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Copyright © Sue Ward 2003. All rights reserved. The Consideration Before Judgement concerning the Moon when Void of Course(Extracted from An Introduction to the Astrology of William Lilly by Sue Ward at www.sue-ward.co.uk)
This Consideration requires closer attention because its understanding has become corrupted over time.
Lilly states the definition like this: "A Planet is voyd of course, when he is seperated from a Planet, nor doth forthwith1, during his being in that signe, apply to any other:" 2
The Moon3 is void of course when, having separated from a planet, it does not henceforth4 apply to another while in its current sign.
In recent times this has been interpreted as allowing all the possible major aspects the Moon can make to other planets in its current sign. However, that requires that the word "aspect" is used interchangeably with the word "apply" and that is incorrect. Research shows that the true definition of the term "to apply" or "application" is found repeatedly in sources predating Lilly. Dariot, an established authority for Lilly and his contemporaries, and one of Lilly's quoted sources in Christian Astrology, puts it clearly: "The Application happeneth when as the Circles or beames of the Planettes come to joyne togeather by a corporall Coniunction, or by aspecte of the one halfe of their Deamiters." 5
Application occurs when the orbs of the planets come into contact through conjunction or aspect by half of their orbs (moiety). So, unless the moieties of the planets touch whilst moving towards an aspect, there is no application. This is what is commonly known as the planets 'being within orb of aspect'.6
The Western astrological system is based upon the issuing of light or rays by each planet. Light equals life and the more light a planet (or other celestial body) shows the greater its life force or vital spirit, or in more modern terms, the greater its energy. The nature, or virtue, of each planet is carried on its light or rays which it transmits to other planets; this notion of transmission of light is central to the astrological scheme and explains the principle of aspecting. When two planets meet by application, their rays intermingle and from that the astrologer can deduce an action or event. However for that meeting to occur account needs to be taken of the amount of light each planet 'emits', in other words, the distance the planets' orbs traverse. Each planet has its own orb of influence, which extends from the centre of the planet and extends to surround it. When seen in two dimensions, that orb is divided in two with half projecting in front of the planet and half behind it. These halves are known as 'moieties' and those provided by Lilly7 are:
To repeat: the above moieties extend before and behind each of the named planets, so that although Saturn's overall orb is between 9° and 10°, only 4.5° to 5° extend before and behind it on our two-dimensional chart wheel. The reason for the range of values is that there was some disagreement, but the only planet that this makes any notable difference to is the Sun and Jupiter. It is possible that some astrologers allowed a greater orb when the planet was shining more brightly. So, it is unsurprising that the luminaries should have such wide orbs. It is also possible that there were ideological differences where some preferred to allow a greater orb for the Lord of the Heavens and the Greater Benefic. Lilly himself is undisturbed by these differences and tells us that he used whichever he remembered.8
The diagram provides a simple impression of Mercury applying to Saturn and Mercury moving towards Saturn. Application begins in the upper diagram because the orbs of the two are in contact. In the lower diagram, application has yet to begin. Mercury has a moiety of 3.5° and Saturn, about, 4.5°, so when these two are 8° apart, if they are in the correct signs, application to major aspect9 has begun. Returning to the matter of the void of course Moon, let us look again at the definition: "A Planet is voyd of course, when he is seperated from a Planet, nor doth forthwith, during his being in that signe, apply to any other:" Once the term "application" has been defined, it is clear that it is that operation which must have begun whilst the Moon is in its current sign in order to prevent the Moon being void of course. The application must be operating at the moment of the chart. Furthermore, it does not matter whether or not that application is completed (perfected) in that sign, and we find many examples of this in Christian Astrology which will be demonstrated later. To use the analogy of two people instead of two planets, A and B, are in the same room, but they are too far away to touch. A is faster than B and moves towards B. Both have their arms extended towards each other, as their fingertips touch an application has begun. When they are fully embraced it is equivalent to an exact conjunction. So, as the Moon is the prime mover in a horary chart, its lack of applications, which can occur anywhere within the sign, might show that nothing can happen or that the querent is not able to affect the situation. Lilly says, that the Moon is not so ineffective when void of course and in the signs of Taurus (the Moon's exaltation), Cancer (the Moon's sign of rulership), Sagittarius or Pisces (both signs ruled by the greater benefic, Jupiter). The Moon when void of course is impedited because it cannot carry out its task of transferring planetary virtues. But, as Lilly's examples will show, this does not necessarily preclude judgement. It might show, though, that the querent has less influence unless the other significators are strong and active. Lilly's Chart Examples Void of CourseThe Modern method of deciding when this rule is in effect is when the Moon has no more major aspects to perfect in its sign. So, at first glance there are five charts in Christian Astrology which have the Moon void of course, but when the correct definition is applied to them, it becomes clear that this is not the case. The most telling example of how application was used and, perhaps, also an explanation of how it became confused, is the well known horary 'If Presbytery shall stand?'
