Identifying Patterns on Your Astrological Birth Chart

Leaf through a pile of birth charts, and you may notice that in some the planets are huddled together in one part of the circle, while in others they’re scattered around the wheel like numbers on a clock. These groupings can be revealing regardless of the signs and planets involved. Astrologers have developed two main ways of assessing the configurations of an astrological chart:

• Hemisphere analysis: This one is easy. All you have to do is divide the chart circle in half, once horizontally and once vertically, and count the number of planets on each side.
• Pattern analysis: This method, pioneered by astrologer Marc Edmund Jones in his Guide to Horoscope Interpretation, analyzes the way the planets are strewn around the wheel of the horoscope.

Hemisphere analysis

A quick glance at your horoscope provides an easy entry into interpretation — and all you have to do is count. First locate the

Dividing your chart by the horizon and the meridian

Now, divide your chart in half vertically or along the meridian, which runs from your midheaven, or M.C., at the twelve o’clock spot on your chart to your I.C. at the six o’clock spot. That line splits the horoscope into two sectors: the eastern hemisphere on the left and the western hemisphere on the right.

If most of your planets lie on the eastern or left side of the horoscope, you have the enviable ability to make things happen, to pave your own way. You’re highly independent, but you may also be intolerant of people who can’t seem to call the shots the way you can.

If your chart leans to the right, so to speak, with seven or more planets on the western or right side of the circle, you’re more dependent on circumstances than you may appear to be. You need to seize the moment when it arrives, and you may feel that you must bend to the demands of others in order to succeed.

Most of us have planets on both sides of divide, no matter which way you bisect the circle. But there are some people, including the greatest of the great, whose planets occupy only one hemisphere. Serena Williams, the most gifted female athlete on Earth, has all of her planets on the right side of her chart. That doesn’t in any way belittle her accomplishments. It merely suggests that she responds to circumstances and is adaptable. Not so with Beyoncé ― with every one of her planets on the left side of her chart, she is self-reliant and independent, a self-starter with a will of iron.

The ascendant symbolizes your surface personality. The descendant represents your approach to marriage and partnerships. The midheaven — the apex of your chart — describes your ambition and public image. At the bottom of your chart, the imum coeli, or I.C., indicates your attitude toward home and family.

Pattern analysis

In 1941, astrologer Marc Edmund Jones (a Libran) identified seven planetary patterns which, like hemispheric division, operate without regard to specific signs and planets. Ever since then, students of astrology have been exploring the meaning of those patterns. Here they are:

The bundle pattern

The bowl pattern

The bucket pattern

The locomotive pattern

The splash pattern

The splay pattern

The seesaw pattern

Be advised: these patterns are valuable aids to interpretation, but sometimes it’s hard to detect any pattern at all. When that happens, forget about finding the perfect label. Don’t think, don’t judge. Just take in the chart as the visual symbol of a soul. Just look.

Consider the signs

After mulling over the patterns of hemispheric division and overall design in your chart, you’re ready to assess your chart according to element and mode. Begin by counting the planets in each
(cardinal, fixed, and mutable). The following table shows you which is which. If you know the time of your birth, add your ascendant and midheaven for a total of 12 distinct components. Want to include the effects of Chiron (the comet)? Be my guest. But keep in mind that we’re still learning about it.

Elements and modes

Most charts are more or less balanced, with two to four planets in each element. If you have five or more planets in signs of one element, the traits associated with that element are emphasized. See the following table for explanations of what such an abundance may mean for you.

Emphasis by element

When classifying the components of a chart, remember that the sun, moon, and ascendant are more influential than other placements and therefore deserve extra weight. Some astrologers even count them twice, just to make sure they get their due.

The modes (or qualities) work the same way as the elements. Most people have an approximate balance. But if you have a pileup of planets in one particular mode, those traits are accentuated. This table tells you more.

Emphasis by mode

There is one other possibility. What if you have nothing in one of the elements or modes? Here’s what it means when an element or a mode is missing.

