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Your Ascendant Zodiapedia: ‘The Universal Om’ Pisces

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By Eugène Carrière ‘Meditation’ c1890 {{PD}}

This is the last installment in our Ascendant series–I hope you’ve enjoyed it! All the other signs are available here on the site–just search!

We hear about how the Pisces rising person appears scattered and unfocused to others, but do we notice how often others gather round that individual, as if the very air they breathe contains some kind of creative juice? This sign rising can come across like a font of inspiration, a walking dream (or nightmare!), whatever you’re looking for, or a victim—but from the inside looking out, what they’re seeing is usually the same world you see, just either under gauzy filters or selectively perceived—that means they don’t waste their time on what doesn’t matter to them—and this disconnect from the mundane and every day is interpreted by some as being unfocused. Do they hear the singing of the spheres? Oh yes, they do, but they also hear you nattering on about household matters or politics or what happened at the grocery store—just because they’re not giving you their rapt attention, don’t make the mistake of thinking they’re absent minded or that they’ve checked out—of all the signs, Pisces may most easily hold a great number of things in their awareness at once—it’s all that practice attuned to the Collective that makes it possible.

Since Pisces rising so easily receives (without their consent) the projections of others, most people see these individuals (unconsciously, of course) as either a dumping ground or as idealized, and it’s not uncommon for them to receive the projections of the social sphere, via ancient ruler Jupiter. Having this rising sign is almost like wearing camouflage, with the exception of those times others put all their negatives on the Pisces rising person (that’s not to say, especially in the case of Pisces rising Josef Stalin, that the negative rep isn’t deserved)—then Pisces wants to get lost in a dream just to avoid the nonsense she’s being handed. Since the onlooker has the potential to see such a variety of images, we turn to the Pisces rising individual to consider what she sees from the inside, looking out.

Pisces rising sees the world as an illusion; this can be anything from the concept of Maya to the belief that everybody’s a no-good liar—whatever the beliefs underpinning it (and there will be beliefs, courtesy of Jupiter again) it’s a ‘what you see isn’t what you get’ framework. Pisces may have survived an early environment that repeatedly pulled the perceptual rug out from under her—or, the caretaker was so harsh or punitive that Pisces had to escape to a land of imagination—or caretakers could’ve encouraged creativity to the exclusion of more grounding energies, and Pisces doesn’t know how to get back to Earth. Too, Pisces could’ve been in an environment where being a chameleon, or even invisible, was preferable to being noticed, or where lies were the only shelter. This rising sign can be hyper-sensitive to the surroundings, and so the Piscean reaction may actually be an over-reaction. In positive forms Pisces rising can literally (often through reading bodily sensation) act as a bridge between the seen and unseen, and in any case can tap the Collective and channel the creative, imaginative, and what’s on the cusp of appearing as the latest thing (and unless it’s tech, often beating Aquarius to it).

This rising sign, though, may long to sink her hands in the dirt, to become truly involved in the most solid facets of reality—there will be a desire to become grounded, whether it’s conscious or not—and that’s where incorporating characteristics of the opposing sign, Virgo, comes in. Hands-on dealings with surroundings, plus a requirement to focus on details and accountability, will ground Pisces; becoming involved with what the Earth itself can produce (food, flowers, minerals, materials for construction and creation) can act to anchor Pisces and give the creative vision a solid place to manifest, beyond the purely spiritual or creative act. They are attuned to the Universal Om, the sound of the Cosmos, and that manifests as the material world, something Pisces rising needs to get to know.

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Your Ascendant Zodiapedia: ‘The Radical Intellect’ Aquarius

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A “Sakka”, or water-bearer, carrying water on his back in a goat-skin. Wood engraving by [G.L.S.].
Copyrighted work available under Creative Commons Attribution only licence CC BY 4.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Credit: Wellcome Library, London http://wellcomeimages.org
images@wellcome.ac.uk

Aquarius as the rising sign can be a lot of trouble. The combination of traditional ruler Saturn and modern ruler Uranus can send such a mixed message that onlookers may either see Aquarius as a wet blanket, as a libertine, or as someone who swings between the two! One with the Aquarian Ascendant can come to feel as if no matter what, others will simply see what they want to see, but this oddly Neptunian take on things is inaccurate; what the Aquarius rising person doesn’t grasp right away is that they really do show an array of conflicting elements of persona to onlookers—no wonder the observers, and Aquarius, are confused. Usually those with the sign of the Waterbearer rising will take a little more to one ruler than the other; inspection of the natal chart typically reveals either a Uranian or a Saturnian leaning—but all Aquarius rising individuals show at least a little of both, and it’s usual for this rising sign to identify with only one of these at a time—meaning when Aquarius is showing Saturn, he’s putting a Capricornian face on things: repressive, strict, maybe fearful, stoically working, and when he’s showing Uranus he’s spontaneous, rebellious, and often living in his head, treating life as if it’s an academic exercise—and no matter what personality is being exhibited, Aquarius believes the one they’re showing is consistent, that it’s the one they always show. Au contraire–it is not—and only time and Self-awareness will convince them otherwise.

