Continuation of answers to the FAQ #1-Questions.
Feel free to leave a comment if you’d like to see another FAQ installment… 😉
Some people claim that, according to sophisticated calculations (NASA), the constellations (and therefore the signs) have “shifted” over the past 2,500 years, so that Gemini would now fall in July instead of Cancer, and everything is offset… What’s your take on this ?
This is the age-old debate between the sidereal zodiac and the tropical zodiac, which I touch on in part in my article on the zodiac.
Many astrologers have addressed these matters in detail, including Dane Rudhyar, who has very interesting things to say on the subject…
Periodically, it’s journalists who rediscover the phenomenon of the precession of the equinoxes (or the so-called 13th sign, Ophiuchus) in an attempt to discredit astrology…
To keep it simple: I work primarily with the tropical zodiac in the majority of my classical studies…
This zodiac has no direct connection to the actual positioning of the constellations, even though the names of the signs were inspired by them…
The tropical zodiac is a psychological zodiac based on a spatial, geometric division of the Earth’s ecliptic into 12 equal segments, a division that never changes.
Its starting point is invariably the vernal point, the spring equinox, the sign of Aries, regardless of which constellation happens to lie behind it at that moment. What matters is the representation and psychological significance of this period and this division, which remain constant…
We often hear that the Sun’s zodiacal imprint is more prominent in the first half of life, and that the Ascendant gains greater importance after the midpoint of the native’s life (around age 40). Is this true for everyone ? And should the Sun and Ascendant then be considered separately or together (as a combination) when interpreting the broad traits of an individual’s personality ? (Although the entire birth chart is important, of course.)
Yes, I’ve heard this kind of thing before. That said, I haven’t particularly observed this pattern myself… But this type of question is interesting, and you’ve actually already provided many elements of the answer within your question ! 😉
To understand properly, it’s essential first to grasp what the Sun represents and what the Ascendant represents (which is distinct from the 1st House, by the way). Both work together at the level of personality, but not necessarily at the same level.
I tend to view the Ascendant more as “the social storefront” and the Sun more as “what lies at the back of the shop”…
Moreover, their various activations (via Progressions as well as Transits) can significantly influence how they express themselves over the course of a life, and this varies from person to person, not necessarily aligning precisely with age 40.
One point, however, that is very important regarding Generic Cycles around this 40-year mark is Uranus’s opposition to its natal position, which invariably corresponds to a phase of “crisis” and “revelation” for the individual.
Perhaps it is this specific point that underlies the timing you’re referring to…
Finally, as you note at the end, an individual’s personality depends on the totality of their Birth Chart, not on a single point alone.
I do invite you, however, to read my article on the triangle of incarnation, which may provide complementary answers, though from a more karmic, profound, fundamental perspective…
Can what we call “strength of character” (or a “strong character”) be defined astrologically (planets in signs, etc) ? If so, should we focus primarily on the Ascendant, the Sun (or another planet) ? Can we say that certain signs have “strong” characters while others do not ?
Yes, this question is somewhat similar to the previous one ! 😉
“Strength of character” depends on the entirety of the Birth Chart, not on a single point alone, even if that point is particularly powerful; the rest of the sky nuances it…
Certain astrologers use (and sometimes overuse) the notion of the “chart ruler.” This is a planet that holds particular power over the rest of the chart for various reasons, often due to numerous and potent Rulerships.
But here too, everything depends on what one incorporates into its determination and Interpretation; the chart ruler does not, in any case, single-handedly define the “strength” of the personality.
Yes, there are signs reputed to be “stronger”, but one must first define what you mean by strength, because each of the 12 signs has its own strengths and weaknesses…
This is closely tied to elemental nature: Fire is very strong in terms of dynamism, initiative, impulsivity, and combativeness; Air is stronger regarding sociability, intellect, and the mental sphere in general; Water is more potent in the emotional, receptive domain; and Earth excels in the concrete, security, stability, and above all, endurance.
Logically, each element also carries the weaknesses inherent to its qualities ! 😉
Conversely, what we might more meaningfully understand by “strength” lies in the overall arrangement of the chart, that is, its coherence, its “effectiveness” relative to what is required in the incarnation…
Here, we might evoke notions of “harmonious” and “dissonant”, which are linked particularly to Aspects.
Certain charts are “prominent”; a force emanates from their energies, even if they are highly tense in other respects.
Ultimately, that may not even matter: a chart that is “evolutionary” is preferable, in any case, to one that is overly sclerotic…
So, in the end, we might summarize strength primarily as the evolutionary capacity of the birth chart, more than anything else !
From the moment you come into this world and depart having learned many things, having “improved” yourself, your chart possessed all the “strength” necessary…
For me, a “weak” chart is precisely one that does not enable this evolution, a chart in which there is neither understanding, nor integration, nor sometimes even the mere willingness to learn.
The entire incarnation risks being “for nothing”, if not outright regression…
More answers to upcoming questions still to come… 😉