I decided to analyse the chart of a teenage family member who, from a very early age, has shown a strong capacity for action and self-assertion. He is someone who tends to act, decide and impose his presence in a clear way, which always impressed me.
I. The Ascendant and the Core Drive
The Ascendant is in Leo, which indicates a solar nature centred on self-assertion, egoic feats, ambition and the need for recognition. Leo is a fixed fire sign, which describes a very clear primary motivation: to achieve power, status and visibility, and then to keep that position without giving it up.
Right on the Ascendant there is a conjunction of Mars and Venus applying to the degree. Mars is the planet closest to the Ascendant and, in addition, it has dignity by term. This makes Mars the main significator of vitality, strength and fighting capacity in this chart. In this case, Mars is actually an accidental benefic. It works as a shield. It is the planet that defends the native’s own life, supports self-assertion and gives a very strong capacity for resistance, struggle and perseverance. In the Tarot, Mars in Leo corresponds to the Seven of Wands, which is precisely the image of defensive strength and stubborn resistance. This native fights for what he wants, fights to keep what he conquers, and does not give up his position easily.
Venus is conjunct, but is clearly subordinate to Mars. Venus is a feminine, moist and more passive planet. Mars is hot, dry and active, and is much better adapted to Leo than Venus. This shows a mixture of two opposite principles: the Martial principle of division, combat and assertion, and the Venusian principle of attraction and union. In practice, however, Mars is in command. There is obviously charm in his manners, and the ability to please and attract exist, but they are placed at the service of conquest, competition and self-assertion. This Venus can work for his benefit in the long run and for notoriety, as she rules the 10th in Taurus. The ruler of the 10th being in the 1st always shows that destiny (10th) is strongly tied to identity (1st) from birth, especially when it is a benefic like Venus.
II. The Solar-Mercurial Identity
The Sun, ruler of the Ascendant, is in Virgo, in the 2nd house, and is peregrine. This shifts the centre of identity to matters of money, resources, value and usefulness. It is a Sun of management, administration, calculation and accumulation. Identity is built largely through the capacity to produce, organise, control and increase material resources.
Mercury is also in Virgo, in its domicile and exaltation, although it is retrograde and combust. In spite of these accidental weaknesses, it remains essentially very strong. This confirms the strong Mercurial profile of the chart: technical thinking, analysis, optimisation, organisation and focus on concrete results. The combustion indicates that this functioning is internal and closely tied to the oppressive solar identity. The person thinks, decides and defines himself mainly in terms of function, usefulness and performance. Since Mercury is also retrograde and combust in the 2nd house, and rules the 11th house in Gemini, this can also indicate that friends may interfere with the native’s resources. These friends are themselves shown as very methodical, due to Mercury in Virgo, but they can also show themselves to be too ego-driven, because of the combustion by the Sun. The retrograde condition does not help in finding friends with a clear and stable profile.
III. The Moon, Subordinates and Structural Weakness
The Moon, which is the sect light, is in the 6th house, cadent, and in Capricorn, in detriment. This is a structurally weak position. It shows an emotional and sensitive level more subject to wear, tension and continuous effort. There is a tendency to live in a mode of demand, work and inner pressure. I do not like this Moon very much also because it rules the 12th house. It is never a good sign when the ruler of the 6th is connected to the 12th, or the ruler of the 12th is connected to the 6th.
It is possible to say that subordinates or employees, signified by the Moon in the 6th, may in the long run reveal themselves as hidden enemies in the 12th, and this can even open the door to legal problems, since the 12th house also signifies prisons. In addition, the Moon’s only applying aspect is a square to Saturn in the 4th house. This creates a lunar narrative that points to problems related to inherited property, family matters, and old and limiting secrets. Saturn in Scorpio adds a fixed, emotional and martial quality to these issues, making them difficult to resolve. It is also not a good sign when the Moon, in its natal motion, applies only to a malefic. The only supportive aspect, a trine to the Sun, is separating, which indicates that there was more cohesion and support in an early phase and that this tends to diminish over time.
IV. The Central Aim: Material Construction
Still, the central theme of this chart is the construction of material value. The Sun in the 2nd house shows that money, resources and the capacity to accumulate are part of the person’s very identity. For this native, having, controlling and managing resources is a direct way of affirming who he is.
The most important planet for concrete realisation is Mars. It is very strong, angular, conjunct the Ascendant, and it rules the 4th house in Scorpio and the 9th house in Aries. One may ask why Venus is not taken as the main professional significator, since it rules the 10th house, which is a house of great importance for career. The reason is that Mars has better strength by position, being close to the cusp of Leo and being better adapted to Leo itself by planetary qualities. It is true that Venus rules the 10th, and her attractive and persuasive power should not be ignored, but here priority is clearly given to Mars.
V. The Problematic Fourth House
The path of the 4th house points to property, structures, real estate, family and material foundations. However, Saturn is in the 4th house, angular, in Scorpio and peregrine. This indicates weight, blocks, delays or inherited problems. There may be heavy family responsibilities, old conflicts or structural issues that slow down or complicate this path, as said above. The fact that the Moon also points to problems here, by applying in square to Saturn, reinforces the idea that this area should be avoided for this purpose. It is not the simplest or most direct way to realisation.
VI. The Ninth House as Vocational Axis
The 9th house in Aries is much more promising. It speaks of worldview, doctrine, teaching, guidance and leadership, but in a practical, direct and combative way. Since the ruler of the 9th is on the Ascendant in Leo, this shows someone who personally embodies what he teaches, defends or promotes. The person himself is the vehicle of the idea, the method or the vision.
In addition, the Lot of Fortune, which is another important hylegical point, is also in Aries. This reinforces that destiny and concrete opportunities of realisation are directly tied to the themes of the 9th house in Aries: practical teaching, transmission of methods, ideological leadership and activities where discipline, combat and performance are central, such as martial arts, physical training, competitive sport or other systems of formation based on effort, hierarchy and self-overcoming. It also points to long-distance travels motivated by these same matters.
VII. Career Expression and Practical Risks
This points to someone who can gain money and status as a leader, instructor, trainer, strategist or founder of some kind of activity based on discipline, performance, competition or training. It can be in sport, in education, in business leadership or in another similar field. The common element is always personal authority, direct example and the capacity to command. However, it is important not to forget the issue of employees, signified by the Moon in the 6th house. If he ever opens a business, it is important to be careful about whom he hires.
There is also another important detail: Jupiter is very strong in this chart, in the 5th house in Sagittarius. The problem is that the 5th house is opposite to Jupiter’s house of joy, which is the 11th. This means that Jupiter in Sagittarius in the 5th can become too inclined towards pleasure, creativity and Sagittarian excesses in a house strongly associated with sexual pleasure, consumption and entertainment. Even though Jupiter is a very strong benefic here, the 5th house can sometimes be misleading for this planet, encouraging excess and lack of measure.
This is even more relevant because Jupiter also rules the 8th house in Pisces, the house of death and dangers. Pleasure can easily lead to unpredictable outcomes. This is even more relevant because Jupiter also rules the 8th house in Pisces, the house of death and dangers. Pleasure can easily lead to unpredictable outcomes. In addition, Jupiter has triplicity in Fire, which also connects it to the Leo Ascendant. This can further push the native to seek out 5th-house matters, so it is important to be aware of this Jupiter pull.
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