William Lilly's "Aphorisms and Considerations for Better Judging any Horary Question"

The following is taken, verbatim from Lilly's Christian Astrology, pages 298 ff. I have preserved the original spellings (and misspellings) found in the original.

1. See the Question be radicall, or fit to be judged; whic is, when the Lord of the Ascendant and hour be of one nature or Triplicity.

2. Be not confident of the Judgment if either the 1st degrees or later of any Signe be ascending; if the later degrees arise, the matter of the Question is elapsed, and it's probable the Querent hath been tampering with others, or despaires of any successe; however, the Heavens advise you not to meddle with it at that time.

3. The position of Saturn or Mars in the 10th, and they perefrine or unfortunate, or the South Node in that house, the Artist hardly get credit by that Question.

4. Judge not upon every slight motion, or without premeditation of the Querent, nor upon slight and triviall Questions, or when the Querent hath not with to know what he would demand.

5. Have speciall regard to the strength and debility of the Moon, and it's farre better the Lord of the Ascendant be unfortunate then she, for she brings unto us the strength and vertue of all the other Planets, and of one Planet to another.

6. Behold the condition of Saturn in every Question, he is naturally ill by his excesse of cold; Mars is of ill influence, because of his too much heat: in very truth, niether of them is cold or dry, but signifie so much in their vertue and operation, and therefore in all Questions they shew tardity and detriment in the Question, unlesse the Moon and they receive each other in the Signification.

7. See the condition of Jupiter and Venus be observed, who naturally are Fortunes and temperate, and never import any malice, unlesse by accident: where they are Significators without reception, they put forward the matter, but they best preforme the matter in question when they apply by Trine or Sextile, and to purpose when in Essentiall Dignities.

8. In every Question where Fortunes are Significators, hope well; but in Infortunes, then fear the worst, and accordingly order your business.

9. Generally consider the state of hte Moon, for if she be void of course there's no great hopes of the Question propounded, that it shall be effected; yet if she be in Cancer, Taurus, Sagittarius or Pisces, your fear may be lesse, for then she is not much impedited by being voyd of course.

10. See from what Planet the Moon is separated, that Planet shewes what has already been done: if from a Fortune good; if from a malevolent, ill; according to the nature of the house, &c.

11. The Application of the Moon shewes the present condition of the thing demanded, viz. her applying by a good aspect, and in a good house, to a good Planet, intimates the strong hopes of the thing intended.

12. The Application of the Moon to a Planet in his Fall, signifies anguish, trouble and delayes in the thing demanded.

13. A Retrograde Planet, or one in his first station, Significator in Question, denotes ill in the Question, discord and much contradiction.

14. We ought wairly to consider if evill Planets be Significators in any thing, for if they predict evill in the thing questited, the vengence is more heavy; if they foretell of any good, it's lesse then what it expected, it's imperfect, and nothing therein comes, without infinite solicitation and affliction, &c.

15. A Planet that is slow in motion, prolongs the thing questited after, so that it's hardly performed; the nautre of the Signe wherein the Planet is, doth herein much advantage the judgment.

16. When Infortunes are Significators of any evill, doe you well consider if the Fortunes, viz. Jupiter of Venus, cast not any aspect unto them, then the evill intended formerly is lessened; doe so when the Fortunes are Significators.

17. If the Fortunes signifie any thing, and are cadent, or ill placed in Dignities, or behold not the Ascendant, or are Retrograde, then are they impedited, and shall performe little, if not received.

18. Notwithstanding Reception, if he be an Infortune, he performes but little; but if the same happen when the Fortuntes are Significators, the thing is perfected.

19. A Planet Peregrine, viz. having no essentiall Dignities where he is, he is malicious beyond expression; if he be in essentiall Dignities, the lesse; for then he is like a noble soule that hath his enemy in his clutches, but scornes to hurt him.

20. And yet generally, if Saturn or Mars be in House, Exaltation, Triplicity and Angles, and then have Signification in a Question, they performe the thing desired.

21. Confide not too much in the assistance a Fortune lends, unlesse he be in essential Dignities; for then he performes matters wholly, else but by halves.

22. When in a Question wherein both the Fortunes and Infortunes are either weak or equally ill places, promise no success upon that demand; deferre the Judgment untill the Heavens have a better Position.

