How Astrology Can Help You Make Any Project Successful
Discover how electional astrology can help you get ahead and make plans during the most auspicious periods of your life!
Looking at a successful business, a long-lasting marriage or a fun & enjoyable trip, one thing sticks out: they all seem to have an element of luck, as if the stars aligned to make these special events especially great. But is it only a matter of luck?
According to ancient astrologers (and modern ones too!), there is clearly more to that. Attempts to understand what planetary alignments make certain things go "right" while others not so much are at least as old as astrology itself.
When we look at the early systems of astrology at the origins of the ones we use today, one concept-technique seems to come back again and again: the concept of katarchē, or inception. The inception of an event is its very beginning, its origin: like a seed contains all of the genetic information for a tree to develop into its full form, the planetary alignment we see at the very start of an event contains information about how it will develop and ultimately unfold.
We see this when looking at a birth chart, the most widely known form of inception chart today: in order to assess someone’s life and answer their questions, the astrologer looks at the chart (the position of the planets) of the moment that the person was born to determine that. But the application of astrology doesn’t stop there: in order to know how something will unfold, we can look at any chart - as long as there is a start date (an inception moment).
Electional astrology goes one step further and proposes to choose a moment in time we know will be especially auspicious to start something. The name of this branch, "electional", can be a bit confusing at first. The reason we call it that is because it refers to the word "elect", aka choosing deliberately.
It’s kind of like planning a trip: after you’ve decided on the basic parameters (how you will get there, duration and accommodation if applicable), you can fine tune the details to ensure that the trip will be as great as possible: check the weather to make sure it’s optimal for your location, pick a nice accommodation, arrange activities, food, drinks etc. so that the experience suits your needs and you’re happy with it!
In a similar way, the astrologer will look at the astrological "weather" for the year, and find the best possible planetary configuration based on the type of endeavour someone is consulting for. For example, a basic election for a wedding would be when Venus in in Taurus: Venus is the planet of love, Taurus is her domicile (the sign she rules), and it is also a fixed sign, representing long-lasting bonds. The astrologer would pick a date & time when Venus is in Taurus for the consultant.
Using the rules of electional astrology, you can increase your chances of success for a specific project by paying attention to the planetary significators for your endeavours, and starting them under the right astro weather. For example, Mercury is the planet which rules over writing, communication & business: generally speaking, taking exams, starting your own business, signing contracts or applying for a job (especially one that involves writing or financial transactions) would be optimal when Mercury is in Gemini (his domicile) or Virgo (domicile/exaltation). It would also be preferable to avoid doing any of these when Mercury is retrograde, or within 8° of the Sun (combustion), which are both conditions affecting the planet.
This is just an example, and oftentimes we don’t have the luxury of choice: few people can wait months or years to apply for the right job or plan a wedding ceremony at 3AM, even if conditions would be optimal then! The astrologer is responsible for finding the best possible configuration within possible parameters. It’s part of our job! No election is perfect, but we have lots of possibilities when it comes to the parameters that we use. Most importantly, this also allows us to understand and describe the pros and cons and what would come out of choosing a specific chart, versus choosing at random.
Is electional astrology very different from natal astrology? While we use the same components, they are not always interpreted in the same way. For example, the most important signifiers of an electional chart the ascendant and the Moon, as well as the house signifying the endeavour in question. The 1st house/ascendant have to correspond to the thing you are trying to do, as well as the corresponding house.
For example, say I’m trying to elect the perfect time to move homes: I would make sure that the sign on the ascendant and the planet that rules it are in "good condition". I would also make sure that the Moon is waxing (increasing in light), in a good sign (for example Cancer or Taurus), and makes good aspects (sextile or trine) to Venus or Jupiter, ideally. I would also make sure that the planet ruling the 4th house (which represents home and real estate in general) is in good condition (in a good sign, aspecting the benefics, etc). Other planets wouldn’t matter that much: for example, it wouldn’t matter if the Sun wasn’t looking to good, or if the ruler of the 5th house (children and creativity) wasn’t in the best condition, because this isn’t relevant to what I’m trying to do. In natal astrology, I would pay attention to everything in the chart, whereas electional astrology is more practical and reduces the scope.
Another important element is the birth chart. If planetary transits are universal, how come they don’t affect people in the same way? A lucky planetary configuration could mean someone would find a $10 note on the floor, while someone else would meet the love of their life. Electional astrology takes into account the birth chart of the individual, and how different transits and planetary alignments will affect them depending on whether they are activated or not. There may be a generally lucky transit (for example, Jupiter in Cancer), but I could advise a client to wait until certain placements are activated in their chart (for example, waiting for a client to enter their 10th house profection year to launch their business, or use zodiacal releasing when I’m trying to see what periods are auspicious in their own timing). This practice is known as "rooting": the election "takes root" in the individual’s birth chart.
I’m reminded of a case this year where I advised my client to get married while Jupiter was in the early degrees of Aries. Although Jupiter is in domicile in Pisces, Aries is the sign on the cusp of her 7th house of marriage: in her case, it was more auspicious to get married (Jupiter is the planet of oaths) while the planet was transiting this house, rather than her 6th house (enemies, illness).
What can electional astrology be used for? What type of projects can it help you with? Here’s a non-exhaustive list of the types of projects it can help you with:
Applying for or starting a new job
Going in a date, starting a new relationship, getting married
Launching a business or a new offering offering within an existing business (new product or service…)
Creating a social media account, starting a podcast…
Going on or organising a trip, travelling in general
Relocating, moving homes
Taking an exam, submitting an essay/thesis/dissertation
Public speaking, performance arts
Adopting an animal
Applying for or going on a leave/vacation/sabbatical
Getting a beauty treatment (haircut/manicure/spa day…)
Selling things you no longer need
Sending an important email or letter, reaching out to someone powerful or respected
Starting a new creative project
Starting a new commitment/habit (going to the gym, trying a new sport)
Learning a language
Making important financial decisions, budgeting, applying for grants/scolarships
Quitting a toxic habit (smoking…)
Breaking up, getting a divorce
Organising social events (parties, work functions...)
Writing and submitting important pieces (books, academic essays)
Magical elections (talisman or materia making…)
There are many more examples, and this is only an indicative list! Electional strology can help us be more intentional about the things we want to succeed in. From planetary hours to the placement of the Moon to more complex astrological events, there are many tools at your disposal to fine tune the results depending on your option.
Thank you so much for reading through! If you’d like to learn more about my electional astrology services, you can see the electional consultation I offer (among others!) and book it here!