Workshop For Beginners: “Meet The Parents” – Virgo Rising, Cancer Sun, Capricorn Moon

Today’s Key Topic: Degrees

The chart is a circle, right? We’re all in agreement that it’s a circle we’re dealing with here? Good. Who remembers from math class how many degrees are in a circle? …I’ll give you a sec to think about it… The answer is 360. So the chart (being the good circle that it is) has 360 degrees too. “But Nota, I don’t see any number greater than 30 on this thing! What gives?!”

Well, instead of counting the degrees from 0 to 359, (remember that 0 counts as one) the chart puts the degrees in groups. So let’s say we want to start with Aries. It goes 0 Aries, 1 Aries, 2 Aries, 3 Aries, all the way to 29 Aries. Then it starts a new sign. With a new sign, the numbers start again. So instead of 31, 32, 33, ..etc. it goes 0 Taurus, 1 Taurus, 2 Taurus all the way to 29 Taurus. This pattern repeats for each sign. So instead of 60, 61, 62,…etc. It goes 0 Gemini, 1 Gemini, 2 Gemini… and so on through all the signs all the way around to 29 Pisces.

If you add it all up, you get 360 degrees. Its just broken up into 12 groups so that its easier to look at. Don’t forget that 0 counts as a degree so each group is really worth 30 degrees. See 30 x 12 = 360.

Now, look at the degrees of any two items in the chart. Count the difference. For example look at today’s chart. You have the moon at 6 Cancer and Neptune at 8 Scorpio. (You may notice that you can count in either direction, clock-wise or counter-clockwise. Take the one that is smaller.) So, starting at 6 Cancer, you can jump a sign at a time to 6 Leo, 6 Virgo, 6 Libra, then 6 Scorpio, adding 30 degrees for each sign. So that’s 1, 2, 3, 4 signs x 30 degrees each = 120 degrees. From 6 Scorpio, you count up to 7 Scorpio, 8 Scorpio. That’s 2 more degrees. So the difference between the Sun and Neptune is 122 degrees. The number is the angle measured in degrees between the two planets.

At this point you may be asking “Nota, Why do I need to know this?” You need to know this because certain angles are special. They are considered more significant. These special angles are called ASPECTS. When you understand how to count degrees you can tell at a glance more than just the aspect. You can see if it is applying or separating, wide or narrow, or even if it’s out of sign. Next time, We’ll talk about specific aspects and what they mean.

CHART VI

ASC – 10 degrees Virgo
That makes this a mercury ruled chart. Often times when the rising is Virgo, you will find the midheaven in Gemini. That adds extra mercurial flavor to the chart. These people often become writers or communicators of some kind. They look good in linen, khaki, 100% cotton and anything neutral toned. Their glasses are often a key part of the overall look.

The Sun – Cancer in the 10th House
Cancer Sun is sentimental and family oriented. Good or bad, memories are clung to and recalled over and over. In the tenth house makes remembering a full time occupation.

The Moon – Capricorn in the 4th House
The moon in Capricorn is said to be in “detriment.” That does not mean “bad.” It means that this moon is less “receptive” than the other moons. People with Cap moon may have had to learn early on to take care of themselves. Subsequently they may find it difficult to receive care. In the 4th house makes for a strong head of the household.

Can you guess who else had this combination of Virgo Rising, Cancer Sun and Capricorn Moon?

American author Ernest Hemingway.

Here is a reading of an interview with him on what makes a good writer: Ernest Hemingway on gulf stream fishing and writing.

And now Satori…

Here we have Pluto rising conjunct the ascendent. Pluto rising adds an overall quality of power to the personilty. This is important for any ascendent but with Virgo rising it’s quite striking as their outward affect has a commanding quality. When this person walks into the room they exude an aura of competence and depth, which taken together is quite compelling. This is an energy that provkes powerful reactions in others and positive or negative that reaction will be strong.

This energy is echoed in the aspects of the Cancer Sun. The Sun sextiles the Pluto-Ascendent, an aspect of opportunity, tuning in and in accord with that affect of power. Taken together with it’s opposition to the Capricorn Moon, the Sun works in accord with these energies. It blends well, the two earthy placements grounding the watery Sun.

The Moon in Capricorn is the Ugly Duckling signiture. This moon feels better with age, which is not so bad considering none of us is getting any younger. The Moon here trines 12th house Pluto, again utilizing its power and lending an emotional understanding of the taboo and the workings of the shadow self.

An opposition between the Sun and Moon means the ego and the emotional body must learn balance between complimentary opposites. With the Sun in Cancer and the Moon in Capricorn this is aided by the maleness of the Sun in the sign ruled by the moon (the mother), and the feminity of the Moon in a sign ruled by Saturn, resonating with the father. Parental themes play out here and add a focus for the resolution of the oppositon.

Mercury in the tenth (Saturn’s house) is conjunct the Sun and opposite the Moon. Communication will figure prominently into the Sun Moon issues, particularly in the tenth house where these dialogues may take place publicly. Perhaps this person will write about resolving their parental issues!

Capped by Dixie…

You shine at work, with your Virgo energy out front and that tenth house sun. In some ways, you feel more at home at work than you do at home. Your Capricorn moon leads you to be quite serious, albeit in an emotionally responsible sort of way. The thing to remember here: Life should be full of joy as well as responsibility. If you begin treating playtime, creative pursuits, and recreation as necessary to maintain your psychic integrity, scheduling it with the same authority as an emotional commitment to someone else, you’ll not only have more fun, but will find your clarity and performance in every area of your life will improve.

Do you share similarities with this chartholder? How do you think this Sun and Moon might interact with family? What jumps out at you when you look at this chart? Feel free to comment, question or share your impressions here regardless of your astro-experience level. It’s your workshop, folks, so enjoy it!