*If you have an interception in the 1st/7th, you can struggle to express yourself with strangers. If you have an interception in the 5th/11th, you can struggle to express yourself with your friends. Check the sign ruling the House for that is the sign you use to compensate for the interception.
Aries Rising/Aquarius in the 11th: Wants to be seen as a solitary leader, but will be very loyal with a sense of belonging with friends.
Taurus Rising/Pisces in the 11th: Wants to be seen as calm and collected with strangers, but they will come undone with their friends - often becoming sensitive and compassionate.
Gemini Rising/Aries in the 11th: Wants to be seen as intelligent and smart with strangers, but will be their true, genuine self aggressively and passionately with their friends.
Cancer Rising/Taurus in the 11th: Wants to be seen as nurturing and sweet to strangers, but they are truly sweet to their friends - often pampering them with various comforts.
Leo Rising/Gemini in the 11th: Wants to look charismatic and their best to strangers, but will disclose their true thoughts and be dorky with their friends.
Virgo Rising/Cancer in the 11th: Wants to appear put together and organized to strangers, but will become moody but nurturing with their friends.
Libra Rising/Leo in the 11th: Wants to appear as a person who caters to strangers, but will put themselves in the spotlight with their friends.
Scorpio Rising/Virgo in the 11th: Wants to deliver the vibe that they don't owe anyone anything to strangers, but will always serve and care for their friends' needs.
Sagittarius Rising/Libra in the 11th: Wants to be seen as chill and outgoing to strangers, but they will care a lot about what their friends think of them.
Capricorn Rising/Scorpio in the 11th: Wants to be seen as a person of power to strangers, but they'll show their source of power (perhaps weakness) to their friends.
Aquarius Rising/Sagittarius in the 11th: Wants to be seen as someone to wants to implement change with strangers, but they'll go with the flow with their friends.
Pisces Rising/Capricorn in the 11th: Wants to be seen as compassionate and free-flowing with strangers, but will be serious and invested in their friends.
Pluto in the 1st House
The 1st House is often the house that collectively represents how we view the world. The house represents the first breath we take, and our impressions of the world. The 1st House can usually rule over what we are consciously aware of. The 1st House is arguably one of the most important houses, for it is a template for the natal chart, setting the chart for which signs rule which houses.
Those with Pluto in the 1st House often approach the world knowing very well how dark the world can be. Pluto in the 1st natives are not naive, and since they are aware of the darkness of the world, they often keep to themselves. Pluto in the 1st individuals are skilled at filtering what information is disclosed. Often, people may feel like they know the native well when they really don’t at all. Those with Pluto in the 1st know how to perfectly give just enough information to keep curious people satisfied, but hide just enough information to where nothing worth knowing is known.
However, the Pluto in the 1st native may always feel like they’re constantly filtering out the information they’re giving. With these natives, there is a strong investigative vibe that’s naturally provoking. Those who feel exposed and violated will often dislike the native, while those who feel transformed and understood will love the native. With Pluto in the 1st, first impressions are often extreme. You either hate or love a Pluto in the 1st native, and with many strong reactions, it can be hard for the native to understand what image they’re truly putting out.
The reason why these natives can have such strong powerful reactions is because their presence is provoking, whether it is intentional or not. There is often an either uncomfortable or overly embracing feeling when a person meets a person with Pluto in the 1st. Those with Pluto in the 1st are usually intuitive about individuals and can quite easily correctly assess a person without knowing too much information about them. This ability is the reason why a Pluto in the 1st native can be provoking. The amount of information the native can have on others can either be seen as an insightful, understanding acceptance or a violating intrusion into the soul.
This is however not the only reason why Pluto in the 1st natives drive strong reactions from others. Pluto in the 1st natives themselves tend to have strong reactions to other people. These natives can often be very intense, for their self-expression is often extreme. There often isn’t a moderate, balanced way for these natives to express themselves. These natives will either wholly express themselves to the fullest, or not express at all. With that in mind, when these natives do express themselves, there is a lot of passion. With passion and intensity being key factors for these natives, power is very important for these individuals. Since passion and intensity, parts of their self-expression, can be hard to control, these natives strive for that control, and often, this can cause power struggles with other people who may threaten that control. Due to these power struggles, strong reactions can occur.
One issue Pluto in the 1st natives can have is the feeling of paranoia in regards to others and the world surrounding them. Pluto in the 1st natives can even be paranoid with themselves. The reason why this paranoia can spring up can often be due to how the native is aware of the darkness of the world. Since these natives are very secretive, they often have a strong, defensive wall of protection. These natives can have the feeling that the world is out to get them, and due to this, their paranoia can limit them on many opportunities. In a sense, due to the fact that they’re aware of darkness, these natives are secretly scared of the world. The motive that drives their secretive nature is fear, and with that fear comes a sensitivity these natives want to hide.
The sense of self and view of the world can often not just be extreme, but also transformative. Those with Pluto in the 1st can often go through many physical transformations in their lives, whether that would be losing weight, getting a haircut, getting a tattoo, and so on. These natives can also go through emotional phases, often having a “happy” phase, an “emo” phase, and so on. With the Pluto in the 1st, the native is never quite consistent with themselves, and this is due to the fact that these natives face a lot of volatile situations in their lives that can threaten this consistency.
Pluto is the planet that shows where the native has power. With that in mind, Pluto also marks the area of life where the native can either be empowered or destroyed, depending on how that power is handled. For those with Pluto in the 1st, how they handle themselves will determine whether they are empowered or not. These natives can often feel like the most powerful individual, capable of anything for one instance, and then hate themselves to no end in another instance. With this in mind, it’s very possible for Pluto in the 1st natives to place themselves in very dangerous phases in their lives. These natives are able to weather through a lot of situations and come out changed either for the better or worse. However, deep down, these natives crave for a sense of stability in their sense of selves. Through every drastic change, there is a hope that the new change they’ve implemented on themselves will be their last.
Idealizations
In astrology, idealization is often seen by Venus and Neptune in their own way. Venus shows the idealizations we have to experience comfort and pleasure in a physical realm. Neptune is the planet of idealizations that transcends all realms, these idealizations often tied to fantasy and delusion.
A lot of these idealizations stem from the dignities of these planets. With Venus ruling over Taurus and Libra, the idealization will often come from a physical realm (Taurus) and will be harmonious not only to the self, but to others (Libra.) With Neptune traditionally ruling over Sagittarius and Pisces, the idealization will often come from a fascination and need to explore the environment (Sagittarius) and a need to expand the imagination (Pisces.)
if any of these planets are intercepted, there is often a block of grasping or obtaining these ideals. With Venus, there can be a constant feeling of discomfort. With an intercepted Neptune, the native can often feel uninspired. Those with an interception in Aries/Libra will often feel their idealizations are hard to coexist with in regards to others. With a Taurus/Scorpio interception, they often feel their idealizations are hard to gain stability with. Those with a Sagittarius/Gemini interception will often feel that their imaginations are not intellectually sound and therefore not worth pursuing. With a Virgo/Pisces interception will feel that their fantasies are hard to achieve and grasp.
VENUS
“My physical idealizations lie in [House with Venus.] I idealize because I want to be comfortable and satisfied with [House ruled by Taurus.] I also make idealizations because I think through [House ruled by Libra,] I can work well with others.
NEPTUNE
“My fantastical idealizations lie in [House with Neptune.] I fantasize because I want to explore and learn more about [House ruled by Sagittarius.] I also fantasize because I think that through [House ruled by Pisces,] I can be imaginative and creative.”
1st House: myself and my self-expression
2nd House: my values my sense of security
3rd House: my mind and voice
4th House: my past and family
5th House: my inspirations and hobbies
6th House: my everyday life and health
7th House: others
8th House: my secrets and intimate relationships
9th House: my beliefs in the world
10th House: my reputation and goals
11th House: my friends and community
12th House: my subconscious
Example: Venus in the 5th, Taurus ruling the 8th, Libra ruling the 1st - “My physical idealizations lie in my inspirations and hobbies. I idealize because I want to be comfortable and satisfied with my secrets and intimate relationships. I also make idealizations because I think through myself and my self-expression, I can work well with others.
Neptune in the 8th, Sagittarius ruling the 6th, Pisces ruling the 9th House - “My fantastical idealizations lie in my secrets and intimate relationships. I fantasize because I want to explore and learn more about my everyday life and health. I also fantasize because I think that through my beliefs in the world, I can be imaginative and creative.”
