When it comes to understanding love in the context of astrology, the planet Venus is usually one's go-to in an analysis. It's the planet of love, pleasure, and beauty after all! Depending on which sign she rests it, Venus symbolizes the values and attitudes we have towards affection and devotion. The planet acts as a magnet, attracting lovers or circumstances with qualities that reflect your sign's energy.

While Venus is an important indicator of someone's tendencies in love, it's important to consider how it relates to our 7th house, the house of long-term relationships and partnerships. This house is naturally ruled by Venus, and in conjunction, the sign Libra. The archetype of the scales brings balance to the symbol of the ram (Aries // 1st house // Mars) and both represent the axis between the self vs others.

When someone asks me to interpret their attitudes towards love, I always consider what sign the 7th house is in and whether or not it contains planets. Since the 7th house is an angular house (any house ruled by a cardinal sign, the 1st/4th/7th/10th), having planets nearby activate an already influential area of our lives.

The etymology of the word "cardinal" originates from the Latin word "cardo," meaning hinge. In a metaphorical sense, the Cardinal houses of our natal chart represent important areas of our human experience that can pivot and change our destiny. And of course, long-term relationships (whether romantic, familial, plutonic, or business) have the power to impact the course and directions of our lives.

This person's 7th house is located in Libra and contains a Chiron in Scorpio. Their Venus sign is in Aquarius and located in the 10th house of career and achievements. Venus forms a trine with their Mars in Libra, which is resting in the 6th house. All of these factors should be considered when analyzing the 7th house, as every aspect and placement in a natal chart informs the expression of their energies.

Chiron's close proximity to the 7th house angle means this person will struggle with their subconscious wounds related to partnerships. The asteroid Chiron indicates our greatest hurt as well as our healing potential, and it's placement in the 7th house reveals he may be able to understand relationship conflicts at a distance but struggles to apply this insight to his own problems.

There may be fears related to unification and a sense of doubt that he can succeed in committed relationships. Since this person is close to me, I know his parents were already in the process of divorce when he was born. His early memories of the archetypical "couple" was fraught with turmoil and resentment, which has informed his perspective of partnerships. 

Given this unstable example of this relationship amongst other experiences and pre-existing feelings, he is a hesitant person when it comes to love. It takes a long time for him to feel comfortable around people and even then, I sense there are blockages between him and his longing to trust others. Given the fact that his 7th house is in Libra, he has a strong desire to forge long-term commitments with others. Chiron's hovering presence indicates an opportunity for him to transform his fear of trust and union into actions that can sustain the harmony he craves.

Let's turn our attention to Chart #2, where we also see another planet close to the 7th house.

Chart #2

This individual's 7th house is located in another Venusian ruled sign, Taurus. Her Mars is only two degrees apart from her Descendent (another name for the 7th house angle) and is squaring Jupiter and opposing Neptune. These angles and the square between Neptune and Jupiter all form a T-square, a potent aspect that brings tension and conflict between all planets and houses involved. Since this aspect is located in the 1st/7th/10th house, these area of her life will be greatly impacted by its energy.

But let's break it down so we can pinpoint how it specifically affects the 7th house. With a 7th house in Taurus, this person likes to feel grounded and comfortable in her relationships. She needs to share similar values with the people she forms strong bonds with, especially as they relate to money and security. However, the shadow side of this placement usually manifests in her choosing partners that are practical in a literal and financial sense. Yet her Venus in Aries, located in the 5th house of creativity and pleasure, reveals a conflict with this instinct.

With Venus in Aries, this person seeks thrills and adventures in the realm of love. She is courageous and bold in her expression of affection and enjoys others who appreciate her individualistic and headstrong perspective. But her attitudes about what love should be conflicts with the qualities she seeks in her long-term partners. This is why Venus and the 7th house must be analyzed together; we're beginning to see a bigger, more complicated picture of this person's attitudes and tendencies.

