William Lilly, the famed 17th century English astrologer,
wrote the most complete explication in English of medieval and Renaissance horary astrology,
Christian Astrology, first published in 1647. Here are Lilly's rules for
judging marriage questions from pages 302-311 of Christian Astrology reprinted
by Regulus Publishing, 1985.
If a Question be asked of Marriage, behold the ascendant and the
Lord thereof, and the Moon, and the Planet from whom the Moon is separated, and give
those for the Significators of the Querent; and the seventh house, and the
Lord thereof, and the Planets to whom the Moon applieth, for the Signifiers
of him or her concerning whom the Question is asked:
If it be a man that asketh the Question, joyne the Sun and Moon with his
Significators, and make him partner in the Signification;
and if it be a woman, joyne Venus and Moon, and make them partners:
Afterwards, behold what application the Lord of the ascendant or Moon
hath with the Lord of the seventh, and what application that Planet hath from whom
the Moon is separated, with the Planets to whom she doth apply, or Sun with Venus;
For if the Lord of the ascendant
or the Moon apply to the Lord of the seventh house, it doth signifie the Querent shall
have his or her desire, yet with many petitions, solicitations and prayers:
And if the application be by square or opposition,
and with reception, it signifieth that it shall be brought to passe with a kind of slownesse,
labour and travell: but if the Lord of the seventh apply to the Lord of the ascendant,
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or the Planet to whom the Moon doth apply, unto the Planet from whom she is separate;
or if the Lord of the sevent be in the ascendant, the matter shall be brought easily to passe,
with great good will of the man or woman quesited after; chiefly if there be an application
by trine or sextile aspect.
When the Lord of the ascendant doth apply to the Lord of the seventh house,
[Or if the Lord of the seventh apply to the Lord of the ascendant.]
it's an argument the Marriage shall be preformed and done,
Also, if the Moon doe apply to Venus, and she strong,
encreasing in her motion, and in some of her owne Dignities, and the Moon likewise,
the Marriage shall be concluded:
If Venus doe behold the Sun, and the Sun
have any dignity in the ascendant, and behold the Lord of his house,
viz. of the Signe wherein he is, it doth signifie likewise the Marriage shall be concluded;
But if the Planet applying, and he to whom he doth apply,
be cadent from the angles, and especially if their Lords doe not behold them,
it doth signifie there shall be good hopes at the first,
but by dallying and tracting the time, there shall be trouble,
and no Marriage at all performed:
Also if Moon, Sun, Venus and Lord of the seventh,
and Lord of the ascendant be in angles, and they beholding one another,
or if their Lords behold them, though with square or opposition,
yet it signifieth the matter shall be first in despaire or suspended,
but afterwards it shall bv the will of God, be brought to passe,
and finished by the consent of all parties.
Give unto the Querent the Lord of the ascendant, the Moon and
the Planet from whom the Moon is separated; and to the party enquired, the Lord of the seventh,
and the Planet to whom the Moon doth apply; and if the Querent be a Man,
then adde the Sun, but if a Woman then adde Venus; and
Then behold what application there is between the Lord of the ascendant
and the Lord of
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the seventh, for if the Lord of the seventh be in the ascendant, or apply to the Lord thereof,
it will willingly be consented to by the party desired;
But if the Lord of the ascendant or the Moon apply to the Lord of
the seventh, or be in the seventh, the Querent shall obtaine his purpose
by his owne labour; but if none of these happen, yet if there be
translation of light between them, then it shall be effected by
the meanes of Friends or Acquaintance;
Also the Moon in the tenth signifieth the same,
also, the application of the Moon with Venus effecteth the matter,
but by mediation of friends:
Also the application of the Sun and Venus,
especially when the Sun hath dignity in the seventh, idem:
if the Lord of the seventh be in the ascendant, or with the Lord of the ascendant,
or behold him with a good aspect, it doth give great encouragement for effecting the matter.
If a man aske, his Significators are;
First, the Lord of the ascendant: secondly, the Moon;
thirdly, the Planet the Moon is separated from;
fourthly, the Sun, the naturall significator of men.
