#interacts

-EVIL @stick-figure-purple

Hi! I have quite a few thoughts, actually, because of who I am as a person as well as the type of astrology I practice. I've bolded my main interpretation of this placement below in pink, but I'm writing a second post contextualizing my process of interpretation so you know how and why I came to these conclusions.

Aphrodite [1388] Conjunct Ascendant

Aphrodite conjunct the Ascendant suggests a blessing from Aphrodite upon the native from the moment of birth. The native will unconsciously alter their behavior to best elicit admiration and any other form of love from whoever is in the immediate vicinity. They will move with natural sensuality. They constantly invite love into their lives, and - so long as the Ascendant doesn't form malefic aspects to other major objects - are constantly practicing self love.

This placement makes them beloved for who they are as the individual - but it does not indicate a selfless lover, either being or having one, not without effort on the part of the native. You are capable of giving yourself a fulfilling level of love without the help from others - and it may confuse you when your partner asks for more expression of love from you to them, when they aren't capable of finding fulfillment in themself. Once you decide to consciously express your love directly to them, however, you make one of the most generous and most gratifying lovers.

On the other hand, with malefic aspects, this makes an individual who is fond of playing with their partner, withholding from them, inciting their jealousy or even engaging with multiple partners at once. There may be the persistent feeling that your partner never gives you the attention and appreciation you deserve, and so you feel justified in testing their patience or teasing them. You may also be simultaneously attracted to and repulsed by your open enemies and business partners.

Regardless of other aspects and malefic-benefic qualities, the ideas of love, beauty, sex, and desire will undoubtedly define the native's sense of self, even when they aren't aware of it. Not just their choices, but their basic mannerisms are reflective of what they believe others find attractive. They instinctively seek the attention of the public. This is a placement that makes you think of that one Tumblr post that's like "I have to be the hottest person at the grocery store". That's you. (It's also most Aphrodite conjunctions, tbh - like, I get it, lol.)

This conjunction differs from conjunctions to planets or asteroids because it does not necessarily inform the astrologer of the life, environment, history, or relationships of the native, because the Ascendant is the intrinsic individual at its core, without influence and without interference. Who you are at your most raw, at your most animal. Context - planets, house system - only shapes and molds the material that the Ascendant provides. Even the sun and moon are not as purely 'you' as the Ascendant.

So while, for example, I can explain why a Saturn-Aphrodite conjunction native does this or that, or feels this way or that way, the same is not true for an Ascendant-Aphrodite conjunction, because there is no real REASON. Aphrodite simply has touched you at your most essential. It is not that you are Aphrodite - nobody is the gods - but what you are has been, in some way, MOLDED by her, FABRICATED by her.

For the extent of this blessing, you can check your divisional and/or harmonic charts. I suggest looking at her related asteroids as well. (Coincidentally, I actually have a quick-list post for Aphrodite's related asteroids already drafted.)

Vedic astrologers may check their 9th, 20th, 27th, 45th, and 60th divisional charts, as well as any chart which emphasizes the D1 Nakshatra ruler. Hellenic astrologers should check their 7th, 9th, and 32nd harmonics.

Blessings from the gods are often double-edged. Think of Hector, Andromache, Paris, and, most famously, Helen of Troy. All of them were blessed by Aphrodite, but none of their endings were happy, regardless of how romantic their collective and individual stories.

Penthesileia's blessing was another one bestowed from birth, but it's real value to her is debatable - after all, it most impacted her in her death, as it was Aphrodite who cursed Achilles, who killed the Amazon in battle, to love her post-mortem. Perhaps a fitting revenge, but not a blessing Penthesileia benefitted from.

Honor Aphrodite, and do not take her for granted, but do not necessarily surrender everything in faith to her. She is the goddess of love, but she loves many and even those blessed by her, or any god, are not entitled to be saved by them.