Since each experience and manifestation of the houses are influenced by the ones before it, we can see that having a 5th and 6th house ruled by Aries (with Chiron, Venus, and Saturn all in Aries caught in between them) established a rather reckless and irresponsible approach to her romantic self-expression and day-to-day responsibilities. Therefore, a 7th house in Taurus is going to be hyper-sensitive to the impatient and quick-tempered whims of fiery Aries and attempt to ground her in the arena of long-term commitments.

Presently, this person feels stuck in a marriage that satisfies her need for financial security but not for her restless and creative spirit. And with her Mars so close to her 7th house, her relationships have a tendency to be rife with power struggles and aggression because she is attracted to individuals with strong Aries/Taurus placements. The opposition between Mars and Neptune in Scorpio heightens her conflicting desires between her need for action in relationships and her ever-shifting individuality while the square between Mars and Jupiter in Leo may create impulsive urges that are destructive if not channeled appropriately. 

In both natal charts, we see activated 7th houses that manifest in different ways depending on the their placements and other planetary influences. It demonstrates how there are many factors to consider when analyzing someone else's or your own attitudes and tendencies towards love and relationships.

***

If you'd like to know more about your natal chart, particularly your 7th house, I do custom and packaged astrology readings. Send me an email at mercurial.astro.musings@gmail.com if you'd like to purchase one or have more inquiries. :~)

✶ ✶ ✶

1. Men and women of the same sign act "differently."

2. Your chart is responsible for your actions.

3. Astrology isn't backed by science.

4. The Sun sign is the most important placement in a chart.

5. Some signs are worse than others.

First and foremost, I like to use Astrodienst for my natal chart calculations. I find it to be reliable, accurate, and extensive because it offers many different styles of drawings for your chart. While a bit complicated for the beginner astrologer, I think it's much better to start out this site as opposed to Cafe Astrology. A lot of people use the later for chart interpretations but I find it very limited, as it doesn't give you the full visual scope of planetary aspects and what houses the planets are in.

I recommend entering your birth information into Astrodienst to follow along with this tutorial. Just click the Free Horoscopes tab under the website's logo to be directed to the page below. When you click the Extended Chart Section, you'll be prompted to enter your birth information.

As you can see, it's possible to create charts for people as well as events and dates. I'm going to create a chart that shows where the stars are at the time and place of writing this guide. It's important to know the exact time and place of birth for the person (or event) you're calculating the chart for in order to get the most accurate information.

Once you've entered the details, you'll be directed a page that allows you to choose different options for calculating your chart. I'd recommend playing around with what they have to offer, including different chart types and house systems. But for now, choose the default setting "Natal Chart Wheel" and select the name of the chart you've just entered. 

Viola, your chart has been drawn! Let's deconstruct what this all means. 

While complicated and nuanced, understanding the houses begins with learning which aspects of life they correspond to. Here is a list that explains the basics: 

1st (ruled by Mars) = House of the Self

2nd (ruled by Venus) = House of Values

3rd (ruled by Mercury) = House of Communication

4th (ruled by the Moon) = House of Emotions and Home

5th (ruled by the Sun) = House of Love Affairs and Creativity

6th (ruled by Mercury) = House of Work and Health

7th (ruled by Venus) = House of Relationships

8th (ruled by Pluto) = House of Death and Regeneration

9th (ruled by Jupiter) = House of Higher Conscious

10th (ruled by Saturn) = House of Career

11th (ruled by Uranus) = House of Community 

12th (ruled by Neptune) = House of Karma and Dreams

You'll notice that each houses is ruled by the planets of the zodiac. The cyclic and symbolic nature of the natal chart wheel demonstrates that each planetary energy is present and influential within our lives. 

I'll talk more about the relationship between the houses and the planets but first let's discuss the planets themselves. In the screenshot below, we see a smaller chart that details which sign each planet is in. The planets are channels for expressing who we are. Without a complete analysis of all of them, we run the risk of a superficial interpretation. There are two categories of planets, known as the inner and outer planets. 

