Valkie
December 1st, 2005, 12:57 PM
Everyone is familiar with the set up of our solar system, but not everyone is familiar with how this relates to astrology.
From our prospective on Earth, each of the planets travel their paths on the grand back ground of the universe and its stars. After the same 15 degree wide path of sky every year, the major constellations that were on this belt were given names. The belt was divided up into 12 parts, one for each of the major constellations that it contained, each part being 30 degrees in length making up the total circle of 360 degrees. We know these constellations as the zodiac.
A natal chart is a map of that belt that shows where the planets were sitting at the time of birth.
Just as the zodiac is divided into it’s 12 signs, a natal chart is divided into 12 houses, each house ruling a different aspect of a person’s life. The Ascendant, located on the left horizon of the chart marked by Asc, is the point where the Sun and the Moon rise. The Descendant, located on the right side and marked by Dec, is the point where they set. Medium Coeli, also known as Mid-heaven and marked by MC on the top of the chart, is the highest point of the planets or the ‘noon’ spot. Imum Coeli, also known as Nadir and marked by the IC, is the lowest point of the planets or the ‘midnight’ spot.
The houses are numbered from the Asc, counter-clockwise. For the actual visual, check the attachment in the 'astrology glyphs' thread.
To put all this information in perspective: Let's say that it is Noon on the day of a Full Moon. From experience as a living person, you know that the Moon is not out during the day on the night of a full moon. If you think of this in terms on how it would appear on a natal chart, you would see that the Sun is conjunct to MC (because the MC is the 'noon point'), that the Sun and Moon are opposite of each other (because that is what a full moon is), and that the Moon is conjunct to the IC.
Now, I know that someone posted in the astrology forum asking where we learned it. I had mentioned that it takes a bit of practice to ‘feel’ your way through a chart. Those of you who know other means of divination, especially tarot, should be able to relate to this.
Like tarot; planets, signs, and angles all have their own meanings that are ‘standard’, just as tarot cards do, but there is no way of getting a complete list unless you want to sit around and give yourself a headache by thinking about it. There is the basic energy of a planet, sign, ect… just as there is a basic energy of a tarot card.
Exp. Tarot: The Ace of Cups: The basic energy of this card is new love begingings. It can manifest its self as a new romantic relationship, the birth of a child, or starting a creative phase of your life. It’s the cards that come out in the rest of the reading that helps the tarotist figure out which way the energy will manifest itself.
Astrology works on very much the same idea. Everything has it’s basic energy. Unlike tarot, astrology gives a very specific outline on how and where the energy can come out in the person’s life. The outline is shown to use through the where the planets are located, where the signs are, what aspects are made to what.
I'm going to try to keep most of the descriptions as the 'basic energy' level because that's where being able to actually understand the chart begins. Most of the basic lessons' 'homework' will consist of your own brain storming and seeing how this basic energy manifests in your own charts.
I'm going to leave you guys with this bit of information to absorb and finish up working on the Aries Lesson. Any questions, feel free to ask.
From our prospective on Earth, each of the planets travel their paths on the grand back ground of the universe and its stars. After the same 15 degree wide path of sky every year, the major constellations that were on this belt were given names. The belt was divided up into 12 parts, one for each of the major constellations that it contained, each part being 30 degrees in length making up the total circle of 360 degrees. We know these constellations as the zodiac.
A natal chart is a map of that belt that shows where the planets were sitting at the time of birth.
Just as the zodiac is divided into it’s 12 signs, a natal chart is divided into 12 houses, each house ruling a different aspect of a person’s life. The Ascendant, located on the left horizon of the chart marked by Asc, is the point where the Sun and the Moon rise. The Descendant, located on the right side and marked by Dec, is the point where they set. Medium Coeli, also known as Mid-heaven and marked by MC on the top of the chart, is the highest point of the planets or the ‘noon’ spot. Imum Coeli, also known as Nadir and marked by the IC, is the lowest point of the planets or the ‘midnight’ spot.
The houses are numbered from the Asc, counter-clockwise. For the actual visual, check the attachment in the 'astrology glyphs' thread.
To put all this information in perspective: Let's say that it is Noon on the day of a Full Moon. From experience as a living person, you know that the Moon is not out during the day on the night of a full moon. If you think of this in terms on how it would appear on a natal chart, you would see that the Sun is conjunct to MC (because the MC is the 'noon point'), that the Sun and Moon are opposite of each other (because that is what a full moon is), and that the Moon is conjunct to the IC.
Now, I know that someone posted in the astrology forum asking where we learned it. I had mentioned that it takes a bit of practice to ‘feel’ your way through a chart. Those of you who know other means of divination, especially tarot, should be able to relate to this.
Like tarot; planets, signs, and angles all have their own meanings that are ‘standard’, just as tarot cards do, but there is no way of getting a complete list unless you want to sit around and give yourself a headache by thinking about it. There is the basic energy of a planet, sign, ect… just as there is a basic energy of a tarot card.
Exp. Tarot: The Ace of Cups: The basic energy of this card is new love begingings. It can manifest its self as a new romantic relationship, the birth of a child, or starting a creative phase of your life. It’s the cards that come out in the rest of the reading that helps the tarotist figure out which way the energy will manifest itself.
Astrology works on very much the same idea. Everything has it’s basic energy. Unlike tarot, astrology gives a very specific outline on how and where the energy can come out in the person’s life. The outline is shown to use through the where the planets are located, where the signs are, what aspects are made to what.
I'm going to try to keep most of the descriptions as the 'basic energy' level because that's where being able to actually understand the chart begins. Most of the basic lessons' 'homework' will consist of your own brain storming and seeing how this basic energy manifests in your own charts.
I'm going to leave you guys with this bit of information to absorb and finish up working on the Aries Lesson. Any questions, feel free to ask.