Astrology is the study of energy; the
influence of heavenly bodies in our solar system exerted upon the
Earth. Much like the gravitational forces of the Moon over our
oceans, our neighboring planets all stress a particular thread of
energy. In ways not yet tangible to the measurements of modern
science, the energy of a single moment in time can impress upon that
of an entire life. The energy has been explained for eons across
mankind, in lore and mythology. Mythological beings were brought to
life by exemplifying the attributes of each; and they interact
within us by following our own personal blueprint.
The Map of ourselves is not a
guarantee. The energies exchanged at an individuals moment of birth
are not definitive, but rather, show only what is available. The
Natal Chart gives us an image of what could be within a personality;
the characteristics that will make that person possible and actual.
Everyone has good energy, and everyone had bad energy. Some people
use more of what they have on hand than others.. and some don't use
any of it at all.
One of the most interesting
applications of astrological interpretation comes as a psychological
implementation. Understanding the possible elements of ones
personality, and using that understanding to benefit ones mental
health. If negative energy exists and has a detrimental effect on
ones consciousness, then there must be a way to circumnavigate that
negativity with a positive route of passage. It is the
acknowledgment of why we are the way we are, and the willingness to
change who we are into something better. Astrology can show the path
to a better being.
A persons Natal Chart shows the
positions of planets at the exact time of their birth based on their
location. The concept of the circle chart is simple: at the center
of the chart is the Earth. “AC” (ascendant, or rising) is the
point on the eastern horizon. Following the horizontal line across
will give you the “DC” (descendant) which signifies the western
horizon. Above this line is the sky over our heads, and below is on
the other side of the planet.
The chart is divided into 12 houses,
each spanning 30 degrees of the wheel. These stay stationary in
relation to the chart and are numbered 1-12 counterclockwise starting
at the AC. There are also the 12 signs of the zodiac. These are
sections of the heavens that manifest the energies of each sign.
Throughout the course of a day, the outer ring (sectioned off into
zodiac symbols) will appear to rotate as the Earth spins. It is this
rotation that makes timing so important.
Each house relates to a particular
facet of one's life and personality, and is ruled by the zodiac signs
in succession:
1st Ascendant: the self,
how you present to the world and how the world perceives you (ruled
by Aries)
2nd the material world,
sentiments and associations with money and possessions (ruled by
Taurus)
3rd your intimate
environment, siblings, colleagues, local travel, communications and
primary learning (ruled by Gemini)
4th Immum Coeli, the “IC”
or lowest point in the chart signifies ones roots: ancestry, family,
home (ruled by Cancer)
5th children, creativity,
leisure and hobbies, love on a surface level and luck
in gambling endeavors (ruled by Leo)
6th everyday life, work,
obligations, subordinates, general health and medicine (ruled by
Virgo)
7th Descendant: the other,
unions, marriage,partnerships and contracts; how you perceive the
world (ruled by Libra)
8th passions,
transformation, death and new beginnings, sexuality, inheritance,
power and secrets (ruled by Scorpio)
9th travel, foreign and
exotic relations, higher learning, abstract concepts, spirituality
(ruled by Sagittarius)
10th Medium Coeli, the “MC”
or Midheaven is the highest point in the chart, signifying the
greater society, career, professional ambitions and achievements
(ruled by Capricorn)
11th friends, group
efforts, social support and humanitarianism; the collective (ruled
by Aquarius)
12th the ethereal and
subconscious. This is the realm of the unobtainable, where past
lives and future lives mingle. Solitude and silence. Karma,
transcendence and psychic energy. Spirituality. The unknown self
(ruled by Pisces)
Planets in the houses will show how
these energies will manifest. A lack of planets in any given house
does not mean that the energy isn't there, it is simply transferred
through another part of the chart. As each house is ruled by one of
the signs, a planet rules each sign as well.
Aries is ruled by Mars (the driving
force)
Taurus ruled by Venus (perceptions of
beauty and manifestations of love)
Gemini ruled by Mercury (mental
capacities and communication)
Cancer ruled by the Moon (emotional
self)
Leo ruled by the Sun (ego self)
Virgo ruled by Mercury (intellect and
reason, pureness of being)
Libra ruled by Venus (partnership and
equality)
Scorpio ruled by Pluto (sexuality,
passions, secrets)
Sagittarius ruled by Jupiter
(joviality, luck, expansion, progression)
Capricorn is ruled by Saturn (rules
and regulations, boundaries, wisdom and teaching)
Aquarius is ruled by Uranus
(independence, surprises, technology, upheaval and disruption)
Pisces is ruled by Neptune (dreams,
illusions, the subconscious, psychic energy, ethereal realms)
Each of the signs is also granted one
of 4 elemental attributes. Fire, Earth, Air and Water. Fire signs
tend to be ferocious and excitable. Earth is steady and unwavering.