Inner planets are planets closest to the Sun. They are the Moon, Mercury, Venus, and Mars. The sign these planets are in, which houses they're located, and what aspects they form with other planets reveal information about our general personalities and how we express ourselves. They pass through signs much quicker than the outer planets, making their impact on our lives more evident in a tangible way.

Outer planets are planets farther from the sun. They are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. They represent our subconscious and spirituality. Placements and aspects to the inner planets reveal deeper, more elusive parts of the self. They also take longer to orbit the Sun and have a greater impact on longer periods of our lives. 

In this natal chart drawing, we also see the True Node and Chiron, which are not actually planets. The True Node (also known as the North Node) is a point where the Moon's orbit around Earth intersects with the Sun. The South Node (or descending Node) is not featured in this chart but is always the opposite sign of the True Node. So if the True Node is in Cancer, then the South Node is in Capricorn. 

Chiron's status as a minor planet is contested as it exhibits behaviors of a comet. Regardless of its celestial makeup, Chiron's role in our chart corresponds to the mythology of a Greek centaur. Chiron was a healer and teacher who could not heal himself. Therefore, Chiron in astrology represents the part of ourselves that are deeply wounded, but that holds great capacity to heal and help others.

♀Venus (ruling planet of Taurus/Libra) = Our attitudes about and expression of love

 ♂ Mars (ruling planet of Aries/Scorpio) = Our ability to take action and our desires

 ♆ Neptune (ruling planet of Pisces) = Our spiritual visions, imagination, & psychic abilities

To understand the qualities of the 4 elements, we only have to look at the scientific and cultural interpretations we already know. Earth is the land we depend on; it grows our food, provides shelter, and solidifies our connection with other life forms. Therefore, Earth signs (Capricorn, Taurus, and Virgo) are reliable, stubborn, and stable.

Air exists all around us. It's an element we take for granted because its invisible. It gives us oxygen, which not only allows us to survive but gives us the ability to speak. Our breath and intellectual ability to create language are attributed to air. Thus, Air signs are communicative, elusive, and versatile. 

Water nourishes the Earth as well as our bodies. It's the conduit for spiritual and emotional energy, aligned with the Moon which moves the tides in the ocean and our hearts. Water signs are sensitive, receptive, and moody. 

Fire erupts in volcanic explosions or fades like a fickle flame. It's the inspiration that sparks in our imaginations, energy that pushes us forward into action. It warms our bodies as much as it fuels our passions. Fire signs are intuitive, romantic, and impulsive.

Within the chart I've created, five planets are in Fire signs (as you can see in the category F). If this was a natal chart for an individual, they would have prevalent fire sign qualities such as impulsivity, creativity, and a passionate attitude about life. The lack of Earth in their chart (only two planets) indicates a problem with creating a reliable foundation to fall back on when their instinctive behavior gets them into trouble. With four planets in Water signs, they would be deeply sensitive to their feelings and surroundings. Perceiving other people's emotions and subconscious motivations would be a distinguishing skillset, one they might take for granted depending on their level of awareness. And finally, with three planets in Air signs, this person's value of communication depends on which signs the planets are in. A Moon air placement indicates the desire to express one's interior self verbally or a tendency to deny their intuition in favor of their logical processing. 

As you can tell, this analysis is a bit vague because it's not considering many other aspects of this person's chart. Let's go a step further by revealing the three qualities (or modes) of the signs. Each one corresponds with the three stages of the four seasons.

Cardinal (Capricorn, Cancer, Libra, Aries) = Beginning of the season, the initiator of the Zodiac. Excellent at starting projects but struggles to finish them. Usually has a strong sense of action.

Fixed (Taurus, Scorpio, Leo, Aquarius) = Middle of the season, the signs that carry out the purpose of the season. Reliable and persevering but sometimes to the point of unyielding stubbornness. 

Mutable (Sagittarius, Gemini, Virgo, Pisces) = End of the season, the mediator between changing energies. Adaptable signs that prefer dynamic changes. Often restless and inconsistent. 

Let's refer back to the part of the chart that mentions the frequency and placement of these qualities.

