Massive Crash Course Into Astrology (Super Long Post)
Polarities?? You mean those things magnets have?
Okay so in astrology you have two polarities.
These are masculine (extroverted, direct, and energetic) and feminine (introverted, receptive, and magnetic).
Four Elements, it’s just like Avatar guys.
The four elements are, Fire, Earth, Air, and Water.
Fire and Air are opposite and masculine elements while
Earth and Water are opposite and feminine elements.
Fire is will and passion.
Earth is physical and stable.
Air is logical and social.
Water is emotion and intuition.
If Fire had a consciousness it would see the world as fuel and not fuel. In the same way, I think the fire signs Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius, see the world as their very own playground and they look for what stimulates them the most. They all have an insatiable appetite for life that’s in constant need to be satisfied, be it discovery, expression, or transcendence.
If Earth had a consciousness it would see the world as what it truly is and what they can bring to it. I see the earth signs Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn as always giving a part of themselves to provide stability to the world, be it wealth, perfection, or professionalism
If Air had a consciousness it would see the world as a barren place devoid of interaction and detachment. I believe the air signs Gemini, Libra and Aquarius are always on the prowl for fulfillment. They strive for something that will stimulate them, be it knowledge, collaboration, or progression.
If Water had a consciousness it would try to envelop the world and everything in it. The water signs Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces are always trying to lose themselves in someway, always looking for something to immerse themselves in, be it home, transformation, or the subconscious.
Modalities? That seems like a made-up word. Fake News
So you know the elements, you know their polarity, so what else can there be?
Modalities, my friends, are essentially the quality of the element.
All elements come in three types:
Cardinal- The element in its purest form. These are the self starters, leaders, and initiators (Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn)
Fixed- The element at its most condensed and stable form. They are stubborn, unyielding, and basically the ones that finish what the Cardinal starts. (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius)
Mutable- The element at its most fluid and free. They are adaptable, flexible, and versatile. (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces)
Now that we know how the signs are all divided, we can classify them!! :D
ARIES Masculine/Fire/Cardinal
TAURUS Feminine/Earth/Fixed
GEMINI Masculine/Air/Mutable
CANCER Feminine/Water/Cardinal
LEO Masculine/Fire/Fixed
VIRGO Feminine/Earth/Mutable
LIBRA Masculine/Air/Cardinal
SCORPIO Feminine/Water/Fixed
SAGITTARIUS Masculine/Fire/Mutable
CAPRICORN Feminine/Earth/Cardinal
AQUARIUS Masculine/Air/Fixed
PISCES Feminine/Water/Mutable
So you’re saying there’s an entire solar system that explains why I have such a shitty unique personality?
Yes, yes there is.
You can use a variety of sites to find your natal chart but for just starting off I prefer to use https://alabe.com/freechart/ . It’s really user friendly and gives you a brief description of each placement, though it doesn’t show retrogrades.
(FYI you need your birthday and time, along with the location of your birth)
But we’re keeping this basic here, anyway, upon entering your info you’ll notice that each planet in our solar system has a sign and its degree assigned to it. Take this for example, my mom’s chart, or a glimpse of it.
So if you’re new to astrology and you’re confused on what planets mean what, this is your section.
The Sun and Moon are luminaries, the brightest and most important objects in the sky.
The Planets are planets (lol duh)
The North Node is a mathematical point relating the Sun, Earth, and Moon at the specific time
Now that that’s cleared up continue reading for an interpretation of each heavenly body and what they mean when it comes to you
SUN- Ego, the divine representation of life, the head honcho of the chart, the “adult” that censors the “inner child”, you at you’re most basic level, our vitality, it is reason as opposed to instinct, can also represent the father
MOON- Unconscious, while the Sun acts the Moon reacts, our deepest personal needs, the inner child and inner mother, how we nurture and how we like to be nurtured, your immediate instincts, can also represent the mother (it is common for people to relate more to the Moon more seeing as it’s our deepest and purest self)
MERCURY- planet of communication, thought processes, ideas, how we analyze a situation, the logical mind and mental faculties
VENUS- planet of love, grace, charm, and beauty. Our artistic inclinations, Venusian energy is harmonious in nature. What we look for in love, what type of relationships we like and which ones are good for us, how we love, how we act with friends, it also represents both love and money
MARS- the planet of energy, action, and desire. You at your most primal, what you’re like when someone eats the last toaster strudel, your assertive and dominant self, this planet is all about action, your drive and work ethic, what you’re like in bed
JUPITER- the planet of expansion. Closely associated with good luck. Your spiritual and mental growth, what you overindulge in, optimism, mercy, and humor
SATURN- the planet of limits and restrictions. Where Jupiter expands, Saturn constricts. what values and disciplines were you raised with, what are your boundaries and responsibilities. Associated with delayed satisfaction and personal tests also the father or dominant parental figure.
