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.        

Moon-Saturn: CEO Wife

Moon in harsh aspects to Saturn will give you that CEO wife you have been looking for to manage your life. This earthy Moon wants control and authority, first and foremost. In a man's chart, he desires a woman who is competent, efficient, and can "get the job done." The wife needs to have outstanding leadership skills to help run his life. She must be able to help him to achieve his ambitions. The Moon-Saturn man admires a professional woman who can benefit his career. She needs to be successful enough to boost his status in society. 

The Capricorn Moon individual is goal-oriented. They have a need to rise in society and command respect from others. This is a famous "using" sign, as they are able to utilize people and resources around them to achieve their ambitions. They are careful and can control their emotions very well. They see emotions as weakness, and do not like over-sensitive or "soft" partners. Great leaders like Napoleon Bonaparte and George Washington have Capricorn Moons. This allowed them to command an army.

Astrologer Vivian Robson claimed that "many prominent politicians and businessmen owe their position and success...to their Capricorn wives." I find this to be accurate descriptions of Moon-Saturn people in general. This applies to both sexes, although it is more obvious in men, They seek out relationships for mutual benefits. Sometimes, they delay marriage and end up marrying late because they are careful. They tend to marry older partners who are materially well-off. All in all, the Capricorn Moon is a secret recipe for success.

Fire, Earth, Air & Water.

Astrology is based on the 4 elements - fire, earth, air, & water. The qualities of each element greatly influence the individual's character. It is a strong predictor and determining factor in his natal chart. Depending on which element that is dominant in the chart, the person will display the strengths and weaknesses of that particular element. Novice astrologers often underestimate the importance of the elements, and that is the reason why readings are not deep or insightful enough. Veteran astrologers, meanwhile, tend to place a heavy emphasis on elemental qualities, which enable them to pick up subtle hints and meanings about a person.  

FIRE

FIRE TRIAD - Aries, Leo, Sagittarius.

FIRE PLANETS - Sun, Mars, Jupiter.

FIRE HOUSES - House I, V & IX

Fire symbolizes force, energy and will power. It burns and crackles and sizzles. When fire is strong in a natal chart, that person will have high vitality and self-confidence in life. He will be physically robust, confident, and extroverted. That is why Aries, Leo & Sagi are energetic signs. They can't sit still. They represent masculinity, the "Yang" energy which is forceful and assertive. When fire gets channeled in the right direction, it conveys the gift of great optimism and leadership in life. A person can always bounce back in times of down and has an inner light of joy and hope which cannot be extinguished. Sir Winston Churchill famously had a fire trine in his natal chart. It allows him to inspire a nation with hope during a time of great gloom and depression. Fire lights up the dark, and he lifted Britain out of darkness. A fiery leader can be very brave and inspirational in the face of challenge, despite all odds. There is a need for competition, and a need to push themselves. Fiery people are very competitive and thirsty for challenges. They are also frank, straightforward and rather blunt in their expression. They see what they want, they take it. Action speaks louder than words.

GIFT: Energy, Vitality, Assertiveness, Confidence, Leadership, Athleticism, Optimism, Joy, Hope, Inspiration.   

CURSE: Aggression, Violence, Impatience, Arrogance, Selfishness, Egoism, Destructiveness, Promiscuity.

EARTH

EARTH TRIAD - Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn

EARTH PLANETS - Venus, Mercury, Saturn

EARTH HOUSES - House II, VI & X.

Ever heard of the expression "down-to-earth?" That describes earth, which is pragmatic by nature. They are practical, sensible people with a rational head. They think clearly in times of emergency and can be relied on to solve problems. Earthy people are managers and troubleshooters. They are indispensable to an organization. They work with structure and effectiveness. These are people born with their eyes open, as they are realistic about the world. They do not waste time dreaming or do useless things which will benefit nobody. They can work very hard to achieve their ambition. Gifted with managing skills, earthy folks plan things ahead and execute their plans with patience. Their planning skills are quite legendary. So are their ability to do business. The greatest businessmen in the world - Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Warren Buffet - all have strong earth elements in their chart. You can't do business without a good deal of earth. Reputation and status in society is something very important to earthy people, and they will always want to leave an impact in society; to be acknowledged for their success and achievement. As such, they climb the ladder slowly and steadily. They plant the seeds, water the plant and reap the fruits. They don't believe in shortcuts. Their stamina is amazing, and they can endure setbacks in life - because they persist.

