When it comes to approaching any chart, my first instinct is to study the planet ruling the ascendant. While I do not think there is one particular way to read a chart, I have found the ruler of the ascendant to be the most telling of the chart native’s identity, vitality, and general role in life. It’s also a good starting point before diving into the rest of the chart and its complexities.
Where Do I Start?
First, look at the sign of the ascendant.
The ascendant is an important indicator of how the individual approaches their life, their general disposition, and the vibe they give off.
For example, if the ascendant is in Scorpio, the individual likely will be intense, deep, private, emotional, dark, and penetrating. Their life might revolve around their interests in psychology, taboo areas of life (death, sex, power, etc), esoteric studies, secrets, and/or strategy.
After taking the ascendant sign into account, look at the ruling planet of that sign. In this example, for someone with a Scorpio ascendant, look at Mars’s placement.
Signs and corresponding rulers:
Aries: Mars
Taurus: Venus
Gemini: Mercury
Cancer: Moon
Leo: Sun
Virgo: Mercury
Libra: Venus
Scorpio: Mars
Sagittarius: Jupiter
Capricorn: Saturn
Aquarius: Saturn
Pisces: Jupiter
The ruling planet of the first house shows the role the individual plays in this lifetime, their disposition, their health, and their appearance. Compared to the ascendant alone, it has more of a story involved. This planet shows us what this person does, who they talk to, how they act, where they are, and other more descriptive traits beyond personality alone. This is all based on the whole sign house placement, aspects, and other indicators of the condition of the planet.
Let’s look at a few examples…
Person 1:
Ascendant: Libra
Ruler of the Ascendant: Venus in Aquarius in the 5th hous
Main Aspect: 1°14’, applying square to Neptune in Capricorn
Since the ascendant is in Libra, the person is generally laid-back, charming, and refined. The placement of Venus will give more specific information about the identity, role, and vitality of the person.
The archetype of Venus is the lover, connecter, creator, harmonizer, and receiver. The sign is the way the planet will do its job. So in this case, Venus harmonizes or creates in an Aquarian way. This makes the expression quirky, innovative, and a little unconventional.
Since Venus is in the 5th whole sign house, the chart native will likely be involved in 5th house topics such as children, creativity, art, romance, sexuality, entertainment, and/or recreation.
Since Venus is square Neptune, the individual might be particularly interested in fantasies, forms of escapism, anything imaginative, and possibly a little disconnected from reality.
The person I used as an example is my close friend, Ashley. She is a gifted anime artist (with an unconventional and quirky style) who aspires to illustrate children’s books someday (the ruler of her MC, the sun, is also in the 5th house). She loves fantasy video games, anime, cosplay, and all forms of art (Neptune themes). She also embodies everything Venusian (super feminine, beautiful, compromising, pleasant, etc).
Here is a sample of her art (go follow her on Instagram!):
Another similar example is Judy Blume, a famous children’s author particularly known for writing Are You There God? It’s Me Margret, an unconventional, progressive, and risqué (at the time) book in the 1970’s made for young girls about to go through puberty.
(Example from Chris Brennan’s book, Hellenistic Astrology: The Study of Fate and Fortune)
Person 2:
Ascendant: Aquarius
Ruler of the Ascendant: Saturn in Pisces in the 2nd house
Main Aspects: 0°55’, applying opposition to the Moon in Virgo &
2°01’, separating trine to Jupiter in Scorpio
A person with an Aquarius rising may generally come off as emotionally detached, technical, quirky, stubborn, and/or interested in innovations that progress society.
Since the ascendant is in Aquarius, I look to his Saturn placement for more information. The archetype of Saturn is the authority figure, elderly man, and/or father. Saturn likes to create structure, order, and definitive boundaries.
Its placement in the 2nd house in general can make someone responsible, careful, fearful and/or concerned when it comes to finances, assets, resources, and sense of security. In the native’s case, he grew up in a family who didn’t have a lot, so he values money, his assets, and security more than the average person.
The sign of Pisces is altruistic, emotional, selfless, empathetic, and unstructured. This sign’s influence can put someone in the role of the provider for those less well-off and/or someone who creates order or structure out of things that are chaotic or unstructured.
In the example, Saturn is also opposite the Moon in the 8th (house of shared resources). Because of this, the individual provides resources to his mother, who has a hard time financially. They have a difficult relationship (common Saturn opposite Moon theme), but he is always there for her regardless of the tension between them (Pisces= unconditional). Finally, Saturn is also trine Jupiter in the 10th. This increases the individual’s available money and resources earned from his successful career.
