How to Make a Horoscope
From New Age Village
A horoscope shows in symbolic form the positions of the signs of the zodiac and of the sun, moon, and the planets as seen from a particular place at a particular moment of time. Such a figure of the heavens, when erected for the moment a child is born, is known as the natal map or nativity, and the child as the native. Maps are drawn in two forms, the circular and the square. We shall consider only the circular form, the square form having now practically gone out of use, though this of course is only a different way of tabulating the same astronomical observations.
To understand a horoscope you must first of all understand two things: (1) what the map represents, and (2) what the symbols marked on it stand for. But this is not all; when you have learned how to read a map, you have still to learn how to interpret it. The mundane houses, usually known as "the houses," are the basis of every map, so I will start with these.
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The Houses
The blank form on which the map is erected is illustrated on the following page. You will see that it consists of six straight lines intersecting at a common point at equal angular distances, one of the lines being horizontal, another vertical, and the remainder oblique, the whole forming, as it were, a wheel with twelve spokes spaced at distances of 30˚ degrees. These spokes are known as cusps, and each cusp is the beginning of one house or the end of another, making twelve houses in all. The two cusps lying horizontally (which form a straight line) represent the horizon, and the center of the circle the horoscope or observer. Of the two vertical cusps, the upper points to the midheaven (medium coeli, or m.c.), the point above the observer where the sun culminates at noon, while the lower cusp points to the nadir (imum coeli, or i.c.), the point immediately below the observer and the midheaven. (The midheaven is not necessarily the zenith, though it may be in the tropics; technically, it is the point where the sun transits over the meridian.) The cusps above the horizon form the six houses over the earth; and the cusps beneath the horizon, the six houses under the earth. Of the two horizontal cusps, that on the left hand point to the east, or the ascendant, where the sun rises; and that on the right hand to the west, or descendant, where the sun sets. This is because the horoscoper is looking south toward the equator, (This arrangement is of course the exact opposite to that found in the ordinary geographical map.) Similarly, the nadir is regarded as being north, and the midheaven as south.
The 1st house is that below the eastern horizon, ad the remaining eleven follow round the circle counter-clockwise. The cusp on the eastern horizon, i.e., the ascendant, or rising sign, is the cusp of the 1st house, the cusp of the descendant is that of the 7th house, the vertical cusps are those of the 4th and 10th houses, and the intermediate cusps are those of the 2nd and 3rd, 5th and 6th, 8th and 9th, and 11th and 12th, as you will see from the map. In this way the oblique cusps subdivide the quarters of the heavens (i.e., two quarters above the earth, and two below) each into three parts. The order of the houses is invariable, but their position on the map varies with regard to that of the observer. Maps for the northern hemisphere are erected just as we have described, but those erected for the southern hemisphere have the ascendant on the right and the descendant on the left, and the order of the houses runs clockwise.
The cusps of the houses are surrounded by two concentric circles, the inner of which is that whose radii are formed by the cusps. As I have already stated, the houses are the basis of the map, and on this are marked the positions of the signs of the zodiac with regard to the cusps, and the position within the houses of the two luminaries (sun and moon) and the seven planets; and the positions of all these are those apparent to an observer standing on the earth at the place of birth and at the moment of birth, and looking toward the equator.
Zodiacal Signs and Planetary Symbols
Having learned the positions and sequences of the houses and the meanings of the terms ascendant and midheaven, you must next learn the meanings of the symbols inserted on the map. These symbols represent the signs of the zodiac and the planets. For purposes of convenience I shall regard the Sun and Moon as planets, though technically speaking they are "luminaries." The signs of the planets and their names are as follows:
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You must memorize the significance of these symbols at the outset, for they all appear on every map and you cannot begin to understand it without knowing them. The signs of the zodiac are marked between the concentric circles and mostly against, though sometimes between, the cusps of the houses and adjoining them is placed the number of degrees of the sign rising in Arabic figures. Sometimes more than one sign occupies a house; when this is so, the sign which does not rise over either of the cusps is written midheaven between, and such a sign is called "intercepted."
The symbols representing the planets are marked, on the other hand, within the houses and their exact position within the sign is marked, as with the signs of the cusps, in degrees in numerals. If a planet is placed in a house occupied by more than one sign, and the sign which it actually falls is ambiguous, the sign is added after the figures giving its position, thus, [symbol] 23 16' [symbol] should be retrograde (I shall explain this shortly), the sign [symbol] is added, thus [symbol] 23 16' [symbols]. Now although each sign extends for 30˚ of the zodiac and each house extends for 30˚ on the map, you must remember that the degrees following the signs and the planets are not measured in the degrees of the houses. The positions of the signs and planets are calculated according to degrees in the signs of the zodiac, and how this is done and what the zodiac is I shall now explain.
