posted July 27, 2013 06:04 PM
There are different key points in the astrological wheel or the chart that are often designated as "critical", for different branches of astrology there are sometimes several points (degrees) that harbor that description, and for each there is a different explanation given.The critical degrees that are most often mentioned are those falling into the cusp degrees of either 0 or 29 degrees of a sign, critical and anaretic, are commonly referred to as "karmic degrees".
There are also degrees considered critical (and correct me if I'm wrong as I don't really utilize the system) that begin at appx 13deg Aries, (at least) in Horary. (they follow a formula to calculate those set critical degrees based on the lunar mansions and round the numbers up starting at that point for each subsequent sign in the wheel.)
Then, you have certain royal & fixed stars which are also considered critical, (such as Algol, Regulus, Vindemiatrix).
And, another set given for degrees that come with the solstices (called Antiscions, I believe), per sign (etc).
As well as some who count (or once counted) the Arabic Lot/Part/Pars as also being "critical" degrees.
In times long past, the 15th degree of the fixed signs was also considered critical.
There may even be others, I have missed - but, generally - horary, predictive, classical (Greco-Arabic), and occult branches each have their own exceptions and utility for those degrees... it's kinda hard to keep up. ^^;