#danni rants

I'm making this as simple as possible, and the details themselves don't really matter, because I'm not trying to teach you details, I'm giving you an idea of the scale we're working with.

By using the time, date, and place of birth we freeze where the planets are at that given time.

That placement is thrown into 2 charts divided into 12 parts: the 12 signs and the 12 houses.

You have not only the sun sign, but the sun house. And also moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. As well as your rising sign (the sign rising on the eastern horizon.) And various other small planets like Chiron that some people study. There's also your True Node. And really all number of objects with their own meaning, but unless you're an astrologer or a mega nerd you probably just wanna look at the main planets.

Planets

Each of the planets has its own "realm" so to speak

The planets represent "what"

"What" part of you is being represented.

The sun is the core and sense of self, moon is emotions, Mercury is communication, and so on and so forth.

Signs

The signs are the "how" of each planet

How each planet's speciality is portrayed. The specific flavor of energy powering that realm.

Each sign is made up of multiple parts.

We have 4 elements: fire, earth, air, and water.

There are 2 polarities: traditionally called masculine and feminine, but can better be understood as "outward-focus" (or extroversion) and "inward focus" (or introversion.) The fire and air signs are more outwardly focused while the earth and water signs are more inwardly focused.

There are 3 modalities: cardinal, fixed, and mutable. There are 3 signs in each element, and each sign in those element has a different modality. So there's one cardinal fire sign, one fixed fire sign, and one mutable fire sign.

Each sign is ruled by a planet: Sun rules Leo, moon rules Cancer, Mercury rules Gemini and Virgo, Venus rules Libra and Taurus, etc.

The symbols: each sign has a symbol. Aries the Ram, Taurus the Bull, etc.

Seasons: you can also take into account the seasons each sign take place in. Cardinal signs mark the start of a new season (Aries for spring, Cancer for summer, Libra for fall, Capricorn for winter.) The fixed signs are the middle of the season (Taurus for spring, Leo for summer, Scorpio for fall, Aquarius for winter.) Mutable signs are the end of a season (Gemini for spring, Virgo for summer, Sagittarius for fall, Pisces for winter.)

Age: the wheel "grows up" through each sign, starting with Aries "the youngest" sign to Pisces "the oldest sign."

Each sign has its opposition sign. For me, knowing the oppositions helps understanding of the sign itself. Oppositions are an intense connection, where the signs are too similar in some ways and dissimilar in others.

By knowing each part that builds a sign, you can understand that sign better, rather than general stereotypes. All signs have their good and bad. All signs have their potential, that can be used or squandered.

The Houses

Houses are the "where" of it all. What part of you (planet), how it's being expressed (signs), and where it's being expressed (houses.)

The Houses have a very loose association with the signs. I have to stress that. Do not confuse the signs and the houses. They are different. But they come from a similar place, so if you keep in mind their differences, you can use the connection to better learn about the houses. Houses 1 - 12 correlate to the signs by order of the signs, wherein the First House has a connection to Aries and the Twelfth House has a connection to Pisces.

This also means houses are sometimes thought to have their own element. As in, the First House is fire, Second earth, Third air, Fourth water...

Aspects

This is where it gets really complicated.

If you see a circle chart and see a lot of lines....those lines are the angles, or "aspects." These are the planets' relationship to each other.

You can look at sign-based aspects to get an idea of how the energy of those planets works together. Remember: water and earth go well, fire and air go well. Fire and earth? Less good. Air and water? Less good. Planets in different water signs will be trine. Planets in an earth and water are sextile.

You have harmonious aspects, such as trine and sextile, where the planets have an easy relationship. You have hard aspects like square and opposition, which face more challenges. Then you have conjunctions, which can be both or neither (the planets are very close and very similar; aims might blur.) There are also minor aspects such as semi-sextile (hard) and quincunx (neither.) Quincunx relates to planets that might not otherwise have a relationship and is more or less those planets making eye contact.

The aspects are formed by angles. Each planet is in a degree and minute of a sign. So its exact placement will determine exact aspects. 3° Taurus forms an exact trine with 3° Virgo. But there's an orb of anywhere from 5 to 10° to determine aspects. So 3° Taurus still trines 8° Virgo.

Exact aspects indicate those planets' aims are coming together, and how those aims clash or blend.

Rulership and Dignities

Each sign is ruled by a planet, yes?

Those planets when in those signs are said to be "domicile"

When that planet is in an opposition sign, it is said to be "detriment."

