| Updated: 25 april 2001 | To the Software table of contents |
| Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 (reversal 1) 9 10 11 12 (reversal 2) 13 14 15 (summing up) | |
Two hours later the ascendant again is exactly in the east. It is moving 1°24' per minute - a little faster than the average speed.
When the ascendant is retrograde we run into problems regarding the symbolic meanings of the houses. On sub-polar latitudes the houses meanings are derived from the symbolism of the horizon as well as from the meridian. At those latitudes no problems arise. At polar latitudes we are however forced to be quite specific about how we define MC, ascendant and the houses:
Where we put them in the chart.
How we derive their symbolic meanings.
For a start let's look at a chart set for a sub-polar latitude. In this chart everything about MC, the ascendant and houses is as we are used to.
Definition of the ascendant.
Where in the chart: The point of ecliptic rising above the horizon. As a consequence it always is somewere to the east of the meridian.
Derived meaning: The ascendant gets its meaning from the symbolism of being the point where something from the invisible, private world climbs up into the visible, public world.
These definitions are firmly rooted in practice, tradition, geometry, and symbolism. As I see it, there are no alternatives.
This fits with the above chart.
Definitions for MC.
MC has two definitions, often used interchangeably. On sub-polar latitudes
that will cause no problems, because they will generate identical
MC-positions. However, on polar latitudes they will at certain times give positions opposite to each other.
Where in the chart: MC is the point of the ecliptic intersecting the meridian circle above the horizon.
Derived meaning: The meaning of MC comes from the symbolism of being at an important intersection point above the horizon. Above = in the visible world, in the public life. Important intersection point = having an important position.
Where in the chart: MC is the point of the ecliptic culminating.
Derived meaning: The event of culmination leads to the symbolic meaning of being in the highest position in the public world.Those definitions fits with the above chart.
Definition of the house cusps.
Because there are house systems not having the ascendant as the cusp of house 1,
or MC as cusp of house 10, it is necessary to define what is the cusp of
houses 1 and 7, and 10 and 4. These are the
common definitions:
The cusp of house 1 is where the ascendant is. The cusp of house 7 is where the descendant is.
The cusp of house 10 is where MC is. The cusp of house 4 is where IC is.
The definitions of the remaining cusps depends on the house system used.
These definitions fits with the above chart.
Definition of the zodiacal areas the houses encompass.
The definition of houses is based on the symbolism of being above/below the horizon.
Where in the chart: Houses 1 - 6 are below the horizon. House 1 is the part of the zodiac just about to rise above the horizon. Houses 7 - 12 are above the horizon. House 7 is the part of the zodiac just about to slip down below the horizon.
Derived meaning: Houses 1 - 6 traditionally have a symbolism associated with being below the horizon. They all relate to private, individual matters, e.g. house 4 represents the home as the basis and centre of the private life. Houses 7 - 12 has a symbolism related to being above the horizon. They all have something to do with the public life, e.g. house 10 repesents the career and the position in society as the focus of ones public life.
This definition fits with the above chart.
Lots of books teach the meanings of the houses by the symbolism of above and below the horizon.
The definition of houses is based on their relationship with the meridian.
East / west symbolism.
Where in the chart: Houses 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, 12 are to the east of the meridian. Houses 4 - 9 are to the west of the meridian and have meanings related to the symbolism of the the western hemisphere: the "You"-half of the chart.Derived meaning: Houses 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, and 12 all have meanings related to the eastern hemisphere: the "Me"-half of the chart. Houses 4 - 9 have meanings related to the symbolism of the the western hemisphere: the "You"-half of the chart. Example: house 2 represent mine money, while house 8 represent other people's money.
This fits the chart above.
The symbolism of the direction of movement relative to the meridian.
Where in the chart: House 10 is the part of the zodiac just about to cross MC (according to how MC is defined), while house 9 is the part of zodiac that just has crossed MC. The parts of the zodiac contained by houses 10, 11, 12, 1, 2, and 3 will cross MC in that order. The parts of the zodiac contained by houses 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 will cross IC in that order.Derived meaning: House 10 represents career and the position in society because a planet in it is about to reach MC. House 4 is associated with the most peronal matter and profound issues in life because a planet in it is about to reach IC.
This fits the chart above.
At polar latidues problems of one kind or another will arise no matter how the ascendant, MC, and the houses are defined. Let's look at our polar chart from the point of view of the two possible definitions of MC.
MC is the point of ecliptic intersecting the meridian circle above the horizon.
This is definition 2A above.
Also use definition 3: The cusp of house 10 is where MC is, and the cusp of house 1 is where the ascendant is.
The different definitions on what area of the zodiac the houses cover gives different charts.
The definition of houses is based on the symbolism of being above/below the horizon.
This is definition 4A above. Houses 1 - 6 are below and houses 7 - 12 above the horizon.
The chart looks like this:
House 1 is the part of the zodiac just about to rise above the horizon. House 12 is the part of the zodiac just risen above the horizon. The same applies to houses 7 and 6 respectively, etc.
What is odd in this chart is that MC is in the north, and house 10 is the part of the zodiac that already has crossed MC. Traditionally it is the part of the zodiac just about to cross MC. On the other hand the symbolism of above/below is maintained.
The definition of the houses is based on their relationship with the meridian.
This is definition 4B above.
East / west symbolism.
House 1 - 3 and 10 -12 are in the eastern hemisphere, and the other houses are in the western hemisphere.The chart will look the same as Chart 1A.
The symbolism of the direction of movement relative to the meridian.
