Download An Introduction to Astrological Interpretation

An Introduction
to
Astrological
Interpretation
Natal Astrology
Self-Study Unit 6
Awakenings School
of
Intuitive Astrology
Introduction to Astrological Interpretation: Self-Study Unit 6
 Sarah Varcas 2016 All Rights Reserved.
Please do not copy or distribute
www.astro-awakenings.co.uk
Welcome…
…to Unit 6. Before we dive in, let me put you out of your misery by revealing the
identities of the anonymous charts at the end of Unit 5: Male A is the writer Noel
Coward, Male B is the novelist Jeffrey Archer and Male C is the artist Andy Warhol.
www.wikipedia.org is a good web site for biographies of famous people, where you
can compare your own reading of their chart with their real-life experience.
In this unit we’ll be moving into the realm of the outer planets and exploring their
influence in our charts and lives. In the introduction to Unit 4 I mentioned the inner
planets - Mercury, Venus and Mars - and the fact that they provide the tools we use in
our everyday lives to manage ourselves and interact with the world around us. I also
mentioned that Jupiter, whilst acting somewhat like an inner planet, is actually the first
of the outer planets and is something of an ambassador between the two.
Which begs the question: What are the Outer Planets?
Physically speaking, they are the
planets which orbit the other side of
the asteroid belt to the inner
planets. The asteroid belt lies
roughly between the orbits of Mars
and Jupiter (see fig. 1) and is
known to contain over a million
asteroids, the four largest being
Ceres, Vesta, Pallas and Hygiea.
The outer planets comprise (in
addition to Jupiter), Saturn,
Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. We
also find Chiron in the region of the
outer planets, between the orbits of
Saturn and Uranus, although it’s
not always classed as an outer
planet (more on Chiron later!).
Fig 1
Fig. 1
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Due to their distance from the earth, the outer planets move through the zodiac far
slower than the inner ones i.e. Uranus takes about eighty-four years to complete one
such journey, Neptune about one hundred and sixty-five years and Pluto over two
hundred years. That’s a bit different to the sun’s one year and even Jupiter’s twelve
years! Because of their slow movement, they remain in each zodiac sign for much
longer, reflecting generational shifts of energy and expression. For example, almost
everyone born between February 2012 and March 2025 will have Neptune in its own
sign of Pisces, indicating a particular trend within that generation. Because of this the
zodiac sign placement of an outer planet in a natal chart has less personal relevance
than its house position, which is dictated by time and place of birth rather than simply
the date. Furthermore, the influence of an outer planet will be more forcefully felt if it
aspects an inner planet, especially the Sun or Moon. Otherwise its influence may be
less obvious or even completely outside of consciousness much of the time.
However (and it’s a big however!), in recent years - and particularly since the 1960’s
when Uranus and Pluto formed a conjunction heralding the beginning a new
developmental cycle - the impact of the outer planets on individual consciousness has
become increasingly evident. People are waking up to the impact of these energies
within themselves, their lives, their psyche and spirit. As a result, we are all
experiencing their impact more directly. Whilst the outer planets still reflect collective
trends and generational patterns, they speak more clearly now of our own personal
process of inner change, acting as both facilitators and way-showers on the paths of
personal and spiritual growth.
We’ve already encountered Saturn in its role as an ego planet and significator of the
mother principle in the chart. In this unit we’ll be meeting Chiron and Uranus and
considering Saturn’s relationship with them. But before we meet these new players we
need to consider the discovery of new planets and asteroids, and the astrological
significance of such an event.
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Our Ever-Expanding Universe…
We live in an ever-expanding universe.
This is true not only in terms of its
physicality but also in terms of our
knowledge about it. As scientific acumen
grows, the sensitivity of astronomical
equipment is increasingly honed and our
ability to explore the farthest reaches of
space increases, we discover more about
the physical bodies inhabiting our
universe. As a result we discover ‘new’
planets and asteroids. Fig. 2 lists the
discovery dates of some of the outer
planets.
