Rae Orion

Article / Updated 11-02-2023

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. Both methods rely only on patterns, not on signs and planets. Don't have time to read the entire article? Jump to the quick read summary. 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 horizon line in your chart — the line running from the ascendant to the descendant, as shown. If seven or more planets are above the horizon, you’re an extrovert, who looks to the external world for recognition and endorsement. If most of your planets populate the area below the line, you’re an introvert, who needs privacy, seeks personal fulfillment, and may be uncomfortable in the limelight. 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: If all of your planets are concentrated within four signs or about 120° (a trine), you have a bundle chart, regardless of which signs are involved or where on the wheel that bundle of planets happens to fall. This pattern, shown in the following figure, grants you a clear focus, firm interests, confidence, and personal strength. It also limits you: You’re strong where you’re strong and thoroughly unconscious (or uninterested) where you aren’t. Examples: George W. Bush, Sylvester Stallone, Paul McCartney, and Scarlett Johansson. The bowl: If your planets cover more than 120° but no more than 180° (or half the zodiac), you have a bowl chart, as shown in the following figure. This highly motivating pattern can create a frustrating feeling that something is missing, combined with a determination to fill that void. These people don’t sit around waiting. They’re activists, and they get things done, like it or not. Examples: Abraham Lincoln, Vincent van Gogh, Amelia Earhart, Billie Jean King, Ella Fitzgerald, and Donald J. Trump. The bucket: A bucket chart (sometimes called a funnel) is like a bowl except that one planet (or two in close conjunction) is separated from the rest, as in the following figure. That singleton planet, the handle of the bucket, becomes the focus of the chart. Because its needs are always paramount, Marc Edmund Jones compared that lone planet to a toothache. It commands attention — and it hurts. By sign and by house, it acts as a counterweight to the rest of the chart. Four people with bucket charts: Taylor Swift; Harry, Duke of Sussex; Harry’s sister-in-law, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge; and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The locomotive: If the ten planets in your chart line up neatly over two-thirds of the zodiac, as shown in the following figure, you’ve got drive, stamina, and practicality. The two most important planets are the first and the last: the locomotive, which leads the starry parade when the chart is rotated in a clockwise direction, and the caboose, which picks up the rear. Isaac Newton, George Washington, Jennifer Lawrence, and Oprah Winfrey share this pattern. The splash: Just as it sounds, the planets in this relatively rare pattern are sprinkled more or less evenly around the celestial wheel, as in the following figure. With a splash chart, a profusion of experience is yours for the taking. The drawback? Much as you enjoy splashing around in that bright blue pool, your energy can be scattered and diffuse. Examples of the splash at its finest: Isaac Asimov; and the French politician and physician Bernard Kouchner, co-founder of Doctors without Borders. The splay: This pattern, shown in the following figure, is similar to the splash except that here, the planets are distributed unevenly over the chart, with as many as three clumps of three or more planets. People with this pattern have a multitude of talents but it takes them a while to find themselves as they ricochet from one activity to another. When at last they settle into something, they are strongly dedicated, refusing to bow to popular opinion or to be pushed. Example: W. B. Yeats. The seesaw: If you have two groups of opposing planets separated by a couple of empty houses on each side, as shown in the following figure, you’re always bouncing up and down on the seesaw of circumstance. An excellent mediator, judge, and administrator, you can view things objectively because you’re supremely aware of the two sides of your own nature. But you may feel internally split because you have two sets of needs and talents, and you may find it a challenge to satisfy both. Examples include Whitney Houston, Ted Kennedy, Frank Sinatra, Malcolm Gladwell, Alexander McQueen, and Barack Obama. 