theforensicastrologer

So, what role do houses play when considering dispositions of ruling planets? In the forensic chart, remember that every detail must be considered, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. As I have explained, even aspects to fixed stars can have a serious impact on events so you must consider everything. However, house positions should be among the first things you examine in any chart. The house position of a ruling planet has as much, if not more, impact than the sign position. The only other consideration that plays as much in the reading is the aspect or aspects to or from the planet you are examining. And remember, also, that the houses play a big role in the effects of those aspects as well.

Complicated? Yes! Forensics are complicated in Astrology, just as they are in the police lab. Every hair, every fiber, every partial print. In the star chart, consider every little thing something that could matter. The house positions of the disposing planets is a primary consideration when reading out the nature and influence of the disposition. And remember that the disposition is to the planet as flavor is to food. It colors the nature and effect of the planet. For instance, Pluto in Virgo is disposed of by Mercury. Mercury is in the second house. This adds second house qualities to the nature of Pluto, no matter what house it is placed in or what aspects are forming. Let’s go so far in our example to say that Pluto is in the twelfth house, making a strong aspect to the first house ruler and appears to be a trigger in the chart. Pluto in the twelfth could be telling you that someone is “sneaking up behind” the subject, “hiding somewhere near” the subject or “keeping something hidden” from the subject. In order to determine what force is at play here, you must consider the disposing planet, which, in our example, is Mercury in the second house. The thing that is being “hidden” or the person who is “sneaking up” has second house qualities. In most cases, you will probably conclude that this means money. They are sneaking up on the subject in order to rob them? This is a possibility, clearly outlined by the house position of the disposing planet. And, in this way, the house position will help you determine the nature of the actions of the planet it disposes.

When you are considering the quality of the relationship between the ruling planet and the disposing planet, the house positions are very important. Another example might be Aries rising with Mars in Libra in the tenth house. This gives a tenth house quality to the nature of the subject, or, at the least, a tenth house descriptor to the location or description of the subject. Often when I see the ruling planet in the tenth house, I see the subject as “out in the open” or “publically visible”. In other charts, the tenth house points to authorities such as the police or the courts. And still, in others, it defines the father of the subject or a passing “paternal” influence, such as an older man or the parent of a friend. But add the qualities of the disposing planet and the picture gets narrower. For instance, in this example, the disposing planet is Venus and she is in the fifth house in the sign Taurus. What does this tell you about the subject now?

I will take this to the next step to demonstrate. Mars in Libra in the tenth disposed of by Venus in Taurus in the fifth shows conflicting energies, so it is a complicated reading. Mars is in fall, describing the subject as being in a weaker, less powerful, position and this insinuates the subject to be at the mercy of others. Venus in Taurus is in dignity, showing that something around or influencing the subject is stronger, more powerful and more in control of events. In the fifth house, this has many interpretations from children to playgrounds to sex to drugs. But combined with the tenth house, I am going in one of two directions with this reading. If the subject is a child, I am inclined to see the tenth house as an adult or parental figure and the position of the dispositor in the fifth puts the child in a playground. She or he was in a playground at some point, perhaps with an adult. Venus in Taurus points at female and the tenth house points at a father figure.. so is this a friend of the subject’s father? The rest of the chart will bear it out or kill it. Let it lead you.

The other direction I might take it would be to consider that the subject, if an adult, is in a public place, easily viewed by others. Where is this place? Venus in Taurus in the fifth says a place of amusement. Is this a casino, a bar room, a showplace, a movie theatre, a country club? Let the rest of the chart take you there. What was the subject doing in the last known hours? Was she or he last seen at a bar or casino? This could be telling you that this is where it started.

Remember that the disposition of the planet is the underpinning of the purpose of the original planet or aspect. A planet in the third disposed of by a planet in the ninth might mean the subject was travelling to school.. or it might mean that they were jogging along a nature trail… or driving through the neighborhood on their way to the gym. Of course, what you see will depend upon what you already know. If the subject is an elderly gentleman in a wheelchair than you know right away that two of these readings are impossible. But is the subject in school? If not, then you need to find other definitions for these placements.

Practice this by reading some charts and studying the house placements of dispositing planets. Write down what you discover. And then compare it to the outcome. Nothing teaches us better than the truth. When it becomes known, never be sorry you were wrong… learn from it and go on.