The Significators of the woman are;
the Lord of the seventh, the Planet the Moon applieth to,
the Planet in the seventh, Venus the naturall significatrix of women:
The like judge for the woman if she aske the Question,
(mutatis mutandis) that is, the ascendant and other Significators, and Venus;
the question asked by the woman, the seventh and his Lord, the Planet the Moon applies unto;
These are for the man, the ascendant and his Lord, the Planet the
Moon is separate from, the Moon and Venus, so the querent hath three
Significators, the party desired hath also three:
It shall be, if the Lord of the ascendant or Moon be in the seventh;
Secondly, if the Planet the Moon separates from, applies to
the Planet the Moon applies to,
Thirdly, or the Sun and Venus apply to each other;
Ffourthly, the Lord of the lst in the seventh, or seventh
in the first;
Fiftly, any translation of light from the Significators, or
Reception of the Significators,
or any collection by a more weighty Planet [It shall be, viz. one in Termes,
the other in the Triplicity of the Significator, or the like.]
The Signifiers in interchangeable Dignities,
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the Moon in the seventh giving vertue to the Lord of the ascendant, or Lord of the seventh.
The Lord of the seventh in the ascendant, the party desired loveth
best: The Lord of the ascendant in the seventh, the Querent loveth
best; and so with the other Significators, for those that apply
argue most love,&c.
The Lord of the seventh in the seventh, especially
in one of his owne houses, the party desired is free from love,
hath little mind to Marriage, and her Portion is knowne, or the mans.
TThe Significators of the party desired,
not beholding the Significators of the Querent, noteth the love of some other more
then the Querent, or an aversnesse to the party now enquiring.
The applicatio[n] of the Significators frustrated,
notes the Marriage to be broken off, by such person or thing as that Signifier noteth,
which you may know by the house he is in & Lord of, viz. If by the Lord of the 2nd house, want of Riches;
if Lord of the 3rd, by the Brother,
&c. contrariwise,
Tthe Marriage being presaged by translation of light, or collection,
it shall be furthered by such a one (as above mentioned) viz. If by the Lord of the 2nd,
by some friend promising Dowry; 3rd, a Brother; 10th, a Mother; 5th or llth, a Friend; 6th,
an Unckle, Aunt, or a Servant:
Where note, that Marriages promised by conjunction
square or opposition, note performance with much adoe; trine or sextile,
easie; with Reception, best of all.
Having carefully observed, that although there seem great
probability of effecting the Marriage enquired of, yet you find just cause to judge,
it shall not either really be acted, or much obstruction will be before it can be done;
and you are desirious to know from where the impediment shall come, the better to prevent it;
Consider what evill Planet it is who doth hinder the Reception of the disposition of the
Significators, viz. of the man and woman, or who frustrates their aspect, or
prohibits them, or interjects his Rayes betwixt the Significators;
If he be the Lord of the 2nd,
they break off on the Querent's behalf,Money or
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Fortune being wanting on that side, or poverty objected:
If it be the Lord of the 3rd, the Querent's Kindred, Brethern or
Sisters or some untoward Neighbor, or some Journey &c.
If the Lord of the fourth, the Parent will not agree,
he will part with no Lands, no House, Houses or Tenements, will settle no Estate:
If the Lord of the fifth Children may be the occasion (if either
party have any;) or if a Batchelour propounds, perhaps it's objected,
he either is not capable of getting a Child, or that he hath had a Bastard,
or is scandalized about such a thing, or that it's feared the party will be wanton,
or given to luxury, too much to his pleasure and pastime, &c. vary your rule,
and it serves if a woman propounded, &c.
If it be the Lord of the sixt[h], either some of his Fathers Kindred,
viz. some Unckle or a Servant, or the like, or some infirmity or sicknesse
in the querent may be the cause impediting.
If it be a Planet in the seventh, some other he or she Friend will
impedite, or a publick Enemy, or one he or she have formerly had variance with, or a
Law-suit, &c.
