Neptune in 7th: Self-sacrifice in Marriage

It was a fairytale wedding at first

When Neptune appears in the 7th, the native gets an ideal fantasy match. Neptune, the planet of dreams, grants a fairytale wedding to the couple at the beginning. You will feel everything is so sweet and perfect. As time goes by, however, you start seeing flaws in your spouse. Maybe the spouse is a drinker, an alcoholic, a druggie or substance abuser. But you don't mind because you love him or her. Maybe the spouse will hit you, abuse you, steal your money, and leech on you. Again, you don't mind because you love him or her. Maybe your spouse will cheat on you, tell you lies and betray you with affairs. You found out about it, and your heart broke. But you forgive your spouse anyway, because you love him or her. Can you see a pattern where all these is leading to?  

       

Neptune is illusion. Neptune is denial of reality. It creates an escapist attitude towards marriage and you may keep denying that things are falling apart and that your spouse is in fact, an asshole. One day, the bubble may burst, and your eyes will open out to reality. Yes, reality is hard to deal with. 

Marriage turns you into Jesus

A Neptunian marriage needs a great and noble act of self-sacrifice. You will always be compassionate and gives unconditional love (like Jesus) and keeps forgiving and saving your spouse, who happens to be very needy. This sacrifice will be one-sided. But since Neptune is in your 7th, you will take pride in your martyrdom, feeling that your kindness is something that makes you feel better about yourself. You will willingly burn yourself at the stake just to keep your partner warm. This heartmoving sacrifice, however, is usually not appreciated by the spouse, who is basically someone out for a free lunch. Yet nothing is gonna stop you from giving, giving, and giving until the life expires from your body. This drive for self-sacrifice and martyrdom, is something that made Neptunians so angelic. 

Saturn in 7th - A Marriage of Convenience

A practical union

When Saturn appears in the 7th house of a natal chart, the individual will marry for convenience, and not love. Marriage will be contracted as a means to an end, being seen as a practical thing to do. Oftentime the person will make a cold, sober decision to marry, and calculate the potential benefits of that marriage. Yes, the usefulness of that marriage is weighted to decide if it is beneficial for him to marry, and this does not involve love. The rational mind will make a logical decision to marry, and marriage is a legal paper that can help him or her to solve problems, or achieve certain goals. The keyword here is "useful" and "rational". Feelings has absolutely nothing to do with it.

The native tends to marry a partner that is older and mature (> 4 years and above), responsible, dutiful, financially well off so that the spouse can provide materially for the household. The partner will also be very efficient and have great organizational abilities. This partner will take care of the practical, day-to-day living for the individual, so that he or she can be well-maintained and sustained.    

A mutually-beneficial exchange

Saturn is a cold and business-like planet which rules over money, career and status. The native with Saturn in 7th will treat marriage as a form of business transaction, a mutual exchange of goods / services - a quid pro quo. This exchange is viewed as fair and square. So the native believes a practical and useful marriage will make him happy, however, such a marriage tends to make the individual feels unloved and uncared for as time goes by. Initially, the native believes he or she has made the right choice. As time goes by, Saturn has a way of making the marriage feels dull and burdensome. It will feel like a duty, a responsibility, a "chain" weighting you down. Love gets eroded as time passes, and warmth and intimacy disappears. One day, the native will wake up and realize that love has gone out the window.

Yet the marriage will persevere. This is because Saturn rules longevity. There is a chance of a lasting marriage if the individual works very hard and persistently with great effort to "shoulder" the duties of matrimony. Yes, marriage needs extra effort and perseverance, but it will succeed with the right employee-like attitude. Remember, Saturn rules boss-subordinate relationship in the office. Work, slave, work!!~ 

Marriage before the age 28 tends to fail as time goes by. This is because Saturn transits and returns to its natal position every 28 years. So it is not advisable for one with Saturn in 7th to marry before the age 28, or else the union will rot slowly. It is better to wait patiently after your first Saturn Return finishes to marry.        

Uranus in 7th - Divorce & Separation

Two separate realms of existence 

Uranus, the ruler of Aquarius, is the lord of divorce. This cold and distant planet governs separations and long-distance relationships. When Uranus appears in the cusp of the 7th House, this indicates a character that is unsuitable for marriage because he or she prefers individualism and freedom to do their own things. The Aquarian / Uranian person is usually very intelligent and original in his thinking. However, such a person will insist stubbornly on his way of doing things. They have no room for personal differences. Due to their rigid insistence of maintaining their own ways, they develop a sense of superiority and arrogance as they view others as slow and stupid. They are quite impatient with slowness and stupidity (read: everybody else). They secretly think about how clever they really are.