Empty Houses in Astrology
WHAT IS AN EMPTY HOUSE?
An empty house is a house that doesn’t have any planets. If the house however has asteroids, but no planets, it is still considered an empty house.
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF AN EMPTY HOUSE?
The answer to this question is a little tricky, because all empty houses differ in meaning depending on the natal chart you are looking. There isn’t a “general” meaning for an empty house due to the unique possibilities an empty house can actually offer. It can be argued that the word “empty” can be misleading. Empty houses does not mean a lack of meaning for manifestation in your natal chart. Energy manifests everywhere in your chart through the many connections you have through planets and aspects.
This means that empty houses are indeed very significant in your natal chart. Even though you don’t have planets, facets of self-expression in these houses, the self-expression you express in other houses will often energetically bleed onto these empty houses through aspects with lords of these empty houses. Often, interpreting the connections between an empty house and another house with a planet in it can explain certain elements of the natal chart.
IS IT NORMAL TO HAVE AN EMPTY HOUSE?
It’s completely “normal.” There are twelve houses but ten planets. You will at least have two empty houses in your chart.
HOW DO YOU INTERPRET AN EMPTY HOUSE?
Here is a possible way to interpret an empty house. There are various methods to do this and it will vary from astrologer to astrologer:
Interpret the sign ruling the house cusp.
Look at the lord of the empty house.
Look at aspects to the lord of the empty house.
Continue investigating until you’ve made a satisfactory amount of connections in your natal chart.
Enemies in the Natal Chart
Open enemies are represented by the 7th House while secret enemies are represented by the 12th House. Enemies are represented by these houses because planets and signs in the 7th and 12th house are often prone to be in the control of others if the native doesn’t own themselves. With this in mind, planets in the 7th and 12th House can be spots of vulnerability if you don’t take ownership of your planets.
Open enemies are ruled by the 7th House because usually, the native is aware of an enemy attempting to attack them. These attacks usually occur in interactions. With secret enemies however, the native may not be aware of the enemy for the attack can be done in secret.
Sun in the 7th/Sun in the 12th: With these placements, there can be an aversion to people to who are arrogant and egotistical. However, this feeling of aversion can also point out the arrogance in the native themselves. Your enemies will attempt to attack your ego and who you essentially are.
Moon in the 7th/Moon in the 12th: Natives with these placements will dislike others who are manipulative and lack restraint on their emotional impulses. However, this feeling of aversion can highlight the lack of emotional control the native may have. Your enemies will attempt to hurt your feelings.
Mercury in the 7th/Mercury in the 12th: Natives with these placements will dislike those who are flaky, picky, and intellectually demanding. However, this feeling of aversion can point out the intellectual struggles the native themselves can have. Your enemies will attempt to attack your intelligence, mind, and words.
Venus in the 7th/Venus in the 12th: Natives with these placements will dislike those who are shallow and overly indulgent. However, this dislike can highlight the shallowness they may have in themselves. Your enemies will attempt to attack your ideals, appearance, and sense of comfort. It is unlikely for these natives to have many enemies.
Mars in the 7th/Mars in the 12th: With these placements, these natives will dislike those who are inconsiderate, those with anger issues, and those who use their anger destructively. However, this dislike can highlight how the native can struggle to handle their own energy themselves. Your enemies will attempt to take advantage of your energy, passion, and anger.
Jupiter in the 7th/Jupiter in the 12th: Natives with these placements will dislike those who are arrogant, preachy, and ignorant. However, this dislike can highlight the arrogance the native brings onto others. Your enemies will attempt to attack your hopes, your talents, and attempt to downplay your skills. It is unlikely for these natives to have many enemies.
Saturn in the 7th/Saturn in the 12th: Natives with these placements will dislike those who are close-minded and restrictive. However, natives with these placements may struggle to realize the restrictions they place on themselves and others. Your enemies will attempt to attack your standards and will attempt to show your flaws.
Uranus in the 7th/Uranus in the 12th: Natives with these placements will dislike those who are unpredictable, detached, and arrogant. However, these characteristics can also be shown through the native through others or the subconscious. Your enemies will attempt to attack your creativity, make your life chaotic, and put down your aspirations.
Neptune in the 7th/Neptune in the 12th: Natives with these placements will dislike those who self-victimize, manipulate others, and wrongly sacrifice themselves. However, these natives may struggle to acknowledge these characteristics in themselves. Your enemies will attempt to confuse, manipulate, and place a false image on you.
Pluto in the 7th/Pluto in the 12th: Natives with this placement will dislike those are volatile, manipulative, and power hungry. However, these natives may struggle to acknowledge these traits in themselves. Your enemies will attempt to attack you by making you feel powerless, manipulating you, and exposing you wrongly.
In addition, these planets will be lords of the house ruled by the signs ruled by the planets. The location of where your 7th/12th lords are ruling can show where and why your enemies attack you.
Example: Pluto in the 7th, Scorpio Rising. Check Lord of the 1st House since Pluto rules over Scorpio.
Lord of the 1st House: Your enemies attack you because they dislike your self-expression. Your self-expression can be highly affected by your enemies.
Lord of the 2nd House: Your enemies attack you because they dislike your values and self-security. Your security (through values, money, and self-confidence) can be highly affected by your enemies.
Lord of the 3rd House: Your enemies attack you because they dislike your mind and words. Your words and thoughts can be highly affected by your enemies.
Lord of the 4th House: Your enemies attack you because they dislike your past and family. Your past and family can be highly affected by your enemies.
Lord of the 5th House: Your enemies attack you because they dislike your creativity and romantic partners. Your attempts to inspiration and your romantic relationships can be highly affected by your enemies.
Lord of the 6th House: Your enemies attack you because they dislike your way of living life. Your daily life and health can be highly affected by your enemies.
Lord of the 7th House: Your enemies attack you because they dislike how you interact with them and others. Your interactions in general can be highly affected by your enemies.
Lord of the 8th House: Your enemies attack you because they dislike your secret self or want to expose your secret self. Your sense of intimacy can be highly affected by your enemies.
Lord of the 9th House: Your enemies attack you because they dislike what and how you believe the world to be. Your view of the world and your beliefs can be highly affected by your enemies.
Lord of the 10th House: Your enemies attack you because they dislike your ambitions and your reputation. Your reputation can be highly affected by your enemies.
Lord of the 11th House: Your enemies attack you because they dislike your friends and/or your aspirations. Your group of friends can be highly affected by your enemies.
Lord of the 12th House: Your enemies attack you because they dislike your private self or because they do not know your private self. Your subconscious can be highly affected by your enemies.
Sun in the 7th House
The 7th House rules over your one-on-one interactions with people. Your general and initial relationship dynamics start with the 7th House. With the 7th House, you are face-to-face with another individual, constantly projecting and sharing parts of yourself. In a sense, every interaction you have is a simultaneous exchange and revealing of the self and the other. The 7th House is commonly associated with a mirror.
With the Sun in the 7th House, the self is often found in other people. Natives with this placement can often find pieces of themselves in other people, using those pieces to accumulate a sense of self. However, what this native can struggle with is self-discovery. With any planet in the 7th House, the native relies on the people they interact with to express a certain planet for them. With the Sun in the 7th, the native unconsciously expects people to show or tell them who they are.
With this in mind, self-confidence can be an issue. With any planet in the 7th House, the condition of the planet is dependent on others, which can be inconsistent. The native’s sense of self is inconsistent. The native’s ego in the eyes of the native can frequently change depending on what they receive when they interact with others. It’s important that those with their Sun in the 7th House interact with people who are positive, but also honestly constructive.
While self-discovery and self-ownership is something the Sun in the 7th native struggles with, what the Sun in the 7th native does best is discover others. Since the ego is tied to the house of interactions, the native is quite perceptive and observant of other people. Often, those with their Sun in the 7th can naturally detect what other people need in terms of their ego and sense of self. With the Sun in the 7th, the native chooses to put the spotlight on the other person.
With this in mind, the native can often highlight the other person’s good and bad points. The native, through social nuances, can fulfill the other person’s ego and give a strong sense of confidence to others. In this sense, Sun in the 7th natives can bring others a lot of inspiration. Sun in the 7th natives can be quite likable people, since they are often very diplomatic and pleasant. There is often a warm, safe vibe with these natives.