Person 3:
Let’s look at a full chart and take a more advanced and detailed approach
Can you pick out the ascendant and the ascendant ruler?
In the example chart’s case, the ascendant is in Virgo. This would suggest the person is methodical, analytical, precise, humble, and/or reserved. They might show an interest in service, helping others, and/or creating a set of order.
In the chart example, the ruler of the ascendant is Mercury in Taurus. Mercury is the communicator, teacher, thinker, and/or traveler. When it comes to appearance, Mercury tends to be youthful, lithe, and lean.
Since it is in Taurus, the way the native communicates is patiently, steadily, practically, and/or carefully (or when expressed negatively, stubbornly, possessively, slowly, and/or boringly).
Combine the descriptions and one of the possible manifestations is someone who could be a practical communicator, someone who may take time to arrive at decisions, and/or have a down-to-earth or placid quality to their speech, someone who may look or act youthful for their age, or any fitting combination of qualities (the native actually looks at least 10 years younger than his actual age).
Additionally, Mercury is in the 9th house. The 9th house deals with higher knowledge, higher education, teaching, foreigners, long-distance travels, religious institutions, beliefs, philosophy, and/or publishing. It emphasizes anything that involves expanding one’s horizons or mind.
The manifestation of this chart is an individual playing the role of a methodical communicator (a Mercury in Taurus and general Virgo activity) of concepts related to foreign affairs (a 9th house topic).
In this particular case, Mercury also rules the 10th house (Gemini). This is the house regarding career, reputation, public image, and achievement. Since his sun is in the 10th and rules the 12th, his career also imports 12th house topics (loss, imprisonment, suffering, isolation).
His job is to travel weekly around the United States to give lectures to families of prisoners of war from WWII and Vietnam. He tells the stories of how the soldiers lost their lives abroad and how their remains were found. Because his ascendant ruler and sun are involved, his ego and identity are deeply intertwined with his career. This man eats, sleeps, and breathes his career.
(Permission to post the image and chart was granted)
If you want to dive even DEEPER, let’s answer a few more advanced questions regarding the condition of the planet:
What is the planet aspecting?
- In this case Mercury is conjunct Venus (0°14’, applying)- This can bring qualities of kindness, gifted writing abilities, a beautiful appearance (since Mercury rules this individual’s body), loving communication, a pleasant voice, and/or personal charm.
- Mercury (and Venus) is square Saturn (0°59’, Separating)- This denies some of the above qualities. This can lead to inhibited communication, shyness, negative thinking, depression, difficulty expressing thoughts or affections, a fear of speaking, a sense of rigidity or inflexibility in the body (since Mercury rules this person’s body/appearance) or communication style, and/or being criticized or silenced by an authority figure/father figure.
(The native confirmed all of the above. He had a particularly strict and harsh father growing up)
Does Mercury have essential dignity?
- No. In order to have essential dignity, it would have to be in the signs of Virgo or Gemini (or for it to be in detriment, it would have to be in Sagittarius or Pisces). It performs neutrally in Taurus.
Does Mercury have triplicity rulership?
- No. Since it is a diurnal chart, earth signs would be ruled by Venus. The conjunction with Venus, a planet in its own triplicity & domicile, helps him a lot though.
What is the bound lord?
- Saturn is the bound lord for Mercury. This restricts Mercury and reinforces some of the Mercury square Saturn qualities.
Is Mercury aspecting its dispositor?
- Yes, Taurus rules the 9th house and Venus rules Taurus. Venus is conjunct Mercury in Taurus, thus assisting Mercury in performing it’s duties.
How does sect affect Mercury?
- Mercury is neutral when it comes to sect.
There are more questions that could be asked when assessing the condition of a planet, but I’ll save that for another blog post.
So overall, the individual has gifted communication, speaking, teaching, and writing abilities, thanks to Venus. However, he often struggles with self-doubt, self-criticism, feeling inhibited, or feeling blocked when trying to express some of his gifts, thanks to Saturn’s influence.
*Isn’t it amazing how just starting with the ruler of the ascendant can lead you to all of this information!?*
In conclusion, the ruler of the ascendant can tell the astrologer a lot about a person. It’s a critical element of every chart and it should never be overlooked. If you have questions or want to learn more about this topic, feel free to tweet at me, @AcademicAstro.