The zodiac is the arc through the heavens apparent to an earth observer, through which the sun and the planets travel and through the middle of which runs the ecliptic, that is to say, the path of the Sun. The paths of the planets, therefore, are all approximately in the same plane as that of the path of the Sun; their places of rising and setting lie, just as does that of the Sun, in the zodiac. For this reason we measure their positions in degrees along the ecliptic. For purposes of convenience we do not use the circular measure of 360˚, but divide the circle of the zodiac into twelve signs of 30˚, which are known by the names of twelve nearby constellations of stars whose positions remain constant. Each sign of the ecliptic is subdivided into three decanates, a decanate consisting of 10˚. Thus we speak of the sign being in Gemini 15˚ rather than as being in longitude 75˚, that is to say, not geographical but celestial longitude. Each planet moves through the signs at its own speed, the Moon moving quickest and Neptune slowest. The sun, for example, occupies each sign for one-twelfth of the year; it is in Aries and Libra at the equinoxes, and in Cancer and Capricorn at the solstices, midsummer and midwinter. On the horoscope, the planets moves as rule counter-clockwise, though, for short periods they go back o heir path, and when they do this the movement is called "retrogradation," and is symbolized by [sym]. They do not of course actually go backward for a time and then return on their path; they only appear to do so to an earth observer. The directions in which the planets move concern us mostly when we are comparing natal and progressed maps, or calculating transits; what we are principally concerned with is their position at any given moment relative to the signs which they happen to occupy. But their relation to each other, and to the ascendant and midheaven, as seen by the observer is important. Any such relationship is known as an aspect. Planets are said to be in "conjunction" when within 12˚, in opposition when they are six signs apart (180˚), in "trine" when four signs apart (120˚), in square when three signs apart (90˚), and in "sextile when two signs apart (60˚). These are the principle aspects. When calculating aspects, always disregard the cusps of the houses and measure through the signs; the houses having nothing to do with aspects at all. But, as I have already stated, a planet can be in aspect with the ascendant or the midheaven.
While the position of the planets in the signs varies regularly according to time of year, the position of the signs themselves with regard to the cusps of the houses changes once every twenty four hours, and each sign appears to rise, culminate, and set during the period. The sign appears to do so owing to the diurnal rotation of the earth on its own axis. But the signs do not necessarily rise, culminate, and set at equal intervals of time. Owning to the obliquity of the ecliptic to the celestial equator (which is a projection along the plane of the earth's equator to cut the circle of the ecliptic) the signs usually rise at unequal intervals, thus giving rise to the so-called "intercepted signs"; and actually all the signs only rise at exact two-hour intervals on the equator. Accordingly, on the horoscope the signs move clockwise, against the sequence of the houses. Also, remember we do not mark the degrees of the constellations of the zodiac but the degrees of the twelve signs of the ecliptic; for owing to the phenomenon known as "precession" the constellation Aries is no longer in the sign Aries, but is now in the sign Pisces, will shortly move into the sign Aquarius, and will move through the remaining signs till it returns once more to Aries. This is due to the fact that the celestial equator is regularly shipping back in relation to the ecliptic; it does at the rate of approximately 50' a year, so that the complete cycle takes about twenty-six thousand years.
The times of the rising of the signs, which vary according to the geographical latitude of the observer as well as to the time of year, together with the position of the planets in relation to the signs, are all found by precise astronomical observation, and, when that is not possible, by mathematical calculation based on direct observations. Thus, for instance, if a map is being erected for someone born in the daytime, we still know what signs are rising and what planets are occupying the signs, even though we cannot see them, because signs and planets all move in regular paths, and once we know their positions at any one time , as for instance at a moment at night when they are visible, we can calculate their precise position at any subsequent moment of time with relation to an observer placed at any desired position on the earth's surface. Nowdays, we erect maps from special astrological tables called "ephemerides" which tabulate the position of the heavenly bodies from day to day. Earlier astrologers erected maps from the results of their own observations, which they made with primitive instruments such as the astrolabe; but nowadays we just look up the positions in an ephemeris, since these are based on observations made in the great astronomical observatories of the world with telescopes and clocks of a precision undreamed of by earlier generations of astrologers. All the same, every astrologer remains an astronomer at heart, for without astronomy there can be no astrology.
Having now learned which are the houses, signs, and planets on the horoscope, we must next learn their significance, and we will accordingly start with that of the houses.
The Twelve Houses and Their Significance
As I have already stated, the order of houses remains invariable. Each house, moreover, has its own special significance, and in addition there are certain very important places in the horoscope, the cusps of the 1st and 10th houses, the ascendant or rising sign, and midheaven. And now a word of warning about the cusps. You must think of each cusp only in relation to its own house; because a planet is on the cusp of one house, you must not think that it can influence the adjacent house in any way.
The significances of the twelve houses are as follows:
- 1st house: The ascendant or rising sign. Personal appearance, character, ability; the self.
