What are the Angles in the horoscope?

Dear Lilan,  Why are the angles so important? Signed, Confused

Dear Confused,  In astrology we are using a symbolic language which means that there are multiple interpretations and ways to approach the chart. There is no “truth” about the right way.

Regarding the Angles: We use symbols for all the planets in astrology. But you don’t see the symbol for Earth because the planetary positions are calculated from the position of the Earth. Earth is the rock upon which we live and take a stand. The  symbol for the Earth is a circle with a cross in center, like the 4 directions on a compass or medicine wheel. The horoscope upon which we place the position of the planets is also a circle with a cross in the center and represents the arenas of our life on Earth.

The 4 points of the cross are the angles and are very important points in the horoscope. The Ascendent (1st house) is all about ME!, which is your physical self that is visible to the world including your personality, physical characteristics, and place of personal expression and growth. Nadir (4th house, also called the I.C.) is the root of the chart and represents your physical roots, like home, family, and your emotional roots, including the Soul, safety, and nurturing (which can point toward your nurturing parent). Descendent (7th house) which is opposite the Me quality of the Ascendent and represents the We part of your life, including relationships, marriage, and close partnerships. Midheaven (10th house, also called the M.C.) is the top pinnacle of your chart and is opposite the rootedness of the Nadir. Midheaven is where you show up taking a stand in the world, is your public reputation, and can be career.

These four arenas of life — Myself, Others, Home, and Public — are the cornerstones of our life. Other experiences like money, play, heath, education, etc, all occur within the bounds of these 4 angles. You can get information about each of these angles by looking at the sign on that angle. Use this process and see if you can figure out more about these 4 important areas in you life. Start with the Ascendent.
1. Look to the sign on your Ascendent, also called your rising sign.
2. What is the planet that rules that sign? This planet is called your chart ruler. For example, if your rising sign is Aries, Mars is the ruler. So Mars is your chart ruler.
3. Find your chart ruler in your horoscope. So, in the above example, find Mars in your chart and notice the sign and house of your chart ruler. For example, Mars is in Taurus in the 4th house.
4. The sign your chart ruler is in gives additional information (beyond the rising sign) to how your personality is expressed. If Mars is in Taurus, you express your personality in a solid and dependable way. This Taurus influence would stabilize your Aries rising. If, on the other hand, your chart ruler Mars was in Gemini you would express your personality by talking and communicating. This Gemini influence would excite your Aries rising.
5. The House your chart ruler is in is where your personality shines. So, if Mars in Taurus was in the 4th house, your personality would shine in your home, where you might initiate (Aries) activities that solidify the home environment (Taurus).
6. You would also include aspects to your chart ruler, but that is more advanced, so at first just stick with sign and house.

To do this you need to know which planet rules each sign.  Remember: Planets rule the Signs –Signs rule the Houses. Rulerships are:  Aries is ruled by Mars    Taurus/Venus    Gemini/Mercury   Cancer/Moon    Leo/Sun    Virgo/Mercury    Libra/Venus    Scorpio/Pluto    Sagittarius/Jupiter    Capricorn/Saturn    Aquarius/Uranus    Pisces/Neptune

Do the process for the sign on each of your other angles. So, for the Nadir, find the sign on the Nadir (4th house), look for the planet that rules that sign, and find see what sign and house it is in (for example, if you have Capricorn on the 4th house, look for the sign and house placement of Saturn).  Capricorn on the 4th would bring a sense of responsibility to the home. If Saturn, it’s ruler was in Taurus in the 7th house of marriage, a strong and stable marriage would be important to you.

Why are people so tired?

Dear Lilan.  Just curious if you have idea on why people are feeling just plain tired and rotten.  Wondered if the Moon or whatever is contributing?  Signed: Curious

Dear Curious, The Full Moon was a powerful one this month, and I heard a lot of reports of people being spaced out, tired, and irritable. But the Full Moon is only active for a few days. It sounds like what you are referring to is something more long term. Astrologically, there has been a pretty intense energy in the sky that started this summer with Saturn, Pluto, Uranus, and Jupiter making a cardinal T-Square, which some people have referred to it as a Cardinal Cross, or Crisis Cross. Many people have been talking about it as pretty stressful. It’s hard to generalize to the entire population based on planetary aspects. It is much better to compare the planetary changes to a person’s individual horoscope. But, this aspect has been creating lot of stress, anxiety, feeling unsettled, many changes, and disturbed sleep. This intense aspect  is now ending as Saturn is moving out  and Uranus and Jupiter are taking a bit of a siesta, so there should be a feeling of relief.