Each planet also has a second sign it's happy in, which is known as it's exaltation. And the opposition of the exalted sign is when the planet is in fall.

These are called the "essential dignities"

The planets work "best" in their domicile and exaltation (the purpose of each planet in a sign with the right energy for its purpose) while the planets face a bit of struggle in signs of detriment or fall (this charger was not made for this device, but it's making do.)

For the sake of the next section, I'll also explain:

The rising sign, while not a planet, is an important part of the chart. The planet that rules the rising sign is called the chart ruler. So that planet has a bit more prominence.

The sun and moon also have rulers, which are called the dispositor of the sun and the dispositor of the moon respectively. This is obsessive nerd type details, but I will say I do care about the dispositors if the sun or moon is the chart ruler.

Priority List

Not all planets are equally important. They all have some level impact on you, but some will be more impactful.

The sun, moon, and rising sign are called The Big 3 and, as you can tell, are the Most important. The sun and moon the luminaries. The sun is the core of who you are. The moon is your inner world. The rising is how the world sees you.

Mercury, Venus, and Mars are called the "inner planets" which are also known as the "personal planets." Closer to the sun, so closer to who you are, and cover more personal matters such as communication, relationships, and drive.

Jupiter and Saturn are intermediary planets and are of moderate importance. Some people group them with the inner planets, but not I. Jupiter governs "abundance" and Saturn governs "discipline." Luck and life lessons.

Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto are the "outer planets", also called "generational planets." Farther from the sun, farther from who you are. People in your generation will have these same sign placements. The house placement on the planets matter more than the sign, because that's more tailored to you.

If an outer planet is the chart ruler, or has a connection to an inner planet, then we might examine the outer planets more closely. But the outer planets govern things like "progress" (Uranus), "dreams" (Neptune), and "transformation" (Pluto) so...yeah kinda hard to fully grasp and explain what they mean.

Example Placement

Imagine, if you will, Venus in Taurus in the Second House.

Venus: love, relationships, hobbies, interests

Taurus: fixed earth sign. Also: the bull. Second sign of the zodiac. Springtime.

Second House: possessions.

Venus is domicile in Taurus.

Taurus is stubborn, sensual, loyal, hard-working, luxury-loving.

Taurus wants to have a good time and a good life. It wants to relax and enjoy itself. All fit into Venus' harmonious aims.

Taurus is an earth sign, and earth represents the physical, material world. So Taurus likes luxury. Or more specifically: comfort. Cozy blankets, good food, good music, etc. Taurus wants to feel good.

Taurus also values tangible items. Jewelry, sure, but also things like keepsakes, mementos, etc. Taurus can be quiet sentimental in this way.

Taurus is very sensual and sexual: think love (Venus) + physical (earth.)

As an earth sign, Taurus values security. As a fixed sign, Taurus is stubborn and steady. Taurus is prepared to work hard to have a good life. But Taurus is also set in its ways. Taurus is prepared to dig in its heels and work hard to hold onto its comfort and security. Even if it means eating hte same delicious meal 10 days in a row, or listening to the same sweet song on repeat.

Venus covers hobbies. For Taurus, this could be earthy things such as gardening, comfort things such as knitting, yummy things such as cooking, sensual things such as music. It covers interests, so maybe an animal-lover, or candle-collector.

Venus represents relationships (romantic and platonic.) So Taurus is loyal. Affectionate (physically, especially.) There is a focus on the physical world, so perhaps sharing an interest or hobby. People they can be at peace with and relax with.

Then all of this...in the second house. House of Possessions. There is a focus on money and material gain.

With Venus, perhaps being drawn to people of status, or people who can help you get what you want.

This gives an extra enjoyment (Venus) of luxuries themselves (the tangible objects, second house) and owning them.

The Second House is how you make money. In Venus, this could mean through relationships (marry rich!), other connections (friends in high places), or even earning them through hobbies. A star baker who decides to monetize their skills and what they love.

Taurus and the second house view objects and money as security. So first and foremost, possessions as survival and safety. Then, once attained, it's about comfort and joy. Or, even, hedonism and indulgence if taken too far.

So much potential and so much to it! And this is only Venus.

There are still...2 other inner planets to account for. And the Big 3. Alone. Then...what if Venus is aspecting another planet???? That's extra consideration!! And one should at least be aware of the outer planets!

So...yeah. There's a lot to it.