Discovery Dates of Outer Planets:

Uranus: 13th March 1781

Neptune: 23rd September 1846

Pluto: 18th February 1930

Chiron: 10th November 1977
Fig. 2
A common criticism of astrology is that the discovery of a new planet renders its
previous interpretations meaningless. Well… no one said it was already a complete
system of understanding! Astrology as a body of knowledge is growing and changing
like any branch of the arts or sciences. The discovery of new planetary bodies keeps
it alive and relevant. Revealed alongside each new discovery is a corresponding
aspect of human nature and development not previously encountered. Each new
discovery reveals the next burgeoning level of human development. Rather than
detracting from our previous knowledge, it adds to it. Those people born prior to such
a discovery but alive at the time of it are specifically tasked with bringing that aspect
of the psyche into consciousness for the benefit of the collective.
The discovery of a new planet inevitably coincides with events reflecting its essential
nature. For example, Pluto, the planet of profound destruction and regeneration, was
discovered in 1930. In 1934 the very first experiments with nuclear fission began and
in 1945 the first nuclear bombs were dropped on Japan. In 1977 Chiron was
discovered. Reflecting the ‘wounded healer’ archetype, it is linked with the rise of
alternative medicine and the healing arts. Through exploring the events and trends
associated with the discovery of new planets we can establish their resonance and
influence in the human psyche. Indeed, the very names assigned them reflect their
unique wisdom, received by the human heart when the time is right. Why was Chiron
called Chiron? Not for any astrological reason that’s for sure, and yet its given
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name does indeed reflect its themes. Thus, each newly discovered planet provides
deeper insight for, and new dimensions to, our personal and collective awakening.
⚷ Introducing Chiron the ‘Wounded Healer’ ⚷
1
Suggested Ruler of Virgo
There exists some debate about the astronomical nature of Chiron. Some call it an
asteroid, some a planetoid, some a planet. In astrological terms it’s often listed with
asteroids. To be frank, astrologically it makes little difference what we call it and these
debates can become something of a red herring. Just as when Pluto was ‘downgraded’ to a dwarf-planet by the International Astronomical Union in 2006, the category
label assigned by humankind has no bearing upon its astrological influence. So
whatever Chiron is, we know one thing for sure: it plays a very influential role in a birth
chart!
Chiron was discovered in Taurus on 1st November
1977 by the astronomer Charles T. Kowal in
Pasadena
California.
Interestingly,
several
astrologers had previously predicted the discovery
of a new heavenly body around that time. It has an
erratic orbit due to the influence of its neighbouring
planets Saturn and Uranus. When at the closest
point of its orbit to the Sun (known as perihelion) it
lies between Jupiter and Saturn. Otherwise it
predominantly orbits between Saturn and Uranus.
Chiron takes between 49 and 51 years to travel
around the zodiac and due to its elliptical orbit it
spends more time in some signs than others. Fig 3.
shows the average amount of time it spends in each
zodiac sign. As you can see it spends the longest
period of time in Aries and the least amount of time
in its opposite sign Libra. Obviously, the length of
time it spends in a sign dictates the number of
people born with that particular Chiron placement.
1
Average amount of time spent by
Chiron in each zodiac sign:
Aries:
Taurus:
Gemini:
Cancer:
Leo:
Virgo:
Libra:
Scorpio:
Sagittarius:
Capricorn:
Aquarius:
Pisces:
8 years +
7 years
4 ½ years
3 years +
2 years +
2 years
1 ½ years +
2 years
2 ½ years +
3 ½ years +
5 ½ years
8 years
+ = just over
Fig. 3
See note on pg. 7 about Chiron’s rulership of Virgo
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As mentioned previously, Chiron corresponds to the ‘wounded healer’ archetype and
is connected to the rise and expansion of alternative medicine and the healing arts at
the end of the 20th century. Interestingly, the Sabian Symbol2 for the 4th degree of
Taurus in which it was found is ‘the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow’, which is
certainly how Chiron feels to me! It’s a treasure trove of wisdom, healing and renewal
in a chart and provides profound transformation through the experience of isolation
and the healing of pain.
In a natal chart, Chiron points to where we are most wounded. It reveals our ‘Achilles
heel’, so to speak, which forever reminds us just how imperfect we really are! Chiron
is a cosmic defence against feelings of imperviousness and indestructibility. It
confronts us with our vulnerabilities and lack of confidence, pointing to our deepest
pain and greatest weakness. As such, it reminds us of our humanity, no matter how
much we may seek to transcend it. Chiron keeps us humble, whilst helping us
recognise where we most need to heal to fulfil our potential.
