Fate versus destiny 3

Following on from my previous blog, I am going to look a little bit more at how the different signs on each angle can play out.

When we are talking about a sign in the environmental chart, we are looking at that sign from the perspective of the expectations of those around us, so as per the previous examples, that Capricorn will be sensible, Libra will be the peacemaker. The attributes of that sign might be limiting in some way, whereas the same sign in a destiny chart will be an opportunity to develop and grow, for example to buck the trend and be independent, or go exploring. No chart is good or bad per se, it is just the difference between something being expected of you versus being what you truly want.

Let's start with Ascendants in each sign and what sign would have to be on the cusp of the tenth house, if that sign were on the Ascendant.

Aries Ascendant

The expectation with an Aries Ascendant is that you will stand on your own two feet, and that you will be independent and strong. The sign on the cusp of the tenth house, ruling your public life would have to be Capricorn (using the equal house system in an environmental chart) so there would be an expectation that you would be ambitious and achieve in your career and public life. Both are cardinal signs (they fall at the start of the season) so you are expected to be driven and have big ideas. As I said in the blog, our actual birth chart (unless we are using the equal house system) will have our Midheaven on the cusp of the tenth house. Now, unless we were born at the Equator, for an Aries that could potentially be Aquarius or Sagittarius. Aquarian or Sagittarian aspirations are not necessarily at odds with the expectations of an Aries Ascendant. The originality and objectiveness of Aquarius or the adventures of Sagittarius don't seem to clash that much with standing on your own two feet and being strong. But, and there is a but, for Sagittarius to be on the cusp of the tenth house, and Aries on the cusp of the first, there are only the eleventh and twelfth houses in between, but there are three signs, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces. One of those signs is going to get engulfed in a house, meaning it's expression is going to be difficult. Only when there is one sign per house does the energy flow easily round the chart (we spoke more about this in Fate versus destiny part 2). It has been said that these engulfed signs are the blockages that come from the tussle between our environments and our destinies.

Taurus Ascendant

The expectation is that you will build resources and create a comfortable home or environment. Taurus is about material security. That puts Aquarius on the cusp of the tenth house, which has the element of social responsibility and humanitarian concerns, as well as independence and originality. In an environmental chart, I would be looking more at the social responsibility aspects of Aquarius and giving to others. You cannot give to others and be philanthropic without resources. Both are fixed signs so you may be expected to be the stable one.

Gemini Ascendant

People will look to you for the conversation and ideas. Good luck if you want to be quiet in your own company. The Gemini mask is that of the social butterfly. Lots of friends and contacts, but not necessarily with the depth. That puts Pisces on the cusp of the tenth house, in public and career-wise you are expected to have the dreams, and to be sensitive and maybe even spiritual, to go beyond yourself. There is an element of self sacrifice with Pisces. Both are mutable signs, the last signs before the season changes, so there is an expectation of flexibility here.

Cancer Ascendant

People will look to you as the nurturer and provider of emotional security. Taking care of others is a Cancerian attribute. Interestingly that put Aries on the tenth house. Publicly there will be the expectation of being driven and going for what you want. The two seem at odds initially, but actually how can you care for others if you don't aspire to look after yourself first?

Leo Ascendant

The mask a Leo Ascendant shows the world is that of some-one who is out-going and flamboyant. Leo knows how to put on a show. People expect you to be lively and hold the attention of others. A Leo Ascendant would have Taurus on the tenth house. So the expectation would be that you would be materially comfortable and your energy would go into accruing possessions. That would be your public face. The film star with a healthy bank balance.

Virgo Ascendant

The Virgo mask is that of some-one who is meticulous and organised. An eye for detail and hard working. Virgo is the sign of service. That puts Gemini on the tenth so in public you would be expected to be adept at communication.

Libra Ascendant

The Libran is the peacemaker and the diplomat. Those with Libra ascending are expected to be relational and people please to keep things harmonious. That puts Cancer on the tenth house. So in public you are expected to be in caring profession looking after others. Typing this, I think this could be quite a challenging environmental chart, particularly if you have Leo on the midheaven in your natal chart. There may well be conflict between your aspirations to express yourself and the environmental expectation that you will be diplomatic and please others.

