#cusps

Elliot is a Leo/Cancer cusp, July 19th–25th, often called the cusp of oscillation.

Astrologers often describe July 24th Leos as “Cancer-touched Leos,”

which means he shares traits with my Sun sign as well. ♋︎

His depth of feeling, his memory, his emotions, his quiet sensitivity. 𖹭

It’s kind of amazing how everything just comes together for us in the stars 🌙🌟☀️

Hey there! Just noting down some things I observe and connections I make regarding astrology. And yes, I made up a new word. Deal with it.

You can always spot an Aquarius by that look in their eye and a half smile. Like they're judging you, studying you, and experiencing you all at the same time.

More feminine Aquarians give me cool-girl vibes. They're detached and kind of removed from things, but super chill at the same time. Friendly and open but they have and will express their boundaries.

The more masculine Aquarians can fit that stubborn, know-it-all Aquarian stereotype a bit better. These more unhealed Aquarians are so difficult. Fixed air? Saturn and Uranus dominance? This is not a person who will follow other people's rules. A frustrating energy for sure. I dare say it's giving asshole. LOL

Sagittarius and Gemini make a good duo, but these signs are likely to solely be intellectual. Neither sign is very good at feeling. They aren't emotional! And they may talk about emotions...sure! But don't be fooled!

The most important thing to a Sagittarius Moon? Their freedom! They won't do well in relationships where the other is constantly telling them how to live their life and making critical analyses. Remember this sign is half-man and half-beast. That lower half wants to frolick and go wherever it wishes! If it feels pinned down or caged, it'll fight back or just disappear.

Taureans are always listening. These people are super wise and super knowledgeable but they won't be obvious about it like a Sagittarius or Gemini. It reminds me of how earth has this ability to hold things and fossilize things over time. Taurus kind of has this energy. I think it's the receptivity of Venus in Fixed Earth. AND that Scorpio opposition. Both of these signs are super observant and notice the little details. Their intuitive knowledge is gained from absorbing so much over time and letting that information marinate. It's how they both are able to create such amazing foundations for themselves.

I do believe in cuspy energy. But only cause Sidereal exists. A lottt of people are two different signs in two different systems. Cusps feel like the same sort of situation to me. But also...if you have your birth time you know which sign you fall under, which destroys the whole cusp argument.

I actually do kinda identify more with my Vedic chart than my Tropical chart. I see both energies, but my Pisces Sun/Scorpio Moon makes so much sense to me. Especially once I learned I'm Jyeshtha!

Speaking of Jyeshtha...the voices of these natives are usually distinguishable in some way. I think this may be Mercury-ruled nakshatras in particular (Ashlesha, Jyeshtha, Revati) but I can only feel strongly about Jyeshtha with this one. I mean Charlie Sheen...Donald Trump...even Nicki Minaj. The voices are so distinct. Even my Jyeshtha professor has a pretty distinct, raspy voice.

The way trauma has made certain aspects of my chart invisible to me. Part of what makes this practice so interesting to me is how much of my chart is waiting to be lit up by my own future. There's mysteries inside of me I haven't even met yet.

I think the last four zodiac moon signs (Cap, Pisces, Sag, and Aqua) can deal with their emotions in a very existential way. It's almost like they're thinking about their emotions in relationship to bigger/large concepts or constructs. Their perspective is already geared towards a "bigger picture" so to speak. They'll often handle their emotions in an impersonal way too. Aquarius will rationalize it, Capricorn will likely fall into pessimism or suppress it, Pisces may wallow and succumb to existential dread, Sagittarius will also intellectualize or avoid it altogether!

That's all for this round of observations! Stay tuned for the next edition.

omg i was just thinking about making a post about this! i have a lot of thoughts on cusps.

in a certain way they absolutely exist, at least in forms of astrology where the signs are split into 30-degree sections or in house systems where there is a definite start to the next house.

on the other hand when people say "i'm a cancer-leo cusp" for example, i get nitpicky about it. each planet is either in the sign or it's not. it's never in two signs at once. so if you know your birth time exactly enough, you know exactly where each object is and it's not on a cusp even if it's close. at the same time i know plenty of people who don't know their exact time of birth or i work with the charts of people i can't talk to to ask, and if they are born with, e.g. the sun at the end of sagittarius and they were born at the day of that year's solstice, they might be a sagittarius OR a capricorn, and i could describe that as being "cuspy" - but it's still either/or.

sometimes the energies blend due to multiple planets in an area, a conjunction or stellium. maybe this person has the sun at 29 sagittarius but mercury at 0 capricorn. those planets will interact with each other in the chart with both signs' energy. it may be sometimes hard for them to discern what parts of themselves are coming from which sign.