From the inside looking out, Aquarius rising tries to process everything through the mind. This can give the impression of confidence, especially if Aquarius is naturally sharp, but the war inside Aquarius shakes whatever confidence the mental faculties offer to the core: it’s over stability and consistency and nose to the grindstone effort v. originality, ignoring the rules, and a willingness to create upheaval in the name of the revolutionary and new. The weakness here is that the mind simply isn’t equipped to handle matters of emotion, spirit, and the physical, and so Aquarius gets knocked down repeatedly and soon feels that neither approach will pay off. This all originates with the survival needs of childhood, that required Aquarius to intellectually shine (as when the parents ‘show off’ the child’s abilities and take credit for their offspring) or that generally forbid much physical play/ projects or that made emotional displays (especially displays of certain unacceptable emotions, like anger) off limits. Aquarius, in trying to accommodate early caretakers, would turn to the mental arena for activity that garnered acceptance—and sometimes they never get out of this pattern.

This Ascendant generally conveys a lively personality, one that’s engaging, entertaining, and somewhat wearing on others in its less mature forms. The intent is one of exploration focused on what’s new to the individual, to what can be learned (or to discovering all that is known about a subject), so for some their company may be a little too academically inclined. Aquarius likes to discuss things, and there’s no limit to the topics or where that talk may range. They’re brave, in their way, and don’t mind being first with something risky–they display the courage of their Aries brethren, tempered with careful calculations of the odds and of their own abilities: they’re willing to experiment, but that doesn’t mean they’re crazy!

The influence of ancient ruler Saturn encourages a continuing assessment for these individuals, trained on the suitability of the status quo and the potential need for revolution. They watch for those places where the old guard may break down, ready to propose a new order, if the group will support it (and them, possibly in the role of leader–this Ascendant likes to lead during the upheaval, then step back once things settle down).

Aquarius rising thinks about themselves in terms of the group, but always with awareness of their own individuality, measuring perpetually what they are getting, and what they are giving, to the group. Until Aquarius learns to break down those barriers, to remove the ‘me against the world’ thinking, they will continue with a kind of existential loneliness haunting the personality. Often, they’ve been taught to subsume the Self to the group, and when that becomes intolerable, they rebel, and neither response heals the problem. It’s only when Aquarius gives up the childish definition of ‘I’ for the more mature, Leo oriented one (that centers on generosity, on genuinely putting the Self first for one’s health and best expression, on treasuring the Self for talents, abilities, and the Sun-Soul Purpose, on feeling through the heart center) that this rising sign will give up the stubbornness and reactionary take on interaction and supplant it with exchange that makes the most of both the innate intellectual prowess and the original and unique qualities and point of view.

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And you might want to try this, over at ‘Been There, Done That’

Your Ascendant Zodiapedia: ‘Building a Life’ Capricorn

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“A Roman Studio’ By Lawrence Alma-Tadema 1873 {{PD}}

Capricorn rising may come across as all business, totally serious, and really, no fun—but that wouldn’t be right for us to see him that way at all. Though the agile goat meets new situations this way, he can quickly adapt his attitude to whatever will get things done—and if that means he must socialize, clown around, risk it all, or declare his love from the rooftops, he will do just that. ‘Practical’ is the word for this rising sign, however that might be defined in any particular situation. To see this Earth placement as lacking in flexibility would be wrong—and yet, if given a choice, Cap at the very least wants things contained, restrained, and with any luck, by the book. He can’t help it, really: Capricorn rising is about two things, achievement and security as the way to meet the world, and he does everything with that in mind.

Cappy’s childhood environment in some way gave her the message that ‘serious’ is the only attitude to have. It may have been that children were expected to be miniature adults, or it may have been a case where the irresponsibility of the caretakers put the burden of filling basic needs, of providing any security at all, on Capricorn. This means that to the observer the Capricorn rising child may appear to be usurping adults’ authority or prerogatives, or that she doesn’t know the meaning of ‘play’ or ‘fun’—but of all the signs, Cap rising may be the one most acutely aware of how her demeanor seems odd to onlookers—just know that there’s always a reason the goat has adopted such a severe outlook, and respect her need to take the attitude she does—it may be the only thing that lets her sleep at night.