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 element (fire, earth, air, and water) and in each mode (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 Fire Earth Air Water Cardinal Aries Capricorn Libra Cancer Fixed Leo Taurus Aquarius Scorpio Mutable Sagittarius Virgo Gemini Pisces 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 With a preponderance of planets in… You are… Fire signs Active, spirited, assertive, a natural leader Earth signs Realistic, sensual, stable, prudent, hard-working, security-minded Air signs Communicative, intellectual, sociable, fueled by ideas and social interaction Water signs Sensitive, impassioned, impressionable, compassionate, and insightful 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 With a majority of planets in… You are… Cardinal signs Action-oriented, brave, geared up to take the initiative Fixed signs Unyielding, determined, focused, opposed to change Mutable signs Versatile, resourceful, open to change 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: No fire: It’s hard for you to assert yourself, to maintain a consistent level of enthusiasm, and to mobilize the energy you need. No earth: The material side of life eludes and possibly distresses you. Paying the bills on time, keeping track of your keys — these ordinary chores can do you in. No air: You react emotionally and personally. It’s hard for you to assess a situation objectively. Dealing with abstractions fills you with apprehension. No water: Feelings baffle you. At times you don’t even recognize your own reactions, and you have limited understanding of the emotions of others. 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: No cardinal planets: Taking the initiative isn’t easy for you. When times of change descend upon you, you adjust. But you’d rather stick with the miserable known than risk getting lost in the unknown. No fixed planets: You bend with the wind, happily charging off in new directions as the situation calls for it. You might even take pride in your flexibility. The truth is, you lack persistence. That’s your weakness. No mutable planets. Bend with the wind? Why would you want to do that? You have the ability to get a new endeavor off the ground and the tenacity to stick with it to the end. But adapting to circumstances? Compromising? Not your high card. 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. Houses and elements Houses Group Name Characteristics 1, 5, and 9 Houses of Life (fire houses) Fiery; vigorous; ready to enjoy life 2, 6, and 10 Houses of Substance (earth houses) fond of systems and methods; motivated to seek security and recognition 3, 7, and 11 Houses of Relationship (air houses) Communicative; intent on creating fulfilling relationships 4, 8, and 12 Houses of Emotion (water houses) Emotional; discerning; interested in delving into family connections, the psyche, and the past 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 Houses Group Name Characteristics 1, 4, 7, and 10 Cardinal Houses Enterprising, active 2, 5, 8, and 11 Fixed Houses Stable, unwavering 3, 6, 9, and 12 Mutable Houses Thoughtful, adaptable 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: The bundle: When all planets concentrate within four signs or approximately 120 degrees, it creates a focused, confident, and strong individual. However, it limits versatility. The bowl: If planets span more than 120 but less than 180 degrees, it leads to highly motivated individuals determined to fill a perceived void. They are proactive and driven. The bucket: Similar to a bowl, but with one or two planets separated from the rest. This "handle" planet becomes the chart's focal point and commands attention. The locomotive: When planets align over two-thirds of the zodiac, it indicates drive, stamina, and practicality, with the first and last planets leading the chart. The splash: Planets are evenly scattered across the chart, offering a wide range of experiences but potentially leading to scattered energy. The splay: Planets form multiple clumps across the chart, reflecting a diverse range of talents and interests, but it may take time to focus on one. The seesaw: Two opposing groups of planets separated by empty houses suggest constant balancing of opposing needs and talents. 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: Fire: Active, spirited, assertive, a natural leader. Earth: Realistic, sensual, stable, prudent, hard-working, security-minded. Air: Communicative, intellectual, sociable, fueled by ideas and social interaction. Water: Sensitive, impassioned, impressionable, compassionate, and insightful. Emphasis by mode: Cardinal signs: Action-oriented, brave, geared up to take the initiative. Fixed signs: Unyielding, determined, focused, opposed to change. Mutable signs: Versatile, resourceful, open to change. 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.