In relationships, Sun in the 7th natives are quite giving, perhaps even sacrificial. Again, with the spotlight placed onto the other person, the native often prioritizes the needs of the other person before themselves. Those with Sun in the 7th House like to showcase their good relationships, for they feel that their good relationships will show the best parts of themselves. This showcasing can be done consciously or unconsciously, for doing this can be a part of self-expression for the native. The native may have a sense of pride and attachment to the positive relationships they create.
However, where the Sun is located in the chart shows a sensitive point in the natal chart. The relationship dynamics that occur for the Sun in the 7th has a strong effect on them. If the native has a negative, unhealthy relationship with someone, that relationship will take a toll of them. Sun in the 7th natives can be quite offended when others offend the people they value interacting with. To hurt the people they care about hurts them also. Sun in the 7th natives are very protective of their relationships, for the better or worse.
Since the native is comfortably inclined to put the spotlight on themselves, a few things can occur: a lack of self-awareness and a lack of caring for the self. When this placement is undeveloped, the native can be quite hypocritical. While the native is skilled at finding characteristics of others, they can struggle to find characteristics in themselves. This can result in the native pointing out the negative aspects of other people, but refusing to point those same negative aspects in themselves. This is because the native can often struggle to own themselves, positively and negatively.
With this lack of ownership, the native can also struggle to take care of themselves mainly because they can place other people over themselves. There’s a natural tendency to conceal the native’s personal needs because they either aren’t aware of what they need, or because they believe their needs deserve to be fulfilled after the person they’re interacting with. People who often interact with the native can feel as if they’re talking to themselves, because the presence of the native is so hidden.
With the 7th House also being the house of open enemies, those who dislike the native will most likely attempt to attack the native’s ego. The native’s ego and sense of self is easily accessible to those who dislike the native. This accessibility can often account for the sensitivity found in the Sun in the 7th natives. The native will often dislike individuals who are overly egotistical and arrogant, but at the same time, they can refuse to see the arrogance they have in themselves at certain times.
Solar Returns
WHAT IS A SOLAR RETURN?
A solar return is an astrological chart that is calculated by locating when the Sun will return to one’s natal Sun’s position. It is a chart used to determine the themes of the native during the course of a year.
WHAT INFORMATION DO YOU NEED TO CALCULATE A SOLAR RETURN CHART?
To calculate your solar return, you will not only need your birthday, birth time, and birth location, but you will also need your current location, for your current location affects the calculation of your solar return chart.
WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO LOOK AT IN A SOLAR RETURN CHART?
While the whole chart should be looked at, you should look at the following:
House position of the Sun and aspects made to the Sun
House placements of other planets
Ascendant and chart ruler (and aspects made to the chart ruler)
Any aspect (especially stelliums) patterns
HOW LONG IS A SOLAR RETURN CHART IN EFFECT?
You can often feel the effects of your solar return starting to appear a few months before your birthday. The initial effects are strongest approximately 20-30 days before your birthday. The solar return is then strongly in effect for the year, and its effects will fade once your next birthday occurs with a new solar return chart in place.
WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF CHANGING MY SOLAR RETURN CHART BY CHANGING MY LOCATION?
While the effects are a bit unpredictable to know, what is most definitely true is that the chart will change. With that being said, a new motive and drive will be indicated in the solar return due to your conscious decision to change your location.
HOW CAN I READ A SOLAR RETURN CHART?
While it is recommended to read the native’s natal chart first before reading the solar return chart, the solar return chart can be read by itself. A good start to reading is to first look at the house position of the Sun, the chart ruler, and the Ascendant and seeing how it relates to the native’s natal chart.
Venus in the 8th House
The 8th House is often a house talked about, for it is a house that is uncomfortably revealing, but also secretive at the same time. With secrets comes shame, and matters of the 8th House aren’t revealed easily. The 8th House at its core represents the ways of merging two souls into one, whether it be through life, death, shared possessions, or through intimate relationships. The merge is often rare and transformative - and is not for the light-hearted.
With Venus in the the 8th House, there are many things hidden, for Venus represents many things. Venus, being the planet of beauty, is a planet of standards and ideals. With a person’s Venus in the 8th House, what the native considers beautiful and ideal is something that is often kept a secret. There may be a feeling of shame for liking the things and people they are attracted to, hence the secrecy. There’s an attraction to the items of life that are often kept in the closet, or not appropriate for casual interactions. For the native, however, casual interactions are dull. There may also be a shame in having or showing self-confidence, for Venus represents the beauty within us. There is a feeling of not revealing the most beautiful parts of yourself because not everybody deserves to see it.
However, when the native chooses to completely own their sense of ideals and standards, there’s a strong sense of empowerment that can come over the native. The 8th House is a house that also represents an individual’s power, and through confident ownership of the self, the native can be intimate and loving with themselves in a way never felt before. Self-acceptance is a concept that natives with this placement can struggle to consistently do, but with each impressive feat, there is an impressive transformation for the better.
The ideals and standards the native can have can also be unpredictable. Perhaps one reason why the native’s ideals are hidden is because the volatile state their ideals can be in. One moment, a simple idea is glorified and loved. The next moment, that same idea is thrown into the trash. With this chaos, there is a secretive intimacy created. For the native, their ideals, what they want, is not just what they want. It’s a special yearning that has gone through hell and back, and it is a yearning that can toss the native in all directions. There is most definitely a strong connection in place.
The native’s standards and ideals aren’t the only things they can create strong connections with. With Venus in the 8th House, there is an attraction to having and keeping intimate relationships. Natives often never completely reveal their romantic relationships with others - and their relationships are often secretive and maybe even scandalous in nature. While the Venus in the 8th native is attracted to intimate relationships, whether those relationships are strong or not is another story. The relationship dynamics seen with Venus in the 8th is tumultuous and chaotic, but interestingly, it is the chaos that keeps the relationship strong and attracts the native to stay. After all, those with Venus in the 8th are picky with their relationships. They would most definitely rather stay in an interesting, but perilous relationship than a peaceful, but bland one.
While the relationships created with Venus in the 8th can most definitely be intimate and strong, at the same time, these relationships can almost instantly disappear, as if it’s never happened in the first place. Regardless of the longevity of their relationships, the relationships a Venus in the 8th native have will always leave a mark, if they choose to invest all of themselves into a relationship. After all, with a Venus in the 8th native, it’s all or nothing. Love transforms the native for the better or worse.
With a strong connection, it’s not surprising that Venus in the 8th natives are skilled in reading other people. It was mentioned earlier that Venus in the 8th natives can go through many ups and downs with the standards and ideals the have. With that being said, there is a secretive knowledge they have with this, and with standards and ideals, it can often say a lot about what a person strives to be. With this knowledge, natives with this placement can easily find a person’s weakness by seeking what the person lacks. The native can also gain a lot of information about others by seeing them at their worst. The native can often see this easily for they often bring and attract situations that would bring the worst out of people.
With the 8th House, it shows a merging between two, and financial matters are included. With Venus generally considered as a benefic planet, there are numerous financial benefits a Venus in the 8th native can have with the relationships they associate with. With family and lovers, through connections, natives can often gain a lot of money and resources. With the planet of charm in the house of intimate relationships, it’s not hard to see why the native often has success in getting what they want. These natives often have a deep relationship with the magnetic charm they possess and can use that charm to benefit not only themselves, but others.
With Venus in the 8th House, it is often a house where the native gains power through self-acceptance and love. There is a strong need for balance with Venus in the 8th House because in order for the native to gain the power they desire, they must involve others. One lesson natives may need to realize is that power can be destructive, and with the connections Venus makes with love and intimacy, this power can be destructive to other people. These natives need to learn that strength in relationships is not only found through the harshest circumstances, but in the most peaceful of times.
Saturn in the 2nd House
There are numerous items that are represented by the 2nd House. Possessions, self-esteem, and money are products of the 2nd House. However, what the 2nd House truly represents at the core is how the native gains comfort and how the native maintains their sense of self. The 2nd House shows how the native deals with comfort and what and how they will go at the comfort they need and want.
Saturn in the natal chart can often show initial difficulty, but eventual success in the natal chart. Natives with this placement will often struggle to be comfortable with their environment. There may be a strong, powerful mindset of believing that they don’t deserve comfort until they fulfill a certain standard they often think is realistic or right. Often, this certain standard is unrealistic and the native will stay in a constant state of discomfort, feeling uncomfortable once they actually arrive in a state of comfort. Natives with this placement need to learn that they deserve to be comfortable and that it’s not wrong to indulge in yourself every once in a while.
