CHAPTER 1

THE CHART AS A WHOLE

The first step in interpreting a chart involves considering the chart as a wholeand assessing its overall patterns, as well as the balances or imbalances whichexist among the primary astrological variables.

A1. Predominant Element

(How many? Circle the number if more than 5 out of 14 possible points.)

The fire signs are Aries, Leo and Sagittarius; the earth signs, Taurus, Virgoand Capricorn; the air signs, Gemini, Libra and Aquarius; and the water signs.Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces.

To determine the predominant element in any chart, add up the number of fire,earth, air and water signs which contain planets, as well as the signs of theascendant and the mid-heaven. Using a 14-point scale, count the Sun and Moonsigns as 2, the signs of the other planets as 1, and the signs of the ascendantand midheaven as 1. If a planet is between 29 degrees of one sign and 0 degreesof the next sign and direct, or between 0–1 degrees of a sign and retrograde, itis under the influence of both, and its count should be divided between the twosigns in question.

Consider the element count in a chart with the planet and angle positions asshown in table 1 on page 20.

A well-balanced chart would have 3 to 4 counts each of fire, earth, air andwater signs. Five counts of any element is an emphasis; six or more counts is anextreme emphasis. In the example given here, the predominant element air ismoderately strong.

The following keywords should help you to interpret the emphasized elements in achart. Insert "very" before each of these keywords when there are 5 counts of aparticular element; insert "extremely" if there are 6 or more counts.

People with 6 or more fire signs may also be dominating, fast-paced, andinclined to invest all of themselves into their activities. They may havedifficulty perceiving other people as separate individuals, with their own validneeds and desires.

People with 6 or more earth signs will be concerned with concrete details andtangible results. They will operate most frequently in the world of theirsenses, attuned to their immediate environment, to their physical bodies, and tosensory comforts and pleasures.

People with 6 or more air signs usually live in their minds, restlessly seekingknowledge and sharing their thoughts with other people. Somewhat impersonal,they nevertheless thrive on communication and social interaction.

People with 6 or more water signs frequently lose themselves in their feelingsor the feelings of other people, and have difficulty maintaining theirseparateness. Their extreme sensitivity often leads them to withdraw intothemselves. Often quite psychic, they respond with great compassion to the needsof other people.

A2. Weakest Element

(How many? Circle if 0 or 1 of 14.)

If a chart has 0 or 1 of an element, or if all the counts of one element arethose of outer planets, the individual in question may be markedly deficient inthe characteristics of that element. Two counts of an element indicates a minordeficiency. Sometimes, other variables in a chart can at least partiallycompensate for this deficiency.

Compensations for 0 or 1 fire counts include: Mars in a fire sign (particularlyAries); Mars in a focal position (conjunct an angle, at the end of a t-square orat the handle of a bucket); Mars in, or to some extent ruling a fire house(particularly the 1st house); Mars conjunct Sun, Jupiter or Moon; Jupiter inSagittarius; or a cardinal emphasis.

Compensations for 0 or 1 earth counts include: Saturn in an earth sign(particularly Capricorn); a focal Saturn (conjunct an angle, at the end of a t-squareor at the handle of a bucket); Saturn in, or to some extent ruling anearth house (particularly the 10th house); Saturn conjunct Sun, Mercury or Mars;Mercury in Virgo; Venus in Taurus; or an emphasis on fixed signs.

Compensations for 0 or 1 air include: Mercury in an air sign (particularlyGemini); a focal Mercury (conjunct an angle, at the end of a t-square or at thehandle of a bucket); Mercury in, or to some extent ruling an air house(particularly the 3rd house); Mercury in Virgo; Mercury conjunct Sun; Uranus orVenus; Venus in Libra; or a mutable emphasis.

Compensations for 0 or 1 water include: Moon in, or to some extent ruling awater house (particularly the 4th house); a focal Moon (conjunct an angle, atthe end of a t-square or at the handle of a bucket); Moon conjunct Sun, Neptuneor Pluto; or an emphasis on mutable signs.

These compensations should be taken into account when assessing the importanceof a particular deficiency in a chart. Such compensations may not substitute fora lack of an element; they may simply increase the desire to express thatelement, without giving the natural ability to function accordingly.

Nevertheless, because people who are weak in an element have not developed mostof that element's characteristics, they usually are aware of their lack andstrive to overcome it. Initially, their attempts to compensate for an inherentlack may lead them to appear as if the element in question is strong in theircharts. However, because they usually strive to attune to its energy andincorporate it into their lives, they may try too hard, and express the elementin an unnatural manner.

Although they struggle to become self-expressive and assertive, these peoplealternate between withholding themselves and expressing themselves in an overlydramatic manner. They may become mired in a hectic schedule of impersonalactivities or may, in contrast, become overly preoccupied with their personalexperience. Because they are not often aware of or enthusiastic about newpossibilities, they may look to others for inspiration and motivation. Theyoften feel passive and detached or uninvolved; they seek deeper personal andemotional involvement in life.

These people often develop...