Category Archives: General Musing

Ask Our Readers: Vanity Check

The Bridesmaid by Sir John Everett MillaisVenus recently went through a retrograde period, and while we wrote a lot about the effect on relationships and finances, we’re wondering whether anyone noticed any of the lighter effects of the planet of love and beauty.

Neith started it all by musing about whether the mode of Venus in the natal chart affects a person’s choice of hairstyle and how often they change looks. Does it matter if Venus is in a fixed, mutable, or cardinal sign? Or do other influences in the chart overrule this factor?

“Me, I have Venus in mutable Sagittarius in the first house, so my hair style has changed frequently over the years,” Neith says. “It’s gone from very long to very short and everything in between. I’ve played with curls, straight, different shades of blonde and highlights only.”

However, she knows a woman who hasn’t changed her hair style or color since she was in college . . . over 30 years ago. She has Venus in fixed Taurus. Both of Neith’s sisters have Venus in a cardinal sign, one in Capricorn and the other in Libra. They seem to have consistently chosen attractive but low-maintenance styles.

“I wouldn’t exactly call my style low-maintenance, and I am willing to work a little — mostly because I have to, with this baby fine hair,” Pat says. The keyword for Capricorn is, “I use,” and Pat is definitely all for using the help of technology, provided it comes from responsible companies that don’t harm the environment or test on animals.

To refresh your memory, the cardinal signs are Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn; fixed signs are Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius; and mutable signs are Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces.

So is there a link between the mode of Venus and hairstyles? What do you think?

Image: The Bridesmaid by Sir John Everett Millais, 1851. We’ve seen hair like this in the 80’s as well as the late 60’s, early 70’s. Many a Venus in Leo would die for hair like this!

Saturday Extra: More On Saturn’s Role In Synastry

Neith's Parents Wedding Photo in 1944We need Saturn! Without Saturn to teach us about boundaries, to behave responsibly and give us patience, our lives and relationships wouldn’t get off the ground – period, end of story.

There is a very good reason Saturn is exalted in Libra, the sign of relating to the “other.” When the bloom wears off the initial attraction and our partner’s habit of never cleaning up after themselves gets really annoying, that’s when having a solid Saturn aspect or two in the synastry will keep us from throwing them out the door. . . or not, if that is what’s needed.

What Saturn can provide is balance and stability, especially if there are a number of Uranus squares, oppositions, and conjunctions creating excitement and lots of adrenaline rushes. In order to have a relationship at all, you need to be able to be in the same place at the same time. It can be the difference between playing “phone tag” and sitting down for “face time.”

Neptune’s willingness to see all the unmanifested potential is best offset by a large dose of Saturn, too. No matter how creative that person is or how glamorous their appearance, can they pay their bills on time? Not to mention all the unpleasantness of dealing with various Neptune-related addictions. We can still love someone very much who does behave responsibly and is not a “bad boy.”

I have long thought that Saturn’s ability to live in the here and now and to take on challenges one step at a time in a pragmatic manner are a good antidote to Pluto’s obsessions. If you think you will die without that special someone, then check the synastry for a Pluto conjunction or opposition. Saturn can help us learn detachment, because it always emphasizes the rational over the emotional. In fact, learning to delay gratification is considered part of the maturation process, which is totally Saturn.

Saturn will move into Libra at the end of October this year, so consider this a heads up about what is in store for the collective. Between Pluto in conventional Capricorn and Saturn in Libra, I’m willing to say fidelity, commitment, and learning what constitutes a good marriage will start to make a comeback.

Libra, relationship specialistposted by Neith . . .

Image: My parents had been married for close to 63 yrs at the time of my Libra mother’s death. Now that’s commitment!

Real Astrologer’s Poll: Do You Want the Bad News?

heart-moon-350-px.jpgWith Venus and Mars traveling together for the next two months in Aries (Mars-ruled) and Taurus (Venus-ruled), we expect a lot of activity in the realm of romantic relationships.

Experience tells us that when clients ask about synastry with a new love interest, they don’t want to hear bad news, even though we try to deliver it gently. But we’d like to hear directly from you on this point. Do you want to know or not?

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Saturday Archives: The Inconjunct in Synastry

It's all about balance.With sentimental Venus in Pisces soon to conjoin Mars in Pisces in the sky romance is in the air, so I decided to pull this article on one of the more difficult synastry aspects to work with. Yes, rather contrary but I’m a Libra and like to present the other side of the story. :-)

There has been discussion about the Inconjunct (150° degree aspect) in synastry and soul mates but I’m not going to go there since this is outside my personal experience realm. I’m going to discuss the possibilities inherent in everyday interactions when people have the personal planets inconjunct by sign in synastry. We are under the aegis of earth now and it’s nuts and bolts, not ideology, that is asked for.