Missing in action: elements gone AWOL

Elemental voids can affect entire generations. For instance, between 1943 and 1955, Pluto was in Leo, a fire sign, and Neptune was in airy Libra. So, no one born during that those years has a void in either fire or air — which may be why baby boomers, say what you will about them, can’t be faulted for lack of energy (fire) or ideas (air). But among members of that generation, voids in water (emotional awareness) and earth (practicality) are common. Which makes a certain amount of sense.

During the 1960s, Neptune was in Scorpio and Pluto was in Virgo, so it was not possible to have a void in water or earth. But a baby born in those years could easily come up short in fire or air — or both, as was the case for Kurt Cobain. He had an astonishing eight planets in water signs plus two voids, one in fire and one in air: an emotional avalanche for anyone.

If you have an elemental void, here’s how it could affect you:

Missing in action: modes in retreat

Missing modes are less common than elemental voids. But they do occur. If you happen to have one, here’s how to interpret it:

How to find mitigating factors

Here’s the thing: Planets are not the only players. You might have a planetary void in, let’s say, water. But if the ascendant, midheaven, the nodes of the moon, or even Chiron is in a water sign, then that void is not total.

House placements can also be a mitigating factor. In the alphabet of astrology, the first house corresponds to Aries, the second house to Taurus, and so on. So, the first house has a hint of fire to it, no matter what sign is on its cusp. The second house has a touch of earth. And so on.

So maybe you have a void in water. But if you have planets in the fourth, eighth, or twelfth house – the houses that correspond to water signs – that alleviates the situation. Those house placements direct your attention in ways that can help balance a slightly out-of-whack chart. This is a subtle influence. But that doesn’t mean it’s not real.

To see this effect in action, take a look at Oprah Winfrey’s chart. She has very little earth in her chart — only Chiron and the north node of the moon. None of her planets inhabit earth signs. But she has three planets in the second house of money and possessions, one in the sixth house of work, and two in the tenth house of career and reputation. So, most of her planets are in the houses associated with earth signs, also known as the houses of substance — which might explain how an idealistic Aquarian got to be one of the richest women in the galaxy.

Oprah Winfrey's birth chart

Houses and elements

Voids in cardinal, fixed, or mutable signs operate the same way. Let’s say you have nothing in Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn—not a planet, not an ascendant, not even a node. This cardinal void makes it hard to get a new enterprise into motion. But wait a second take a look at your chart. Is there anything in the angular houses, that is, houses one, four, seven, and ten? If so, you’re in better shape than you thought. Taking the initiative will never be your most outstanding quality. But when you need to step up, you will find the wherewithal you need.

Houses and qualities

Quick Read Summary

Astrology enthusiasts often find valuable insights by examining patterns in astrological birth charts. Two prominent methods for chart analysis are hemisphere analysis and pattern analysis, both of which rely solely on patterns, disregarding specific signs and planets.

Hemisphere analysis

Dividing the birth chart horizontally along the horizon line can reveal personality traits. If most planets are above the horizon, it signifies extroversion, a desire for recognition, and comfort in the external world. Conversely, if planets cluster below the horizon, it indicates introversion, a need for privacy, personal fulfillment, and an aversion to the limelight.

Vertical division along the meridian splits the chart into eastern and western hemispheres. A majority of planets in the eastern hemisphere suggests independence and a self-starter mentality, while a western hemisphere emphasis implies a dependence on circumstances and a willingness to accommodate others' demands.

Pattern Analysis

Pattern analysis identifies seven planetary configurations, irrespective of specific signs and planets:

Consider the Signs

After pattern analysis, examining the distribution of planets among elements (fire, earth, air, water) and modes (cardinal, fixed, mutable) provides further insights. A preponderance of planets in a particular element or mode emphasizes associated traits.

Emphasis by element:

Emphasis by mode:

Missing elements or modes in your chart can also offer unique insights into your character and tendencies.

In conclusion, while these techniques provide valuable tools for astrological analysis, remember that individual charts vary, and astrology is a holistic endeavor. Don't rely solely on patterns and elements; consider the unique interplay of signs and planets in your birth chart for a comprehensive understanding of your cosmic blueprint.

Hungry for more? Go back and read the article or check out the book.