URANUS- the planet of revolution and innovation. The higher octave of Mercury, progression, enlightenment, rebellion, and individuality are central themes of this planet.
NEPTUNE- the planet of dreams, confusion, self deception, psychic receptivity, and spirituality. The higher octave of Venus. Sensitivity, disillusionment, and compassion are central themes of this planet.
PLUTO- the planet of death, rebirth, our “dark side”, and transformation. The higher octave of Mars. Self destruction, power struggles, paranoia, trauma, inner demons, and upheaval or major themes of this planet (it’s still a planet don’t @ me)
So who rules what, again?
Each sign has planet or luminary that is considered its ruler. The rulers of these signs give further insight to the complex personality archetypes. You’ll notice that some planets have two rulers, we call those corulers and since the planet is always coruled by a feminine and masculine sign they represent different expressions of that planet.
Feminine “Night”= inward
Masculine “Day” = outward
When a planet is in the sign that rules it, the planet is in its “home” or domicile where the values of this planet are easily and clearly expressed, however, if a planet falls into its ruler’s opposite sign these values aren’t easily expressed and is considered an uncomfortable position for the planet to be in, therefore, the planet becomes debilitated and very weak, this is the planet in detriment.
(PSA NO PLACEMENT IS A “BAD PLACEMENT”. THERE ARE NO GOOD OR BAD PLACEMENTS IN ASTROLOGY, IT JUST IS WHAT IT IS)
Here are the rulers
(Domicile // Detriment)
SUN Leo // Aquarius
MERCURY Gemini (day) & Virgo (night) // Sagittarius & Pisces
VENUS Taurus (night) & Libra (day) // Aries & Scorpio
MARS Aries (day) & Scorpio (night) // Libra & Taurus
JUPITER Sagittarius (day) & Pisces (night) // Gemini & Virgo
SATURN Capricorn // Cancer
Planets also have two other dignities, exaltation and fall. While a planet in its domicile is at home, a planet in its exaltation is, to me, in a palace. While the energies of the domicile planet are clearly expressed, the exaltation refines the overall qualities of the planet and expresses that energy at its best and most efficient. A planet’s fall however, is very different, here the overall nature of the planet is muted and overwhelmed by the sign whose core traits oppose that planet’s nature. I picture this as someone who lied about their skills on their resume, and, because of this, their manager throws them immediately into the midst of a rather complicated project. The person clearly doesn’t have the skills to accurately perform the job and thus struggle is born. Keep in mind that while detriment and fall may not be the best places for a planet to be in, these placements can show the hidden parts of a planet that’s not typically expressed, and, in a developed placement, add more depth to it. These additional dignities add even more insight to the signs.
Here are the additional dignities
(Exaltation // Fall)
SUN Aries // Libra
MERCURY Virgo // Pisces (though there is much debate with this but I believe that Mercury’s exaltation is Virgo mostly because Cherry from astrolocherry says so and she’s the tumblr goddess of Astrology)
VENUS Pisces // Virgo
MARS Capricorn // Cancer
JUPITER Cancer // Capricorn
PLUTO Heavily debated among astrologers so almost all info is conflicting
Planets that fall into signs that are not in their domicile, detriment, fall, or exaltation (ie Scorpio Mercury, Pisces Mars, Aries moon, etc) are said to be in peregrine. I see this as being fairly neutral, showcasing different aspects of the planet, but some astrologers consider this a small form of debilitation.
Think of the signs as 12 roommates who are all pretty basic and cliché
With all the basic info we now know of the signs we can go into depth about the qualities of each archetype. We will be more able to fully understand the internal workings of each sign and why they act the way they do.
ARIES
Aries is a fire sign, and with this element, their energy is extroverted and direct. Fire is the element of passion and will, the modality of this sign is cardinal so they have innate leadership and initiating qualities. Aries is cardinal in the way that their independent nature and high level of energy can be a catalyst that drives and motivates all those around them, along with their being the first sign of the zodiac. Being the day ruler of Mars combined with its element and modality, Aries is impulsive, aggressive, head strong, and passionate. The Sun exalts in Aries, so the fire seen around them is a true reflection the one that burns within. They are direct and honest. However, Venus is in detriment when ruled by Aries, showing that their aggression and passion can get in their own way when trying to establish a partnership with another person. Fiercely independent, Arians love the chase of love but the actual substance can be seen as unfavorable being that this sign does not want to be tied down. Saturn is at its fall in Aries as well, demonstrating their foolhardy approach at life, often burning bridges, and acting too impulsively without pondering the consequences of their actions.
