The Moon is Void Of Course when it makes no applying Ptolemaic aspects before it leaves the sign it is in. This definition from modern 20th Century Psychological Astrology throws up a major problem when looking at astrology from a classical perspective and in understanding how British astrologer William Lilly and his forebears practiced their art. How do you explain his commentaries where the Moon appears to fulfill these conditions but was NOT described as VOC. There are many cases where his drawings of his charts clearly indicate that the last aspect of the Moon only occurred after the Moon changed signs. Whether or not the Moon is VOC is rarely considered in a natal chart, yet it definitely should be. It is for that reason that the MODERN definition was unchallenged for so long. However, when it comes to horary astrology, the state of the Moon is often the key to the resolution of the whole question. As interest in Lilly’s work has increased so this issue also calls for re-examination and exactly the same rules apply to natal charts as are applied to horary charts. Lilly in Christian Astrology makes it perfectly clear that the only aspects to be considered in answering horary questions are the traditional Ptolemaic aspects. These include the Conjunction, Sextile, Square, Trine and Opposition. The question of what constitutes a planet brings us back to the other major controversy in horary astrology. Do you include Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, or not? I definitely believe they should be included, so that the Moon does not become VOC until after it has made one of the five Ptolemaic aspects to one of these planetary bodies. I use the traditional rulers as the primary rulers, giving corulership to the modern rulers. “The Moon is VOC when it has separated from another planet, nor does it apply to any other. In judgments carefully observe whether the Moon is VOC or not. You will seldom see projects proceed easily when this is so.” The argument around whether or not the Moon is VOC usually centers on its application to the next planet. With the Moon Lilly allowed an applying orb of 12½ degrees, and a separating orb of 8½ degrees. The first point to note from the above definition from Christian Astrology is that the first condition is that the Moon should have separated from its last aspect. When examining Lilly’s words regarding the chart on page 385 CA it clearly shows that the Moon is not VOC, even though it has separated from an opposition to Mercury. Though having completed its last aspect, the Moon has is still within an 12½ degrees applying orb of another planet. If the Moon is making an application to another planet in early degrees of another sign, then it is not VOC. The fact that this aspect will not perfect until the Moon has changed signs is irrelevant to the question if the Moon is VOC. The sign cusp is NOT an Iron Curtain or a concrete wall. It is the making of the application rather than the perfection of the aspect that is important. The Moon is making an applying aspect therefore it is not VOC. That Lilly used the VOC rule in this way is clear from an examination of the charts he judges in Christian Astrology. For example, in the chart on page 385 of Christian Astrology the Moon is at 27 degrees Sagittarius and makes no other aspect before entering Capricorn. However, Lilly does not describe the Moon VOC but notes that it “applies to an opposition to the Sun ”. The Sun is positioned at 5 degrees 31’ Cancer. Whether or not the Moon is VOC depends on it making an applying aspect to another planet and not on the fact that the Moon has to change signs to perfect that aspect. This applies to an orb of 12½ degrees. See the chart reproduced below. A VOC Moon is always radical and readable. In horary questions it means that there is nothing to worry about, and the answer will come very soon. If for example a woman asks, “Will I marry the man I desire?” as on page 389 of CA, with the Moon VOC, then in this case your answer is Yes. But if your answer were No, then it would not bother the woman because she didn’t really want to marry in the first place and will soon forget the whole thing. It is important to remember that if the whole chart indicates it, then there could be a loss, delay, or frustration in the quesited. But if the Moon is VOC, then in the overall picture of the quesited there is nothing to worry about. The querent may abandon the quesited, or stops dealing with the quesited. If the question concerns illness, then the illness is nothing to worry about. If it concerns lost article or people, then they will be found. In Electional astrology, you do not ever want the Moon VOC, unless you want things to remain exactly as they are. The Moon VOC can be good in matters where you buy something. Since the Moon rules changes and the Moon VOC means that there are no changes, then anything bought under the Moon VOC will last almost forever. This also applies to marriage charts, and many long-term marriages have the Moon VOC. The difficulty here is in achieving a divorce when the marriage does go wrong. If the Moon is truly VOC, then there is nothing to worry about because nothing will come of the matter. If the action is the result of a long planning process, then the result will depend on the very beginning of that process, not the final act in a very long process. In the case of lost animals they will return on their own, or in the case of lost articles they will be found. If the Moon is in Cancer, Taurus, Pisces or Sagittarius, signs ruled by Benefics such as the Moon, Venus and Jupiter, then it is not much hindered by being VOC.
To summarise: The Moon IS VOC when it is in the first 18 degrees of a sign and makes NO applying Ptolemaic aspect to any other planet before it leaves the sign it is in.
The Moon IS VOC when it is in the last 12 degrees of a sign and makes NO applying Ptolemaic aspect to planets in the first decanate of any other sign using a 12½ degrees orb.
The Moon IS NOT VOC when it is in the last 12 degrees of a sign but does make applying Ptolemaic aspect to planets in the first decanate of another sign using a 12½ degrees orb. Of course the Moon is definitely NOT VOC when it does make applying Ptolemaic aspects before leaving the sign it is in.
Will I marry the man I want? P385 Christian Astrology
Ron Bippus is a professional Astrologer with 25 years experience. Ron has gained recognition for his expertise in Rectification along with his research on the physical and psychological characteristics of the Ascendant. Ron has also written a complete textbook on Horary Astrology, the "Horary Handbook", a modern translation of William Lilly's "Christian Astrology". This book is available from Ron for $35 plus shipping. Ron has included a chapter on the Horary Moon and a chapter on Elections, and suggestions for applying these classical rules to natal charts. He teaches a yearly horary course in the Toronto area.
