The Center of the Birth Chart: Identifying the “Lodestone” of Your Life

November 2023

copyright © 2023 by Judith Hill

So often, the beginning chart reader questions “where do I begin?”

There are many approaches to this question, and here is my preferred method, decades tried and true.

The Sun is the center of the solar system.  The Moon and planets revolve around it. Why should this not be the same in the horoscope?  “As above, so below”.

Perhaps the Sun’s centralizing principle is mirrored by its astrological symbol, the circle with the dot inside, precisely the middle of the circle.

Sol’s icon is double edged. First, the circle itself suggests the lunar and planetary trajectories revolving around that inside dot - the Sun, Sol.  Now, reverse the symbol and we now observe the perfect depiction of the individual life - ourselves - represented by the dot in this case - emerging unique from the Great Whole, (the encompassing circle), while also being contained within it. However, you view Sol’s symbol, it symbolizes “Center”.

It becomes apparent now that Sol is the center of the chart in as much as it is the center of the solar system. The Moon, and all planets must necessarily revolve about this solar center and are made visible by Sol’s light.

Therefore, I start each chart reading by assessing Sol’s position in that chart, first by house and then by sign. This solar position represents the primary central value of the individual, that all other planet positions must necessarily revolve around, and are also co-interpreted through.

For instance, if the Sun is in the 2nd house, then the life interests revolve around one, or more, of the many possible themes ruled by this house.  In the case of the 2nd house, this might be business, money, food, acquisitions of something; the physical body… (and many more choices).

Comparatively, if Sol natally tenants the 9th house, the “native’s” life revolves around travel, religion, questing, teaching, knowledge, or even publishing. However, should the native’s Sun be positioned in the 7th house of marriage, then partnering, (or the partner) becomes the life’s lodestone. Perhaps the life revolves around a consulting profession (or some other aspect associated with the 7th house’s activity). The Sun’s sign will tell you how.

Through practice, we acquire skill at combining the house and sign in our interpretation. One begins by putting the two concepts together in this manner: “Sol’s natal house (give known associated house activities and House number) is the center of this individual’s life, according to the manner and activities of the Sun sign. It is a central value, a motivating purpose.

Let’s take for our example a case of a birth Sun positioned in the 7th house of the natal chart. Should the natal Sun be in Capricorn, then we would us this formula: “The center of the life is partnership, described in one of many possible Capricorn ways”.  Capricornian themes might include any, or all of the following: business partnerships, famous or important spouse, architectural or graphic design, political partnerships, long term marriage, close relationship with Father; vocational consulting; physically powerful partners; marriage to a farmer, etc.

Next, for comparative purposes, let’s try a birth Sun in this same 7th house again, only this time posited in Pisces. To accomplish a correct interpretation, we now change our emphasis from Capricornian to Piscean themes. The center of the life is still partnership (as ruled by the 7th house), but along distinctly Piscean lines of potential. These might include: psychic consulting, shamanic work, musical partnerships; the spouse is unemployed; the spouse is a poet, mystic, fisherman, dreamer, musician, folk singer, pot head, circus performer; … or perhaps our client has a penchant for secret partnerships (I knew one couple, both born with Pisces on the 7th house, who never revealed that they were, in fact, married. Pisces governs hidden things.) And many more possibilities…the rest of the chart’s testimonies will cue you in as to where the weight falls.

How about a Gemini Sun on the 7th? We could continue through all twelve signs but this would become a book. The idea to grasp is how to begin a chart interpretation. This is my step one. Once the chart’s center, (the Sun’s house and sign) is established, and correctly interpreted, we now must refine the interpretation. We must consider all natal planetary positions in the light of: “how will this work planet position with that solar center”.  This is not difficult when one assigns the Sun as the life’s primary value, or purpose that each planet rotates around (while maintaining its own unique flavor by its own natal house and sign).

To restate, is helpful to consider Sol’s natal position as a center value that infuses all other motives and needs - i.e. what every planet must literally revolve around. That is the essence of a center - all roads lead back to center - or to Rome, as the saying goes! In my thinking, all interpretive roads lead back to Sol, (except perhaps a close quincunx from a planet to Sol, but that is another article).