Water is malleable and intoxicating. Air is light and free. They
will interact in much the same way you would expect each element to
act in nature. Fire will get Water excited and heated up; but if
Water gets too hot, he will boil over and squelch Fire. Air can feed
Fire and whip him into a frenzy, but also blow him out. To play in
the Air, Water must evaporate and become light, but he will also fall
back to the ground eventually. Earth may be immovable, but Water can
wear him down over time; Fire can melt the hard facade, and Wind can
carry the pieces away. It is the combinations of each that help
generate the overview of one's personality.
Aries is a Fire sign. (Ferocity of the
Ram)
Taurus is Earth. (Immobility of the
Bull)
Gemini is Air. (Communicability of
Twins)
Cancer is Water. (Sensibility of the
Crab)
Leo is Fire. (Gusto of the Lion)
Virgo is Earth. (Solidarity of the
Virgin)
Libra is Air. (Reciprocity of the
Balance)
Scorpio is Water. (Seclusion of the
Scorpion)
Sagittarius is Fire. (Flamboyancy of
the Centaur)
Capricorn is Earth. (Firmament of the
Goat and Fossil)
Aquarius is Air. (Lightness of the
Water-bearer)
Pisces is Water. (Fluidity of two Fish
swimming in tandem)
As the elements progress through the
chart, they relate to previous iterations. In this thought: Aries
is the spark; Leo maintains and radiates; Sagittarius adapts and
spreads the flame. Taurus is the surface, exposed and defiant;
Virgo is the fertile soil beneath, unblemished and untainted;
Capricorn is the bedrock holding everything up. Gemini is
communication; Libra is understanding; Aquarius is soaring above.
Cancer is the crest of a wave; Scorpio the unseen current; Pisces
the depths of the abyss.
Along with the Elements are the three
Modalities (or methods) of the zodiac: Cardinal, Fixed and Mutable.
Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn are Cardinal. Taurus, Leo,
Scorpio and Aquarius are Fixed. Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and
Pisces are Mutable.
Cardinal
signs are the beginners. They get things started and are associated
with the beginning of each season; the equinox and solstices. The
sun crosses into Aries on the spring equinox; into Cancer on the
summer solstice; Libra on the fall equinox; and Capricorn on the
winter solstice. They are associated with
impatience, forcefulness, power, and initiative. They make things
happen. Aries initiates, motivates and opens up new territories.
Cancer nurtures and cultivates for a sound footing. Libra forces
relationships continue the process, and Capricorn brings to fruition
what Aries had started.
The Fixed signs are steadfast. They
have been charged with a task and will follow it through. They are
driven and unyielding, pushing the process forward to the next step.
Taurus will not be stopped by any barrier. Leo is ferocious and
forces onward. Scorpio toils and manipulates to succeed. Aquarius
is stubborn and resistant to change.
The Mutable signs allow for
progression. They let one cycle finish and another begin. Gemini
spreads the word of what has passed and yet to come. Virgo makes
note of the progression and lays a framework for the future.
Sagittarius networks the pieces. Pisces shares with all.
Along with the Elements, the Modalities
add further depth to the full range of perspectives and possibilities
within a persons development of character, and the energies available
to them throughout their life. Activating these possibilities are
the planets that progress through the zodiac, passing from one sign
to the next with fervor or laziness depending in their orbital cycle.
From our perspective, each heavenly body moves at a different speed
based on how fast they are actually moving through the solar system,
how far away they are from us and our vantage.
The Sun passes through every sign
through the course of a year. The moon goes through each sign every
28 days. Mercury takes about a year to go through the zodiac, but
will never stray more than 30 degrees from the sun, as his orbit is
so close to our star. Sometimes he's ahead, and sometimes he's
behind. Venus is similar, taking two months to pass through a sign
on average, never getting more than about 45 degrees away from the
sun. On the other hand, Mars takes about 2 years to move through the
zodiac.. Jupiter takes 12 years. Saturn takes 29 years. Uranus
takes 84 years. Neptune takes 164 years, and Pluto takes 248 years
to progress through all 12 zodiac signs.