Venus, ruler of the 9th house, is at 9°16' Aries, Lilly says: "... but before she fully get out of this movable signe Aries, she first hath occurse to the sinister square of Jupiter, then of Mars, ..." Jupiter is at 28°54' Cancer and Mars is at 25°40' Cancer, both are out of orb, so Venus is not applying to aspect either of them. He is acknowledging this by using the word "occurse", meaning that Venus is moving towards them and will make these aspects before leaving the sign. He is not saying that Venus is applying to aspect these two. This is further supported in the same judgement: "We have the Moon separating from Venus in the eighth, then going to be vacua cursus [void of course] afterwards she squares with Mars, then with Jupiter: ..." The Moon is at 13°37' Libra, Mars is at 25°40' Cancer and Jupiter is at 28°54' Cancer. Mars and Jupiter are out of orb of the Moon and so the Moon is not applying, but because he feels that these aspects are relevant he mentions them as occurring later. This chart has been judged with the Moon void of course. The following charts, often cited as having the Moon void of course, are good examples of the rule in practice.
The Moon is at 26°43' Pisces and the Sun is at 7°03' Leo. These two are within orbs of a trine (the Moon applies to a trine of the Sun) and so the Moon is not void of course.
The Moon is at 29°53' Virgo and is within orbs of a square to the Sun at 0°31' Cancer (the Moon applies to a square of the Sun) and so the Moon is not void of course.
This is a good example, because Lilly has noted the Moon's progress as "a vac [from void of course] ad opposition Sun [to the opposition of the Sun]". The Moon's last aspect was an opposition with Mercury over 12° before. The Moon has a moiety of around 6° and Mercury has a moiety of 3.5°, therefore at about 9° or 10° before, they were in aspect. Since then the Moon has been within the orbs of no other planet and so was void of course. The Moon is at 28°09' Sagittarius and the Sun is at 5°31' Cancer, so the Moon is applying to the opposition of the Sun.
Lilly states again that the Moon is separating from void of course, but in this case its application is to a sextile of Mars. The Moon's last aspect was by trine to Jupiter, but that was more than 17.5° before and their combined moieties are about 11°. The Moon is at 27°33' Leo and Mars is at 5°14' Cancer which constitutes an applying trine.
The Moon is at 29°10' Aquarius and applies to sextile Saturn, which is at 0°36' Taurus and then to a trine of Jupiter at 5°53' Cancer. Both are counted because both are within orbs, in fact, if you needed to, you might also include the applying trine to the Sun at 6°30' Scorpio. As for the interpretation of the Moon void of course, astrologers tend to use one or two: "nothing will happen" or "there is nothing that can be done", but Lilly gives several: pages 190, 192, 299, 310, 377 and 448. The fact that he does this supports the other evidence that he did not reject a chart because the Moon was void of course. He accepts the interpretation it offers.
1 "Immediately; without delay", OED. back
2 Christian Astrology p.112. back 3 Here we are dealing with the Moon, but planets can also be void of course. back 4 "From this time onwards." OED. back 5 Claudius Dariot, A Brief and Most Easy Introduction to the Astrological Judgment of the Stars, (1583). back 6 This view is differs from that of the Modern school of thought. The Modern view gives the orb to the aspect not to the planet. Thus, a sextile occurs between any two planets when their longitudinal distance is about sixty degrees. This distance varies more or less depending on the orb an astrologer might want to allow - in the case of sextile commonly four degrees - planets placed between 56 and 64 degrees apart would be accepted as forming a sextile aspect. back 7 CA p.107. back 8 Ibid. back 9 The major aspects are: conjunction, sextile, square, trine and opposition. These are the aspects that both divide the circle equally and form natural aspects to the Ascendant. back 10 Or a number of other "prohibitions". back Copyright © Sue Ward 2003. All rights reserved. [ Home ] [ Articles ] |