Chiron reveals spiritual, psychological and physical wounds. It may point to a lack of
faith, an emotional complex that we struggle to overcome or a physical disability with
which we must learn to live with grace and humility. Chiron shows where we may suffer
in silence whilst supporting others with their own struggles. On our Chironic path we
frequently encounter an ability to give to others what we cannot conjure up for
ourselves. This state of affairs leaves us both satisfied and bemused in equal
measure. ‘At least my own pain has meaning’, we think, ‘if I can use it to understand
and support other people… and yet… why oh why can’t I do for myself what I seem to
do for them?!’.
The wounds of Chiron are evident not only in the realm of the emotions or spirit. They
may manifest as an inability to get to grips with finances, a lack of ambition, learning
difficulties. Chiron expresses itself in all manner of ways which seem to hold us back
and keep us ‘stuck’. But no matter how we experience our own Chironic path, we will
likely find we can fill a lack in others which we cannot satisfy in ourselves. For example,
we may struggle to manage our own mounting debt whilst managing budgets at work
to the penny. Or we may be a frustrated writer who cannot get their thoughts down on
paper whilst motivating a friend to complete a manuscript and find a publisher.
2
The Sabian Symbols are a set of symbols, one for each degree of the zodiac, intuited by the medium Elsie
Wheeler, working with the astrologer Marc Edmund Jones. They can be used to add intuitive depth and
meaning to astrological interpretation.
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This ‘wounded healer’ theme of Chiron can leave us feeling isolated and
misunderstood. We may be seen as a great source of support in a particular area of
life, so no one realises just how much pain we experience ourselves. Whilst the nature
of Chiron prompts us to assist others with their healing, our own may be done in
solitude without anyone else realising what we’re going through. The challenge of
Chiron is to go within and be guided towards wholeness by our own inner wisdom. As
such, we come out of this process fortified and resilient in a way not previously
experienced. Healing the wound of Chiron may indeed challenge us to dig deep and
go it alone, but in doing so it strengthens us like nothing else and enables us to rebuild
in an area of life previously depleted and lacking positive energy and coherence.
Chiron also corresponds to the teacher archetype, revealing knowledge and wisdom
needed to heal ourselves. In its isolating influence we meet the inner maverick who
stands apart from the group, immersed within the constellation of our own emotions
and unable to find the place to take our own pain for healing, eventually recognising
that we must do it for ourselves.
There’s some debate about which, if any, zodiac sign Chiron rules. The two main
contenders are Virgo (reflecting the healing aspect) and Sagittarius (reflecting the
teaching and maverick aspect). I’ve found rulership of Virgo to be very apt for Chiron
and always work with this rulership now, where it supersedes Mercury, Virgo’s
traditional ruler. However, as always I would encourage an open mind on this matter.
You may discover something about the expression and resonance of Chiron that
causes you to assign it different rulership or none at all. When working with relatively
‘new’ (to us) planets, we are all learning as we go!
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♅ Uranus, the planet of radical disruption & awakening ♅
Ruler of Aquarius
The second new planet we meet in this unit is Uranus. Its discovery in 1781 coincided
with the American War of Independence (1775 -1783) and just preceded the French
Revolution (1789-1799). Both of these historical events carry the hallmark of Uranian
energy: disruptive, challenging the status quo, establishing a new order, creating new
freedoms. Uranus rules the zodiac sign Aquarius and typifies some of the key qualities
associated with the sign of the water-bearer: iconoclastic, forward-thinking and
innovative.
Uranus in a birth chart reveals how we disrupt the world around us: where we
challenge the status quo, do things differently and make our own unique mark upon
our environment. It also shows where we require freedom and resist any kind of
limitation or restriction. Through Uranus we see a different way of doing things and
want to pursue it at any cost. It challenges us to total freedom by removing all reasons
for restriction and suppression. However, with life and society being what they are,
pursuing Uranian urges can get us into trouble if we don’t do so with respect for others
and an awareness of the wider impact of the ‘new order’ we seek in our own lives.
