Review of The Horary Textbook by John Frawley

Horary Textbook – John Frawley

Pub. by Apprentice Books
www.johnfrawley.com

Reviewed by Claire Chandler in Astrology Quarterly Summer 2005

John Frawley’s third book, The Horary Textbook, is a valuable addition to any astrologer’s bookshelf. In contrast to his earlier books, The Real Astrology and The Real Astrology Applied, this volume is intensely practical and the focus is squarely on presenting the material in the most accessible way possible.

The book is split into two sections. The first takes you through the techniques and concepts used in Horary astrology and the second goes through the houses providing examples and explanations of questions which fall into these areas. This is a text book not a treatise; it is designed to be used, worked through and referred back to. Not an academic work, it provides practical advice, which has obviously been obtained from hard earned experience gained at the sharp end with clients. This Real Astrology sits side by side with aphorism and explanation providing an appreciation of both theory and practice.

Not afraid to say “ignore this bit, it doesn’t add to your judgement”, Frawley remains respectful of the Tradition. For example, planetary hours in horary are dismissed as are the considerations before judgement. This gives us an eminently useable body of knowledge and within this book is everything needed to get you started as a Horary astrologer.

My initial reservation was that he does not explain, or make the user aware of, certain areas of controversy, but on reflection, I don’t think that’s a bad thing. You need to get horary charts under your belt, to build up your mileage if you like, before you can appreciate some of these positions. If you don’t get started after reading The Horary Textbook then maybe horary isn’t for you.

The examples are modern and sound like the same type of questions real people that you might know would take to an astrologer.

You have no doubt that these techniques work and that once you’ve worked through the book that they would for you too. These explanations make sense to a modern reader and he helps you absorb them via the examples. Particularly useful is the extensive self test on turning the chart which comes with an entire appendix giving full explanations of each answer. As this is a concept which a great many people have trouble with this is a valuable resource.

The material on essential dignity and receptions is particularly useful and anyone having problems with these should get their hands on this volume at the first opportunity. Together with the chapter in The Real Astrology Applied, Frawley’s writing on receptions is amongst the clearest and most applicable that I’ve seen.

Traditional Astrology requires that you adopt a different mindset or at least appreciate that position. Until you figure this out the material can be very difficult to understand. The old texts are difficult, both in language and presentation, and the contemporary texts which present these ideas to a modern ear are few and far between; Frawley has begun to fill this gap splendidly.

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Astrological Lodge of London’s Traditional Day – 17 May 2009

Astrological Lodge of London’s Traditional Day 2009

The Lodge is delighted to announce that two of the foremost traditional astrologers in the UK will be speaking on traditional astrology

Traditional Techniques in Relationship Charts – Deborah Houlding

This talk reviews the traditional concepts that underlie the horary judgement of intimate relationships: from the principles that determine significators and co-significators, to differentiating between 5th and 7th house ‘love issues’, the importance of reception, and the astrological indications of dominance, desire or disinterest. Modern examples will be referred to in a highly practical explanation of historical philosophies that remain embedded in the horary art.

The Importance of Planetary Sect – Barbara Dunn

Sect is the astrological concept in which the seven traditional planets are assigned to two different categories – diurnal or nocturnal sect. How does the diurnal or nocturnal status of a nativity or question affect the behaviour of the planets? Examples will be given from the works of Firmicus Maternus, Robert Hand and other authors.

Nostradamus as a Horary Astrologer – Deborah Houlding

In February 1562 Nostradamus was asked to use his horary skill to discover what had happened to the sacred silver, stolen from the Cathedral Church of Orange. His judgement was returned in a letter, a copy of which remains in the library of Arles in Southern France. Unfortunately, Nostradamus did not give the astrological reasons for his judgement, and our ability to reconstruct his reasoning is impeded by the existence of two redrawn copies of the chart, which differ substantially in their details. After tracking down the library documents at Arles, we can now substantiate what is known of this chart, and look at how closely Nostradamus followed traditional technique.

The Importance of Planetary Position – Barbara Dunn

In the judgement of nativities and questions, is a planet’s position in a house more important than that of an absent ruler? Examples from the works of Masha’allah, Morin, Lilly and other authors are included.

Speakers:

Barbara Dunn

An acknowledged expert in horary astrology, Barbara Dunn is Principal of the Qualifying Horary Practitioner School, teaching students throughout the United Kingdom and worldwide. Barbara’s latest book, Horary Astrology Re-Examined (Wessex) has recently been published. Barbara is also a well known media astrologer, writing for a large number of national and international titles over the past seventeen years.

Deborah Houlding

Deborah Houlding has been an active researcher and practitioner of astrology for over twenty years, and is past editor of the Traditional Astrologer magazine and currently the proprietor of the Skyscript astrology website). Deborah is also the author of The Houses: Temples of the Sky (Wessex), and the Principal of the STA school of traditional horary astrology.

Tickets:

Members: £30 (£35 on the day)
Member concessions: £25 (£30 on the day)
Non Members: £35 (£40 on the day)
Non Member Concessions: £30 (£35 on the day)

Bookings:

Online via the Lodge website at http://www.astrolodge.co.uk/
In person at our Monday meetings.
By post to:
Astrological Lodge of London,
50 Gloucester Place,
London W1U 8EA
On the day (space permitting)

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