Horary astrology is a branch of astrology that answers very specific questions by casting a chart for the exact moment the question is asked. People turn to horary for love advice, life direction, or even to track down a lost pet, wallet, or set of keys. You can also ask on someone else’s behalf, so long as the question feels meaningful and important.
The magic of horary lies in the timing. The positions of the planets at that exact moment reflect the situation at hand, often in ways that feel literal and surprising. Personally, I’ve used horary for lost items (with uncanny results!) and for clients, and I’m still amazed at how specific it can be.
How Horary Works
At its core, horary astrology uses a chart, a snapshot of the sky at the moment your question is formed. That chart becomes your map, pointing toward hidden details or possible outcomes.
Let’s say you’re debating a trip abroad. On October 4, 2025, at 15:15 in Berlin, you ask, “Is it safe for me to travel?” The chart cast for that exact moment becomes your guide, showing whether the journey looks promising or if it’s better to wait. Or perhaps you lost your keys. Right now, as you’re reading this, you form the question and cast a chart. The planets can offer clues about where those keys might be hiding.
Planetary Rulers and Houses
Each house in a horary chart represents a part of life, and planets act as symbols for the people or things involved in your question. For example:
- First House (Ascendant): The 1st house represents you, the querent, or the person asking the question. It speaks to your physical appearance, health, and overall state, and often shows the starting point of the matter at hand. No matter what you’re asking about, yourself, a missing item, or even another person, you’re always represented by the 1st house.
- Second House: Concerns material possessions, money, personal finances, and resources. It also reflects the querent’s self-worth and value system. It also represents movable possessions, including lost items. Its ruler and planets within it give clues to the location of the item.
- Third House: Relates to communication, siblings, neighbors, short trips, and local environments. It can also signify messages, contracts, and letters in a horary question.
- Fourth House: Represents the home, family, and domestic matters. It also signifies land, property, and one’s roots or ancestry. In horary, it can also indicate the outcome of the matter, depending on the question. Also, it represents the ground (and the underground), home, and hidden places, including storage areas or basements. It’s often useful when the item is lost inside your home.
- Fifth House: Deals with children, creativity, romance, pleasure, and leisure activities. It also governs hobbies, entertainment, and speculative ventures like gambling.
- Sixth House: Associated with work, health, daily routines, and service. It governs jobs, employees, and pets, as well as issues related to illness and healing. It can also signify mundane or everyday places, like the laundry room, pets’ areas, or places of service and routine.
- Seventh House: This house is all about the other person, partners, spouses, business associates, or even open rivals. In horary, it represents whoever you’re asking about in a relationship or one-on-one situation, whether it’s love, work, or legal matters. It’s also tied to contracts and agreements. If your question involves someone else, they’ll usually be shown by the 7th house cusp (the Descendant).
- Eighth House: Governs other people’s money, shared resources, taxes, inheritances, and debts. It also deals with issues of death, transformation, and endings, including deep psychological matters.
- Ninth House: Rules long-distance travel, higher education, philosophy, religion, and legal matters. It governs foreign affairs, publishing, and spiritual beliefs.
- Tenth House: Represents career, public standing, reputation, and authority. It indicates one’s ambitions and achievements, and in horary astrology, it’s often tied to questions about professional success or the outcome of important matters.
- Eleventh House: Associated with friends, groups, social networks, and hopes for the future. It represents collective endeavors and support from others, including benefactors or sponsors.
- Twelfth House: Governs hidden matters, secrets, and things that are concealed. It deals with isolation, confinement, self-undoing, and spiritual enlightenment. This house can also represent enemies working in secret, mental health issues, and large institutions like hospitals or prisons.
Reading the Chart
To cast a horary chart, note the exact time and location when the question came up. Then calculate the chart (Astro-Seek is a great free tool). Pay attention to:
- Angles: Ascendant, Midheaven, Descendant, Imum Coeli.
- Aspects: Are planets moving toward each other (applying) or pulling apart (separating)? This shows what’s unfolding versus what’s past.
- The Moon: Especially important. A “void of course” Moon (not applying to other planets before changing signs) often means “nothing will come of the matter.”
What Can You Ask?
Almost anything, so long as it’s specific and meaningful. Common topics:
- Health: Should I go through with this surgery?
- Love: Will my ex and I get back together?
- Career: Should I take this job?
- Money: Will this investment pay off?
- Lost items: Where’s my pet or wallet?
- Travel: Is this trip safe?
Relationship Questions
- Will I get back together with my ex?
- Does this person love me?
- Is my partner being faithful?
- Should I enter into a relationship with this person?
- Is this relationship long-term?
Career And Work
- Will I get the job I applied for?
- Is this job opportunity good for me?
- Will I receive a promotion at work?
- Should I change my career?
- Is my boss supportive of me?