If it be the Lord of the eighth, it may be feared Death will
bereave the querent of Life ere the Marriage, or the quesited hath
not a sufficient Portion, their Estate is disliked, it gives no content,
it will not be accepted.
If the Lord of the ninth, one or other of the quesited's
Kindred or difference in Religion, or some busie-headed Priest,
or by reason of some Journey to be undertaken by the querent, &c.
If the Lord of the tenth the Father of the quesited, or
Mother of the querent, or some principall man, Officer or Magistrate.
If the Lord of the eleventh, the Friends of both parties dislike
the Match, or such as at first brought on the matter, will now endeavour to dissolve the match.
If the Lord of the twelfth, then there is some under-hand
dealing and much juggling in the businesses the matter shall be much retarded,
and the querent shall never know by whom; the querent is much slandered, or
some scandall privately insinuated doth much wrong, and will quite break the matter.
As you have notions whereby you may understand what may be the
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obstacle in any Marriage, so by the same rules, rightly varied,
you shall find who will afflict or befriend the querent in his suit,
or will endeavour to do him good therein; I have herein dealt very candidly,
and expressed the whole truth.
If the Moon behold the Sun or Venus by a good aspect,
or the Lord of the ascendant be in the seventh, or the Lord of the seventh in the ascendant,
or either of them behold other with a good aspect, it signifieth Marriage to the Querent.
I observe, if the Significators be in Prolificall Signes, or
Dignities of Venus, the party enquiring doth marry.
The degree of the application of Moon to Sun or Venus,
or Lord of the ascendant to the Lord of the seventh, or Lord of the seventh to the
Lord of the ascendant; if it be in moveable Signes, Dayes;
in common Signes, Moneths; in fixed Signes, Yeers;
according to that time the Marriage shall be performed.
This must be understood when you find strong testimonies of
Marriage, and that the Significators are swift.
Behold from the degree of the tenth house to the degree of Mars,
and so many Planets as you shall find between them, so many Husbands shall she have;
But if Mars be in the eleventh house, then look from Mars to Jupiter,
and judge accordingly: some judge from Mars to the Lord of the tenth;
These rules are Arabicall: plurality of Husbands is best
adjudged from the Lord of the seventh and Sun, Mars being in common Signes,
or many Planets in the seventh, or Sun in sextile or trine to many Planets in the seventh,
argues plurality, or more than one.
If the Lord of the seventh be in the ninth, he shall marry a Stranger,
&c. if the Lord of the seventh and of the ascendant be in one quarter of Heaven,
or in one house or Signe, usually the party marries one neer to the place of their own abode:
Consider the Signe of the seventh, the Signe and quarter of Heaven
the Lord of the seventh is in, and judge by the major testimonies, from what part of Heaven
the party shall live whom the querent shall marry;
As if most concurre in South testimonies, the South;
mix the quarter of Heaven and Signe, preferring the Sign before the
quarter: but this will be best explained upon an example.
For the man, note the Planet the Moon is with;
as if with Venus, say she is faire, slender and pleasant;
And for the woman, judge by the Planet the Sun beholdeth;
Sun in trine or sextile of Saturn, wise and painfull; Sun aspecting Jupiter, honest;
and so of the rest;
The Sun and Moon in square or opposition, note contention,
separation and discords.
If the Lord of the seventh be in an angle,
and the Lord of the ascendant in a succeedant house, the woman is best descended;
And so if the Lord of the ascendant be in an angle,
judge accordingly; in like manner one may judge of two Companions, or any one else:
A most assured way is, by observing which of the Significators
is most superiour, and most potential in essentiall Dignities;
If no such thing be, who is best placed in an angle, is most noble;
and this will not faile.
Behold the Lord of the ascendant and the Moon;
if the Moon or the Lord of the ascendant be received in an angle, and he that is the
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receiver be an heavy or ponderous Planet, the querent shall be Master;
and whether Significators shall be found weak, ill dignified, or in cadent houses,
that party shall be subject.