Because of their relatively rapid
progression through the zodiac, the inner planets (Sun, Moon,
Mercury, Venus, Mars and Jupiter) are considered personal planets.
They are the true builders of one's personality and possible
characteristics. The outer planets (Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and
Pluto) are conversely considered generational, as they will hold a
position in the zodiac long enough to influence entire generations.
It is in this instance that house placement becomes important, as a
generational planets energy can then be assigned to a particular
aspect of one's self, rather than the zodiac sign associated with his
or her generation.
As the planets progress through the
zodiac, we perceive their movement at different rates. The Sun and
Moon move at a constant rate, but the other planets do not. They
appear to speed up and slow down. Sometimes they even look like they
are moving backwards. This action is called Retrograde. It is the
illusion that a planet is moving in reverse in relation to the
surrounding heavens. This is not actually the case, but merely our
perspective. It does though have an affect on how the energies of
that planet manifest.
The most common retrograde action is
that of Mercury, who retraces his steps about three times per year.
During this time, energies ruled by Mercury will tend to unravel.
Communications become confused and jumbled; travel is hampered by
delays; technological glitches will manifest. But babies are still
born.. and people born under a retrograde cycle have different
interpretations of each characteristic. For example, someone born
under a Mercury Retrograde may communicate in a very different way
than others. The person may find it difficult to understand the
energy of a Retrograde planet. But, they may also persevere and
excel in that area because they had to try harder to understand it.
Whether moving Direct or Retrograde,
all of the heavenly bodies interact with each other. These
interactions are called Aspects. This is where the idea of sacred
geometry comes into play. Aspects are based on angles of geometry
around the chart. It is when an angle divides the circle into equal
pieces that the energy is most powerfully manifested, and these are
the points that create aspects.
A Conjunction is like the circle
divided by 1. You end up right back at the same spot. This is when
two bodies are right next to each other. The energy of conjunct
bodies combines them into one. They become more powerful and
noticeable in ones personality.
An Opposition is like dividing the
circle by 2. This will give you two points 180° apart, on opposite
sides of the circle. The energy of two bodies in opposition is one
of contrast. There is this side, but also that side. Oppositions
create a duality an complexity within a person. Opposite may be
different, but they are also balanced and work in harmony. The two
sides may not always understand each other, which can be stressful,
but they can get along. The trick here is to use the opposing forces
to regulate rather than differentiate.
A Trine is when the circle is divided
by 3. At 120° the full aspect forms an equilateral triangle, or
grand trine. This is known to be a very positive energy within a
chart. But a trine can also be just one side of that triangle.
Planets in trine will understand each other inherently, and are able
to coexist in harmony. This aspect can denote natural talents and
abilities up for grabs. To use them or not is ones own decision.
A Square is the circle divided by 4.
90° angles are difficult to navigate in the heavens. There is a
disconnect here that can create confusion and disillusionment. This
is known to be a more negative energy within a chart. Difficulties
from a square will seem to manifest over and over again until the
energy is circumvented. Their influence is often not a choice.
A Sextile divides the chart by 6. Much
like the trine, this is a gently facilitating energy. Not as
powerful as a trine, but still beneficial.
A Semi-square is the circle divided by
8. At 45° apart, this aspect acts similarly to the square.
Aspects continue to fragment to
smaller pieces or more vague interactions as follows:
Sesquisquare: 135°, disharmonious.
Semisextile: 30°, neutral.
Quincunx: 150°, neutral.
Quintile: 72°, harmonious
Biquintile: 144°, harmonious.
Neutral energy is that which exists
without conflict or charge. It just is.
The Quintile aspects are less
significant, but none the less special. They are formed by dividing
the circle by 5. It is believed that these aspects are the gifts of
an innate talent. There is a hint of something magical in the works
whenever this aspect appears. It is a raw and spontaneous vitality
that shows itself like the guidance of a higher power.
Considering that each planet moves at
it's own pace and independently of all the others, it is actually
rather rare to have an exact aspect. For this, the notion or Orb is
put in place. The orb of an aspect is an estimation of how close the
bodies need to be for the energy to express. The smaller the orb,
the stronger the energy.
