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House Cusps and Systems: There's More Than One Way to Slice a Chart

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House Cusps and Systems: There's More Than One Way to Slice a Chart House Cusps and Systems: There's More Than One Way to Slice a Chart by Jeff Jawer As originally published at www.StarIQ.com II ouses are arguably the most contested area of House Cusps Lbasic astrological practice. While there is almost Many astrologers interpret house cusps very universal agreement as to their importance precisely. That is, if you have a planet 1 minute of arc (considerable) and meaning (environment, where we (a 60th ofa degree) from the cusp of the Third meet the energies), there are many differing opinions House it is still interpreted as if it is in the Second about which system to use and how to use it. There House. Transits and progressions, too, are reported are well over a dozen house systems, as well as when crossing cusps. I have some questions about disagreement about the significance of house cusps. this approach for several reasons: Few astrologers understand the underlying symbolism of the houses because the construction of 1. Different house systems will give different cusp most systems is much more abstract than the positions calculation of planets' positions in the Zodiac. 2. A 4 minute error in birth time will move cusps about one degree The Placidus system is the most popular one in the 3. Ptolemy gave a 5 degree orb to house cusps (with western world; its success based as much on Equal House system) widespread publication and distribution of its tables 4. Hindu Bhava system reads the middle of a house as its efficacy. It is based on the tri-section of the its strongest point semi-diurnal arc, a process that divides the distance/ 5. The Gauquelin research suggests an orb to house time between the Midheaven and the Ascendant. In cusps fact, most systems use the Midheaven as the cusp of 6. The Huber School recognizes peaks within a the Tenth House and the Ascendant as the cusp of the house, not at the cusp First House. The differences come in the calculations of the other house cusps, called the intermediate I once asked astrologer Rob Hand which house houses. system most accurately represents what we see in the sky, that is, is most correct astronomically. He told "Tri-section ofthe semi-diurnal arc" (division of one me that each one is correct within its own system, quarter of the day into three parts) is not a phrase that through its particular lens. Each represents reality rolls easily off the tongue. It does not paint a picture according to its own rules, perfect in its own that opens the mind to understanding. It is, rather, an universe, but dumb to all the rest. arbitrary mathematical system that has become the standard for the majority of western astrologers. But, While Placidus is the most popular house system, without a symbolic understanding of this technique, such diverse twentieth century astrologers as Dane we are accepting it on faith and by experience. The Rudhyar and Charles Jayne used the Campanus notion that "it works" and is therefore the correct system which has some great logic going for it. In system weakens astrology. I accept that "it works" is this system, the horizon (Ascendant/Descendant axis) a valid reason to use a technique, but not to tout it as is a great circle, like a disk, that we're standing on. better than those that don't work for you. Each The meridian (MC/IC axis) is a vertical circle astrologer is going to resonate with different passing through the north and south poles. The Prime techniques. The magic, then, lies in the practitioner, Vertical is another vertical circle passing through the not in the technique. east and west points of the horizon. Campanus April Issue, 2013 - 43 divides the Prime Vertical to produce its cusps. Yet, Intercepted Signs in practice I didn't like what it did to charts generally Another issue to consider is that of intercepted signs. (enlarged first and seventh houses), nor what it did to I've always been bothered by their use in chart mine, so I set it aside. interpretation. First, there are so many questions about houses that it seems pretty shaky to base an Grant Lewi used the Equal house system. Some interpretation on a principle so poorly understood. twentieth century English astrologers promoted it Second, the notion that a planet's energy is inhibited because it did away with the great extremes of house by the tri-section of the semi-diurnal arc is quite a sizes at latitudes far from the equator. It's also found stretch. Third, they tend to be interpreted negatively in many traditional systems. But, since houses are and distance the client from the planet's energy. measured in equal 30 degree arcs from the Ascendant, the Midheaven is excluded from the Planets are real, the seasons (signs) are real, house building equation. I like Rudhyar's idea that aspects are real, but houses are a based on many we must include the Midheaven (vertical axis or different and often obscure formulae. Diminishing "spine" of the chart) because "we don't live lying the power of a planet (a strong principle) by an down." intercepted sign (a weak principle) is neither logical nor constructive. Many of my colleagues and I use the Koch house system. My teacher started using it, I liked the book I understand that individuals claim to see the it first appeared in, and it was written by a triple influences of interceptions, but anything important in Virgo. I took it as an improvement of the Placidus the personality is likely to manifest itself several system, but don't think of it that way anymore. It's ways in the birth chart. Quite a few years ago when I just part of the way I tune my instrument. Clearly, no spoke out against the importance of interceptions, single system has demonstrated universal superiority. someone responded by saying that her Aries Sun was intercepted and that she certainly wasn't a very The Moment of Birth aggressive Aries. I asked if Neptune was opposed her If birth times are not reliable, how can you pin an Aries Sun. It was! In other words a solid principle interpretation on the precise position of a house (aspects) explained the condition very well. cusp? I was present at the births of my two daughters and saw that birth was much more of a process than a Cusps May Not Be Finite Points single event (moment). There's the onset of labor, the Now, if cusps are not absolute points, but shifts in the head coming out, the body coming out, first breath energetic wave, how can we interpret them. I like to and cutting the cord. First breath is the most common use orbs of about 5 degrees with house cusps. This is and logical measure. My daughters had first peeps- in recognition of the uncertainty due to the reasons small sounds less dramatic than the classical lusty cry mentioned above, as well as an appreciation for we imagine to trumpet the moment of birth. process. What is the meaning of the Second House Additionally, the cords were not cut for some time becoming the Third? Rather than having a rigid after that first breath, further muddying the waters boundary between self-worth and possessions with respect to the separation from mother and (Second House) and observation and communication beginning of independent life. (Third) I prefer to consider how two becomes three. When are we sufficiently rooted in our sense of self- Charles Jayne's extensive work with rectification led worth to begin taking notice of our surroundings? him to conclude that the effective moment of birth What is the relationship between what we have and for chart calculation purposes didn't necessarily how we see? coincide with the first breath (or any specific physical event). The chart that worked, according to This seems to be a more sophisticated approach to Jayne, might actually precede or follow the birth. looking at houses. The purpose is not to cloud the Vladimir Bogdanov is another astrologer who argues issues, but to see the many shades of gray between that birth may not be a moment, but a series of black and white. It is to remind us that cycles have no events. beginning or end and that life is about movement. 44 - ISAR International Astrologer This kind of approach also trains the astrologer to stay open-minded. It encourages movement ofthe mind, rather than rigid rules. Our techniques affect our interpretations. The attitude that we bring to astrology will determine a great deal of what we get out of astrology. Ifwe seek absolute answers within absolute systems we may be rewarded with occasional insights, but will also be punished with severely limited choices and perceptions. An appreciation for nuance-a desire to see process, rather than product-works like life, something alive and dynamic, even if it is a bit uncertain at times. Postscript: The use of Whole Sign Houses has grown considerably since this article was written in 1999. I appreciate its simplicity and how it avoids some ofthe complications of unequal house systems such as interceptions and extreme latitude distortions. However, recently I've been thinking that the perfect symmetry ofthe tropical zodiac doesn't reflect the lack of symmetry in human experience. Therefore, the "distortions" of unequal houses represent this subjective quality that is missing in equal house systems. Biography: Jeff Jawer is the CEO of StarIQ.com. He presents Planet Pulse, a daily audio and video forecast, with Rick Levine on StarIQ.com and Tarot.com.
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