Article / Updated 06-06-2023

What's your sign? A zodiac sign is the portion of the zodiac occupied by the Sun at the moment of your birth. Because the Sun resides in each sign of the zodiac for about a month, those signs are also known as Sun signs. The following table shows the 12 Sun signs — along with their astrological symbols, their dates, the essential traits associated with them, and their planetary rulers:

Cheat Sheet / Updated 04-25-2022

If you want to use astrology to understand yourself and others, you need to know the astrological basics and what they represent: the 12 signs of the zodiac; the sun, the moon, and the planets; and the 12 houses of the horoscope.

Article / Updated 10-27-2021

A full astrological chart with its web of planets, signs, houses, and aspects, is as complex and confounding as an actual human being—and just as hard to understand. To get a sense of your chart without drowning in detail, concentrate on these factors: The sun The sun reflects your basic identity — your motivations, needs, will, and individuality. Its sign describes the way you express these aspects of yourself. Its house determines the arena in which you can most effectively be yourself. The moon The Moon describes your feelings, subconscious, instincts, habits, and memory. Its sign determines the way you experience emotions. Its house placement points to the area of life that is most essential to your well being. The astrology rising sign or Ascendant The Ascendant describes the surface level of your personality — the face you show the world. The ruling planet The planet that governs your Ascendant is the ruler of your chart, regardless of its location or of anything else in your horoscope. As the ruler, it contributes both to your sense of self and to the impression you give others. The following table shows you the rising signs and their ruling planets. Ruling signs and rulerships If Your Rising Sign Is . . . You Strike People as . . . And Your Ruling Planet Is . . . Aries Impetuous, strong-willed Mars Taurus Stable, sensuous Venus Gemini Verbal, high-strung Mercury Cancer Emotional, responsive Moon Leo Confident, exuberant Sun Virgo Methodical, discerning Mercury Libra Charming, appealing Venus Scorpio Controlled, reserved Pluto and/or Mars Sagittarius Cosmopolitan, irrepressible Jupiter Capricorn Respectable, proud Saturn Aquarius Friendly, individualistic Uranus and/or Saturn Pisces Idealistic, receptive Neptune and/or Jupiter One of the most illuminating qualities of the ruling planet is its position by house. Take the actor Peter Dinklage, who played Tyrion Lannister in Game of Thrones. A Gemini and a dwarf, he has Pisces rising with Neptune, the co-ruler of Pisces, in Scorpio in the eighth house of sex. Plus, his Neptune is conjunct Mars, albeit widely. You can’t get any sexier than that. Or glance at Rachel Maddow’s chart. An Aries, she has Cancer rising with the Moon, her ruler, conjunct Mercury in Pisces in the ninth house of publication (she is the author of a number-one New York Times bestseller), education (she has a doctorate from Oxford), and broadcast journalism. Whatever you may think of her political views, I think it’s fair to say that she has answered the calling of her chart. Ruling Planet by Astrological House Position If Your Ruling Planet Is in the . . . You Are . . . First house Self-conscious, motivated, a personality, and a self-starter Second house Security-mined; stubborn; someone for whom material values are primary Third house Busy, restless, a communicator and a master of small talk Fourth house A family member who appreciates the arts of domesticity Fifth house What’s wrong with having fun? You are a romantic, an entertainer, a devoted parent, a creative soul Sixth house Health-conscious, hardworking, someone who finds identity in vocation. Seventh house A confidante and a companion. Partnership is central to your being. Eighth house A sharp-eyed observer, a questioner, a magician. Ninth house An explorer and a thinker, adventurous and opinionated. Tenth house An achiever, a leader, a person of prominence Eleventh house A friend, a joiner, a person with hopes and aspirations Twelfth house A spiritual seeker and a hermit Stelliums A cluster of three or more planets in the same sign and preferably in the same house is known as a stellium. Such a grouping is automatically noteworthy. When it appears in the same sign as the Sun, as commonly happens, it reinforces the message of that sign. When it shows up elsewhere, it can rival the Sun in importance. Either way, a stellium offers an intense concentration of passions and interests. It is always a focal point in a chart. If it includes four planets, and if one of those is Uranus, Neptune, or Pluto, it can take over the entire chart. To see a stellium in action, consider the chart of the Nobel-Prize-winning Chilean poet Pablo Neruda. His chart shows six planets in Cancer, including the Sun, the Moon, and Neptune, the ruler of his Ascendant. Most of those planets are in his fifth house of romance, which was one of his frequent subjects – but far from his only subject. In addition to love sonnets, he wrote odes to, among other household objects, a spoon, a plate, a bar of soap, an artichoke, and a box of tea. He was the poet of domesticity. Or ponder Mick Jagger’s chart. The world’s oldest, most indefatigable rock star has a stellium in Leo: the Sun, Jupiter, Pluto, Mercury (his ruling planet), North Node of the Moon, and — not conjunct any of the above but still in Leo — Chiron. So of course he’s still performing. He will always want to be on stage. That’s the nature of Leo. An Elevated Planet Finally, there may (or may not) be a planet in your chart that receives no other honors – it’s not your chart ruler, it’s not part of a Grand Cross – and yet it stands out for a simple reason: it’s a flag, a weather vane, a flashing beacon at the top of your chart. That’s all – and that’s enough. Just by virtue of being at the apex, it gains in importance.

