Radical

Astrology   History   Glossary Branches   Charts   Tools Traditions   Methods   Resources

The concept of radicality is used only in horary astrology, and it is virtually absent from all other branches of astrology. The general consensus among classical astrologers held that a chart was radical only if casted for a question asked for the very first time, by a querent sincerely concerned about a particular problem. The genuiness of the question was believed to be indicated by a very close correspondence between the querent’s state of mind and the information provided by the chart. As a rule, a chart is radical whenever it describes:

• the appearance and state of mind of the querent.
• events related to the question, that took place recently.
• the general circumstances regarding the question.
• the appearance state of mind of the quesited.

Classical authors used two methods to judge if a chart was radical. The first one involved considering if the chart could provide an accurate description of both the querent and the quesited. Besides analyzing planetary symbolism related to physical appearance, another method was that of spotting how many moles marks and scars the querent had on his body, and where. The second method was observing several conditions - known as considerations before judgement – related to the Ascendant, the Descendant and the Moon. These are the most important elements of any horary chart. The ascendant and its ruler signify the querent, while the Moon indicates the succession of events related to the question.

In horary questions not related to matters ruled by the seventh house (marriage, lawsuits, business partnerships, etc. ) the descendant and its ruler signify the astrologer.

A careful observation of the ascendant and its lord is needed to understand whether the astrologer will be able to judge the chart impartially or if he will be led astray. If the ascendant is in the first or in the last three degrees of a sign, any reading of the chart would be superflous. In some cases the question may have been forged or altered, therefore there would be no point in jugding it, as it is not genuine. In other cases indications yielded by the too early or too late placement of the ascendant regard the timing of the question. If the first degrees ascend, the question has been asked before the time is ripe. As nothing really significant may happen anytime soon, the astrologer should abstain from reading the chart. Indications given by a late placement of the ascendant are the opposite. The querent, having already taken his decision about a matter, or knowing that what worries him will soon come to an end, nevertheless visits the astrologer and asks him a question which is redunding. According to William Lilly this rule did not apply if the querent was very young, described by the ascendant and its lord. Another exception to this rule was the case of an horary chart erected for the precise time in which an even occurred. That the question was forged could be indicated, according to al-Kindi and other Muslim astrologers to which Lilly and other classical authors referred, by the placement of Saturn in the first house, particularly if Saturn was retrograde. A different reading of the symbolism of Saturn would be that the querent has lost all hope, or that the question will not have a good outcome. If this placement is reinforced by a concurrent retrogradation or combustion of the lord of the ascendant, then the querent is, according to John Gadbury, a “fool.” Otherwise, a retrogradation or combustion of the lord of the first would simply indicate a negative answer to the horary questions. Questions were judged radical whent the lord of the ascendant and the lord of the planetary hour were the same or of a similar nature.

A preliminary analysis of the descendant and its ruler was used to evaluate the querent’s intentions and the astrologer’s ability to read a chart objectively. These considerations were used mainly when the question did not pertain to the seventh house, yet the seventh house or its lord were afflicted.The risk that the astrologer may err, and therefore ruin his reputation was believed to bee high when Saturn was in the seventh house, or when either the cusp of the seventh or its lord suffered various affliction. These afflictions were a besiegement of the Descendant, or its receiving an hard aspect. As for the lord of the seventh, its combustion, besiegement, fall, retrogradation and placement in the terms of Saturn or Mars indicated that the astrologer would be led astray. Hard aspects between the lord of the seventh and the lord of the ascendant or the moon indicated that the querent was posing the question as a joke.

Restrictions concerning the Moon were used to assess how many chances of success the question has, and to understand whether the querent waa asking a genuine question, or if his intentions are insincere. If the Moon is void of course it is likely that there would be no evolution in the question. This placement of the Moon does not restrict the reading of the chart, rather it was used to indicate the existence of obstacles so strong as to preclude any favorable outcome, unless both significators had very strong dignities. According to William Lilly, whenever the Moon is in Taurus, Cancer, Sagittarius or Pisces it behaves as void of course. Other unfortunate placements of the Moon are it its lying in the via combusta or in the last degrees of a sign, as the last degrees of all signs are the terms either of Mars or of Saturn. Furthermore if the Moon casts an hard aspect to the lord of the seventh house, the querent is not asking a genuine question.

Contemporary authors dissent as to the usefulness of the considerations before judgement, and do not adhere to them completely. Their views are based on an examination of the frequency with which the considerations were used by classical authors, and on the observation that the most famous classical astrologers did not always use them. It is to be pointed out, however, that the considerations can be useful in all those cases where there is no face to face contact between the astrologer and the querent and hence the astrologer has no way to know what purpose motivates the querent to consult him. Besides chances that the querent has asked the question two or more times already, or has been consulting somebody else before contacting the astrologer can at times be quite high.

• This page was last modified 17:40, 23 April 2006.
• This page has been accessed 391 times.
• Content is available under GNU Free Documentation License 1.2.
• Privacy policy
• About AstrologyNotes
• Disclaimers