Plain-English definitions for every term used in the worksheet.
Strength from circumstance rather than zodiac position — whether a planet is in a powerful house, moving quickly, close to the Sun (hiding or empowering it), or under pressure from other planets.
William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647.
The app automatically detects the topic of your question (relationship, career, lost object, etc.) and surfaces the most relevant parts of the chart for that topic.
The planet with the highest combined essential dignity score at a specific zodiac degree. The almuten of a house cusp can act as an additional or alternative significator for that house's topics.
The 1st, 4th, 7th, and 10th houses. Planets here are the most powerful and active — events they signify happen quickly and with force.
William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647.
The mirror point of a planet's position reflected across the Cancer/Capricorn axis (the solstice axis). Two planets in antiscia are secretly in contact even if they share no direct aspect.
William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647.
An aspect is applying when the faster planet is moving toward the exact angle with the slower planet. Applying aspects represent things still in motion — what's coming.
Sensitive points calculated by adding and subtracting three chart positions (usually Ascendant + Planet A − Planet B). Each lot acts like an antenna tuned to a specific life topic.
Guido Bonatti, Book of Astronomy; William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647.
The zodiac degree rising on the eastern horizon at the moment the question was asked. Its ruling planet becomes Lord 1 and represents the querent throughout the chart.
A meaningful angular relationship between two planets. When the gap between them matches a specific angle (60°, 90°, 120°, 180°, or 0°), the planets are considered to be in contact with each other.
Venus and Jupiter are the "benefic" planets — associated with ease, luck, and positive outcomes. Their aspects to your significator are encouraging signs.
A planet trapped between Saturn and Mars with no benefic planet intervening. Like being surrounded on both sides by adversaries — the planet cannot act freely and is under significant stress.
Guido Bonatti, Book of Astronomy.
The 3rd, 6th, 9th, and 12th houses. The weakest placement — planets here are less able to manifest results; things tend to slip away or get delayed.
William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647.
Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn. Cardinal signs initiate and act quickly. In timing, a perfecting aspect in cardinal signs suggests events happen within days or weeks.
A planet within 0°17′ of the Sun's exact degree. Paradoxically the most powerful solar condition — like being in the king's innermost chamber, receiving his full attention and protection.
William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647; Guido Bonatti.
The circular diagram showing where each planet was positioned across the 12 houses at the moment of the question. Reading it is the core of horary analysis.
Traditional horary uses only the seven planets visible to the naked eye: Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto were discovered after the tradition was established and are generally excluded.
The Moon always acts as a secondary representative of the querent in every horary chart. Astrologers track her aspects and void-of-course status alongside the main significators.
When both significators apply to the same slower planet, that planet "collects" their combined influence. Like two parties agreeing through a mediator — the matter can perfect even without direct contact between them.
William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647.
A planet within 8° of the Sun. The Sun's overwhelming light hides the planet — it cannot act freely or be clearly seen. A significant weakness in judgment.
William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647.
Two planets at (roughly) the same degree. The most direct form of contact — they merge their energies completely, for better or worse depending on the planets involved.
The mirror point reflected across the Aries/Libra axis (the equinox axis). Like antiscia, planets in contra-antiscia have a hidden connection that can operate outside normal aspect geometry.
How fast a planet is moving compared to its average speed. A faster-than-average planet energises and accelerates matters; a slower-than-average planet introduces delays and hesitation.
William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647.
A planet in the sign opposite the one it rules. Like being a stranger in a hostile environment — the planet's nature is thwarted and it struggles to act as it normally would.
William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647.
The primary significators applying to form an aspect directly with each other — no middleman needed. The clearest and most reliable indicator that the matter will complete.
William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647.
The planet that rules the sign another planet occupies. For example, if Jupiter is in Aries, Jupiter is disposed by Mars — because Mars rules Aries. Dispositors show who governs and influences whom.
Each planet is "disposed by" (governed by) the ruler of the sign it occupies. Following this chain of rulerships from planet to ruler to that ruler's ruler reveals who ultimately controls the outcome.
Formalised by Robert Hand.
A planet in the sign it rules — its home territory. The planet is fully resourced, comfortable, and able to express its nature at full strength. The strongest essential dignity.
William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647.
How strong a planet is based purely on where it sits in the zodiac. A planet in a sign it rules is like someone at home — fully resourced. A planet in a hostile sign is struggling to act. Total score shows overall zodiacal power.
William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647.
A planet in its sign of exaltation is honored and elevated — like a guest of honor at a banquet. Very strong, though with a hint of over-confidence compared to domicile.
William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647.
Each sign is divided into three 10° segments called faces or decanates, assigned to planets in Chaldean order. The weakest essential dignity — like being in a familiar town but not your home.