From the inside looking out, the Capricorn rising individual may see the world as a chaotic or unreliable or even unforgiving place. Recall that the rising sign is a response to the environment where we first meet the world; in Cap’s case, the suggestion is she is responsible to create boundaries, rules, barriers, and a sense of order—not the thing to encourage a young one’s positive outlook or the spontaneity and lightheartedness of childhood. The implication is that Cappy had to make up for someone else’s deficiency or lack of restraint, and though this may be true sometimes, it can also be that the individual with this rising sign is a hypersensitive Being who needed to erect overly strong protections against the outside sensations of the material world—or that she is someone who feels her own wildness so close to the surface that exceptional repression and restraint are in order, to keep from falling into her own personal chaos.

As an adult, Cappy rising may reassure others by her mere presence, and at any age she may be the one others automatically turn to in a crisis or for advice. It always feels to others like this Ascendant will know what to do, or how to stop whatever needs stopping, and Capricorn is happy to serve this function. As long as she is appreciated for her habit of meeting challenges with concerted effort, laboring consistently to achieve and build, laying not just the foundations for the building blocks of life but also the walls and roof, the wallpaper and paint, and paying the taxes. Capricorn needs to be appreciated, like anybody else, and on the Ascendant she wants others to see the extent of her control, over herself and the world. Look beneath the serious demeanor to see what Cappy is really trying to offer: security, stability, to remove worry from everyone’s equation.

The Capricorn Ascendant wants, always, to be productive; this can easily slip into repression of others, or suppression of the Self, if she doesn’t feel she or others are focused, making progress, getting ahead. This can give this Ascendant a mercenary quality, or a no-nonsense dictatorial one, until others understand that above all Cappy wants to be of use–anything less, and she’s disappointed in herself, and that may even morph into fearfulness, should she begin to think things will never change.

Capricorn rising prides herself on her dependability, but will only flourish once she accepts the gentle nurturing offered by opposing sign Cancer. In keeping things strictly controlled and grounded Cappy may not value nourishment, physical, psychic, emotional, and spiritual, as much as she needs to in order to foster a balanced approach to achievement, discipline, and to conquer her fear (for what combats Saturnian fears better than loving care?); once she does, she becomes a formidable human Being keyed to thoughtful, lasting accomplishment.

Read my work here, and enjoy the rest of your week, which you can read about here!

Your Ascendant Zodiapedia: ‘The Knowing Is Just Over There’ Sagittarius

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‘The Fair Toxophiles’ By William Powell Frith 1871 {{PD}}

The Archer wanders far and wide as a matter of course; seeking both knowledge and something new, Sagittarius as the rising sign designates the person with an expansive outlook, the one who knows or will find out, the one who’s always willing to go on a walkabout, just to see, to gain information—and this is so even if Sag never leaves the place she was born. The spirit of Sagittarius is so willing to explore, to learn, and then to teach, that she can come to be seen as something of a go-to when others need to know—which can both use positively some of Sag’s most characteristic talents, and place our Sag in a role of service that may or may not mesh with the bigger natal picture (and when it doesn’t fit, may devolve into know-it-all-ness, gossip as sport, or a pressure that results in made-up ‘facts’).

Others observe a competent and active individual with Sagittarius rising, but looking from the inside out, Sag may be seeking knowledge, or to teach others, as a form of security. There may have been an early environment that penalized those who didn’t have necessary information or that relied heavily on the Sag individual to provide this for others, who then sheltered or fed Sag. Knowledge, religious ritual and expression, or the ability to ‘get the word out’ for others may have been treated as currency in Sag’s early world, and this may have left a persistent attitude that causes him to wield info, ‘the facts’, or her belief system as reward or weapon, or to substitute beliefs for facts when it gets them what they want . Others, then, may find themselves surprised at Sag’s controlling approach to knowledge, the insistence that ‘they know’, as well as at his tendency to bolt for the far horizon when things don’t go his way.

Survival in the early environment may have hinged on gregariousness and optimism for Sag rising, and this can lead to an inclination to ignore problems; even when Sag has the answers (and with all that attention to information, who else is so well equipped?) she may fail to connect the dots. Compartmentalizing of knowledge, or painting scenes with too wide and sweeping a brush, can cause Sagittarius to falter and efforts to fail—often almost inexplicably. With so much energy focused outwardly, Sag may not do the kind of Self-analysis that other signs fall to naturally when things don’t go well; Sag may instead scan the horizon for what’s to blame, and miss a chance to up their game. This highlights how Sag can be completely Self-contained and yet yearn for others, as she needs an audience or someone to hear what she’s sharing. The trend in these two opposing directions can cause a lot of internal conflict for the Archer, as she struggles between retreating and charging out to look for a receptive someone; she finds her cure in adopting a willingness to value social interaction, networking, and light information exchange (the qualities of opposing sign Gemini) as much as she respects the acquisition and sharing of knowledge, religion, and philosophy. In other words, when she lightens up, she wins.