A reasonably typical scenario is when two people are attracted to each other with red hot chemistry shown by strong Venus-Mars aspects between them. However when we look at the way the Luminaries (the Sun & Moon) and Mercury relate we find the inconjunct showing up. Let’s start with what happens when the Luminaries are inconjunct.

If person A has Sun in Gemini and person B has their Moon in Scorpio, the Gemini Sun will feel like all their efforts to relate are falling into a black hole of the Scorpio Moon. Gemini likes to keep things light and chatty and someone with Moon in Scorpio goes for brooding and secretive. There is a stark difference in style here and the possibility of the Sun person inadvertently offending the Moon person just by walking their walk and talking their talk is high. There is a better chance for the relationship to succeed if person B’s Sun is conjunct, sextile or trine person A’s Moon because it will give them a way to work around the differences shown by the inconjunct.

When the Moons are inconjunct, the greatest obstacle is the nature of the way the Moon operates in our charts. The Moon shows our habit patterns and our emotional response, often in an unconscious way. For instance, someone with Moon in Virgo is going to have difficulty living around a Moon in Aries person. Virgo is inclined to be very private about what they feel and slow to commit while fiery Aries just jumps right in and wants to know when they can move in! Earth and Fire have very different priorities around the home. Practical workarounds usually require lots of space, patience and negotiation. It’s also helpful if there are flowing aspects to the Moons from other planets in the synastry.

Mercury inconjuncts I do know a little about because that I have experience with. My Mercury in Scorpio is inconjunct my SO’s Mercury-Jupiter conjunction in Aries. The saving grace for me is Mercury is very strong in my chart and communicating well has been a long time focus for me, otherwise the frustration level would be much greater! Here’s an example: my mind is very slow to wake up, so telling me something important first thing after I wake up is usually not a good idea. Mercury in Aries wakes up totally engaged and ready to rock and roll. We learned to wait until I’ve been up for at least an hour before talking over critical matters – but it was tough to break our instinctive patterns of communicating.

Mars-Venus inconjuncts often indicates difficulties in timing. One person is exhausted, has other demands on their time or they just aren’t in the mood, etc. If the rest of the synastry is great, this can be consciously worked around even if it doesn’t feel very romantic.

Patience and a good astrologer can be very helpful when it comes to sorting out ways to work with inconjuncts in synastry. Knowing what’s going on is often the key to helping us be more understanding and considerate of each other. So if your lover is frustrating the heck out of you and you want to gain some insight as to ways to resolve it, collect your birth data and see an astrologer . . .

Libra loves Venus Directposted by Neith . . .

Image: Seeking to find balance is what this image portrays quite well.

Saturday Extra: Is There a Connection Between Pluto and Genius?

Loose Hair by Frida KahloPluto has a well-deserved association with negative behaviors such as obsession, manipulation, and power struggles. But are these traits always bad?

Obsession often precedes acts of genius such as a great work of art or an invention that benefits the collective. These are examples of how Pluto can work through us in a positive way. However, when people manipulate others, often for “their own good,” we see Pluto’s dark side. The type of aspect Pluto makes to personal planets and angles, either natally or by transit, provides clues about how this powerful force will manifest in an individual.

The conjunction brings a deeper intensification of the qualities of the sign in which it is found. When Pluto conjoins a planet or angle, the intensity is exponentially greater. Here is the possibility for either end of the spectrum, from genius inventor to heavy duty manipulator. As with all conjunctions, it is difficult to get perspective on our behavior, because we’re just too close to the situation. Feedback from a friend or loved one can be very helpful or the start of battle royal.

Those with Pluto in a sextile or trine with personal planets or angles have the best chance to manage your obsessions and to be productive without your desire to pursue a specific path taking over your life. You can spend time deeply involved in the act of creation and yet still remember to stop and make dinner for their family. The intensity and drive is softened by the harmony found between the signs and elements involved.

If you have an opposition with Pluto, there are a couple of different ways this can go. Often with the opposition, it can be a person or situation outside ourselves who will brings demands and expectations into our lives. The key to any opposition is keeping in mind that the signs and elements are always compatible, and if confrontation is avoided, then dialogue is possible. Working with a Pluto person can be very challenging but also very rewarding, because they will be very tenacious in pursuit of your mutual goals. However, if there are escalating confrontations between you due to differences in expectations, and stepping back and detaching does not work, then you may need to completely remove yourself from the situation – a totally Plutonian option.

