Electional Astrology is the art of choosing (electing) a date and time to start a new venture. Astrology charts are not limited to people; everything that has a beginning also has a chart, which will accurately describe how the thing begun will unfold over time. Two of the classic reasons for having an electional chart done are getting married or launching a new business or product.
Electional astrology is the cousin of Horary (divinatory) astrology. They differ in that with Horary you ask a question and the chart is calculated for that moment. With Electional you get to play around to find the most appropriate / best chart for the situation at hand.
In recent times I’ve started to feel a deep call to organise community gatherings at my new home. I’ve come to see that this sense of community and belonging is the single most important thing in my life. With it, I need little else. Without it, nothing feels satisfying.
For a long time I’ve been seeking my tribe, the group of people that I resonate with on the deepest level, yet I never found the people/place where I fit in. I finally realised that that’s because I need to create it myself. I have Moon in Leo in my 11th house… Moon is what we need to feel safe and emotionally fulfilled, 11th house is community, and Leo is being the leader, the creator of something… it would have been obvious to me looking at someone else’s chart that Leo indicates they had to initiate it themselves. But sometimes as an astrologer it is hard to see one’s own chart clearly.
Since these gatherings denote a big step in actively creating the kind of life I need, I knew it was important to do an Electional chart to make sure it began at the most auspicious moment, to give the best chance of success. I was limited by the fact that it had to be on a Thursday evening. On the date I wanted to begin, 15th Sep, the Moon was Void of Course. This means that the Moon would make no aspect with any other planet before changing signs.
As in Horary astrology, the subsequent aspects that the Moon makes in its current sign are crucial in describing how things will unfold. Beginning these gatherings on a Void of Course Moon would mean that things just wouldn’t go anywhere, and likely interest in the gatherings would peter out quite quickly.
The following Thursday also had a Void of Course Moon, and the one after that had a very weak Moon, in its Fall in Scorpio applying to a retrograde Mercury. In addition to that, there was nothing in the chart that suggested community. With the charts not fitting the symbolism of the event, it was clear guidance that none of these dates were the right time to begin the gatherings.
But then the following Thursday turned up a stunning chart, with the Moon perfectly describing what I am looking for:
– it is in the 11th house of community
– its next aspect is a sextile to Uranus, the co-ruler of 11th. In addition, the other ruler of the 11th, Saturn, is very strong in its rulership and also in 11th house
– it is in Pisces, describing the deep emotional connections that will be created. The essence of Pisces, as the final sign of the zodiac, is the dissolution of form back into Oneness. Hence indicating here a gathering where our human facades and protection can be dropped in order to come back to our essential, open and vulnerable selves. Pisces describes an environment that is caring, non-judgmental, connecting and healing. Pisces is the river of emotion that we all share deep in our being
– the Moon is the ruler of 4th (the gatherings will take place in my home), perfectly tying together the themes of home and community
– the IC of the community chart (my home) at 17 Cancer is exactly conjunct my natal 11th house cusp (8 minutes of arc from exact). A second way in which 4th and 11th houses are closely connected
– Not only all that, but the ruler of the Electional Ascendant (Venus) is in its rulership (Libra – the sign of relationships), and is within 2 degrees of a conjunction with my natal Ascendant ruler.
As is usually the case, when something is important and right, the chart will be very powerful – i.e. there will be many confirmatory symbols of good fortune, including often relating back to the person’s natal chart. The potency and potential of this chart is very striking for me, and indicative that it is the right thing for me to be doing, and that important things will come out of it for me.
And a bonus second electional chart for you. This one not as important, but nonetheless was worthy of a few minutes looking for an auspicious date. This is for a housewarming at my new place. This chart has the Moon in Aries in the 4th house, very close to the IC. And applying to a conjunction with Jupiter. Jupiter is the greater benefic denoting expansion, opportunity and good fortune. It is also the ruler of the Sagittarius Ascendant. Having the Moon applying by a harmonious aspect (conjunction, sextile or trine) to either the Ascendant ruler or the ruler of the house in question (in this case the 4th) is a very strong beneficial indicator.
The predominant signs of Sagittarius and Aries are both Fire signs. So perfectly fitting for a houseWARMING 
And there is also a connection back to my natal chart here, since the Electional Ascendant is almost exactly conjunct my natal Neptune, and the Electional Venus is almost exactly conjunct my natal Venus. Both Venus and Neptune are key symbolic planets in this new home, as I described here.
