Windows of Opportunity - Your Best Chances to Succeed

by Paula Belluomini

When I began to study the principles of Electional Astrology with Jim Shawvan, in California, the question that came to my mind was: Is it really possible to change the outcome of an event by choosing what time we start the action? According to him the answer was, yes! Choosing the appropriate time period is much like increasing the chances of savoring a good fruit by harvesting it at the right time.

Choosing the best time for certain activities began very early in humanity, with the simplest things like the best phase of the moon to plant and harvest, the right season to store food, the best times for hunting or killing animals, when fighting pests, cutting wood, etc. All this in order to bring harmony and increase the chances of survival of the community.

The earliest known texts of Cathartic Astrology date back to the Hellenistic period, notably Book V: On Questions, by Dorotheus of Sidon(1) , which apparently served as the basis for the development of the tradition that in Medieval times reached a very high degree of sophistication. The concept that the chart of moment when an action begins will describe the nature of the situation, and potentially the future outcome of this event, has become the basis of Cathartic Astrology. So, if you predict the end result of an event using the astrological chart of its inception, then you can deliberately choose a specific moment to start an action with the aim of influencing your result.

As long as you can choose when you will start any event in advance, you can deliberately select an auspicious planetary alignment to assist in the success of your initiative. Electional Astrology becomes the proactive application of the same principles derived from Cathartic Astrology with a definite purpose, seeking the best possible results within a predetermined time frame when you want or can initiate an action.

The Importance of the Moon

The Moon, as the root of all events and being so close to Earth and the fastest moving celestial body, is the indicator of time and the sequence of events. Its phase, whether increasing or decreasing in brightness, plays an important role when adequating to the activity in question.

If the intention is to grow, do so during the crescent phase of the Moon. If the activity involves reduction, use the waning phase of the Moon. For example, when building a home, investing, or applying for a promotion, use the waxing phase of the Moon. The basic rule is that the Moon is more favorable in this phase because it is increasing in power. To demolish, close a deal, or break up a relationship, do it during the waning phase of the Moon. Organization and cleaning, removal, surgery, diet, and food detox are activities that also resonate with this phase of the Moon.

However, wait until it is at least visible in any Electional, that is, until the Moon makes an appearance with at least 17 degrees of separation from the Sun. An invisible Moon is only favorable if its intention is to go unnoticed, such as in illicit situations.

Aspects by the Moon are also important and key factors to the results because they tell a narrative. The separative aspects tell stories about the past and the baggage brought to the situation, while applying aspects talk about the future, where we are taking this experience and the next "event" connected to the narrative. The Moon carries messages from one planet to another, with impressions, knowledge, meaning and character. If she has just "seen" Venus with a sextile and forms an opposition to Saturn, this conveys a friendly, harmonious message and softens Saturn's arduous and demanding nature. However, if the Moon has just "seen" Mars through a square, she becomes troubled, angry and probably wounded to encounter Saturn, in this case not carrying a message of peace, but of war.

This is traditionally called "translation of light," when the influence and character of one planet is transmitted to the other, when this planet absorbs the related message and thus is instigated by it. The message transmitted must then be interpreted and observed to decide whether it is good or bad.

Fortunates or Infortunates

The idea of benefics and malefics planets is rejected by many modern astrologers. They argue that in the psychological analysis of a chart, there are positive manifestations involved in any planet, regardless of which one. In Electional Astrology, however, we deal with facts, and whenever we marry, open a firm, undergo surgery or embark on a trip, the intention is to have a rewarding, profitable and lasting result. Therefore, the search for a positive experience is justified. Known as malefics are Saturn and Mars, and benefics are Jupiter and Venus. When the essential dignities of the planet are good, that is, when they are well positioned by sign, they are even better.

When contrasting the distinctions between Modern and Traditional Astrology one is faced with a choice: should outer planets be considered or discarded? Traditional authors seemed to get great results by interpreting only luminaries and planets visible to the naked eye. Modern astrologers likewise arrive at accurate conclusions taking the planets beyond Saturn into consideration. Based on my experience, the best choice is to consider outer planets only when connected with angles or when they make tight aspects to the planets visible to the naked eye and luminaries. Almost as if they were a fixed star. For sign rulership is more logical to use the traditional rulership scheme, Mars for Scorpio, Jupiter for Pisces and Saturn for Aquarius.

Planets domiciled in their own signs exhibit more righteousness and stability. The planet in exaltation gives an extraordinary performance to the planet. These planets are as good as the domicile, but depend on their dispositor, and if the planet is not well-dignified or giving support through reception, they end up exhibiting imbalance. The minor dignities of the planets –Triplicity, Term and Face – are not as powerful as domicile or exaltation, but add action power.

