Electional and horary astrology are two areas of astrology that deserve more attention from students and professionals than they sometimes get.

Related in interpretation but different in intent, horary and electional astrology are two forms of astrological chart analysis that are similar by analogy to the relationship between deductive and inductive reasoning.

In horary astrology, a question is asked at a specific time and a chart is cast for that moment. Then the chart is interpreted according to the rules of horary interpretation to yield an answer.

In electional astrology, someone wants to choose an auspicious or lucky time for an event in the future that can be planned, such as a marriage, signing real estate papers, or, in the case of Ronald Reagan, a presidential swearing-in ceremony. The astrologer begins by speculating with the client on a desirable time in the future and then casts a chart for that time and date. This chart is interpreted according to the guidelines for electional astrology in order to determine if this is the best possible date to insure success.

In reviewing a tentative electional chart, the astrologer must decide whether or not the date and time are satisfactory. In truth, since it is not possible to get a