Emmar's Astral Insights

Hello, everyone! For this week’s Starry Sunday post, we will be discussing the sign of Virgo. This is the sixth sign in the zodiac, which the Sun enters on August 23rd and leaves on September 22nd.

In bringing an end to the summer season, Virgo prepares the earth, and us humans, for the bountiful fall harvest. It is traditionally associated with food, medicine, and agriculture. The second earth sign after Taurus and the second mutable sign after Gemini, Virgo embodies both the groundedness of a typical earth sign and the chaotic expansiveness of a typical mutable sign. What results is a highly intellectual sign with a sharp eye for detail. Virgo sees the material, what is present and here, and finds new uses for it, recontextualizes it.

Mercury rules Gemini as well as Virgo. The similarities between these two signs may be evident from what I said in the previous paragraph: these are incredibly shrewd signs. Both are mutable and both are quite keen on immersing themselves in knowledge. Remember, Mercury is synchronous with the Greek god Hermes, who rules over the mind, commerce, travel, and speech. All very ubiquitous aspects of modern life. Where the two Mercury-ruled signs divert, however, is in their elements. Gemini is the air Mercury sign, while Virgo is the earth Mercury sign. Earth and mutability may sound like a strange combination of triplicity and quadruplicity, and I’m sure that most Virgo natives would agree!

Earth combines with mutability to create a sign that is incredibly invested in the use of knowledge, its application and purpose. Gemini is more invested in knowledge for knowledge’s sake. Remember, as the signs progress, they develop further and move on to bigger and bigger questions. So, Virgo does not just “think” like Gemini does. It “analyzes,” such as in its traditional catchphrase, “I analyze.” How does this piece of knowledge fit in with the others? What kinds of results will I get if I apply it somewhere else? In what new directions can we take this piece of knowledge?

This sign also rules the digestive system, which turns food of all kinds into nutrition for our bodies. Consider this metaphor: food is a resource. It takes a lot of brainpower and a lot of expertise to understand how to extract everything possible from a given resource, and yet more to apply all that to the right places for use. The digestive system achieves this perfectly. So too does the astrological sign of Virgo.

The symbolic archetype of Virgo is The Maiden, or The Virgin. Rather an alluring image for such a shrewd sign, you may think. However, where the Maiden best represents Virgo is in its reserve, its carefulness, and its hesitation to leap into things. Virgo waits until it is ready before it moves into any one idea. Indeed, Virgo is, in my opinion, one of the most introverted signs in the zodiac, even more introverted than a sign like Cancer. Cancer, at least, is confident that it has a shell in which, should trouble arise, it can hide its emotions, fears, desires. Virgo is grounded in the details, and sometimes, that discerning eye can become concrete proof that Virgo itself has nowhere to hide.

Virgo tends to have trouble with anxiety, and being a person with my Sun in the Virgo-ruled sixth house, I may perhaps have a bit of bias in this opinion. Analysis is just the positive meaning of judgment, after all. Underdeveloped Virgos who express the aspects of this sign unhealthily will direct this critical eye towards others and themselves, too. Some nitpick the things others say or do. They may see this as just being helpful, but to those on the receiving end, it is not always so. People with a lot of Virgo influence in their charts would do well to channel their powers of analysis into work, their routines, or even something creative. For a Virgo, organization of any kind is a meditative experience.

Hello, everyone! Apologies for the long wait between this and the previous update. Been a really strange few weeks for me. Anywho, for this week’s Starry Sunday post, I will be talking about the sign of Leo. The Sun has been transiting the sign for the last few weeks, and this is my last opportunity to discuss the sign while the sun resides within it!

Leo may be second only to Scorpio in terms of their reputation for being powerful, and for good reason. With the proud Sun ruling this sign of fixed fire, and the symbolic archetype of the Lion, Leo is ferocity of spirit personified. No matter what your other planetary placements, being born with the Sun in Leo will be felt by you and by those around you. How? Mainly in a singularly determined ego, in good ways and bad.