Article / Updated 10-06-2021

Where do extraordinary qualities come from? What goes into the astrological chart of a world-class beauty, a groundbreaking artist, a celebrity, or a billionaire? These people obviously have something special . . . and maybe you do, too. Athletic prowess Mighty Mars, the planet of aggression, figures strongly in the charts of athletes, who are statistically more likely than non-athletes to have Mars within striking distance of either the Ascendant or the Midheaven. A Mars/Midheaven conjunction appears in the charts of Muhammad Ali, a Capricorn with said conjunction in Taurus; Tiger Woods, a Capricorn with the same conjunction in Gemini; and Lebron James, a Capricorn with a Mars/Midheaven conjunction in Pisces. And then there’s the astonishing Simone Biles, a Pisces. She has a Mars/Midheaven conjunction in Virgo, the sign of perfection. Mars can also be prominent in other ways. It could be well-placed by sign — in Aries, the sign it rules, or in Capricorn, the sign of its exaltation. It could be well-placed by aspect. For instance, it might be conjunct the Sun, as in the charts of swimmer Michael Phelps and soccer player Megan Rapinoe. It could be prominent because it connects with almost all the other planets, like Roger Federer’s Mars, which aspects every planet except Neptune. Strangely enough, Mars can even be dominant because it makes no aspects whatsoever. Such a solitary body, unhampered by other planets with competing agendas, operates without interference and can, consequently, be the most powerful planet in a chart. I don’t want to suggest that Mars is the only planet that affects athletic ability. A well-placed Sun gives vitality. Mercury lends quickness. Jupiter, Uranus, and Pluto confer power. Athleticism, like other talents, is an amalgamation of many factors. Finally, although gifted athletes are born under every sign of the zodiac, fire and earth signs are slightly more common among them than air and water. Athletes, like artists, benefit from a touch of Leo — not because it advances athletic ability but because it stimulates the love of performance. And that is definitely part of the game. Beauty (or the power of attraction) Just as Mars promotes athletic ability, Venus amplifies beauty and the ability to attract, particularly when it is Conjunct the Ascendant, the Sun, the Moon, the Midheaven, or the ruler of the Ascendant. In the first or tenth house. In Taurus or Libra, the signs it rules. Grace Kelly, Ingrid Bergman, Gregory Peck, and Paul Newman all had Venus conjunct the Ascendant. So do Cameron Diaz, Angelina Jolie, and Beyoncé, who has an unusual triple conjunction of Venus, Pluto, and the Ascendant — an irresistible combination. Venus also shows up near the Midheaven in the charts of beautiful people. Examples include Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Nicole Kidman, Kim Kardashian, Victoria Beckham, and David Bowie. Standards of beauty may change. But this is one area where Venus will always have the last word. Not everyone with a prominent Venus boasts a gorgeous face. What they do have is even more valuable, for Venus confers the power of attraction. “You made me love you,” sings Judy Garland to a framed photograph of Clark Gable. “I didn’t want to do it.” She couldn’t help it though, and neither could anyone else. He has Venus right on the Ascendant. Celebrity appeal Pop artist Andy Warhol is known for his paintings of Campbell’s soup cans; his silk-screened portraits of Elvis Presley, Jackie Kennedy, and hundreds of other people; his high-profile celebrity life; and his prescient statement, “In the future, everyone will be famous for 15 minutes.” Well, that was easy for him to say. Here are the ingredients that celebrity appeal requires (see the following figure): Planets conjunct the Midheaven and/or in the tenth house. Planets conjunct the Ascendant and/or in the first house. A touch of Leo. So how did his chart stack up to these specifications? He had Jupiter, the planet of expansion and good fortune, conjunct the Midheaven, along with Mars, Chiron, and the North Node in the tenth house. His Sun was closely conjunct the Ascendant, and he had two planets — Venus and Neptune, the guardians of art — in the first house. His Sun, three other planets, and the Ascendant are in Leo. Fame was his birthright. Healing hands Doctors, nurses, acupuncturists, podiatrists, dentists, and others with the desire to heal share certain astrological characteristics: By sign: Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces, the water signs, promote empathy. Virgo encourages an intellectual curiosity about health and healing techniques. Aquarius heightens humanitarian concern. By planet: Research has shown that doctors often have Saturn conjunct or opposite the Ascendant or Midheaven. Pluto, the planet of transformation, and Mars also figure heavily in the charts of healers. By house: The most crucial placements related to health are the sixth house of health and service; the eighth house of surgery, research, death, and rebirth; and the twelfth house of secrets and hospitals. A house is powerful if it holds one or more planets, but even an empty house can be more important than it looks. If the ruler of that house is conjunct the Sun, Moon, Ascendant, or Midheaven, the matters of that house will always be vital. In the 1950s, Dr. Jonas