A strongly Aquarian / Uranus person is a difficult person to live with under the same roof on a long-term basis. They are so mentally excitable, restless, and crave freedom and adventure to pursue their own activities in the society. Due to their restlessness, the Aquarian / Uranian person tend to keep a busy social life outside the house. These are the "permanently absent" spouses who often travel and are rarely home. These individuals keep wide social circles, have countless friends and acquaintances and are actively involved in the community. They are so popular that they are always in demand by the community. 

You and I

Bottom line is, the Uranus in 7th person will always value their own freedom and personal space. There is no concept of "us" in a marriage, there is only "you" and "I" who live together in a house. Even if they love their partner very much, circumstances may not permit them to stay together on a long-term basis. Through a twist of fate, they may be forced apart either through constant traveling or busy work schedule. However, I must say that it is usually the Uranus person who feels "trapped" or "constricted" in his or her lifestyle.  

In the event that such a person does marry, they will pick highly unusual partners - people you least expect. The partner can be much younger, much older, extremely tall, short, thin or fat, has a weird job or has a psychiatric condition. The partner can also be a genius - someone bright yet eccentric, like an Internet techie. Technology also plays a big part in the life of a Uranus person, and he or she has a marked appreciation for gadgets and devices. The original selfie queen is probably an Aquarius. 

Mars & Pluto in 7th - Violence in Marriage

"I will scratch your face!!"

Mars is a planet that you definitely do NOT want sitting in your 7th House. Known as a malefic planet in traditional astrology, Mars is a fiery, angry planet that radiates masculine energy. It is probably the most macho planet in the entire universe since Mars is named after the Roman God of War. Now you do not want the God of War sitting in your marriage house, trust me. Unless, of course, you like to fight. And you love arguments. And angry sex. That type of sex can be quite stimulating, after an entire day spent yelling at each other. Husbands can fully expect to dodge frying pans with this one. Wives can fully expect a very physical marriage. Couples will enjoy an energetic married life with passionate, rough sex, however, the drawback is the possibility of violence when taken to the extreme. 

In a Mars-dominated relationship, the couple will view each other as rivals or competitors. Marriage becomes a competition of egos to determine who wins or lose. They will try to outdo each other. Unfortunately, such a rivalry between spouses rarely ends on a good note. There will always be a bitter taste left in the mouth after the storm subsides. Couples make love and wage war with the same ferocity and vigour. One way to save a Mars marriage is to release the energy through sports. Couples who enjoy athletic and physically-demanding activities like hitchhiking, mountain climbing, scuba diving and bungee jumping can channel all those pent-up Mars energy into sports. Alternatively, they can try to keep a busy workaholic schedule so as to let out  their aggression via work.

It is extra bad for a woman to have Mars in 7th since it may curse her male partner to death. I have personally observed this to be true - several female clients with this have a dead husband via freak accidents.... Just be careful when Mars appears in the 7th of a lady.

Victims of the  volcano eruption

Next, we have Pluto in the 7th House. This is another malefic planet in the Descendant whose effect is to create explosive rage. That's right. Rage. This rage comes from suppressed anger over the years. Couples tend to bury their unhappiness within them and pretend to go with the flow. Their unhappiness will be not be aired out in the open, instead, couples resort to power struggles and subtle manipulation behind closed doors. They use passive-aggressive tactics to convey their dissatisfaction towards each other, while maintaining a happy facade to the external world. Nobody outside their close circles may be able to guess all those crazy things going on between those two. 

As the ruler of volcanoes, Pluto symbolizes buried rage, like lava hiding in the belly of the earth. After years of suppression, the volcano may erupt and the hot, boiling lava may annihilate entire nations. The force of eruption can be very sudden, but devastating to the marriage. Like a timebomb ticking, this marriage is bidding its time. Love and hate exists side-by-side in a Plutonian marriage, and the couple love and hate each other with equal intensity. They can rise to the highest of heavens when happy, and sink to the lowest of hell when angered.

