This post continues our process of Chart Synthesis through a comparison of the Midheavens. If you haven’t already read parts 1 & 2, How to Enter The Chart and Analysis of the Ascendants, click on the links to catch up.

A thorough analysis of the Midheaven is Step 2 in our process. If the Ascendant is the most important house, the 10th is the most INFLUENTIAL because it represents the realization of the sign on the Ascendant.

In our two sample charts, both have the sign of Cancer on the MC. As the sign connected to the 4th House in The Archetype and ruled by the Moon, its goals are to protect, nurture, and propagate life. It is instinctual, sensitive, and sentimental, yet incredibly goal-oriented through its cardinality.

Maher & Dahmer with Cancer on the Midheaven

One of the first questions you should ask is what is the relationship with the sign on the Ascendant. If we think of Cancer being the realization of Libra, what does that mean? Relationships become family, or perhaps, the exchange of ideas creates emotional connection and community. Both signs are also cardinal, meaning they initiate action, and there is natural square aspect between the Ascendant and the MC representing motivation to build up life. Sounds nice, right? How could that go right in one instance and so very wrong in another?

Let’s look at the Rulers of the MC in both charts, the Moon. In Ilona’s chart, we have that Moon in Leo disposed by the Sun in domicile in Leo in the 11th House. The planet of the will, individuality, and honors in honor in the most benefic house in the chart.

In Jeffrey’s chart, we have the Moon in Aries sitting right on the cusp of the Descendant, or 7th House, disposed by Mars in Aries in the 6th. HUGE difference.

Ilona’s Moon in Leo has its dispositor in high honor, adding stability and organization to her emotions. It also gives a natural instinct for leadership and autonomy while connecting her with honors and powerful friends.

The Moon in Jeffrey’s chart also has its dispositor in honor of domicile but it’s Mars, planet of war, aggression, force, and spontaneous action, and it’s in the 6th House of sickness and servitude. Combined with the Moon’s changeable nature, this Mars can bring impulsive and aggressive emotions. Remember in his bio that he was fascinated with power and identified with the villains of popular movies.

This Moon also becomes extremely powerful sitting on the cusp of an angle and creates a connection between his house of outer reputation and the public. Again, for your own practice, integrate an analysis of Jupiter, the ruler of Cancer by Exaltation, by looking at house position, sign, and dispositor, and then by aspects for both charts.

When we look at aspects to the cups of the MC, both have Venus and Saturn connected. Remember that Venus is the ruler of the Ascendant and Saturn is the Ruler by Exaltation in both charts. This repetition strengthens the connection between life and 10th House affairs for both of them, and can often indicate someone who becomes known to the public.

It’s important to understand however, that Venus and Saturn in Ilona’s chart are connected to a fortunate Sun & Moon and fortunate houses through dispositorship, while Jeffrey’s are not. In Jeffrey’s chart, this Venus is trapped in the 8th house receiving aspects from Malefics. Plus Saturn, as the greater Malefic, is in domicile, angular, and opposing the MC. It’s much too strong.

Ilona also has an opposition to the MC but it’s from Jupiter. Although disposed by Saturn, both Jupiter and Saturn are weakened in her chart by being in Fall. And this Jupiter, although opposed to the MC, still leans towards positive significations.

Jeffrey’s Moon, as Ruler of the MC squaring the MC, also brings a challenging influence, but it’s much more detrimental by connecting his impulsive, explosive temperament with his need to dominate in his relationships. Saturn, strong by position and rulership, does more damage by its opposition as well. Notice also that four of Jeffrey’s most difficult planets - Moon, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune - are connected to all four angular houses by one of the 4 considerations: Position, Rulership, Aspect, or Ricochet.

Maher & Dahmer: Aspects to the MC. Maher’s Venus is conjunct the cusp of the MC although there is no line.

Comparing the aspects to the Moon as Ruler of the MC, we see relatively difficult planets attached to both Moons, but I really want to stress that Ilona’s Sun and Moon in Leo are doing a lot of heavy lifting to mitigate the more detrimental effects, allowing her to channel and release them in a more constructive way.

