heart shaped world
| cosmological reference points | |
| THE SUN |  |
| THE MOON | |
| mercury | |
| venus | |
| mars | |
| jupiter | |
| saturn | |
| uranus | |
| neptune | |
| pluto | |
| chiron | |
| the north node | |
| the south node | |
| the ascendant | |
| the midheaven | |
| Astrological Charts: |
| An astrological chart is created by converting a date, time and location into a plottable format known as sidereal time. Sidereal time is defined as the hour angle of the vernal equinox. When the meridian of the vernal equinox is directly overhead, local sidereal time is 00:00. Greenwich Sidereal time is the hour angle of the vernal equinox at the at Greenwich, England (the prime meridian); local values differ according to longitude. Eastward 15° in longitude, sidereal time is larger by one hour. Unlike computing local solar time, differences are counted to the accuracy of measurement, not just in whole hours. Sidereal time is used at astronomical observatories because it makes it very easy to work out which astronomical objects will be observable at a given time. Objects are located in the sky using right ascension and declination relative to the celestial equator (equivalent to longitude and latitude on Earth. |
| Your
Birth Chart: What it shows |
| The time of your birth and the location, are converted to sidereal time and the date used to look up the positions of the planets (ascension/declination) on your birth date at the sidereal time for your birth & location. An Ephemeris with this information can be obtained at good book stores and with patience, and a good head for maths, it is quite straightforward to plot your own chart. What is plotted are the positions, relative to you, of the bodies in our solar system, including Chiron, the 'planetoid' and also the notional locations of the North & South 'nodes' of the Moon. The Ascendant is the 'rising' sign on the ecliptic horizon (see below) and the mid-heaven (median coeli) is determined as is it's opposite point, the imum coeli). These are the main points of reference used when drawing a birth chart. The planets, associated with various gods, represent motivation. |
| The
Zodiac: How the Sky is Charted |
| The
Zodiac originated as a practical device for measuring time. Your chart
is a mapping of space and time, and you need to think in three
dimensions instead of a normal map's two. What is being charted is an
imaginary sphere, surrounding the Earth on which the stars appear to
lie. The earth eas, of course, conceived as being central to things and
the Sun appeared to move around it. The path the Sun appeared to take
is known as the ecliptic. Projecting the Earth's equator onto the
celestial sphere beyond gives a celestial equator - this intersects the
ecliptic twice: at the Vernal Equinox and again at the Autumnal
Equinox. The points at which the ecliptic is furthest from the equator
are the solstice points. These points mark out the year, the Vernal
Equinox starts the year (Aries), the first day of spring; then through
the summer solstice (Cancer) to the Autumn Equinox (Libra), on through
the winter solstice (Capricorn) and then the year begins anew. The
notional journey that the sun makes is divided into 12 parts, each of
30 degrees. The equator is divided into 24 parts (of 15 degrees) known
as 'hours' - beginning with The Ascendant sign at dawn, each sign
passes
through this point in every 24 hours. The signs applied to the 12
divisions of the ecliptic are for convenience - an easy way to name a
section of sky, against which the planets of our system move, by using
the main constellation within it.This is the zodiac. The signs indicate how the motivation
(planets, above) will be applied. The 'fixed' stars of the constellations that give the zodiac it's sign names are used in the oldest known form of astrology - and fixed star atsology is still available today from a few astrologers, including Heart Shaped World. |
| The Zodiac Houses |
The
area surrounding the earth is also divided into sections, known as
Houses. There are several different methods for determining these,
including an equal house system and several proportional systems based
on different timings and calculations - all of them use 12 divisions,
each 'ruled' by one of the zodiac signs according to the notional
starting point. These houses are each ascribed a sphere of human
life. The Houses (described
individually below) show in which sphere of life the motivation
(planets) and direction (signs) will be applied. Whilst
each House has a ruling sign and planet, these are not necessarily
located in that House at your time of birth but are more likely to be
influencing factors elsewhere. |
| links | |
| zodiac houses | |
| air | |
| earth | |
| fire | |
| water | |
| cardinal signs |
|
| fixed signs |
|
| mutable signs |
|
| house | ruling sign and sphere of life concerned | ruling planet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1st house | aries | mars | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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psychological -
well-being & motivation This sign includes the Ascendant, or rising sign. The personality & temperament, physical characteristics - all things outwards. A planet within 10 degs of the Ascendant will have a powerful influence on these factors. |
physical energy, initiative Associated with
Ares, a greek god lucky in war but not so in love. Originally an
agricultural god (as so many were, hence the associations with a system
deriving from an agricultural calendar). Mars is concerned with the
masculine nature - strongly sexual, aggressive, decisive, hasty,
positive, energetic. Rules Aries and has influence over Scorpio. Men
are from Mars....
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| 2nd house | taurus | venus | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
possessions,
feelings Attitude to security, possessions & partners. Emotional & financial security are closely linked as are money & love. Consider the origins of private property. |
harmony, unison, love ... and women are
from Venus.The planet for lovers, concerned with personal relationships
and with the feminine nature - gentleness, tact, social graces, art,
fashion, negativity & indecision, dependence. This is so
sexist... but you have to forget gender when looking at Venus &
Mars. Associated with mighty Aphrodite, rules Taurus & Libra.