Symbolized by the C for Cardinal, F for Fixed, and M for Mutable, this imaginary person's natal chart is dominated by Mutable energy with some Cardinal energy and absolutely no Fixed energy. Therefore, they are likely to be highly adaptable to change, preferring a lifestyle that fluctuates often to stimulate their tendency to be bored and fickle. Since their Sun, Mercury, Ascendant, Moon, and Mars are in Mutable signs that are mostly Fire, the way they communicate, present themselves, act, and feel are are going to be passionate, volatile, dynamic, and capricious. They may struggle with finding balance and stability in their everyday reality as well as in their philosophical and spiritual values (since Neptune, Jupiter, and Chiron are all in mutable signs). 

The lack of Fixed energy means they aren't stubborn but also have difficulties committing to projects, ideas, people, or jus general consistency. There might be a sense of never feeling like they belong, as they are constantly jumping from one experience to the next for the sake of stimulation as opposed to actual need. With the presence of Cardinal energy, they love beginnings, especially in relationships and work (Venus and Midheaven, which is another name for the10th house, are both in Cardinal signs) but get bored once the novelty of newness wears off. The lesson here is learning to value consistency and stability, as it provides a foundation for the growth and expansion this person needs to feel purposeful. 

Now that you have a basic understanding of the the elements and qualities of each sign, it's time to delve into the details about each Zodiac sign. I'm hoping that learning about the houses and what they represent alongside the planets, elements, and modes, you'll already be able to fill in the gaps about what each individual sign represents. 

Here's a handy graphic I've created for you to learn and memorize the symbols for each sign. Unfortunately, memorizing is a big part of the journey into the realm of astrology. But application of this knowledge is going to be the most important in solidifying your understanding! An excellent way to do this is to use your own natal chart in your analysis of each sign. While some signs may be more prevalent than others, it's still a useful method for aligning your technical knowledge with your intuitive intelligence. 

Here's a list of each sign of the zodiac with a couple positive and negative traits for both. Remember this is just a basic explanation of each energy, not a full comprehensive analysis.

Aries (symbolized by the Ram) = Assertive and courageous // Impatient and quick tempered 

Taurus (symbolized by the Bull) = Sensuous and patient // Materialistic and stubborn

Gemini (symbolized by the Twins) = Articulate and witty // Anxious and devious

Cancer (symbolized by the Crab) = Protective and sympathetic // Moody and lamenting

Leo (symbolized by the Lion) = Confident and dramatic // Conceited and excessive

Virgo (symbolized by the Virgin) = Precise and analytical // Hyper-critical and neurotic 

Libra (symbolized by the Scales) = Charming and gracious // Indecisive and superficial

Scorpio (symbolized by the Scorpion) = Mysterious and resourceful // Jealous and distrusting

Sagittarius (symbolized by the Archer) = Honest and idealistic // Fickle and irresponsible 

Capricorn (symbolized by the Goat) = Ambitious and methodical // Pessimistic and brutal 

Aquarius (symbolized by the Water Bearer) = Inventive and altruistic // Erratic and impersonal

Pisces (symbolized by the Fishes) = Mystical and imaginative // Escapist and self-doubting

Mercury in Sagittarius is now retrograde, creating waves of panic throughout the internet. Everyone loves to scapegoat the messenger planet for wrecking havoc on their plans and communication, rather than prepare for the potential mishaps it can cause. I urge you to focus on the later, and allow room in your schedule and life for a little chaos. Malfunction and rerouting doesn't have to be negative! Sometimes getting lost leads to an astonishing discovery.

Since Mercury appears to go backwards in the sky through high-minded Sagittarius, the expression of our ideals are muddled if you're not precise. Sagittarius likes to talk and loves to argue so be wary of circumstances or conversations where you're more motivated to prove a point rather than listen to another perspective. When any planet is retrograde, it's a cue for listening. In the context of Mercury, it can manifest in a literal sense like allowing other people to speak or it can mean taking time to consider the needs of your heart. Meditation, quiet time, and prayer are lovely practices you can incorporate to work with retrograde energy. 