Ilona has Pluto, Uranus, Saturn, and the Sun connected to her Moon, while Jeffery has Saturn, Uranus & Mars connected to his Moon. Just an aside that I’ve extended the orbs somewhat for both Ilona’s Sun/Moon conjunction and Jeffery’s Mars/Moon conjunction because they involve the luminaries and are aspects with the dispositors. Notice however, that Ilona’s Moon/Sun conjunction is approaching, strengthening the influence over time. If the Sun’s steadying influence on Ilona’s will, her relationships (Venus, 11th House, Saturn in 7), and her emotions (Moon) & actions (Mars) was compromised, she could exhibit compulsive behavior, be more introverted, or crumble under pressure from others.

In contrast, Jeffrey’s Moon/Mars conjunction is separating. This would normally indicate a weakening of energy, but this Moon is also not forming another major aspect within 8 degrees to any other planets. This Moon is becoming more FERAL over time, a rare occurrence that disconnects the planet from the rest of the chart, and in this case, becomes more detrimental over time.

Again, for your own skill-development, analyze the aspects to Jupiter, the ruler of the MC (Cancer) by Exaltation.

Maher & Dahmer Aspects to the Moon, Ruler of the MC

Lastly, we’re going to look at planets in the 10th House. Jeffrey has Uranus in Leo, which rules the 5th and is disposed by the Sun in his 8th. The sense here is that unusual attitudes towards pleasure (ruler of 5), power (Leo/Sun), and sex/death/resources of others, are related to his outer reputation and “career,” or you could say, unusual pleasures made public.

This Uranus receives aspects from Venus in Taurus in his 8th and the Moon in Aries in his 7th, connecting the meanings of these three houses with the disruptive and erratic energy of Uranus. To add another layer, these two planets are the Ruler (Venus) and Ruler by Exaltation (the Moon) of his 8th House with Taurus on the cusp,. Venus and the Sun, which is the dispositor of Uranus, is also in the 8th.

Ilona’s chart offers three planets in the 10th House — Venus, Mars, and Moon — which requires us to look at each one individually and determine which has the most power over the house affairs.

Now, we’ve thoroughly analyzed both Venus and The Moon as Rulers of the Ascendant and the MC. That’s extremely important because we again have repetitions between the planets and the angular houses, increasing their influence.

When we look at Mars, it’s in the sign of Cancer but in Fall. Mars in Cancer is a very protective “mama bear” kind of energy that I see when Ilona is promoting her sport, her teammates, and women in general. When not used as constructively, this combination can present as overprotective or passive-aggressive behavior, but remember she has the Moon and ultimately the Sun as dispositors of this Mars.

This Mars also comes from her 3rd and 7th Houses (Mars as Ruler of Aries and is co-Ruler of Scorpio). Here we’re connecting 3rd House significations of siblings, learning, media, & local environment and 7th House significations of partnerships and the public with her 10th House of career and outer reputation.

Now, if you weren’t aware, her sister Olivia is in entertainment and a social media star in her own right (Girl Dinner, anyone?) and her other sister Adrianna is a human rights development and fundraising professional. And all three host the very popular podcast, House of Maher. Here we see the manifestation of this connection where Ilona is working with or bringing her sisters into her career in some way.

Maher: Planets in the 10th and aspects to Mars

Her Mars receives aspects from Jupiter, Mercury, Saturn, and Venus, which is constructively exhibited as enthusiasm, concentrated energy in thought and action, and charisma. The more challenging manifestations include self-centeredness, lack of humility, and overextending yourself.

Once you’ve analyzed each planet individually, you take into consideration a few other factors to determine which planet has the greatest influence on the house affairs:

Which is closest to the cusp?
Does one of the planets rule the house?
Which has the greatest analogy with the House affairs? (e.g. if you had Venus in the 7th, no matter which sign).
Is a planet in high honor or dishonor?
Is there a sign change with any of the planets?

In this chart, I would focus on Venus & the Moon. Venus is the Ruler of the Ascendant, closest to the cusp, and in honor of elevation. Venus also has an analogy with honors and good things, even if it doesn’t naturally rule there. We also have the Moon as ruler of the MC in the 10th. However, since the Moon changes signs and because the Ascendant is the most important consideration in a chart, I would say Venus edges out the Moon in terms of importance.

The next post will cover parts 3 & 4 in the process. This includes an analysis of the Moon, the Sun, and how the relationship between them manifests in the two charts.

Natal Chart Comparison Part 3: Analysis of the Midheaven / MC

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