(c) 2016 April Elliott Kent EASY CHART INTERPRETATION 1

• A solid grasp of astrology's basics:

– Signs
– Planets
– Houses

• Helpful:
– Elements (fire, earth, air, water)
– Modalities (cardinal, fixed, mutable)

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 An astrology chart can tell us so much...

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 but CONTEXT is everything.
What a chart can’t tell you
Is it the chart of… If a person, it can’t tell…
• a person? • Gender
• an event? • Whether living or dead
• a wildebeest? • sexual orientation
• marital status
• political beliefs
• Profession
• Religion

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 Ask.

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 CONTEXT

• Person
• Male
• Alive!
• 51 years old
• Born and lives in
California
• Gay
• Engaged
• Works in social
services

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 Sign

- Several planets in
PISCES

House

- Numerous planets in
the 3rd HOUSE

- Large 3rd and 9th

houses

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 • Planets within
about 5 degrees of
Asc/Desc, MC/IC
(conjunction,
square)

• Striking, noticeable
characteristics

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 Planets concentrated in
one half of the chart is
significant

• Above and below horizon -

1st/7th house axis

• Left or right of the vertical axis -

4th/10th house axis

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 MC

ASC DSC

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IC
 MC

ASC DSC

a g

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IC
 Eyeballing the Chart

• Groupings of Planets in
PISCES and the 3rd HOUSE
empathetic, artistic; emphasis on
learning, siblings, communication

• large 3rd and 9th houses

learning, teaching, education

• The SUN is angular

charismatic; performer

• More planets BELOW the

horizon
more than meets the eye

• More planets on the

EASTERN (left) side of the
vertical axis
a go-getter; Aries-ish
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 • Four groups of 3 signs each

– Fire (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius)

– Earth (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn)
– Air (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius)
– Water (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces)

• Describe Qualities of Temperament

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 FIRE Signs

a Aries
e Leo
i Sagittarius

Characteristics of
Fire Signs

• Enthusiastic
• Leaders
• Dynamic

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 EARTH Signs

b Taurus
f Virgo
j Capricorn

Characteristics of
EARTH Signs

• Pragmatic
• Reliable
• Do-ers

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 AIR Signs

c Gemini
g Libra
k Aquarius

Characteristics of
AIR Signs

• Sociable
• Thinkers
• Communicative

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 WATER Signs

d Cancer
h Scorpio
l Pisces

Characteristics of
WATER Signs

• Intuitive
• Empathetic
• Vulnerable

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 PLANETS BY ELEMENT

Fire K F

Earth D H J

Air B G L

Water A C E I

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 • Three groups of 4 signs each

– Cardinal
Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn

– Fixed
Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius

– Mutable
Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces

• Describe general approach to

getting things done

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 CARDINAL signs

a Aries
d Cancer
g Libra
j Capricorn

Characteristics of
CARDINAL
Signs
• Initiators
• Impatient
• Keep things
moving forward

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 FIXED signs

b Taurus
e Leo
h Scorpio
k Aquarius

Characteristics of
FIXED Signs
•Builders
•Managers
•Keep things going

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 MUTABLE signs

c Gemini
f Virgo
i Sagittarius
l Pisces

Characteristics of
MUTABLE Signs

•“Idea” people
•Adaptable
•Manage information

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 PLANETS BY MODALITY

Cardinal F L

Fixed B D G I

Mutable K A C E H J

Adaptable, flexible, lots

of ideas, manages
information

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 Planet Rulership Exaltation Detriment Fall
A Sun Leo Aries Aquarius Libra

B Moon Cancer Taurus Capricorn Scorpio

C Mercury Gemini/Virgo Aquarius Sagittarius/Pisces Leo

D Venus Taurus/Libra Pisces Scorpio/Aries Virgo

E Mars Aries/Scorpio Capricorn Taurus/Libra Cancer

F Jupiter Sagittarius/Pisces Cancer Gemini/Virgo Capricorn

G Saturn Capricorn/Aquarius Libra Cancer/Leo Aries

H Uranus Aquarius Scorpio Leo Taurus

I Neptune Pisces Not determined Virgo Not determined

J Pluto Scorpio Not determined Taurus Not determined

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 A l
Sun Pisces

B k
Moon Aquarius

C l Detriment
Mercury Pisces
D b Rulership
Venus Taurus
E l
Mars Pisces

F a
Jupiter Aries

G k Rulership
Saturn Aquarius
H f
Uranus Virgo

I h
Neptune Scorpio

J f
Pluto Virgo
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 Elements, Modalities,
Dignity

• Emphasis on planets in the

WATER signs – intuitive,
sensitive

• Emphasis on the MUTABLE

signs – flexible, lots of ideas

• Mercury in DETRIMENT -
doesn’t think in a straight line,
can be artistic and creative

• Venus and Saturn in

RULERSHIP – strong desire
nature, natural authority in
group settings

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 Astrologer Steven Forrest uses this term to refer
to the Sun, Moon, Ascendant – the core of the
personality.

• A The Sun:
Who I am

• B The Moon:
What I need

• K Ascendant:
How I let you see me

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 • Sign: How I find myself

• House: Where I find myself

• Aspects: Forces that help or challenge

me to find myself

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 The Sun
• Sign:
How I find myself

• House:
Where I find myself

• Aspects:
Forces that help or
challenge me to find
myself

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 • Sign: What I need to be safe and
comfortable

• House: Where I seek safety and comfort

• Aspects: Forces that support or

challenge my safety and comfort

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 The Moon
• Sign:
How I make myself
safe and
comfortable

• House:
Where I seek
safety and comfort

• Aspects:
Forces that support
or challenge my
safety and comfort

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 • What I let you see
• How I encounter the world
• Sign: The style of my presentation
• Chart Ruler
– Planet that rules Ascendant sign
– Main tool for coping with the world

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Ascendant
• Sign:
The style of my
presentation

• Chart Ruler
– Planet that
rules
Ascendant sign
– Main tool for
coping with the
world

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• Sun and Moon:
Relationship compatibility

– Who you are and what you

need
– Aspect between Sun/Moon
(lunar phase)

• Venus and Mars:

the “erotic” duo

– What you want and how you

get it
– Elements

• 1st/7th Houses

– Planets in them
– Signs on cusps

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 Saturn: struggle and
achievement

– Sign: The source of

authority

– House: The source of

struggle

Look for close connections

between Saturn and other
planets, especially the
Primal Triad and Venus.

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 Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto
move so slowly that they are
in the same sign for
everyone of your generation

Look at house placement and

aspects to Sun, Moon, and
angles

• Uranus – sudden, shocking

change
• Neptune – gradual, painful
change
• Pluto – changes related to
power and control

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 " Eyeball the chart! Look for emphasis in

a sign

a house

hemisphere/quadrant

angle

" Elements/Modalities

" Analyze the Primal Triad

" Sun/Moon, Venus/Mars, 1st & 7th for relationship

" Saturn for struggle/authority, Uranus-Neptune-Pluto

for change and transformation

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 Where to find me! More Classes Coming in 2016!
Read my articles and sign up for a free • Aspects
monthly lunar workbook!
• Transits and cycles
www.BigSkyAstrology.com • Progressions
• Advanced Chart Interpretation
On social media, I’m at…
www.Facebook.com/bigskyastrology For details, go to
www.Lunaversity.com
www.Twitter.com/bigskyastrology

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