Planets on
the Aries Point
The Aries Point (AP) is an indicator of our potential for public presentation. It’s our claim to fame, what we’ll be remembered for. Most of what has been written on the AP comes from my mentor Noel Tyl and from his student Don McBroom.
The AP is more than a single point. There are four of them around the horoscope (Figure 124). Zero degrees of any cardinal sign is an AP. That’s 00 Aries, Cancer, Libra, or Capricorn. We typically apply a 2° orb. The result is that 4 ½ percent of the zodiac is covered by an AP.
When we include the orbs, an AP can be found in the following regions:
• 28 Pisces to 02 Aries
• 28 Gemini to 02 Cancer
• 28 Virgo to 02 Libra
• 28 Sagittarius to 02 Capricorn
What we look for is a planet or horoscope angle (in particular the Ascendant or Midheaven) in conjunction or square to the AP.
How Common Are Planets on the Aries Point?
Having a planet on the AP is a relatively uncommon. According to the Astro Databank, 4.51 percent of all natal charts have a planet, the Ascendant, or the Midheaven on an AP. A breakdown by planet and point is given in the following table.
|
Planet on AP in Natal Chart |
Percentage |
|
Sun |
3.44 |
|
Moon |
3.30 |
|
Mercury |
3.23 |
(continued)
|
Planet on AP in Natal Chart |
Percentage |
|
Venus |
3.39 |
|
Mars |
3.46 |
|
Jupiter |
3.66 |
|
Saturn |
3.24 |
|
Uranus |
3.36 |
|
Neptune |
3.96 |
|
Pluto |
4.15 |
|
Ascendant |
3.88 |
|
Midheaven |
3.40 |
Interpreting the Aries Point
Don McBroom’s interpretation guidelines for planets and horoscope angles conjunct, square, or in opposition to the AP include the following.
Sun on the Aries Point
Potential for public projection to become well known; energy expended for ego recognition of the significance of one’s actions.
Moon on the Aries Point
Potential for the desire to connect emotionally with the public; to nurture, protect, or provoke an emotional response.
Mercury on the Aries Point
Potential for public projection by communication, writing, intellectual talents, or travel.
Venus on the Aries Point
Potential for public projection and recognition of anything pleasing to the senses—art, music, physical beauty.
Mars on the Aries Point
Potential for public projection of aggression, courage, ruggedness, impulsive behavior, sexuality, or athleticism.
Jupiter on the Aries Point
Potential for public projection of success, wealth, optimism, enthusiasm, religion, higher mind, or position of respect—OR—excess, careless risk-taking, or overspending.
Saturn on the Aries Point
Aspiration to be perceived by the public as conservative, restrained, disciplined, rigid, self-sufficient, and ambitious.
Uranus on the Aries Point
Potential to seek public notice by being inventive, innovative, rebellious, socially reforming, or eccentric.
Neptune on the Aries Point
Potential to seek public attention through ideals—as a visionary, spiritual leader, or dreamer—or gaining a reputation for confused, dishonest, or concealed behavior.
Pluto on the Aries Point
Potential for public power as a pioneer, a reformer for evolutionary change—or involvement in hidden or subversive behavior.
Node on the Aries Point
Potential for public identification or involvement with large social groups; an easy connection with groups.
Ascendant on the Aries Point
Potential to easily align with public popularity; personality traits conducive to commanding public notice.
Midheaven on the Aries Point
Potential to easily align career to attract public attention and exposure.
Actor Ben Affleck (Figure 125) has Pluto on the Libra AP (00 Libra 27). He’s noted for his humanitarian and other social causes. For example, after travelling in the region of eastern Congo between 2007 and early 2010, Affleck and Whitney Williams cofounded the nonprofit organization Eastern Congo Initiative in 2010. Ben Affleck is also a supporter of the A-T Children’s Project, which focuses attention on the rare disease ataxia-telangiectasia.
Ted Cruz (Figure 126), US senator from Texas, has his Sun on the Capricorn AP (00 Capricorn 32). This is ideal for an elected official, since it represents a potential for public projection to become well known.
It’s important to remember that not only can planets be located on an AP, but so can the Ascendant or Midheaven. Singer Joan Baez (Figure 127), a popular performing artist and social activist, has her Midheaven on the Capricorn AP (00 Capricorn 49). There is an easy alignment between her career and her ability to attract public attention and exposure for social causes like support for civil rights, opposition to the Vietnam War, and environmental activism.
The natal chart for singer and drummer Karen Carpenter is interesting for its double AP (Figure 128). Both the Ascendant and Uranus are on the Cancer AP (00 Cancer 35 for the Ascendant and 00 Cancer 58 for Uranus). Painfully shy (she preferred to hide behind her drum set rather than stand out front to sing), Karen’s Ascendant on the AP helped her easily align with public popularity. Her Uranus AP made itself felt through her activism as an outspoken advocate for eating disorders, urging people to learn about them and encouraging people to seek treatment.