A
Few Thoughts On The Matter
Yep! I admit
it... when it comes to Relationship Astrology I've been guilty of
ignoring an interesting methodology based on an extension of the very
ancient classical astrological usage of Solstice Points (or Antiscia).
However,
after a fascinating discourse with relationship
astrologer, Jacqueline Bigar, I felt it necessary to reaccess and
rethink my attitudes toward the usage of Solstice Points in Relationship
Astrology.
Yep!
It would seem that even we really old dogs are (on the very rare occasion)
capable of learning a few new tricks.
Solstice
Point Theory and Usage
In
classical astrology, Solstice Points were (and are) used, in part,
to reveal potential hidden connections between planets in one's birth
chart.
"At
some unknown date the philosophy of 'opposite-shadows' or 'reflective-degrees'
was incorporated into astrology in the belief that each degree
of the zodiac has its own counter degree, mirroring its distance
from the solstice axis on the opposite side of the chart. The solstice
axis runs from 0° Cancer to 0° Capricorn; thus a planet at
20° Sagittarius will cast its antiscion to 10° Capricorn,
both planets being an equal distance from the Sun's solstice point
at 0° Capricorn." Deborah Houlding at Skyscript.co.uk
Greatly oversimplifying...
when utilizing Solstice Points, the person's Solstice Points were
then compared with their regular birth chart placement points looking
for hidden connections only using the conjunction (potentially
revealing easy hidden connections) or the opposition (potentially
revealing difficult hidden connections).
I'm not going
to go too deeply into the usage of Solstice Points in classical astrology
for two very good reasons:
In more modern
times (and the purpose of this article) certain relationship astrologers
have been advocating a newer use of Solstice Points and have been
including them in their favored bag of tricks...
Okay... okay...
I've stalled around long enough... don't you think?
Here's
The Skinny
If you're crazy enough to be reading this boring article, then
you likely already understand that in regular "synastry" the
typical cross "aspects" (such as the conjunction, square,
opposition, sextile, and trine) between two birth charts are considered.
Here's where
it (hopefully) gets interesting... as a reasonable and logical extension
of the traditional use of Solstice Points, the Relationship Astrology
methodology that utilizes Solstice Points is thought to potentially
reveal hidden connections (not revealed in regular synastry) between
two people.
Solstice
Points in relationship astrology are treated as hidden, beneath the
surface, connections between the charts of two people. When utilizing
Solstice Points, one person's Solstice Points are then compared with
the other person's regular birth chart points only using
the conjunction (revealing "easy" hidden connections) or
the opposition (revealing "difficult" hidden connections)
and then vice versa. The two planets involved are able to "behold"
each other.
Normally,
only very close conjunctions and oppositions
(1 to 2 degrees) between one person's Solstice Points and the other
person's birth chart placements are considered. However, being forever
an iconoclast, I confess that I tentatively find myself willing to
consider orbs as large as 3 degrees (on the very far end) within the
appropriate Zodiacal sign.
Solstice
Point Signs Formula
If, for example, the regular birth chart sign of a planet is located
in the sign of Gemini - then the Solstice Point of that planet will
always be located in the sign of Cancer.
If the birth
chart sign of a planet is located in the sign of Cancer - then the
Solstice Point of that planet will always be located in the sign of
Gemini.
If Leo -
then Taurus; if Taurus - then Leo...
If Virgo - then Aries; if Aries - then Virgo...
If Libra - then Pisces; if Pisces - then Libra...
If Scorpio - then Aquarius; if Aquarius - then Scorpio...
If Sagittarius - then Capricorn; if Capricorn - then Sagittarius
Figuring
out the particular exact degree within a Zodiacal sign (which is very
important) however calls for a little extra math on your part...
Related
Useful Links
Rather than attempting to reinvent the wheel... struggling
to adequately describe just what the concept of antiscia is and how
it's been looked at and treated over the past 2200 years... I'm including
a link to Deborah Houlding's incredible traditional treatment of the
subject.
I'm also
including a link to Cafe Astrology where they explain how to manually
determine the exact placement of your Solstice Points. This will be
helpful if you don't own any of the fancy smancy astrological software
that's capable of calculating Solstice Point charts.
And
finally... I'm including a link to a blog on the subject written by
Jacqueline
Bigar.
Classic
Look at the Antiscia / Contra-antiscia -
excellent article written by Deborah Houlding on the origins and rationales
behind the classical concept of Antiscia. If you don't know squat
about the concept of Antiscia, then you really should check out this
article. If you "think" you know all about Antiscia, then
you should definitely check out this article.
How
To Calculate Your Solstice Points - if you don't own
fancy smancy astrological software that will automatically calculate
your Solstice (antiscia) points, then Cafe Astrology gives you instructions
on how to do it manually.
Relationships
/ Solstice Points a delightful article on Solstice Points
as applied to relationships written by Jacqueline Bigar.
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