Uranus is the great awakener. It shows where we need to undergo radical awakening
to a new level of consciousness which reorders our material and/or spiritual life. It we
fail to do this, resisting the pull to see and do things differently, to release old ways of
being and embrace a more authentic and vital expression of the life-force, we will suffer
external disruption to trigger the neglected inner awakening. For example, with Uranus
in the 10th house of career we may suddenly be unceremoniously thrown out of the
position we’ve worked so hard to secure for ourselves if we’ve resisted the urge to
change our career path and embrace a riskier but infinitely more satisfying opportunity.
Uranus doesn’t listen to excuses like ‘I’ve got a family to feed and my pension to think
of… and what will my parents think?’! It merely sees where we need to be woken up
and liberated from bonds which tie us down and keep us restricted. Then it comes
along and smashes those bonds to smithereens!
When we encounter the action of Uranus in our lives it can feel fated, like there was
nothing we could have done to prevent the apparent tragedy that has befallen us. And
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yet, when we look back with an open and honest heart we can recognise where we’d
ignored the call of Uranus to get out and move on, change and not look back. We can
begin to spot where and how we forced Uranus into a corner leaving it little choice but
to take the radical approach to waking us up. Alternatively, we may live our Uranus
without awareness, forever creating disruption and trauma without ever gaining deeper
insight into our behaviour or true motivation. In this case we are unconsciously trying
to appease Uranus’s deeply transformational agenda by causing surface commotion
and crisis without having to face our deeper fear of radical change. If life seems to be
one crisis after another, consideration of our relationship with natal Uranus can be very
useful indeed!
Of course, some people are more comfortable with Uranus than others. If we have
planets in Aquarius, the sign ruled by the great awakener, we may have a deeper
affinity with its action and energy. This is likely to manifest as a greater willingness to
make sudden and profound changes when necessary, reducing the need for Uranus
to come at us from the outside in order to make its mark. Likewise, if we have aspects
to our Uranus which facilitate its action (perhaps a healthy mix of a couple of sextiles,
a square and a quincunx) we are more able to live positively with it and respond
constructively to its action in our lives. But all that said, if Uranus wants to dislodge
something so deep in us that we can’t even begin to understand what it is until it’s
happened, then we simply have to undergo a rude awakening to do what needs to be
done!
Chiron’s Relationship to Saturn & Uranus
As I mentioned earlier, the majority of Chiron’s orbit lies between Saturn and Uranus.
We originally met Saturn in Unit 2 and you should be fairly familiar with its influence
and activity by now. However, to recap briefly, Saturn reflects the following aspects of
life and our own psyche:




the principle of boundaries and definition
the mothering principle
our physical body and how we go about establishing and maintaining physical
boundaries
frustration of our desires and intentions by aspects of ourselves or our
environment
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



recognition of our basic separateness from others and the need to define
ourselves in our own terms
self-discipline, endurance and patience
the principle of maturation and wisdom
Lord of Karma: facing the consequences of our actions and decisions
Essentially, Saturn teaches that we are responsible for our own lives and their success
or otherwise. Where it lies in a chart indicates where we most need to learn this lesson
and where, in doing so, we can reap the greatest rewards.
It’s fair to say that Saturn and Uranus are opposites in terms of their action and
orientation! Saturn wants to preserve and concretise, Uranus wants to break apart.
Saturn rewards consistency, Uranus favours spontaneity. Saturn provides results over
time, Uranus delivers them in the blink of an eye! Chiron’s position between the orbits
of Saturn and Uranus reveals its bridging role in the evolution of human
consciousness. It connects the Saturnian and Uranian principles in our lives, at times
embracing one and at times the other. If we consider the analogy of Saturn as a
material substance and Uranus as a gas, Chiron is the catalyst which causes the
change in state. It is the ‘third thing’ brought to bear upon one to create the other. It
bridges the gap between the two states and provides a path on which we can journey
between them.
The action of Chiron in this way may be best demonstrated through an example:
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Here we have the chart of the late Princess Diana, the mother of Princes William and
Harry and former wife of Prince Charles, current heir to the British throne. As you can
see, she has Saturn in Capricorn in the 2nd house, Chiron in Pisces in the 3rd house
and Uranus in Leo in the 9th house. Diana is widely known for the impact she had upon
the royal family and the nature of its relationship with the British public. Her presence
introduced a wholly new energy into the royal household, one which it struggled to
accommodate.
