The ascendant master

Inspired by the work and conception of planetary dominants in astrology by Jacques Berthon.

 

        Through this article we will try to express the importance of the ascendant master and more particularly of the planet in aspects to the ascendant master. The conjunction will be of particular importance, but any aspect will be of interest to us here. 

We can, however, issue a rule of importance that we feel is appropriate.

         Aspect, Degree, Orbs                                         

1: The conjunction 0* 0-10 and 12 with the luminaries

2: opposition 180* 0-8 and 10 with the luminaries

3: the square 90* 0-6

4: the quincunx 150* 0-2-"3

5: the trine 120* 0-6 and 8 with the luminaries

6: sextile 60* 0-4

7: the sesquicarré 135* 0-2

8: semisquare 45* 0-1

The closer the aspect is to 0 in orb the more intense

it will be.

Orbs in transits

Conjunction = 0-3, opposition = 0-2, square = 0-2, quincunx = 0-1, trigon = 0-2, sextile = 0-1, semicircle = 0-0.5/semiconcircle = 0-0.5

For the transiting orbs of the three transpersonals = 0-3 for all forms of major aspects, i.e. square/opposition/conjunction/triangle depending on whether the transiting planet represents a dominant in the chart.

Planets used according to

Transits = Jupiter to pluto/black moon/lunar nodes/Chiron. 

Solar arc = all planets. 

Solar arc and secondary progressions = 0-1 orb, 0-1.5 with the sun and especially with the moon.

In secondary progressions we use centrally the Moon and subsequently the Sun/ascendant/midheaven/mercury/Venus/Mars, unless in the natal chart one of them represents the ascendant master or one of them is aspected by the ascendant master.

AM= the ascendant master 

h5 = astrological house 5

The interest of this article is not to epilogate on the dominants of a star chart, it is certain that the different practices to justify the dominants have a meaning. It is a question of noting the importance of the planet which is situated in aspects to the ascendant master. Indeed, the ascendant signifies, among other things, our identity and the personal expression of it. The AM in sign will express the quality, the colouring, the way in which the expression of the identity will potentially unfold. The AM in an astrological house will give experiences related to that house. The planet in aspect to the AM represents a concrete energy, a real instrument at the service of the I (identity). Depending on the sign and house position of the AM, for example, Jupiter in Taurus/h5 of the AM Sagittarius and depending on the aspect of Jupiter, for example, in square to the Sun/Lion/h8, the Sun is in square aspect to the AM Jupiter and they are placed in a sign and house distinct from each other. Thus, the Sun becomes identity and identity will express different creative colours and give a possibility of meaning to the interpretation that would otherwise lack breadth. This point of view seems to us to be relevant in order to broaden the understanding of identity, of the personality, of the I, because in the end, it is from what we are that we really manage to deconstruct and/or reconstruct what needs to be reconstructed. In truth, the birth chart as a whole represents who we are and each component of the chart will reveal a particular tendency. Yet what connects the ascendant, the rising master and the planet in aspect to the AM remains a direct impact from the deepest level. With Venus afflicted by a transit, for example, the whole structure of the person can certainly be shaken and experience a process of transformation or/and concretisation of the way of approaching marital or/and social relationships, etc. But what shakes the person is initiated by an external circumstance, whereas if one of the points related to the ascendant is affected by a transit, it is the direct identity that perceives the energy. So there is something more personal, more intimate, which arises directly from the unconscious or deep I and which will be able to emerge on the surface and potentially be made conscious. We could say, with the above example, that if the Sun receives a major transit and is not in aspect configuration with the AM in the birth chart, the transit in question will not have the same strength of depth. 

Let's continue our understanding with the Moon as an example, and consider that it is in conjunction with Uranus, AM/Verseau. Uranus is a transpersonal planet, usually we consider transits on this planet as generational factors or turning points in its revolutionary cycle with itself every 21 years or so. Being the AM, transits on Uranus will take on a whole new importance that will affect the person in his or her ascendant/Verseau, the need for independence, freedom, change, etc, will be more intense than if Uranus were not the AM. Furthermore, if the transit occurs on the Moon, following the orb of the Uranus/Moon conjunction, the intensity will not only impact on the emotions, needs and expectations specific to the energy of the sign in which it is found and through the experience of the house. But also on an atmosphere of detachment, freedom, freedom from... and this comes from a need of his deep ascendant/Verseau identity’s I, Uranus/AM and the Moon in conjunction with the AM. The ascendant will, in this example, be valued 3 times and 3 times in an identity way, which will affect the person in a fundamental way.

Let us take a significant example that we borrow from Luc Bigé; on https://reenchanterlemonde.com/astrologie/#interpretation-du-theme calculer la dominante du thème. That of the two astral charts of Charlie Chaplin, born on April 16 1889, and Adolf Hitler, born on April 20 1889.

