There is a
separate horoscope for the two of you and it was discovered by Ronald C.
Davison. This chart shows what happens to the relationship as a whole.
The Davison horoscope (sometimes called the Relationship horoscope) is set up for
the midpoint between two birth dates, times, and places. The birth date
midpoint is difficult to calculate by hand because a year isn't even.
It has 365 1/4 days. And then, of course, there is the matter of leap
years. But don't worry. There are several computer programs to do the
math for you.
We can also
calculate a Composite of the
two individual horoscopes. Composite charts must always be referred to
as charts because they are not true horoscopes. A composite is
constructed by finding the midpoints between the two birth horoscopes.
For instance, the midpoints between the two Suns, the two Moons, the two
Mercurys, etc. The house cusps are found by calculating the composite
Mid-Heaven and then using that to find the rest for a particular
latitude. One thing I don't like about composite charts is that the
Ascendant you get by this method is usually different than the one you
get by simply finding the midpoint of the Ascendants in the two birth
charts. So which one do you use? And which latitude do you use when
figuring out the house cusps? These things have never been determined
with any accuracy. Many astrologers use both the Davison and Composite
charts when giving a relationship reading. I have found the Davison horoscope to be more accurate overall.
Important point! Both of these charts are for the two of you as
a couple. They show things that will tend to happen in the
relationship as well as how you act towards the outside world when you
are together. They have no
effect when you are apart. Let's take a look at some examples.
The first couple
is Phil and Bryn Hartman. For any couple that lives together, the
4th house (domestic environment) and the ruler of the sign on the cusp
(beginning) of the 4th house are very important. It is also necessary to
check the Moon, which is the natural
ruler of the home. In the Davison chart, Pisces is the sign on the
4th, and Neptune, the ruler, is in the 11th house. Look at the aspects.
Neptune is in close conjunction with Saturn, the planet of difficulties
and depression. Both of these planets make a square aspect (90 degrees,
an aspect of obstacles and challenges) to Uranus.
What effect
would we expect here? Neptune rules illusions and delusions. When
Saturn is involved, the two people as
a couple may find it difficult to face reality. It's too
depressing for them, so one or both may try to escape. One of
Neptune's negative ways of doing this is through drugs and alcohol. Of
course with Saturn there, they can't escape.
The
Saturn/Uranus square always produces tension (Saturn says no, Uranus
says yes, so they clash). The combination of all three planets together
obviously leads to problems.
Neptune, in this
horoscope, is what we call the accidental
ruler of the 4th house, because it is just an accident of the birth
times and places that Pisces happens to be on the cusp (beginning) of
the 4th house. The Moon is called the natural
ruler of domestic environment because it rules the sign of Cancer,
sign of the home.
In this
relationship chart, the Moon is in the sign of Aries, sign of action and
aggression. That by itself isn't bad. It simply means a lot of
activity as a couple. But Mars, ruler of Aries, makes a square
aspect (90 degrees, a stress factor) to the Moon, and that
significantly increases the chances of arguments. The Sun and Moon are
also square. In a relationship between a man and a woman, that shows
them to be moving in different directions. This is a really basic
incompatibility. Usually, Davison charts with this aspect indicate a
brief fling. There would have to be some really strong favorable aspects
to counterbalance this one if a marriage is to be beneficial and long
lasting. This horoscope doesn't have them.
The Rising sign
is Scorpio, sign of extremes. All or nothing. Pluto, the ruler of
Scorpio, squares the rising degree. This means that the relationship
will tend to swing from one extreme to another (揑 love you?to 揑
hate you?. This was more of an obsession than a marriage. Venus
opposite the Ascendant is a strong and favorable influence and indicates
affection. Venus is singleton since it is the only planet in an Earth
sign. This means that the 揺nergy?of the chart is drawn to the 7th
house (marriage) and this is a powerful indicator that the two would get
together.