Work is the key word here. And I'm not just saying that because I'm a Capricorn. If you don't work with Mercury retrograde, it's going to feel like you've been steamrolled. Take responsibility for the disarray of your expectations and the turmoil of everyday life. Frustrations are usually clues as to what you're not investing enough energy or time into, or aspects of your reality that are thoughtless and empty. While everyone is likely to experience their own internal or external conflicts, consciousness and communication is an important theme to consider. As Sagittarius rules philosophy and our belief systems (whether religion, politics, ethics, ect), Mercury retrograde asks: Does your way of speaking and listening reflect your ideals? Are you speaking just to speak, or to engage and understand? In what ways can you grow beyond mindless thoughts and idleness to become more aware? 

While Mercury emphasizes our consciousness, Mars in Pisces is illuminating how our subconscious drives our actions. Intuition and our dreams will be the focus of this transit, further emphasizing the necessity of introspection. Neptune is also in its home planet Pisces, meaning that clarity is elusive. This will irritate the Earth signs, throw off the Fire signs, scatter the Air signs, and comfort the Water signs. Whether or not you like or dislike this transit, it's important to consider one of the key traits of Pisces: fluidity. Nothing is fixed for this sign; just as water doesn't have a beginning or end. It's a consistent flow. If we can expect anything from Mars and Neptune in Pisces, its ability to push us along with the tides.

While the qualities Mars in Pisces may appear to conflict with Mercury retrograde's necessity for precision, I think it reflects the extremes in the cycle of growth. How else do we understand clarity without first experiencing vague ambiguity? Or of not knowing? We need Mercury to think and we need Mars to do. When we act without considering the impact, we're unbalanced. When we think too much, we hesitate and remain inactive. Mars in Pisces and Mercury in Sagittarius are giving us the opportunity to align our conscious mind with our subconscious soul. Our actions and words must reflect our interior worlds to better foster connectedness with the external world.

And who do we have to help us in this struggle for balance? Venus in Libra bestows us with her grace, imbued with newfound wisdom after traveling to the underworld and back. Venus retrograde didn't drudge up our baggage and drag us on Twitter for no reason. Her purpose was to illuminate the underbelly of our consciousness for the sake of integrating the shadow self. For the sake of exposing what we reject, refuse, and shame. Only through this process of digging and uncovering our roots can we understand how to grow bigger branches. Not to tell you I told you so, but astrology is all about the work. Are you committed? If not, this astrology will be apocalyptic. If so, you won't even need a Mercury Retrograde Survival Guide. You're already on the path of becoming. 

Stay Mercurious,

Cassidy

Scorpio season is almost over! But for Drake it's non-stop. With Sun, Pluto, Venus, and Mercury in Scorpio forming a stellium in his chart, I can only imagine the impact on his life as planets pass through his ruling sign. He seems to be aware of his Scorpio dominant chart, as his latest album was entitled Scorpion. But is he really aware of all the nuances that brings?

I'm going to be analyzing Drake's birth chart, as a way to ease the tension that Scorpio planets have created for all of us. I'll be honest, Drake's oscillating personas of sad lonely fuckboy and arrogant money-making bigshot irritates me to no end. But his well-produced songs and his natal chart is a source of fascination, especially since they mirror one another. For this post, I'll be pairing some aspects of his natal chart with some of his songs that represent the general aura of those placements.

Looking at Drake's chart, I notice immediately his chart dominants are Scorpio and Sagittarius. Six of his planets divide evenly between the 3th and 4th house, indicating these energies manifest into the aspects of Drake's life that reflect his communication styles and relationship to the home and his feelings.

Even without knowing his chart, Drake is clearly ruled by the intense emotional drive of Scorpio energy. He sings often about being haunted by failed relationships, fearfulness around intimacy, and a strong desire to trust people whole-heartedly. These are heightened by his Venus being retrograde, which overall makes his expression of love difficult and blocked. It could also mean that his affection and devotion are just rerouted, perhaps making its way into his lyrics rather than said directly to those he loves.