sometimes it isn't even that extreme, especially with strong planets. if you have the moon in domicile in cancer and the sun in domicile in leo you will have strong traits of both cancer and leo and it won't always be clear which influence is which (although sometimes it will, because they are in their own signs and very much themselves that way). then even if they are in the middle of their respective signs, you will be a blend of those vibes and in that sense cuspy.

but still, the sun *is* in its sign and the moon *is* in its sign... even at extreme degrees.

what has not been my sense is that someone with the sun in early capricorn and no planets at all in sagittarius exhibits sagittarian traits (MAYBE if they have a powerful jupiter or 9th house... but that's not sagittarius, that's jupiter or the 9th house.) that person is not a cusp baby. the only sagittarian traits that would really come up then are what's in the house with sagittarius in it. because even without planets there they will have a house ruled by sagittarius.

A cusp is when a sun sign begins to leave one sign to enter another. One sign is rising while the other sets. You're likely to embody energy from both signs if you're born during these dates.

Cusp of Mystery - Capricorn-Aquarius Cusp: 1/16-1/22

Cusp of Sensitivity - Aquarius-Pisces Cusp: 2/15-2/21

Cusp of Re-birth - Pisces-Aries Cusp: 3/17-3/23

Cusp of Power - Aries-Taurus Cusp: 4/16-4/22

Cusp of Energy - Taurus-Gemini Cusp: 5/17-5/23

Cusp of Magic - Gemini-Cancer Cusp: 6/17-6/23

Cusp of Oscillation - Cancer-Leo Cusp: 7/19-7/25

Cusp of Exposure - Leo-Virgo Cusp: 8/19-8/25

Cusp of Beauty - Virgo-Libra Cusp: 9/19-9/25

Cusp of Drama - Libra-Scorpio Cusp: 10/19-10/25

Cusp of Revolution - Scorpio-Sagittarius Cusp: 11/18-11/24

artwork by jean-baptiste bertrand

i think it’s fair to say that the vast majority of astrologers do not agree with the concept of cusps. a few years ago, it was one of the things that would be guaranteed to get my eyes rolling when i saw it. luckily, i am no longer so judgemental, but i still don’t agree with cusps. 

if you're thinking “what’s a cusp?”, allow me to explain. as we know, each sign’s season lasts around a month before the next one starts. the exact dates often change year-to-year, and because of this, some people believe that one can be born “on the cusp” between the two signs, during the first or last few days of one sign’s season. for example, if i were to agree with the concept of cusps, i would be one myself (my birthday is only a couple of days into libra season). the theory behind these cusps is that you take on traits of both of the signs in question, becoming a sort of blend. 

so now we’ve established what a cusp is, maybe you’re thinking “so what’s so terrible about it?”. really, nothing; it’s a pretty harmless belief, mostly propagated by people who don’t understand astrology very well, and often, by people who don’t really feel their sun sign fits them, people who can relate more to their neighbouring sign. but that’s exactly what proves cusps to be a false concept. 

so the theory of the cusp, as we’ve talked about, is that some people are a sort of blend of two signs, so they’re in between – in the space after one sign and before the next. but that just isn’t possible. when we look at a natal chart, we can see that each sign is exactly 30 degrees. twelve signs at 30 degrees each = 360 degrees. a perfect circle. there’s just no space between the signs for a cusp. and each sign has a definitive start and end point, too. when you are born, your sun sign will be at a certain degree of x sign, but it can never be in between two. 

another factor to consider, is the rest of your chart. there’s a lot more to a chart than just your sun sign, for sure! a personal example: i never really related to the libran archetype growing up. i identified much more with virgo, and, being “on the cusp” of libra season myself, i’m shocked i never considered myself a cusp… as it happens, when i pull up my chart, it turns out that i am definitely a libra, but with a virgo rising and mercury in the first house! super strong virgoan energy there! so it’s no wonder i related more to virgo than libra. 

if you are someone that considers themselves to be a cusp sign, please pull up your birth chart and take a look! i’m not telling you what to believe, but you may find out why you don’t feel your sun sign fits if you get to see the whole picture. i found it very empowering to understand my natal chart for what it is, and it’s my hope that you will too. 

I just realized that my in trine between neptune, saturn and moon all the planets are in cusps (29°, 28°, 28°), the first one being in my ascendant/descendant. My questions are:

1. Do the cusps influence these planets too?

2. How the planets in a trine influence each other in general?

Sorry if that's a lot!

Sorry to tell you that the concept of cusps is made up nonsense from the 70s where people were trying to explain why all (let’s say Virgos) didn’t act exactly the same. The answer is that nobody is “just” a Virgo Sun but they are a product of their whole chart.

I’ll try to find the post where I talk about this more and link it for you - that’s about sun signs and the interaction between the Sun, Mercury, and Venus. So look out for that.

