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Astrologer's Notes: |
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Beginner’s Corner:
Blending the Sun,
Moon & Ascendant
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by Basil Fearrington |
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I had the pleasure of speaking at the last two United Astrology Conferences. The “UAC” conferences present a cornucopia of astrology for astrologers of all interests at all levels. At the conclusion of one of my lectures as I was walking down the hall of the hotel, a man stopped me and asked to ask a question. His question was, “What is the difference between the Sun and the Moon in a horoscope?” Having just attended a lecture that I gave that was on a rather advanced topic, his question took me by surprise because I did not expect that someone who could understand what I had just lectured on would have a question about something that is so foundational in astrology. This is not uncommon in astrology. Regardless of the level of learning, there is still often much confusion regarding what the Sun and Moon symbolize in regards to personality, etc, especially when the Ascendant is included.
Defining the Important Trio
The Sun in a horoscope serves the same purpose as the Sun serves in our universe. It illuminates everything. It is the source of all growth, etc. In a horoscope, the Sun’s energy pulsates and shines its energy on every planet.
To use an analogy, see the Sun in a similar manner as you see the engine in a car. It is the engine that determines how the car functions, yet, people passing by cannot see the engine; unless a person is really an aficionado of cars, there are not going to be comments made about the engine. But they can see the car itself, which is where the Moon comes in, in this analogy. People assume that the car has an engine but what they see is the car itself. The car’s engine is expressing itself through the personality of the car and this is what happens in a horoscope, as well as in the sky. The energy of the Sun expresses itself through the Moon. The Moon uses the Sun’s energy. And together, the two are filtered through the image that is determined by the Sign upon the Ascendant.
The Importance of Sign Placement
The Sun, Moon, and Ascendant placements are quite Sign dependent. The assumed energy of the Sun is in terms of its Sign. This assumed energy is shown to others through the Moon’s Sign placement. In order to effectively work with the Sun-Moon blend, it is helpful to have capsule images of what each Sign’s psychological dynamics are. It is the blend between the Sun and Moon that allows you to anticipate behavior! The Moon is the most important factor in a horoscope as it is the symbol, by Sign, of what is necessary for one’s emotional fulfillment.
The capsule descriptions below are fitting, not just for the Sun and Moon but for any planet, in terms of that planet’s symbolism. But most importantly, it is the Moon’s Sign placement that is the factor that leads behavior. It suggests what the chief emotional need is for overall fulfillment in one’s life.
Aries is the first Sign of the zodiac and that tells you just about all that you need to know. The Aries archetype has the air of “do not ignore me” to it. This is going to be especially important if the Moon is in Aries. The person will need to feel a sense of importance in order to be completely fulfilled emotionally. You can see this dimension shown in the personality of the late Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis, as well as Pamela Anderson, Tyra Banks, Bill Gates, and Jennifer Lopez.
Taurus: In Taurus, the idea is to keep things as they are; to resist change and keep everything secure, especially materially.
Gemini needs diversity; needs to do be able to do things quickly; mental stimulation is important.
Cancer is completely and totally about the idea of emotional security.
The Leo energy is all about ego security and recognition.
Virgo, especially when the Moon is present, has lots of ideas about correctness, how things should be. Discernment, idealism and exactness are all within a keen sense of idealism.
Libra: ego fulfillment by being pleasing, fair, and charming.
Scorpio needs to feel in control of things and it does so by never being in the dark about what is going on.
Sagittarius is an archetype that is idealistically opinionated and quite independent.
Capricorn is the Manager. It is the archetype of the responsible person who gets the job done and makes things happen.
The Aquarian energy is social, humanitarian, or innovative.
Pisces is sensitively idealistic. As is the case with Cancer, feelings need to be recognized or a martyr complex develops.
Blending the Sun and Moon
The Sun and Moon form an important tag-team in a horoscope. It is as though they have made a deal between them in which the Sun agrees to loan the Moon its energy to in exchange for the Moon using a certain kind of personality dynamic to fulfill that energy.