Houses 10, 11, 12, 1, 2, and 3 are about to cross MC in that order, and houses 4, 5, 6 , 7, 8, and 9 are about to cross IC in that order.The chart will look like this:
What's really disturbing in this chart is that the part of the zodiac about to rise above the horizon is house 6, and that the part of the zodiac just risen above the horizon is house 7. Traditionally these parts of the zodiac are houses 1 and 12 respectively. This violates the profound definition of the ascendant and house 1 (definitions 1, 3, and 4A above). Because of this I guess it is hard for most astrologers to accept anything that generates Chart 1B.
In this case the traditional house definitions based on the meridian and the horizon becomes mutually exlusive in polar charts.So, when MC is defined as the intersection of the meridian circle with the ecliptic above the horizon, the house problems will be reduced by using these definitions:
Houses 1 - 6 are below the horizon, and houses 7 - 12 above the horizon.
House 1 - 3 and 10 -12 are on the eastern hemisphere, and the other houses are on the western hemisphere.
However, we will have to accept that the part of zodiac about to cross MC is in house 9, and the house that already has crossed MC is house 10. The same applies to IC for houses 3 och 4 respectively. Also, we have to accept that MC is in the north.
MC is the point of the ecliptic culminating.
This is definition 2B above.
Also try to use definition 3: The cusp of house 10 is where MC is, and the cusp of house 1 is where the ascendant is.
The different definitions on what area of the zodiac the houses cover gives different charts.
The definition of houses is based on the symbolism of being above/below the horizon.
This is definition 4A above. Houses 1 - 6 are below and houses 7 - 12 above the horizon.
The chart looks like this:
A very annoying property in this chart is that one side MC is bordering to house 4 and on the other to house 3. This violates the profound definition of house 10 (definitions 3 and 4B above). As MC is not the cusp of house 10 most astrologers probably will not accept this definition.
This is another example demonstrating that the traditional house definitions based on the meridian and the horizon simetimes becomes mutually exlusive in polar charts.Thus, if MC is defined as the point of culmination, and the cusp of house 10 is defined as MC, then it is impossible to define the placements and meanings of the houses based on the symbolism of above/below the horizon.
The definition of the houses is based on their relationship with the meridian.
This is definition 4B above.
East / west symbolism.
House 1 - 3 and 10 -12 are on the eastern hemisphere, and the other houses are on the western hemisphere.The chart will look like this:
What is disturbing in this chart is that houses 1 - 6 are above the horizon and houses 7 - 12 below. This is contradictory to their traditional symbolism based on houses 1 - 6 being below the horizon.
In this case we will have to accept that the part of the zodiac about to rise above the horizon is in house 12, and that house 1 contains the part of the zodiac already risen above the horizon. Traditionally it is the other way around. We also have to accept that we can't use the above/below symbolism to derive neither the placements nor the meanings of the houses.
The symbolism from the direction of movement relative to the meridian.
Houses 10, 11, 12, 1, 2, and 3 are about to cross MC in that order, and houses 4, 5, 6 , 7, 8, and 9 are about to cross IC in that order.The chart will look like Chart 2B, and have the same advantages and problems.
We are left with two acceptable charts: Chart 1A and Chart 2B. Both use definition 1 for the ascendant and definition 3 for the house cusps.
Chart 1A.
Basically charts 1 is based on directions: east and west, and above and
below. Thus, defining MC as the intersection between the ecliptic and
meridian above the horizon (def 2A) works well together with defining the
houses using the above/below symbology (def 4A) as well as the east/west
symbolism (def 4B-1). It excludes the possibility to define the houses using
the direction om movement relative to the meridian (def 4B-2).
During the period of retrograding ascendant the chart will have these characteristics:
Houses 1 - 6 are below the horizon, and houses 7 - 12 above the horizon.
House 1 - 3 and 10 -12 are on the eastern hemisphere, and the other houses are on the western hemisphere.
Houses are reversed relative to the MC/IC-axis: house 10 contains the part of the zodiac that has crossed MC, and house 9 contains the part of zodiac about to cross MC, etc.
The culmination point is below the horizon.
Chart 2B.
Defining MC as the point of ecliptic culminating (def 2B) works well
together with
defining the houses using the east/west symbolism (def 4B-1) and the
direction of movement relative to the meridian (def 4B-2). It exludes the
possibility to define the house using the above/below symbolism (def 4A).
During the period of retrograding ascendant the chart will have these characteristics:
Houses 1 - 6 are above the horizon, and houses 7 - 12 below the horizon.
House 1 - 3 and 10 -12 are on the eastern hemisphere, and the other houses are on the western hemisphere.
Houses are reversed relative to the Ascendant/Descendant-axis: house 1 contains the part of the zodiac that has risen above the horizon, and house 12 contains the part of zodiac about to rise above the horison, etc.
The culmination point is below the horizon.
So, it's all about choosing the definitions leading to Chart 1A or the ones leading to Chart 2B. We can't have it both ways, or can we?
In Chart 1A the sun is in house 10, and ought to be interpreted by the usual house 10 meanings.
In Chart 2B the sun is in house 3, and ought to be interpreted by the usual house 3 meanings.
Suppose - just for the sake of argument - that both interpretations are valid. That leads us to houses having double meanings, that is house 3 is a mix of the traditional house 3 and 10 meanings, and house 10 is a mix of the traditional house 10 and 3 meanings. Further, house 1 will then be a mixture of house 1 and house 12 meanings, while house 12 will be a mixture of houses 12 and 1, etc. Does this imply that house 1 and 12 have identical meanings when the ascendant is retrograde? Well, I just don't know.