Let’s start with the good. The Sun represents the most vital, positive, and life-loving parts of every one of us. The ego is capable of doing great things, and the Sun will indicate in what ways you will function best, what will bring you fulfillment and pride. It is not exactly the same as your destiny, however. That is ruled by your North Node. Rather, the Sun is personal pride and personal fulfillment. You don’t need to be a standout in the things which fill your life with purpose. Depending on the house and aspects, this will mean different things.

The Lion is the archetype of Leo. Proud, animal, and fierce, the Lion knows what they want and will fight hard to get it. The lion also adorns the major arcana card Strength in tarot, which is fitting as Strength represents the astrological sign of Leo. People are rather afraid of ego, but I don’t believe this to be fair. It is dangerous to have an unfulfilled ego, or to not understand how to fulfill one’s ego. A person with strong Leo influence will usually have no trouble understanding their needs and will be in touch with the more spirited parts of themselves, pending inharmonious aspects.

When discussing Leo, it is crucially important to discuss the narrative of this sign, and when I say narrative, I mean in the literary sense. Leo sees themselves as the protagonist of their story. Aries does as well, but in a more active, directional sense. Leo is in constant spiritual search of its great destiny, its great fulfillment, and seeking its moment of narrative glory. The Lion does this by spending a great deal of time with itself, searching inward for where that fulfillment comes from. A strong sense of identity and self is crucial for Leo in particular. In fact, I would argue that Leo is the most introverted of the fire signs. The perfect, glowing Sun is in a perpetual state of roiling explosion just under the surface. To be fixed is to look inward and have a great deal of inner depth.

Of course, that the best life stories can be told through performing arts is no coincidence with this sign. Leo has a reputation for loving the stage. Speaking in honesty, I have drawn greatly on this part of Leo’s energy in my inspiration for my catchphrase for Leo, “I play.” The Lion lives its life with the same amount of fire and desire and will for life as the lead characters in the best stories. Like the Sun, Leo radiates life force, and both craves and earns admiration. The 5th house rules fun as well, and what is more fun that creating joy and entertainment out of life? “Joie de vivre” is the name of the game for this glowing sign.

Hello, everyone! Oh dear, I’m afraid I’ve missed the last week, and it is now Leo season. Ah well, that post will have to wait for next time. For now, let us revisit the needs of the Moon in the last six signs, from Libra to Pisces!

Moon in Libra: Aesthetics are very important to a Libra Moon. I think of Oscar Wilde’s devotion to aesthetic for its own sake, beauty and elegance as ends in themselves. It is important to these natives that they have a home space that is beautiful and comfortable, similarly to Taurus Moons. As they have Venus as their rulers, this similarity makes sense. For Libra, this is intellectual as well. Pleasant, yet intellectual conversation makes Libra moons feel nurtured.

Moon in Scorpio: These natives have incredibly powerful, passionate, and sensitive emotional souls. Their need to express their emotions is particularly pronounced, and as such, a space where they feel they can be vulnerable is crucial. Naturally, these natives are reserved with emotional expression, and some patience and a lot of kindness goes a long way. A listening ear is comforting.

Moon in Sagittarius: Ruled by the planet Jupiter, Sagittarius as any sort of influence will impart a desire for expansion, change, and adventure. With the emotions ruled by Sagittarius, what results is a person who loves the novel and loves to discover new things. Lots of space to roam and explore is the top priority for these moon natives, and the ideal friend or loved one will want to go on journeys right along with them.

Moon in Capricorn: Diligence and thoughtfulness define Capricorn, and these qualities will come very naturally to those who have their natal Moon in the earthy sign. Respect is one of the most important things for Capricorn, followed by patience. As an Earth sign, the physical space should be a focus. A clean, well-organized home where there is potential for all sorts of activities productive and playful will help Capricorn work hard and play hard.