You can be sure that Sagittarius Rising always knows the landscape—that is, he knows it unless his attention has already moved on to the next destination. Sometimes the attention is in an otherworldly place (the religious connection), sometimes it’s a place where he can learn more (the education connection), and sometimes it (and the action) are entirely in Sag’s head; he may find a selectively perceived world that reflects his own philosophies preferable to having to deal with reality—and this marks one of the Archer’s biggest weaknesses, his reluctance to stay focused, in the present, in one place (mentally or otherwise), for very long—knowing is always ‘over there’—but that persistent curiosity, openness, and willingness to share are also his greatest strengths.

Sagittarius can come across to others as too aggressive or assertive, a byproduct of the love of knowledge and philosophizing and the natural inclination to spread these, compounded by Sag’s Fire element and the ‘action’ orientation it confers. Enthusiasm that overwhelms others, and a fondness for exaggeration or ‘doing it big’ can also be detriments, but we all need that person who gets excited and goes above and beyond, who exceeds and excels and so fosters optimism and hope in others: Sag rising individuals are essential to speculative ventures and persistent efforts, both of which are vital components of success.

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Your Ascendant Zodiapedia: ‘Down Deep’ Scorpio + Saturn Retrograde

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‘Deep Art Photo of Etno Histria violins’ 2009,
By Ekke from Durham, United Kingdom Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic

Scorpio is so often misunderstood, especially when it sits on the Ascendant. Others are just naturally afraid of someone who’s dark, deep, powerful, mysterious, and who feels inaccessible, no matter how open and transparent they try to be. When others receive you with vague suspicion, no matter your behavior or motivations, you’re bound to get involved in a feedback loop that more often ends up supporting observers assessments (from their point of view) than refuting them, under the same principle wherein even sane utterings from a sane person sound crazy once you’re labeled that way. This is the burden Scorpio bears—along with a reputation for vindictiveness—but is that deserved?

Not at all; I think what happens is that Scorpio is so deeply, almost violently, emotionally perceptive and receptive, and yet prone to bury those feelings, that when they do let them show they have an overwhelming power of expression that impresses onlookers—and imprints these tempestuous feelings on observers as ‘the way Scorpio is’. Others feel and behave with the same ideas of passion, revenge, love, remorse, and so on that Scorpio does, but they do it sneakily or unconsciously or passive-aggressively or manage to manipulate others to do it for them, and so avoid the kind of reputation Scorpio has—so their reputation is much more about appearances than reality, in this regard.

Scorpio is also known for wanting to destroy or change what they encounter—but this is simply a mechanism for getting to the Truth, which is the Scorpion’s Holy Grail. Scorpio on the Ascendant suggests the individual is on a quest of sorts, something that compels them to restlessly research and dig and uncover until they reach what they’re longing for (and this is often described by what aspects to personal energies Pluto makes in the natal chart: Sun, who they truly are or what they’re here for, Moon, how they feel or developing trust in their own intuition, Merc, connection or communication or the feeling of ‘brotherhood’, Venus, love or reward as determined by their own values, Mars, a leader or protector or a role as leader themselves, Jupiter, knowledge or a philosophy of life that has ‘the answers’). The intensity of their quest and the laser-like focus that just comes naturally to the Scorpion can give others the impression that they are withdrawn, not interested in human contact, or angry all the time—but they’re not—it’s just Scorpionic concentration!

From the inside looking out, Scorpio may be overly responsive to the environment, but learned to hide it—it just didn’t feel safe having others know how Scorpio felt. In early life, Scorpio was probably in a highly reactive, threatening, or even dangerous milieu and/ or around such persons—but we must remember, from the viewpoint of a child, there’s much that we take for granted or even find amusing as adults that could be traumatizing for the inexperienced. This is why it’s important to remember that the Ascendant viewpoint is a reaction that feels to the individual like it’s a necessity; it doesn’t reflect reality so much as the individual’s idea of reality. What we can state with certainty is that Scorpio found the environs intense (and for Scorpio on the Ascendant this could be doubly so, and is also true for any individual no matter the Moon or Ascendant’s sign, who is also born with a Void-of-Course Moon). Just keep in mind that with Scorpio on the Ascendant you’re dealing with someone who just wants the Truth—and though there’s no guarantee that you and Scorpio will see the truth in exactly the same way, it will establish trust—and once this Ascendant trusts you, you have an ally for life.

Saturn’s that guy at the party who stands in the corner and whispers about how he just knows the cops will be there any minute. Photo By Yamen – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=56401192

See a little on the atmosphere created by Merc’s direction, and take a peek at the recent New Moon. See more of my work here, donate to your favorite astrologers, and chin up! The retro of Saturn this evening (the 17th Pacific time) happens at 9 Capricorn 08, with first contact (other than Lunar contact) a race between Merc and Ceres moving toward the retrograding Saturn, with Ceres winning by a nose, forming a quincunx that requires real-world adjustment to our ideas of what constitutes our territory, to our personal authority expression and sense of empowerment, within negotiations, or in any maternal or nurturing roles we fulfill. See, we just have to be more realistic in our interactions–and really, that’s a good thing, as we can’t get ‘there’ without knowing where we’re coming from ‘here’. And have a great week!