She married Prince Charles having just turned twenty, but the marriage was somewhat
doomed to failure due to several factors all much analysed in the world media. Diana
was a sensitive and emotional person who struggled at times with an eating disorder
and depression. She demonstrated a natural ‘common touch’ with people which won
her much love all over the world. It did not, however, blend well with the somewhat
dated and ‘stuffy’ air of the British royal family. However, due
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to the nature of Diana’s relationship with the British public, the royal family was forced
to acknowledge the need for change and has since embraced, largely through the
activities and choices of Diana’s two sons, some more modern ways of conducting its
affairs and its relationship with the British public.
We can see here, woven within the fabric of Diana’s life, the journey from Saturn in
Capricorn (the upholding of traditional values and rules) in the 2nd house (the place of
financial and material security) to Uranus in Leo (the freedom to do things differently
and express the self more vibrantly) in the 9th House (which corresponds with privilege
as reflected in its rulership of higher education, professions such as the law and
medicine etc), via Chiron in Pisces (an emotional wound which enables empathy and
resonance with other people) in the 3rd house (the house of the ‘common’ person, the
general public).
You may also have noticed that Diana’s Uranus is conjunct her North Node in Leo.
Leo rules royalty and this conjunction indicates the profound impact she was to have
upon the royal family as she developed the confidence to express herself and receive
personal attention (North Node in Leo). She also has Mars in Virgo conjunct her North
Node. This aspect gives enormous energy and drive to manifest the potential of the
North Node, reflecting how she became a force to be reckoned with as far as the royal
family were concerned. Mars on the North Node often features in the chart of someone
who has been something of a trail-blazer which is true for her impact on British royal
culture. But in Virgo this was done through the accumulation of many ‘little’ things
which contributed to a burgeoning need for her in-laws to embrace the possibility that
one of their own could do things so differently and be publicly lauded as a result. Had
her Mars also been in Leo she may have had a more extravagant and ‘in your face’
approach to this role!
Study of Diana’s chart also raises the interesting question of intent and destiny. In Unit
5 we considered the role of the North Node as indicator of destiny in that it shows what
we need to do to fulfil our potential. If Diana’s chart had been read at her birth it would
be unlikely that an astrologer would have predicted she would marry the future king
and reform British royalty! But they would clearly have seen that she had a high profile
to step into and would make a significant mark upon the world by gaining that profile
and using it to make contact with people and promote causes close to her heart. So,
whilst her personal destiny in terms of the qualities she needed to develop was clear,
the form it would take and her wider role as reformer of the British monarchy would
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not be so explicit even though, as we review her chart after the fact, we can see how
clearly that role features. All of which demonstrates the many layers of a chart and, by
extrapolation, of ourselves and our lives. Each and every step we take towards fulfilling
our potential has all manner of ripples which radiate outward shaping our own path
and the world around us, as we go.
Our Chironic journey can often become the source of our creativity, as demonstrated
in the following chart:
This is the chart of Chris Carter, creator of the highly successful television series the
X Files, which propelled him to fame in the nineties. As you can see, he has Saturn in
Sagittarius in his 5th house and Chiron in Aquarius in the 8th, opposite Uranus in Leo
in the 2nd. In case you don’t know, the X Files featured two FBI agents assigned to
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explore cases involving ‘unexplained phenomena’. Its ten seasons to date (September
2016) and two feature films cover topics ranging from vampirism to alien abduction
and psychic killers to government conspiracy, interwoven with themes of religion and
belief, loss and grief, and exploration of the increasingly complex relationship between
the two key players, Mulder and Scully. It captured the spirit of the times and set the
scene for a whole new genre of paranormal drama which continues today.
In Chris Carter’s chart we see a reflection of these issues of religion and belief in the
form of Saturn in Sagittarius in his 5th house of creativity. Here Saturn requires a
creative response to the restrictions it creates in our lives, whilst at the same time
limiting the form our creative expression can take. We can’t ‘waste’ our creativity here.