GIFT: Common Sense, Practicality, Realism, Responsibility, Reliability, Loyalty, Endurance, Productivity, Resourcefulness, Diligence.

CURSE: Materialism, Greed, Ruthlessness, Coldness, Manipulativeness, Boring, Rigid, Stubborn, Pessimism.

WATER

WATER TRIAD - Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces

WATER PLANETS - Moon, Neptune, Pluto.

WATER HOUSES - House IV, VIII & XII.

Still water runs deep, or so goes the saying. Water people are deep and emotional. They are incredibly passionate, ruled by instincts. They represent femininity,  the "Ying" energy which is nurturing and life-giving, like a mother. They are capable of deep, lasting relationships and unconditional love. Bonds forged in water can never be broken. Water people have an unparallelled capacity for love and intimacy. They love so deeply they are willing to die or sacrifice themselves for their closed ones. Perhaps because they have such strong feelings, they become introverted and guard their feelings closely. They put on masks so they don't get hurt. Emotional security and intimacy are the most precious things to a Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces. Uncontrolled passion can be their undoing. So channel the passion wisely, into the right direction. Water folks are gifted with fertile imagination, which makes them excellent artists, musicians, writers, actors and actresses. Since they are sensitive souls, they tend to have faith in God. Faith comes to them easily. Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa and many religious leaders have strong water emphasis in their natal charts.

GIFT: Altruism, Love, Faith, Imagination, Creativity, Spirituality, Passion, Compassion, Instincts, Intimacy, Sincerity.    

CURSE: Too Emotional, Fragile, Oversensitivity, Insecurity, Defensiveness, Gullibility, Low Self-Esteem, Dreaminess.

AIR 

AIR TRIAD - Gemini, Libra, Aquarius.

AIR PLANETS - Mercury, Venus, Uranus.

AIR HOUSES - House III, VII & XI.

Air is a symbol of the mind. Intelligence is the hallmark of airy people. They live in their minds, in the world of ideas. Imagination is their strong point. They are gifted with articulate, sharp tongues and can express themselves well. Witty and humorous, they love to communicate and excel in delivering charming, persuasive speech. The world's best lawyers, politicians and public speakers have heavy air element in their chart. If you don't have air, you have no soft skills. You can't speak or write persuasively. In other words, you need air to communicate, to build bridges with others. The more air a person has, the more charming that person is. They can charm the birds off the tree. Too much air, however, can lead to impracticality and escapism in the form of wild fantasies. As a rule of thumb, airy people are not practical. They are satisfied by gaining knowledge, through reading, writing, chatting, socializing, etc. In other words, they are nurtured by "building castles in the air." If Mars is weak in their chart, they may not be able to put their thoughts into action, and so become unproductive. Therefore, a strong Mars is needed to ensure these airy folks take action. Many scientists, like Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton, have lots of air in their charts. Air tends towards a progressive, scientific outlook.

GIFT: Intelligence, Logic, Wit, Charm, Sociability, Humour, Ideas, Originality, Innovativity, Refinement, Culture.  

CURSE: Impracticality, Superficiality, Fickleness, Vanity, Indecisiveness, Restlessness, Unproductivity, Laziness, Escapism.

    

Sex According to Capricorn

CAPRICORN, THE SEA GOAT (December 22 - January 20)

Ruler: Saturn

Element: Earth

Character: Dutiful, Responsible, Ambitious, Materialistic, Hardworking, Mature.

