Carrie & Jane – A Horary Case Study

“The long unmeasured pulse of time moves everything. There is nothing hidden that it cannot bring to light, nothing once known that may not become unknown. Nothing is impossible.”  Sophocles

What Is the Future of My Relationship?

My client Carrie contacted me in the spring of 2020 to ask about her new relationship and whether it held any long-term potential. She had not yet actually met Jane, the woman concerned, but had been engaging in a rather intense (mainly on her side) written correspondence, and wanted to know if there was any future for them as a couple.

Judgement

The horary chart has a Gemini ascendant, with Venus rising at 21 degrees, forming a close conjunction with both Carrie’s natal Venus and Jane’s natal Jupiter. The angular position of Venus and the way it highlights both natal charts cements both partners firmly in the chart, suggesting that it would be an accurate significator for the life expectancy of the relationship.

Carrie is shown by the ruler of the ascendant, Mercury, at 24 degrees of Taurus, peregrine and conjunct her natal Sun. Jane is described by the Sagittarius descendant (conjunct her own natal Moon) and by Jupiter, in detriment and unfortunately placed in the 8th house. The Moon — a co-significator for both the querent and the object of her enquiry — is found in Sagittarius in the 6th house, in opposition to Carrie’s natal Mercury, and in the same sign as Jane’s natal Moon.

Through just these first few details of Mercury, Venus, the Moon, and Jupiter, I already had a horary chart that closely linked these two people, who clearly shared a close affinity even though they had not yet physically met — the signification describing the yearning of a long-distance relationship expressed through letters.

The position of Venus in Gemini, so close to the ascendant and applying by trine to angular Mars in Aquarius, painted a clear picture of my client’s intense approach. She had already admitted that most of the energy was coming from her side, and was keen to explore whether this would be reciprocated in due course.

Despite Venus casting her benefic rays onto the ascendant, she is peregrine, slow in speed, and will turn retrograde in four days. Mercury, Carrie’s main significator, is combust, located in the 12th house and applying to a square with Mars — so even though she desires a relationship, as shown by Venus’s prominence, she is not in a place where she is truly visible. Lilly writes: “Beware in all Judgements, when the significator of the question is either Combust, or in Opposition to the Sun, he will then signify nothing of the matter; no good, nor is he able to bring anything to perfection.”

Jane’s significator, Jupiter, ruler of the 7th, isn’t well placed at all — in fall in Capricorn, placed in the unfortunate 8th, applying to a received conjunction with Saturn, and also about to turn retrograde. According to Lilly: “If the fortunes signify anything, and are cadent, or ill placed in Dignities, or behold not the ascendant, or are Retrograde, then they are impeded, and shall perform little, if not received.” The Moon, which must be considered in all questions, applies to an opposition with Venus, highlighting the square from Neptune, whilst Mars, elevated and angular, does not suggest the happy outcome that my client was hoping for.

With much of the signification in cadent or dark houses, the impending retrograde passages of both Venus and Jupiter, together with the angular Mars, I judged that — despite the promising connections with the natal charts and the angular position of Venus — the relationship was unlikely to be the energetic and mutually sustaining partnership that my client was seeking. Although Mercury applies to Jupiter by trine, describing the intellectual compatibility they shared, Carrie’s co-significator, Venus, is in aversion to Jupiter — they are in signs that do not see each other at all.

What Happened?

Although on paper the relationship showed promise, in person, things didn’t work out so well. Carrie confirmed that when they finally met in person, it was not as she had hoped. Although she gave it her best shot, the relationship faltered in approximately eleven months, described by the eleven degrees the Moon needed to reach the descendant. Despite the couple continuing as companions for some time afterwards, nothing further came of it.

names have been changed

---