011. ANSWERING YOUR ASTROLOGY QUESTIONS
astrology q&a
In this episode I'm answering astrology questions as asked by the community. Topics discussed include what first to look at when reading a birth chart, the Yod aspect pattern, the most important natal aspect in my opinion, the "Mars effect", and I include some celebrity birth chart examples.
Open the drop-down for the transcript, or stream using the player below.
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Well, this feels good to be back talking into the mic. It feels like I'm talking to no one, but I know some people will listen to this episode. It has been so long since I've recorded a podcast episode. I think I said in the last episode that I was taking a bit of a break to kind of focus on the certification. Really put all of my energy into getting that done because I've set myself a bit of a deadline. I had a look at the transits of 2025 against my natal chart and determined a really auspicious time for me to launch the astrology certification and that means that I had to set a deadline. Which is probably something I needed because my Pisces Mars likes to kind of just go with the flow and doesn't really have the best discipline when it comes to getting things done and achieving my goals.
So I set myself a deadline, a timeline, and I've just been flat stick working on the certification. I haven't had time to do podcast episodes. I have barely written any new Instagram posts apart from like the major transits that are happening. I have been keeping very active in the astrology school community though. We're now at, I think it's 39 members in there, so that makes my heart so happy. I absolutely love the community. Every day we're just talking about astrology, whether it's, something about the new moon or it's the sun Pluto conjunction, or just the other day we're talking about Neptune on the ascendant. And how transiting Neptune on the ascendant can show up with different dependency and addiction cycles and things like that. It's really fun in there. So if you're not in the community, what are you doing? Come and join us. It is only $3.99, and you can cancel at any time if it's not for you.
Any who getting back to podcasting just feels really good. And I thought, okay, what better way to kind of get back into the swing of things than doing an episode where I'm answering your astrology questions. So I put out an email, and I put it out in the community, and I put it out on my Instagram—a form for you to ask your astrology questions, totally anonymous. I thought maybe having that anonymous element might actually encourage people to ask the questions they really want to ask, especially if it's something personal or vulnerable. So we got some astrology questions that I'm going to go through today.
I have had to kind of cull it down. I might do another episode with, the rest of the questions, but just to make sure this is not too long, I just wanted to record this episode while the kids are not here because school holidays is killing me to get work done, having two kids at home. So I've got, I think it's like four or five questions that I'm going to answer today. So let’s keep this nice and short.
Okay. So the first question I'm going to answer is what is the first thing I look at when reading a birth chart? Love this question. Now I have a very effective formula for reading a birth chart, and this is something that I'm obviously sharing and teaching on in the certification.
But really the first thing I do when I cast a birth chart is look at the overall big picture of the chart. And that actually encompasses quite a few steps. So first of all, I'm going to be looking at the chart configuration. So things like in which hemisphere are most of the planets located. Is there one particular quadrant that is emphasised? Is there a stellium anywhere? What's the general chart configuration? So is it a bowl chart, a splash chart, a bucket chart. Basically just looking at where the planets are placed, and what kind of patterns I'm immediately picking up on from just looking at the overall picture of the chart.
I'll also be looking at things like the modality or elemental mix. But then when I really start to focus and hone in, I'm always starting with the ascendant. Okay. I'm always going to look at the ascendant first and what sign is the ascendant? And then I will look at, are there any planets conjunct the ascendant.
I'm also going to locate the chart ruler, which is the planet that rules, the ascendant sign. And then I'm going to analyse that chart ruler. Now, of course I will also look at the sun and the moon. I think the big three are called the big three for a good reason. And really from there, it depends on what kind of reading it is.
So if it's a career reading, I'm then going to start focusing on the different elements of the birth chart that relate to career. If it's a relationship reading, so forth. But even if it's a predictive kind of reading—so if someone came to me and said, Hey, I want to look at what the next six months look like for me, and we're looking at timing techniques, I'm still actually going to analyse the birth chart first and then layer in the different timing and predictive techniques. So I guess to answer that in a short way, the first thing I'm looking at really is the ascendant.
But before that, I'm kind of picking up general chart patterns because astrology really is just pattern recognition at the end of the day.
Okay. Next question. How can I get started with understanding transits? Ooh. Okay. Transits are such an important part of astrology. Whether you're doing predictive astrology or not, just understanding transits is a part of astrology that I think should should be learned after you have a solid grasp of how to read a birth chart. I do want to say that. In my certification predictive astrology, which includes transits is actually level three.
So the first level of the certification is the foundations of astrology. The second level is where we get really nuanced and look at different types of techniques to apply, in analysing a birth chart. And then the third level is all the different predictive techniques.