But even here
there are problems. Venus at 26 degrees of Taurus is near Algol, a fixed
star that shows deep subconscious forces coming to the surface (Algol
comes from the Arabic El Goul,
the demon). On top of that, Pluto squares the Venus and that means power
struggles. Love, with this aspect, tends to become manipulative if the
two people involved are not careful. When there are stress aspects to
Pluto, if the relationship ever breaks up the two people are not likely
to be friends. Love turns to hate. But as long as there is a
relationship, the sex is usually great. This is, of course, a Pluto
specialty.
Great sex is
also shown by the triple conjunction of the Sun, Mars (energy) and
Uranus (electrifying) in the 8th house. Unfortunately, Mars also rules
arguments, the Mars/Uranus combination rules guns, and the 8th house
rules death. And that's how the relationship ended.
Another type of
relationship is shown by the Davison horoscope of Bill Clinton and
Monica Lewinsky. In any chart, the Angles,
the Ascendant, Descendant, Mid-Heaven, and Nadir, are of vital
importance. So are the planets that rule the signs on the cusps. The
Ascendant ruler is of particular importance. Libra is the sign on the
Ascendant and it is ruled by Venus. Venus is making a strong conjunction
with Saturn, planet of difficulties, obstacles, delays, and just plain
bad luck. Throw the chart away right here folks. This relationship sucks
(pun intended).
Astrologers
frequently get clients with Davison charts like this claiming that the
other person is their 搒oul mate?and asking for a good wedding
date. Sometimes these clients know a little about astrology and these
are the worst one to read. 揃ut doesn't Saturn have a good side??
they say. 揑sn't it 憈he Lord of Karma?. Can't it teach us
important lessons??Well Bill and Monica certainly learned a lesson,
didn't they?
Venus, the
Ascendant ruler, makes conjunction aspects with both Saturn
(difficulties) and Mars (action). All three sit on the Nadir (the end of
the matter) and square the Ascendant. Of course, anything that is at the
bottom is opposite the top, the Mid-Heaven, the public
image. Both Bill and Monica did have their public images go through
changes. Oh yes. Venus rules two signs, so it usually rules two houses.
The other Venus sign is Taurus and it is found on the cusp of the 8th
house. That's the house of sex. So far, we have the ruler of the
Ascendant and the house of sex conjunct Saturn, planet of difficulties,
and Mars, (action) and all three are stressfully configured with the
Mid-Heaven so that everything comes before the public.
The Sun is the
heart of the horoscope and is important in any interpretation. It sits
in the 5th house (romance) and shows that the two people can have fun
together ( at least until it's time to pay the bill). Uranus is
opposite the Sun. Another stress aspect and it won't be the last. This
one makes people tend to do crazy, impulsive things. By itself,
Sun/Uranus stress aspects show a relationship that is exciting but
unstable and short lived. Sometimes these relationships can go on for a
long time, but only intermittently. The two people involved see each
other at short intervals and then spend long periods apart.
The Moon shows
the relationship's emotions,
the mutual emotions shared by the two people as well as their
instinctive reactions. Should we be surprised to find it in the 8th
house, the house that rules sex?
And what are the Moon's aspects? A square to Uranus, planet of
unusual, sudden, and unexpected changes. That aspect usually means that
an intimate relationship won't last too long. The emotions flare up
for a brief time and everything is exciting. Then, like a lighting
flash, it's gone. By the way, the Moon rules the Mid-Heaven (public
image) and this makes it more likely that what these people do sexually
will be noticed.
Surprise!
The Moon also
has a square with Mercury, planet of reasoning, showing that both of
them weren't exactly
models of rationality. Incidentally,
Mercury rules the sign of Virgo, and Virgo is on the cusp of the 12th
house. That's the house of self-undoing,
the house that shows how we can mess ourselves up. Mercury, ruler of
self-undoing, sits in the 5th house, making a connection between self
destructive actions and romance.
Let's not
forget the effect of chart shape.
The Moon is isolated from the other planets so it acts like the spout on
a funnel and focuses all of the chart's 揺nergy.?This means that
the thrust of the horoscope is towards emotions (the Moon) and the house
of sex.