Of all the aspects to work with, a square between Pluto and personal planets is the most difficult and yet the one holding the greatest potential for clarity and growth. It can fuel great creativity and the most persistent obsessions. If the energy generated by this aspect can be channeled into creativity of one kind or another, great things are possible. For example, Pluto square Mercury is wonderful for writers, because they will just keep working until they get it right.

If you have Pluto aspecting personal planets or angles natally, you become accustomed to handling these over time, but Pluto transits can be very unsettling for those with no natal Pluto influences. Typically, Pluto transits are in effect on and off for four to five years.

Many of us are feeling Pluto’s energy intensely as he stations in preparation to turn retrograde on April 4 at 3°18′ Capricorn. Letting go of attachment to a specific outcome is sanity, because that opens the door for the universe to bless us.

Libra hates Venus Rxposted by Neith . . .

Image: This is Frida Kahlo’s painting, “Loose Hair.” She had a very tight conjunction of Venus and Pluto in Gemini square to Saturn in Pisces, and her genius is undeniable as was the pain she lived with every day.

Ask Real Astrologers: Grappling with Multiple Squares

This week’s question comes from Sabat in Plaza, North Dakota:

I’m an astro-newbie, just learning. It just hit me that I have six planets squaring my Scorpio Ascendant: Leo Sun, Mercury in Cancer, Venus in Cancer, Mars in Leo, Jupiter in Leo, and Uranus in Cancer. What does something like this do to or for a person and the interpretation of the overall chart, and should I be concerned about current or upcoming transits?

Aquarius expounds . . .

Pat’s response:

Sabat, squares in the natal chart represent challenges and matters that need our attention. In itself, this is not a bad thing. As much as we all might wish for an easy life, most of us would find it tiresome after awhile. Humans need challenges to learn, grow, and evolve, and we reach our full potential through tests and challenges. I know, I know…

With so many squares to the Ascendant in your chart, your challenge is to let the real you shine forth in the world. Scorpio in particular is good at hiding, so I’d say that you have felt pressure to keep your light under a bushel, as it were. The pressure may be coming from outside, but I’m betting that a lot of it is internal. For example, you may have tapes in your head telling you that you have to behave like a “responsible adult” and that engaging in certain activities that are pleasurable or personally rewarding is “selfish.”

That said, your Sun and other planets in Leo and late Cancer are on the Midheaven, which is the chart angle having to do with being in the public eye. For most of us, this means our career life. Perhaps you are most able to express yourself through your chosen career but find it harder to be yourself in personal relationships, family life, and so forth. Indeed, something about your job or your approach to it could be getting in the way of being yourself in private.

Current transits, in particular planets in Aquarius and the current eclipse cycle, are focusing your attention on this issue, and it’s no surprise that you’re asking about it now.

Thanks for writing, and good luck in your study of astrology!

Libra ponders . . .

Neith’s response:

Yes, Sabat, your Sun does square your Ascendant and what that means is your natural Leo flamboyance is at odds with the Scorpio rising’s inclination to play things close to the vest. However, with your Sun sitting at the top of your chart conjunct Jupiter in Leo, you shine brightly and fearlessly.

The conjunction of your Mercury, Venus and Uranus in Cancer are beautifully trine your Scorpio Moon offsetting the out-of-sign square between the Cancer planets and your Ascendant. In my experience, when planets are compatible by sign and element even though the numbers say they are square, the dissonance is toned down to a degree. It may feel like you have two distinct sides to your nature: the fiery side with all your Leo planets and the calm introspective side of all your water sign planets.

Please note you have a preponderance of fixed signs in your chart and that means you prefer to move through life at a measured pace with a predictable schedule. As a person with this same emphasis, I have found my preference is to make the necessary adjustments as quickly as possible, so I can find a new routine to settle into.

At this time, most of the planets in Aquarius are moving through your fourth house and are no longer opposing your Sun, Mars and Jupiter, though the lunar eclipse on January 26 may have caused some reverberations in your household. The ongoing Saturn-Uranus opposition will not have much impact this year on your chart except in the general sense it affects us all.

Astrology is a wonderful field of study, enjoy the journey, Sabat!

Got a quick question? Click here to contact Ask Real Astrologers. Reminder: Please tell us where you’re currently located!

