Developing greater self-awareness creates an opportunity to more fully engage in every aspect of our lives. An understanding of Astrology, and how the signs, planets and houses relate to us, begins to offer a means for navigating the complexities of our personal journey. Each month, Jayne will highlight the current sign of the zodiac, offering practical information on what it represents, its ruling planet, and how it comes alive in the horoscope. Relatable anecdotes illustrating how these factors may be present in our lives will enliven the key concepts allowing you to develop and enhance your knowledge of Astrology.
Astrology Basics
Mindful Heart Astrology – Venus Rulerships: Libra and Taurus
Venus Rulership is expressed in two signs. Libra is the second sign of the zodiac ruled by the planet Venus, the other is Taurus. Last month we looked at the Mercury rulerships, so Libra and Taurus are the second pair of signs in the zodiac which share a planetary ruler. Like Gemini and Virgo, the Venus ruled signs also represent one air sign and one earth sign. Air (Libra) reflects energy directed towards communication and connection, marking this sign as another of our ‘bridge-builders’ linking ideas and people. Earth (Taurus) is a grounding type of energy directed towards manifestation, giving form to ideas by creating structure and making things happen. Considering the elements alone one can begin to see how Venus appropriately represents both of her domains.
Mindful Heart Astrology: The Seventh House of Relationship
The Seventh House of the horoscope represents the areas of life associated with Marriage, Committed Relationships, and Partnerships. Relationships and partnerships show up in our lives in many different ways. Committed relationships such as marriage, significant business relationships, contracts, negotiations, and any of the legal parameters concerning these connections, are all represented by the 7th house. As an ‘air’ house, the activities here are associated with connecting to and relating with others. The tone and nature of the connection between two people sets the boundaries, or establishes the container, for the relationship. One’s interpersonal style of relating and communicating, as well as one’s intellect and perspective on relationships is characterized by the particular sign on the cusp of the house.
Mindful Heart Astrology ~ Mercury’s Rulerships
Virgo is the second sign of the zodiac to have Mercury as the ruling planet, the other is Gemini. At first glance, Virgo and Gemini seem vastly different, one is an earth sign and the other an air sign. They are both however, mutable signs which means there is a high degree of flexibility and adaptability with each. When I began my studies in Astrology, I often wondered why these signs shared the smallest planet in the solar system as their ruler. The key to understanding this rulership is to consider the qualities of Mercury itself, rather than comparing the particular qualities of the signs.
Mindful Heart Astrology – Sixth House
The Sixth House of the horoscope relates to the areas of life concerned with Health, Service, Work and ‘day-to-day’ tasks and responsibilities. This is an ‘earth’ house so the activities that occur here are practical and relate to the underlying structure of one’s daily life. Naturally ruled by the sign of Virgo, some related concepts include areas of service and devotion, refinement (improvement), analysis, discernment and systems. Mercury is the planetary ruler drawing in the elements of skills, craftsmanship, intellect, ‘busy-ness’ and those things which require hands-on attention in one’s daily routine.
The 2017 US Total Solar Eclipse
Now, anyone reading the news understands that President Trump enjoys being at the center of attention. Well, the “Great American Eclipse” is certainly part of the script to “Make America Great,” and Trump may have been the man destined to make it happen. For starters, the Aug. 21 eclipse occurs conjunct the fixed star Regulus. As the lion’s heart of the constellation Leo, Regulus since ancient times has been associated with kings and kingship. A solar eclipse conjunct Regulus would have been an omen for the fall of the king. (And most certainly not news a court astrologer would want to have to deliver to his royal patron.) And, if that weren’t enough, the Great American Eclipse falls directly on the point that was rising over the horizon at the moment of President Trump’s birth (assuming the birth certificate released by the campaign is accurate).
Natal Sun Sign and the Influence of Leo
The Sun is one of two luminaries in the natal chart, though for ease of reference we generally refer to it as one of the 10 planets. Thanks to print media, Sun signs became a significant part of pop culture in the 1960’s, a phenomenon that does not appear to be experiencing any decline and, as a result, most people tend to know their own Sun sign. In the horoscope, the Sun is the central figure representing one’s life force, the conscious mind and one’s creative energy. Simply put, it is our ego, our basic identity, and how we want to shine in the world. The Sun is what makes each of us unique, reflecting our potential and our spirit, as well as our purpose in life. It is the vehicle for our “doing” self, reflecting the energy that gets us where we want to go.