Void of Course Moon and Kenodromia

This calculation block is designed to compute periods of the “Void of Course” (or “Moon without course”) Moon within a specified time range. This is a crucial factor in electional, horary, and everyday astrology, indicating periods when new beginnings lack support and risk not producing the expected result.

Classical and Kenodromia

Two approaches to understanding what the Moon’s “void course” means have historically developed in astrological practice:

1. Classical Void of Course Moon: This is the time when the Moon, moving through the current zodiac sign, has already formed its last major (Ptolemaic) aspect with any other planet, but has not yet crossed the boundary of the next sign. As soon as ingress occurs (transition to the new sign), the “void course” ends.

2. Kenodromia (Hellenistic approach): An older, Hellenistic concept (literally “empty run”) that is not tied to sign boundaries. Kenodromia occurs when the Moon does not form a single major aspect (does not “connect”) with other planets over a certain interval of its motion. In this algorithm, the program calculates the “parallax” (the interval between the previous and subsequent exact aspects of the Moon) and compares it with the Moon’s daily speed taken from the moment of the last syzygy (new moon or full moon). If the interval between aspects is greater than this daily step — Kenodromia is recorded. The orbs are also subtracted from this “clean” time of the void run: Kolesis (bond, separation) and Synaphe (touch, application).

Calculation Settings

In the upper part of the main window, select:

• Geographic location: Important for calculation accuracy.
• Time range: Start date and duration of the search (in years and days).

Additional Settings (Wrench icon) Pressing the tools button in the lower right corner opens a fine-tuning window for the algorithm:

• “Parallax” (Kenodromia) checkbox: If the checkbox is unchecked, the program calculates the classical Void of Course Moon (until the sign is exited). If the checkbox is ticked, the Kenodromia calculation is enabled.
• Kenodromia settings: When the “Parallax” checkbox is enabled, additional parameters become active:
  • Syzygy and Parallax: Selection of the coordinate system (by ecliptic or by equator) for measuring the daily step from syzygy and the interval between aspects.
  • Kolesis and Synaphe: Setting the orb values (in degrees). By default, Kolesis (separating orb) equals 3.50°, and Synaphe (applying) equals 7.00°.
• Consider outer planets: An option allowing the inclusion of trans-Saturnian planets (Uranus, Neptune, Pluto) in the aspect calculations. They are usually not taken into account in classical and Hellenistic astrology.

Reading the Results Table

After calculation, a chronological list of all found periods is generated. Each row contains:

1. Start date and time of the period (moment of the last aspect or beginning of Kenodromia).
2. End date and time (moment of ingress into the new sign or formation of a new aspect).
3. Zodiac sign in which the Moon is located.
4. Duration of the period (in days, hours, and minutes, e.g., 00h00m).
5. Last aspect: Information about the aspect that initiated (or interrupted) this period is displayed on the right. The aspect type is indicated (R — right-side, L — left-side), the major aspect symbol (square, trine, etc.), and the participating planet.