Electional Astrology
by Mary Fortier Shea, M.A. Counseling Psychology
INTRODUCTION TO ELECTIONAL ASTROLOGY
An electional chart tells you the most propitious time to initiate your project with the greatest "final-
ity". Finality is when you do the last possible thing to initiate your project before it is totally out of your
hands. For example, when you mail a letter or contract by putting it in a post office slot or blue mailbox, it is
out of your hands. If you place it in the mailbox with the flag up in front of your house, it is not out of your
hands until the mail person comes by and collects it. If you can retrieve it, it is still under your control. A
contract is not final when you sign it. It is final when you give the contract to the other person or mail it.
Determining the moment of finality is crucial in Electional Astrology.
To create an election chart, first an astrologer must pick the best day to initiate your project. The
planets, aspects and signs should reflect your intentions. This is a good start, but more may be required. An
astrologer can also pick the most propitious time on any particular day. This is called an elected time and a
chart set up for this time, date and place is called an election chart. The chart should be a planetary picture
of your vision and should say what you want to happen. Within this chart you should see the challenges and
opportunities you will face during your quest for success.
MY PHILOSOPHY REGARDING ELECTION CHARTS
I believe that electional astrology is an art form, not an exact science consisting of hard and fast
rules, any one of which can make or break an election. I am not a fatalist. I do not believe that God or the
Universe must obey my command if I come up with the perfect election chart, assuming it existed! Nor do I
believe that God or the Universe is waiting with dire consequences should I choose an inappropriate time. I
do believe that electional astrology opens the door to co-creative cooperation with higher forces or intuition
and possible success.
It has been my observation that those who formulate their plans carefully and bring a lot to the table
in the way of skills, intelligence and effort, are not only more likely to succeed, they are also more likely to
pick good times astrologically. Those who consistently come up short and experience bad luck tend to pick
difficult times which reflect a lack of forethought, skills, intelligence, and effort. This is not a fatalistic predes-
tination, but a non-causal correlation. Election charts are meant to be informative, not causal, and picking a
great election time never absolves you from participation in a meaningful way.
Astrology is a symbolic language. The election chart must symbolically say what you wish to occur,
and hopefully, give you insight into how this will happen and what your role should be in the process. In my
experience election charts do not and cannot come with guarantees. However, a good election chart can
indicate how to initiate, proceed, and succeed. In this way, a good election chart can improve your chances
for success through a co-creative interaction with God or a responsive Universe. You are working "with"
higher forces, applying your skills, intelligence and efforts in the most productive and efficient manner.
THE PROBLEM
I had lived in Baltimore City for ten years and for much of that time the family had been members of
a local pool. Many of our friends and our children's friends attended the same pool. We had moved to New
Jersey for two years. On our return to the Maryland area we were unable to find a suitable house and were
copyright: Mary Fortier Shea, PO Box 301, Clinton, CT 06413 USA, 860-554-5031
www.maryshea.com * maryshea@maryshea.com
Electional Astrology
by Mary Fortier Shea, M.A. Counseling Psychology
forced to build. Building would take five months and much of the summer. In the meantime we would be
living with my mother-in-law. I had three active boys, ages thirteen, nine and three. My mother-in-law's
house was a Baltimore "row house" filled with china and antiques and without a front or back yard to speak
of. We needed some place to go and my thought was to return to the pool we had previously belonged to. I
called for an application and was told that there was a twenty family, two year waiting list. Acceptance for
the coming summer was impossible. I requested an application anyway. My thought was to pick an election
time for mailing the application. It is important to have a clearly stated goal before looking for a good
election time. So here is my goal: Acceptance into the pool despite a long waiting list.
HERE VERSUS THERE
The 1st house in any electional chart rules the "here" position. In other words, this is where you are
now. The 7th house in an electional chart rules removing or the "there" position. In some charts it can
represent where your wish to go, as in not here (1st house) but there (7th house). For this reason, the 7th
house will play an important role in this election. I and my family want to go "there" to the pool. We do not
want to be stuck "here" in my mother-in-law's house.
SIGNIFICATORS
April 10, 1986
6:06 pm
Titusville, NJ There:
Do want
to be there
10 9 at the pool
11 8
12 7
1 6
Here: 2 5
Don’t want 3 4
to be here
The person or people initiating the election are ruled by the 1st house, 1st house planets and the
rulers of the 1st house cusp. It is important what planets you pick to represent you. On this day there are
three planets in signs they rule or rulership. Planets in rulership are doing what they should be doing and are
where they should be. They belong.
* Venus in Taurus
* Jupiter in Pisces
* Pluto in Scorpio
There are three planets in exaltation. Planets in exaltation will rise to a higher position and they are
treated as the honored guest.
* Moon in Taurus
copyright: Mary Fortier Shea, PO Box 301, Clinton, CT 06413 USA, 860-554-5031
www.maryshea.com * maryshea@maryshea.com
Electional Astrology
by Mary Fortier Shea, M.A. Counseling Psychology
* Sun in Aries
* Mars in Capricorn
There are three peregrine planets, having no standing by house or sign. Peregrine planets are said to
be wandering aimlessly.
* Saturn in Sagittarius
* Uranus in Sagittarius
* Neptune in Capricorn
Obviously, I would not want to be ruled by a peregrine planet and end up wandering aimlessly with
my three children. Since I want to belong to the pool, a planet in rulership would indicate acceptance back
at the pool. A planet in exaltation could indicate that I rose to a higher position on the waiting list and be-
came an honored guest. So I need to focus on Venus, Jupiter, Pluto, Moon, Sun and Mars as planets I
might use to represent me in the chart.
BELONG THERE
Any planets in the 1st house and the rulers of the 1st house cusp or Ascendant will represent me and
my family in the electional chart. Because I want our significators (rulers of the Ascendant in this case) to
appear in the 7th house (there position), I need to choose a planet or planets that can do that.
* Pluto is in Scorpio and could not fall into the 7th house with a Scorpio Ascendant.
* The Taurus Moon would not fall into the 7th house with a Cancer Ascendant.
* The Aries Sun would not fall into the 7th house with a Leo Ascendant.
* Pisces Jupiter will not fall into the 7th house with either a Pisces or Sagittarius Ascendant.
* Capricorn Mars will not fall into the 7th house with a Scorpio or Aries Ascendant.
* Venus in Taurus with a Libra Ascendant is the only planet that would work. The Libra Ascendant
(representing good relationships) with Venus in Taurus (showing comfort) in the 7th house (there
position) indicates that I/we belong.
»
10 9
10Ý
11 8
12 7
† Ü
1 6
2 5
3 4
copyright: Mary Fortier Shea, PO Box 301, Clinton, CT 06413 USA, 860-554-5031
www.maryshea.com * maryshea@maryshea.com
Electional Astrology
by Mary Fortier Shea, M.A. Counseling Psychology
HONORED GUEST
If Venus in Taurus is in the 7th house, it is also possible to put the exalted Moon in Taurus and the
exalted Sun in Aries in the 7th house. Planets in exaltation rise to a higher position and are the honored
guests. In any election chart, the Moon rules the activity and tends to work for the initiator as a co-
significator. To place the Moon in the 7th house is another indication that my family is welcomed at the pool
and may rise higher on the waiting list. The Sun exalted in the 7th house in Aries represents the pool owners
and membership board. Since exalted planets tend to do the honorable thing, we can expect that they will
be more than fair with us and our request for membership.
19° ƒ
18°
„ ‚
18°
17°
… Ý
17°
»
10 9
10Ý ¶
11 8
9Ý
20ܸ
12 7
16° 16°
† Ü
1 6
2 5
17° 3 4
‡ ‹
17°
18°
ˆ 18°
Š
19° ‰
KIDS SWIM
Even though the chart is falling into place with all the planets in the 7th house, there might still be
room to make minor improvements. In this case, it is to my benefit to also have Jupiter fall into the 5th
house. The 5th house rules my children. Jupiter in rulership Pisces, a water sign, in the 5th house of children
indicates that they have a right to swim. Not only do I belong at the pool, but they also belong in the water.
