Charles E.O. Carter - The Astrological Aspects

Although astronomically so different, these bodies must be considered side by side for the purposes of astrological study.

They constitute a pair or dyad which may be viewed from many aspects.

They are male and female, active and passive, present and past, conscious and unconscious, light and dark, objective and subjective.

Every human psyche, apart from bodily sex, contains a male and female aspect, as is recognized by modern science. Upon the natal configuration of the Sun and Moon mainly depends the relation between these two basic sides of the personality and their reciprocal functioning whether normal or abnormal.

The Sun represents man in action, an outgoing positive, aggressive, self-assertive and self-expressive principle. It is not so much character made, as character in the making. It symbolizes the life lying before the new-born babe.

On the other hand, the Moon is the past and what man has and holds from the past; his habits, heredity, prejudices, and family and racial limitations. It is the indrawn, private, negative, self-protective, assimilative portion. Thus it dominates the past, and the Sun is tempered by the Moon from the very beginning. But, as regards the future, the Moon is itself dominated by the Sun, for it can imbibe and assimilate only what the Sun wins for it.

Harmoniously related these bodies indicate good health supported by a strong constitution, a fortunate future growing out of an ordinate past, concord between the private life and the professional, and an absence of inner conflicts.

Inharmonious aspects incline to throw the life into two portions, antagonistic or at least disjointed. This dehiscence will pervade the entire being, the outer reflecting the inner.

But, it may be repeated that the Sun must be considered above all else in judging the active life. Its aspects indicate the measure of success that will be attained, in what direction, and with what facility or tribulation. It represents the work to be done, due attention being paid to the sign, house and aspects involved.

The Moon is more important in relation to ordinary character, and this is particularly so in early life before the Suns influence makes itself felt. A child with the Moon in Square to Mars but Sun in Trine to Saturn will be hot-tempered or impulsive, but will become, as the years pass, prudent and controlled, at least in action. Habits, morals and temperament are all shown to a large extent by the Moon, the Ascendant being even less self-conscious and rising little above the sensations and instincts, important though these are in their spheres.

The mutual aspects are of a general and diffused character rather than particular and focused the particularization lies with the planets. Hence their effects are not always easily traced unless life and character can be viewed in perspective.

It is thought by many that even bad aspects are to be preferred to none at all, since an entire lack of relationship between the Lights tends to prevent the co-ordination of the life, with the result that there is often an absence of defined interests and pursuits, and a possible tendency to drift. It is certain that Inharmonious aspects are by no means always disastrous and they may even indicate a high pitch of intelligence and psychic energy.

Considered from the solar part of the combination the aspects affect the success and repute of the native, these being influenced by the Moon through those things of which it is a general significatrix, which are parents, wife, family, home, the common people and females in particular. Considered from the lunar side these last-mentioned matters are affected through things denoted by the Sun, which are persons in power and authority, nobility, royalty, and Leo people in general. The Lights are significators of the parents, but the usual rule that the Sun is the father and the Moon is the mother seems not to be rigidly applicable. Moreover, it is not exclusively true that the Sun is the husband in a womans map, and the Moon the wife in a mans. It is often obvious that the lunar aspects affect a woman through father and husband, and that solar aspects affect a man through wife and mother. We are told, for example, that Charles Dickens modeled the character of Micawber on his father: now Micawber is much more reminiscent of the Moon Conjunction Neptune in Sagittary than it is with the authors Sun in Aquarius Squared Uranus, a rather violent and intellectual type, by no means resembling the convivial and prolific Micawber. The Sun may indeed indicate the father, and in particular the active side of his life, and this is specially so when his activities intimately affect the native; for example, if they are engaged in the same business. But in a general sense our heredity, whether from father or mother, is chiefly shown by the Moon. For example, King George V has the Sun in Gemini, which does not describe his father, who had nothing in that sign, nor the grandfather, who had only Mars therein; but it is clearly derived from Queen Victoria, who had both Lights and the Ascendant in that sign.

These are conducive to happiness and tranquility. They make for popularity, with the opposite sex and with the world at large. They do not make for a very vigorous or ambitious life in a public sense, but there may be considerable success without much open struggle or conflict. An exception to this is Lord Beaconsfield, whose Martian Ascendant gave him the grit and courage that Sun Trine Moon would have denied; however, it is noteworthy that he also sought success as an author. The Duke of Windsor, who certainly does not avoid dangers, has the Sun Squared by Mars. Otherwise the Trine seeks ways of peace and quietude.

It is an influence which points to a comfortable home and much mutual understanding between native and marriage partner. Where this is otherwise, aspects to the Lights and to Venus must of course be considered, together with the 7th house. In the same way it is likely to denote a happy life with the parents.

It is an influence that signifies a general harmony in the nature, settled and congenial interests, and an absence of the inner conflicts that occur with the Inharmonious contacts. The inherited disposition, training and upbringing are not hostile to the pursuits and interests that are taken up voluntarily as the life develops; the adult life tends to grow naturally out of the early years. There is not likely to be a violent breaking away from home conditions, or, if there is something of this sort, re-adjustment ensues speedily and readily. Many of the benefits of these aspects are subconscious and ingrained, and they are therefore not always obvious, especially to the native himself.

Any kind of contact causes the natives life to be intimately connected with that of his family, or, sometimes, with his partners family, though the relation may be psychological rather than material. Sometimes there is a distinctly patriotic aspect to the contacts, and the native is politically minded. Again, they incline to domestic and landed interests and are excellent for all pursuits that are connected with house-property or with appliances that are of a domestic character.

Sometimes the vocation is carried on at home, or in homes, as for example is often the case with a physician. Often the partner either helps the native directly, or shares his interests.

This is sometimes regarded with disfavour, it being stated that it tends to weakness of body and no very bright condition of mind.

It is of course a critical position, since the two most important bodies of the horoscope are placed together usually in the same sign and with the same aspects. It can scarcely, of itself, tend to breadth of outlook or adaptability, for the interests will naturally incline to centre on matters of the house that is occupied and the character will be heavily marked with the sign in which the Lights are.