well spoken, and sufficiently comely.

” Finding Saturn in an angle of the South, and in Conjunction with Mars, and both in Taurus, a fixed, earthly Signe, I judged the corporature of the Quesited party to be but meane, and not tall, or very handsome, his visage long and incomposed, a wan, pale or meagre complexion, dark haire, or of a sad, chestnut colour, curling and crisp, his eyes fixt, ever downward, musing, stooping forward with his head, some impediment in his going, as treading away, &c. [ this was confessed.]

Finding Saturn so, as abovesaid, elevated, and in Conjunction with Mars, I judged the Gentleman to be sad, angry, much discontented, and scorning his former slights, (as ever all Saturnine people doe;)

I judged him much incensed by a Kinsman or Gentleman of quality, signified by Mars, Lord of the 3rd, in part, from the 7th, and of the 4th, being the 10th from the 7th

And that this Gentleman and he lived either in one house, or neer one another, because both Significators are angular and fixed, [and so it was,] “

Given all of the above you might wonder why this ” sufficiently comely ” lady was interested in this pale, sad, stooped son of Saturn.

Maybe the clue is that Saturn being in Taurus he had plenty of dosh and the Sun being in Cancer she was insecure and fickle in her emotions.

However for the sake of this article, the following is important.

” I said the Gentleman had no inclination or disposition unto her, finding the Moon separated from voyd of course, and applying to Opposition of Sun, Lord of the ascendant, it did agrue there was small hopes of effecting her desire, because she her selfe, by her owne perversnesse, had done her selfe so grand a mischiefe,

Whereupon she told me the truth of all, and not before, and implored my directions, which way, without scandall to her honour, it might be brought on againe, if possible and indeed she was lamentably perplexed, and full of heavinesse.

Hereupon, with much compassion, I began to consider what hopes we had in the Figure: I found Sun applying to a Sextile of Saturn; this argued the womans desire, and the strength of her affections toward the Quesited, because she is signified by the lighter Planet

But there was no Reception betwixt the Significators, therefore that application gave little hopes

But finding Reception betwixt Jupiter and the Moon, and betwixt Sun and Moon, she in his Triplicty, Sun in her House; observing also that the Moon did dispose of Saturn in her Exaltation, and of Jupiter in her House, and that Jupiter was very neer a Sextile Dexter of Saturn, still applying, and not separated

As also, that Jupiter was in his Exaltation, and a fortunate Planet ever assisting nature and the afflicted, and that he was able by his strength to qualifie and take off the malice of Saturn

Besides, the neernesse of Jupiter to the Sextile of Saturn, made me confident that the Quesited was intimately acquainted with a person of quality and worth, such as Jupiter represented, whom I exactly described, and the Lady very well knew: Unto him I directed to addresse her Complaints, and aquaint him fully with her unhappy folly

I positively affirmed, in the Gentleman described she should find all honour and secrecy, and I doubted not but, by God’s blessing, he would againe revive the businesse (now dispaired of) and bring her to her hearts content

But finding that Saturn and Sun came to Sextile aspect the 27th of the same moneth, I advised to hasten all things before the aspect was over

And also gave direction, that the 19th of June neer upon noon, the Gentleman should first move the Quesited in the businesse: and my reason was, because that day Saturn and Jupiter were in perfect Sextile aspect..

My counsell was followed, and the issue was thus

By the Gentlemans meanes and procurment the matter was brought on againe, the Match effected, and all within twenty dayes following, to the content of the sorrowfull (but as to me unthankfull) Lady, &c.

In Astrologie, the true reason of this performance is no more then, first, an application of the two Significators to a Sextile, viz the Lord of the 7th and 1st

Next, the application of the Moon to the Lord of the ascendant, though by Opposition, yet with Reception, was another small argument

But the maine occasion, without which in this Figure it could not have been, the application of Jupiter to Sextile of Saturn Lord of the 7th, receiving his vertue which Saturn did render unto him, and again transferred to the Sun Lord of the ascendant, he, viz. Jupiter, meeting with no manner of prohibition, abscission or frustration untill his perfect “

This horary is complex and Lilly is using his considerable skill to treat it like something more.

There are two contrary indications here.

One is that there is an applying relationship between the siginicators of the lady and the gentleman because the Sun is moving to sextile Saturn.

The distance between them is 9 degree which might suggest there is time or work to be done to achieve this but there are no planets that the Sun aspects before it perfects the aspect with Saturn so they should come together.