- 2nd house: Finance, movable property, peace, liberty, emotions.
- 3rd house: Relations, education, studies, literature, the nervous system; short journeys.
- 4th house: The home, inherited tendencies, the end of life, the father.
- 5th house: Pleasure, love affairs, children, speculation, amusements.
- 6th house: Domesticity, servants and inferiors, health, healing and nursing.
- 7th house: Marriage, partnerships and associations, communal life, open enemies, lawsuits
- 8th house: Death and everything connected with it; inheritance and legacies.
- 9th house: Science, philosophy, religion, education. Long voyages. Dreams and visions.
- 10th house: The midheaven. The profession, honor, fame and renown. The mother.
- 11th house: Friends, hopes and wishes.
- 12th house: Trial, restriction, fear, sorrow, secret enemies; prisons, lunatic asylums, the house of "undoing."
The Twelve Signs and Their Significance
The most important sign is that rising on the ascendant; next to it in importance is that on the midheaven. But each of the twelve signs has its own special significance. Each sign has a ruling planet, the planet taking its color from the sign; and further each sign is distributed to one of the following four elements: fire, earth, air, water. The significance of the signs may be tabulated as follows:
- Aries, the Ram - Ruler: Mars. Fiery sign. Energetic, impulsive, positive. The pioneer sign.
- Taurus, the Bull - Ruler: Venus. Earthy sign. Stubborn, dogmatic, kind-hearted, musical, not very intelligent.
- Gemini, the Twins - Ruler: Mercury. Airy sign. Restless, versatile, clever, often superficial.
- Cancer, the Crab - Ruler: Moon. Watery sign. Sensitive, sympathetic, motherly, easily influenced
- Leo, the Lion - Ruler: Sun. Fiery sign. Proud, generous, energetic, domineering, authoritative.
- Virgo, the Virgin - Ruler: Mercury. Earthy sign. Exact, meticulous, painstaking, intelligent, chaste.
- Libra, the Balance - Ruler: Venus. Airy sign. Just, artistic, indolent, affectionate, sympathetic, honest.
- Scorpio, the Scorpion - Ruler: Mars. Watery sign. Energetic, passionate, jealous, mystical, proud, sensual.
- Sagittarius, the Archer - Ruler: Jupiter. Fiery sign. Impulsive, warmhearted, restless, impatient, candid.
- Capricorn, the Goat - Ruler: Saturn. Earthy sign. Ambitious, persevering, tenacious, diplomatic, melancholy.
- Aquarius, the Water-bearer - Ruler: Uranus. Airy sign. Idealistic, artistic, intellectual, often abnormal.
- Pisces, the Fishes - Ruler: Neptune. Watery sign. Gentle, kind, retiring, sensitive, unlucky, often sad.
To make the foregoing a little clearer, the following table groups the signs according to elements, or as it is known, to "triplicities"; they are:
Fiery Signs Airy Signs Earthy Signs Watery Signs
You will notice that the signs of each triplicity are four signs apart; that is to say, they are in trine.
The Nine Planets and Their Significance
You have already learned the names and symbols of the planets and how they are placed in the signs. their direction of movement on the map, an what is meant by "retrogradation." You must remember this last, as a "retrograde" planet is supposed to exercise a weaker influence. The significance of the planets may be tabulated as follows:
- Sun: The male principle, honor, power, vitality, good fortune. Beneficent.
- Moon: The female principle, passions, desires, emotions. Health in general; all changes.
- Mercury: The intellect, nervous system. Professions of literature, journalism, etc. Versatility.
- Venus: The love nature, pleasure, children, art, luck, wealth.
- Mars: Courage, enthusiasm, war, wounds, fire. Malefic.
- Jupiter: Religion, philosophy, science, law. Expansion, power, ceremony. Voyages and shipping.
- Saturn: Selfishness, reticence, diplomacy. Disappointments, delays, constriction. Perseverance.
- Uranus: Intellectual, genius, inventiveness, eccentricity. New inventions. Sudden changes, good/evil.
- Neptune: Emotional, genius, art, poetry, mysticism, dreams, psychic; alcoholism, drugs, fraud.
It is important to remember that the action of every planet is modified by the action of the sign in which it is placed and by its aspect with other planets. A planet is more powerful in some signs than in others. A planet is very powerful for good or evil when it occupies its own sign, but is weak when placed in a sign opposite to its own. This latter position is called its "detriment." When it is placed in a sign nearly as powerful as its own sign, it is said to be in its "exaltation"; and when a planet is "exalted," it is more inclined to good than to evil. The sign opposite to its exaltation is called its "fall"; and when it is placed in its fall, a planet is weak and inclined to be evil. When two planets are placed in each other's signs they are said to be in "mutual reception." The positions of the planets in the signs may be tabulated as follows:
