As stated in the interlude of this treatise, timing is the most important factor in casting charts. Not only knowing the correct time but also what time to use is imperative to obtaining an accurate reading. This treatise is meant to illustrate the different events and times that are collected through the various fields in Astrology. Each of these times will be explained also for clarity.
Nativities - The most important and chief time to use for Nativities is the time of birth. This is sometimes the most challenging time to obtain because of various circumstances surrounding the recording (or remembering) of it. The time which should be considered is the time that the infant has taken its first breath. Traditionally and theosophically, once the infant has taken the "breath of life" (from the air), the infant is considered a separate body from that of the mother. This babies body is thus imprinted with the impressions of the celestial stars and that is its Nativity.
This is however not the only opinion of the appropriate time, there are some individuals who believe differently and their opinions will not be neglected. Some are under the belief that the true chart of a child is taken from the point of conception. The logic being that this is the first "creation" of the child and therefore the appropriate timing. There are also many testimonies from mothers to claim to the fact the child receives its personality in the womb and can be felt by the mother themselves. Whether or not this is simply the fancy of the mothers imagination or an actual testimony to truth cannot be guaranteed. However, there are many ancient and traditional authors who attest to the fact that the conception chart is either superior or equal in value as the Nativity. There is also some logic in using this chart, for from the conception to the pregnancy and finally to the birth, the foetus develops, and not all foetus' develop equally. Ptolemy states that some foetus' mutate and merge, creating various deformities where as some become perfect healthy babies. Other babies are born with diseases from very early stages & etc. All of these factors speak widely of the need for a conceptional chart and its usefulness in Astrology, especially seeing into the development of the foetus, whether it will be born healthy, diseased, deformed, or sometimes not at all.
The time in which to take for a conceptional chart is almost always traditionally the time of insemination. This statement may confuse those who are astute, who will ask, but science tells us that insemination and conception happen at two different times, sometimes hours apart, so how can a chart taken from the insemination be accurate? The best metaphor that can be provided in this situation is a man planting a seed in the soil. The conception of this seed (the male sperm) is when it is planted in the earth (womb) and thus from there it germinates and grows. This is the correct and accurate time in which to take the chart of conception. This chart is hardly obtained unless by observant mothers (or fathers). However this chart can be obtained using the Truitine of Hermes which (while trying to illustrate the time of birth or the Nativity) calculates the time of conception and thus a chart can be created of this.
The final time used in Nativities is a traditional one when there are no hopes of obtaining a birth time which is the Baptismal time. If you are Christian (like most of Europeans during traditional time) the time of Baptism was also considered relevant as a "birth" time as that represents the "spiritual birth" of an individual and therefore many traditional Astrologers used this time as the main Nativity time (as the times of this were always recorded). This may or may not be practical in our days though but I felt it was worth mention.
Horary Astrology - There has been a debate of which time to take for Horary charts and there are quite a few proposed times. The first is based around the time that the Native comes to the Astrologer for guidance. The second is the time that the question is propounded before the Astrologer. Both of these times may be the same but if perchance they are different then it is advisable to go with the former. By doing both actions, as in making the effort to go to the Astrologer as well as to speak with the Astrologer both show that the desire is being born into the World, into something physical. Personally, I find that the time that one propounds the question to the Astrologer as the most accurate time to take. Once it is understood fully by the Astrologer (the desire of the Querent) it is thus an idea that has been inseminated into the mind of another in which one produces fruits from it (or the answer). Again we relate back to our metaphor concerning the tree. The farmer (Querent) may have a multitude of seeds (ideas) in which remain unplanted and thus unfold to nothing. However once his seeds are planted into the soil (mind of the Astrologer) they will produce a plant (answer). Therefore, as with the conceptional chart, the chart which is cast upon the moment of the question being asked is always the most accurate.
There are other theories concerning which times in Horary to use. Another of which is the birth of the idea or question itself in the mind of the Querent. While this one is seemingly logical (for being the birth of an idea or question), it is highly flawed, for a Horary question, in order to contain substance and with substance gain impressions from the celestial bodies, it must be pondered upon, desired after strongly. Only after this strong desire is in the mind, is it given substance and finally once it is produced to the ear of another it is taken into their mind and finally the strongly desired question can be resolved. Vain questions, and ones that have no real substance or desire behind them will never prove positive for either the Querent or the Astrologers reputations. Again, we see that once this idea has been translated to the air (as with the example in Nativities) it is thus imprinted upon and given a birth to the World. The air is philosophically and theosophically important as Celestial influences work first upon the air and from the air work onto the water and finally onto the Earth (or substance of a physical body).
There is another very important theory in the timing of Horary that needs to be mentioned here. This theory has hardly be spoken about by even many Horary websites on the internet. In some questions concerning events, it is important to take the time of the occurrence of the event as the main time of answering the question as well. This time is invaluable for answers because it illustrates the current events that have taken place at that specific time and place. An example of this type of "Horary" is if someone came concerned about the health of an individual and wanted to know if an individual would live or die. The Astrologer has two options to read this question (and to the best of his effort should be concerned with both charts). The first option to the Astrologer is the one mentioned previously, by taking the time of the propounded question to the Astrologer and answering the question. The second option for the Astrologer is to take the time of Decumbiture of the individual (or the time that the Quesited first took to their bed). This time will reveal blatant answers that the Horary may not provide. Thus, following the "Evential" chart may provide a stronger answer than that of the Horary one. This understanding is also important with regard to questions concerning the Native themselves. If someone were to propose a question concerning if they would be rich in the future, the Horary always takes second place to the Nativity (the time of birth) which is another instance of an "Evential" chart.
Electional Astrology - Elections are fairly straight forward and quite simply however they will be mentioned. The best time in which to act upon an Election is when the Planets are together by Partile conjunction or aspect. This will provide the most favourable results. It is also better to have an applying Partile aspect than a separating one.
Mundane Astrology - The time in which to cast mundane charts or Figures of the World are from the first point of the Sun entering Aries. As explained in that section; theosophically this is when the World was created and produced life therefore it is the Nativity of the Earth and the Solar Return of World happens during this time every year. This also happens to be the Exaltation of the Sun, the Fountain of Life.
Medical Astrology - This time is almost always taken from the time of the patient falling sick (called a Decumbiture). From this time it can be analyzed whether or not the sick party will live or die, whether their disease will last long or be short and every other element concerning the nature of their disease. It may also be taken from someone asking whether an individual will live or die because in this case, the Querent is taken as a messenger and the Ascendant is given to the sick party.