But this early March Uranus and Jupiter will reconnect with Pluto, and I would imagine things will gear back up and stress will increase again. So, this is a long way of saying I bet people you know are responding to uncertainty and stress. It would be good to do meditation, stress reduction techniques, and look into supplements that might help stress and sleep.

Hope this helps.

Jupiter and the Moon

That beautiful bright light next to the Aries Full Moon is Jupiter. Go out tonight and tomorrow and put your attention on the realization and expansion (Jupiter) of your most passionate and creative nature (Moon). Uranus is right there too, but too far away to see with the naked eye. Uranus adds a touch of the unexpected and even explosive. So don’t do anything too crazy or risky, it could backfire on you. Balance all this big Arian energy with the love and deep connections of the Libra Sun, and you will find the balance you need to express your most dynamic self.

Fall Equinox and Harvest Moon

The Sun is in Libra, and the Sun is the conscious part of ourselves that is seeking and striving to be fully in its light – enlightenment. So this month, bring your total consciousness to your relationships. Open your ears to really listen with curiosity and respect, and open your hearts to allow the sweetness of compassion to strengthen the ties that bind you to the people in your life.

by Linda Holt-Ayriss

Moon in Aries. Oh boy. Watch out for emotional flare ups, challenging conversations, locking horns in battle, thoughtless actions. And all of this from a totally unconscious place. The Moon is our Soul, which lives in the realm of the unconscious and speaks through the language of emotions. So, to say that for the next few days we will all be unconsciously triggered by any little thing is a bit of an understatement. This Ram, the symbol of Aries, is prancing quite unconcerned through the wreckage of a volcanic eruption. I think that about says it all.

Aries is a wonderful energy. Passionate, fierce, energetic, direct, courageous, combative. But those are qualities best used with a certain amount of consciousness and intent. When Aries is hanging out with the Moon, and all reason is lost, and when it is fueled by Uranus and Jupiter, as it is right now, well, all bets are off. I suggest buying flowers, making dinner, seduction, flattery, humor, whatever it takes to get your foot out of your mouth.

The Sun leaves the sign of Virgo (remember her beautiful purity?), and enters Libra late Wednesday night. Libra is the sign of relationships and is represented by balance scales, an instrument that allows us to weigh two things in relationship to each other. I thought this drawing by one of my favorite artists, Susan Seddon Boulet, a more beautiful illustration of the balance between duality, than any picture of scales.

If you look closely (i.e. meditate) on this picture you will see much that reminds you of Libra. First, the duality, second, it is beautiful, and third, it is full of love. Hearts connect these two people and there is a cupid at the base, showing that the foundation of any relationship is love. And the butterflies signify transformation, which is part of any real relationship, that challenges us to grow. And the ears!! oh the ears! It is through listening that we create relationships. Libra knows that any relationship exists because of the connection between two people – not a projection of what we want a person to be – but a real connection based on truth, and honesty, and communication.

The Equinox happens twice a year, once in the Spring, and one in the Fall. It is part of the cycle of the Sun I mentioned in the last Moon Letter. Equinox means “equal” and it is when the day and night are equal in length. From this point on, night will gain the upper hand until we reach the Winter Solstice, when night is dominant and the light is short. The Fall equinox always occurs when the Sun moves into Libra, the sign of Balance. Libra represents the balance between day and night, between yang and yin, between love and war, between men and women, between …..


by Susan Seddon Boulet

During each Full Moon we have the opportunity to balance the opposing energies of the Sun and the Moon; this month we balance Libra and Aries. Libra is the refined, conscious, beautiful woman who seeks the best in all relationships in order to find harmony. In essence, she is Beauty.