Moon in Aquarius: Ruled by both Saturn traditionally and Uranus in the modern day, Aquarius is an enigmatic sign. With the emotional core vibrating on this level, the native will need freedom to express their unique ideas while also having someone to talk to about them. Aquarius is a very compassionate sign, but they are hesitant to get their own hands wet on the water from their urn. Again, respect is essential.

Hello, everyone! We are well into Cancer season now, and with that being the theme of these times, I thought it would be fun and perhaps functional to discuss the different needs of the Moon in the signs. Note that since there is a LOT here, and I want to give each sign the thought and care that they and the Moon deserve I will be splitting this post into two parts.

The Moon rules Cancer and is one of the most important forces in a given natal chart. One may argue that it is the most important of all, as the Moon rules our instincts, our comforts, and our natural mode of being. We all want to feel secure and to feel loved. To accomplish this, it is often helpful to understand your Moon.

I want to make the distinction between the ways in which the Moon, Venus, and Mars affect our senses of love. Love is often expressed through these three together. However, as a central theme of the Moon, love is specifically nurturing and comforting. Think again of the Mother archetype of Cancer. As opposed to fun, flirty Venus and fiery, passionate Mars, the Moon is focused on how one best feels cared for emotionally. At the end of the day, what does your Moon need?

I will be going through the Moon in each sign, but keep in mind that it is not as simple as knowing what sign your Moon is in. Houses and aspects are critical as well. For example, having my Moon in Gemini might make me sound like someone with a breezy emotional nature, but it is also in the 8th house, representing some deep childhood trauma and emotional burdens which I bear and hide. I won’t go into aspects and houses here for brevity’s sake, but I recommend that you look into it! And who knows, I might revisit the topic sometime. The Moon demands some attention, after all.

By element:

Fire moons are independent and passionate. Dedicated partnership is their ideal, but it may not be their comfort zone. Indeed, these moons are happy being the leader and protagonist of their own stories, and as such, they need both admiration and some space to let their spirit and spark run free and wild.

Earth moons are stable and physically nurturing. The space around them is very important and they have a strong sense of home as a place. The needs of an Earth moon are to be cared for physically, whether it’s through money, material objects, or a safe space to call their own.

Air moons are intelligent and social. Depending on their quadruplicity (cardinal, fixed, or mutable), they may be more focused on individual connections over community or vice versa. The novel and the intellectually stimulating are their delights in life, and any sort of clinginess may be claustrophobic for an Air moon.

Water moons are deep and sensitive. For them, instinct is not cerebral, or grand, or rooted in pace, but anchored in emotion and feeling. Individual attention and truly being perceived is critical for all moons, but it is the foundation for a water moon’s sense of reality and being.

Moon in Aries: At times restless and combative, at other times clearheaded and brave, an Aries moon is full of energy at every moment and thrives in chaotic environments. It is crucial for an Aries moon to have a sense of independence and to be allowed to fully express themselves in sometimes explosive ways. They need people in their lives who will match their fire rather than try to contain it. Creating an environment of “keeping it real” will do wonders for the contentment of an Aries moon.

Moon in Taurus: The Moon is exalted in Taurus, and the blessed ideal of Venus sums up the nature of a Taurus moon. True homebodies, they prefer familiar settings to unusual locations because chaos is rather frightening for them. Remember: Scorpio is opposite Taurus. Taurus moons are very attuned to their physical bodies, so any sort of physical touch and affection will go a long, long way for their contentment in the moment and in life. Additionally, good food does wonders for a Taurus moon’s mood.

Moon in Gemini: The emotional nature is breezy and light with this one, but with the side effect that they sometimes have trouble feeling their emotions and prefer talking about them. New ideas, new hobbies, words and communication are essential for all of us in a way, but it is the instinctual need of Moon in Gemini. Breadth over depth is what it’s all about, and the space for new food for thought is key. “Variety is the spice of life.”