Your Ascendant Zodiapedia: ‘In The Balance’ Libra

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Johannes Vermeer ‘Woman Holding a Balance’ c1664 {{PD}}

Relationship is everything to Libra, not just with other people, but with everything in her world, including pets, inanimate objects, and the unseen forces of the Universe. This may sound unusually scattered, if we assume each person, object, or factor is given equal weight by Libra’s attention–but of course, it isn’t. What’s important to Libra is the stance of the Self in relation to all else, with the sense of a relationship to an Other, a kind of sonar that places Libra in time and space, and so knowing where she stands, in all senses, with her world.

Initially, her viewpoint focus is on what others do. Then Libra looks at the way she relates to others–that is, she looks closely at her role in the interaction–and finally she takes a broader look at how individuals balance interaction, responsibility, and reward. This is what ultimately becomes Libra’s point of attention, where she becomes one among equals. This is all in service to fairness, which could be Libra’s rallying cry; maturity sees the viewpoint move Libra’s focus from ‘others’ to ‘me plus others’ to ‘we’re partners’. The ultimate Libran responsibility brings it home via incorporation of the Aries Self-responsibility, so that ‘I’ becomes the master of Libra’s own fate, replacing the early dependency on ‘we’.

From the outside, Libra on the Ascendant looks hesitant, as if he can’t make up his mind. That’s not what’s happening, though (and with Venus as ruler, it’s sure that Libra has a very strong opinion on wants and aesthetics!) Instead, one is observing the Libra compulsion to weigh and measure, to make sure that the choice is fair and right. Libra wants to be right so that equality is achieved according to his yardstick—but it can seem to others that Libby is wishy-washy, lacking an opinion, or (if they don’t like him) trying to manipulate. Libra is one of the more easily misunderstood Ascendant signs, simply because the fixation on fairness can make for an introspective nature, while the Venus rulership and like for good manners can make him loathe to speak up and let others know what’s what. Libra never forgets others are in the room, involved, that they matter; but until he matures, a lot of his time may be spent in these kind of awkward weighing sessions, stymied by worry about how his choices will affect his relationship to others. Those who would manipulate this Ascendant do so by accusing Libra of being unfair—nothing strikes more closely at their secret heart, and their secret fear, unless it’s being accused of being unloving, or even unlovable–then Libra feels shame, which is a direct product of accepting another’s opinion as more valid than their own.

Early in life Libra was likely made to feel that what he or she wanted was secondary to what others wanted; it’s also possible she was made to feel wrong if she filled her own needs first or thought of herself without deference to others, chiefly those who viewed her as existing to please them—and in an attempt to accommodate, Libra typically absorbs this idea, and spends the rest of her life trying to get back to and feel good about placing herself first (Aries complementary energy)—until she does, relationships will be more quicksand than support for the Libra Ascendant.

This Ascendant position offers charm and a pleasing manner as givens. Libra on the horizon meets the world ready to cooperate, which can make for an early spate of incidents where dear Libra is treated as gullible by harsher or more opportunistic others. Libby Ascendant may have to swing repeatedly to total selfishness, or at least a stringent Self-interest, before once again being able to partner or even love another; that temporary Self-focus isn’t a bad thing, but a necessary one, until Libra learns that to love others it’s necessary to value the Self as much as one values the relationship.

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Your Ascendant Zodiapedia: ‘It All Counts’ Virgo

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‘Dorothea and Francesca’ 1898 By Cecilia Beaux {{PD}}

Is it fair to characterize Virgo as the bean counter of the zodiac? Yes and no. Accounting for things is a vital service, instrumental in both the fair distribution of goods and the allocation of responsibility. And absolutely no one does it better than Virgo (though Cappy runs a close second!) With that sign on the Ascendant, the individual is well-suited to assess responsibilities in the world–but that very talent may make them less-than-welcome in more casual settings, where others don’t want a spiritual CPA noting their every move. And that’s unfair to Virgo on the Ascendant, as this can make for a modest, quick-witted individual who is always ready and willing to help, who can converse with anyone, and who has a generosity of personality few can match.

Discrimination among various elements, assessing their use and worth, is natural for Virgo, and extremely important from the dawn of humanity: without that ability, we wouldn’t have survived. Virgo told us which berries to eat, and which to avoid, and she still carries that ability to finely, succinctly, and purposefully judge today. But, when frustrated, this skill can turn to pointless criticism and a cutting assessment of the material picture that can be devastating for the target. Virgo always needs a materially-keyed outlet through which to express his discrimination skills, and when it’s on the Ascendant, Virgo will express this through the persona—leaving onlookers to conclude this individual is too busy counting, sorting, harvesting, judging to do much else, and feeding an incorrect idea that Virgo has little creative or imaginative ‘juice’.