Scorpio Ascendant

With Scorpio as the mask people expect you to be fiery and passionate about what you do, to look deeply into things. This could be hard if you are of a gentler disposition. This puts Leo on the tenth house, expecting you to be charismatic in public and to hold the stage. That's all good, if it's what you want, but if your focus is on caring for others and that is your aspiration it's a more difficult arrangement.

Sagittarius Ascendant

Sagittarius is the adventurer of the zodiac searching for the truth. With a Sagittarian mask you are expected to be looking towards new horizons, learning at a higher level and seeking. That puts Virgo on the tenth house, so in public you are the organiser. You work hard to be in service to others. Virgo is very logical and methodical, so it's an interesting mix with Sagittarius which is very much big picture thinking. With this arrangement is the expectation that you will have the organisation of Virgo, yet still see the bigger picture.

Capricorn Ascendant

I know all about this one from personal experience. Capricorn Ascendants are expected to work hard, be sensible and behave responsibly. I sometimes got tired of being the boring one! With Libra on the cusp of the tenth house, there is the expectation of public life being defined by relationship. I was a late developer in this area and that attracted a lot of criticism. Career choice was also defined by the expectations of others. I felt the need to keep others happy - a Libran trait.

Aquarius Ascendant

With an Aquarius Ascendant people will expect you to have a more original image, not conventional. But still to be concerned about others and to consider the greater good. Aquarius is the rebellious sign in the zodiac. Rebelling sounds great, unless it's expected of you and you actually want a quieter life. This puts Scorpio on the tenth house, so you are expected to be edgy, to be deep and to be passionate about what you do.

Pisces Ascendant

Pisces is the last water sign and mutable. There is the expectation that you will be sensitive and do things out of love for others. Pisces also has a spiritual element, so there may be an expectation for you to be otherworldly. This could be a challenge if you are naturally objective and pragmatic. This puts Sagittarius on the tenth house so there is an expectation in public that you will be a seeker, whether that is higher learning, exploring or judiciary.

In the environmental chart, the natal chart midheaven will not be on the cusp of the tenth house, but will be in one of other houses. Where it lies can also give some indication of how the environment affects your aspirations. In my environmental chart the natal midheaven is in the eleventh house, so there is the expectation that my aspirations be community based, as the eleventh house represents the community.

I'm now going to look at it from a destiny perspective. The destiny chart keeps the midheaven on the cusp of the tenth house, but as it uses the equal house system, the sign on the cusp of the first house will no longer be the natal chart Ascendant. So to achieve our aspirations we need to don a different mask and present ourselves differently.

Aries Midheaven

With an Aries midheaven there is a strong desire to be first at whatever you do. Aries is driven and full of energy and enthusiasm. More information about this for individuals can be gleaned by looking at where Mars is in the chart. This puts Cancer on the first house, which is sensitive and nurturing. A bit of a paradox here, or is it? Can you really truly advance in a spiritually healthy way, without being caring and sensitive towards yourself and others? How Cancer is expressed for the individual can be seen by looking at where the Moon is.

Taurus Midheaven

With a Taurus midheaven there is a strong desire for material security and comfort. Stability is the name of the game here. Looking at where Venus is in the chart will give more information. This puts Leo on the first house, which is creative and expressive.

To succeed materially you have to be prepared to create something. Look to where the Sun is in the chart to see how that will be expressed.

Gemini Midheaven

There are aspirations towards learning and communication here. Gemini loves to talk and to share ideas. There is also a gathering of data here, finding out new facts. The position of Mercury in the chart will give more detail. This puts Virgo on the cusp of the first house, also ruled by Mercury. Without organisation and logic it could be a pile of useless data or chatter. The aspirations of Gemini need the discernment of Virgo.

Cancer Midheaven

With a Cancer midheaven there is a desire to care for others and nurture in some way.

Looking at where the Moon is will give more information. Libra then falls onto the first house. This makes sense, to succeed in a caring and nurturing role, you need to be diplomatic and have good people skills, Libran traits. To know more about how to face the world look to where Venus is in the chart.

Leo Midheaven

With a Leo midheaven there is a desire to be noticed whatever you do. Leo is naturally creative and has leadership qualities. How this manifests for an individual can be shown by where the Sun is in their chart. In order to lead and been seen you need to be passionate about what you do. A Leo midheaven has Scorpio on the first house. No half measures here. How Scorpio is expressed can be seen by looking at both Mars and Pluto in the chart.