Now, I don't know who said it, but there is a saying. I should Google this. There is a saying, that you're not a real astrologer until you have learned predictive astrology. I don't particularly like that saying, but I also totally understand where they're coming from with it. So all of that being said, I'm going to assume that you know how to read a birth chart. That you understand signs, planets, placements, angles, aspects, stuff like that. And so you want to understand how to get started with understanding transits. My advice would be to start with tracking the sun and the moon. The reason I say that is because it's very easy to understand how the sun and the moon are impacting you before you start understanding transits and applying it to other people's charts or understanding transits in, uh, like mundane astrology. So what's happening in the world. So like looking at the transit chart and then just interpreting that energy of a particular transit, like the Sun Pluto conjunction that we just had.
What I would first recommend doing is looking at the transiting sun and moon and understanding how it transiting over your natal chart impacts or influences you personally. Now the reason I chose the sun and the moon is because the sun spends one month at a time in a sign. And wherever the sun is transiting is the area of life that is in focus, that the Sun is shining a light on.
The moon, the moon is the fastest moving planet.
So Moon mapping is an age old technique that I think has a lot of value to it. So understanding how the transiting moon influences you is incredibly powerful. But the key here is not just looking at how it's influencing you, but how it influences you when the sun and the moon actually reach parts in your chart that are going to like activate or hit a natal planet or an angle in your birth chart.
And what does that then mean for you? How are you experiencing that? The best way to really understand transits, yes is having books and reading the descriptions, that’s helpful, but it's actually experiencing them yourself. To me that is such an undervalued key in understanding transits.
So let's say you have an Aquarius moon, and now that the sun is in Aquarius, at some point through that month long journey of the sun in Aquarius it is going to hit the exact same spot as your natal moon. What is your experience when that transit happens? And yes, your experience will be filtered through your birth chart and all the different elements of your birth chart. But it's still a generalised kind of experience that you can then use in moving forward in the future. So. To get started with understanding transits track the sun, track the moon in relation to your own birth chart.
Then I would actually encourage you to practice like mundane astrology. To start feeling into the transits—it's actually such an embodied experience, transit work. Really looking at what transits are happening right now. And then, kind of feeling into how that feels and, and what the experience of that transit is like and learning to interpret, to blend the different meanings of like two planets. So for example today, as I'm recording this on the 24th of January 2025, we have Mercury in opposition to Mars.
And so what you need to learn to do is understand okay, what does mercury represent? What does Mars represent? What does that opposition aspect represent, and blend those things together. And then also look at what signs they're in, and blend that into the whole equation. And then start learning how to actually interpret that in a way that is helpful in language, that will be helpful for someone.
Then when you're at the point where you can actually, you know, do a transit bi-wheel—so where you have the transits on the outside, the natal chart on the inside—and you can see where that mercury Mars opposition right now in the sky is occurring in someone's birth chart. Then that's another whole layer that you have to learn to interpret, and how that's going to be influencing them.
I think that's that's enough on that one.
Okay. There's another question here where someone has asked me to speak on the yod in the birth chart.
So a yod is an aspect pattern. Now an aspect pattern is an aspect that links three or more planets into a shape, such as a triangle or a square. Now a yod is an aspect pattern that is not spoken about as much as other well-known aspects, like the grand trine or a T-square. But nevertheless, it is an important aspect. Now yods are also known as the finger of God. And it's called the finger of God because this aspect patterns really looks like someone pointing their finger at something really important. So compared to other aspect patterns, which look much more balanced, the yod has quite a dramatic shape when you see it in the birth chart.
A yod the yard is formed out of two quincunx’s and a sextile.
And what it looks like is a very long triangle. Now whenever someone has a quincunx in the birth chart, I'm definitely interested. These are aspects that can be overlooked but I personally really liked to explore the quincunx.
Because the quincunx aspect shows where we have some difficulties bringing together two different archetypes. Quincunxs use a very small orb as well. And I don't know, maybe it's because I have a quincunx in my own natal chart that I just have a bit of an affinity with them. So I do like to explore them.
Now when we have a yod I definitely like to take note and really explore that. So the quincunx aspect shows where we have some difficulties bringing together two different archetypes, but the planet at the apex of the yod makes that integration possible. A yod is not as dynamic as say a T-square or the grand cross. And we may not even be aware of how a yod is influencing us until a transiting planet either conjuncts or opposes that planet that is at the apex of the yod.
Now, unlike other aspects, like the T-squares and grand trines and stuff like that, the yod is actually a blend of different polarities elements and modalities. Right? So the signs that form a yod actually have absolutely nothing in common.
So if for example you have a yod with planets in Aries, Virgo and Scorpio, you will notice that Aries shares neither the modality nor the element with Virgo or Scoprio. Aries is a cardinal fire sign. Virgo is a mutable earth sign. And Scorpio is a fixed water sign. So absolutely nothing in common. They're all as different as they can possibly be. And that's why the creative potential of a yod is huge and that's why that struggle to integrate is there. Because there's nothing in common.