That reputation goes by the wayside the moment Virgo starts to explore the nature of her opposing sign, Pisces. From the inside looking out, Virgo has been searching for the creative moment from the very start; after all, how can one imagine something new until one knows what one has on hand? To Virgo, the detailed approach is the only logical choice, and from there the mind (ruler Mercury) is inspired (Pisces) by what is encountered anywhere in the Cosmos, but especially in the world of ideas. Virgo has a facility to translate well from concept to physical substance, thanks to the Merc rulership combined with the Virgoan element of Earth; if you need it done, Virgo can draw up the plans, mobilize the troops, and provide all the receipts and a complete after-action report, with no prompting from anyone else.

Looking out from the inside, Virgo on the Ascendant likely found it prudent to meet the world not just with the mind first, but attempting to organize and account for all that is before her, because knowing the status and disposition of the bounty available allocates the responsibility, as well—and Virgo may have grown up in an environment where who owed what to whom, and who was responsible for what, were the big questions. Too, there may not have been adequate vetting of the environment for the Virgo individual; he may have been left to his own devices, or otherwise not protected sufficiently from danger, thus necessitating development of sharp discriminatory abilities early, not to mention a possible need to tiptoe around caretakers who did not allow themselves to be questioned—and so creating a fine critical ability in accommodating Virgo. On the other hand, to be critical of the Self may have allowed survival and kept Virgo from competing with those in power; and it may take some time for Virgo to shake that and come to the understanding that we’re All One—and we have to remember that’s the conclusion he’s headed toward, when we’re dealing with Virgo on the Ascendant.

For the Full Moon in Libra, click here–

Your Ascendant Zodiapedia: ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It?’ Cancer

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‘Luna’ By Anonymous {{PD}}

Cancer is Love in action; though it centers in feeling (Moon ruler) it shows itself in action (Cardinal sign). Cancer gets into trouble when it feels but doesn’t act; this is when the life-giving force that is the essence of the sign becomes frustrated and stunted, trying to share Love through passive means. The purpose of nurturing is to put Love into action; that is, in essence, what nurturing is, an influx of caring that supports all facets of Beingness. That’s a big order for anyone, and it’s in trying to fill this, consciously or not so, day after day, that Cancer may come to feel hollowed out, used, devoid of enough energy (love!) for him- or herself—and yet the Cardinal push behind the sign may make giving and caring compulsive, anyway—and that means that feeling unloved or sorry for himself is a Cancer pitfall extraordinaire—though it’s also the answer: Cancer must learn to care for her- or himself, to nurture the Self without qualifiers or reservation, in order to be any good at doing for others; after all, we can’t give away what we don’t already possess.

Cancer needs to be especially attentive to the ebb and flow of the emotional reactions; these, when carefully monitored, will signal when the Crab should give, and when she or he needs to reserve loving energy for her- or himself. It’s important to note, the Crab’s reactions may vary, as does the energy available to respond to others with feeling, but the orientation of the feelings themselves, toward others and about circumstances or things, remains surprisingly constant. They don’t change their hearts easily, and may suffer for it. There’s also the matter of mistaking empathy, sympathy, and desire for others to be comfortable with Love in the more romantic sense; the Cancer Ascendant can be misread by others as caring because they want more in the relationship, rather than as caring being the simple but driving force behind the personality, and Cancer herself may confuse the meaning behind the feeling, too, at least initially.

To those looking on, Cancer may seem a vulnerable person with a quickly-changing emotional outlook, temperamental and overly reactive. This may have originated in an early environment that required the Cancer individual be especially sensitive to others. Often the early years involved caring for others even younger or more in need than they (or at least being highly sympathetic toward them, for instance, finishing all one’s supper because “think of the children starving in China”), or required Cancer to accommodate a particularly sensitive caretaker or other adult who, Cancer believed, needed their emotional support. This may have oriented our young Cancer to a service mentality that insists on putting the Self last (guilt is oh-so Cancerian when operating with shadow values), setting them up for a life of feeling drained by various demands that come at them via tradition, rules, expectations, hierarchies, and the harshness of life itself, all reflections of a negative take on opposing sign Capricorn.

