Electional Astrology

And how it differs from Natal & Mundane Astrology

The Theory Behind Astrological Charts 

The symbolic condition of the universe at any particular moment correlates to the characteristics possessed by any entity the universe generates at that moment. The moment itself is like a mother producing offspring. All her children inherit her characteristics, but each in their own capacity.

Inheritance Capacity

Let’s imagine a particular moment that is excellent for intellect (let’s say mercury is exalted while Taurus rises with an exalted half moon). Next, imagine two entities created at this moment: an atom, and a human. Both of them inherit the quality of “intelligence”, but each in a different capacity.

An “intelligent atom” could participate in a neural network, or in computer circuitry, but cannot invent a lightbulb or write a beautiful poem. An “intelligent human,” however, would likely be inventive and poetic, but would never fit inside a brain or a microchip. 

This illustrates “inheritance capacity” in a simple way, clarifying the idea that, “The moment is like a mother, whose children inherit her characteristics, each in their own capacity.”

Mundane vs. Natal Charts

“Mundane” means “not alive.” A Mundane Chart is a chart for non-living things. Contrast this with a “natal chart” – a chart for “natives,” living beings.

The terms “Mundane Chart” and “Natal Chart” are slightly misleading. There is no difference between the actual charts themselves, the difference is simply the context for interpreting the chart. A chart is a map of the symbolic conditions displayed by the universe at a particular moment. If we interpret the implications of that map for a living being born at that moment – we are doing “natal interpretation.” If we instead interpret the implications for a non-living being we are doing “mundane interpretation.”

Mundane interpretation is often used to evaluate the inherent characteristics of a nation, based on the moment that nation was founded. It can just as well be used to better understand any non-living thing: corporations, schools, marriages, buildings, etc.

Electional Astrology

Electional astrology differs from other branches in that it is proactive. For example, if I want to build a new house an astrologer could search for a moment that has the qualities I want the house to have. If I want my house to be enduring and solid, an astrologer could locate the most enduring and solid moment within some reasonable window of time. Once such a moment has been identified, I would initiate construction of my home at that moment. This proactive choice is why the whole thing is called an “election.” I am selecting, or electing a moment that seems ideal for what I want to accomplish.

We could say, “Electional astrology ensures that our efforts achieve the results we desire,” but there are at least a few very real limitations we should be well aware of. Although we will discuss them now in an electional context, they certainly affect every branch and application of astrology.

Limitation 1: You Can’t Wait Forever

We all have time constraints. If we decide to get married, for example, we probably don’t want to wait 25 years for an ideal moment. We need an ideal moment on a weekend, between 9am and 2pm, this spring, or at least this year. Even if there is such a thing as a perfectly ideal moment for a marriage, it’s very, very unlikely that it would happen within our window of opportunity. What we really get from electional astrology, therefore, is not a perfect moment, but the best moment within our window of opportunity.

Limitation 2: We Can Misjudge Moments

A moment that looks perfect might not be. The way the universe displays its symbolic condition is extremely complex. This is by necessity: conditions in the universe are extremely complex, hence the symbolism describing them must reflect that. Since it’s all so complex, it’s easy to mis-evaluate charts, partially or sometimes even significantly.

Limitation 3: Beginnings are Blurry

Astrology interprets the cosmic timestamp active at an entity’s moment of creation. The problem, however, is that creation doesn’t happen in a moment, it is an evolving process. 

For example, when does home construction begin? On the day of some official ceremony? Or, on the day the foundation is poured? Or, the day the site was leveled? Or, the day we signed a contract with the builder?

Because things have blurry, plural beginnings, perfect clinical accuracy is inherently impossible.

Limitation 4: Things Exist Within Things

Another ramification of beginnings happening within beginnings is that things exist within other things. People, nations, homes and so on are not singular, monolithic entities. Everything is a composite of many interrelated things. Each component of an entity, then, has its own individual astrological signature. 

For example, I may begin my house construction at the perfect moment, but the construction of the stairway will start at a different date, the electrician and plumber will begin their work on another, and so on. What about those moments? Is it possible to make astrological elections for every single nail used in a house?

Limitation 5: Conditional Inheritance

The fact that different entities inherit the qualities of a moment differently has huge repercussions for any branch of astrology. It mandates that the same chart would indicate different outcomes depending on the native’s gender, culture, historical era, etc. 

The ramifications for electional astrology are also huge. If two different people elect to build a home at the same astrological moment, will they both get the same results? Perhaps, if they were both born at moments that have similar conditions regarding homes. But if this is not the case, and it seldom is, the same astrological election will not produce similar results – because the two individuals have differing capacities to inherit positive housing from the moments of the universe.

Conclusion

Hearing all this about the limitations of astrology, you might be thinking, “it’s probably not even worth it.” The truth is, things don’t have to be absolutely perfect to be extremely useful.

In fact, no science, practice, or art is ever absolutely perfect. Humanity can benefit from any of its ever-imperfect arts and sciences. Astrology is no exception. Astrology, in the right hands, can extremely helpful to humanity.

So, electional astrology might not literally ensure that your efforts achieve the exact results you desire, but it certainly can help ensure that your efforts come as close as they can to those desired results.

And, honestly, isn’t that an extremely valuable tool?

Finally, electional astrology has one very interesting benefit, completely unrelated to whether or not it can or cannot be done well or effectively. When you do electional astrology you are actively acknowledging that your individual will benefits the more it harmonizes and synchronizes with the universal will. This in and of itself is of immense psychological and spiritual benefit to anyone, far more beneficial in the long run than any other effect you might enjoy from elective astrology.

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