But the yod is going to try and blend together something that is otherwise, uh, irreconcilable in someone's birth chart. So the two quincunxs and the sextile provide a synthesis by creating balance where there was no balance before.
Now, I liken the energy of the yod to the energy of Chiron—there is no escaping the mission of the yod in the birth chart. And the mission is going to be indicated by the planet that is at the apex. The lines of the quincunx are so long and the tension is so high that the power of the apex planet almost seems boundless.
The sign and the house placement of that planet is going to point to the area of life that needs to be transformed by that yod.
Now, this person didn't leave any information about their chart. I'm assuming they have a yod aspect in their chart, but it really depends on what planets are involved because yods involving Neptune, Pluto, Saturn, and Jupiter are actually very common in our generation. And that's because Neptune sextile Pluto is actually a generational aspect. So for yods to be truly relevant, it does need to include at least one personal planet, which is the sun, moon, mercury, Venus, or Mars.
Now, if you're listening to this and you have a yod in your birth chart, in the first part of your life, you may have had some difficulty integrating its energy. But with time, you're going to learn how to alchemize it into it’s highest potential.
A yod is like a good wine, right? This is what my mentor said. When I learned about the yod. That a yod is like a good wine. It does get better with age, and if used constructively, the yod has the highest potential from all of the aspect patterns. So love, love, love seeing a yod in the birth chart.
Okay. So there's also a question left here that says this man of yours. He sounds too good to be true. You're both so lucky.
Now straight away. I was like, okay. Who wrote this. And then I questioned my partner. and he denied it, but I saw a smirk on his face, so I kept pressing him and yes, he certainly left it and I thought, you know what? I'm actually going to use this. I'm going to use this in the episode in my answers.
Now my man, and I know I don't share much about him. I like to keep my relationships private. Um, but I'm absolutely head over heels with him and in love with this man. And just obsessed with the person that he is and actually I love his birth chart And I love it for teaching.
But also he just is this pure reflection of his chart. Even with the transits and stuff, everything is just so perfectly reflected. And it makes me laugh because when I met him he knew absolutely nothing about astrology. I don't even think he knew his star sign—he might have, but I remember sitting in the back of an Uber on one of our first dates, heading home, and I asked him for his birth time. And he had to text his Mum and I got it, but it turns out it was a little off but only by a few minutes, but it did change his chart just a tiny bit.
And yeah, he knew nothing about astrology. He thought it was quackery. He thought it was funny. He probably thought it was just purely for entertainment. But he was open and respectful and he actually let me share a bit about his birth chart. And over the years I have started sharing a little bit more with him in terms of the transits and timing.
He does run a successful company. He's a very busy businessman and I like to share different timing advice or guidance with him when it comes to, uh, things that impact business such as investing or buying something or hiring or whatever it could be. And, you know, I do remember a particular time where I told him to be really careful because based on what I was seeing in the charts, in the transits, that this was a time where he could lose a fair bit of money.
And I think he was about to purchase a quite a large purchase in the company. And he remembers this story and he actually tells it to people who laugh at his interest in astrology now. Because it was so accurate, he was blown away. He was like, what the?! You told me, you told me this was going to happen. I'm like, yeah, I know. So he is coming around to it now.
I don't share much about him, like I said, but I will share his chart with you. He is an Aries rising, Libra sun, Capricorn moon. And it makes me laugh because my mom is a Libra sun. And my daughter is a Libra sun, and my other daughter has a Capricorn moon, so I'm seeing the reflections all around me.
But it's also interesting because I'm a Cancer sun. He's a Libra sun. My parents are a Libra sun, and a cancer sun as well. It's just reversed in the gender. So my dad is a Cancer and my mom's a Libra. I'm a Cancer, and my partners a Libra. Um, so I kind of like have already had a little bit of insight into that dynamic. It's now really interesting to see that play out, obviously different things in the chart are going to show up differently.
But yes that's enough about him. Let's move on to the next question. He will probably laugh if he listens to this because he probably didn't expect me to talk about it. But he left the question so I was going to give an answer.
All right. Another question here, and this one was actually posted inside the astrology school community. We have a whole thread in there just for questions. A Q&A thread, and it can be a question about anything to do with astrology, whether it's about your birth chart, a certain planet, a transit, or a timing thing, It can be to do with anything to do with astrology.
And I love answering these questions. So this member wrote do you think there's some secret source for when natal alignments happen in the current astrology? For example, I have sun Pluto conjunct natally, and today had the same. So like there was a sun Pluto conjunction in the transits, in the sky. She said different signs obviously, but is there something useful other than coincidence in that.