Moon in Cancer: Sensitivity and passion run together with Moon in Cancer natives. The shell covers a soft and deeply romantic nature. Memories are the heart and soul of life for these watery moons, and they will want to make lots of good ones with the people they care about. Believe it or not, solitude is also an important component. It allows them the time to retreat into their shell and reflect on the events surrounding them and how they feel about it.

Moon in Leo: Dramatic and proud, Leo is a dynamic and fiercely independent sign that also wants desperately to hide a sensitive and fearful core. Rejection deeply wounds Leo moons. At once both strong and vulnerable, Moon in Leo natives love being the center of attention, and the praise and kindness of others encourages them to continue being their fiercely wonderful selves. They also love generosity, and when given love in verbal, physical, or other forms, they will give right back in equal measure.

Moon in Virgo: A deep appreciation for routine, for a sharp eye for detail, and for intelligence drives Virgo moons. Of the five love languages, gifts and acts of service will make a Virgo feel seen and loved. They channel the Earth element via a shrewd and resourceful manner, and they care little for words. They want to see that the effort they put into all their endeavors is seen and emulated by others. Don’t hesitate to be physically affectionate, however. A hug here and there is lovely, too.

The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4th, 1776 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is said that it was signed at 5:10 pm as well. In astrological circles, this is usually, but not always, the time and location used for the birth of the United States of America. Nation astrology is not a field of astrology that I often study or practice, but I actually love studying the astrology in holidays, and July 4th is a very interesting one. I believe that we can learn a great deal from the natal chart of this country where I live, particularly at the present moment.

The US has its birthday in early July, meaning that it is a Cancer. Now, what is Cancerian about the United States? Well, we can break it down into a lot of things. Cancer is a reserved and rather visibly passive water sign, as the crab hides in its shell and moves only side to side, never directly forwards. Cancer is also very suitable for leadership, as I have discussed in my post on the sign of Cancer. A traditionally feminine energy, the Cancerian qualities of the US come out, I believe, in its complicated relationship with independence and community.

The Fourth of July is also called Independence Day, but my favorite aspect of the United States is its diversity. People of all backgrounds are protected by the Bill of Rights, and part of the story of the US has been modifying its stuffy old definition of “equality” to include more and more people—women, Black Americans, LGBTQ+ people. Sometimes progress takes a step forward, but I will not pretend that sometimes it doesn’t feel like progress takes a few steps back as well. Cancer is all about ebbs and flows, and that can be felt in the tension between the value of self-reliance, so critical to the rebels that declared independence from Britain, and the value of diversity and interconnectedness, so critical to those first colonists who fled prosecution for their religious beliefs or race and sought an accepting home.

Note the symbols of the US. The bald eagle comes to mind first for most, but after that, what do you think of? I think of the Statue of Liberty. A grand woman of copper, wielding a tablet bearing today’s date in her left hand, a torch symbolizing warmth and home and progress in her right, a broken chain and shackle at her feet symbolizing freedom from enslavement. At once both proud and warm, Lady Liberty as an icon welcoming new immigrants to their new home couldn’t be more Cancerian in presentation and in ideals. After all, America isn’t quite a nationality to Americans. To be American is to hold an ideal, a dream, regardless of ethnic background, gender, religion, or what have you.

Aesthetically, the Fourth of July doesn’t seem at all fitting as a Cancerian holiday. After all, what could be less reserved and quietly emotional than fireworks, than loud pride? I invite you to think of the emotions that come to many when the Fourth of July comes round. National pride, of course, but what else? Home. Brotherhood. Tradition. A return home, celebrating identity around a feast of summer barbeque. Note too that Cancer rules food.

Hello, everyone, and happy Cancer season! For this week’s Starry Sunday, as befitting of the new position of the sun, I will be talking about the sign of Cancer.