TAURUS
Taurus is an earth sign, and with this element, their energy is introverted and receptive. Earth is the element of the physical, material, and stable, and the modality of this sign is fixed so they have strong wills, determination, and unchanging qualities. Taurus is fixed due to its incredibly slow momentum, Taurus doesn’t charge ahead and take initiative like Aries, but rather slows down to enjoy the finer details. Being the ruler of the night expression of Venus combined with its element and modality, Taurus is materialistic, sensual, stubborn, and loyal. The Moon exalts in Taurus, so we can see person who is a firm lover of the comforts of life and whose emotional nature remains constant. This person is warm and down to earth. However, Mars is in detriment when ruled by Taurus, their slow and patient nature is at odds with this aggressive, expressive, and vibrant planet. Taureans, and the other earth signs, have the tendency to rationalize and suppress their emotions however this trait is exacerbated with this placement, they will suppress their internal aggression until it explodes in a fantastic way. These traits are then coupled by Taurus being Pluto’s, the higher octave of Mars, detriment. Pluto is the planet of upheaval and transformation while Taurus is the sign of stability and internal security. In my opinion, Taurus, being an earth sign, is the most fixed of all the other fixed signs, so they and the themes of transformation do no mix well. Uranus is at its fall in Taurus demonstrating this sign’s tendency to prefer to maintain the status quo than to delve deeper into the more taboo and immaterial concepts.
GEMINI
Gemini is an air sign, and with this element, their energy is extroverted and direct. Air is the element of logic and communication, the modality of this sign is mutable so they have adaptive and versatile qualities. Gemini’s mutability comes from the nature of communication itself. A conversation needs two parts, with each side bringing new information and knowledge to the table, the mind of Gemini works in the very same way. Communication is always changing and knowledge is always in fluctuation due to new levels of understanding, so the sign of communication should have adaptive traits for acclimating themselves to the steady flow of new knowledge and the multifaceted nature to deal with the duality, even plurality, of communication. Being the day ruler of Mercury, Gemini is all about opinions, communication, and logic, they constantly oscillate from a euphoric high to melancholic lows, however each mood never lasts long. Gemini has high levels of mercunian (it’s actually a world lol) energy that gives them the attention span of an eternal child. They have a habit of quickly jumping from topic to topic, minute detail to detail, all in one breath. Their attention to detail is so strong that they even have the tendency to unconsciously mimic those they come into contact with, another trait of their mutability. Jupiter is in detriment when ruled by Gemini, showing their inability to grasp the bigger picture at times. Gemini is too concerned with the individual strokes of a paint brush than to step back and take a look at the beautiful masterpiece. The complexities of religion and philosophy are difficult for Gemini to understand for they live in the world of logic and the tangible.
CANCER
Cancer is a water sign, and with this element, their energy is introverted and receptive. Water is the element of emotion and intuition, the modality of this sign is cardinal so they have innate leadership and initiating qualities. Cancer is cardinal because they take their emotions into account first and foremost, and with being this emotionally free they take into account the needs of others and nurture them. Being the true ruler of the Moon, Cancer is nurturing and empathetic. Their strong compassion and sensitivity is naturally maternal. Cancer is the ultimate mother in my eyes, warm and soft in nature but mess with her babies you get her unbreakable shell and piercing pincers. They are also the expression of the inner child, given that what Cancer seeks most is a comfortable place to call home. I always think of Cancer as the child that clings to their mother before leaving her side for the first day of school, in much the same way they cling to those they love with an almost suffocating embrace of need and devotion. Exaggeration and overabundance are also the traits that are held by the planet that Cancer exalts, Jupiter. Their emotional nature is just as exaggerated and overemphasized as Jupiter, Cancer is a benefactor that gives and gives and rains the gifts of family, compassion, and deep commitment. Saturn is in detriment with this sign showcasing Cancer’s unfortunate tendency to display and act with only their emotions as their guide and justification. They lack the ability to put their emotions to the side to do what is needed and logical because they feel everything so deeply. This also shows their inability to function when the going gets hard for them, their inability to process hardships without resorting to the whole “woe is me” rhetoric in their underdeveloped state. Mars in Cancer is at its fall, their ability to be assertive is completely hindered by their emotional reactivity causing massive and unpredictable explosions and lashing outs. Cancer, even as a water sign, loses its manipulative edge in this planet due to its extreme moodiness and overall temporary passive aggressiveness that will quickly turn into explosive outbursts, however they remain fiercely loyal to loved ones and will fight to the death for them.