Salk, who developed the first vaccine against polio, was more than famous. He was revered. In those days, polio was a plague. In 1952 alone, 58,000 people in the United States contracted the disease, many were paralyzed, and over 3,000 died, most of them children. After the Salk vaccine became available, those numbers plummeted. By 1994, there was not a single case of polio in the western hemisphere. The number of lives he saved has been estimated in the millions. So, where does that healing force come from? His chart shows precisely the qualities enumerated earlier in this section (see the following figure): By sign: He has planets in all three of the water signs. His Sun is in Scorpio, along with Mars, Mercury, and the Ascendant. His Moon and North Node are in Pisces. And his Saturn and Pluto are in Cancer. He also has Jupiter and Uranus in Aquarius, showing his enthusiasm for humanitarian causes and his interest in science. By planet: He does not have Saturn conjunct or opposite the Ascendant or Midheaven. But his Saturn is prominent anyway as part of a tight Grand Trine linking the Sun, the Moon, Saturn, and Pluto. By house: Salk was not a clinical doctor who saw individual patients in his office. So it’s not surprising that he has nothing in the sixth house of service. Instead, as his Sun in the twelfth house suggests, he worked behind the scenes. Three planets plus the Ascendant in Scorpio indicate his interest in research, as do Saturn and Pluto in the eighth house, an inspired placement for investigating matters of life and death. Business savvy How are Fortune 500 CEOs different from you and me? Here’s how to spot executive ability: By sign: Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn are the preeminent signs of business. Equally important is Scorpio, the sign of power politics, covert operations, and self-control. In business, as in other areas, you might also expect to see a little Leo. That’s because Leos long to be on top, and they’ll happily put in hours — make that years — of overtime to achieve that goal. By planet: Saturn, well-situated by sign, house, and aspect, grants organizational ability, Mercury provides skill in communication, and Mars fuels the competitive drive. By house: Look for planets in the tenth house of reputation, the sixth house of work, the second house of money, and the eighth house of investment. Those houses support executive ability. Also, planets in the first house can bestow charisma, which is often the defining trait of a successful CEO. Jack Welch, chairman and CEO of General Electric for 20 years, shows many of these traits (see the following figure): By sign: With planets in all three earth signs, plus a Capricorn Ascendant, and the Sun in Scorpio, Welch shows clear organizational ability. By planet: Saturn rules his Ascendant and is therefore his ruling planet. Mercury is conjunct his Midheaven. But his most notable planet is his commanding Mars. It’s angular (in the first house), closely conjunct his Ascendant, well-aspected, and in the sign of its exaltation, all of which makes him exceptionally competitive and aggressive. By house: His Sun is in the tenth house of career and public life and is conjunct expansive Jupiter, which is an indication of public prominence and another mark of leadership ability. His Moon is in the eighth house of investments, along with two other planets. His chart ruler, Saturn, is in the second house of money. Say what you will about the corporate world, that’s where Jack Welch belongs. The same might be said for Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, and Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder of Facebook. Their birth times, and hence their house placements, are unknown. Their signs say it all. Bezos is a Capricorn, with five planets in earth signs and one in Scorpio. Zuckerberg is a Taurus, with four planets in earth signs and four in Scorpio. Like the rest of us, they’re living their charts. Ability to make money These are the traditional markers that point to the ability to amass money and material goods, whether through your own efforts or through sheer good luck: Planets in the second and eighth houses. Powerful, well-aspected planets ruling the second and eighth houses. A well-placed Jupiter. If you’re lucky, it will connect in some way with the second and eighth houses. Maybe it will be placed in one of those houses. It could form a strong aspect with the ruler of one of those houses. It could be rising. Or it could be sitting at the top of the chart like a crown. A glance at Jack Welch’s chart shows just what you might expect: He has four planets in the second and eighth houses, including Saturn, the ruler of his Ascendant. The planets ruling his second and eight houses are well-placed. Neptune, the ruler of his second house, is conjunct the Moon in the eighth house. Mercury, the ruler of his eighth house, is conjunct the Midheaven. As for Jupiter, it’s powerful by sign (because it’s in Sagittarius, the sign it rules); by house (because it’s in the tenth house of reputation); and by aspect (because it’s conjunct his Sun). Activist capability In troubled times, it sometimes takes a visionary activist to galvanize public opinion. Activists often pay a steep price for taking a stand. Yet they are unwavering in their commitment and energetic in their actions. Here are a few astrological