Oh, Cancer. That sign, which is notorious, perhaps, for its emotionality. Of course, being a water sign, it will be focusing on its emotions. But perhaps it is because Cancer is the first water sign that it is renowned for being quite outwardly emotional. Scorpio, the second water sign, is reserved, private, and often serious with its emotions. Pisces, the third water sign, is at peace with its emotions and uses them to touch the spiritual. Cancer represents the child who realizes that emotions are a part of our lives, and we cannot merely be self-centered (Aries), comfortable (Taurus), logical thinkers (Gemini). There is a part of each of us that is impossible to put a pattern to and nearly impossible to tame, and that is our feelings.

Cancer represents the fourth house in astrology, and many of the themes of Cancer coincide with the themes of the fourth house. Family, the home, the personal, security… yes, Cancer is quite the homebody, much like Taurus… but on an emotional level, not a physical one. There needs to be a place of emotional safety with Cancer. Remember, the symbol of Cancer is the crab, which hides within its hard shell a very soft interior. The emotions go deep with this one, and there is a desire to protect oneself from the outside world, which can be so harsh and so terrifying.

Another difference between Taurus and Cancer is that Taurus wants comfort all its own. Cancer shares its comforts with others. That is where the family comes in. Being the cardinal water sign, Cancer seeks to find people to whom to direct its comforts. This means relationships, families, creation of families… Not necessarily strictly the romantic quality of relationships. That’s more Libra’s speed. Think Hera vs. Aphrodite. Both are feminine, romantic figures heavily invested in aesthetic. However, while Aphrodite aims to find pleasure, comfort, and fun in romance, Hera will direct her love to another goal.

What is quite useful about this comparison, too, is that it points to the leadership qualities of Cancer. This is a topic seldom discussed, but one which I find extremely pertinent to the sign and its power. After all, it is at one of the 90° angles at which the fourth house, and thus, Cancer, makes its domain. Aries will be a direct, combative leader, Libra a democratic and diplomatic one, and Capricorn one ambitious and practical. So, what kind of leader is Cancer? Well, Cancer is quite personal. It seeks to create a strong personal rapport with every one of its followers. What’s more, Cancer is incredibly wise, understanding that the aspirations and dreams of the human spirit come from a deeply personal and sometimes misunderstood place. Cancer keeps the emotions in mind when leading, and that is both greatly admirable and utterly valuable.  

It is impossible to discuss Cancer without discussing its feminine quality. As its planetary ruler is the Moon, and the Mother is the archetype of the sign, Cancer has become a sign which is judged in similar ways to the traditionally feminine in our modern society. In public, as a general rule, we don’t like to talk about emotions. They are messy, they are private, and they are unbecoming for the purposes of appearing collected and organized like our world so demands of us. Dismissing the ideals of traditional family and traditional emotion has affected the way in which many of us view Cancer. Cancer exists and changes for a modern world, a world that itself is changing, just like the phases of the Moon.

Hello, folks! Hope you’re enjoying the warming summer season. For this week’s slightly late blog post, I will be talking about one of the three quadruplicities: Mutable! Yes, the nomenclature for the quadruplicities is slightly awkward. Do I call it mutability? That’s way too long and convoluted a word for my liking. Being mutable? It’s awkward, but hey, these are the terms we have, so I’ve got to work with them. 

So, the quadruplicities. What are they? They are “cardinal,” “fixed,” and “mutable.” They go, in this order, through the zodiac starting with Aries. Aries is cardinal, Taurus is fixed, Gemini is mutable, etc. What you end up with is these groups: 

Cardinal: Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn

Fixed: Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius

Mutable: Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces

A brief overview of each quadruplicity: Cardinal signs are seen as leaders, going in a specific direction with purpose and determination. They have a vision, and they initiate the movement toward that vision. You can see this in the determination of Aries, the matriarchal leadership of Cancer, the interpersonal nature of Libra, and the ambition of Capricorn. Each of these signs starts the seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Fixed signs are seen as stabilizers, creating harmony and stability through the vehicle of their element. You can see this in the diligence of Taurus, the pride of Leo, the depth and strength of Scorpio, and the just mind of Aquarius. 

