posted November 18, 2003 10:55 PM              

Greg asked us look at our chart and
1. On one sheet of paper, write out a listing of your house cusps (e.g., "Ascendant 22 Scorpio 23") and planetary positions (e.g., "Sun 19 Virgo 18:') , in words.

OK: Well, I have a chart that lists the degrees for me already. What do the degree’s represent? I think its like, 15 degree’s is halfway through the house. My sun is in Leo, and my chart say's 10 degrees Leo 35'31 . What does the 10 and 35'31 represent?

3. Below the chart wheel, list the aspects that you can identify in your chart, using the appropriate aspect symbols. (We haven't covered calculating aspects or orbs yet, so don't worry about making this listing too precise or complete. List those aspects that fall within 8 degrees of an exact aspect, one way or another.)

posted November 19, 2003 02:40 PM            

First of all, I have a couple of questions for you
Do you use www.astro.com
You can get your chart for free there. It's a very useful website.

What house system are you using?

Re "What do the degree’s represent?" They're a reference point so you know where the planets are both in your chart and also the position of any transiting planets.
The degrees also then enable you to work out what planet is aspecting which other planets.
(Think of it in this way....You ask where are my house keys. Oh they're in the kitchen (natal house)on the table (degree) next to the phone (aspect)

Re" How do I judge the aspects in my chart?"
I think you're almost there in understanding that but are starting to confuse yourself I little I think
Ok so you know the aspects ie: sextile 60 degrees etc
So use that knowledge to work out the aspects in your chart (you can also double check that if you pull up your natal chart at the astro.com site I mentioned above)

Hmm now here's where you may be confusing yourself....
Re "So if mercury is located at 5 degrees in the 12th house,is it located closer to the first house or the 11th?"

In order to answer that question you need to know the degrees of your houses cusps. So before we can answer that do you want to post your data here so I can see your chart?

Re: "If the moon is at 29 degrees than do they still have a trine relationship. Am I jumping the gun here?"
Yep you may well be let's look at your chart and see what's what.

Although Greg hasn't popped in to say hi for a while, I'm sure he would be very willing to look at your assignment. So email him, he is very helpful and I'm sure he will be very pleased that you have completed his assignment.
You're doing great

posted November 21, 2003 03:27 PM            

The Centre for Pyschological Astrology use Koch as they feel it's more a psychological way of looking at the chart - I do agree with that.

The Faculty of Astrology use the equal house but then move over to Placidus further down in the learning (ie: on the diploma course).
When you're calculating charts manually (without the aid of a computer) it's much easier to use the equal house sytem, as all the house cusps are at the same degree, plus the MC is not always the 10th house cusp with the equal house system and that is interesting and does illuminate other things in your chart. So I would never "write off" the equal house system.

Some people's charts change a lot depending on the different house sytems and I think each person eventually finds the house system that suits them. So after saying all of that, I do use all three house systems as sometimes people relate more to the planetary placements of one system rather than the other.

So there you have my Virgo analysis combined with my Sag Moon saying "ain't no perfect answer"