indications that encourage activism: Planets in cardinal signs. If you want to start a movement – or anything else – planets in Aries, Cancer, Libra, or Capricorn are essential, with special emphasis on fiery Aries, the high-energy sign of the warrior, and earthy, ambitious, get-it-done Capricorn, the sign of structure. Planets in Aquarius, the freedom-loving, humanitarian sign of the future, or in the eleventh house of friends, community, and society. A prominent Mars, the planet of action. Feminist activist Gloria Steinem has all of these celestial indicators. She is an Aries with four planets in cardinal signs: Pluto in Cancer, Jupiter in Libra, and the Sun and Mars in Aries. She has two planets and the North Node in Aquarius. Finally, her Mars is in Aries, one of the two signs it rules; it is conjunct her Sun in Aries; and it is the ruler of her Scorpio Ascendant. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a stronger Mars. Or consider the chart of climate activist Greta Thunberg. I don’t know what time she was born, so her chart has been calculated arbitrarily for dawn and constructed, for convenience, using “whole sign” houses. But please ignore the houses: without a birthtime, house divisions are meaningless. Signs and aspects, on the other hand, are full of information. Like Gloria Steinem, she has all the markers for activism: She has four planets, including the Sun and Moon, in pragmatic, goal-oriented Capricorn, a cardinal sign. She was also born under a new moon — a promising indication. She has two planets in Aquarius, which is a signature of her generation. And she has Mars in Scorpio — a sign it rules — conjunct Venus, giving her passion and staying power. But Mars also makes a few stressful aspects so it won’t always be easy. Watching her is going to be interesting. Psychic ability Whether you call it extrasensory perception, clairvoyance, a sixth sense, or plain old intuition, psychic ability isn’t as rare as you might think. Here’s how to find it: By sign: Pisces, Scorpio, and Cancer bolster psychic ability. Sagittarius can also support a tendency in that direction. By planet: Neptune and the Moon keep the channels of reception open, especially if they’re conjunct. A prominent Uranus can generate flashes of insight and understanding. Aspects between Pluto and the Sun, Moon, Mercury, or Ascendant boost the powers of perception. None of this is guaranteed to make you psychic. But if your powers of observation are acute enough, no one can tell the difference. By house: The twelfth, eighth, and fourth houses carry the most weight. A classic illustration of psychic ability gone wild is the renowned healer Edgar Cayce, who worked as a “psychic diagnostician” (his term) by entering a trance and suggesting cures for clients he had never even met. His chart (see the following figure) showed all the indications of psychic ability: By sign: He had the Sun, three planets, and the North Node in Pisces. By planet: He had a Moon/Neptune conjunction in the ninth house, Uranus rising, and a prominent Pluto at the top of his chart. By house: His Sun was in the eighth house. Interest in becoming an astrologer Becoming a skilled astrologer has nothing to do with psychic ability. Astrology is an accumulated body of knowledge — not the mystic ability to intercept messages from the spirit world. Anyone can learn it. But you’re more likely to be interested if you have some of the following in your chart: A prominent Uranus. Activity in Aquarius and/or an active eleventh house. Activity in Scorpio and/or the eighth house. Scorpio is subtle and incisive. It feels at home with contradictions and hidden motivations, and it loves to ferret out a mystery — and that’s what astrology is all about. Writing ability It’s astonishing how many people fantasize about writing. Here’s what it takes to be a success: By sign: Great writers are born under every sign of the zodiac but Gemini is often haunted by the urge to write. Having the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Ascendant, or Midheaven in the sign of the twins stimulates writing ability and facility with language. By planet: Becoming a successful writer requires a robust Mercury. Mercury is strong if it rules the Ascendant or Midheaven, if it’s in Gemini or Virgo, if it’s in the third, sixth, ninth, or tenth houses, or if it makes strong aspects to other planets. Don’t worry if it doesn’t do all of those things. And don’t fret if your Mercury is retrograde. That placement is so common among the authors I admire that I’ve started to wonder whether it’s actually an advantage. Saturn, the planet of self-discipline and structure, is essential for a writer, especially if you’re working on your own. Neptune can be pivotal in writing poetry, fiction, song lyrics, film scripts, or anything that’s primarily imaginative. The Moon is arguably the most important planet, as the researcher Michel Gauquelin discovered. He found that creative writers are more likely than non-writers to have the Moon in one of the so-called zones of power: either overhead (that is, in the ninth house or conjunct the Midheaven in the tenth) or rising (in the first house conjunct the Ascendant or in the twelfth house of secrets and solitude). By house: Look for activity in the third house of communication, the ninth house of publication, and the fifth house of creativity.