For reasons of copyright, we cannot have the images of the two themes.

These two diametrically opposed figures were born four days apart.

Charlie Chaplin was born under the sign of Aries and with a Scorpio ascendant. Note the mastery of these signs, twice that of Mars/Aries/Scorpio and twice that of Pluto/Scorpio/Aries, (planets and signs rather inclined, in their dark influences, to war). With this configuration, one can ask oneself questions, all the more so when one examines the chart of Adolf Hitler with a sign in Taurus and an ascendant in Libra? These two signs are masters by the planet Venus, (sign and planet that influences love) yet Hitler embodied war, destruction (dark aspect of Mars) in the name of perfect humanity (Ascendant Libra/Venus/h7). 

How can we see in Hitler's chart this thirst for power and war?

"Thanks” to the position of the planet Mars in conjunction with Venus, the libra ascendant master.

This conjunction is all the more marked from the point of view of the power of action closed in on itself because of its combust side (on the same degree). 

Chaplin deploys a creative power of action thanks to the position of the planet Venus in conjunction with Mars, the Aries ascendant master.

Indeed, Chaplin made a film depicting Hitler and Hitler started the war in reality. 

With this example, we can deduce that the planet in conjunction with the AM is more dominant over the identity and its expression than the AM itself.

An example, with a Sagittarius ascendant, AM Jupiter in Taurus h5 in aspect to Sun/Lion/h8. 

We will not go into a detailed interpretation of this configuration, but rather share with you an understanding of its influence on the identity.

In psychological astrology we know that the Sun represents the ideal of the I and the Ascendant represents the unconscious of the I. In transpersonal astrology the Unicorn (Middle Black Moon) and the North Node are linked to the intentions  of the self and the Sun remains intrinsically linked to the self, at least when the person realises it. It can be said that the planets and others in the solar system are in the service of the Sun, the inner or/and outer Sun. 

In the above configuration, the personality is searching for meaning (Sagittarius ascendant). This quest may remain unconscious while enjoying the pleasures of games and love in the Jupiter/Taurus/h5 AM. This is not to say that there is no meaning in adventures or sentimental pleasures. But in this case, the personality can perfectly live these experiences without detecting any meaning in them relative to the needs of its Sagittarian personality, at least for a while. Until the day when she goes through a major solar transit or arc on her Sun/Lion/h8, the Sun being the luminary which is in aspect to that of AM/Jupiter. Not only is she likely to go through a crucial period of her life through a deep crisis of metamorphosis (Sun/h8,) pushing towards an ideal of lucidity (Sun/Lion) but also, by aspect of mastery (Sun/Jupiter AM) she will be touched in a very particular way in her identity. At this point, the search for meaning specific to Sagittarius, which she had previously ignored, becomes a necessity and supports her experience of metamorphosis. This allows her to face her ordeal in a more or less balanced way towards a renewal of her expression. In the process, an unexpected and interdependent quality of the experience is born in the person. This may be an ability to understand symbols and the meaning they represent in one's life. It may also be an opening to psychological and/or spiritual dimensions, through practices similar to psychotherapy and/or occult teachings such as spiritualism, astrology, etc. The person may also discover artistic gifts and create works that open him or her to himself or herself (Jupiter/aurus/h5). 

Or finally, the work is immediately created from within (Sagittarius ascendant/AM Jupiter in h5, Sun in Leo/h8 and in square to AM/Jupiter. Here certain doors can be opened to the inner sun, the self...

1: how to proceed when a sign holds two masters?

2: what rule applies when the ruler of the ascendant is in aspect to a planetary cluster, which of these planets will dominate over the others?

As an example

In the case where a sign has two masters, a Scorpio ascendant, for example, the masters of the ascendant are Pluto/Mars. If Mars is part of the cluster, i.e. in conjunction, and Pluto is in square to another planet, it is Mars that has priority over Pluto. The planet in aspect to Pluto holds an interest in the expression of the Scorpio ascendant. However, the position of the planet in conjunction to Mars, the second AM/Scorpio, will be more valued.

In the case where the two AM Pluto/Mars receive a distinct aspect to each other, it will be the faster of the two planets that will be more valued. Example, ascendant/scorpio Mercury square to the first AM/Pluto and Venus opposite the second AM/Mars, it is the square between Mercury and Pluto which will be valued more because Mercury is faster in its revolution than Venus.

In the case where Pluto or Mars is the only one of the two masters of the ascendant/scorpio to be in aspect to a planetary cluster, the most valued planet of the cluster will be the fastest planet. For example, Pluto, or Mars AM/scorpio opposite a planetary cluster with venus/Mars/Moon, the Moon will be the most valued planet from an ascendant/scorpio identity point of view.

SatyamAstro