For example, Bill Cosby and Sylvester Stallone are both Cancers. That is, there is a central energy in both of them that is centered upon emotional/domestic security concerns, children, etc. Cosby’s Moon is in Virgo. His Cancer energy is expressed to others in a personality that is critical, cerebral, and idealistic. He is a no-nonsense guy who definitely is in the habit of dotting the “i’s” and crossing the “t’s” of any and everything that can be corrected. His personality is very measured, discerning, and critical, despite his humorous side. It is important to understand that it is this personality projection that helps to make him emotionally secure. In Cosby, you are seeing the work of Cancer expressed through the Virgo archetype. He believes that the way to have security in the family is through the proper dotting of “i’s” and the crossing of “t’s” in one’s life.
Stallone, on the other hand, has the Moon in Libra. How many relationships and marriages has he been in? When you see him in the media, he’s always smiling, always agreeable, charming, etc. You never see him taking stands on family or educational issues as Cosby does all the time. Stallone gains his emotional security from relationships and being socially accepted.
Robert Redford is a Leo with the Moon in Virgo. As is the case with Cosby, the personality is measured and it is because of that his Leo energy is toned down and caught up in a less dynamic, less dramatic expression. The life-energy burns in terms of recognition but the way that the recognition is fulfilled needs to manifest itself by being correct, being right, being discerning. Redford, too, has strong thoughts and opinions about how things should be. Many of the scripts that he has been associated with in the past ten years or so have reflected these thoughts.
Jennifer Lopez is a Leo with the Moon in Aries. The energy for recognition is expressed in a personality is very different than is Redford’s. Redford needs to reserved and cerebral. The Leo energy is toned down because the personality expression of it is muted by the cerebral presentation of it. Lopez, on the other hand, is all flair and show. The ego needs are easier to see in Lopez. Remember “the dress” that she wore on that Grammy show years ago? If you saw it, you know what I am talking about. If you did not, to say that it was revealing would be like saying that the Sun is bright! She needed to dress that way in order to “make a splash” and attract attention. This is not a woman who will tolerate being ignored, passed over, or in second place for long.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is a Leo with the Moon in Capricorn and you can feel it immediately. The tremendous energy for recognition is expressed in a personality that definitely says, “I can get it done; I can climb mountains; I can succeed; Let me handle it.”
Aspect Adjustments
The blending of the Sun and Moon Signs is what allows an astrologer to anticipate behavior. This anticipation of behavior is made to be clearer when we analyze the aspects made to the Sun and Moon.
The focal life-energy of the Sun is modified by the aspects made to it (conjunction, square, trine, quindecile, opposition), especially when it is a hard aspect. The aspect(s) become a part of the person’s basic fuel along with the archetype of the Sun’s Sign placement.
The Sun’s conjunction to Mercury (Barbara Streisand) or Venus (Larry Flynt) attaches a mental or social/romantic focus of idealism to the basic energy. Hard aspects of Mars to the Sun (Tina Turner) add assertion to the Sun’s energy whereas the trine compliments the Sun’s energy in assertive, leading terms. Jupiter contacts to the Sun (Mike Tyson) add much enthusiasm, good cheer, and quite often, a tendency to create problems in life because of a tendency to overdo things or by not being able to see any negative possibilities. Saturn adds a control (inhibition, inferiority) or controlling (strategic; ambitious) factor to the basic fuel of a person (Oprah Winfrey). Uranus contacts – the hard aspects in the main – intensify the basic fuel of life-energy in the name of individuation or innovation (Howard Stern). Neptune clouds the basic fuel with idealism (Billy Graham). Pluto contacts with the Sun (Michael Jackson), the hard aspects point to power needs that have been suppressed early in life, usually by a parent (Pluto contacts always give power and prominence potential when making contacts to planets or Angles).
The same basic principles apply with the contacts to the Moon but with a few exceptions. Lunar contacts from Mercury and Venus do not apply to mental or social/romantic idealism. They simply add dimensions of communication or aesthetics to the personality’s projection of the Sun’s energy. Pluto contacts to the Moon highlight the relationship with the mother in some dimension that is worthy of discussion because of the probability that it is challenging.
Muhammad Ali’s Sun is part of a T-Square. It is opposed by Pluto with that opposition being squared by Mars. This managerial, ambitious, I-can-get-it-done Sun is given much assertiveness and overall power. The ever social Moon in Aquarius is conjoined by Mercury, the both trined by Jupiter. This is the larger than life communicator that Ali was before the onset of Parkinson’s disease.