Article / Updated 02-13-2020

Every astrological chart includes the Moon, eight planets, twelve houses, and more. But the core of almost every horoscope is the Sun, which is why we are beginning with the signs of the Zodiac that begin in Spring. The signs of Spring: Aries, Taurus, and Gemini The Sun begins its journey through the signs and the seasons on or about March 20, when it enters Aries. On that day, the Vernal Equinox, day and night are approximately equal. But soon the balance shifts. For three months, the night grows shorter and the day progressively longer as the Sun spins through the signs of spring – the most youthful signs of the zodiac. When the day reaches its maximum length, spring is over. The three signs of spring are: Aries the Ram (March 20 to April 18), the sign of positive (or yang) cardinal fire. Aries is bold, energetic, youthful, and gifted at setting things into motion. Taurus the Bull (April 19 to May 20), the sign of negative (or yin) fixed earth. Taurus is tenacious, pragmatic, resourceful, and — in case you thought that earth signs are only about practicality — talented, sensuous, and pleasure-loving. Gemini the Twins (May 21 to June 20), the sign of positive (or yang) mutable air. Gemini is spontaneous, curious, quick-witted, restless, sociable, and capricious. If your birthday falls into one of those signs, you are in the right place. The Sun’s placement in the sky at the moment of your birth determines your sign. If you have any doubt about your Sun sign, perhaps because you were born at the beginning or end of a sign, get a free, accurate copy of your birth chart. Once you have that, you’ll know for sure. Here's how: Astrolabe provides a no-frills birth chart with two or three pages of interpretation. Its resources and services are not as extensive as those of some other websites, and its charts are not as lovely. But if you go to this website, look for “Free Astro Chart” (or words to that effect), enter your birth data, and hit “submit,” your natal chart will instantly wing its way back to you. Astrolabe does not tempt you with too many bells and whistles. But if you want an easy-to-read birth chart with some basic interpretation, you can get it here — fast and free. The following figure represents the Sun. In ancient cultures, the Sun always symbolized something big, like life and death. The Incas thought of the Sun as a divine ancestor. The Egyptians and other civilizations considered the Sun a god. The astrological symbol reflects that importance. The outer circle represents infinity, the universe, and your cosmic potential. The dot within it represents your human individuality. Each sign has a polarity (positive or negative, yang or yin), an element (fire, earth, air, or water), and a quality or modality (cardinal, fixed, or mutable). The signs of Summer: Cancer, Leo, and Virgo It always feels odd to me that the first day of summer, when the Sun rises to its maximum height, is the longest day of the year and simultaneously the start of the slow descent into winter. After that glorious Summer Solstice, the days dwindle down, becoming progressively shorter while the nights grow long. When day and night are roughly equal in length, summer’s over. But while it lasts, summer is surely the most exhilarating season of the year. The three signs of summer are: Cancer the Crab (June 21 to July 22), the sign of cardinal water. Cancer is known for its emotional acuity, sympathetic nature, and love of all things domestic. Leo the Lion (July 23 to August 22), the sign of fixed fire. It’s vibrant, confident, determined, and brimming with personality. Virgo the Virgin (August 23 to September 22), the sign of mutable earth. Virgo is famed for its intelligence, analytical mind, attention to detail, and tendency to be a perfectionist. Each sign has a polarity (positive or negative), an element (fire, earth, air, or water), and a quality or modality (cardinal, fixed, or mutable). The signs of Autumn: Libra, Scorpio, and Sagittarius The first six signs of the zodiac, according to traditional astrology, are youthful and subjective, signs of self and individual development. The last six signs are other-oriented, more invested in relationship, community, and the world. Well, that’s one way to look at the circle of the zodiac. Another way would be to think of it as a hero’s journey, a mythological tale that starts with an Aries adventure and ends with Piscean enchantment, though that too is an over-simplification. Still, that’s something reassuring about the notion that the signs tell a story by building on each other. Take the signs of Autumn, which shine a light first on relationships (that’s Libra’s responsibility); then on sex, death, and regeneration (that’s Scorpio’s weighty mission); and on the urge to explore the world in search of wisdom (the eternal quest of Sagittarius). The three signs of autumn are: Libra the Scales (September 23 to October 22), the sign of cardinal air. Libra is recognized for its intellect, sense of fairness, and aesthetic sensitivity, as well as for the importance it places on relationships. Scorpio the Scorpion (October 23 to November 21), the sign of fixed water. Scorpio is known for its intensity, magnetism, instinct, and strategic intelligence. Sagittarius the Archer (November 22 to December 21), the sign of mutable fire. The archer is independent, adventurous, expansive, and philosophically inclined. The Sun sign dates in this book (and every other astrology book) are only approximate because, from year to year, there’s always a bit of variation. So, if your birthday falls at the beginning or end of a sign, you need a mathematically correct horoscope. To make sure that you’ve got one, collect your birth data and go online. Each sign has an element (fire, earth, air, or water), a polarity (positive or negative) and a quality or modality (cardinal, fixed, or mutable). The Signs of Winter: Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces The zodiac is more than a magnificent ribbon of stars seemingly wrapped around our planet. Astrologers see it as a mirror of human experience. It commences with the birth of the individual, evolves into family and other relationships, and culminates, symbolically, with the establishment of civilization (that’s Capricorn); the quest for a nobler world (that’s Aquarius); and the ascent into realms of the spirit (that’s Pisces, at least in theory). After that, the Earth keeps spinning, so it’s back to the beginning. The cycle never ends. What makes this design so enthralling is that we carry within us all twelve signs, each one equally commendable — and equally pitiful. Even if you have nothing — not a planet, not an asteroid, not even an angle — in any of the three signs of winter, they still live within you, part of your cosmic DNA. Here are the signs of the winter, the last three on the cosmic wheel: Capricorn the Goat (December 22 to January 19), the sign of cardinal earth. The Goat is resourceful, conscientious, steadfast, and ambitious. Aquarius the Water Bearer (January 20 to February 18), the sign of fixed air. Aquarius is forward-looking, innovative, altruistic, and an avatar for change. Pisces the Fish (February 19 to March 19), the sign of mutable water. Pisces is sensitive, compassionate, intuitive, imaginative, and spiritual. Each sign has an element (fire, earth, air, or water), a polarity (positive or negative), and a quality or modality (cardinal, fixed, or mutable). If you were born at the very beginning or end of a sign (that is, if you were born on the cusp), you need to obtain a mathematically accurate copy of your chart if you want to be sure of your sign.