LEO
Leo is a fire sign, and with this element, their energy is extroverted and direct. Fire is the element of passion and will, the modality of this sign is fixed so they have strong wills, determination. and unchanging qualities. Leo is fixed in their own pride, their ego simply refuses to allow them to compromise. Being the sol (I made a pun lmao) ruler of the Sun, Leo exudes warmth and passion. They are filled with light and much like how the Sun remains in center of our solar system, Leo desires to remain in the center of their personal world. Neptune is exalted in Leo, so they are among the most creative and artistic of the signs, looking at this rulership compared with their relation to the Sun, demonstrates their need to showcase their talents and creativity to the world, they are true performers. Neptune also shows the capacity for compassion, generosity, and kindness that this sign can demonstrate when developed. Uranus is in detriment in Leo, the self centered approach to life is at complete odds with Uranus’ energy being the focus on groups and coalitions. Their compassion and generosity can be completely overwhelmed by their need to be praised and in the spot light. Saturn is also in detriment with this sign, I interpret this as a trapped ego, Leo’s energy comes from the heart (they rule the heart) and when its in such a rigid and cold planet, this energy can become disillusioned and suppressed. Thus creating a disconnect, their ego is fortified and structured, but their expression of the warmer qualities of this sign are nullified; making them come off as standoffish, aloof, and arrogant.
VIRGO
Virgo is an earth sign, and with this element, their energy is introverted and receptive. Earth is the element of the physical, material, and stable, the modality of this sign is mutable so they have adaptive and versatile qualities. Virgo is mutable in regards to their adaptive nature, always seeking to perfect themselves, they take on the traits that will help them reach their goals. Being the sign that both rules Mercury and is its exaltation, Virgo is obsessed with the minute details of all that fall under their critical eye. They are the night expression of Mercury, so while they are not as communicative and inquisitive as Gemini, they are hardworking, since Mercury rules day to day routines, and seek perfection and efficiency in everything they do. Highly intelligent and analytical Virgos have the confidence that their way is the best way. Jupiter and Neptune are in detriment when ruled by Virgo, this shows their inabilities to think in the abstract. With Jupiter, Virgo lacks the ability to think outside the box, and are limited to their very own sense of routine. They refuse to experience the variety and unpredictability of life. With Neptune, Virgo’s need to think rationally and objectively leave them at a lost when it comes to the more lateral and emotional side of communication, leaving them to be very oblivious to the emotional impact their words have on others. Venus is fallen with Virgo as its ruler, this is where the maiden and the sign of service archetypes come in, Virgo often rejects the dreaminess and romanticism of love and instead show the depth of their affection through service. To them, the truest form of love is not through pretty words but what you do for them, solely for their comfort. Their rejection of Venus’ sensuality is why they are often painted as the maiden, the purity of their love is entirely giving, making them much like their sister sign, Pisces, in regards to losing themselves for the ones they love and adore.
LIBRA
Libra is an air sign, and with this element, their energy is extroverted and direct. Air is the element of logic and communication, the modality of this sign is cardinal so they have innate leadership and initiating qualities. Libra is cardinal in the sense that they actively seek out partnerships and collaborations with other people, they actively communicate between varying groups of people often in need to find balance between one another. Being the day ruler of Venus, Libra oozes charm and grace. Their social aptitude is unparalleled by others. This Venusian influence also shows in Libra’s continuing search for partnership and love. They love the security relationships brings and their partner often brings balance to their zany life. Saturn is exalted in Libra showing their strong talents at compromise and finding the middleman, they are always harmonious and so well understanding of the need for justice and fairness that they often give more than they take, thus becoming the biggest hypocrite of the zodiac by not being fair to themselves. Mars is in detriment due to Libra’s strong preferences towards peace rather than aggression and domination. Mars’ violent nature is forever at odds with their need for harmony and understanding. The sun is at its fall in Libra as well emphasizing their overly compromising nature. How can the ego be recognized and praised when it spends so much time changing itself to fit the narratives of other people’s lives?
SCORPIO
Scorpio is a water sign, and with this element, their energy is introverted and receptive. Water is the element of emotion and intuition, the modality of this sign is fixed so they have strong wills, determination, and unchanging qualities. Scorpio is fixed in regards to their own emotions. They feel deeply and intensely for everything and because of the extreme depth of their emotion they become unmovable and fixated. Most people assume Scorpio isn’t as emotional as their watery cousins, Cancer and Pisces, because of the plutonian and martian influence that clouds their ability to express themselves, but out of the zodiac, I see Scorpio as being the most emotional. Imagine the strength and depth of feeling it would take to become so fixed based off of something as fluid and changing as emotion. Being the night ruler of Mars, the battles waged by this planet are fought inwards. Scorpio is always in a state of battle internally, they fight their personal demons along with the dark skeletons of their past selves. The martian influence of this water sign makes them guarded and closed off from others, crouching and waiting for the battle felt inwards to be seen on the outside. Mars loses its impulsiveness and excess energy in this sign and is instead traded in for cunning and manipulation, the scorpion is a retaliatory creature and only seeks vengeance when attacked. Pluto adds into this sign the themes of death and transformation, which are Scorpio’s key words. Emotionally sensitive to others, the sting of Scorpio is their deadly intuition and empathy which they use to hit where it hurts the most. Venus is detriment in this sign, the plutonian influence adds paranoia and the need for control while Mars adds in haughtiness and aggression. The love of Scorpio is filled with paranoia due to their fear of being vulnerable and hurt, they desire all of you while giving you very little of themselves, you are theirs while they refuse to call themselves yours. The Moon is fallen in Scorpio due to their intense nature and emotional isolation, instead of expressing their feelings, a lunar Scorpio will suppress them until a massive explosion, a lot like a Cancer Mars but more destructive. The overall nurturing nature of this luminary is drowned out by the war cry of Mars and Pluto’s vindictive streak.
