We've divided the chart into twelve houses and then explored Angular, Succedent, and Cardinal houses. You probably think that's enough astrological division, but (you knew there was a but, right?) we have another way to divvy up the birth chart.
Introducing the hemispheres! (This would be an excellent name for an R&B group.)
There are four different sections of the chart called hemispheres. Each hemisphere has six houses occupying it. There is a top (southern), bottom (northern), left (eastern), and right (western) hemisphere.
When you first look at the chart, you may be confused to see that south is on the top hemisphere, north on the bottom, east to the left, while west is on the right hemisphere. You're probably wondering what's up with that. There is an explanation: the earth is tilted on its axis. This means if you're in the northern hemisphere, you're actually looking down, not up to see to see the sun. Charts are therefore drawn with the south on top. They're drawn the same if you live in the southern hemisphere, but the calculations are a bit different. This concept took me a long time to grasp, so don't freak if you have to scratch your head for a minute here.
Without further ado, here are the four hemispheres:
The Southern Hemisphere: This is the top half of the chart, composed of houses 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12. Many planets here indicate a social nature—people who enjoy being in the outer world or in the public eye. These might be extroverts!
The Northern Hemisphere: This is the bottom half of the chart, composed of Houses 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Tons of planets here indicate a private nature and people who are more focused on their inner world. People with a bottom-heavy chart might be more introverted. Keep in mind that these types can be just as driven and social as the charts with busy southern hemispheres, but they always need to retreat to their “home base.”
The Eastern Hemisphere: This is the left half of the chart, composed of houses 10, 11, 12, 1, 2, and 3. People with a lot of planets here tend to be highly motivated. They like to take the initiative and go after what they want. These are strong-willed individuals and total go-getters. This portion of the chart is where you sow the seeds.
The Western Hemisphere: This is the right half of the chart, composed of houses 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. People with an emphasis here need to have some sort of nudge to take action. In other words, they kinda sit around and wait for things to come to them before they get moving. This part of the chart is where you reap the rewards.
If a chart is evenly balanced, it can symbolize someone who can move between being introverted, extroverted, and a go-getter but also able to wait for an opportunity.
When I first gaze at a chart, I look at what's going on in the hemispheres. Is the chart top-heavy, or does everything fall to the bottom? Are there more planets in the western hemisphere versus the eastern? Do the planets seem to be evenly distributed? Start with this huge visual clue. It's a biggie.
Snap decision time! Take a fast peek at Marilyn Monroe's chart. Size it up. Which hemispheres are the busiest? Make this determination without thinking about it too hard. Now, what does this tell you about her?
Gaze at your chart. Which hemispheres are having a party and which ones seem to be quiet as a mouse? How do you think this fits your personality . . . or not? Journal your answers.