Article / Updated 02-13-2020

An astrological birth chart can easily have dozens of aspects in it. The aspects that deserve the closest attention are those that are the tightest, those that involve the Sun or the Moon, and those that weave three or more planets into a single pattern, as in these configurations: The Grand Trine: Three planets, each at a 120°angle to the other two, form a giant good-luck triangle called a Grand Trine, shown in this figure. A Grand Trine. A perfect Grand Trine includes at least one planet in each sign of a given element. In those areas of life, things seem to click into place — you don’t have to do much — and opportunities abound. Horror writers Shirley Jackson and Stephen King have Grand Trines in fire signs. Babe Ruth and Ruth Bader Ginsburg have Grand Trines in water. Stephen Hawking had one in earth, F. Scott Fitzgerald in air. But not everyone fortunate enough to have this harmonious aspect uses it effectively. The Grand Trine, a symbol of the slacker, is notorious for bringing just enough good fortune to keep you from feeling that you have to exert yourself. The Grand Cross: If two sets of planets in your chart oppose and square each other, as shown in the following figure, you have your hands full because there are many moving pieces with this pattern. The perfect Grand Cross is a relatively rare but insistent aspect that brings conflicting motivations, uncomfortable clashes, and a boatload of tension, obstruction, and frustration. The Grand Cross can be a source of commitment and courage. Examples are Miles Davis, Mia Farrow, Conan O’Brien, and Jan Morris, the Welsh historian and writer of renown who became one of the first prominent people to have sex reassignment surgery and to write openly about her transition. The T-square: When two planets oppose each other with a third planet square to both, as shown in the following figure, they form a T-square — a dynamic, troublesome but commonplace pattern. A T-square, which looks like a table missing a leg, inevitably creates tension, discontent, and the feeling of being besieged. It also spurs you to alter your situation, which may be why so many successful people have T-squares in their charts. Among them: Prince, Ronald Reagan, Diane Arbus, Stephen Hawking, Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, and Cher. The Yod, Finger of Fate, or Hand of God: Sounds serious, doesn’t it? Actually, this challenge-to-spot configuration, shown in the following figure, is subtler than the other aspect patterns. It looks like a long, narrow triangle, with two planets at its base forming a sextile (a 60° angle) and a third at the apex, or peak, forming 150° angles to the other two. That 150° aspect, also called a quincunx or inconjunct, has a stop-and-go energy that creates false starts, backslides, uncertainties, and frustrations. It demands continual adjustment and impairs your decision-making abilities, notably in the areas affected by the planet at the tip of the triangle. This aspect sets up complex dynamics within a chart. But is it lethal? No. Is it a sign of special favor from God? No. Do plenty of people have this aspect? Yes. (Try Leonardo da Vinci, Winston Churchill, Meryl Streep, Bonnie Raitt, Margaret Atwood, Amal Clooney, and Barack Obama.) Don’t let the name of this aspect unhinge you. Astrologers have invented all kinds of additional aspects, most of them variations on those described above. There are kites, castles, cradles, mystic rectangles, pentagrams, trees, wedges, trapezoids, and a series of 60° angles called a Grand Sextile, Star of David, or Seal of Solomon. There’s a hammer, a butterfly, a warrior, a variation of the Yod called a boomerang, and more. But it’s not necessary to know every possible combination. Start with the Grand Trine, the Grand Cross, the T-square, and the Yod. For quite a long time — maybe forever — that should be sufficient.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

Just as the band of sky where the Sun, the Moon, and the planets can be found is divided into 12 signs, an astrological chart is divided into 12 houses. Each astrological house influences different areas of your life, as shown in this table: House Area of Influence First House Appearance, outward personality Second House Money, possessions, values Third House Communication, immediate environment, brothers and sisters Fourth House Home, parents, roots, circumstances at the end of life Fifth House Romance, children, creativity, fun Sixth House Work, health, service Seventh House Marriage and other partnerships Eighth House Sex, death, regeneration, other people's money Ninth House Higher education, travel, religion, philosophy, publishing, law Tenth House Career, status, reputation Eleventh House Friends, groups, goals, aspirations Twelfth House Seclusion, secrets, spirituality, self-sabotage, institutions

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

Astrology holds that the Sun, the Moon, and the planets represent different facets of who you are and express their energies through the signs that they occupy in your birth chart. This table shows the astrological symbol for each of those celestial bodies (plus the Nodes of the Moon and the asteroid Chiron) and what it represents.