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| 3rd house | gemini | mercury | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
brothers, sisters,
transport, early education Communication, day to day travel, near relatives (other than parents), the influence of school life |
mind, communication Hermes, not the accessories store. Messenger of Zeus. The intellect, versatility, communications, also argumentative, critical, tense and highly strung. Rules Gemini & Virgo. |
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| 4th house | cancer | the moon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
home, domestic
life, parents The maternal influence especially. Emphasis on the home also has a bearing on the subject as a parent & home-maker. |
instinct, intuition, emotion, fluctuation two sides to
feminity, beauty & cruelty, meet in the Moon. Circe, Selene,
Hecate... the Moon goddess has always been a strong cult and the tidal
tug of the Moon associates it with natural cycles. Cool, changeable.
Rules Cancer.
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| 5th house | leo | the sun | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
creativity,
pleasure, love affairs, risk-taking, father The House of
Creativity: not simply through the arts but in all aspects of life -
interests, recreation and work. The parents relationship with children is included here also.
Whilst the 7th House shows emotional involvements, affairs begin here
in the 5th.
|
self-expression, vitality The Sun god has
ousted the Moon goddess. Masculine traits of controlling the chaos of
nature to bring forth culture are celebrated. Generosity of heart,
affection, magnanimity, creativity & joy, but also self-esteem and
the inclination to pomposity. Hot, reliable. Rules Leo.
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| 6th house | virgo | mercury | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
health, diet,
exercise, routine, duty Duty is a keyword
- 'servants' were once listed as a 6th house concern. Here it is our
'duty' to ourselves, in terms of how we manage our minds and bodies as
well as our sense of duty to the community we live in.
|
mind, communication Hermes, not the accessories store. Messenger of Zeus. The intellect, versatility, communications, also argumentative, critical, tense and highly strung. Rules Gemini & Virgo. |
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| 7th house | libra | venus | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
partnerships,
relationships One to one
relationships, both emotional and business or creative, partners,
colleagues - even 'surrogate' partners, such as pets, consuming
interests, basket balls with names...
|
harmony, unison, love ...
and women are from Venus.The planet for lovers, concerned with personal
relationships and with the feminine nature - gentleness, tact, social
graces, art, fashion, negativity & indecision, dependence.
This is
so sexist... but you have to forget gender when looking at Venus &
Mars. Associated with mighty Aphrodite, rules Taurus & Libra.
|
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| 8th house | scorpio | pluto | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
sex, investment,
inheritance, death Yes, it's a strange list. 'Death' refers to interest in matters relating to the afterlife, but also refers to major changes - rebirths, new beginnings. Sex - it is the house of the life-force & sexual instincts are focused here. Traditionally, also, the House of Crime, Research & Investigation. |
elimination, change, power Pluto, the god, is
very much like Ares, another farming deity, this time promoted to
master of the Underworld. Concerned with human reproduction, buried
emotions - the subconscious, to overcoming obstacles. Also to slyness,
secretive behaviour, and with cruelty. Rules Scorpio (with help from
his buddy Mars).
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| 9th house | sagittarius | jupiter | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
higher education,
travel, ideals, dreams, quests Challenges & self improvement. Idealistic & philosophical outlook. The law, publishing, language skills and long journeys. |
expansion - intellectual & physical Concerned with learning, philosophy, languages, linked with optimism, loyalty & justice, also with extravagance, elf-indulgence & conceit. Rules Sagittarius and has an influence over Pisces. |
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| 10th house | capricorn | saturn | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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aspirations &
ambitions Authority, and how we exercise it, social status, tradition, life progress. How we cope with power and responsibility. |
stability, restriction, limitation, control Another farmer-deity, gives us Christmas (Saturnalia). Perseverance & tenacity, practicality & cautiousness, selfishness, narrow-mindedness. Rules Capricorn, has significant influence over Aquarius. |
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| 11th house | aquarius | uranus | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
friends, social life, conscience & objectives The importance of the social circles & friendships, social conscience & causes, objectives outside career interests |
change, disruption, shock (& awful puns) You don't want to know the mythology (it involves incest & genital mutilation so its probably the ruler of Channel 4 documentaries). Originality, versatility & independence, this planet embodies human spirit in many ways, so also, sadly, eccentricity, perversion, deviation, sexual excess and breakdowns. Rebellion is also attributed to Uranus. Rules Aquarius (with help from Saturn). |
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| 12th house | pisces | neptune | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
Seclusion, escapism, secrets, institutions, faith The
unconscious / subconscious, psychological roots, sacrifice / altruism.
The nature of issues which can lead to 8th House new beginnings when
addresed. Traditionally the House of Hospitals & Prisons.
|
cloudiness,
unreality Neptune/Poseidon, the sea god, also ruler of lakes and rivers, associated with horse racing. Connected with the arts, especially poetry and dance. Idealism, imagination and sensitivity but also carelessness, indecision and deceit. Rules the most watery of water signs, Pisces (with help from Jupiter). |
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other astrological points of reference |
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