Pluto in the 7th also denotes a domineering partner. This can be either one - the husband or wife. The bottom line is it will always be about power and dominance. The couple will try to manipulate each other into surrendering and giving up power to the other. One partner will be very bullying, and the other will be submissive yet resentful deep within. It goes without saying that a lot of this can be prevented if both partners are honest and open about their feelings to each other. Honesty is always the best policy if you have Pluto in 7th. Don't let the rage accumulate to the point when it becomes a volcanic eruption. On the other hand, a BDSM or master-slave relationship may be able to provide a healthy outlet to release all the Plutonian energy. 

Jupiter in the 7th: Advantageous Nuptials

Happy bunny marriages are seen with Jupiter 

When Jupiter sits in the 7th house, the individual gets a lucky and advantageous marriage. The first marriage will benefit the person, either by making him happier, richer, brighter or more sociable. The individual will marry an outgoing and sporty type of person - a partner with Sagittarian characteristics. Jupiter tends to bless the matrimony by expanding an aspect of the family - wealth, joy, friends, etc. Things will start growing more and more with the effect of a well-placed Jupiter. The keywords associated with Jupiter is "plentiful", "abundance", and "expanding". Thus the first marriage spouse tends to have those qualities. The native himself may grow more optimistic over time with a Jupiterian marriage. However, please note this effect only applies to a well-aspected Jupiter in the DC (an afflicted Jupiter may bring negativity instead).   

A likely scenario will be....

Marrying into wealth 

One possible effect is to marry into money, as the first spouse will tend to expand your financial situation. Your social circle after marriage may also grow larger to include friends from various walks of life. 

On the other hand....

Many, many partners 

Multiple marriages and polygamous relationships are quite common with this placement. With Jupiter in the 7th, we get serial husbands or serial wives - people who marry repeatedly and have a long list of spouses to boast of. The "expanding" effect of Jupiter applies here by multiplying the number of partners. The native feels very confident about marriage, and so does it again and again. It is almost 100% certain that this person will have more than one marriage in this lifetime.

Another common scenario is...

Interracial marriages

Interracial or mixed marriage is the most common effect of Jupiter in DC. The spouse will come from a totally different background - cutting across boundaries of race, nationality, religion, age & occupation. The chances of getting a foreigner partner is increased. This is because Jupiter rules over foreign lands, and a person will most likely meet the prospective spouse while studying or working abroad. 

The 7th House: Are you Built for Marriage?

The 7th House is the realm of marriage. Ruled by Venus and the sign Libra, the 7th describes your first marriage partner. It does not describe your lovers or sex buddies or flings (those are ruled by your 5th House) or any other hanky-panky you might had, including co-habitation. The 7th House is dead serious. It is soooo serious, you need to sign a legal contract binded by law, and that is why any relationship that requires you to sign a contract falls under the 7th Libra realm.... Note that Libra is represented by a pair of Scales.... scales of justice. The same scales that sits outside the court of law, with the goddess Nemesis weighting your faults... so yes, Libra is a very fair sign. The 7th House is also fair, that is why it prefers equal partnerships in the eyes of law. It wants husband and wife to share their duties and responsibilities towards each other. It is about commitment.

So how do you judge a good 7th House? How good or bad it is depends on the planets sitting in it and the planetary aspects they made. Chief to all these, is the 7th house ruler, or Descendant (DC) ruler. If a divorce, for example, is going to happen in future, the DC ruler is able to accurately predict using prognostic techniques. However, before examining the compatibility chart between 2 souls in a marriage, we need to ask you a critical question: Are you the marrying type? Are you suited to married life, or are you better alone? Astrology says some people are not built for marriage, while others thrive in it. Each individual has a different capacity for love, and they may not be able to give or receive love freely. To know this, always refer to the individual natal chart...

To ascertain if one is meant for marriage, and has a capacity for married life, there are a few conditions to be avoided in the natal chart. I present 3 of the most notorious ones...

Moon opposing or squaring Sun

When the Moon either squares or opposes the Sun, this person has a character unsuited for marriage. The individual has a severe identity crisis within himself / herself....there is a fierce inner conflict that cannot be resolved. This identity crisis has to do with gender identity confusion that is rooted in parental disharmony since childhood. Both mother and father are perceived to be totally separate units, not united at all. As a result, the individual cannot reconcile the male and female gender roles. I notice people with the Sun and Moon in hard aspects often struggle with traditional gender roles, and often behave in a way that do not reflect their inner reality. Their external image will always contradict their internal self-image. In other words, they are a walking bag of contradictions. Caught in a perpetual inner battle with themselves, they have a limited capacity for receiving and giving love. Marriage often fails, as they are often unaware of their own contradictions, and tend to have a stubborn character unwilling to change for others.