Each type of Aspect also has it's own
orb depending on the power of the aspect itself. A conjunction will
have the largest orb (about 9-10 degrees), and still be acknowledged.
A trine on the other hand, will have an orb of between 5 and 7
degrees. Square will function in much the same manner. Particular
aspects, such as a quintile will only have an orb of a single degree.
The orb will also be determined by the
body itself. The Sun and Moon, being Luminaries (those which
illuminate) are considered to be more powerful than all others, and
thus have a larger orb allowance. It is also worth noting that these
measurements will change between astrological schools of thought, and
personal preference. There is also the influence of the chart itself
that comes into play. In one instance, a conjunction of 8 degrees
may be very poignant.. in another, it could mean nothing at all.
Aspects can happen “in sign” (for
example: the conjunction of two bodies in sign, or trine within the
same element), or they can be “out of sign” (conjunctions from
the late degrees of one sign to the early degrees of the next sign).
An aspect, “in sign” may be more powerful than and “out of
sign” aspect because the relationship between signs. In the same
respect, an aspect that is almost exact, may possibly still fall “out
of sign” and lessen it's power.
Then there is the concept of applying
and separating aspects. This concerns whether an aspect is applying
towards exact, or separating away from exact. An aspect in
application will be more powerful than an aspect that has already
peaked. In this respect, the action of aspecting is instant. Rising
to a crest and then falling off against quite quickly. Since the
interpretation of a Natal Chart is of a particular moment, the
location of that peak (exact aspect) must be taken into
consideration.
The formation of all a chart aspects
combined will create the general feel for the chart. This can be
assessed through the “shape” the aspects form. Some charts have
everything bundled tightly together in one section. Other charts
will have all of the heavenly bodies spread across the full wheel.
Some charts have everything above the horizon, while others have
everything below. These differences demonstrate the overall
characteristics of a personality. A bundle being intense, a “splay”
being spread across all facets, a bilateral chart being a single
sided viewpoint.
When more than two planets are conjunct
in a sign and house, they are considered to be a Stellium. This is
an extra added punch to the energy of that sign and house. In some
cases, a person may have their sun and moon in respective signs, but
be overshadowed by the energy of another sign due to a powerful
stellium.
Confounding the situation even further
is the concept of Essential Dignity. This is the understanding of
how a planet performs in a particular sign. There are positions in
which each planet do well, and some in which they do not. This
relates to the interplay between the energy of the planet and the
energy of the sign. The simplest implementation of this concept is
the standard of house rulership discussed above. The planets are
happiest in the signs and houses they rule.
Exaltation, triplicity, term and face
are the different instances of dignity. When a planet is exalted in
a sign, the combined energy of sign and planet forces positive action
from the planet. Triplicity is like a stroke of luck, where the
energy comes without effort. Term is a weak dignity that shows the
possibility is there, but needs help to be fostered into fruition.
Face makes an individual aware, but doesn't back up the
acknowledgment with any desire for pursuit.
Detriment, fall and peregrine are the
instances of debility for a planet in the signs. When a planet is
found in detriment, it is in a sign that hinders its energy and
prevents proper expression; the individual most likely inflicts the
negative energy upon his self. Fall is only negative in that is does
not bear fault; the individual is helpless to resolve a situation
without external assistance. Peregrine is a planet without positive
or negative influence; un-aspected, wandering aimlessly.
And finally Accidental Dignity, when
the power of a planet is enhance due to reasons unrelated to house or
sign position. This may be anything from merely forward direction,
or a moment when the planet is moving more swiftly through the chart.
Having close placement to one of the angles (AC, IC, DC or MC), or
being in good aspect to a similarly beneficial planet can have a
similar effect. Even being conjunct a fortunately powered fixed star
can elevate the energy of a planet.
The Dignities are not as commonly
involved in Natal Chart interpretation, but for the purposes of
circumventing negative energy, any and all possible routes to a
positive outcome must be examined.
With all this in mind, the Natal chart
can be examined for moments of weakness and possibilities of
greatness. We can discover the reasons for our faults and figure out
ways to get around them. There is no need to suffer with an
unsatisfactory result. Negative energy can be counteracted and
absolved. There is a positive answer for everything. If the roads
lead us to a dead end, we must find a detour to achieve our
destination.