The other is that the Moon is void of course suggesting that nothing will happen.

And if left as a simple what will happen question, nothing would.

Lilly’s skilful use of the Sun’s application to conjunct Jupiter brings in this other character who enables the relationship to happen.

Even in the 17th century its good to know that astrologers would not be looking at life as simple fate, that we have the power to influence events and circumstances of our lives by our own responses to them and if we understand the astrology of a situation we can make it work in our favour.

I feel that this is the astrologer’s job, to help their client respond positively to and find a mode of action that enables them to make the best of the situation they find themselves in as described by the planets, not to simply wait for their allotted fate.

But all of the above does not change the argument about Void Moons.

This lady does not meet her intended because a Void Sagittarius Moon somehow magically applies by opposition to a Cancer Sun.

She does this simply by the Sun’s conjunction with Jupiter which enables its sextile with Saturn to bring about the desired outcome.

So for me neither of Lilly’s examples can be used to prove that a Void Moon can still work into the next sign if it’s in one of the Avoidance Four.

Its actually quite difficult to find clear horaries with a Void moon in one of these signs and I wouldn’t use one of my client’s ones without permission so I offer one of my own.

The question is ” Would I Play A Round Of Golf Again In the Near Future ? “

Some background is required.

I took up playing golf in my mid fifties. I never considered it a ” good walk spoiled ” but this was because I never played against anyone else.

For me a round of golf was a meditation, anyone can stay calm while sitting quietly in an ashram, try it while hitting off a tricky downhill lie with a 4 iron.

It was a kind of Zen and the Art of Shot on Fairway Maintenance.

Of course it helped that in those days I was in a dysfunctional marriage, so it suited both parties for me to spend all my non working hours trying to find a tiny white object on a vast green field.

There are many jokes about golfers who play to get away from her indoors. This one sums up my situation nicely

” Two golfers are ready to tee off on the 11th hole when a funeral procession passes by. The first player stops, doffs his cap, and bows his head as the procession passes.

“That was a really nice thing to do,” the second golfer says. “It’s good to see there is still some respect in the world.”

“Well, it’s only right,” the first golfer replies. “I was married to her for 35 years.”

Since then, I’d divorced, met and married the love of my life and moved to Australia. I asked the question when on a 6 month honeymoon in Europe.

The idea of spending 5 hours on my own on a golf course had rather lost its appeal, so I wondered whether I would ever go back to playing the game.

I had actually forgotten I asked this horary because 6 months later I bought a new set of clubs in Australia because that was cheaper than transporting the old set over.

We can see that the Moon is Void of course in Pisces.

So that would be suggesting I would not be playing golf again in the near future.

It’s placing in the 7th house pointed to the reason for that – I was now married to someone I loved spending every minute of the day with.

If we were to allow the Pisces Moon to continue making aspects beyond the end of the sign, the next one it would come to would be the opposition to Mars. This would suggest that I would be playing again.

It’s now 3.5 years after I asked this question. Despite buying the new clubs I have not set foot on a golf course in that whole time. I have been to a golf range about once a year but that’s it.

So in this case a Pisces Moon is still Void.

But it’s interesting how a horary can also tell you other things about your situation as well as answering the question.

As Ascendant ruler, I would be signified by Mercury in Scorpio in the 3rd house. Perhaps this meant I was asking about a meditative walk.

My wife, Karen would be co ruled by Jupiter and Neptune. Both planets are in dignity, Neptune in Pisces in the 7th and Jupiter in Sagittarius in the 4th.

This fits as she was travelling on the other side of her world ( Jupiter in Sagittarius ) and for the most part in the UK ( my 4th house ).

Mercury is applying to a trine to Neptune in 5 degrees time.

What could this mean as we were already together ?

As well as signifying me, Mercury rules the 10th house which is Karen’s 4th.

Five weeks after this horary we left for Australia for good.

I would never rule out any astrology theory on a few examples but its not looking good for this Avoidance idea.

One advantage that horary has over natal is that there are right and wrong answers. So I would be happy to hear from anyone who has actual verifiable evidence of this one working or not.

But a lot of practitioners would just go along with it simply on William Lilly’s say so.

As a devoted follower of Lilly, I would accept most of the things he wrote about in Christian Astrology but that’s because they worked.

Until we have proof I would suggest there is no reason to use this method. So for now perhaps the best thing to do is to ignore the ancient card sharks and smack happy old school astrology fathers.

And look into the void for yourself. 

Posted on 4 April 2023

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