Ascendant opposing or squaring its own ruler

When the Ascendant (AC) is in hard aspects to its own ruling planet, this person may come across as too scary or too aggressive for others. He has an overwhelmingly strong appearance that puts people off immediately. Not many people can handle their killer "aura" or presence in the room, which provokes an instant gut reaction. Since the AC rules your physical appearance, the individual often comes into conflict with others due to their appearance. The message that is conveyed from their body language is very different from their true characters. Unfortunately, such a person is usually extremely stubborn, and does not get along too well with others who are not like-minded. As such, their presence can be seen as provocative. Marriages do not fare well. It is not advisable to marry in general. In the example above, Aries AC is opposing its own ruler, Mars.

Uranus sitting in the 7th / Descendant cusp

When Uranus is in the 7th House (DC), this is the classic divorce aspect in astrology textbooks. To be avoided at all costs. As the planet of separation, Uranus rules physical distance and will always create a distance between husband and wife. A couple cannot stay under the same roof for long. They must separate, either through traveling, or busy work schedule. I have seen a lot of long-distance marriages and perpetually absent spouses with this aspect in my clients' charts. The spouse will create excuses not to be at home. Uranus is also very selfish, self-centered and willful. The individual will never bend over to cater to anyone, and they will NEVER change. Not in a million years. The individual can never really enter into a proper partnership, since they value their personal space and individualism too much to sacrifice it for another person. The concept of partnership does not exist for them. Forget it. You will never be a unit together. There is only "I" and "you" who happen to live together. After marriage, "I" will continue my own activities, while "you" will do your own thingy. In the above example, Uranus is not only sitting in DC, it is also opposing the AC and Moon, which makes it doubly worse... An honest astrologer will never recommend marriage in this situation.

Abnormal Sex Drives: Insatiable Appetite

Can sexual deviancy be seen from the natal chart? The short answer is yes. Astrology provides clues to evaluate a person's sexual behaviour and bedroom affairs. Mars and Venus are the key to predicting sexuality in the chart. The position and condition of both planets will reveal a lot about the individual's performance in the sack. Mars rules aggression, male sexuality and libido. When Mars is too strong in a chart, the native becomes too lecherous. Meanwhile, Venus rules attraction and female sexuality. Venus shows what we like in others - what we are drawn towards irresistably. However, Venus also rules seduction - how a woman seduces, her seduction style.

The 5th House & 8th House in a chart both rule sex. However, the 5th House rules happy recreational sex while the 8th rules a darker, more destructive type of sex. 8th House sex is the type that features BDSM, paedophilia, taboo, rape and childhood abuse. The 8th is often traumatic. That is why it is important when judging a natal chart to also see if the ruler of 5th & 8th house is afflicted...because they open up a whole can of worms.

An unnaturally high libido and promiscuity can be judged by the following aspects:

Mars Opposing / Square Pluto

When Mars is in hard aspects to Pluto, the individual will have a violent urge towards sex. It is a powerful, fierce drive towards coitus, and borders on destruction if the libido is not satisfied. There is usually a raw and animalistic aspect to this person's lovemaking style. 

Mars Conjunct Jupiter 

When Mars aspects Jupiter, the person becomes a Duracell bunny. Besides having an inexhaustible supply of energy in bed, the male native who has this aspect is said to have a large, er...manhood. He will have a bigger than average size.

Mars Opposing / Square Venus

Is a famous playboy aspect. Someone who is attractive to the opposite sex but will never have a happy or lasting relationship. They often fight with their lovers. Fighting is part and parcel of their romances. If the relationship is too peaceful, they will create problems and arguments just to release their energy through fighting. Friction turns them on.

Mars Opposing / Square Uranus

Is into one night stands and exciting, stimulating albeit temporary relationships. They like anything fresh and new - yes, that includes partners. They bore easily with the same sex, and will want to explore different positions, styles, etc. They are very open to sexual experimentation. They might sleep with random partners just for the heck of it.

Mars Opposing / Square Neptune

Is extremely seducible and vulnerable to being seduced. These are the types to get date-raped, drugged or just plain drunk when they get lured into bed by seedy characters. They get victimized easily and put themselves into dangerous and unwise situations.

Pluto in 8th House Scorpio

Is somebody who needs to have sex multiple times on a daily basis. Scorpio is the sign of extremity and obsession. The native will overdo it, perhaps to the point where they may ruin their partner's health.

