Natal Chart Comparison Part 5: Looking at Anything Unusual
This is the last post in the 5-part series of chart synthesis (and probably a Christmas miracle I got this up before the holiday).
For the full lesson, refer back to Part 1 Entering the Chart, Part 2 Analysis of the Ascendant, Part 3 Analysis of the Midheaven / MC, and Part 4 Analysis of the Sun & Moon.
By going through piece-by-piece, we’ve built a robust picture of their personality, and revealed the nuances that differentiate behavior in two individuals with seemingly similar natal charts.
The last piece is to look for “anything unusual” and I find it’s somewhat similar to looking at the chart holistically like we did in Part 1.
The term “anything unusual” means something out-of-place, right? But what are we using as our model? The Archetype. Take a minute to read my post if you’re not familiar with it because it provides a blueprint for an “ideal” chart.
To give a few examples:
We expect a Cardinal sign rising - someone who is outer-directed and goal-oriented towards the future.
We expect a square between houses 1 & 10 - an innate push to build up life.
We expect the same element on the house triads - 1-5-9 (spirit); 2-6-10 (building a future); 3-7-11 (human relations); and 4-8-12 (learning from the past) - identification with the interconnected meanings of like houses.
We expect each house cusp to have a different sign - an outlet of expression for every sign.
Therefore, what becomes unusual are things like a stellium, a focal planet, a feral planet (not connected to any other planet), an emphasis on or an absence of a particular sign or element, a trine or sextile when there should be a square, intercepted houses, one sign on multiple house cusps, etc. How much these factors tip the balance of “normal” behavior, or point to something extraordinary, is important to our overall understanding of a chart.
In Ilona’s chart, we’ve identified 7 planets — 70% of her resources — in angular houses, a key factor in her intense motivation and drive. We’ve seen the focus on her Moon through repetition as we analyzed her Ascendant and MC, and the strength of her Sun.
Maher - unusual chart traits
She also has the signs of Sagittarius and Gemini enclosed on the 3/9 axis, meaning they’re not found on a specific house cusp. This happens in certain latitudes when you use quadrant house systems. Enclosures tell us that the traits of the affected signs can be more difficult to express. Now, since I don’t personally know her, I’m speaking in the general sense here when I say there could be issues with self-expression, learning, feelings of faith and optimism, etc.
When there’s enclosures, there’s also a set of signs that end up on two consecutive house cusps. In Ilona’s chart we see Libra on her 1st and 2nd, and Aries on her 7th and 8th. What happens is the affairs of these houses get yoked together in some way throughout the persons life. With Libra on 1 & 2, we see her money-making ability through her personality and relationships, and with Aries on 7 & 8, she becomes an initiator of change by tapping into the resources of others.
An important point is that things that are out of place aren’t necessarily bad. They reveal and confirm factors that help bring the chart to life.
In Jeffrey’s chart, the Moon is extremely strong as well, but we also had repetition of the malefics and the modern planets. Over and over, our analysis showed the connections to Mars, Saturn, Pluto, Uranus, and Neptune. Without a strong Sun, or other mitigating factors, like a more powerful benefic influence from Jupiter or Venus, it became difficult for him to resist his destructive influences.
Dahmer - unusual chart traits
There are no enclosures or doubled signs, but Jeffery’s chart shows the emphasis on the “dark” houses, especially 8 & 6. These, along with the 12th house, are considered unfortunate because they represent the things that take you away from life (sickness, death, captivity). He has the ruler of his Ascendant in 8; both lights connected to the 8th; Mercury, ruler of his 12th, in 8; and the dispositors of Uranus & Pluto are in 8 (Sun & Mercury). He also has Mars, dispositor of the Moon, in 6; and the ruler of 6, Neptune, in his 1st.
Anything I missed? Let me know in the comments. You can see how a full analysis reveals a wealth of information, and the good news is the more you practice, the faster it becomes. Things start to “pop out” quickly and patterns begin to emerge, which is the beginning of synthesis.
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