Oprah Winfrey’s Sun is in Aquarius in an exact conjunction with Venus (social idealism), the both squared by Saturn (the control factor, the strategy and ambitious. This basic fuel is expressed in a Sagittarius Moon that is free from hard aspects to express itself as it pleases.
Barbara Streisand’s Sun is in Taurus, conjoined by Mercury, a focal energy of structured mental idealism that is so easy to see in her expression and beliefs, especially politically speaking. All of this is projected to others dramatically through the Leo Moon, which is conjoined by Pluto (the issues with her mother and the measure of prominence). The pair is squared by Mercury, suggesting that the mind and the emotions are on different pages while at the same time gives enormous prominence potential in terms of Mercury – speaking, talking, writing, and communications in general.
Martin Luther King Jr’s Capricorn Sun, organizing and making things happen, expressed itself sensitively and idealistically through the Moon in Pisces. The sensitivity is impassioned by a square from Mars.
The Role of the Ascendant
The Ascendant is the filter through which the life-energy of the Sun and its personality expression through the Moon are projected to others. It is the impression that you give to people, especially to those who do not know you well.
Muhammad Ali has the Sun in Capricorn. The energy of his life is in terms of strategy, ambition, making things happen, etc. This central fuel is expressed to others through a personality that needs to be socially conscious, humanitarian, and/or unique, shocking or individualistic. This is so very clear in Ali. He has always been extremely socially conscious. He is humanitarian to a fault and his personality has always been unique. Think back to the young Muhammad Ali and how dramatic and arrogant his projection of Self was. He has a Leo Ascendant. Even today, in his physically debilitated state, bits and pieces of the showman are projected.
Donald Trump has the Sun in Gemini and Moon in Sagittarius projected through a Leo Ascendant. He is a dramatic talker with strong opinions. This is a guy who makes deals with his mouth, with his verbiage, all projected to others in a kingly manner, with the expectation of winning and being on top.
Bill Clinton has the Sun in Leo with the Moon in Taurus and a Libra Ascendant. The basic recognition-seeking life-energy is expressed in a personality that needs structure, organization, and to keep things as they are. This blend is expressed to others through the image of one who is charming, social, and needs to be thought of as attractive.
The Ruling Planet
The planet ruling the Ascendant is a very important consideration in the analysis of a horoscope. By Sign, it colors or modifies the nature of the Sign upon the Ascendant. By House position, the planet ruling the Ascendant suggests an important area of life experience for development of the identity. This is where the identity either finds or loses itself.
For example, a man with a Cancer Ascendant has the Moon in Leo in III. He is a consummate communicator and gets much recognition that way. Though his style of projection clearly has much sensitivity and all that is Cancer, it is easy to see the dynamics of pride and a need for recognition in the way the man projects himself.
Aspects to the planet ruling the Ascendant are of extreme importance when the aspect is hard or when the planet is retrograde. In these cases, there is always a suggestion that there is a delay in the development of the identity that almost always has a parental base to it.
Michael Jackson’s Mercury is in the 4th House, retrograde! This suggests the development of a keen subjectivity in his thinking that is linked to his upbringing. What he does and says is linked to thoughts that he has about his upbringing and the things that took place in those first 12-14 years of life. Has his identity developed even now?
Bill Gates has a Cancer Ascendant. His Moon is in Aries in X. He focuses his need to be significant within his career. This need is given much assertion through its opposition to the Moon.
Oprah Winfrey has a Sagittarius Ascendant with the ruler, Jupiter, in Gemini in VI. What could be more fitting for a person whose identity is linked to her work in communications?
Aspects to the Ascendant
Aspects to the Ascendant (square, quindecile) are often ignored in the analysis of a horoscope. These aspect contacts to the Ascendant gives us important additional information that has to do with one’s identity and style of self projection. When the aspect is a square from the 4th or 10th Houses (but especially the 4th House), there is a connection between that planet’s symbolism, to a parent (or the early homelife in-general) in connection to the identity and style of self-projection!