It must be purposeful and focused. It must have meaning. His Uranus in the 2 nd house
in Leo speaks of the need to liberate (Uranus) his self-expression (Leo) in order to
experience a sense of self-worth (2nd house issues of self-esteem). The trine between
these two planets adds a good dose of creative ease into this process, with lots of
skills available to use along the way. Chiron, the bridge between the two, lies in his 8th
house, the house of death, rebirth, deep transformation and the place where we merge
our energies with another so deeply that we become one. All of these themes are
reflected in the content of the X Files and other shows that he’s created.
In Aquarius, Chiron demands that we embrace ‘extreme possibilities’ (a quote from
the X Files!) even as we doubt our ability to cope with them and the impact they could
have upon our lives. So the challenges that he has encountered with regard to his own
beliefs and what he holds to be true (Saturn in Sagittarius) have been catalysed by a
need to seek out non-mainstream truths and possibilities to make sense of life (Chiron
on Aquarius in 8th), enabling him to express the more innovative and visionary aspects
of his character which provide him freedom of self-expression that boosts his selfesteem and his bank account! (2nd house Uranus in Leo).
Again, you may have noticed that Chris Carter’s Saturn is on his North Node, but in
this case they are in different signs even though the conjunction is very close, with
less than one degree of separation. North Node in Scorpio demands that we penetrate
the depths of our experience, question and uncover truths otherwise hidden. It allows
us little rest until we’re prepared to look into the shadows and discern what lies there.
Conjunct Saturn in Sagittarius we can see how an interest in (and perhaps
dissatisfaction with) mainstream religion and philosophical or political thought will have
contributed to the pursuit of his nodal path, highlighting an unwillingness to accept the
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status quo, instead favouring the exploration of deeper and more challenging truths.
Indeed, the X Files strap line ‘The Truth Is Out There’ sums up Chris Carter’s nodal
path very well, although we might add to that ‘The Truth Is In Here’ too, because,
ultimately, the North Node in Scorpio takes us deeper into ourselves more than any
other nodal path. Perhaps his Saturn in Sagittarius has acted as an anchor, enabling
him to maintain contact with the outside world and thereby express his inner journey
in a creative way (5th house) through the medium of television and film (Mercury in
Libra, sextiling his North Node/Saturn conjunction and his 2nd house Uranus).
A final thought on Saturn, Chiron and Uranus…
When we looked at the Moon’s nodes in Unit 5 we encountered an aspect of our chart
that may take some getting to grips with! The nodes often point us in a direction which
feels alien or too far off from security and ‘the known’ for us to want to go there, and
yet once we do we wonder why we ever stayed away! Our Chironic path is similar. It
often feels uncomfortable until we commit to its healing and rectifying power.
One of the reasons for this discomfort is that Saturn and Uranus are effectively
opposite ends of a spectrum. Saturn seeks and imposes restriction, boundaries and
definition. It wants security above all else. Uranus seeks and creates liberation from
restriction and is iconoclastic in its action. It challenges Saturnian ‘norms’ and clears
the path ahead for new possibilities to arise. It cannot bear to be restricted or
suppressed, whilst Saturn often fears freedom, its own or that of other people! If
anything could happen Saturn is most uneasy! When we experience these two
planets in this polarised way, the task of Chiron, to shift us from one to the other, can
seem overwhelmingly huge!
However, ultimately Uranus and Saturn are not so different, for the greatest security
(Saturn) lies in an ability to embrace complete freedom (Uranus). Once we can let go
any need for life to be a certain way, for particular circumstances to make us feel safe
or satisfied, then we are profoundly secure and truly free, for nothing can harm,
diminish or threaten us. So, whilst Saturn and Uranus are akin to a conservative elder
and a wayward youth respectively (!), at the end of the day they seek the same thing:
to be impervious to the vicissitudes of the physical and material world. Saturn seeks
this through managing and controlling it. Uranus seeks it through freeing oneself from
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its demands. It is Chiron’s task to heal whatever prevents us from recognising the
common ground of these two mighty forces, and their shared and equal importance in
our personal and spiritual development. No one can live in a totally Saturnian way,
erecting brick walls around the ‘important’ things, controlling the desired aspects of life
and avoiding the undesirable ones. And no one can throw total caution to the wind and
let go all anchors to the material world. But we can all find the balance point between
the two extremes where we can live within the world, meeting its essential demands
whilst maintaining a lightness of touch and involvement which keeps us free.