The life lessons the natives need to learn is the true, healthy way to stabilize themselves, whatever it may be. Often through their domineering parent, these natives were already raised with certain values. These natives will usually use these given values to have structure in their lives, even if this structure is limiting and ultimately not helpful to them. Natives may even sacrifice their own personal values if they feel that it’s not practical in the long run. Some natives may even believe these values are right for them and can close themselves up to other perspectives. The values the native has over their lifetime usually stays the same, and it is very difficult to change these values. Lessons from certain situations are what causes natives to change their perspectives and values.
With a high standard on values, it’s no surprise that the native may have a high standard on themselves. With this in mind, the native can struggle with being confident, for they feel that they don’t have the right to be confident until they accomplish certain things or until they fulfill the high standard they or either their parents have set for them. The path to self-confidence and love for themselves is often a long one, the native encountering numerous trials when it comes to giving and receiving self-validation.
The reason why the native strongly focuses on the stability of themselves is often because there is a secret belief that their ego is sensitive, and perhaps weak. This is the reason why natives with this placement may actively try to restrict themselves - they feel that they are not strong enough to handle what life throws at them. While discipline on the self is good, the native can struggle to implement a discipline that truly works for them if they aren’t self-aware of their strengths.
However, these struggles stated above are what leads these natives to be strong, independent individuals. Through every struggle, these natives learn to be strong, financially intelligent, and independent. With the 2nd House representing the preservation of the self, the native often learns new ways to be confident through volatile situations. By going through various trials, these natives can realize that no matter what situation they’re in, good or bad, they still have the opportunity to love themselves completely, flaws and all. With financial struggles, the native can think of innovative, smart ways to stay financially afloat and maintain security in even the most unstable circumstances.
Saturn in the 2nd natives can have a fear of losing money because losing money can be seen as a threat to their security. However, when this fear is used positively, Saturn in the 2nd natives can develop smart, innovative ways to handle money. Natives with this placement often are financially intelligent, knowing or eventually learning smart ways to save and spend money. These natives are very frugal and thrifty, not requiring a lot of spending to keep themselves satisfied. Sometimes, spending can even make the native uncomfortable. However, it can be hard for these natives to realize that even with the most secure financial plans, their financial states are still unpredictable.
Saturn represents the domineering parent, or the father in the natal chart. The domineering parent can have a strong influence on the native’s views on being secure whether that be through money, values, and self-esteem. The parent can also strongly affect the native’s security itself for better or worse - either making or breaking them. The native could perceive the parent as someone who is strongly involved in being secure - whether it be through their career or the actions they act upon the child. Parents of these natives are often involved in jobs involving money, beauty, and other items that are commonly seen as comfort items.
The native’s parent could strongly invest in items that brings comfort to them, which can be anything - as long as it keeps the parent comfortable and secure. Depending on their item of choice, what comforts the parent can influence the native, the native initially mirroring the comfort item of choice from the parent. However, as the native grows up, they will often find their own personal outlets of comfort and what works for them. If these personal outlets of comfort clashes with the parent’s personal outlets of comfort, the relationship between the child and parent can be strained.
Saturn in the 2nd House is a placement that is meant to stabilize and strengthen the foundation of the self presented in the 1st House. The native will be repeatedly challenged to withstand the demolition of their securities. The native has the choice to either remain with seemingly strong, but weak walls concealing an unstable ego or learn to strengthen, embrace, and work with the strengths and flaws they have.
Freedom and Escape
Where Sagittarius and Pisces are ruling on your chart can show where you want to explore and escape. Both signs are traditionally ruled by Jupiter, while Pisces is modernly ruled by Neptune. Where Sagittarius falls in your chart can show where you find your freedom. Where Pisces falls in your chart can show where you’d like to escape, in a realm that may not exist or be realistic. Jupiter and Neptune, being the rulers of Sagittarius and Pisces can show why.
If you have an interception in Gemini/Sagittarius in your natal chart, where Sagittarius is intercepted can often give a feeling of being caged. There is a feeling of not having any freedom, or any way to have freedom. Looking to where Jupiter is in your chart can show how and where you can get that freedom. There’s the feeling of, “I don’t know how to escape.” If you have an interception in Virgo/Pisces in your natal chart, where Pisces is intercepted can often give a feeling of being lost. Looking to Neptune can show how and where you can escape. There’s the feeling of, “I don’t know where to escape,” or “I don’t think I can escape at all.”
SAGITTARIUS RULING THE HOUSES + JUPITER IN THE HOUSES
You find freedom through ___ but you can exaggerate to where you ___.
Sagittarius ruling the 1st: expressing yourself / are self-centered
Sagittarius ruling the 2nd: what you value / stubborn
Sagittarius ruling the 3rd: your thoughts and words / are intellectually arrogant
Sagittarius ruling the 4th: your family and past / don’t focus on the future
Sagittarius ruling the 5th: your creativity / find your ideas scattered
Sagittarius ruling the 6th: the daily motions of life / are inflexible
Sagittarius ruling the 7th: your interactions with people / forget yourself
Sagittarius ruling the 8th: intimacy / don’t associate with others
Sagittarius ruling the 9th: exploring the world / get lost
Sagittarius ruling the 10th: your goals / forget where you came from
Sagittarius ruling the 11th: your friends and community / feel dispensable
Sagittarius ruling the 12th: your subconscious and dreams / can’t find reality
You want to keep your freedom because you’re good at ___.
Jupiter in the 1st: being yourself
Jupiter in the 2nd: valuing yourself
Jupiter in the 3rd: thinking and communicating
Jupiter in the 4th: staying comfortable and safe
Jupiter in the 5th: applying your inspirations
Jupiter in the 6th: going through routines
Jupiter in the 7th: interacting with others
Jupiter in the 8th: gaining intimacy with others
Jupiter in the 9th: exploring and learning
Jupiter in the 10th: working on your ambitions
Jupiter in the 11th: helping others
Jupiter in the 12th: healing others
PISCES RULING THE HOUSES + NEPTUNE IN THE HOUSES
You escape from ___ but you ___.
Pisces ruling the 1st: yourself / are creative in expressing yourself
Pisces ruling the 2nd: your values / are unique in what you value
Pisces ruling the 3rd: your thoughts / are inspiring with your thoughts
Pisces ruling the 4th: your past / are strong from what you’ve dealt with
Pisces ruling the 5th: your passions / are beautifully imaginative
Pisces ruling the 6th: your daily routines / are creatively innovative
Pisces ruling the 7th: people / are kind and compassionate
Pisces ruling the 8th: your secrets / are empathetic and accepting
Pisces ruling the 9th: your discoveries / are open-minded
Pisces ruling the 10th: the world / are aware of the reality around you
Pisces ruling the 11th: your friends / can still be a good friend to them
Pisces ruling the 12th: your subconscious / are secretly aware of yourself
You escape because ___ can often be overwhelming for you due to your sensitivity.
Neptune in the 1st: your self-expression
Neptune in the 2nd: implementing your values
Neptune in the 3rd: thinking
Neptune in the 4th: recalling your memories
Neptune in the 5th: utilizing your creativity
Neptune in the 6th: the daily motions of life
Neptune in the 7th: other people
Neptune in the 8th: your secrets
Neptune in the 9th: your discoveries
Neptune in the 10th: your ambitions
Neptune in the 11th: your friends
Neptune in the 12th: your imagination
Moon in the 1st House
The 1st House is often the house that collectively represents how we view the world. The house represents the first breath we take, and our impressions of the world. The 1st House can usually rule over what we are consciously aware of. The 1st House is arguably one of the most important houses, for it is a template for the natal chart, setting the chart for which signs rule which houses.
When the Moon is in the 1st House, constant change and fluctuation is a strong theme for individuals with this placement. Their views are constantly colored by their emotions, their views of the world either optimistic or pessimistic depending on how they feel. They can feel that the world is beautiful and giving one moment, and unforgiving the next. With this in mind, natives with this placement can struggle to place how they really feel about the world. There are inconsistencies with their associations with other people, for they can either be very nurturing and open, or closed up and defensive. With this in mind, this can bring numerous first impressions for the individual, or some may find the native to be pleasant and kind, while others may find the native snappy and defensive. With this in mind, natives with this placement often need another individual that is grounded and willing to go through the emotional storms this native can provide.
Individuals with this placement are often sensitive. This sensitivity can be both a curse and a blessing. The sensitivity provided to these natives can often make them intuitive, many of these natives easily feeling the vibes of others. Natives can often find a negative individual miles away, due to their abilities to detect the energies of the people they meet. However, the curse that can come with this sensitivity is vulnerability. There is a need to emotionally focus on the self, but when this focus is shifted onto others and to the world, these natives can often feel drained and exhausted. After all, the natives are excellent in emotionally nurturing others, for they can be very kind and sympathetic. Individuals with this placement however often need to spend time by themselves to recharge. At the same time, these natives do need to realize that other people’s emotions are just as important as theirs. These natives can sometimes disregard other people’s emotions since they place strong emphasis on their own emotions due to the strong influence their emotions can have on them.
Whether the native’s vulnerability is actually exposed for not, the native can often feel that they are constantly exposed to the world. The native can often feel weak or inferior to others, for they feel that they aren’t given the protective social shield they think everybody else has. There is a feeling of being naked in front of others, and with nakedness, there is the opportunity to either feel shame or freedom. These natives emotionally have nothing to hide, and this fact can either crush the native or free them, depending on the aspects made to the Moon.
Having Moon in the 1st House can often make the native’s emotions very obvious, for these emotions are often strongly expressed on their faces. Those with Moon in the 1st House often have honest facial expressions, the honesty of these expressions making the native easy to read but also trustworthy. Often, the native can fail to notice the emotions expressed so honesty and obviously. It can be hard for the native to lie well, but this doesn’t mean the native will always be caught lying. As long as the native lies with clear logic and straightforward objectivity and not with emotions and subjectivity, the native will not be caught. However, anything that is subjective and emotional can often be printed on the native’s face, whether the native wants to reveal the emotions or not.
While the native with Moon in the 1st can function with logic and objectivity, the native resonates more strongly with subjectivity. Due to the strength and influence emotions have on the native, the native can often express their emotions irrationally and impulsively without a logical second thought. With this strong emotional response to the environment, the native is often impressionable and easily influenced. There is an emotional dependence the native can place onto other people. With the 1st House representing the native’s views of the world and other people being a part of that view, the native’s emotional state often depends on how people treat and think of these natives. Natives with this placement can often be uncomfortable knowing that not everybody likes them, for with a changeable self, there isn’t a stable foundation of the self and with that, even the smallest insult can crush the native.
The Moon can often times either rule the mother, or the parent that was assigned the nurturing role for the native. With the Moon in the 1st, the represented parent often has a great effect on the native. In many ways, the parent influences their views of the world and even their views of themselves. The native may be very similar to this parent, whether they like the parent or not. The parent may have strongly influenced the way the native finds his or her sense of identity for better or worse.
With constant vulnerability and emotional exposure, those with Moon in the 1st often learn to be emotionally resilient and strong. With a lot of emotional pain due to a heightened sensitivity, these natives often develop a strong, compassionate understanding of emotions. This pain can often supply the natives emotional intelligence and perhaps even empathy for others. Although impressionable, natives with this placement show strength through flexibility rather than sustainability, for they are able to adapt to the many obstacles they face.
Unaspected Planets in Astrology
WHAT IS AN UNASPECTED PLANET?
An unaspected planet is a planet that is not making any major aspects to other planets. An unaspected planet can make an aspect to angles (such as the Ascendant or Midheaven) and still be unaspected. While the general consensus is that one should look at the major aspects, some astrologers like to also include some minor aspects (such as the semi-sextile) when considering unaspected planets in the natal chart.
WHAT ARE THE ORBS USED WHEN FINDING UNASPECTED PLANETS?
The orbs are ultimately up to the astrologer evaluating the natal chart. There is really no “right or wrong” orbs to use. Orbs in the natal chart can often make an unaspected planet rare, for orbs provide numerical leeway for aspects to be evaluated.
ARE UNASPECTED PLANETS WEAK IN THE NATAL CHART?
Unaspected planets can be very powerful in the natal chart, despite the fact that there are no aspects (a common indicator for power and influence in the natal chart) being made to it.
HOW DOES AN UNASPECTED PLANET MANIFEST IN THE NATAL CHART?
Manifestation of unaspected planets can be highly unpredictable. With that being said, with unaspected planets, it’s very important to look at the sign and house it’s in to get a better look at the unaspected planet. The unaspected planet can act as a “rebel” or a “lonely” planet compared to the other planets in the natal chart because there are no aspects, in other words, connections made to the other planets. This means that the unaspected planet is completely free and not under any control of the other planets in the natal chart. In this sense, the unaspected planet in the natal chart is independent, but perhaps distant. With no connections to other planets, the expression of the planet can be very pure and powerful. The unaspected planet can function as a unit separate from the planets that do have aspects in the natal chart.
Those with an unaspected planet may manifest the planet without knowing it. After all, with no other connections to the other planets in the natal chart, it can be difficult to reach the unaspected planet consciously, which can result in what could be considered a “weak manifestation.” However, the manifestation of an unaspected planet can also be very powerful, but the native can struggle to notice this while others can. There are many examples where the native can unknowingly show energies of their unaspected planets strongly, only to be genuinely surprised when other people point it out.
An unaspected planet can often be referred to as a hidden talent or insidious destruction, depending on how the native decides to use the planet. Again, it can be difficult to not only notice, but also harness the energies of an unaspected planet due to the distant nature of the planet. The native must learn to own the unaspected planet.
Personal planets are often more strongly felt than the outer planets, with Mars being the most powerful and noticeable planet when unaspected in the natal chart. Manifestations of the outer planets in the natal chart are often debated.
Notes on Grand Crosses
The Grand Cross is created with a minimum of four planets involved. There are four squares in total and two oppositions. Squares are 90 degrees while the opposition is 180 degrees.
The Grand Cross can also be known as the Grand Square.
The Grand Cross can have various appearances depending on the position of the planets - with that in mind, some individuals can have only the four squares or just the two oppositions. It depends on the orb used by the astrologer.
Planets involved in the Grand Cross are in the same modality so with that in mind, you can have the following Grand Crosses:
Cardinal Grand Cross
Fixed Grand Cross
Mutable Grand Cross
With this in mind, natives with the Grand Cross will often encounter issues with the expression of energy.
Those with a Cardinal Grand Cross will face lessons in learning how to initiate their own energy. Those with a Cardinal Grand Cross can often be overly ambitious and they must learn how to harness their energy in a productive, solid direction.
Those with a Fixed Grand Cross will face lessons in learning how to stabilize their own energy. Those with a Fixed Grand Cross can often feel stuck, and they must learn how to maintain their energy and power in even the most volatile of situations.
Those with a Mutable Grand Cross will face lessons in learning how to be flexible with their own energy. Those with a Mutable Grand Cross can often will lost, and they must learn how to establish boundaries, yet still remain energetically flexible.
The Grand Cross is often seen as the “opposite” of the Grand Trine. Unlike the Grand Trine, the Grand Cross is generally seen to be a challenging aspect pattern, since only squares and oppositions, discordant aspects, are involved.
However, like the Grand Trine, there are many successful individuals that have the Grand Cross. Those with a Grand Cross are very ambitious, since they are usually always facing some kind of problem. Due to the many obstacles, there is a great potential for fulfillment and growth.
Those who have a Grand Cross tend to be very hardworking. However, they can easily feel hopeless or discouraged with their failures, the opposing circumstances sometimes being too overwhelming to handle.
There are also Grand Crosses in different houses:
Angular Grand Cross (1st, 4th, 7th, and 10th House) - Dealing with with core pieces of the self
Succedent Grand Cross (2nd, 5th, 8th, 11th) - Dealing with issues that stabilize the self
Cadent Grand Cross (3rd, 6th, 9th, 12th) - Dealing with issues that expand the self
The Grand Cross will often bring balance issues. With the Grand Cross, the native will often face volatility when the native expresses too heavily of a certain sign. For example, in a Cardinal Grand Cross, if the native acted too strongly upon their Aries energy, the Capricorn and Cancer energies will block the Aries energy while the Libra energy will provide a way to give balance to the individual.
The planets involved in the Grand Cross will all have different elements. If the native successfully utilizes the Grand Cross, they will have mastery in a certain modality in all four elements, meaning that the native has the power to positively express their energies on any medium, whether it be emotionally, intuitively, physically, and mentally.
Whether asteroids is involved in the Grand Cross is up to the astrologer. Angles such as the Ascendant and Midheaven can be included in the Grand Cross.
Sun-Moon Midpoints
Sun-Moon midpoints are so interesting. It’s essentially the balanced blend of energies between two planets. For the Sun-Moon midpoint specifically, it is the blend of the external and internal energies. Your midpoints often shows a sense of comfort in natal chart, and it could perhaps be the “spot” you’re striving for when it comes to balancing certain planetary energies.
But what’s interesting is the relationship between the Sun-Moon midpoint and the planets involved to make that midpoint. Note that midpoints, like aspects, are calculated using the exact degrees, or location of the planets in the natal chart. Only major aspects between the Sun and Moon will be discussed.
To clarify, these situations will not occur unless you have other planets that are conjunct to your Sun-Moon midpoint or if you encounter someone whose planets are conjunct to your Sun-Moon midpoint. The Sun-Moon midpoint is a sensitive, but passive point on your natal chart that will not be activated unless it makes an aspect to a planet.
For those with a Sun conjunct Moon aspect, their Sun-Moon midpoint will be conjunct to the Sun and Moon. This means that the Sun-Moon midpoint will function neutrally with the planets involved. However, this neutral energy is strong, for this energy can either go for better or worse. A conjunction is seen to be a union or fusion between two planets, and the Sun-Moon midpoint proves this point further, for it does represent a fusion of energies between two planets. Example: Sun in Gemini conjunct Moon in Gemini. The Sun-Moon midpoint is in Gemini.
For those with a Sun opposing Moon aspect, their Sun-Moon midpoint will be square to the Sun and Moon. This means that the Sun-Moon midpoint will function uncomfortably with the individual planets involved. While the native can feel comfortable with the energies of the Sun-Moon midpoint, they feel like this comfort doesn’t show a genuine sense of who they are externally and internally. There is a simultaneously comfortable, but unsettling block with expressing the self. Example: Sun in Aries opposing Moon in Libra. The Sun-Moon midpoint is in Capricorn.
For those with a Sun trine Moon aspect, their Sun-Moon midpoint will be sextile to the Sun and Moon. This means that the Sun-Moon midpoint will function harmoniously with the planets involved in the sense that the environment to express such energies will be favorable. While the means of expression is different, the environment of expression is the same. This shows that the expression of energies will flow freely. Example: Sun in Scorpio trine Moon in Cancer. The Sun-Moon midpoint is in Virgo.
For those with a Sun sextile Moon aspect, their Sun-Moon midpoint will be semisextile to the planets in involved. A semisextile aspect can give a neutral aspect that can bring annoyance or clarity to the native. The native may feel that the Sun-Moon midpoint is very much a balance point in the sense that it provides something different. Those with a Sun sextile Moon aspect often express their energies in the same polarity, but the Sun-Moon midpoint provides an opportunity in the sense that it will present a different polarity, a different environment to express. Example: Sun in Capricorn sextile Moon in Pisces. The Sun-Moon midpoint is in Aquarius.
For those with a Sun square Moon aspect, their Sun-Moon midpoint will be semisquare to the planets involved. With a semisquare, there is indeed a tension that the native can struggle to overcome. With a semisquare, one planet will be sextile strictly in terms of the signs while the other sign will be semisextile strictly in terms of the signs. While the sextile and semisextile are harmonious and neutral respectively, this mixture can often result in confusion. This means that one planet may work better than the other, but with this, the disfunction between the other planet can bring a block to the planet working harmoniously with the midpoint. Example: Sun in Cancer square Moon in Aries. The Sun-Moon midpoint is in Taurus.
Pluto in the 3rd House
The 3rd House can often represent many things, but what it represents at its core is discovery and numerous interactions that can develop and culminate to a solid foundation found later in the 4th House. How one learns and thinks is found in this house. The movement of thoughts and words are represented by this house, often playing out in open, versatile environments such as early school settings (up to high school) and our siblings.
When Pluto is in the 3rd House, terrifying, but also transformative power is found in the native’s mind. If the native isn’t quickly aware of this mental power, they will only be reminded for a few times. The negative manifestations that often come with this placement creates great consequences and the native will soon learn of the mental power they possess. Due to this, many individuals with this placement do not express their thoughts very often. Many of these individuals are aware of the destruction they can create with just a few words.
However, while they are capable of causing utter destruction with their words, they are perfectly capable of healing themselves and others if they use their words positively. There is a powerful, respectful, but also feared sharpness of the mind. Those with this placement are capable of weaving through the confusing and murky undercurrents of verbal and body language, often understanding the hidden psychological motives of others for better or worse. Individuals with this placement are naturally detectives, their minds often madly searching, but also critically analyzing the information they find.
These individuals often excel in managing secrets. Not only can they keep secrets, but they can also release just enough information to satisfy another party, but keep enough information to keep themselves safe. However, having this skill can often make these individuals feared, for nobody really knows what these individuals keep inside their heads. Pluto in the 3rd natives are also capable of being destructive bullies. They can quickly detect the sensitive spots of their peers to their advantage, easily hurting others where it hurts the most.
In school, the native can often put on a public facade that is completely different from their mind. Natives can often say a few trivial phrases to others uncomfortably for the sake of hiding what they’re really thinking. Due to this, many of their peers will often think that these natives are shallow or even unintelligent. This can often result in the native often feeling intellectually misunderstood, which can result in volatile verbal outbursts that can shock others. Deep down, natives with this placement seek for intimacy and deep relationships with their peers.
Their mental processes can often be mysterious to their teachers. Due to this, natives with this placement would much rather learn by themselves. Natives with this placement often become very intimate with the way they learn. However, natives with this placement can also create an intimate relationship with their instructors if there is a great understanding. Often, effective teachers can transform the native’s mind, which can enhance their learning for the better. These students are also capable of causing unsettling power struggles with their teachers, for they are always critically questioning the educational content they are receiving.
The learning process of those with Pluto in the 3rd can be very extreme, which is why many with this placement often like to learn in solitude. There is often a feeling of thinking that nobody understands their way of learning, so they take complete charge of their learning. Pluto in the 3rd natives are passionate learners, often obsessively learning nonstop about subjects they are attracted to. Inspiration comes at the most random times, often consuming their minds.
However, destructive thoughts are just as capable of intruding the native’s mind. These thoughts are often so disturbing to the point where the native can see their own mind to be dangerous. They often question how and why they’re able to create such horrifying thoughts with ease. These natives can mentally twist a mundane, daily activity to something truly horrifying in their minds. While these thoughts are terrifying, they also highlight the inner darkness these natives possess in their minds, whether they want to accept it or not.
If the native has a sibling, the relationship will truly be complex. There will be parts of the relationships both the native and sibling can struggle to understand. The native has the potential to develop a very strong, intimate relationship with their sibling that can bring a secure upbringing. However, the native also has the potential to create a destructive relationship that can often add an unsettling volatility to their upbringing. There is often a power struggle between the native and the sibling. Siblings can also be secretive with the native, and perhaps even manipulative. Natives with this placement can also be bullied by their siblings. Pluto can often bring transformation, the native often loving their sibling one moment, and hating them the next.
Pluto in the 3rd is a placement that enables the native mental strength. However, this strength can often be used to help but also to destroy those around them. Individuals with this placement can often struggle to release their deepest thoughts, often fearing that they’ll reveal their vulnerabilities or hurt their loved ones. Natives often need to associate with people who aren’t judgmental and are able to ride on the same mental wavelength as them. Patience is needed with individuals for this placement, for it takes time for these individuals to mentally expose themselves in a healthy, helpful way.
Jupiter in the 12th House
The 12th House can often simultaneously represent freedom and imprisonment at the same time. Our dreams and subconscious, free, but also contained spaces are represented in the 12th House. Prisons and hospitals are often represented in the 12th House because prisoners and patients are restricted to stay in the building, but they are free from the brutality of the societal norms outside.
For those with Jupiter in the 12th House, the subconscious is not a prison, but a playground. It is a retreat, a place to escape, but also a fun place to discover. With that being said, those with Jupiter in the 12th like to spend a lot of time to themselves because they have the most fun when they are in solitude. They feel as if they are free to escape into themselves and not worry about the burdens of the world around them. Due to this, they can often feel weirdly distanced from others, for they feel their subconscious, their place of refuge, feels like a different world.