Venus Opposing / Square Pluto

A sign of loose morals or immorality. When Venus is in hard aspects to Pluto, the native is attracted to everything forbidden and taboo. Women with this aspects tend to dig the idea of prostitution, nightclubbing, stripdancing, etc. They misuse and abuse their sexuality because they gain a sense of power from it. Men with this aspects are attracted to loose and immoral women - prostitutes, for example. 

Venus Opposing / Square Uranus

Likes the idea of one night stands, random sex and exciting experiments. Tends to have unusual partners. This one, however, prefers long-distance relationships. Love affairs do not last long.

Venus Opposing / Square Neptune

Will never be happy or satisfied by sex. There is always something missing - always not perfect. They longed for ideal sex - but they will never achieve it. Their unattainable fantasies will eventually lead to boredom and frustration with their partners. Nothing is ever good enough for them in bed. Eventually, they will start turning to alcohol or porn or illicit sex.

A Crowded 5th House

The 5th is the house of love affairs thus  many planets clustering in this house indicates multiple lovers and an enjoyment of recreational sex. Usually 3 or more planets in this house suggests promiscuity. The worst is if Jupiter, Pluto or Mars is in this house.

A Crowded 8th House

The 8th is the house of taboo sex. The things that go in here are pretty perverted. Yes, if many planets cluster here, this is someone with deviant tastes. More than 2 planets will indicate deviancy of some form. Jupiter or Mars here will mean multiple partners, but Pluto here can show child abuse, rape, incest, or some other forms of traumatic experiences. 

  

Doctor in the House: Malaysia's Father of Modernization

The next outstanding global leader we will look at is Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, the Prime Minister of Malaysia from the year 1981-2003. A brilliant economic strategist, gutsy leader and visionary thinker, Dr. M is celebrated for transforming Malaysia into a booming economy in the 90's, modernizing the nation and making daring reforms which put Malaysia on the world map. We shall now attempt to analyze his natal chart. Although no official birth time is found. the interplay of planets, aspects and signs is more than enough to construct a picture of the longest-reigning Malaysian premier.  

First off, he has a "bucket"-shaped chart. The cluster of planets at the bottom half are held by the "bucket handle", Jupiter. As the most dominant planet in the chart, Jupiter has the power to siphon and direct the energy of the other planets in the life of Dr. M. It controls the major events in his life. Jupiter is the luckiest planet in the cosmos, blessing its natives with great optimism, success and wealth. Jupiter is the cosmic Santa Claus, it expands whatever it touches beyond its limits. The keywords for Jupiter are "big" and "lucky." Everything needs to be done in a big way, growing in size, breaking its limits, going further and further, and becoming successful beyond your wildest dreams. It is by nature, a very generous and protective planet.

We can immediately see how Jupiter has impacted the life of Dr. M, blessing him with the ability to excel in his chosen field, conferring him a good education and upbringing (Jupiter is the patron of education), and giving him a "lucky break" into politics, protecting him in times of political crisis and expanding his career in politics beyond imaginable limits. Furthermore, we see that Jupiter is the only planet in an earth sign, Capricorn. Earth is the element of organization and business. This earthy sign endows Dr. M with good management skills and business acumen. It allows him to manage the economy of Malaysia systematically and efficiently, like a Capricorn CEO. He bolstered national income and expanded the heavy industries (automobile, petrol and gas, etc). During the 1998 Asian financial crisis, he pulled the country out of recession much quicker than other neighbouring ASEAN countries. He is a genius in terms of finances and material assets. He delivers a Midas touch to anything that has material form and structure. He set up to construct world-class infrastructures, buildings and architectural wonders (Petronas Twin Towers, Sepang F1 Circuit, KLIA, etc).

Next, we see the Sun conjuncts Pluto, and making a sharp opposition to Jupiter. Now, we know that Pluto is the planet of extremes - all or nothing at all. It causes the individual to do everything in a very forceful, intense manner. Dr. M is a natural daredevil, a trailblazer, a leader who steamrolls everything in his path, bulldozing and crushing all obstacles in the way. Grass does not grow under his feet! Pluto also gives the "firepower" to mow down opponents and enemies, being the most fearsome planet in the cosmos. There is also a very strong charisma in a Plutonian person, pulling and sucking others in like a vortex. They make very charismatic leaders, building a cult-like persona and larger-than-life icon. 

