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 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.
Ibn Ezra, The Beginning of Wisdom — the almuten.
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.
Lilly, Christian Astrology, Bk 1 — application and separation.
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.
Lilly, Christian Astrology (1647), Bk 1 ch. XIX, pp. 105-108 - where he defines each aspect and prints the table of the aspects of the Signes amongst one another.
Venus and Jupiter are the "benefic" planets — associated with ease, luck, and positive outcomes. Their aspects to your significator are encouraging signs.
Ptolemy, Tetrabiblos, Bk I.
A planet enclosed between Saturn and Mars by longitude — one malefic on either side, the whole arc within 60°. Like being surrounded on both sides by adversaries: the planet cannot act freely and is under significant stress. Some schools add that a benefic intervening between them breaks the siege; iHorary tests the enclosure alone.
Guido Bonatti, Book of Astronomy; the enclosure geometry is iHorary's own, at src/lib/ephemeris/horary-conditions.ts (findBesiegements).
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 — moveable, in the older wording. Cardinal signs initiate and act quickly. The unit comes from the sign crossed with the house: days in an angular house, weeks in a succedent one, months in a cadent one.
Ptolemy, Tetrabiblos, Bk I — the quadruplicities; the unit grid is Lilly's ordering, at src/lib/judgment/timingGrid.ts.
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 acts as a secondary representative of the querent in every horary chart — unless she already rules the house of the thing asked about, in which case she is that thing and not also the co-significator. Astrologers track her aspects and void-of-course status alongside the main significators.
Lilly, Christian Astrology, Bk 2 — the Moon as general co-significator.
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 8.5° (8°30′) 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, p.113; C-197.
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.
Lilly, Christian Astrology (1647), Bk 1 ch. XIX, pp. 105-108 - where he defines each aspect and prints the table of the aspects of the Signes amongst one another.
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.
Lilly, Christian Astrology, p.90–92 — antiscia; Firmicus Maternus, Mathesis.
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.
Lilly, Christian Astrology, Bk 1 — essential dignities.
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.
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, and they are the slowest of the three on timing: months in an angular house, years in a succedent or a cadent one.
Ptolemy, Tetrabiblos, Bk I — the quadruplicities; the unit grid is Lilly's ordering, at src/lib/judgment/timingGrid.ts.
Stars that barely move over centuries. When a fixed star stands in the same degree as a significator or an angle — Lilly's "partill" conjunction — 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.
Henry Coley, Clavis Astrologiae Elimata — paraphrased; no edition or page held.
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.
Bonatti, Book of Astronomy — the Arabic doctrine of ḥayyiz.
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.
Lilly, Christian Astrology, p.121 — the considerations before judgment.
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.
Paulus Alexandrinus, Introductory Matters — the lots.
An Arabic lot calculated specifically to highlight the significator of marriage and committed partnership. Used in relationship questions to find additional testimony.
Al-Biruni, The Book of Instruction — the lots.
Fortune mirrored: Ascendant + Sun − Moon, day and night alike, because Fortune no longer reverses either — reversing only Spirit would make the two identical on every night chart. Where Fortune shows the body and material circumstances, Spirit shows intention, will, and inner motivation.
Paulus Alexandrinus, Introductory Matters — the lots; the sect rule follows Lilly's Fortune, at src/lib/ephemeris/lots.ts.
Mars and Saturn are the "malefic" planets — associated with difficulty, obstruction, and harm. Their aspects to your significator are warning signs, though context matters.
Ptolemy, Tetrabiblos, Bk I.
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 — common, or double-bodied. Mutable signs are adaptable and variable, and sit between moveable and fixed on timing: weeks in an angular house, months in a succedent one, years in a cadent one.
Ptolemy, Tetrabiblos, Bk I — the quadruplicities; the unit grid is Lilly's ordering, at src/lib/judgment/timingGrid.ts.
Two planets each sitting in a dignity the other rules, AND aspecting each other. Both halves are needed: without an aspect they hold each other's keys but never meet to hand them over. It is a strong bond of mutual obligation — not a licence to treat the two as though they had swapped places.
William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647.
A planet setting after the Sun — visible in the west after sunset. The rule runs the other way round the table: Lilly fortifies Mercury and Venus when occidental (+2), and the Moon when occidental or increasing in light, while Saturn, Jupiter and Mars are debilitated (−2).
Lilly, Christian Astrology, Bk 1 — "A ready Table whereby to examine the Fortitudes and Debilities of the Planets".
Two planets facing each other across the chart, 180° apart. Perfection is possible but often brings conflict, confrontation, or a short-lived outcome.
Lilly, Christian Astrology (1647), Bk 1 ch. XIX, pp. 105-108 - where he defines each aspect and prints the table of the aspects of the Signes amongst one another.
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.
Lilly, Christian Astrology, Bk 1 — the planets' orbs and their moieties.