Virgo Midheaven

Virgos are the organisers of the zodiac. Health is also a Virgo concern. With Virgo here there is desire to assimilate knowledge, organise data and generally fix things. More information can be gleaned by looking at where Mercury is. This puts Sagittarius on the cusp of the first house. Sagittarius represents the search for the truth. What is worth fixing? What is the correct data to organise? There is a need to approach life with an enquiring mind. More information about how can be found by looking at where Jupiter is in the chart.

Libra Midheaven

These are the diplomats of the zodiac. There is also a love of beauty here, so creating beautiful things, or careers that involve people and relationships as their objective are Libran. Look to where Venus is in the chart to find out more. This puts Capricorn on the cusp of the first house. This is an odd one, as on the face of it Capricorn is not particularly relational, it is more about pragmatism and responsibility. But for relationships to be healthy and sustainable both these attributes are needed. Look to Saturn in the chart to see how the individual will express this.

Scorpio Midheaven

These are the sleuths of the zodiac. The desire to get to the bottom on it. That could be psychoanalysis, it could be a fascination for the esoteric, but whatever it is, Scorpio midheavens need a career that they feel passionate about. To know more, look at where Mars and Pluto are in the chart. This puts Aquarius on the cusp of the first house. You need to be your own person. Concerned for a greater good, yes. Worried about what others think of you, no. To know more about how to present yourself with this placement look at where Uranus and Saturn are in the chart.

Sagittarius Midheaven

Yours truly has this one. Sagittarius is the search for the truth, so learning, discovering and exploring is the name of the game here. Jupiter is the planet to tell us more. For me it is also in Sagittarius in the tenth house, this really underlines that my public face (10th house) and career (10th house) needs to be in line with my aspirations and the need to be seeking. A Sagittarian midheaven has Pisces on the first house. There is a need to show my spiritual side and go into life with that as how I present myself. Neptune tells us more and that is in Sagittarius in the tenth house, so my public face, which is philosophical (Neptune in Sagittarius) is also part of me and how I face the world. This is a bit of the leap for the people pleasing sensible one.

Capricorn Midheaven

I have two friends with this placement. Although their career choices are different, both want to get to the top and achieve. One has Saturn in Sagittarius and works in higher education, the other has Saturn in Capricorn and is a spiritual medium who has said "I want to be the best". Capricorn wants to achieve. This puts Aries on the cusp of the first house. This one is maybe more easily explained, if you want to achieve you need to be driven and that is Aries. How the energy of Aries is best expressed can be seen by looking at where Mars is. With my medium friend that is in Pisces, which is spiritual. My other friend has Mars in Taurus, the energy is expressed steadily and grounding is important.

Aquarius Midheaven

Aquarius is concerned with the greater good and humanitarian causes. It is also the champion of invention and new ideas. There is a desire to serve the community in some way, whether that is through charitable works or inventing something. Uranus and Saturn's locations in the chart can give more information. This puts Taurus on the cusp of the first house. Again there can be a paradox between the materialism of Taurus and the humanitarianism of Aquarius, but the resources have to come from somewhere. To know more about how this is expressed for an individual look at where Venus is.

Pisces Midheaven

The last sign of the zodiac, Pisces Midheavens aspirations are spiritual, work is done for love. Imagination and illusion are also Piscean, so film making and magic are also possibilities. I have a friend with this placement. She is a business coach with a very gentle and deeply spiritual approach. This placement puts Gemini on the cusp of the first house. There is a need to be able to talk to others and share ideas. Mercury's position can give some indication of how this is expressed. For my dear friend this is in Gemini, so underlining the great value of talking to others to achieve her goals.

In the destiny chart the Ascendant will not be on the cusp of the first house, as it is in the natal chart, so will fall in another house. This is the area of life where the attributes of your Ascendant would be best deployed. For me that it is in the eleventh house, so still good be the sensible one in the community, haven't managed to escape that one completely. My Saturn is in Gemini so I need to be the one with something sensible to say.

The next blog is going to be about Libra, the sign the Sun enters at the autumn equinox that we have coming up on 23rd September this year.

Namaste xx