ASPECTUAL INFLUENCE

Without doubt, human perception of the Sun’s relationship with the Earth has, to some degree at least, formed the basis of astrological house meanings.

This is demonstrated through the undeniable connection between Egyptian Solar philosophy and the astrological meanings of horoscopic angles.

Within these quadrants the cycle of life revolves. Conception occurs at the IC, though birth itself begins with the ascendant. The quadrant from the ascendant to the midheaven relates to the period of youth, that from the MC to the descendant relates to middle-age, and that from the descendant to the IC represents old age.

Some Neo-Platonist astrologers, including Porphyry, allotted the quadrant from the IC to the ascendant to the period after death, or the preparation for rebirth, but generally in questions relating to age, the quadrant from the IC to the ascendant is taken to represent someone who is very old and infirm.

While Howard Sasportas was on the right track in trying to find a ‘cycle of life’ or ‘wheel of experience’ in house meanings, his mistake was to try to find it in their numerological order.

This order corresponds with the astronomical motion of a planet through the signs of the zodiac, but in astrology it is always the diurnal motion of heaven from east to west - the daily rotation of the Earth upon its axis - that carries the greater significance.

Ptolemy referred to this as the First Primary Motion which overrode the natural motion of heaven, while the poet Chaucer summed up its importance when he wrote:

‘First Cause of Motion, Cruel Firmament
Driving the Stars with Thy Diurnal Sway
And Hurling all from East to West
That Naturally would take another way’

However, while this fundamental connection between Heaven, Earth and the life of Man plays some role in determining house meanings, the story does not end there. Other symbolic systems have played a part, an important one being the aspectual relationship that each house cusp bears to the ascendant.
Bearing in mind that the ascendant represents the point of light, life and vitality, the aspectual relationship that each house cusp makes to the ascendant largely influences the strength and meaning of the house.

Aspectual relationship of houses to the ascendant

The 7th house is therefore a powerful house because it is strongly aspected to the ascendant by opposition. The same is true of the 10th and 4th houses, which aspect the ascendant by square.

The 9th and 5th houses are favourable and indicate a positive state of affairs because they are aspected to the ascendant by harmonious trines.
Generally, the 11th and 3rd house are also considered beneficial because they are linked to the ascendant by sextile.6

However, the 2nd, 8th, 6th and 12th houses were linked to the ascendant by aspects that were considered weak and ineffective - the inconjunct and semi-sextile. All of these were regarded as ‘dark’ houses, and symbolically linked to circumstances that represent a lack of vitality, restraint and sorrow. 7

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