Because the Sun is currently in Gemini, I will be talking about the mutable quadruplicity today.  Mutable signs expand, journey, roam, and imagine, and won’t stay in one place (Fixed) or concentrate on one pursuit (Cardinal) for long. I like to say that the mutable signs deal with infinities.

Gemini is the first of the mutable signs, and with air being such an abstract, quick, and immaterial sign, mutability becomes quite breezy and light. What forms is Gemini, the air sign least interested in staying in one place for too long. New ideas, new things to learn, new projects to start and perhaps abandon as quickly as they were started. With Gemini, information is quickly gathered, assessed, and distributed as needed. Note I did not say organized. That is earthy Virgo’s realm and instinct. Gemini prefers to learn a lot about a lot of things, not a lot about a few things. Depth is not the primary concern with Gemini. 

Speaking of Virgo, it is the mutable earth sign. Mutable earth has incredible potential when it comes to organization and healing. Virgo is able to understand complicated systems and improve them. Incredibly intelligent and perceptive, Virgo embodies the theme of healing for a reason. The infinity here is a physical one. Sometimes, though, grounded earth and expansive mutability can conflict, which can result in confusion and even anxiety. Nevertheless, we would be lost without Virgos. 

Sagittarius is the mutable fire sign, and is opposite to Gemini. I personally love studying the opposite signs in the zodiac because I find that while they may have very countering views, the themes are the same. Sagittarius, like Gemini, loves journeys and loves the new. Adventure and expanding horizons are where it’s at with Sagittarius and its planetary ruler, Jupiter. Gemini, however, represents primary/elementary school education, while Sagittarius represents college and higher learning. Asking the big questions, Sagittarius looks to other cultures and other worlds for deep, philosophical answers. The infinity here is within identity, within spirit. 

Finally, we have Pisces, the mutable water sign. Water is emotional and spiritual depth. Fire and water are both intensely spiritual, but while fire operates on a present level, water operates on an ethereal level. Fire is temper, while water is a sea. So with Pisces, the infinity is quite dreamy and otherworldly. Remember that Pisces is ruled by both watery, dreamy, mysterious Neptune and expansive Jupiter. Mutability becomes compassion that is just expanding to all people, of all walks of life, from all realms. Note too that Pisces is the final sign in the zodiac, almost like it’s the return of the water in our bodies to the earth, the release of our souls to realms beyond the imagination.

Mutability can result in difficulty concentrating. As someone with a Pisces sun and Gemini moon, I can attest to this. I associate mutability to iNtuition and Perception, if you follow MBTI. It is incredibly challenging to stay with one thing because there is information constantly coming in from all sides to all senses, and while that can be a strength at times, it’s a bit of a nuisance at others. If you have strong Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, or Pisces influence in your chart, I recommend finding some sort of way to ground yourself in the physical realm, which (unfortunately) we inhabit, along with a human society which prioritizes the physical. 

Hello, everyone! For this week’s (albeit slightly late) entry, I’ll be talking about the element of Air, as the sun is currently transiting Gemini, the first air sign. 

Air is my personal favorite of the elements. I love them all, don’t get me wrong, and we need a little of all of their influence for a balanced and healthy life. Fire grants individuality and passion. Earth grants groundedness and a dose of reality. Water grants emotional reflection and love. Nevertheless, air stands as my favorite. Why this detached, highly rational, unemotional element?

The symbols of the three air signs are the Twins, the Scales, and the Waterbearer respectively. What do you notice about these symbols? Why, none are animal, unlike for the rest of the signs of the zodiac. No temperamental scorpions, proud lions, or charging bulls here. Air is the most human of all the elements. While the other elements all have animalistic qualities, air seeks to be as detached from the “primitive” as possible. Gemini is represented by the Twins, which is highly adaptable and quick, and Aquarius by the Waterbearer, who provides others with blessings. Libra’s representative, the Scales, goes so far as to be completely inanimate. 