Planets in exile lose their ability to execute, and in their fall are pessimistic. Badly dignified malefics are even more harmful. When in their domicile, exaltation or mutual reception they behave better. Other planets that make an aspect to badly dignified planets will not find strength and may worsen their own conditions. Depending on the aspect, such as an opposition or square, it is even more debilitating due to its challenging nature.

The Planet's Point of View

Aspects that facilitate the action and agree with the unimpeded flow of events, that is, agree with the natural sequence of events and thus contribute to the success of the initiative, are trines and sextiles. And the aspects that prevent the conclusion of an initiative, require corrections or undesirable adjustments are the squares and oppositions. These aspects vary in scale of ease or difficulty depending on the nature of the planet with which they form the aspect. Oppositions to a badly dignified Saturn are worse at night, while the squares of a weakened Mars are more severe during the day.

Conjunctions vary depending on the planets involved. Conjunctions to Mars and Saturn are considered difficult aspects, while conjunctions with Venus and Jupiter are considered favorable. Uranus, Neptune or Pluto are, for all intents and purposes, considered malefics. They add unpredictability in the case of Uranus, fogginess in the case of Neptune, and power disputes in the case of Pluto. The situations that require administration end up getting out of control. It's best to avoid them.

Aspects to Mercury are, in most cases, considered favorable, but it is necessary to evaluate the conditions of Mercury, since it being weakened (retrograde, combust, in an unfavorable sign) can add instability to the situation. Minor aspects, that is, not Ptolemaic, are not considered because they do not directly "witness" the other planet, so their effects are not felt.

Thus, any trine or sextile will facilitate, especially if they involve Venus and Jupiter. Squares and oppositions will interrupt and represent obstacles, and may be more distressing if they involve Saturn or Mars.

Planetary Strength

Another variable that comes into play when considering the planets involved in your Electional chart is accidental dignity, as it plays a decisive role to the success of your initiative. The Moon gains strength by forming aspects with planets well-dignified accidentally and loses strength with planets badly placed on the chart. For example, if the Moon approaches to conjoin an angular Venus, direct and free of the Sun's rays, it represents success. Now, if it applies to an inferior square to a Venus in a cadent house, retrograde and combust, it can pose problems and failed results, especially during the day.

Proximity to the Sun is considered one of the most debilitating conditions for any planet, including the Moon. The Sun overshadows the planet because when it becomes very near, they become invisible and as result weakened. When it is under-the-beams of the Sun – within 15 degrees or closer to the Sun – it is invisible and therefore debilitated. Once even closer – 8 degrees or less – it becomes Combust and is considered severely disabled and nulled. However, when Cazimi – within 1 degree of the Sun – any Planet is considered strong and elevated.

Pay attention to planets’ speed, declination, retrograde periods, and be cautious when initiating important projects during periods that show unfavorable conditions, especially with projects related to the varied planetary subjects.

Topics Related to the Planets

For matters that involve affection between two people, marriage, pleasure and joy, Venus becomes an important facet at the time you choose to act. When matters involve battles, quarrels or disputes, Mars becomes the main character. Saturn deals with issues related to work, beginnings and obstacles, land and agriculture. Mercury relates to communication, bureaucratic procedures, teaching, culture, exchanges, partnerships, etc. Jupiter is important for subjects related to higher education or religious matters, eminent superiors, groups belonging to the same religion and the like. Choose moments in which these planets are not retrograde, but rather well-positioned by house, sign, free from the rays of the Sun, and being witnessed by the benefics. Use aspects of the Moon that transmit to or from these planets that resonate with the nature of the initiative being proposed.

If the intention is to start a big business with financial investments of large proportions, it is advisable to consider the positions of the outer planets to ensure that they are facilitating the situation using the same rules.

Once you know which planet has more affinity with your initiative and if the conditions of the planet are reasonably good, look for moments in which the Moon forms favorable aspects to them. Make sure that these aspects are close to completing, and that in fact they are going to complete without interventions from other aspects that may interrupt that good aspect. Also, make sure that the aspect is complete while in the same sign.

The Void-of-Course Moon

This gives sequence to what Jim Shawvan called Opportunity Periods. This method takes into account the last aspect formed by the Moon before entering the next sign, when it is void-of-course. There are some disagreements about what is really defined as void-of-course Moon, but for this method we will use the most popularly accepted concept today, which is the period between the last Ptolomaic aspect (0º, 60º, 90º, 120º, 180º) with the Moon until the moment it enters the next sign.

This concept was developed later in the tradition (ref. William Lilly) because in Horary Astrology it is an important factor, among others, to determine the outcome of the situation. If the aspect between significators is completed while still in the sign, the matter will surely be consummated, but if the Moon has to change signs to complete the aspect, the one who starts the activity will no longer have an interest in the idea, the desire for success will no longer be present and the situation will be changed.