Energy: Medium

Libido: High

Sex style: Capricorns are cautious. They want control, no, they need control in sex. Therefore, the goat chooses his or her partner carefully. Although initially guarded, they will unleash their true colours in bed once their partners manage to win their trust. Capricorns have amazing stamina and can make love for hours and nights, only stopping to go to work. They are sensual beasts at heart and will reveal a hedonistic and wild side behind closed doors. Goats are, after all, the ancient sign of virility. But they are very private persons. To the outside world, they might appear serious and formal, but once behind closed doors….it’s game on! Do not be fooled by their seemingly cold look. They are pretty hardcore in bed. However, they tend to plan and organize their sexual encounters ahead, so as to leave nothing to chance. As mentioned above, they like control. This extends to fantasies of disciplining their partner in bed. The sitting sex position is quite popular with them, as it requires maximum grinding. Capricorns are grinders. They have a fetish for rubbing their organs. Some enjoy inflicting pain on others, and assume the role of dominatrix.

Sex fantasy: Dominatrix, Sadism, Master-slave, Sitting sex, Grinding, Paid sex.

Romance: They stick to traditional gender roles. Age gap is common, as Capricorns might prefer either much younger or older lovers. Some Capricorn women have father issues and are looking for a father figure in her romantic partner. Their lust for money and ambition, however, may see them going for partners who are useful, and can benefit them materially. In romance, they can be pretty business-minded for Capricorns love to plan ahead.  They might view love as a business transaction, or a quid pro quo bargain. Old-fashioned values are okay with them. They fall in love slowly, and gradually opens up to their partners once they are convinced they are in safe hands. When Capricorns are young, they might feel sexually-repressed. Once they grow older, they become more lecherous.

Marriage: Capricorns are born managers. They will manage their lives and their spouse’s live. Capricorn marriages are very lasting and durable. They tend to stick together, through thick and thin, not out of love but out of fear of material loss in the event of divorce. Property, money and status are the most important things to a Capricorn, and they will aspire for marriages that will allow them to climb the corporate ladder.  Capricorns are “users” and can be quite cold and rational about “using” their spouse. They are very objective-minded and clear-headed about what they want in a marriage, and will arrange for things to work.  Capricorn wives will try their best to ensure that their husbands achieve success. As a spouse and parent, they are responsible and reliable. A bit of a strict disciplinarian, they may set some rules in the household.

Sex According to Virgo

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Sex According to Taurus

TAURUS, THE BULL (20 April-20 May)

Ruler: Venus 

Element: Earth

Character: Loyal, Patient, Stubborn, Sensual, Materialistic, Possessive

Energy: Medium

Libido: Very high

Sex style: The Taurean lust for food is famous, and they are greedy in bed too.  While too much good food makes them fat, they can eat, eat, and eat until the cows come home and overindulge. Under the sheets, they perform with amazing endurance. Although slow to burn, they can last whole night. The most sensual sign of all, they enjoy a good massage and silky bedsheets on a soft, comfy bed. Their sense of touch (tactile sense) is very keen, and that is why they love massages. Silky bedsheets, lacy lingerie or anything that satisfies their sense of touch will turn them on. So does nice perfume and lovely music. Taurus is all about indulging the 5 senses. A warm meal can be a foreplay. The men who are domesticated at heart are looking for wifely material in a woman. A woman who can cook and pamper them with all the domestic comforts are very appealing to the Taurus man. The Taurus woman, however, can be super feminine. She is very comfortable in her gender role and is not easily intimidated by any man. Faithful and reliable, she can be counted on at all times.  

Sex fantasy: Sumptuous meal, soothing hot bath then slow massage on silky bedsheets. Sexy lingerie with fragrance. ‘Nuff said.

Romance: Very classic James Bond style. Traditional gender roles are to be expected. Taurus are classy people. The men will want to do courtship, while the women expect to be courted like a lady.

Marriage: Financial matters feature prominently in Taurean marriages. Either there is an increase of wealth through marriage or there are money problems. Taurus husbands are happy as long as their home is comfy and dinner is plentiful and to their liking. They make predictable spouses. Sticking to routine at home, they can be a bit boring. The female Taurus can be very artistic, and make great mothers in general. She is calm and patient. Both male and female has a tendency to put on weight.