With an Ascendent Leo, it's easy for him to disguise these problems with a confident front. He presents himself to the world as Drake the entertainer, protected by the guises of money and notoriety. But with a Chiron in Gemini located in his 10th house of career, his desire to reveal his true self shines through his lyrics. Since Chiron reflects where one is wounded, Drake may struggle with communicating effectively or maybe even clearly. It's interesting he chose a career in rapping, where speaking one's mind is the medium's standard. 

Because Chiron also represents our ability to heal others (but not ourselves), Drake may use music as a way to touch other people. For many, listening to music is a way to express or unlock feelings and words one might not be able to come up with themselves. If anything, Drake gives his fans the opportunity for them to speak through him. This is the blessing of Chiron, and by choosing a Gemini-orientated career, perhaps Drake is finding healing for himself as well.

Drake's natal chart, courtesy of www.astrotheme.com

Grand Trine // "God's Plan"

Drake has two Grand Trines, illustrated by the two blue triangles overlapping in his natal chart. The first one is between the Moon in Cancer, Jupiter in Pisces, and Venus in Scorpio. I'd like to focus on this one, as his expansion in life relies on his emotions, craft, and relationships. Individuals born with Grand Trines usually experience grand and easy successes; often times, at a rapid, and unexplainable pace. And Drake has two of these! God's Plan is an idea fit for this lucky three-point aspect, as it describes how celestial influences has kept Drake safe from his haters.

Sun in Scorpio conjunct Pluto in Scorpio // "Can't Take a Joke"

As if Drake's Scorpio influences weren't overwhelming enough, this aspect heightens his aggressive drive and penetrating nature. With his Sun located at the 0° of Scorpio, he possesses a tendency to jump into conflicts without second thought. At his worst, he can seem cold and cruel but it's most likely a front. Pluto rules power and Drake is no doubt attracted to emulating power. In the song "Can't Take a Joke" off his newest album Scorpion, some of his lyrics reference how difficult it is for him to sit back while people talk shit about him. This idea is present in many of his other songs, as he likes to address his haters while simultaneously defending his image or pride (definitely not helped by his Ascendent Leo). 

Sun in Scorpio square Mars in Aquarius // "6 Man"

Hot-headed, temperamental, and a desire to get things done and fast are all attributes of a Sun square Mars. His song "6 Man" embodies the competitive and lone-wolf spirit of Mars energy fueled by conflict. With a square creating tension between these two planets, Mars is trying to outshine the Sun with ruthless aggression. The line "I kill careers and cut the lights off, this shit is frightenin'" and his metaphor of being Michael Meyers represents this difficult, but electric square aspect. 

Moon in Cancer opposition Neptune in Capricorn // "4422"

With the opaque clouds of Neptune hiding the Moon in Cancer, there's a tendency to confuse illusion with reality. This highly sensitive placement requires deep understanding of where feelings of distrust and fear originate from. Drake may be prone to deception, whether it's attracting people who aren't honest with their intentions or relying on the general perspective of mistrust. I found this collaboration with Sampha to be incredibly fitting, as his emotional lyrics paired with the ethereal production of the track are an auditory interpretation of this hazy aspect. Regardless of what the song is actually about, it evokes the emotional despair of being unsure of whether or not trust another person with one's vulnerability

Jupiter in Pisces Rx square Saturn in Sagittarius // "Elevate"

The challenge of this aspect reveals itself in an individual's oscillation between boastful confidence and debilitating self-doubt. There's a strong drive to prove oneself to be worthy of recognition, achieved by working above and beyond normal expectations. I see this struggle within Drake's song "Elevate," as he attempts to balance his desire for creative expression with the limiting influence of Saturn. The lyrics: "Only obligation is to tell it straight / So much on my plate I gotta delegate" are particularly revealing of his need to expand his luck and opportunity through hard-work and dedication.