Ask Real Astrologers: Feeling the Weight of Pluto

This week’s question comes from Manda in Naples, Italy:

I’ve been told that I’m going through some very difficult transits which will continue into 2011, and I’m certainly feeling the weight of them. Apparently, one of the most difficult transits I’m experiencing is Pluto in my twelfth house squaring my natal eighth-house Sun. As I understand it, these are the two most intense houses in the zodiac. Although I’ve been researching the different aspects independently, I’m not sure how all of the energies are working together. I would be so grateful if you could give me some insight into how my current transits are impacting each other. What I can say is that all areas in my life seem to be in dissolution, and I’ve recently started seeing a counselor because I’ve been unable to cope with all of this on my own.

Aquarius expounds . . .

Pat’s response:
Manda, this could be a case of a little bit of knowledge being dangerous. Sure, a Pluto-Sun square is a difficult transit — when taken by itself. But there is never just one thing going on at a time in a chart, and your intuition is right on to suspect as much.

First of all, I see that the current series of eclipses in Leo and Aquarius have been hitting your first and seventh houses. I am going through this right now, too, and I don’t need to tell you that it has been disorienting. A lot of changes have been taking place, and they are hard to keep up with. Moreover, your chart ruler, Saturn, is in the seventh house and has been activated by the eclipses, adding to feelings of inadequacy and inability to cope.

This series of eclipses will continue until August 2009, but in the meantime a new series will begin that will also take place in your first and seventh houses, along with your twelfth and sixth. So you can expect more changes to come. I always tell my clients that eclipses are accelerators. The changes are often upsetting simply because they are so fast that we feel destabilized. Once the dust has settled, you’ll likely find that you’re in a new and much better place. It’s just bumpy getting there.

That said, you’ve got a lot of cosmic help right now, too, as Jupiter is also in your first house. I know Neith will have something different to say, as she and I don’t always agree about how “lucky” Jupiter is, but I do believe the Big Guy acts is a shield, and note that he’s also going to be in a trine to all of your Libra planets, which will go a long way toward easing some of the stress.

As for that Pluto-Sun square, I believe it, too, is ultimately going to be beneficial, in that you will get to know yourself on a much deeper level. Most of us have demons we don’t want to face, but going boldly into those places is always well-rewarded. This is a great time, incidentally, to be working with a therapist. I strongly encourage you to take full advantage of this opportunity. From looking at your chart, your work will be most productive if you focus on how you interact with others in your closest relationships.

Wishing you many blessings. Do stay in touch.

Libra ponders . . .

Neith’s response:
Manda, you have a lot of planets in fair minded, peace loving Libra as I do, so it comes as no surprise to me you are finding this Pluto transit challenging. Pluto always plays by his own rules and pretty much demands we face the darker aspects of our beings, something Libra is not always comfortable with.

Your Moon is flanked by Venus and Mars in Libra emphasizing your need to be surrounded by beauty and civility. However, all the transits Pat mentioned in her response have to making it difficult for you to find the tranquility you need to keep your emotional balance. When those of us with Libra Moon’s are being constantly thrown off balance, we can feel very cranky.

Something else that may be operating here is your natal Sun-Pluto conjunction. Often the initial response for a plutonian type is to attempt to control rather than to detach. Take from one who has been down this road . . . it doesn’t work and is ultimately exhausting. Every day it seems I must remind myself to stay detached from any and all outcomes.

I agree with Pat this is a very good time to be sitting down with a professional therapist. You can benefit greatly from having a neutral party to bounce your thoughts and feelings off. With a preponderance of air in your chart, you need to consciously choose to explore your feeling nature.

When you look back at this time, I believe you will find you benefited very much from these transits. Good luck and hang in there!

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Saturday Archives: Reversed Nodes in Family Synastry

me and my grandadWe have a family get together today, so I decided to pull this article based on family birth data going back a generation or two.

Whenever I wish to do some astrological research I have my family birth data to draw upon going back a couple of generations. In this instance, I was curious to see what the patterns were within the family for reversed Moon’s nodes for couples and their children.

My personal experience of relating to another person who has the opposite nodes suggests proximity is an important factor. I have several cyber-friends with north node in Sagittarius very close to my south node in Sagittarius and there are no problems at all. It seems to take the day-to-day interchanges to up the irritation factor – like working with someone or living with them.

What I found after looking up all my extended family’s birth dates was very interesting. Out of all the couples in both my parent’s generation and mine, only one had reversed nodes! In fact, only a few parents and children had reversed nodes, and most of the time it was the mother, not the father, involved. These were children that left home at the first opportunity, usually going off to school halfway across the country.