But having a lot of planets in similar degrees is VERY significant. It means two things. One is that all of the planets are in aspect to one another and all of the energy will be perpetually intertwined. The second is that anytime one of our transiting planets enters those degrees, it will light up your whole chart. That could be good or bad depending on the circumstances.

2 - trines are considered to be a relatively positive interaction between planets but it’s also considered to be a bit lazy. A person with a lot of trines in their chart sometimes just seems to have things work out but that doesn’t teach how to manage struggles or to have perseverance. It tends towards an easier time early in life but can present challenges especially after the first Saturn return.

pic not mine

remembering that this can vary and not all natal charts will have this same "pattern". for example, i know a person who has a Taurus Rising, but who has Taurus on the cusp of another house. so, it's quite possible that it will be different for many people. if it's your case, send me an ask to talk! i'll reply as soon as possible.

Ascendant in Libra / Libra rising - you are a person with an affectionate and also charming self-image. people who look at you see an aura of someone adaptable and kind. ppl see you as charming and harmonious.

Scorpio in 2nd house - you can function in a deeper way with regard to your material goods and your values ​​about life. you tend to go through transformations in the way you deal with money.

Sagittarius in 3rd house - your way of dealing with knowledge is in a profound way and not as fickle as expected. you tend to get to the bottom of an issue when studying something, and you tend to express all your knowledge.

Capricorn in 4th house - you tend to have a family with authority figures. your family is more restricted and you had a difficult childhood, where you learned to "don't express" your feelings.

Aquarius in 5th house - the power of your individuality is in your desire for freedom. your creative strength is to stand out from the others with your originality.

Pisces in 6th house - your way of dealing with routine is more patient, spiritual. you tend to function in your daily life according to your vibe and will. you may have a lack of energy, but you are extremely creative.

Aries in 7th house - you tend to be someone who attracts relationships with people who impose themselves, you end up admiring personality characteristics of being courageous, energetic, competitive and honest.

Taurus in 8th house - you have a certain inflexibility to change, you can deal with your sexuality and primitive instincts in a more stable and sensual way. you are very persistent.

Gemini in 9th house - you end up dealing with more complex and profound teachings, like higher education (college), in a more fragmented way. you may need to learn little by little, not being able to get to the bottom of a single subject for a long time with ease. you learn profound things by taking "pieces" of knowledge here and there.

Cancer in 10th house / MC in Cancer - your career needs to be in line with what your heart says, with what you always wanted to do and what makes you happy. it is important that, regardless of your career, you can feel good emotionally speaking.

Leo in 11th house - you tend to be very proud of your friendships. you want your friends around. you may have a tremendous problem with admitting you are wrong, you may have difficulty apologizing.

What's the deal with cusps?

Logistics only: it means you were born on or near the transition from one sign to the next.

Seasons change, signs change. Yes, on the 22nd of September it’s nominally Fall, not Summer; around September 24th, we’re out of Virgo and into Libra. But it doesn’t feel like it’s Summer one day and suddenly Fall the next day, and it doesn’t feel like it’s Virgo one day and most definitely Libra the next day. These dates aren’t meant to be rigid, black-and-white boundaries - they all come with a period of transition where you’re getting a little taste of both. Summer is ending and Fall is beginning: the spiders come out, the leave start to change, the days get shorter, but gardens are still growing, the sun is still shining, and activity is still peaking. It’s a transitional period. The same shit goes for the signs - every sign has different dimensions, every degree has a distinct flavor. Cusps are just one of those dimensions - it’s when you’re coming up on a change, and anyone who’s ever experienced a change of any kind knows that shit is a process.

Now: your nature is your nature. If you’re a cusp baby, there’re going to be other things in your chart that support the same information the cusp placement is dishing out. The Sun represents your fuel - it keeps you motivated, it keeps your lights on, it keeps you on your shit, it keeps all this biz pushing. All a Cusp Sun placement means is that you’re getting that sweet sweet jolt of motivation from two places, instead of getting a concentrated dose from one place. Can other planets be on a cusp? Of course.

Listen: being on a cusp is not better than being in the middle of a sign - being in the middle of a sign is not better than being on a cusp. They’re just different. Everyone has different needs, everyone has different placements. Wherever your shit falls, it’s there for a reason and that reason is good, so stop being jealous and relax.

Which degrees are cusp degrees? How close to the edge do I have to be to fulfill my dream of being a cusp baby? Honestly, I don’t know, and I don’t care. Within 3 degrees, within 5 degrees, within 7 degrees? Whatever. You know what you feel to be true about you. It’s different for everyone, roll with it.

Go for Sun, go for Moon, go for any other planet or degree. These are qualities, they don’t change.

PISCES / ARIES The bitch is starting over - you’re not going to find a more intuitive, inner-activity placement than a Pisces / Aries cusp. You add all the “I gotta deal with myself” of Pisces with the “I gotta make a change” of Aries and you get someone who’s ready to tear apart the cycle like it’s scrap paper. Or you’re so self-centered that you can’t get a grip on reality - cycle on, sister.

ARIES / TAURUS The bitch is making it happen - intensity meets practicality in explosive combo of getting shit done. You’re pulling from Aries dank intuition bank and you’re matching it with Taurus’s desire to establish itself and you’re cooking up some seriously self-guided action. Or you’re so scared to fail that you’re living in a basement somewhere - I don’t know, man, it’s your call.

TAURUS / GEMINI The bitch is deconstructing - the transition from Taurus to Gemini has everything to do with understanding your conditioning - knowing your history and figuring out how it’s shaped your character. What’s gotta go, what’s gonna stay, and what’s really you. The potential to understand yourself and effectively utilize your skills is huge. Or you’re justifying some ruthless-ass behavior like it’s your full-time job - crushed it (and also crushed any chance of having healthy relationships).

GEMINI / CANCER The bitch is dealing with her feelings - you have Gemini’s untouchable perspective and Cancer’s self-understanding. Good luck finding a feeling or an experience that you can’t process, not gonna happen. Your identity is deeply felt and flexible - full-on camouflage, espionage, garage (overflowing with old personas). Or you’re acting superficial as shit and the most unaccountable - maybe change that ugly attitude instead?

CANCER / LEO The bitch is a fucking force - dripping energy like a perpetually broken faucet. There’s no turning these babies off, they’re meant to find a way to take their feelings and channel them into productive avenues. Ridiculous creative power. Or you’re just an emotionally underdeveloped hot mess - watch where you step, everyone.

LEO / VIRGO The bitch is also a fucking force but she’s not in your face about it until she is - take Leo’s intensity, cut it with Virgo’s repressed feelings, get an artistic soul. So many feelings, so little ability to communicate them. A never-ending story of ever-improving self-expression. Or you stuff that shit so far down geyser gazers flock from all over to watch you explode on the masses - better find a way to let it out.

VIRGO / LIBRA The bitch is ch-ch-ch-changing - this is an extremely emotional placement. There’s a lot of hidden shit and emotional activity going on here (thanks, Virgo). Better buy some Benadryl because these sweet babies are ready to shed - beliefs, values, identities, whatever - they’re here to nail down the best approach to life (thanks, Libra), and they’re ready to wipe out to figure it out. Or they’re victimizing themselves into a crusty shell of endless confusion and superficiality - nice.

LIBRA / SCORPIO The bitch is seeing how it’s all connected - Relational Queens, Scorpio is seeing the invisible strings that connect us with emotional x-ray vision and Libra is keeping those findings relevant and relatable. There’s no better placement for social and emotional understanding. Or they’re sipping on a crazy, almost disturbing mix of manipulation meets emotional doormat - just say it and stop fucking acting.

SCORPIO / SAG The bitch is looking to mind-meld - no one wants to share more than a bitch on the Scorpio / Sag cusp. Scorpio feelings with Sag sensibilities? Please - all they want is to get wrapped up in that blanket of acceptance so tight they can’t see themselves. Deep feeling, deep thinking, refreshing the missed connections page. Or they’re passive to the point of no return, turned side-stepping responsibility into an Olympic sport - hot.

SAG / CAPRICORN The bitch is dying to make it real - you take Sag’s ideologies and you throw in Capricorn’s reality hard on, and you get someone who is ready to lock that philosophy in and live it. Whatever goals they’ve decided to set, they’re achieving them. Showing you how it’s done every day of the week. Or they chose a whack-ass set of values and they’re locking in some shit ideals, shit relationships, a shit self-image - maybe reflect before you fire up the kiln and burn us all to death?

CAPRICORN / AQUARIUS The bitch is influencing you - socially minded collective guides. With Capricorn’s unadulterated power and Aquarius’s brilliance, these bitches are leading the trends, they’re that perfect blend of real and strange, endearing and influential. They got the goods, literally. Or they’re cynical, hateful-ass bitches with zero awareness of how their presence effects others - get over your inferiority complex and just run this shit.

AQUARIUS / PISCES The bitch is a true visionary - Critical, conceptual thinking meets technical skills meets collective needs meets subjective feeling and understanding. They’re dreaming up effective, creative solutions to societal problems. Or they’re saying, “Critical thinking? Reality? Effectiveness? Hm. Nah, let’s cut that bit completely aaand yes we’re a go for living in a conspiracy theory terror dream” - relax, nobody asked for all that.

Happy charting, you cuspy-ass bitches.