One very striking feature of the chart is how 4 planets (Mars, Venus, Mercury & Neptune) are clustered in Leo, a fire sign. Leo the lion is perhaps the most dramatic sign of all. Like a King, he enjoys doing everything in a "grand" and "flashy" way, and receiving public acknowledgement. Leo prefers to be in the spotlight in whatever he says or does. Similarly, Dr. M has never failed to create headlines in the media for saying things. He has a very flamboyant personality which generates a lot of hype and attention from the public. He is a rock star. 

Lastly, we see a grand water trine, a blue triangle formed by joining the signs of Pisces, Cancer & Scorpio. Like Lee Kuan Yew, his Singaporean counterpart, you will notice the grand trine popping up again and again in the charts of famous world leaders throughout history. A grand trine is considered the luckiest aspect in astrology, and it bestows gifts of rare instincts, vision and insight into the charts of prominent statesmen. It is written in the stars that Dr M is destined to be a leader of a nation.

Death of a Patriot: The Founding Father of Singapore

The world mourned the lost of a great statesman today. The Architect of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, passed away peacefully at the Singapore General Hospital at 3.18am. His death was a day right after the Solar Eclipse and Supermoon in Pisces, denoting the end of an era and the start of a new epoch. I feel compelled to pay tribute to this colossal figure of a man who almost single-handedly build up Singapore from a tiny city post to a major world economic power within 3 decades.  

Let us examine his natal chart in brief. The first thing that caught my eye immediately was the "bucket" shape of his chart, led by the "bucket handle", or the most dominant planet, Uranus. This means Uranus is the strongest planet in his life, and a major part of his character. All major life events will dance according to the tune of Uranus. We know that Uranus is a gutsy reformer, a rebel, a visionary, a genius, a pioneer, an inventor, a maverick who likes to say "Out with the old, in with the new!" Uranus loves to shock others with his unconventional ideas. Uranus is very scientific and progressive, always looking to the future. This is why most scientists have Uranus and Aquarius energies in their charts.

Next, we see Uranus is part of a grand water trine activating his 1st, 5th and 9th House of self-confidence and self-identity. This is a guy who was very, very sure of who he was and what he wanted to be in life. He was talented in creating identities - labeling, repackaging, branding, etc. He became very confident and emboldened (did I mention Uranus is very gutsy?) to go ahead with his reform plans no matter what. Moreover, Uranus in Pisces is associated with prophetic visions and clairvoyance - ability to see the future. This endowed psychic-like qualities to him. This enabled him to become a prophet of a progressive new era. However, Uranus in Pisces could also mean a rebel against religion, a religious reformer, someone who wiped out the old religions and created a new set of beliefs. As a result, Singapore has no official state religion, being a Neo-Confucius nation.     

To spice up the plot, we have Uranus making harsh aspects to his Sun, Mars & Venus. This only amplifies his Aquarian nature, making him extremely Aquarius. His intelligence, speed of thinking, speed of action, originality, eccentricity, etc gets a big boost from this! Plus his insistence on being a rebel with(out) a cause. Trust me, James Dean would have nothing on him. And Uranus rules physical separation as well. He was "separated" from Malaysia in 1965 and formed Singapore, spending the first few years as a maverick in the wilderness. Bear in mind, however, that Uranus is the type that would turn the tables on everyone and everything to eventually "stand out" from the flock, to become outstanding, unique, original, etc. 

Then we have Saturn being exalted in the chart. Ah-hah. Saturn is a prison warden. Saturn is the judge, jury and executioner of the zodiac. Saturn loves law, order, discipline, structure, hard work, etc. Saturn is another name for Judge Dread. But Saturn is also the lord of material gain. And he is exalted in the natal chart, guys, I repeat, EXALTED. This can only mean one thing, folks. Saturn loves Mr. Lee Kuan Yew. Saturn loves Singapore. As long as you keep the cosmic warden happy, he shall bless you with untold riches and material wealth. The way to please Saturn is to keep his laws - order, discipline, hard work, efficiency. Saturn leaves no room for mistakes. As the symbol of old age, Saturn is regarded as the father of the zodiacs. In fact, patriarchy is a system established by Saturn. That is why Capricorn (ruled by Saturn) is the sign for father and fatherhood. And we are gazing at the chart of the Father of Singapore.