Financial Matters
- Will I receive the loan I applied for?
- Will I inherit money from a family member?
- Will my business be successful?
- Is this investment going to pay off?
- Can I trust this business partner?
Property And Real Estate
- Should I buy this house?
- Will I sell my property soon?
- Is this a good time to move?
- Will my house increase in value?
Health
- Will I recover from this illness?
- Should I go ahead with this surgery?
- Is my health condition serious?
- Is this treatment the right one for me?
Lost Items
- Where is my lost item?
- Will I find my lost pet?
- Will my stolen item be returned to me?
Travel
- Will my trip be successful?
- Should I travel at this time?
- Is it safe to travel to this location?
Legal Matters
- Will I win this court case?
- Should I file a lawsuit?
- Is my lawyer competent?
Family And Children
- Will I have children?
- Is my child healthy?
- Will my family conflict be resolved?
Timing of Events
- When will I get married?
- When will I find a new job?
- When will I move to a new house?
- When will I receive the money owed to me?
Spiritual And Personal Development
- Am I on the right spiritual path?
- Will I find a spiritual teacher or guide?
- Should I pursue this spiritual practice?
General Yes/No Questions
- Will this project be successful?
- Should I accept this offer?
- Will I get into this school or program?
When asking a horary astrology question, it’s important to be very clear and specific. The question should be about something meaningful to you, where you need a clear answer or guidance. Being vague won’t help get an accurate response.
A Quick Example
Imagine you have a friend who now lives in another country. Lately, things feel distant, the communication has slowed, and you’re wondering if it’s worth holding on or if it’s time to let go and unfollow them on social media.
You ask your question on October 16th, 2024, at 9:06 am in Stockholm, Sweden. Using Astro-Seek, you plug in the date, time, and location, and generate your horary chart.
Here’s how you’d start reading it:
- Look at the Ascendant (1st house cusp),, this represents you.
- Next, check the Descendant (7th house cusp)—this represents your friend.
- Then, find your chart ruler (the planet ruling the Ascendant) and your friend’s ruler (the planet ruling the Descendant).
- After that, study the other planets, their positions, and the aspects they form to build the full picture.
In this horary chart, the situation feels very personal to you. You’re likely putting more energy and care into the friendship than your friend is.
You (the querent): With Scorpio rising, your significator is Mars, which falls in Cancer in the 9th house. Mars in Cancer is in its fall, so it shows you may be feeling vulnerable, sensitive, or even defensive about this relationship. Sitting in the 9th house, it also highlights themes of distance and searching for meaning, very fitting since this friend lives abroad. Mars squaring your Sun in the 12th house suggests that the friendship doesn’t shine as brightly as it once did, leaving you questioning its place in your life.
Your friend (the quesited): Taurus on the 7th house cusp makes Venus their significator. Venus is placed in your 1st house, showing that your friend is still present in your life and very much “in your space.” However, Venus is in detriment in Scorpio, so their presence may not feel as warm or supportive as you’d like. This can point to tension, imbalance, or simply that they’re not showing up in a way that matches your energy. If your friend is female, Venus in this condition can sometimes suggest struggles around love or health.
Dynamic between you: With their Venus in your 1st house, the chart shows you’re the one more affected or invested. They may still be focused on you, but their actions don’t reflect that consistently. Mars and Venus both being in challenging conditions (fall and detriment) suggests that connecting smoothly right now is difficult for both of you.
Other key aspects:
- Mars square Sun: You may feel torn between speaking up and keeping the peace. A confrontation could bring more frustration than clarity.
- Venus trine Mars: Despite the tension, there’s still goodwill between you. This aspect shows the friendship isn’t broken, and with care, things could improve.
- Moon in Aries, 5th house: Your emotions may swing quickly, and the Moon’s rulership of your 9th house emphasizes the physical and emotional distance between you.
- Saturn in the 4th house: Old patterns or restrictions may be weighing on you, encouraging patience and a structured approach rather than impulsive action.
The question was, “Should I stay in this friendship since they’ve changed?” The chart suggests you care deeply, but the effort to keep things going may be coming mostly from your side. There’s no clear sign that you must end the friendship, but the message leans toward focusing more on yourself, your own joy, hobbies, and growth, rather than overthinking their role in your life. With time, it will become clear whether this connection revives or gently fades. For now, the universe’s advice is simple: the person who deserves your attention most is you.
A Few Tips
- Don’t ask the same question multiple times in a row, you’ll just get the same chart and the same answer. Wait at least 48 hours before trying again.
- Horary can be very literal, but also symbolic. For instance, Mars in Cancer might mean a lost item is near water, hidden, or inside the home, not necessarily floating in a pond.
- Don’t make life-changing decisions based only on horary unless you’re experienced. It’s easy to misinterpret, so use it as guidance, not an absolute verdict.
