Who Created This Art?
Horary was not invented by a single person. Beginning with Babylonian and Hellenistic roots, it matured over centuries as the tradition passed from one master to another. The following are among the principal figures who carried it forward.
Masha'allah ibn Athari (d. c. 815)
He established the core of the system in the Islamic world and was one of the early masters of welcome (reception).
Sahl ibn Bishr / Zael (9th century)
He wrote the first horary "handbook", and he was quoted throughout the Middle Ages.
Abu Ma'shar / Albumasar (c. 787–886)
He compiled the Lots and the methods of judgment, and he served as a bridge by which this knowledge passed into Europe.
Al-Biruni (973–1048)
He left a major instructional work, written in 1029, which gathered together the houses, planetary strength, and the techniques.
Guido Bonatti (d. c. 1296)
He transmitted the Arabic-Persian inheritance into Latin Europe and wrote the most comprehensive astrological work of the Middle Ages.
William Lilly (1602–1681)
In 1647, with Christian Astrology, he wrote the most important English-language classic of horary and established the Regiomontanus house system as the standard. This is the tradition followed by 33HORARY.
Olivia Barclay (1919–2001)
In the twentieth century she brought Lilly's work back into the light and revived the tradition through the QHP program.
Derek Appleby (1937–1995)
He was one of the pioneers of the modern English revival of horary.
John Frawley (contemporary)
With The Horary Textbook he wrote the principal teaching text of the present day, in a clear and practical style.
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