The outside world can often feel like a prison for these natives while their private self feels like freedom. Jupiter is the planet that shows what talents easily comes to us in the natal chart, and with Jupiter in the 12th House, people with this placement may feel that their talents are often brushed away. People with this placement can often feel that they aren’t showing their full potential because they are not allowed to. The native can also be unaware of their talents, so therefore, they can either be directionless or will follow a path that doesn’t truly utilize their skills.
The skills and talents that come with this placement lies in spirituality and intuition, for these are the items covered in the 12th House. Their talents lie in a realm that may not be considered realistic or societally applicable, for their skills are most effectively applicable for situations that are expansive, unstructured, and subjective… These are characteristics of items that expand beyond the daily workings of society. Individuals with this placement would often be gifted in subjects that expand beyond the daily workings of reality such as religion and philosophy. People with this placement are skilled in thinking beyond what meets the eye, for they are easily to give deeper meaning and reason for how life works. Jupiter in the 12th natives can be great teachers due to this.
Jupiter is the planet of luck and opportunity. Jupiter is the planet that can twist circumstances for abundance, for better or worse. Those with this placement can be lucky in the most unknown cases. It is often said that those with this placement can have a guardian angel watching over them, since bad events often do not occur due to unknown, but lucky circumstances. However, due to this luck, some individuals with this placement may push their luck, for they don’t often hold the painful weight of consequences until it’s too late.
The subconscious mind of Jupiter in the 12th House is constantly expanding, and with expansion, there is a need to fill the mind with knowledge. There is a deep fascination with the world, for there is often a deep need to discover and learn new things. Hope and beliefs is hidden, but strong in these individuals. After all, they can perceive the world to be a place with limits, and their hope and optimism drives them to go beyond the limits they see. Optimistic wisdom is often naturally present in these people, and their words can often be surprisingly profound.
The lesson that often needs to be learned with those with Jupiter in the 12th House is to find freedom in all places, while still acknowledging the workings of reality. Instead of constantly escaping from the real world, those with this placement can learn to create their own freedom with the optimism and hope found within them. As the planet of Jupiter, natives with this placement often create the most positive opportunities when they choose to use their talents to sacrifice and help others.
Those with this placement are gifted in giving hope to others and providing a different, insightful perspective due to their expanding mind. It can be hard at first for natives to apply their talents into the real world, but through these struggles, they can learn to heal others by expanding their minds positively and encourage thinking what is present beyond the naked eye.
With self-awareness, those with this placement can naturally become wise and profound individuals. At their worst, those who are aware of their secret talents and skills can use this to overly inflate their ego, subconsciously justifying the existence of their skills to consider themselves higher than others. With this inflation of the ego, natives with this placement can struggle to root themselves to reality, failing to realize that everyone, regardless of their gifts, are students.
The Offensive and the Defensive
This post is inspired by the following quote from Linda Goodman from “Love Signs”
“Aries often dissipates the Mars energy in the premature exposure of emotional reaction, fighting on the defensive. A Ram never attacks unless struck first. Remember that Aries is the symbolic Infant of the zodiac, and infants don’t yell unless they’re ignored, or someone jabs them with a sharp safety pin. After all, it’s the only defense they have against pain or neglect. When more serious danger threatens, their guardian, Mars, comes to the rescue. Scorpios, however, are masters of the offensive - an offensive laced with clever, cool strategy, exquisite patience and an uncanny sense of the weakness of others. You won’t find Scorpios coming unstrung, running hither and thither, or striking wildly. When they strike, it’s straight on target, with deadly precision.”
Where Aries and Scorpio rules in your natal chart shows where we are defensive and offensive. Aries shows where you are defensive, for Aries rules the defensive part of combat with Mars. Scorpio shows where you are offensive, for Scorpio rules the offensive part of combat with Mars. In a sense, Aries can often show where you feel vulnerable while Scorpio can show where you feel powerful potential.
Looking where Mars and Pluto are in your chart can often explain why we protect ourselves, whether it be through offense or defense.
If you have an Aries/Libra or Taurus/Scorpio interception, you may feel as if you have a weakness. With an Aries/Libra interception, you may feel defenseless and vulnerable with no walls while with a Taurus/Scorpio interception, you would feel powerless and weak with no weapons. To find your source of protection and power, you would have to look at your Mars and Pluto, depending on which sign is intercepted. With duplications, you may feel as if you have too much protection. With an Aries duplication, you can feel highly defensive with many walls to protect you while with a Scorpio duplication, you can feel highly offensive with too many weapons at your disposal.
ARIES RULING THE HOUSES + MARS IN THE HOUSES
You get defensive when you feel that people are threatening your ___. You feel that you will ___ if you don’t defend yourself.
Aries ruling the 1st: self-expression / not be able to express yourself the way you want to
Aries ruling the 2nd: values and confidence / not be able to feel secure
Aries ruling the 3rd: words and intelligence / be seen to be intellectually inferior
Aries ruling the 4th: family and roots / not be able to feel comfortable with your beginnings
Aries ruling the 5th: your fun and passions / not be able to easily access your inspirations
Aries ruling the 6th: daily life / not be able to get through your day
Aries ruling the 7th: one-on-one interactions / not be able to establish good relationships with others
Aries ruling the 8th: secret self and tendencies / not be able to truly gain intimate acceptance from others
Aries ruling the 9th: beliefs and views / not have a strong sense of direction and purpose in life
Aries ruling the 10th: ambitions and goals / lose your power and mark on the world
Aries ruling the 11th: friends and community / will not belong anywhere
Aries ruling the 12th: inner self / not be able to forgive and accept yourself
You get defensive because you feel that your ___ is/are fragile and/or not creditable.
Mars in the 1st: self-expression
Mars in the 2nd: confidence
Mars in the 3rd: mind
Mars in the 4th: comfort
Mars in the 5th: inspiration
Mars in the 6th: routine
Mars in the 7th: relationships
Mars in the 8th: dark side
Mars in the 9th: beliefs
Mars in the 10th: goals
Mars in the 11th: community
Mars in the12th: subconscious
SCORPIO RULING THE HOUSES + PLUTO IN THE HOUSES
You get offensive when you feel that people are threatening your ___. You feel that you have the potential to powerfully ___ over any threat.
Scorpio ruling the 1st: self-expression / express yourself
Scorpio ruling the 2nd: values and confidence / assert your security and self-esteem
Scorpio ruling the 3rd: words and intelligence / communicate
Scorpio ruling the 4th: family and roots / have peace
Scorpio ruling the 5th: your fun and passions / utilize your inspirations
Scorpio ruling the 6th: daily life / organize and analyze your life
Scorpio ruling the 7th: one-on-one interactions / work with others
Scorpio ruling the 8th: secret self and tendencies / empower yourself
Scorpio ruling the 9th: beliefs and views / expand your mind
Scorpio ruling the 10th: ambitions and goals / establish yourself
Scorpio ruling the 11th: friends and community / transform your sense of belonging
Scorpio ruling the 12th: inner self / utilize your subconscious tendencies
You get offensive because you feel that your ___ is a potentially strong part of you.
Pluto in the 1st: self-expression
Pluto in the 2nd: confidence
Pluto in the 3rd: mind
Pluto in the 4th: comfort
Pluto in the 5th: inspiration
Pluto in the 6th: routine
Pluto in the 7th: relationships
Pluto in the 8th: dark side
Pluto in the 9th: beliefs
Pluto in the 10th: goals
Pluto in the 11th: community
Pluto in the 12th: subconscious
Mars in the 12th House
The 12th House can often simultaneously represent freedom and imprisonment at the same time. Our dreams and subconscious, free, but also contained spaces are represented in the 12th House. Prisons and hospitals are often represented in the 12th House because prisoners and patients are restricted to stay in the building, but they are free from the brutality of the societal norms outside.
When Mars is in the 12th House, the energy in this planet is simultaneously trapped, but also free in the subconscious. Passion and energy bubbles inside the native, the passion truly becoming something unique and distinctive with all the free, imaginative space of the subconscious. However, when the walls of the subconscious crumble due to the lack of control on the surface conscious, that passion will go through the cracks and escape the subconscious for a short time until it is captured again.