SAGITTARIUS
Sagittarius is a fire sign, and with this element, their energy is extroverted and direct. Fire is the element of passion and will, the modality of this sign is mutable so they have adaptive and versatile qualities. Sagittarius is mutable in regards to their need for a constant change in scenery, mindsets, and philosophy. Being the day ruler of Jupiter, Sagittarians are naturally gregarious and wise. They like to expand their horizons, always on the prowl for something new, and always on the search for enlightenment. They seek the truth first and foremost and have no qualms with expressing it to all those with a lent ear. Sagittarius represents higher thought and religion, they often feel that their opinions are divine and prophetic in nature, Jupiter also expands upon their fiery and energetic nature. They like the experience of life but not necessarily the prices that come with it. They despise being owned and controlled and desire to live life only on their terms. Mercury is in detriment with Sagittarius showcasing the whole cliche of having ones’s head “stuck in the clouds”. They are too busy considering the grandiose that they often forget that it is the combination of the smaller details that form the bigger picture. Their own innate sense of morality and their complete disregard for social niceties such as “white lies”, often being frank and direct, is in complete opposition to the typical conversation held by people. They think too deeply for the small details Mercury rules over.
CAPRICORN
Capricorn is an earth sign, and with this element, their energy is introverted and receptive. Earth is the element of the physical, material and stable, and the modality of this sign is cardinal so they have innate leadership and initiating qualities. Capricorn’s cardinality comes from the being the personification of ambition itself. Being the night ruler of Saturn, Capricorn’s internal strength and regulation is beyond compare. Their ambition, work ethic, and drive are damn near the strongest indicators of success. They are powerful and obsessed with how their image is projected to others. They seek to project the image of success and legacy and if given the option to be the people pleaser as well, they would choose it to add to their numerous titles, but it is still of little importance to them. Mars is exalted in Capricorn showing their ability to separate emotion and passion from logic and gain and from there being able to channel the former into their unending reserve of energy to achieve their goals. Wise and practical, it takes a lot to throw them off their mechanical and methodical rise in power. However, just because Capricorn is quite adept at channeling their emotions towards professional success doesn’t mean they lack in other areas. The Moon is in detriment with this sign. Capricorn’s cold nature is completely out of place in the Moon’s warm, comfortable, and fluid domain. Emotions are always in a state of suppression and they try to use logic to dilute and deal with their emotions. High expectations of them may have caused them to blot out this crucial part of their personality. This can also be seen in Capricorn’s standard association with them being unconcerned with the feelings of others as they step on them to climb the ladder of success. Jupiter is fallen with this sign as well showing their deep cynicism regarding luck and gifts, they believe hard work is the only way to succeed and that nothing in life is free. Extremely traditional, they have a strong distrust for the new innovation of life preferring the tried and true methods.
AQUARIUS
Aquarius is an air sign, and with this element, their energy is extroverted and direct . Air is the element of logic and communication, the modality of this sign is fixed so they have strong wills, determination, and unchanging qualities. Aquarians are fixed in their own intellect and refuse to compromise themselves and what they believe in. Being the ruler of Uranus, the ideas and intellect of Aquarius transcends the self and affects the world and everyone around them, Their intuition is strong and their love for progress and equality, unmatched. They idealize themselves and see their way as the best way. Often rebelling and causing instability so a newer and better stability can take form, thus showing their corulership with Saturn. One must acknowledge the old and traditional to improve upon it and expand for the future. We can’t learn if we have nothing to learn from. Aquarius understands the need for rules and structure, but also understands that a rule needs to be broken or changed when it no longer applies, they are the humanitarians of the signs and advocate for all. The Sun is in detriment in Aquarius giving us insight as to why they are so rebellious, the fragility of their ego is in desperate need for recognition. They make up for their lack of self identity by, taking a page out of Leo’s book, creating a larger than life persona that is unique and unlike everybody else in every way. Their disgust for conformity can be seen in Neptune’s fall. Neptune is the planet of the collective consciousness and they see themselves as too unique and revolutionary to be grouped with the not-so-innovative minds of others. They often form their larger than life plans without taking into account the needs and feelings of others, their independent nature and refusal to submit to others ironically manifests itself in the need for others to submit to them. Their empathy only takes them so far before they ditch the rest of us and head for the stars.