It is my aunt and uncle who live closest to us who have the reversed nodes. They will have been married for fifty-five years this year and it has been a stressful relationship most of that time. My uncle is ten years older than my aunt, who is my mother’s youngest sister; and they have five children, the oldest of whom is nine years younger than I. I don’t have birth times for either person so I will just review the astrology using the shorthand method.

My aunt is an Aquarius Sun, Capricorn Moon and my uncle has a Taurus Sun and very likely an Aquarius Moon. If this is the case, the luminaries form a trine and conjunction by sign – very compatible! Their Moons would be semi-sextile (Capricorn to Aquarius) and that does seem to fit. My aunt is extremely well organized and always had neatly written lists of chores for her kids posted about. =grin=

Their Mercury’s are trine too. Her Mercury is in Capricorn and his in Taurus and they are both practical sorts and can take care of business when they need to.

His Mars is in Libra trine her Venus in Aquarius and her Mars in Capricorn is trine his Venus in Taurus. However, with their Mars square by sign, they have a difficult time agreeing on how to work together. And their Venuses are square giving them very different ideas of enjoyment. Once their children were grown they quit attempting to vacation together at all, and my uncle would go hunting with my dad, his friend since childhood, and my aunt would fly off to Europe by herself.

Saturn plays a role here too with Saturn-Venus intra-aspects, always a good indicator of durability. Plus his Mercury-Venus conjunction in Taurus are exactly conjunct her Chiron-North Node in Taurus. He has his Sun conjunct his South Node in Taurus and is quite comfortable living in home he was born in and grew up in . . .

I believe it is the combination of very compatible elements, the Saturn-Venus intra-aspect and the tidy synastry stellium in Taurus, noted for staying with the known quantity, which has contributed to them staying together. They are both fixed sign types too and the nodal axis here is Taurus-Scorpio, noted for tenacity. But I know first hand how bitter things are and how unhappy they have been for much of their married life.

Based on my own experiences and this example, I have to say if I saw reversed nodes in a couple’s synastry, I would caution them to really consider carefully what type of relationship they wish to have.

Libra with Scorpio risingposted by Neith . . .

Image: This is an old family photo taken on a camping trip when I was ten years old. What a different world it was.

Ask Real Astrologers: A Direct Hit from Neptune-Jupiter

This week’s question comes from Jan in Brisbane, Australia:

The triple conjunction of Chiron, Jupiter, and Neptune is happening on my Ascendant at 25 degrees Aquarius. What do I need to do?

Aquarius expounds . . .

Pat’s response:

This is a great question, Jan, as it allows us to talk a little bit about this year’s Jupiter-Neptune conjunction. The Saturn-Uranus opposition has been getting all the press, but this very important conjunction — which, as you note, also includes Chiron — has some serious implications, and with your Ascendant at the hub of the activity, you are going to witness the effects firsthand.

Like most outer transits, this one will have three parts. The first pass occurs on May 27 at 26 degrees Aquarius. The second falls on July 10 at 25 degrees, and the third and final pass is on December 21, the Winter Solstice, at 24 degrees. The first conjunction occurs just as Neptune and Chiron are turning retrograde, making this conjunction all the more powerful and far-reaching. The second two passes occur with the Moon also in conjunction, so their energies will be further amplified as well.

How this conjunction will affect individuals depends on where it falls in their charts and whether it forms aspects with key natal planets. In your case, I see no cause for concern and every reason to be hopeful. I’ve written a lot about the conjunction of Neptune and Chiron being a powerful healing agent, both for individuals and the collective. Jupiter’s energy promotes expansion and growth, so we can expect that deep healing will lead to personal growth. In your case, there even may be opportunities to help others heal and grow.

I see two ways that you can take advantage of the positive side of this conjunction. First, if you have any unresolved issues from childhood or from your family’s past (we do carry these in our energy field), you can work on them during this time with a minimum of disruption. Those of you who have undertaken deep healing work know that it can interfere with your normal day-to-day activities. I see less chance of this happening with Jupiter in the mix.

Second, this is an ideal time to help others. If you are in a healing profession, you could have an extraordinary influence on your patients or clients. If you aren’t in a healing profession, find some way to do community service work. This could be anything from donating food or time to organizations that help the poor, to tutoring students who are behind in their studies. Or, find some other way to use your skills and talents to help others along.