Okay, time to listen to the audio for this unit. In it I explore further the issue of
intercepted signs and planets, before returning to Saturn, Chiron and Uranus to
consider their influence when aspecting inner planets. Finally, I look at the importance
of connecting with our own inner Saturn, Chiron and Uranus, to help us recognise
when they are at work in our lives and better respond to their influence and impact.
I refer to Prince William’s chart during the audio which is reproduced below for your
reference:
Introduction to Astrological Interpretation: Self-Study Unit 6
 Sarah Varcas 2016 All Rights Reserved. Please do not copy or distribute
www.astro-awakenings.co.uk
Page 16
Introduction to Astrological Interpretation: Self-Study Unit 6
 Sarah Varcas 2016 All Rights Reserved. Please do not copy or distribute
www.astro-awakenings.co.uk
Page 17
Unit 6 Journal Prompts
1) If you have intercepted planets in your chart, reflect upon their influence in your life.
Do you find it challenging to express these planets outwardly? How does this
experience impact your everyday life activities and relationships? Does your
understanding of intercepted planets make sense of difficulties you’ve previously
encountered? Looking at aspects to your intercepted planets, can you see ways that
you can use other planets to express them? Does this consideration of interceptions
in your chart provide possible new ways you can express these aspects of your
character? Can you see new possibilities that you weren’t previously aware of?
2) If you have intercepted signs in your chart you will also have signs which contain
two house cusps. How do you experience the extra demands made upon the energies
of these signs in your life? Do you experience their ruling planet as under pressure in
some way or does it enjoy its additional responsibilities? For example, someone with
Gemini on two house cusps may find that their Mercury is pressured and they must
communicate intensively, gathering and sharing a lot of information. Communication
may be a stressful but unavoidable activity for them. If, however, their Mercury is
strong they may love the hustle and bustle of a busy life in which they are connected
with many people every day, reacting and responding in flexible ‘Mercurial’ ways.
3) Consider any angular planets you have (that is, planets which lie on or within 3 - 5
degrees either side of the four main angles of the chart: AC, DC, MC, IC). If you have
Neptune or Pluto on an angle you can return to this exercise once you’ve completed
Unit 7 in which you’ll study these two final outer planets. Consider how you experience
the added influence of any angular planets in your chart. Do you feel that the issues
they reflect and the qualities they bestow are of special significance in your life? Do
you identify particularly strongly with these planets and if so, how has this identification
helped or hindered you? Do you need to find ways to exploit the positive side of your
angular planets or do you feel they’re already working well and in your favour? How
do you think other people experience them? Are there other aspects of your
personality which are eclipsed by your angular planets? If so, is this a balance you
would like to shift in some way?
Introduction to Astrological Interpretation: Self-Study Unit 6
 Sarah Varcas 2016 All Rights Reserved. Please do not copy or distribute
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Page 18
4) Reflect on the relationship between your Saturn, Chiron and Uranus, remembering
to take account of any aspects they make to other planets and/or the moon’s nodes.
What does this tell you about your path of development and healing? Does it reveal or
point to issues you were previously unaware of? Or perhaps it affirms feelings and
thoughts you previously had but were unsure about? Can you identify a variety of
areas of life experience in which you are at different points in the process of personal
and spiritual development as discussed in Unit 5? Does a consideration of Saturn,
Chiron and Uranus provide greater insight into your experience in these areas?
5) If you want to test out your skills on an anonymous chart (identities are revealed on
page 2 of Unit 7), choose one of the following three. Using the information studied in
this unit, in conjunction with what you already know from your previous studies, write
about the individual’s path of healing and growth and some of the ways it may manifest
in their everyday life. Remember to consider their nodal path too.
Female A:
Introduction to Astrological Interpretation: Self-Study Unit 6
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Male A:
Introduction to Astrological Interpretation: Self-Study Unit 6
 Sarah Varcas 2016 All Rights Reserved. Please do not copy or distribute
www.astro-awakenings.co.uk
Page 20
Male B:
Introduction to Astrological Interpretation: Self-Study Unit 6
 Sarah Varcas 2016 All Rights Reserved. Please do not copy or distribute
www.astro-awakenings.co.uk
Page 21