PISCES
Pisces is a water sign, and with this element, their energy is introverted and receptive. Water is the element of emotion and intuition, the modality of this sign is mutable so they have adaptive and versatile qualities. Pisces is mutable in regards to their own fluidity, water is naturally a liquid element so in mutable Pisces, their receptivity is unmatched. Like actual water they flow and take the shape of any environment they’re in. Being the ruler of Neptune, Pisces represents universal empathy and compassion. As a water sign, Pisces operates through the medium of emotions, they are essentially sponges to the emotions of others. Extremely sensitive and kind, Pisceans are prone to being self deceptive and elusive, another embodiment of Neptune. Neptune represents dreams, the imagination, and spirituality which is why Pisces, to me, is the most psychic of the signs. Pisces is the sign of self undoing and destruction, their receptivity combined with their nature to lose themselves to the emotions of others are the main causes of this, they are essentially lil cinnamon rolls that must be protected at all costs. They are also the night expression of Jupiter showing they all have a strong desire and capability to transcend the spiritual barriers of man. Jupiter’s expanding energy being channeled so inwardly amplifies the qualities of Neptune which leads to them having an incredible mind and fertile imagination, often day dreaming and retreating from the real world. They need their isolation because their incredibly receptive nature often subjects them to the whims of others leaving them unable to explore and live for themselves. Venus exalts in Pisces, showcasing their sacrificial nature and overall dreaminess and idealizations of love and romance. Their kindness and giving is often taken advantage of because their ego is so impressionable they often question their self value. Mercury at its detriment and fall with this sign, showing that their expansive inner mind can become a prison preventing them from assertively expressing themselves and their ideas. They can be easily ran over because of their demure nature and inability to stand up for themselves using logic and direct communication. However they make up for this in their extreme capabilities when it comes to manipulation, their soft spoken nature often makes them appear to be the victim even when they’re at fault.
The main type of astrology practiced on tumblr is Tropical. In this type of astrology, the signs are oriented around the seasons, with the 1st degree of Aries being the Spring Equinox. The signs are then allotted 30 degrees which is basically 30 days for the sun to traverse through (360/30 = 12). As shown in the screen shot above, each planet and luminary gets a 30 degree association as well. Degrees are important because they show how the energy of the sign and planet are expressed. They also show how the planet will interact with the other heavenly bodies in your chart which we will cover in the next section. This section we will mostly discuss decans.
Decans are basically the breaking down and separation of a sign’s 30 degree segment into 10 degrees where the energies become altered by the other influences of this sign’s triplicity. That sounds pretty confusing, but it’s fairly straight forward. I’ll break down the key terms here:
Decans- Divide 30 by 3 and you get 10. Each 10 degree segment within these 30 degrees are a decan. 0-9, first decan, 10-19 second decan, and 20-29 third decan.
Influences- Mainly the sign and the planet that it rules.
Triplicity- Think 3, there are 3 signs per element. So basically the signs that have the same element as each other.
Here are all the decans
ARIES
First Decan (0 to 9 degrees) Purest, Ruled by Mars & Aries
Second Decan (10 to 19 degrees) Ruled by Sun & Leo
Third Decan (20 to 29 degrees) Ruled by Jupiter & Sagittarius
TAURUS
First Decan (0 to 9 degrees) Purest, Ruled by Venus & Taurus
Second Decan (10 to 19 degrees) Ruled by Mercury & Virgo
Third Decan (20 to 29 degrees) Ruled by Saturn & Capricorn
GEMINI
First Decan (0 to 9 degrees) Purest, Ruled by Mercury & Gemini
Second Decan (10 to 19 degrees) Ruled by Venus & Libra
Third Decan (20 to 29 degrees) Ruled by Uranus & Aquarius
CANCER
First Decan (0 to 9 degrees) Purest, Ruled by Moon & Cancer
Second Decan (10 to 19 degrees) Ruled by Pluto & Scorpio
Third Decan (20 to 29 degrees) Ruled by Neptune & Pisces
LEO
First Decan (0 to 9 degrees) Purest, Ruled by Sun & Leo
Second Decan (10 to 19 degrees) Ruled by Jupiter & Sagittarius
Third Decan (20 to 29 degrees) Ruled by Mars & Aries
VIRGO
First Decan (0 to 9 degrees) Purest, Ruled by Mercury & Virgo
Second Decan (10 to 19 degrees) Ruled by Saturn & Capricorn
Third Decan (20 to 29 degrees) Ruled by Venus & Taurus
LIBRA
First Decan (0 to 9 degrees) Purest, Ruled by Venus & Libra
Second Decan (10 to 19 degrees) Ruled by Uranus & Aquarius
Third Decan (20 to 29 degrees) Ruled by Mercury & Gemini
SCORPIO
First Decan (0 to 9 degrees) Purest, Ruled by Pluto & Scorpio
Second Decan (10 to 19 degrees) Ruled by Neptune & Pisces
Third Decan (20 to 29 degrees) Ruled by Moon & Cancer
SAGITTARIUS
First Decan (0 to 9 degrees) Purest, Ruled by Jupiter & Sagittarius
Second Decan (10 to 19 degrees) Ruled by Mars & Aries
Third Decan (20 to 29 degrees) Ruled by Sun & Leo
CAPRICORN
First Decan (0 to 9 degrees) Purest, Ruled by Saturn & Capricorn
Second Decan (10 to 19 degrees) Ruled by Venus & Taurus
Third Decan (20 to 29 degrees) Ruled by Mercury & Virgo
AQUARIUS
First Decan (0 to 9 degrees) Purest, Ruled by Uranus & Aquarius
Second Decan (10 to 19 degrees) Ruled by Mercury & Gemini
Third Decan (20 to 29 degrees) Ruled by Venus & Libra
PISCES
First Decan (0 to 9 degrees) Purest, Ruled by Neptune & Pisces
Second Decan (10 to 19 degrees) Ruled by Moon & Cancer
Third Decan (20 to 29 degrees) Ruled by Pluto & Scorpio
I’ll go more into depth about these influences in future posts, and decans apply to every planet, not just your sun sign :) So go ahead and have fun y’all.