When the aspect is a quindecile to the Ascendant, the identity tends to exaggerate things in the nature of the planet’s symbolism that will be tied into the affairs of the 6th or 7th Houses (because a quindecile to the Ascendant will always be in the 6th House.
Cher has Neptune in the 4th House square her Ascendant. Aspect contacts from Neptune to the Ascendant tend to make identity awareness uncertain, usually in relationship to parental tension in the formative years of development. In Cher’s case, her father left the family practically on the day that she was born. It was the beginning of years of confusion that led to Cher misrepresenting her age and running off with Sonny Bono.
Michael Jackson’s Moon in Pisces squares his Ascendant and you can so easily see that in the way he projects himself, almost as if the Moon in Pisces takes over his Gemini Ascendant.
In general, no matter what the particular aspect to the Ascendant is, know that the identity and style of self projection will be affected in terms of the planet in its Sign. Analyze the aspect as if the planet is upon the Ascendant. Eliminate sextiles and count trines within five degrees. A trine of Venus to the Ascendant frequently contributes to a pleasing appearance (Sean Connery, Dorothy Dandridge, Kate Hudson, John Kennedy Jr., and Sr., Demi Moore, Rudolph Valentino).
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Moon is in Capricorn in VI. It is quindecile to his Ascendant (as well as to three other planets). This is an obsessive, no-holds-barred energy of ambition and administration being projected to others.
A person with, say, Uranus in VII, will over-do individuation and innovation in their style of projection that will usually be upsetting to relationships. Marilyn Monroe’s horoscope has Jupiter in Aquarius quindecile her Ascendant. She took the concepts of expansion and uniqueness of presentation to new heights, heights that contributed greatly to her relationship failures.
Example
Scott Peterson was born October 24, 1972 at 9:36 am PDT in Los Angeles, California. Eliminating his notoriety, suppose Peterson was someone that you were expected to meet blindly at dinner. What does his horoscope allow you to anticipate in terms of his overall behavior?
The Sun is in Scorpio and the Moon is in Gemini. This tells you that there should be a witty communicative, intelligent, facile expression of very deep emotional energies that strive always to feel in control by knowing about everything. Peterson’s engine, the Sun, is sextiled by Jupiter, expanding the basic life-energy. Jupiter-Sun contacts very frequently suggest a bit of a gambler, one whose optimistic way of looking at things is crucial to how they do business in the world. This basic fuel is shown to others through the Gemini Moon, which is opposed by Neptune! A-ha! There might be something about the way the personality projects that is other than it seems! And all of this is going to be projected to others through the lens of a Sagittarian Ascendant – strong in opinions, fiery, enthusiastic, and usually pretty exuberant. BUT……Neptune conjoins the Ascendant. When Neptune conjoins the Ascendant, there is a suggestion that the person has a difficulty being honest with others because of a difficulty being honest with the Self, due to an uncertainty about identity. Jupiter is the ruling planet here and its placement in Capricorn in the 2nd House colors the Sagittarian Ascendant with Capricorn qualities, which, especially in the 2nd House, easily turns to ambition in the name of finance.
Summary
The blending of the Sun, Moon, and Ascendant is the key to learning to anticipate behavior. However, it is important to realize that this blend represents the ideal way of expression for a given individual, not necessarily the reality. When describing these blends to family, friends, or clients, it is important to say, “You need……,” rather than “You are……” With the Moon in Cancer, “You need emotional security in order to be comfortable,” not, “You are an emotional person.” People determine how they behave. The planets only suggest the best avenue for one’s fulfillment.
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Basil Fearrington,
Astrologer
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Basil Fearrington is the author of "The New Way To Learn Astrology." He has been a professional astrologer for 22 years.
Basil's articles have appeared in the leading astrological publications around the world. He was the Inaugural Chairman for the MilleyDome project in Johannesburg, South Africa and taught astrology there for one year.
Basil has twice been a faculty member of UAC and spoke at Astro 2000. In addition to his work in astrology, Basil is a professional musician who has toured with and/or recorded for artists such as Stevie Wonder and George Benson.
He was on a team of composers who did the music for a network show called "New York Undercover." The same team won a Grammy award in 1980.
bfearr@aol.com
www.basilfearrington.
com
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