All the air signs care deeply about humanity, principles, and logic. Logic is easy to grasp, as are principles, but humanity doesn’t come as quickly to the minds of many astrologers when it comes to air. Fire fights for the humanity of the self, whereas Air fights for the humanity of the collective and of the world. I often think of the pioneering scientist when I think of Aquarius, for example. Making massive intellectual breakthroughs in their field, paving the way for a different, better, and more exciting future. 

This can make for a frustrating amount of detachment in people with prominent Air in their chart (myself included). Sometimes they cannot care less about your emotional frustration, as it is completely illogical and missing the collective humanitarian point. Don’t you understand, I need you on my side here, because darnit, my feelings were hurt regardless of the frustration the other party was feeling, and I really don’t feel like turning the other cheek right now!

I want to address the misconception that the air signs are unemotional, as this is blatantly untrue. In fact, the air signs are the most childlike of the zodiac. An impatient Gemini, a frustrated Libra, and a stewing Aquarius can let their emotions boil over completely. The fact that the main avenue for airy expression is thought does not make them unemotional. It just means that they have a harder time managing emotions. They have a grand and extremely democratic vision for humanity and they care deeply about important principles. Their devotion to causes they are passionate about is most inspiring. 

Hello, everyone! After feeling really lethargic, I decided to take a break from last week, hence the lack of posts. I’m back now, and ready to get right back to discussing my passion, which is pretty wild because the Sun entered Gemini a few days ago! Let’s talk about it. 

Gemini is the third sign in the zodiac, preceded by earthy Taurus and succeeded by watery Cancer. Gemini is a mutable air sign. Its traditional catchphrase is “I think,” and represents Gemini’s insatiable desire to think about things, be exposed to the new, and go quickly from one thing to the next. Think about Mercury, Gemini’s planetary ruler, who is represented in Greek mythology by Hermes. Quick, active, never staying in one place too long, and thriving off of communication and thought. There’s never a dull moment with Gemini. 

I like to think of Gemini, if we’re going to go through a person’s metaphorical life journey, as a preschooler who has gotten the hang of speech. Questioning everything, learning new things, and making new friends. If Aries is a crying baby whose awareness is only of its body, and Taurus is enamored with new tastes, sensations, and objects, then Gemini’s world expands to concepts and facts and knowledge about the items and world around it. 

Gemini also rules children and siblings. Again, think of this imagery of a young child excited to learn in primary school. Think also of the various activities in kindergarten, like making shapes out of colorful building blocks or learning the alphabet by singing a song. Fun and learning together? That is Gemini through and through. Gemini makes the novel, the intellectual, approachable and fun. 

Going back to Mercury, it is one of the two planets, Venus being the other, which rules two signs. As the ruler of Virgo, Mercury expresses its earthy side. Details, details, details! What is known? What is the plan for moving forward? How do we apply this knowledge to reality? Virgo is highly intelligent, but unlike Gemini, will apply its intelligence to an organized project, sticking it through to its satisfactory end. Gemini is not concerned with staying in place. Why dedicate valuable time to just one thing, when we could learn a lot about a bunch of different things? 

This leads us to the stereotypes of Gemini as flighty and two-faced. When mutability and air collide, we get a sign that is often considered flighty by narrow minds. Our present world is jaded, a world that is full of doubt that there is anything new to be discovered. Let us remember the times when we were young, or even those times now, when we feel like the world has expanded and there is so much wonder and light in the world. Sagittarius, Gemini’s opposite, is about the beauty found in other cultures, in other parts of the world. Gemini can find the beauty in the personal world. It is why my personal quote for Gemini is “I learn,” for there is wonder to be found even in the mundane, in the present, in the here and now. 

