How To Enter The Chart
Source: Unsplash/Brett Jordan
Any astrological chart contains a wealth of information, but unless you have a system for prioritization, it can quickly get overwhelming. Other astrologers have their own preferences, but what I’m sharing below is the way I learned to enter any chart, and that begins with an analysis of the Ascendant. I gave a general outline of the method I use in the Chart Priorities section at the bottom of this post, Anatomy of An Astrological Chart, but each step contains multiple parts.
Why do we look at the Ascendant first? The influence of the Ascendant is about 80% of the horoscope and its strength or weakness determines your overall “success” in life. This is not about whether you’re a good person or a judgement of what you want out of life. It’s purely can you survive and can you attain your goals? The Ascendant, or 1st house, is your vitality, motivations, how you present yourself, how you interact with the world, and how you’re perceived by others. That’s why having the correct birth information (time, date, and location) is imperative in astrology.
The general steps in analyzing the Ascendant are in order below, and I expand a bit with examples as you continue to read. This begins after you answer your 4 questions, of course.
Sign on the cusp
Ruler(s) of the Ascendant by house position and sign, including dispositors
Aspects to the Ascendant
Aspects to ruler(s) of the Ascendant
Analysis of planets in the first house, including sign, dispositor, and aspects
For those of you wondering why then my Case Studies tend to start with a general impression of the chart instead of jumping right into the Ascendant, that’s because most people look first at the whole and need to understand how to begin to break it down and then re-integrate the pieces (hello, Pluto!). Ultimately, every piece of the chart either supports or detracts from the Ascendant.
To begin an analysis of the Ascendent, look at the sign on the cusp and get a feeling for how the sign behaves. Do you understand why Gemini reacts differently than Scorpio? How do the motivations of a Capricorn differ from those of Pisces? These are important distinctions that give clues to how people will act or react. Note also the degree of the Ascendant. There are several really great astrologers who delve more deeply into the meaning of each degree, but a good general rule of thumb is that if the Ascendant is within the first 3-5 degrees of a sign, behaviors are more typical of the sign; if the cusp is in the last 5 degrees of the sign, you should incorporate the influence of the rulers of the following sign into your analysis because the influence is weakening; and if the cusp is at the 29th degree, also called an anaretic degree, mastering things associated with the sign gains greater urgency but there can be more indecision and worry.
An often overlooked step is to see whether the element of the sign on the Ascendant is also on the 5th and 9th houses because these three houses together make up the whole of the person’s personality: Their motivations (1), their passions and self-expression (5), and their philosophy (9). For example, if you have Libra on the Ascendant, is Aquarius on the 5th and Gemini on the 9th? If not, there can be problems relating to others that need to be identified and overcome.
Next, find the ruler(s) of the Ascendant by house position and sign. For example, is the ruler of the Ascendant in the 2nd house or the 11th house? One will orient the person towards money and possessions, and the other towards groups and community involvement. Is it in an earth sign, adding practicality? Or in water, heightening the instincts? Look also to the dispositors of the rulers. Where do they go? What do they represent? Do their goals align or conflict? A Gemini Ascendant with Mercury in the 3rd house in Leo and the Sun in the 9th in Aries will be very different from a Gemini Ascendant with Mercury in the 8th in Capricorn and Saturn in 6th in Scorpio.
Once you’ve determined the above, consider the aspects to the cusp of the Ascendant. The general rule I learned is that any planet aspecting within 8 degrees of the Ascendant shows up in the personality and the closest aspects have the most impact. For example, someone with a Taurus Ascendant with Venus in Taurus is very security conscious and practical, enjoys material possessions that convey wealth and status, and can be very set in their ways. Now add a square from Mercury in Aquarius and you speed up the mind and mannerisms. Perhaps their thinking is a little more impulsive or rebellious. What if it’s a trine from Mercury in Capricorn instead? You increase concentration and the idea of greater foresight and planning.
Aspects to the ruler(s) of the Ascendant comes next in our method with the same 8 degree orb. In our example above, Taurus Ascendant with Venus in Taurus, imagine a square to this Venus from Jupiter in Leo from the 4th house. The physical appetites could become exaggerated leading to overindulgence, or it may provide motivation to pursue a career in interior design or as a chef. If we add a sextile from Neptune in Pisces from the 11th house, the artistic and creative faculites could be strengthened and directed towards large groups and institutions, or the person could be deceived by a friend.
Finally, you should look at any planets located in the first house by sign position and aspects. Any planet physically located in the 1st house is extremely influential on the personality, and it is also modified by its dispositors and planets in aspect to it. Note that a planet in the first house is not always in the same sign as the Ascendant, so you should pay close attention.
The more planets, signs, and houses connected to the Ascendant add complexity to the personality, which is why having a clear method for evaluating the influences is important.
What’s next after you’ve completed all these steps to analyze the Ascendant? Do the same thing with the Midheaven, Moon and Sun; determine the relationship between the Sun and Moon, and then look for anything unusual, like stelliums, the absence of an element or polarity, house distortion, etc. Everything, however, needs to be looked at through the lens of the Ascendant.
Have questions? Let me know in the comments.