A planet rising before the Sun — visible in the east before dawn. Whether that is a strength depends on which planet it is: Lilly's table fortifies Saturn, Jupiter and Mars when oriental (+2) and debilitates Mercury and Venus (−2). It is a score, not a temperament.
Lilly, Christian Astrology, Bk 1 — "A ready Table whereby to examine the Fortitudes and Debilities of the Planets".
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: Ascendant + Moon − Sun, day and night alike. Lilly prints the nocturnal reversal and declines it — "Whether your Figure be by day or night, observe this Method" — so iHorary does not reverse it either; the reversing form is the Hellenistic alternative. Shows where material fortune and the body's vitality are concentrated.
William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647, p.145 (held extraction docs/sources/extracted/lilly-vol1-full.txt ~L25047; he rejects the reversal at ~L25067).
Some triplicity systems include a third "participating" ruler alongside the day and night rulers. Lilly's table, the default, has none at all; choose Dorothean and the third ruler is scored at reduced weight unless you set it otherwise.
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.
Abraham Ibn Ezra, The Book of Interrogations — paraphrased; no edition or page held.
The five classical aspects recognised in traditional horary: conjunction, sextile, square, trine, and opposition. Named after the 2nd-century astronomer Ptolemy who codified them.
Ptolemy, Tetrabiblos, Bk I.
The person asking the question. In the chart, they are represented by the planet that rules the rising sign (Lord 1).
Lilly, Christian Astrology, Bk 2 — the method of judgment.
A set of checks on how firmly the chart is rooted in your question — an early or late Ascendant, the hour ruler, the Moon's condition. They weigh the judgment; they never bar it. If a chart can be cast it can be read, and several of these together read as a question asked too casually or at the wrong moment, not as a refusal.
William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647 — the considerations before judgment; weighed and never gated per iHorary ADR-001 (2026-08-10).
Reception records a planet in another planet's qualifying dignity. Houlding also requires the planets to be in aspect; iHorary's current positional calculation does not, and that difference remains unresolved. Reception can qualify an existing contact, but it does not create an event or prove love by itself.
Deborah Houlding, Skyscript glossary, “Reception” — dignity threshold and aspect requirement, paraphrased (CC BY-NC-SA); iHorary conflict register C-046 (open) and ruling C-229.
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.
Henry Coley, Clavis Astrologiae Elimata — paraphrased; no edition or page held.
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.
Ptolemy, Tetrabiblos, Bk I — the day and night sects.
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.
Lilly, Christian Astrology, Bk 1 — application and separation.
Two planets 60° apart. A soft aspect that opens a lower-resistance route; it does not by itself show goodwill, safety, or a beneficial result.
Lilly, Christian Astrology (1647), Bk 1 ch. XIX, pp. 105-108 - where he defines each aspect and prints the table of the aspects of the Signes amongst one another.
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.
Lilly, Christian Astrology (1647), Bk 1 ch. XIX, pp. 105-108 - where he defines each aspect and prints the table of the aspects of the Signes amongst one another.
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. A chart is cast on the Ptolemaic bounds — the table Lilly prints and judges by. The Egyptian bounds are offered as the alternative.
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. A soft aspect: the contact meets less resistance, but the planets involved decide whether its result is beneficial.
Lilly, Christian Astrology (1647), Bk 1 ch. XIX, pp. 105-108 - where he defines each aspect and prints the table of the aspects of the Signes amongst one another.
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). A chart is cast on William Lilly's own table — one day ruler and one night ruler for each element, and no third ruler. The Dorothean table, which adds a participating ruler, is offered as the alternative.
A planet between 8.5° (8°30′) 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, p.113; C-197.
The engine's internal weighing of the chart — every testimony scored and set against every other, so the balance can be seen. It is not handed to you as a single word: the walk lays the same evidence out in order, from the significators to the contact between them, and the judgment is yours to reach.
A stretch of the zodiac from 15° Libra to 15° Scorpio. A significator or the rising degree here reads as real distress in the matter — not a sign that the chart is deceptive, and never a reason to refuse to judge it. The tradition was divided even on that much: Lilly reports the span as something "some say", and judged such charts regardless.
William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647 — among the considerations before judgment, and hedged in his own words. The 15° Libra–15° Scorpio span is also given by Bonatti, who attaches no verdict of deception to it.
The Moon is void of course when she makes no more applying aspects before leaving her current sign. Lilly does not say nothing happens — he says "All manner of matters goe hardly on (except the principall significators be very strong)", and that she still performs somewhat in Taurus, Cancer, Sagittarius or Pisces. It weighs the judgment; it never bars it.
William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647 — the considerations before judgment (held extraction docs/sources/extracted/lilly-vol1-full.txt ~L24149); weighed and never gated per iHorary ADR-001.
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.