I抳e included
the planetoid Chiron here
because it adds to the picture (like it really needs to be added to,
right?). Chiron shows were we have problems that never seem to go away.
It is located in the 5th house (romance) and squares the Moon. Remember,
the Moon rules the Mid-Heaven (public image) and the square is a stress
indicator showing the negative effect on public image to be permanent.
Ok, do we notice
any trends here?
It is important
to remember to check everything before jumping to conclusions about a
relationship. In this case though, you don't have to jump. There are
so many indicators, you are pushed.
There is still
the question of the specific effect a relationship has on each of the
participants. That will be covered in the next chapter, the 揗arks
Chart.?o:p>
Davison
Charts for Events:
I gave a lecture
on the astrology of relationships at the June 2000 NCGR conference in
New York. While I was preparing the talk, I had an idea. Synastry,
comparing the aspects between two charts, can show us a little of what
goes on in a relationship. The Davison chart shows us even more. Now
astrologers have, for centuries, used transits to make forecasts. This
means looking at the planets for a particular time and checking the
aspects they make to the planets in the birth chart. That reminded me of
synastry.
If you took
someone's horoscope and the chart for the time and place of an event
in their lives, you could make a Davison chart for the event. Would
that Davison horoscope give us some more information about what went
on? I thought of this while I was running off the Marks charts for Phil
and Bryn Hartman. The horoscope for the murder was right next to theirs
in my computer files. It only took a few clicks to make Davison charts
for each of them with the murder time. The results were dramatic.
The chart for Phil
Hartman and the Murder
(the Davison chart made from Phil
Hartman's horoscope and the chart for the time of the murder) has the
Ascendant in Aquarius. Uranus, the Ascendant ruler is in the 8th house
(death) and it makes a close opposition to Mars (action, aggression,
violence) in Aries. Stress aspects between Mars and Uranus are
associated with sudden, violent accidents and gunshots. Mercury squares
both planets forming a T-Cross in Cardinal signs (action). Mercury rules
the signs of Gemini and Virgo. Gemini is on the cusp (beginning) of the
4th house (home). Virgo is intercepted in the chart's 7th house
(partners).
The Moon forms a
close conjunction to Saturn (depression, 揵ad luck? in the 4th
house (the home). The Sun was forming a close square to Neptune. Aspects
that are forming are increased in strength. Neptune rules illusions and
dreams. It also rules the substances that can bring these about: drugs
and alcohol. Phil Hartman was shot while he was sleeping by his wife
who, according to the autopsy report, had alcohol, antidepressants, and
cocaine in her blood. He never knew what hit him.
The Chart for Bryn
Hartman and the Murder was equally chilling. This is the Davison chart made from Bryn's horoscope and the chart for the time of the
murder. Any planet in the 1st house has a strong effect on the whole
chart. This one has Neptune there (dreams, illusions, drugs).
The Sun (the
揾eart?of any horoscope) is forming an opposition to Uranus. Any
aspect within one degree from exact is considered to be powerful. This
one is just 1/10 of a degree from exact! Mars (action, violence) squares
both of them forming a
T-Cross. Guess where Mars is. The 8th house. The house of Death. Added
to that is Mercury (the mind) opposite Pluto (obsession).
Ironically,
Venus, the planet of love and affection, is opposite the Ascendant. She
loved him even while she was killing him.
Two anecdotal
cases, no matter how dramatic, don't constitute conclusive evidence
that this method works. They do, however, show that there may be
something here worth investigating. Try it out with events from your own
life. Make Davison charts from the horoscopes of those events with your
own chart and see what you get.
One word of Warning
though. Be sure to have the exact time of the event. If you don't, the
results could be thrown off.
If Davison event charts work, then when you make an Election
Horoscope (a horoscope constructed in advance for something you want
to do) you should also make a Davison event chart from the election
horoscope and your own to see the effect that his event will have on
you.
It goes without
saying that if you see Saturn on one of the angles, pick a different
time.
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