What is Horary Astrology?
Horary astrology is a branch of astrology concerned not with the birth chart as a complete symbol of a person’s life, but with the disposition of the world as indicating the answer to a question. When the astrologer receives a sincere question in their mind, they can look to the heavens and the earth at that precise moment to judge whether that future will come to pass — and, often, how or why it might not.
You might ask why this should work at all – why should an astrologer be able to draw a chart and know the answer to a question? Why should it happen that you ask the question to the astrologer at just the right moment for the planets to form a symbolic answer to that question? Astrologers have many different explanations for this. My preferred account is that this shows that the world itself calls each one of us to contemplate it and ask it these questions at the appropriate time. The phenomenon of horary astrology is inseparable from one that astrologers themselves observe all the time: the astrology itself shows when they started to study astrology. Whether in the study of a whole lifetime or in the asking of a single question, the sky itself leads us to our inquiries at the right time.
Besides Horary Astrology, I also practice Natal Astrology (https://philoantonio.com/astrology/) and Event Astrology (https://philoantonio.com/event-astrology/)
Who am I in this practice?
Fundamental elements of the conceptual framework of astrology came from Greek philosophers like Plato, Aristotle, and Pythagoras. I am a student of Hellenistic astrology and a specialist in the most systematic commentator of Plato, named Proclus (412-485 CE), who also extensively engaged with astrology. Therefore, I study not only how to make astrological predictions but also why: what is the worldview and ethics that underpin Hellenistic astrology? How do they relate to current philosophical inquiries? How can this be translated into a comprehensible vocabulary today?
I am the author of several articles and a book on Proclus’ philosophy of time, “Time’s Causal Power: The Natural Theology of Time in Proclus” (Brill, Leiden, 2021), where I explained his arguments in favor of the causal power of time and that things happen because it is their time to happen. I have also taught courses on his philosophy of time and the philosophy of astrology in antiquity. Additionally, I hold a certificate of completion from Chris Brennan’s course on Hellenistic astrology.
My work as a philosopher of time has naturally led me to this art: if things happen because it is their time to happen, then every question, too, has its proper hour. During the past year I have studied horary astrology under Chris Brennan and Rob Bailey, whose systematic and historically grounded teaching has allowed me to integrate this branch into my broader philosophical practice. I am now entering the stage where further learning depends on practice — by reading for real questions.
What kinds of questions can I take?
Questions answered in horary astrology need to be questions of some importance. If there is not some anxiety behind whether you really want to know the answer to the question, then an astrological chart for the moment won’t be a fitting symbol for it. Another way of putting this is that you should have some stake in the matter: unless you are actually part of a presidential ticket, I won’t cast a chart to figure out who will win the presidential election for you. In sum, please don’t ask mere points of curiosity or just ot test the technique to see if it works.
Besides that, questions should ideally be of the form “will x happen, yes or no?”. Thus, for instance, “I just met someone at a party and I’m really into them, will I see them again?” or “I had a job interview recently, I still haven’t heard back, will I get the job?”. It is useful to add a time-frame to your questions as well such as “I submitted an article to a journal last month, will they reply within the next three months?”. Also if you are in engaged in a battle – say a legal battle (you are suing someone) or maybe a competition (a popularity contest) you can ask “will I win x?”. If you are planning a trip, it is possible to investigate the quality and safety of the trip and whether you will achieve your intended goals there. Questions of the form “Should I…” are generally not answerable according to the method’s I’ve learned, with the exception of those that have the form “should I stay or should I go?”: “I have a new job opportunity, should I leave my current job for it?”; “I’m feeling in a rut in my current living situation, should I move to a new city?”.
If you are unsure whether your question is suitable, you can still submit it and I will tell you whether I can take it.
How it works
- You formulate a clear, sincere question that truly matters to you.
- I note the time and place at which I understand your question.
- I cast and interpret the chart according to traditional techniques.
- I send you a written answer within a week. If the matter is time sensitive and you need an urgent answer, then please indicate so in the form below.
For now, since I am still consolidating my practice, I answer questions for a symbolic fee. (R$25 / USD $5 per question). Payable via Paypal (includes transfer fee), Wise, Pix.
Ask your question
Contact me and help me learn this art
By submitting a question, you also participate in my ongoing study of the practical and philosophical foundations of astrology — how meaning arises from the moment, and how the heavens mirror our concerns. I thank you for being part of this process.