Planets in rulership have rights. My children have the right to be there.
19° ƒ
18°
„ ‚
18°
17°
… Ý
17°
»
10 9
10Ý ¶
11 8
9Ý
20ܸ
12 7
16° 16°
† Ü
1 6
2 5
11
17° 3 4 ‹ ½
‡ ‹
17°
18°
ˆ 18°
Š
19° ‰
copyright: Mary Fortier Shea, PO Box 301, Clinton, CT 06413 USA, 860-554-5031
www.maryshea.com * maryshea@maryshea.com
Electional Astrology
by Mary Fortier Shea, M.A. Counseling Psychology
ALTERED BYLAWS
At this point in the electional chart process, I am wondering how this will all come about. I can see
myself at the pool and my children in the water. I see us moving higher on the waiting list and becoming
honored guests. But how? Then I notice Neptune and Uranus in the 3rd house. Neptune rules confusion or
matters undefined. Uranus rules change. The 3rd house rules bylaws. The bylaws of the pool are unclear in
some way and subject to change. This is information I can use to my advantage. I know from the chart that I
should not just submit my application. I should write a complementary letter (Libra Ascendant and Venus in
Taurus as my ruler) stating that we were past members for many years and how much we had enjoyed the
pool. I should also mentioned our difficult situation and ask if there are any considerations given to returning
members. This might bring the bylaws into question, triggering a change and allowing us to move higher on
the waiting list. This is exactly what happened.
19° ƒ
18°
„ ‚
18°
17°
… Ý
17°
»
10 9
10Ý ¶
11 8
9Ý
20ܸ
12 7
16° 16°
† Ü
1 6
2 5
11
17° 3 4 ‹ ½
Œ
‡ ‹
Œ
5‰ˆ
17°
6‰
22
¿À
18°
ˆ ¼ 18°
Š
19° ‰
FULL SWIM ELECTION CHART
In any electional chart, the Moon is allowed all of her apsects until she leaves the sign. In this chart,
the Moon is moving to conjunct Venus and then sextile Jupiter, indicating positive events for myself, my
family, and the children. The confusion in the bylaws and the decision to make a change is shown by the
Moon parallel to Saturn in the 3rd house, the sextile to Mercury in Pisces, and the Moon's final aspect, a
parallel to retrograde Neptune also in the 3rd house. All of these Moon aspects worked to our advantage.
Admittedly, this is an exceptional chart and an exceptional turn of events, but it is an excellent
illustration of what an election can do and how one would with work with the chart to create the most
positive outcome.
copyright: Mary Fortier Shea, PO Box 301, Clinton, CT 06413 USA, 860-554-5031
www.maryshea.com * maryshea@maryshea.com
19° ƒ Want to belong, (rulership)
w Ar wGy wHu wGe wHom
18° be the honored
„ ‚
18°
guest (exaltation)
17° There:
… Ý Do want
17° 10 9
» to be there
11 8 at the pool
Ý
10 ¶
12 7
16°
9Ý 16°
†
20ܸ Ü
1 6
Œ 23‹
Á 6‡ 2 5 º
Electional Astrology
Here: 17° 3 4
11
Œ
Don’t want
Œ
‹½
‡ ‹
www.maryshea.com * maryshea@maryshea.com
ˆ
Œ
to be here 17°
9
2
Kids want to
2
¾
5‰ˆ
6‰
swim!
Change the by-laws 18°
by Mary Fortier Shea, M.A. Counseling Psychology
copyright: Mary Fortier Shea, PO Box 301, Clinton, CT 06413 USA, 860-554-5031
¿À
ˆ ¼ 18°
Š
(Uranus), poorly
19° ‰
defined (Neptune)