I love this question. So when a transit aspect is mirroring a natal aspect, it's bringing that particular aspect in your natal chart to the forefront. Because her sun, which is her core being, the planet of her vitality and purpose is involved in this, this is really a time of importance for her. I said to her I suppose if you have not integrated the Pluto sun conjunction, it would be a time where opportunities to do so would arise. And I said that may not be super fun. But this is why I can't generalise because I don't know where you are on your journey in life, and it may be quite uneventful for you.
But in general, the idea is that when a natal aspect is mirrored, it's just highlighting that part of your psyche that it's representing. It's bringing that energy to the forefront. And if you have not worked with it, if you have not integrated it and you have not learned to understand it, then it will be an opportunity to do so.
And how that opportunity may come about may not always be the easiest way.
So I loved that question.
Okay, let's make this the final question.
Someone asked me, what is the most important aspect?
Hmm. This one got me thinking. And I'm going to have to say conjunctions, but—there is a but to this—for me the most important conjunction is actually an angular conjunction. So conjunctions of one planet to another planet in very important. I would say that's like the second next most important aspect.
But I will say that conjunctions to the angles are the most important and you should always take note of them. They're always going to stand out. and that's because the four angles are known as the cross of matter. And they represent very structural concrete aspects of our experience and lives.
Now conjunctions to the ascendant and midheaven angles—these are going to be more dramatic than conjunctions to the IC or to the descendant. But all angle conjunctions, I think are important. When looking for angle conjunctions, I would suggest using ann orb of 10º for the personal planets. And then 6-8 degree or for the outer planets.
Now, of course, the tighter the orb, the stronger the influence. But yes, feel free to use up to 10º orbs for personal planets when looking at the angles.
Now I do know that astrological research has come to prove that angle conjunctions are some of the most important elements in astrology, not only in natal astrology, so our birth chart, but also in predictive astrology. And I don't know if you've heard of this thing called the Mars effect.
Basically it was in the 1960s. There was a French psychologist. Um, Michael someone. He ran this extensive astrological study and what he was trying to do was find correlations between different chart elements. And he eventually found that eminent athletes were born just before Mars was rising. Which means it was conjunct the ascendant. Or just before Mars was culminating, which means it was conjunct the Midheaven. And in literature this is known as the Mars effect. And he's found similar correlations with other professions.
So scientists have an angular Saturn, actors often have an angular Jupiter, and writers often have an angular Moon. Basically, what he found is that having an angular Jupiter, for example, is a greater predictor for acting success than looking at the fifth house of acting and seeing that the sun and Jupiter are in the fifth house, for example. Having the sun and Jupiter in the fifth house could indicate acting, but there was a greater accuracy of someone bing an actress or an actor when Jupiter was actually conjunct an angle. So, yeah, very interesting.
But all of that aside, if you have a planet conjunct an angle, then that particular archetype of that planet will influence not only your personality, but your life as a whole irrespective of the house placement. Your whole life is going to gravitate around the themes that are symbolised by that planetary archetype. So if you have Venus on an angle, then your whole life will gravitate around Venus.
I remember looking at Angelina Jolie's chart when studying angular conjunctions and she has Venus on the ascendant. And she has actually been voted several times as one of the most beautiful women in the world. And not only that, but she also has Jupiter and moon on her midheaven angle and she is known for her beauty.
She's also known for her large number of children, um, which is the most classical definition of moon conjunct Jupiter. That shows an abundance of children.
What about Kim Kardashian? She has the moon conjunct her IC. And what is she known for? Family reality show. She also has Jupiter conjunct the Midheaven which signifies actress. And I believe that that is an aspect which has propelled her to fame. She also has a Sagittarius ascendent—Jupiter rules her first house of personality and appearance. And she's mainly famous for her looks really. So, yeah, very interesting.
Um, but yes, angular conjunctions would be my most important aspect to look at. And then the next, most important would be the conjunctions between personal planets, especially. Especially if the chart ruler is involved.
Okay. I think I'll leave it there. And maybe I'll answer some more questions in another episode. I didn't actually get a lot more. There was only I think maybe three or four more. But these ones I thought would be really useful to share on the podcast for everybody to kind of learn a little bit more about astrology or about their own birth chart.
And as always, if you do have questions that you want to ask about astrology, please join the Astrology School Community, drop them into the Q&A thread that we have in there. And I will answer them personally. Other members are also welcome to pop in their answers and their insights as well. So it's really a collaborative effort.
So I hope you have taken something from this episode. If you have, please feel free to share it with a friend who also loves astrology.
Uh, if you have anything that you want to share about what you learned in this episode, I'd love to hear it. Feel free to DM me on Instagram—@jacquelinenicole_astrology. And yeah that's pretty much it. I'll see you guys in the next episode. I hope you have a great week. Bye.