Unconscious sensitivities, a Cancer specialty, may show first in stomach or digestive issues, or through skin conditions or in surprising bone breaks, as Cancer reacts unconsciously to feelings or fears, and/ or tries to rid the Self of pollutants of all kinds. Cancer, as the absorbent sponge of the zodiac, may take in emotionally without being consciously aware of what they’re ingesting, and that makes them exquisitely responsive, linking psyche, soma, and emotus at a molecular level that sees little difference among the forms. Feeling permeates everything, for the Cancer individual, and that means they feel about everything, even if that response doesn’t immediately show. Note, too, the relationship between the Moon and the asteroid Ceres in the natal chart for clues as to the kind of physical sensitivities the individual might be prone to.

To the observer, Cancer on the Ascendant is sensitive, almost to a fault, and perhaps gives others the impression that they are continually being monitored or watched—for their own good, of course—and that can make Cancer on the ASC seem older and Mom-ish, no matter the chronological age or sex—awkward! It also, though, fosters a certain amount of Trust with even the unlikeliest of individuals—the feeling is Cancer cares, even if we’ve just met them, or they have no reason to—and that can give others the incentive to take a leap of faith. Cancer’s mere presence, then, can act as a motivator for others. Cancer needs to incorporate into the way they meet the world clear boundaries and structures that protect and honor the Self, a positive expression of Capricornian duty. Looking out from their Cancer Ascendant, these individuals often feel much too easily swayed by the demands of simply being alive, by authority and tradition and obligation, and can wear themselves out trying to respond as they believe they should, with an outpouring of emotional support for others—when stressed, fear or ‘shutting down’, negative Capricorn factors, can be the result. If they can put emotional and psychic boundaries in place, and find a solid vessel in which to secure their own emotional sustenance, they can bring caring to a world that can be too harsh without the Lunar sensitivity and ability to reflect one’s needs and concerns, to gauge the amount of input, support, or nurture needed, and then to fill that individual, situation, or reaction with soothing light.

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Your Ascendant Zodiapedia: ‘Just So You Know’ Gemini

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So, which one is the Gemini? This Ascendant can get a reputation, if they’re careless. ‘Gossip’ by Eugen von Blaas, 1903 {{PD}}

Is Gemini aware of the Universal interconnectedness of things, of the fine web threading among every single thing in the Cosmos, so that tugging on one bit jostles them all? Do we know if Gemini thinks of this as she moves, like a bee, from point to point, from upturned face to upturned face of so many persons, each of whom blossoms under Gemini’s quick wit and inclusive gaze? Does Gemini know she’s the human glue in all this, or, to stick with our previous metaphor, the one responsible for pollinating the world of ideas? I ask because Gemini can be highly ‘other oriented’ (echoing the twin symbology), to the extent that focus can be almost exclusively on the external—and this ‘looking outward’ could be responsible for Gemini’s reputation for flightiness and a concern with surfaces—but when those surfaces connect large webs of others to one another through shared ideas, they are helping create a lovely interconnectedness, a kind of psychic connective tissue for the Universal ‘body’.

An Air sign, the Gemini Ascendant can present as bubbly and chatty, shallow and unconcerned with what others consider ‘serious’—and yet, Gemini is almost always effectively informed, especially as to what’s current, or what needs to be known in the moment—he or she can’t help that their natural delivery is light and deft. Looking out through the Gemini Ascendant, this individual likely views everything in terms of a network—they see the natural connectedness of all things—and it’s this thoughtful ability to connect the dots that makes Gemini so remarkable, as it manifests more as instinct than as mind. Too, they are highly mentally active from the get-go, and this suggests an early environment where thinking on one’s feet was beneficial to survival; it also implies the possibility that mental interaction with the caretakers and with the world was encouraged—or seen as vital to existence—and these individuals are almost always very early speakers and readers. One thing that Gemini almost insists upon is a response from those with whom he or she communicates, and this can open a chink in that cheerful armor, as exchange is a big part of the Gemini identity, and when denied it Gemini can suffer real mental anguish. The Gemini weakness is that the early environment may have convinced them that everything can be sorted out with the mind—and so others may observe Gemini stumbling slightly behind the curve emotionally, especially during teen and young adult years. Gemini is nothing if not a keen observer, though, and uses the Mercurial wit and alertness to get up to speed in a swift and efficient manner.

The Gemini Ascendant can appear to others to be insecure, even petty; if we look at things from the viewpoint of the twins, however, we see that this impression only arises when Gemini doesn’t feel sure she or he has a good grasp of the facts or the current situation. Nerves can make Gemini clam up, but the mentality is never lacking in wit, and this individual typically loves word games, puns, and challenging puzzles, and so can appear to others a bit of the detective, pursuing answers and looking for ‘why’. There is an instinct within Gemini that honors knowledge, learning and discovering, and the ‘Big Picture’, all expressions of opposite sign Sagittarius; as time goes on Gemini uses the networking ability more and more as a teaching, philosophy spreading, and life-improvement strategy, in service to the wider world, balancing the Mercurial urge with the Jupiterian one.