Hello everyone! For this week’s Starry Sunday post, I’ll be talking a bit about the second house in astrology. Reason for this is that it is, of course, still Taurus season, and as Taurus rules the second house, I found it pertinent to discuss it in detail here.

First, I want to talk about what distinguishes houses from other things in astrology like planets, signs, and aspects. Let’s take a moment to imagine the birth chart, in the round, the way I like to read it. I like to think of the natal chart as a company. (I know, I know, this is boring as heck, but I promise there’s a rhyme and reason to this.) The planets are the various workers in this company, and the signs are the ways in which these workers operate. And what are the houses in this conceptualization? The houses are positions in this company that runs your life. The houses represent what role each planet plays within the company. There might be a few employees in running the home (4th house), some blue-collar workers (6th house), etc. I know analogies are rough, but this is helpful. 

One of the first things to note is that the house often takes on many of the themes of the sign that rules it. Now, what makes Taurus... Taurus? Well, for starters, it’s a fixed earth sign, very focused on sensations, possessions, wealth, prosperity, and reliability. The physical side of Venus is expressed in Taurus. The second house, to me, represents value. Recall that two weeks ago I mentioned that my personal catchphrase for Taurus is “I value.” That really encapsulates the second house. 

One piece of this is money and material possessions. Whatever planets are in your second house, you are going to experience their energies in this area of your life. For example, if Jupiter is in your second house, congratulations! It is quite likely that you will experience many blessings with regards to money in your life. It will be easy for you to gain material wealth, and you will experience much happiness from having lots of stuff, and lots of quality stuff at that. Material wealth has traditionally been the focus of any reading for this house. However, I do believe there is a second piece to this. 

The second piece, which I find much more interesting, is self-worth. Worth can be placed in things and money, of course, but worth also applies to the self. What do I mean to myself? Do I hold value to myself? These are important questions that placements in the second house will help address for anyone’s natal chart. For example, if Pluto is in your second house (as it is in mine), you may experience great difficulty in reconciling who you are now with what you want to be. However, as always with Pluto, this is a critical piece of your development as a person. Such is one example of a manifestation of a second house planet. 

Finally, before getting to the planets/houses segment of this post, I would like to briefly categorize all the houses. There are twelve, each in a circle around the Earth. They are numbered one through twelve, with the first falling on the left side below the horizon and going counter-clockwise to twelve just above the horizon on the left. The left half of these houses rule the self and the right half, other people. The bottom half rules the home and the top half, the outside world. Note that, being placed in the bottom left of the natal chart, the second house is deeply personal. Ideas around the self and the home are deeply expressed in the second house. 

Sun in the Second House: sense of ego and identity is found and expressed by defining personal values, developing self-worth, and accumulating wealth

Moon in the Second House: fluctuating money and worth, great emotional attachment to objects and money, comfort food

Mercury in the Second House: money-smarts to the point of frugality, a mutable value system, great pride in pool of knowledge

Venus in the Second House: great pleasure in the material, blessings of wealth and possessions, love for the self, distinct likes and dislikes

Mars in the Second House: taking risks for financial success, a keen eye for a good business arrangement, great attachment to possessions to the point of fiercely defending them

Jupiter in the Second House: faith in the blessings of the world, good fortune, buying and keeping and then getting rid of possessions quickly, trust in the self

Saturn in the Second House: great cautiousness around money, reluctance to invest recklessly, high standards for the self, self-criticism, hard work paying off financially

Uranus in the Second House: great changes in financial status, a detachment from money while also never being quite short of it, making money in a creative way

Neptune in the Second House: illusions around money, illusions around conceptions of the self, wanting to live in an immaterial world

Pluto in the Second House: either great control over finances or extreme shifts in financial status, deeply personal values, unstable self-esteem

Chiron in the Second House: trauma around self-worth, low self-esteem, learning to forgive the self, shortages of money or vices that make money short quite often