William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647.
A planet in the sign opposite its exaltation. Debased and lacking honor — like being snubbed at a party where everyone else is celebrated. Significantly weakened.
William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647.
The synthesis of all the evidence — dignities, aspects, perfection mechanisms, receptions — into a clear verdict. Every data point in the worksheet builds toward this conclusion.
Guido Bonatti: "Deliver your judgment plainly."
Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius. Fixed signs are persistent and slow to change. In timing, aspects in fixed signs suggest months or longer.
Stars that barely move over centuries. When a bright fixed star sits within about 1° of a significator or house cusp, it blends its traditional nature (malefic, benefic, or mixed) into the judgment.
William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647; Ptolemy.
A third planet enters the same sign as the slower significator before the two main significators can perfect their aspect, snatching the outcome away. The matter was within reach but slips away at the last moment.
William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647.
A special accidental dignity awarded when a planet is in its preferred sect (day/night), in a sign of matching gender (masculine/feminine), and in the correct hemisphere (above/below horizon). Being in hayz means a planet is fully "at home" in its circumstances.
Each hour of the day is ruled by a planet in a repeating sequence. If the planetary hour ruler matches the rising sign's ruler or is of the same element, it confirms the chart is "in tune" with the question.
The 12 boundary lines dividing the chart wheel into sections, each governing a different area of life. Where a cusp falls in the zodiac determines which planet rules that house.
Regiomontanus system per William Lilly.
Which of the 12 life-area sectors a planet occupies. Angular houses give a planet the most power to act; cadent houses leave it struggling to be heard.
William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647.
The mathematical method used to divide the sky into 12 houses. Regiomontanus is the traditional choice for horary; Placidus is common in modern natal astrology.
The most recent aspect the Moon completed before this moment — representing what has already happened or the most recent significant event in the querent's life related to the question.
William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647.
For lost object questions, the house, sign, and planetary nature of the significators point toward where the object might be found — indoors or out, high or low, near water or near fire.
William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647.
An Arabic lot associated with desire, attraction, and what we are drawn toward. Used in romantic questions as a supplementary significator.
An Arabic lot calculated specifically to highlight the significator of marriage and committed partnership. Used in relationship questions to find additional testimony.
The reverse of Fortune. Day: Ascendant + Sun − Moon. Night: Ascendant + Moon − Sun. Where Fortune shows the body and material circumstances, Spirit shows intention, will, and inner motivation.
Mars and Saturn are the "malefic" planets — associated with difficulty, obstruction, and harm. Their aspects to your significator are warning signs, though context matters.
The highest point in the chart — the 10th house cusp. Represents career, public reputation, and authority. Its ruling planet is Lord 10.
Waxing Moon (growing from new to full) favours matters that are building and increasing. Waning Moon (shrinking from full to new) is better suited to matters of completion, release, or resolution.
Ptolemy, Tetrabiblos.
The Moon moves faster than any other planet, so her sequence of applying aspects maps out the timeline of events. Each upcoming aspect is a chapter in the story of how the matter unfolds.
William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647.
Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces. Mutable signs are adaptable and variable. In timing, aspects in mutable signs suggest weeks to months, with more uncertainty.
Two planets each sitting in a sign (or dignity) ruled by the other. A powerful bond — like two people who each hold the keys to the other's house. They can effectively act as if in each other's places.
William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647.
A planet that sets after the Sun — visible in the sky after sunset. Occidental planets are considered more passive and receptive.
Two planets facing each other across the chart, 180° apart. Perfection is possible but often brings conflict, confrontation, or a short-lived outcome.
The tolerance zone around an exact aspect. Two planets don't need to be at a perfectly exact angle — they just need to be within a certain number of degrees. Traditional horary uses each planet's own "moiety" (half its orb) to determine this.
A planet that rises before the Sun — visible in the sky before dawn. Oriental planets are considered more active and outward-facing.
Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto, discovered after the horary tradition was codified. Traditional practice excludes them; some modern practitioners include them as additional influences.
The most widely used Arabic lot. In a day chart: Ascendant + Moon − Sun. In a night chart: Ascendant + Sun − Moon. Shows where material fortune and the body's vitality are concentrated.
Guido Bonatti, Book of Astronomy.
Some triplicity systems include a third "participating" ruler alongside the day and night rulers. This app uses Dorothean day/night only — the participating ruler is not scored.
A planet with no essential dignity whatsoever at its current degree — no domicile, exaltation, triplicity, term, or face. Like a wandering stranger with no resources, connections, or authority.
William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647.