In relating all planets to the chart’s solar center, a delicacy of interpretive skill enlightens the reading room. All other planets in the natal chart must be sifted through the interpreted meaning of the chart's Sun position. Results obtained will prove the efficacy of this approach. Let’s take for our example a natal Mars in Pisces for both our above 7th house, Pisces, and 7th house Capricorn case studies. I will use whole sign houses - its easiest. I’m actually not sure how well this method would work with other systems but try it and see.

For the Sun in the 7th house Capricorn chart, Mars would be in Pisces, tenanting the 9th house. We would interpret this combination by saying that there exists a lot of energy (Mars), of a Pisces nature, located in the house governing activities of travel, education, religion et al. However, Mars will be active on behalf of, or because of the Sun in the 7th house Capricorn!  The 9th house Mars-in-Pisces revolves around the Sun and is never isolatively interpreted!

For instance, with this Sun-Mars sign and house combination, perhaps there is a lot of oceanic travel (9th house Mars-in-Pisces) on behalf of the spouse’s career (Sun in 7th house)!  Or maybe, the active travels or spiritual-philosophical activity indicated by Mars, is actually on behalf of one’s father who is a prominent minister. In the case of a 7th house Sun, all activity is motivated by either someone else - or a dutiful partnership situation (Capricorn).

Yes, there would be many other possibilities, and the rest of the chart provides more clues in one or another direction!

Now, let’s take this same 9th house Mars-in-Pisces for our 7th house Sun-in-Pisces example. In this case, we would now have conjunction of Mars and Sol together in Pisces, both being in the 7th house of partnering.  How might this be interpreted?

The native’s outward energies (Mars) are now conflated with the solar center of the chart, (which as stated, is in the 7th house of partners). This conjunction might suggest a tendency to attract partners who have poor boundaries or self-control in some way (Pisces issues). Or perhaps the native’s life revolves around assisting homeless youth, or refugees. Pisces loves sacrificing self for others! This conjunction would double that tendency. The 7th house is always all about others. There would be many other possibilities including a life devoted to ball room dancing, or teaching surfing - but I would still warn them off loaning money to spouses!

This same Sun-centered interpretive method we just demonstrated for Mars, must now attend to all natal planets. Each planet is interpreted though its own placement first, but also seen as revolving around the house and sign position of the chart’s Sun; and the central value and purpose that suggests.

Once you establish the meaning the chart’s Sun, a significantly power of interpretation opens before you! However, there is a spiritual caveat in this approach:

The natal Sun establishes the native’s primary earthly-life values, that appear, in the vast majority of cases, to be an abiding focus of that life. Because houses rule different activities, some astrological houses are more “spiritual” than others. However, this does not (necessarily) indicate a native’s spiritual center, path, or nature. For instance, an exceptionally sensate “2nd house Taurus” native might perhaps express this fact as a lifetime banker, massage therapist, or chef - because their life would revolve around one or more of classic “2nd house” activities.    This fact, however, does displace their soul’s deep spiritual yearnings or search for the divine. That said, astrologers have long noted that the more religiously inclined people appear to favor a birth time that places their Sun in one of the more “spiritual” or religious houses of the natal chart! But…this is not invariably so.                               

For the religiously concerned person, to recognize a natal chart’s centralizing solar theme need not displace the true master center of your being, nor the deity to whom you answer, nor to a higher power, or overarching creative force (this sentence is crafted to speak to all readers). As said Robert Dodsley: “the Sun is not God, though His noblest image”.

The eternal soul, and its creation, or creator, are never to be seen as superseded by astrological house - ruled activities, zodiac sign character, or the natal position of the Sun.

For amazingly depthful insight on all Sun Signs, see our course The Medical Sun Signs & Their Herbs by Judith Hill & Matthew Wood

ALERT!

Judith’s new book should be out any day now. We will let you know when ready:

The Twelve Zodiac Sign Syndromes of Medical Astrology.