Passion and anger is a neutral concept and the neutrality of it will change depending on how the native decides to use that passion. Anger, like the subconscious, can slip out of the native when they are not aware. In a sense, this can make anger hard to control, and sometimes, natives can even struggle to know the details of the existence of their anger. The anger that can come out of an individual with Mars in the 12th can feel foreign. A native may ask, “Where did this anger come from?” “How did I get angry?” “Why am I angry?” while trying to figure out their anger, only to find out that nothing, yet everything, angers them. Often, they can either express their anger passive aggressively, or impulsively. Or both. With passion, they can find themselves molding their energy into almost every hobby, but that hobby doesn’t have strong staying power. With that being said, it can be difficult for a native in the 12th House to find a hobby that truly captivates them.
With energy ruled by Mars, it can be hard for the native to work consistently and routinely. With energy located in the subconscious, the native is most active when the subconscious is most active… With that in mind, it would not be surprising with someone with Mars in the 12th was always tired during the day when the conscious, not the subconscious is active. Those with Mars in the 12th can get tired very easily, for energy for them doesn’t come very clearly and easily. Natives often need to spent time by themselves to recharge so that they’re not overwhelmed by the world around them. Often, before the native starts a task, it can be hard for the native to really start, for they already feel like they’re asserting so much even though nothing has been tangibly. However, when it comes to dreams, those with Mars in the 12th are very active. It’s common for Mars in the 12th to have very engaging, passionate dreams. It’s not surprising for those with Mars in the 12th House to also have sexual dreams.
Those with Mars in the 12th House often unintentionally hide their sexual tendencies. Hiding sexual tendencies can often lead to various results. It is possible for people to not “see” the sexual tendencies of these natives, and due to that, Mars in the 12th natives can be seen to be innocent, when it may not be the case at all. Hidden sexual tendencies are also repressed tendencies. With that in mind, some natives can struggle to control their sexual urges, their sexual nature subconsciously revealed through their body language, tone of their words, and other escape routes the subconscious may take. In that regard, individuals with Mars in the 12th House can also be very sexual. When Mars in the 12th natives feel free, that’s when they do their best in the bedroom. However, on the other end, natives could also lack sexual tendencies, and maybe even have an aversion to sexual matters altogether.
The main theme with Mars in the 12th House is to realize that while it may be hard to grasp certain things that can definitely help on a daily basis, the purpose of Mars in the 12th House is not for daily things. While it is difficult for Mars in the 12th House to be consistently active, passionate, and assertive, it should be noted that when the Mars in the 12th native is any of those three things, if mastered, it is seen beautifully. The passion and energy that is manifested in the 12th House are not simple, for they are not made for simple matters. Mars in the 12th natives are able to absorb anger, passion, and energies with others and have the strong potential to heal other through their actions. While the energy of Mars in the 12th is hard to manage, the energy present in the 12th House is also very flexible and helpful to others. Mars in the 12th is a test of using one’s energy - if the native can successfully pass through the tests in the 12th House, the native can most certainly help others.
Neptune in the 4th House
The 4th House represents several things: our past, upbringing, and what keeps us comfortable. The 4th House is in the bottom of the chart, and it often provides a strong starting point and foundation for the native to work upon as the native grows up. Planets in the 4th House show the person investing part of themselves in maintaining this foundation.
Those with Neptune in the 4th may not have a truly correct and tangible idea of what their foundation of life is like. The foundations and values they were built up with can be a lot of things, but at the same time, nothing at all. These foundations and values may have been brought up by their family, or through the native’s past experiences. The native’s family and past are often secretive, yet confusing. With this confusion, a lot of the effects the native has gained from their past and family seeps out without the native consciously knowing.
The past of the native with this placement is hazy. The native may not talk much about their family, past, and upbringing because the native doesn’t know the past clearly. If the native does talk about the past, the native can fabricate stories and lies unconsciously, only noticing after the words have spilled from the mouth. Since the past is unclear, the native may be desperate and put on rose-colored glasses, thinking that an inaccurate view is better than no view at all.
There could be thoughts that a false foundation and past is better than none at all. The self after all can be built and strongly influenced by the foundation of the 4th House. If the native does not have a base, how can the native have a strong sense of self? The native can subconsciously and desperately seek for a past and family to cling onto to maintain a sense of self, even if it doesn’t exist. However, with this lack of existence, having Neptune in the 4th can provide the opportunity for the native to develop a foundation that is truly creative and true to themselves.
The family the Neptune in the 4th native may have grown up in was hard to describe. It may be hard for the native to know what was expected of them in the family, since the expectations can go from one extreme to another without the native noticing it. Perhaps the expectations are known, but the native has no idea on how to fulfill those expectations. These expectations depend on the sign ruling the 4th House.
The image of the native’s family can be very hazy for the native. One of the parents may have worked hard to maintain a certain image or ideal, and if the image and ideal wasn’t fulfilled, the parent may have tried to cover up that fact by putting on rose-colored lenses. Perhaps the native saw their past and family through rose-colored lenses. After all, secrets were never told, and a beautiful image may have been strongly maintained for the sake of tangible existence.
The arts may have been a strong factor in the native’s family. Perhaps one of the native’s parents was artistic, creative, and compassionate. The parent may have been influential in an understated manner or through the undercurrents of the family dynamic. However, one of the parents may have had a strong use of substances. Those with Neptune in the 4th may have had to take care of one of their parents due to the parent being unable to care for the native. One of the parents may have been very secretive and also manipulative, often making a strong tie to the native. There is often a strong tendency of victimization throughout the family.
Those with Neptune in the 4th House may dream of a home, past, or upbringing they never got. Perhaps they know what their past and upbringing looks like. They may dream of a comfort that doesn’t exist, a home that is impossible to realistically implement. Having Neptune in the 4th House can provide a native a strong base to be creative, sacrificial, and loving to others. However, the native can struggle to establish boundaries in other areas of their life, since they were raised in a life with little to no boundaries in the first place.
"You want an award for that?"
Where Leo falls in your houses can show where you want validation from yourself and others. This can manifest in expressing yourself in a certain way, and then expecting others to praise you in return. Where your Sun is on your natal chart will show why you want that validation. Of course, aspects to the Sun would diversify the expression.
There’s nothing wrong with being validated or getting validation. Just remember that validation is given from the heart (the body part that Leo rules ironically,) not from obligation!
LEO RULING THE HOUSES
Leo ruling the 1st House: You want people to validate you when you act like yourself, whether it’s good or not.
Leo ruling the 2nd House: You want people to validate you when you treat yourself, whether it’s needed or not.
Leo ruling the 3rd House: You want people to validate you when you talk and share your thoughts, whether it’s needed or not.
Leo ruling the 4th House: You want your family members to validate you, whether you were helpful or not.
Leo ruling the 5th House: You want people to validate you for your hobbies, whether you’re good at them or not.
Leo ruling the 6th House: You want people to validate you for your everyday activities, whether it should be a given or not.
Leo ruling the 7th House: You want people to validate you when you talk to them one-on-one, whether they want to or not.
Leo ruling the 8th House: You want people to validate you when you reveal your secrets, whether they wanted to hear it or not.
Leo ruling the 9th House: You want people to validate you when you express your beliefs, whether they agree with you or not.
Leo ruling the 10th House: You want people to validate you in public, whether they want to or not.
Leo ruling the 11th House: You want people to validate you for being a good friend, whether you were a good friend or not.
Leo ruling the 12th House: You want people to validate you on things you are not aware of and/or hide, whether they know it or not.
SUN IN THE HOUSES
Sun in the 1st House: You want people to validate you because you believe that the validation will make you more aware of yourself.
Sun in the 2nd House: You want people to validate you because you believe that the validation will bring you confidence and security.
Sun in the 3rd House: You want people to validate you because the validation will make you smarter and more intelligent.
Sun in the 4th House: You want people to validate you so that your family will appreciate you and/or so that you get closure from the past.
Sun in the 5th House: You want people to validate you because you need that validation to help you drive your creativity, hobbies, and romantic relationships.
Sun in the 6th House: You want people to validate you so that you can use the validation to help you with your daily routine and everyday activities.
Sun in the 7th House: You want people to validate you so that it can help you accommodate to others and enhance your interactions with people.
Sun in the 8th House: You want people to validate you so that it may provide a chance for you to express something you’ve hidden so that you can be intimate with others.
Sun in the 9th House: You want people to validate you so that it can help you orient your beliefs and open your mind to the world.
Sun in the 10th House: You want people to validate you so that it can help you improve your public image and reputation.
Sun in the 11th House: You want people to validate you so that you can maintain a good status in your friend circle and community.
Sun in the 12th House: You want people to validate you because you believe it will help you find who you truly are.