The central question in horary: will the significators come into contact? An applying aspect between them means the matter "perfects" — it comes to pass. Without perfection, the answer is generally no.
William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647.
In horary, each planet represents a type of person, energy, or principle. Rather than describing your personality (as in natal astrology), planets here are actors in the story of your question.
A third planet races in and completes an aspect to one of the significators before they can perfect their own aspect — effectively cutting off the connection. Like someone intercepting a message before it arrives.
William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647.
The five classical aspects recognised in traditional horary: conjunction, sextile, square, trine, and opposition. Named after the 2nd-century astronomer Ptolemy who codified them.
A set of checks that determine whether the chart is genuinely connected to your question and fit to judge. A chart that fails multiple checks may indicate the question was asked too casually, or the timing is off.
William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647.
When a planet sits in a sign, term, or face ruled by another planet, it "regards" that other planet with interest and goodwill. Reception shows whether the parties in the question actually want what they're seeking.
William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647.
The applying planet turns retrograde before the aspect perfects, pulling back and withdrawing from the matter. The querent or quesited has a change of heart or the situation reverses before it can complete.
William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647.
A planet appears to move backward through the zodiac from Earth's perspective. In horary, retrograde signifies reversal, delay, return to a previous state, or second thoughts about the matter.
William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647.
The planets holding authority at this exact zodiac degree across all five dignity categories — showing hidden connections and influences not visible through aspects alone.
William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647.
Whether the chart is a day chart (Sun above the horizon) or night chart. Each planet has a preferred sect — the Sun, Jupiter, and Saturn are day planets; the Moon, Venus, and Mars are night planets. A planet in its preferred sect is better placed.
An aspect is separating when the faster planet has already passed the exact angle and is moving away. Separating aspects represent what has already happened or is fading.
Two planets 60° apart. A favourable, cooperative aspect — easier than a trine to set in motion (it requires some effort), but still pleasant.
The zodiac sign a planet occupies modifies how that planet behaves and what it connects to. Signs also carry rulerships — each sign has one planet that "owns" it.
The planets assigned as "stand-ins" for the people or things in your question. Lord 1 stands for you; the lord of the relevant house stands for what you're asking about; the Moon assists throughout.
William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647.
Two planets 90° apart. Perfection happens but through effort, friction, or difficulty. The matter completes, but it takes work.
The 2nd, 5th, 8th, and 11th houses. Moderate strength — planets here can act, but with less urgency than angular.
William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647.
How close a planet is to the Sun determines how it is affected — whether it is completely hidden by the Sun's light, sitting right at the Sun's heart and fully empowered, or merely dimmed in its outer glow. The Sun's presence can either crush a planet or protect it.
William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647.
Each sign is divided into five unequal segments called terms or bounds, each assigned to a planet. A planet in its own terms has a modest dignity — like being in a familiar neighbourhood rather than home.
William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647.
Which assignment of the unequal sign subdivisions (terms/bounds) to use. Egyptian terms are the most common in traditional horary.
An estimate of when the matter will come to pass, derived from the degrees remaining to perfection, the modality of the signs involved, and the speed of the planets. Not a precise prediction — a range.
William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647.
When a faster planet first separates from one significator and then applies to the other, it carries the "light" (influence) between them — acting as a go-between who makes the connection possible.
William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647.
Two planets 120° apart, in the same element. The most harmonious aspect — things flow easily, outcomes come without struggle.
Dignity based on the planet's relationship to the sign's element (fire, earth, air, water) and whether it's a day or night chart. The day ruler of a fire sign, for example, has triplicity dignity in all fire signs by day.
William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647.
How to assign the triplicity dignity rulers (fire, earth, air, water groups). Dorothean assigns different rulers for day and night charts; most traditional horary practitioners use this system.
A planet between 8° and 17° from the Sun. Weakened by proximity to the Sun's glare, but not as severely as combustion. The planet can still act, just less effectively.
William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647.
The final YES, NO, or UNCERTAIN answer produced by weighing all the evidence in the chart. YES requires a perfection mechanism; NO or UNCERTAIN results when no applying aspect between significators can be found.
A stretch of the zodiac between 15° Libra and 15° Scorpio considered particularly unstable. If the Moon falls here, the chart is harder to read clearly — things may not be what they appear.
William Lilly: "The querent hath been deceived."
The Moon is void of course when she makes no more applying aspects before leaving her current sign. Traditional view: nothing will come of the matter — things won't develop as hoped.
William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647.
The band of sky divided into 12 signs. Traditional Western horary uses the Tropical zodiac (aligned with the seasons). iHorary also supports a Sidereal (Lahiri) mode for practitioners who prefer sign positions measured against the fixed stars — a hybrid not practiced by any historical school.