Your Ascendant Zodiapedia: ‘The Caretaker of Comfort’ Taurus

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Lovis Corinth ‘Mädchen mit Stier’ (Girl With Bull) 1902 {{PD}}

My Word dictionary wants me to change ‘Taurean’ to ‘tureen’–strangely appropriate, considering the Bull’s affinity for comfort food 🙂  –Tweeted by me 22 January 2014

Being born with Taurus on the Ascendant signals an individual who understands the physical and material pleasures/ experiences of life—and so is attuned as well to their potential origins, losses, or transformation from one state to another (through the opposing sign, Scorpio). This suggests an early environment where the material experience was prominent—either through appreciation for what surrounded the individual (whether that was luxurious or spare), or through lack that focused the individual on the material surroundings via the issue of survival, above anything else. Taurus might have taken comfort in the physical (food, enjoyments, activities, the learning of skills applied to the environment–typically artisanal or artistic–or exercise of talents) to fill some kind of gap, such as a common childhood loneliness or the experience of early caretakers who either made a huge fuss about the physical (and so focused the child’s values there) or who neglected them completely, leaving the young one to fend for her- or himself.

Taurus on the Ascendant appears to others to be grounded, methodical, aesthetically and especially sensually-oriented, concerned at all times with the material experience. Why is Taurus seen as so steadfast, so reliable? Is it because they’re plodding and dull? Nein! It’s because their priorities have both a practical and an aesthetically pleasing tinge—they are ruled by Venus, after all—and of course that fact lends an awareness of the Other in relationship—so it’s only natural that the Bull channels at least some of her or his Taurean response toward the welfare and comfort of those with whom they interact, and so gains the reputation of willingly looking out for others when they fail to look out for themselves—not a glamorous stance, but an appreciated one, in most cases. Since the material is important to Taurus, that’s where her focus stays—and others may unfairly read a lack of imagination in that. Taurus is about creating an atmosphere, an experience, and acquiring the materials and arena in which to do so—and meeting the world in this way makes for someone unusually competent at procurement and at understanding the worth of what surrounds them—practical indeed.

Remember, Taurus is looking out at the world through this lens, and what Taurus notices is surroundings and the way these make the human organism feel; above all, the Bull is tremendously responsive to the environment. Secondarily, Taurus’ focus on the material means he or she immediately and continually assesses and categorizes what is available and what must be done to create an acceptable ‘comfort level’—and this is a highly positive thing, as everyone benefits: Fire signs may be too busy to see to needs, Air signs who may ignore the material world entirely, and Water signs may be too overwhelmed by feeling to worry about fundamentals. This concentration on what’s right in front of her or him is what gives Taurus the reputation of being a plodder, a title bestowed by those who may assume that the details are beneath them—but when those who think like that are in charge, we find the necessities and the niceties aren’t seen to at all, and consequently our animal Selves suffer. Taurus’ concerns are highly practical ones, and as well, Taurus knows the importance of enjoying the experience—something we could all use a friendly reminder of.

It’s important to recognize that dealing with the material is no less spiritual than meditation or prayer; to see it as such is to miss the reason we incarnate in the first place, and Taurus knows this much better than most. The Taurus Ascendant may find the focus on the physical and on comforts becomes detrimental as the social sphere expands and the education goes forward; there are those who would designate material matters as ‘less evolved’ or sophisticated than say, intellectual pursuits, relationships, or finances—and these individuals would be, if not wrong, then really unpleasant in their snobbishness (which is something the less-developed Taurus knows all too well, when the focus is on luxuries and status within the established social standards). Taurus’ reputation for being stubborn comes from a need to feel grounded—and for the Taurus Ascendant, this can play out as a need to feel sure of the identity, including talents and the asset picture, and to achieve physical comfort, before anything else can be attended to. Stability in all forms is the goal of Taurus.

Eventually, the Bull realizes that it’s not all about warm sweaters, cozy fires, and delicious stews (or cool breezes, swinging in a hammock, and a tall fruity drink in one’s hand!) With time, the Taurean becomes more contemplative and less experiential, and begins to look below the surface of things (the complementary energy of the opposing sign, Scorpio), embracing a sense of mystery in the process, in contradiction to their inborn urge toward security and no surprises. They’ve always known that the unseen is there, affecting things, but it takes both a maturing and a certain level of surety within the physical sphere for Taurus to allow exploration of what she or he can’t see. We need to remember, Taurus is a highly sensitive sign; their involvement with comfort may be a response to an early emotional life that was lacking, as much or more than a response to the physical side of things. This kind of experience can make for a wise counselor or one who knows what others need, materially and spiritually, especially after or during trauma or an emergency. Taurus’ sensitivity to the environment and comfort evolves, translating into a sensitivity to the unseen forces of life and the power to resurrect or remake through manipulation of the material world, reflecting its companion opposite, Scorpio.