Aries is the Beast. The lovable, but totally primitive and unconscious animal parts of ourselves that are so full of energy, that without them all the beauty in the world would die on the vine.  We need both of these energies. We need the passionate nature of our unconscious angers and emotions. But we also need them to be tamed by the desire for love and relationship.

This Full Moon, either Wednesday or Thursday (day or night, since the Moon puts out spectacular light into the dawn) meditate on how your unconscious beliefs and habits are creating havoc in your relationships. Are you reacting to your current lover like she was your x-wife? Are you overly sensitive about criticism because it reminds you of your father? Do you feel insecure due to your parents early divorce? The list of human foibles goes on. Be the Beauty. Allow your love and compassion and awareness to bring the Beast in yourself into harmony. This is the time of the year to balance that which is your darkness and that which is your light. Remember they need each other, for in the connection we are complete.

They’re back!

6 am on September 9th

I woke up early and looked outside in the still dark dawn and saw a large and beautifully bright light in the eastern sky. I wondered what planet it could be. I knew it wasn’t Venus, since she is still setting soon after the Sun. And I knew it wasn’t Jupiter, since he is rising in the east around 10pm at night. He should be moving toward the west right now, getting ready to set. Sure enough I found him, still pretty high in the sky, but very visible. So, was it Mercury? Surely Mercury wouldn’t be that bright. And it was sparkling. And I always heard that planets don’t sparkle, only stars. So, it was a star? That bright?

I came to my computer and turned on trusty Stellarium to find out what this bright light could be, and lo and behold, it is Sirius, the dog star! I ran out front again and looked more carefully, and sure enough, I could see his whole body, and even higher in the east was Orion! I was amazed, since it seemed not so long ago I blogged about how they were leaving the winter sky, and I would miss them. Well, winter must be getting closer than I think, because they are back! Only at this time in the early morning sky. So, if you are up early, before dawn, look to the east and you will see that bright light that is Sirius. From there you can find both constellations. Sirius is the closest star to our solar system, and the one many people think that it is from Sirius that aliens come to earth. It is the star that was the harbinger of the rising of the Nile. And when you see Jupiter, about the same brightness, what you can’t see is the planet Uranus, right next to Jupiter, but too far away to see with the naked eye. Might be time to get a telescope.

New Moon in Virgo Sept. 8th

Update, September 7th

We have a New Moon this Wednesday September 8th at 6:30 am ET. This Virgo energy is a perfect time to start a new daily routine that brings your body into better self care. You can also begin to organize your workspace so that it is easier for you to think clearly and work with greater efficiency. This New Moon calls out to begin any process that gives more order and harmony into your physical life. The Moon is considered New when it is conjoined the Sun. Since the Sun is in Virgo, the New Moon will also be in Virgo at 15 degrees. If you look to the Planetary Ephemeris at the left of this post, you can follow the Moon as it changes in degrees until it is the exact same degree as the Sun.

Virgo, the virgin, is represented by a young woman out in the harvest fields. I don’t think Virgo is really a virgin, but rather is pure in her heart and her intentions. Virgo aims for purity of action, which does at times push into the realm of perfectionism, a problem anyone with some Virgo in their horoscope has to contend with. This desire for purity is part of the reason Virgo has the reputation for being critical, and picky. But that is only the dark side of Virgo, just like a huge ego is the dark side of Leo. Virgo actually balances the need for personal attention that is exhibited by Leo with a simple desire to be of service to others.

Virgo is an earth sign, and is therefore very connected to the body and nature. This beautiful image captures the earthy quality of Virgo, which comes out in a commitment to care for the body through learning about healthy eating, exercise, and self-care. Virgo is ruled by the planet Mercury, hence her bright mind and curious intellect. She wants to know all about everything that could be helpful to herself and others, and can take in a tremendous amount of information, assimilate what is necessary, and then eliminate the rest. This Mercury influence gives her a fast mind that is geared toward discernment, a quality that can get out of balance and create a nervous, analytical, and self-critical quality. But, if Virgo stays in touch with her physical body through exercise, good nutrition, and time in nature, you could hardly find a more loving and giving sign. Her fault might be in caring for the needs of others more than the needs of herself.