Critical Degrees vs Anaretic
Anaretic degrees are 0 and 29 for all signs, having a planet in one of these degrees means that decision making is a real problem for this facet of your personality. You could either overanalyze your choices to the point of a stalemate or rush right into making a critical choice, this can even happen after overanalyzing.
Critical degrees are different they represent the sensitive and the strengthening points of said planet and said sign. This planet and its energies tend to be emphasized in one’s life, the degrees vary between the modality of the sign but here ya go
Cardinal (0, 13, 26)
Fixed (8, 9, 21, 22) *Ya boy got his sun at 21 degrees Scorpio😆
Mutable (4 and 17)
Your Natal Chart is basically a community bbq where the planets can interact with each other
The degrees of your planets are important because they can show how these plants interact with one another, in this section I’ll list the requirements and definitions of the 5 basic astrological aspects
CONJUNCTION (0°) Same Polarity/Same Element/Same Modality
In order to have a conjunction the planets or points must be within 10 degrees of each other. With a conjunction the energies of both planets become united and act as one. This is a fairly neutral aspect seeing as conjunctions between Jupiter and Venus can be positive while Saturn and Mars conjunctions can be more malefic. Energies between the planets are intensified and are always in unity which can create a blind spot seeing as it is extremely difficult for people to separate the planet’s distinct energies from one another. The closer the orb, the distance from one another, the more powerful the aspect. Sun/Mercury conjunctions are fairly common seeing as Mercury can never stray too far from the sun.
My Moon (28° Capricorn) conjuncts Neptune (1° Aquarius) with an orb of 3°. Both my emotional sensitivity and vulnerabilities to others are emphasized through my heightened and sympathetic empathy.
SEXTILE (60°) Same Polarity/Different Element/Different Modality
In order to have a sextile the two planets or points must be within 10 degrees of each other. Sextiles are a harmonious aspect and are a lot like trines, except the trine is so ingrained within the native’s psyche that it can be unconscious and dormant, while the Sextile is more present and has to be called upon for the native to use. The harmonious nature between these planet can be used consciously.
My Moon (28° Capricorn) and Mercury (25° Scorpio) are sextile with an orb of 3° Diplomacy and persuasion come easy to me as my logical and communicative mind have an insatiable curiosity and with the Moon’s strong sensitivity to the feelings of others, this allows me to aptly pick up on these cues to change my approach in regards to persuading them.
SQUARE (90°) Different Polarity/Different Element/Same Modality
In order to have a square the two planets or points must be within 10 degrees of each other. Squares are a symbol of tension between these two planets, compromise and understanding are necessary to overcome these obstacles. Tension arise as a sort of conflict of interests between these bodies.
My Sun (21° Scorpio) squares the Ascendant (24° Leo) with an orb of 3° . I have the tendency to project myself as something I’m not, the amount of arrogance and standoffish I project to others is at conflict with my true private and emotional nature often leaving bad impressions when first meeting new people.
TRINE (120°) Same Polarity/Same Element/Different Modality
In order to have a trine the two planets or points must be within 10 degrees of each other. Trines are highly harmonious and positive, the talents that come from this aspect are so natural that they are almost unconscious.
My Moon (28° Capricorn) trines my Venus (5° Libra) with an orb of 7°. My kind, warm, and receptive nature has a habit of making many people feel comfortable and open up to me, regardless to whether that was my intention or not.
OPPOSITION (180°) Same Polarity/Different Element/Same Modality
In order to have an opposition the two planets or points must be within 10 degrees of each other. Opposition are hard and difficult to live and function with, but they are not impossible to overcome. At times the native may feel as if they’re being pulled into two opposite direction often leaving them insecure and confused. Due to their lack of internal structure they seek for what they lack in relationships with others.