This also is a great time to study astrology and other metaphysical subjects. Just take care that you don’t get involved with any groups that promise results such as money and love without having to do anything to earn it. Sitting on the couch visualizing money won’t cause any great harm to anyone in the long run, but it would be an unfortunate waste of the good you can do with this powerful energy that will be channeled directly into you.

Stay in touch and keep us posted!

Libra ponders . . .

Neith’s response:

Hi Jan, what I see as the greatest challenge with this transit is keeping some perspective because Jupiter is likely to inflate Neptune’s wonderful ideas for the betterment of all, and your Taurus Sun likes consistency with solid, well thought out plans.

Neptune transits to the Ascendant can be tricky to navigate due to a lack of clarity about how others see us, and how we see others. Projections and expectations can crop up unexpectedly and leave all parties shaking their heads and wondering what the heck just happened. Frankly I don’t believe Jupiter will be of much help with these issues and may even add to them. I’m of a mind Jupiter acts more as an amplifier than as a beneficent.

Chiron’s role here may have to do with bringing to the forefront the uncomfortable differences between who you are at home (your Taurus Sun in the fourth house) and the way others see you out in the world (Aquarius rising). Once those issues are highlighted, then healing is possible. You have already experienced your Chiron return, and during July 2009 when Chiron is conjunct your Ascendant, Venus will be conjunct your Chiron by transit – sounds favorable to me!

As someone with a preponderance of earth and water, Jan, staying calm and focused in the moment may be the ticket. The rulers of your Ascendant and your fourth house, Uranus and the Moon, are trine in earth signs giving you a natural sense of how to handle the unexpected.

Hey, please let us know how this transit goes for you! We always love feedback on the real world events in people’s lives because that is how we all learn more about the inner workings of astrology.

Good luck!

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Saturday Archives: Composite Chart and Lifestyle

home in summerComposite charts are not only a wonderful tool for understanding our relationships, they are also fun to play with as I have done here.

I was asked about the lifestyle I have with my spouse and that started me thinking about the possibility of our composite chart reflecting it. 

We live in the farm house in a rural area in central Washington.  In fact, it’s the much remodeled house I grew up in and left many, many years ago.  When I was single, my pattern was to move every couple of years or so – and my relationships tended to be short lived too, so looking at the composite charts for those relationships wouldn’t be too informative.

Within a year after my Aries and I became a couple, we bought the property and house we still live in eighteen years later.  In fact, we got married and signed our mortgage within a couple of weeks!  Our composite chart has Sun conjunct Venus in Capricorn and Jupiter in Capricorn all in the twelfth house – we are a very private couple and both of us prefer it that way.  Aquarius is rising and Mercury is conjunct the Ascendant in the first house.  The Moon is in Cancer in the sixth house and sextile Saturn in Virgo in the eighth.  The thing is neither of us have any planets in earth in our natal charts yet it is strongly represented in our composite.

We live a frugal life (Capricorn Sun) and are happy homebodies (Cancer Moon).  Taurus is the sign on the cusp of the fourth house and very descriptive of our rural home with a big yard, vegetable gardens and fruit trees.  We have experimented with u-pick berries and still sell berries we pick in season.  Having the Moon in the sixth also shows the connection between our vocation of gardening and an awareness of the seasonal changes.  We often plant according to the phase of the Moon too.  Ceres in the composite is in Pisces in the second house and opposes Saturn in Virgo in the eighth . . .  another tie to the natural world and placing value on living close to it.  We are very aware of the need for a sustainable interconnection with nature and have many discussions about the best way to do this.  Heh, we’ve planted many, many trees and shrubs on our property (Saturn in Virgo) too!

I see the Aquarius rising in our determination to live our lives in the way we see fit and perhaps the close inconjunct from Uranus in Cancer on the cusp of the sixth House to the Ascendant reinforces that spirit of independence.  Uranus in the sixth is also reflected by the fact we both have chosen the burdens and joys of being self-employed. Are we living an anachronistic life or are we ahead of the times?  Whatever it is, it is our choice.

Addendum:

The composite chart discussed here was a simple mid-point composite. When I calculated the composite changing the location to where we met, the Ascendant shifts into Capricorn placing the Sun, Venus and Jupiter in the first house with Mercury on the cusp of the second.

The Sun moving from the twelfth into the first is important in composites – from the shadows into the light as it were. We did live together for about a year before we married and some of his more conservative friends and family members were much happier after the wedding!

Libra with Scorpio risingposted by Neith . . .

Image: Yes, this is the house we live in . . . :-)