On the day of his death, Mars is making a sharp 180 degrees aspect against his Ascendant Scorpio. Now, the AC is his physical body, literally, and Mars is violence. To exacerbate matters, Mars is the ruler of his AC (Scorp), so the effect of having your own AC ruler opposing your AC is doubled. Finally, the ruler of his 8th house of death, Mercury, is transiting his Uranus. As you all know, Uranus is the dominant planet symbolizing himself in the chart. At the same time, even transiting Uranus is opposing his natal Mercury (ruler of 8th), so his life came to a natural end.     

The Ascendant, The Self and Love

The Ascendant is the mask that you wear and show to the outside world. It is a portrayal or representation of yourself that others see around you. The Ascendant is the image of yourself that you project to the external world.  It is everything from the way you walk, talk, laugh, eat, sit, breathe, etc. However, the significance of the Ascendant goes beyond that of a mere mask. The Ascendant rules your physical self. It is literally your body. A short or tall, fat or thin person can be seen from their Ascendant and planetary aspects to it. In short, it is your bodily rhythm, breathing pattern, skin temperature, etc. Because the Ascendant is your physical body, it is extremely powerful in medical astrology. Sickness or health can be diagnosed from aspects afflicting the ruler of the Ascendant. 

The Ascendant (AC) begins at the cusp of the First House in your natal chart. It is also called the Rising Sign. Since it is a material manifestation of yourself, it represents your first contact with the world as a baby. When a newborn baby first takes a breath outside his mother's womb, the AC energies are absorbed by the child's body. The AC governs your looks, habits, self-expressions, etc. This is a natural process, and a person will express himself in such a way that matches his AC sign without realizing that they are doing it. Most people are not aware of their AC. As such, the give off wrong messages to the outside world. For example, a woman with Aries AC may come off as a tough, aggressive tomboy to strangers she meet. However, only her close friends and relatives will know that she is in fact, a soft lady at heart (Moon in Pisces) and a talented artist (Sun in Taurus). The AC mask, in short, creates a protective shell which often misrepresents the individual to the rest of society. 

Another notorious aspect of the AC is that it governs sexual attraction. Surprised? Sexuality, after all, is something very physical and has to do with your body. The AC is the strongest factor determining attraction, instant chemistry or love at first sight since it gravitates towards individuals that matches the biological rhythms of your body. However, I must say this is a purely sexual and superficial aspect of love. Although the AC controls the "animal" attraction, it is the Moon, ultimately, that determines compatibility in a couple.  

Ascendant in Fire 

The AC in fire signs (Aries, Leo, Sag) have an active, energetic and extroverted image. They are instantly attracted to fiery type of partners. The example above shows a Leo AC woman who goes for the active, "showy", sporty type of man who probably likes children and animals. Alternatively, a Leo AC may also go after rich partners. The whole idea is to get a partner that she can be proud of so she can shine in his glory. If your partner's Venus falls into your First House, you can call it a love-at-first-sight scenario. Or lust-at-first-sight, whichever is more applicable. The chemistry is usually instantaneous.  

Ascendant in Water 

The AC in water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces) have an emotional, sensitive and introverted image. They can go after the "soft", nurturing type of partners who embodies certain artistic notions. The exception is of course, Scorpio, who is really the fiercest sign in the entire universe. The example shown is that of a Scorp AC man who is attracted towards strong, domineering, even manipulative ladies. He is magnetized by sexually-aggressive women. Of course, the opposite example would be a Pisces AC man who is drawn towards gentle, artistic and dreamy women with a sad past. Water AC folks tend to like spiritual partners.

Ascendant in Earth 

The AC in earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn) have a very sensible, practical and reliable image. They are attracted to partners with earthy qualities like good management skills, level-headedness and money-making abilities. Let's face it, earth signs are all about the $$$. The example above show a Taurus AC man who gravitates towards domestic, motherly women who can cook delicious meals for him. He is looking for the ultimate Martha Steward who can spoil him with good food and great sex while decorating the home beautifully and taking care of the kids. Additionally, Venus is placed inside his First House, making him a very handsome man indeed. 

Ascendant in Air

The AC in air signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) are very talkative dammit. They have a friendly image, and are seen as sociable diplomats. They get invited to parties all the time. They can be attracted to witty, intellectual partners. The above example shows a Gemini AC woman who goes after charming men who can engage her with funny conversations at parties. She falls for guys who are fast in words, and enjoy traveling like her. In short, air AC folks admire intellect and wit in a partner.