| Other than the planets and luminaries (Sun,Moon) there are several other
zodiacal positions for which aspects are generated in a natal chart. Here I
will consider House Cusps, Moon Nodes, and the Part of Fortune.
House Cusps:
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Of course all house cusps affect natal chart interpretations, yet the
'angular' house cusps (1,4,7,10 .. Cardinal) are considered to have more
pronounced effects and are thus included in natal aspects. Aspects with
these angular house cusps are significant whether or not there are planets
which are conjunct with the cusps. These aspects reveal influences which
affect the affairs governed by the house. The sign on each cusp also
indicates the approach towards handling the affairs of that house.
Other house cusps are classified as 'succedent' (2,5,8,11 .. Fixed) or
'cadent' (3,6,9,12 .. Mutable) yet these are thought to be less influential
than the active initiating angular cusps, and are thus rarely considered
for natal aspects, with the possible exception of close conjunctions.
The house position of each natal planet has a significant role, however.
Ascendant: (1st house, 0 degrees) "Point of Self"
The Ascendant is the zodiac position which was rising above the eastern
horizon at the time for which the chart was cast. This is second in
importance only to the Sun's position (and possibly Moon's) in its
astrological effects. Its position indicates the approach used by a
person to relate to the external world and to solve life's problems,
or in other words, how you project yourself onto your environment.
Because of the external visibility of these effects it can often be
the most noticable characteristic of an individual .. especially upon
first meeting .. even more than the Sun sign.
The Ascendant is associated with 1st house concerns of self-awareness,
basic disposition, will-power, physical appearance, and with the active
and initiating qualities of the 1st house ruler Aries. Planets which
are conjunct the Ascendant are said to be 'rising' and are energized
and often pivotal and obvious in a persons life. Aspects to the
Ascendant can determine the temperament and character of the individual.
Nadir: (4th house, ~90 degrees+-)
The Nadir was on the opposite side of the earth at the time for which
the chart was cast. The Nadir is also called the IC which is short for
the Latin 'imum c�li'.
The Nadir is associated with 4th house concerns of motherhood, home,
family, emotional attitudes, food and diet. The Nadir is associated
with our most subjective perceptions. Aspects to the Nadir relate to
conditions of early upbringing, home environment, and mother.
Descendant: (7th house, 180 degrees) "Point of relationship to others"
The Descendant is the zodiac position which was falling below the
western horizon at the time for which the chart was cast.
The Descendant is associated with 7th house concerns of relationships,
marriage, and partnerships, and with the balancing qualities of the 7th
house natural sign Libra. Planets which are conjunct the Descendant
are said to be 'falling' and are influential in all relationships and
activated through interactions with others. Other aspects to the
Descendant determine attitudes and behaviors expressed in relationships.
Midheaven: (10th house, ~270 degrees+-)
The Midheaven was directly overhead at the time for which the chart was
cast. The Midheaven is also called the MC which is short for the Latin
'medium c�li'.
The Midheaven is associated with the 10th house concerns of status,
career, politics, personal authority, and reputation in the external
world. The Midheaven relates to our most objective perceptions.
Aspects to the Midheaven affect our success "in societies eyes".
Since the Ascendant and Descendant are exactly opposite each other, major
aspects to the Ascendant will all have a corresponding major aspect to the
Descendant. For example, if a planet trines the Ascendant it will sextile
the Descendant, if it squares the Ascendant it also squares the Descendant,
and if it is conjunct the Ascendant it will oppose the Descendant. For
this reason typically only aspects to the Ascendant are identified, yet
they are to be interpreted not only for their effects on the Ascendant but
also for the corresponding effects on the Descendant. For this same reason,
aspects are usually only indicated for the Midheaven, which are considered
along with corresponding Nadir interpretations. Minor aspects may affect
each polarity differently, however, and must be considered separately.
Moon Nodes:
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The Moon Nodes relate to the zodiacal positions at which the Moon crosses
from Southern to Northern lattitude (North Node) and from Northern to
Southern (South Node) during the Moon's orbital cycle. While the Moon
encounters its North and South orbital nodes only once during each orbital
cycle, the Moon's Nodes are considered to move continuously throughout the
cycle. Intermediate Nodal positions are interpolated from the actual nodal
positions, and these interpolated positions are indicated on a natal chart.
Like the Ascendant/Descendant and Nadir/Midheaven, the Moon's North/South
orbital nodes are always directly opposite each other (180 degrees), and
thus often only the North Node major aspects are indicated, yet the
corresponding South Node interpretations must also be considered.
The Moon Nodes can indicate an individuals inner attitudes and emotional
reactions to prevailing cultural trends and popular beliefs. The signs,
houses, and aspects involving the Nodes can all add interpretive value.
Moon's North Node:
Signifies a focus of your life's work .. what you are heading towards
.. the highest you can attain. The North Node is related to Jupiter
(expansiveness), and indicates where a person demonstrates harmony with
prevailing social and cultural trends. Pursuit of North Node activities
can expose people to the current life's spiritual teachers, and can
strongly determine future karmic influences. The sign, house, and
aspects to the North Node hold the key to spiritual growth.
Moon's South Node:
Signifies the focus of some past life's work .. what you are coming
away from .. wisdom from past experience. The South Node is related to
Saturn (restrictiveness and isolation), and identifies where a person
lacks harmony with prevailing trends. This can provide a more critical
view of some limitations and mistakes of current trends. South Node
activities are unlikely to recieve support or recognition. Reliance
upon these ingrained habits can reactivate old problems, and bring past
karmic influences into your current life. The sign, house, and aspects
to the South Node hold the key to personal growth, often in the sense
of outgrowing obsolete habits and behavior patterns.
The Moon's North Node affairs must be exercised and developed or problems
with South Node habits may resurface. The positive characteristics of
North Node traits must be developed in this life .. some negative aspects
of South Node traits have been developed in previous lives.
Parts:
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There are many so-called "Arabian Parts" which all involve a relating the
relative position of a planet with respect to the Sun to the same relative
position with respect to the Ascendant. The most influential of these
Parts involves the Moon and is called the "Part of Fortune" (PF).
To determine the PF, compute the number of degrees between the Sun and Moon,
and then locate the position which is the same number of degrees from the
Ascendant. For example, for someone born exactly on a new Moon (Moon
conjunct Sun - 0 degrees), the PF would be exactly conjunct the Ascendant.
Part of Fortune: (PF)
The Part of Fortune relates to release of emotional stresses built up
during Moon cycles, as observed during Moon transits of its North Node.
The Part of Fortune is often regarded as a "lucky" position. It is not
necessarily a general luckiness such as what Jupiter may impart, but
rather a feeling of luck in achieving emotional well-being.
People seem truly interested in the affairs of the house in which the
PF falls because they sense these activities as the key to their own
emotional fulfillment. The sign in which the PF falls shows those
qualities which should be incorporated into the Sun-Moon personality to
attain more complete emotional expression. Aspects to the PF will show
what helps or hinders one's search for freedom from emotional stress.
There are other "Parts" which are not based upon the Sun, including the
"Part of Marriage" (PM) which relates the relative counter-clockwise
position of Venus from the Ascendant to the relative clockwise position of
the PM from the Decendant. The house in which your PM falls in your
*partner's* chart can indicate where new approaches and new values will be
stimulated through the relationship.
There is much more to natal chart interpretation than this, of course, but I
hope this is enough to show that house position, sign, and aspects involving
angular house cusps, Moon nodes and the Part of Fortune may provide significant
additional insights into the evolving interpretation of your natal chart.
Todd
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