If a man ask, see the Lord of the eighth, or Planet in the eighth,
for if they are strong, or Moon applying to the Lord of the 8th by a good aspect,
then she is wealthy (&c., e contra, poor;)
If the woman ask of the man, and of his estate,
judge after the same manner. (eadem est ratio.)
If the Significators of them, either of the man or woman be
vitiated or joyned to Saturn or Mars, and they not Significators in the Question,
or if they be with [the South Node of the Moon], it sheweth unlawfull Marriage,
viz. there hath been
some wrangling or claime laid to the party by some former man or woman.
If the Figure performe Marriage,
note if the Lord of the ascendant and Lord of the seventh aspect
each other with trine or sextile, they agree well: Moon beholding her Dispositor,
or Lord of the Exaltation of the house wherein she is, with good aspect, idem:
The Lord of the seventh more weighty, and in an angle,
she will be master, or strive for it: if neither the Lord of the ascendant,
or of the seventh be in angles, then note the weightier, for that party signified by him,
shall be master;
Sun impedited, worst for the man; if Venus be impedited,
worst for the woman; if the Moon be impedited or unfortunate, is ill for them both.
The Lord of the ascendant and Lord of the seventh in square or
opposition, Lord of the Moon impedited beholding the ascendant,
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or Saturn, Mars or a Retrograde or Combust Planet in the ascendant,
doth note contention ever by the querent, &c. e contra,
Judge the like if the Lord of the seventh suffer the same
afflictions, that then the questited shall be the occasion of strife:
The Moon in her fall, or at square or opposition with Saturn
or Mars, or any Retrograde Planet,
If the Moon then behold the ascendant, noteth brawling
ever moved by the woman; Saturn, Mars, South Node in the ascendant, idem.,
if the question be asked by the man.
If the Lord of the third be that Planet who doth afflict
or impedite, and be in the ascendant or seventh house, it shall be by Brethern or Kindred;
An Infortune in the tenth, notes brawling, and continuall
chiding and wrangling:
In the fourth, either a Divorcement or a willingnesse to it,
or hinderance in Dowry; the Moon infortunate beholding the ascendant, note brawling,
separation and dishonest living:
Ill Planets in the tenth and fourth, ill persons make
contention, or their Parents;
No application between the Planet the Moon separates from,
and the Planet unto whom she doth apply, notes contention alwayes:
If the Moon doe aspect, or be in conjunction with Saturn or Mars,
one of them shall dye quickly, or have some misfortune; if this conjunction be in the
tenth or fourth, in a masculine Signe, the man shall suffer; if in a feminine Signe, the woman:
The Moon in trine or
sextile of good Planets, declares gifts from Friends; Moon in square of good Planets,
by dead men; Moon in conjunction of good Planets, promises good by their
owne industry and labour;
If the Moon aspect Saturn or Mars, or be in the twelfth or eighth,
or voyd of course, they shall have both troubles, griefes and sicknesse; in angles,
notes a probability of separation or long disagreements.
Behold the Planet who receiveth the light of the Significator,
if he be a heavy Planet, and be hindered by square or opposition
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of an ill Planet, or be Cadent, the intended Marriage shall be broken off againe,
though at present it is very feasible. Behold whether parties Significator is
strongest, that party shall first marry after this dissolution.
If the ill Planet that hindereth the Marriage be Lord of the second
or eighth house, it is for matter of Dowrey; if Lord of the third, Brother;
if Lord of the fourth or tenth, it is the Father or the Mother, or such like;
and so judge for the rest.
If there be an ill Planet that carries the light between the
Significators, it shall be by meanes of a Messenger; describe that Planet,
and you may notifie the party.
That woman who doth depart from her Husband or
become a Widdow the Moon being between the seventeenth degree of Sagittarius,
and the first minute of Capricorn, shall never returne or marry.
(An Arabic Aphorism, not overmuch to be credited without consent of other Significators.)
Whoso is Espoused to a Wife the Moon being in the twelve first
degrees of Capricorn, shall lose her before marriage, or dye
within six moneths, or live in discord with her.