What makes the Opportunity Periods powerful is that since the last aspect that happens inside a sign is an easy aspect – that is, a trine, sextile or conjunction with a benefic or well-dignified malefic – you have a set of conditions that do NOT prevent the success of your initiative. Then, a sequence of good aspects before the Moon becomes void-of-course becomes the clear representation for success to take place.

Easy aspects do not represent obstacles, and when taking other factors into account, you can count on the success of your initiative.

The Ascendant Choice

The quality of the rising sign at the time you start the activity tempers the activity with its quality.

Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn) are good when things should be concluded quickly. Fast success, artistic releases to be an "overnight sensation," business trips, or anything with desired fast results should be started when these signs are rising. These should be activities that do not require much effort, that don't need to last a length of time nor need follow-up afterwards – like a court case, for example.

Fixed Signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius) make the endeavor sturdy and long-lasting. Activities that require permanence and durability, such as building a home, a wedding, or contributing to a pension plan are good for them. These are known for their slow onset, with time-consuming development and long-lasting results. Solid plans are recommended.

Mutable Signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces) have a double nature associated with them. They are good for negotiations, enjoyable meetings you would like to repeat, endless love letters, etc. But these rising signs are less advisable because of their variability and changes, and the risk of having to start something else before completing what has been proposed, or having to interrupt and change to another project. Some examples would be to initiate an association without defined boundaries, or star a meeting place that is ever growing – a museum or bar that is meant to be always changing with a variety of purposes. In general, efforts started with this ascendant have no definitive conclusion or closure, so you have to be careful.

Windows of Opportunity

There are many rules, and you will not always be able to choose a perfect chart. There are some factors that should receive more attention. The Moon, and her travel through the signs and the various aspects of her forms, is a fundamental factor that represents the passage of time and the result of an action. On her way through a sign, see if she has familiarity with it and what aspects it forms until she goes void-of-course. For everyday affairs, a sequence of favorable aspects of the Moon before she goes void-of-course is a good strategy for quick decisions that facilitate the fluid unleashing of events.

Be aware, however, when there is a translation of darkness. The Moon in its journey through the zodiac forms aspects and transmits "information" from one planet to another. When it comes into contact with a malefic – for example, Mars in Libra through a square during the day – the Moon carries his "light," or energy. Jim Shawvan called this "darkness," and coined the term "translation of darkness," because the message carried from a malefic is not all that positive. If the next aspect is ostensibly easy to another malefic, like a trine to Neptune, it would not be considered a period when initiating projects would be advisable because of the transmission between malefic planets.

Otherwise, if the last aspect of the Moon before going void-of-course is favorable, the period preceding this aspect is a window of opportunity. Find the last difficult aspect that the Moon did before the last easy aspect, and start from there. If you want to wait 2 hours for the Moon to separate at least 1 degree from the stressful aspect, feel free to do so and be confident that there will be no difficult influences.

The period in which the Moon is void-of-course is not considered good in most signs, yet some signs accept the Moon very well, as its ruling sign, Cancer, its signs of exaltation, Taurus, and the signs of Jupiter, Sagittarius and Pisces. So, if the last aspect is favorable, the window of opportunity continues on these signs even with the Moon void.

Opportunity Periods is a method developed by Jim Shawvan, who tested it for over 30 years and had great results with it. By considering the Moon's favorable conditions before going void, this time can be used for various purposes, such as sending an important email, shopping, socializing, finding love or attending a meeting to get positive results. For more important initiatives, such as starting a business, celebrating a marriage, signing a major contract or more serious business, consider other variables – many described in this article – in addition to the OPs. If in doubt, consult a professional astrologer.

Find more information about the Opportunity Periods in the Daily Planetary Guide published every year by Llewellyn's, in fine bookstores everywhere.   

Note:
1 Carmen Astrologicum: The 'Umar al-Tabari Translation by Dorotheus of Sidon (Author)

Image sources:
All images: CC0 Creative Commons, via pixabay.com

First published in: www.infinityastrologicalmagazine.com, Mar/Apr 2019.

Author:
Paula Belluomini, ISAR CAP, is a practicing Astrologer currently serving as ISAR Global Director for Brazil. Her main areas of interest include Traditional and Modern Astrology, focused on Natal with predictive techniques, as well as Electional and Horary. Paula contributes with the Opportunity Periods for the Daily Planetary Guide by Llewellyn's, teaches, gives lectures on specific astrological topics, and participates in research/study groups always continuing her education on the stars. Aside from Astrology, Paula has a degree in Advertising and is an experienced graphic and web designer who often creates artwork with astrological themes
paulabelluomini@gmail.com www.astropaula.com

© 2019 - Paula Belluomini - Infinity Astrological Magazine

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