My Sun (21° Scorpio) is in opposition with Saturn (13° Taurus) with an orb of -8°. I face difficulties with expressing and asserting myself. I often oscillate between an overaggressive and dominant extreme to an intense surrender of passivity. I must compromise between these two volatile expressions and meet in the middle.
You know how before I said the signs were roommates? Actually let’s pretend they live in a neighborhood where each one has their own house
Okay, so you guys know that weird circle thing that’s at the top of your screen whenever you put your birth chart info into a website? It has all the symbols of the signs going in a circle, and it looks like a pi chart with the occasional weird ass little glyphs splattered across the pie chart’s divisions? It often has multicolored and confusing lines connecting these glyphs together? That is your actual natal chart, and those little divisions are your houses. Y’all can take a look at mine for example.
(The website I used for this was Astrodienst and this link should take you to the chart generator I used https://www.astro.com/cgi/genchart.cgi?lang=e;nhor=1;cid=sbofileBjfAmD-u1503867657)
Each section is a house and each house represents an area of your life and a part of your body. Each house is assigned a sign that rules over it, the houses are not energy!! They are the area in life where these energies are more likely to manifest.
The four most important houses are the 1st, 4th, 7th, and 10th houses and have the biggest impact on one’s life. These are known as the angular houses, and each house has a specific name, 1st is the Ascendant, 4th is the I.C., 7th is the Descendant, and the 10th is the M.C.
This picture right here covers the basics of your houses and their meanings, their natural rulers, the classifications of houses, and where they all lie.
I plan on going more into depth about each house in future posts. But amazing blogs such as astrollusion and leoasf have made amazing posts about the houses already.
When talking about the houses you often here the term stellium get thrown around.
A stellium is when you have 3 or more planets/luminaries in one house in a chart. The stellium has to consist of at least one personal planet (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, or Mars). Where a stellium lies shows that this aspect of your life is illuminated and highly important and emphasized. As you can see in my chart I have a 4th house stellium in Scorpio (Sun, Mercury, and Pluto) and a 6th house stellium in Capricorn (Moon, Uranus, and Neptune). These are aspects of my life that are highly focused on.
Along with an area of life, the charts also represent parts of the body, here they are:
1st- Head, brain, face, eyes, and appearance.
2nd- Throat, neck, thyroid gland, and voice.
3rd- Arms, lungs, shoulders, hands, and nervous system.
4th- Chest, breasts, stomach, alimentary canal
5th- Heart, chest, spine, spinal column, upper back
6th- Digestive system, intestines, spleen, overall health, and nervous system
7th- Kidneys, skin, and lumbar region
8th- Reproductive system, sexual organs, bowels, and excretory system
9th- Hips, ass, thighs, liver, and sciatic nerve
10th- Knees, joints, and skeletal system
11th- Ankles and circulatory system
12th- Feet, toes, lymphatic system, adipose tissue
A planet in a house represents a specific energy being brought to that part of your life. I’ll list what energies these planets can bring. (the first indent represents in aspects of life, while the second is in relation to the body):
I see it as the part of life where one truly feels alive, they feel the strongest and most in control here. Where we need to feel special and separate from others.
How we go about getting emotional comfort and satisfaction. Where deep personal attachments should be made, where we can find emotional fulfillment
Where the mind comes alive and is developed, where your thoughts were developed, where you apply your communicative and mental abilities
Where you feel valued or where you look to feel values, where money can be gained, enhances beauty, charm, and the aesthetic of the body part or area of life. Where you look for love or where love can be found.
What makes you passionate, where you showcase your passions and aggression, your sexual life, where you are defensive and powerful.
Expansion, where you’ll grow spiritually and mentally. Where luck can be found
Where you felt restricted, boundaries, failures, what will limit you, where your hard work will pay off in the long run, where you are restrained
Where you strive to separate yourself from the group, where in life you seek individual freedom and expression. Where your eccentric and restless qualities take root
What lies hidden to you, spirituality, where the subconscious manifests, where addiction can take hold, where you overindulge (can be work, love, sex, etc)
Power struggles, trauma, darkness, rapid and complete change
It’s all up to you guys now…
I just want to take the time to thank you guys for baring with me through this outrageously long post. Please bare with me as this is my first new post in years. If you have info to add or suggestions please let me know. Astrology is subjective and always up to the intuition of others, however I hope you all appreciated my perspective and want more insights from me in the future. If you’d like to know the people who’s knowledge inspired me I implore you to check out these following blogs:
ayyries
astrolocherry
ayat-the-aquarius
astrollusion
aquariusgod
lulucute (just to name a few)
None of them know who I am but they are by far some of the most informative and wise people on this site.
May good fortune follow you all ❤
