8/11/2019 Layout of the Chart Western Astrology Articles by Julene Packer-Louis

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8/11/2019 Layout of the Chart Western Astrology Articles by Julene Packer-Louis

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and forms the 1st and 7th house cusps. Where the Horizon meets the Ecliptic in the east is the Ascendantof the horoscope, the cusp of the 1st house. This is also the sunrise point. Where the horizon meets theEcliptic in the west is the Descendant in the chart, the cusp of the 7th house. This is also the sunset point.The Horizon divides the north and south hemispheres of the chart. The southern hemisphere of thehoroscope is that which is above the horizon: houses 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, and 7. The northern hemisphere of the horoscope is that which is below the horizon: houses 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. If this seems strange to havenorth on the bottom, consider that you have to face to south to see the Ecliptic. Go outside at noon andlook for the Sun. You'll be facing south. (In the southern hemisphere, this is reversed. You face north to seethe ecliptic when you are below the Equator.)

The line that runs vertical across the middle of the horoscope is the Meridian . The great circle Meridianalso shares its center with Earth. In order to define the Meridian, we have to define the zenith and nadir.Imagine a pole running straight up out of the top of your head and straight down out of your feet throughthe center of earth and emerging on the other side. Where that pole hits the heavens above your head isthe zenith. Where it hits the heavens underfoot on the other side of Earth is the nadir. Now imagine a hoopconnecting the zenith and nadir to the north and south poles of Earth and passing through the Ecliptic inthe north and south. You've traced out the meridian. Where the Meridian meets the Ecliptic in the south isthe Midheaven of the chart, the cusp of the 10th house. This is also the "high noon" position. Where theMeridian meets the Ecliptic in the north is the Imum Colei, the cusp of the 4th house. This is also the"midnight" position.

Layout of the Chart Western Astrology Articles by Julene Packer-Louis