23. Beware in all Judgments, when the Significator of the question is either Comust, or in Opposition to the Sun, he will then signifie nothing of the matter, no good, nor is be able to bring anything to perfection.

24. One Infortune joyned to another, if good be signified by their aspect, yet will it have no effect, or come to any thing: If they signifie evill, it's probably that it may fall out with more malice then expected.

25. The Lord of the Ascendant out of his essentiall Dignities, Cadent, &c., shewes the Querent is out of all hopes in his businesse.

26. A Planet within 12 degrees of the Sun, is said to be under his Beames, and then hath not fortitude, let it be in what Signe it will; when a Planet is within 16 minutes of the Sun, he is said to be in Cazimi, or heat of the Sun, and then it's an addition of fortune, and he is wonderous strong.

27. See to what Planet the Significator commits his disposition, and if Orientall or Occidentall; if it be to Saturn, Jupiter or Mars, and they Orientall, the matter is sooner performed; later, if Occidentall, doe the contrary in Venus and Mercury.

28. Observe if the Planet that is Significator of the thing desired, be in a fixed Signe, moveable, or common: fixed Signes shew stability, and that the thing shall continue, whether it be begun, or is to be begun: common Signes shew the oft probability of perfecting the thing, and yet not its conclusion: moveable Signes shew a sudden resolution or conclusion of the matter one way or other. From hence we being Foundations of Houses and Townes when Significators are fixed; short Journey when they are moveable: but in things wherein we define mediocrity, we elect common Signes.

29. The Lord of the Ascendant or the Moon with the Head or Taile, of the Dragon, brings damage to the Question propouned; see in what house they are in, and receive signification from thence.

30. Look whether the degree of the Ascendant, or place of the Signe the Significator is in, be the then place of any Eclipse at hand; though the matter propounded be in a faire way to be concluded, yet shall it insesibly receive prejudice when least is expected, and hardly be concluded.

31. If you find the Moon impedited in any Question, be it what it will, there will be the like stay, demur or hinderance in the thing quesited; and indeed there's seldom good end comes fo the Question where the Moon is impedited; if it be in going to Warre, you may feare the life of the Querent; if in a Journey, ill successe, if Marriage, an ill end of Wooing, &c.

32. If the Lord of the question or the Moon be in a Signe opposite to his owne house, as Mercury in Sagittarius or Pisces, &c., the Querent hath no good hopes of his demands, he despairs, nor doth he delight in it, nor doth he care whether it can be performed or not.

33. Consider diligently the Planet impediting the Signifier of the thing demanded, and what house he is either Lord of, or is posited in; from the nature or person of that house require the cause obstructing.

34. The neerer your Significator is to an Angle, the more good you may expect; lesse, if placed in a Succeedant house; little if in a Cadent.

35. In all Questions, know there's not so great an affliction to the Moon, as when she is in Conjunction with the SUN; the ill aspects fo the infortunes doth much afflict her, but none so powerfull as her Combustion.

36. In any Question, see if an Infortune aspect your Significator, and whether they be both Peregrine, Retrograde, Cadent, or in Signes contrary to their owne nature, it may then be doubted they inferre such a mischiefe in the question, as is inevitable, according to naturall causes.

37. Planets that are Significators in any thing, if they are in Conjunction, and in a Signe agreeing to their owne nature, then the thing quesited after is brought to perfection with much ease and facility, else not.

38. Have special regard tot he Significators, and whether any frustration or prohibition be before the perfect aspect: the Planet frustrating describes the party or cause hindering the matter demanded.

39. Ever consider the Part of Fortune, which if well dignified in any house, the Querent gets by men, or things denoted by that house; and so, if ill dignified, damage from thence.

40. In questions of Marriage, an unfortunate Planet in the 7th threatens ill agreement in Marriage, unlesse the same Planet be a Significator at the Birth.

41. If the Lord of the 8th be impedited or unfortunate in the 8th, the Querent shall receive prejudice by the death of some woman, or concerning some debts due unto him from men deceased.

42. In what house you find Jupiter and Venus well dignified, you may expect benefit from such men and things as are Signified by that house; as if in the 3rd, from Kindred; in the 4th, from Father, or by Lands, &c. in the 5th by Play, &c. and so in other houses.

43. Beware of men and things appertaining to that house wherein South Node is in; it seldome failes, but the Querent shall receive damage, scandall or slander from men and matter signified by the house he is in.