Mapping Your Future: Understand & Maximize Your Potential (Astrology Made Easy Series) - Softcover

Riske Riske, Kris Brandt; Patterns, Cosmic

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0738705012 ISBN 13: 9780738705019

Publisher: Llewellyn Publications, 2004

Synopsis

THERE IS ONLY TOMORROW
(Your Life is what you make of it)

You can't change the past, but your future is what you make of it today. You can make good decisions for a better tomorrow by understanding the evolving planetary energies affecting your birthchart. It's like having a mapping program combined with a knowledge of sailing so you can tack with the wind energies to get where you want to go.

Knowing and understanding these changing planetary energies gives you an edge in these very challenging times when economic and political forces are seemingly arrayed against the individual and could bring disaster to the unprepared.

This science of predictive astrology is normally considered too complex for the non-professional, but the step-by-step method in this book and the computing power of the included CD-ROM uses the birthchart as the foundation for your evolving life and does all the calculations to print out reports that enable you to discover the prime times for all the important decisions in your life. You will learn proven predictive techniques to make the right choices and chose the best times for marriage, relationships, career, relocation, money, health, and more. Even luck can be factored in.

About this title

About the Author

Kris Brandt Riske, M.A. (Arizona) is the executive director and a professional member of the American Federation of Astrologers (AFA), the oldest US astrological organization, founded in 1938. She is also a member of the National Council for Geocosmic Research (NCGR). She has a master’s degree in journalism and a certificate of achievement in weather forecasting from Penn State.

Kris has been a speaker at various astrological conferences and has written for several astrological publications. She currently writes the annual weather forecast for Llewellyn’s Moon Sign Book and is the author of Llewellyn’s Complete Book of Astrology and Llewellyn’s Complete Book of Predictive Astrology. In addition to astrometeorology, she specializes in predictive astrology.

Kris is an avid NASCAR fan and enjoys gardening and reading.

Cosmic Patterns Software is located in Gainesville, Florida and has a team of computer programmers, technical, and administrative staff who have been developing the Kepler software package since 1982. Kepler has gone through over 20 new versions since 1982, and has evolved and changed tremendously, keeping up with the changes in technology, and introducing more and more power, flexibility, and ease of use with each new version. Kepler has blossomed into an extraordinarily elegant, easy-to-use, flexible, and powerful program. Pegasus was released for sale in 1999.
~

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

1
Natal Chart Overview
The natal chart, or birth chart, is the first and foremost tool in predictive astrology.
Think of your birth chart as a baseline or foundation that supports your constantly
evolving, ever-changing life. You are as unique as each day, and although experiences
and events shift your perspective over time, your basic personality remains the same.
Change is an ongoing process that brings what appear to be new viewpoints, directions,
and talents as you learn and grow from success and failure alike. Throughout this
process, and with the help of the shifting planets, in actuality you are discovering new
facets of yourself, previously unrevealed, and untapped strengths and gifts-your hidden
potential.

This hidden potential and its flip side-your weaknesses-are found in your natal
chart. Through it, you can better map your future, knowing when to act, when to maintain
the status quo, and what avenues to pursue to become the best you can be.
An astrological prediction is nothing more than a forecast of how you and your natal
chart, which represents you, will respond when presented with a given set of circumstances
and planetary alignments.

The natal chart is thus the place to begin. Although a thorough analysis and delineation
is preferable, you can easily and quickly capture the essence of the chart by using
the method outlined in this chapter. This knowledge, combined with specific predictive
techniques, is a good starting point. It gives you a “feel” for your natal chart, how your
personality is expressed inwardly and outwardly. These items are included in the
overview:

• Hemispheres, quadrants, and houses
• Elements and modes
• Sun and aspects
• Moon and aspects
• Ascendant and aspects
• Angular planets
• Strongest planet(s)

Hemispheres, Quadrants, and Houses
Hemispheres and quadrants can be likened to the big picture, the panoramic view that
reveals the first insight into personality. Through them, you can loosely characterize the
chart as one belonging to an extrovert or introvert, a people person, or someone who is
self-reliant. Although these descriptions are general and stereotypical, they do signify
basic lifestyle preferences.

Hemispheres
Count the number of planets in your chart in the northern hemisphere (bottom half)
and southern hemisphere (top half) of the chart, which is divided horizontally by the
Ascendant/Descendant (first-house cusp/seventh-house cusp) axis, which is also called
the horizon (chart 1). Do the same for the western (right) and eastern (left) halves,
which are divided vertically by the IC/Midheaven (fourth-house cusp/tenth-house cusp)
axis (chart 2).
A balanced distribution of planets, such as a five/five or four/six split between the
northern and southern hemispheres or the western and eastern hemispheres, indicates
that both influences are operative. An emphasis of planets in one hemisphere or the
other, such as a seven/three split, signals a higher comfort level in the hemisphere with
the most planets.
• Northern hemisphere-Because this hemisphere is below the horizon, you are introspective
and rely on yourself for solutions more often than you consult with
others. Generally, but not always, you are more comfortable operating out of the
public eye.
• Southern hemisphere-With more planets in this hemisphere, which is above the
horizon, you are an extrovert who finds strength in relationships. You ask others
for opinions and solutions, and probably have natural leadership ability and
enjoy being in public positions.
• Eastern hemisphere-Because the Ascendant, which represents you, is in this
hemisphere, your focus is more on your needs and desires. You are self-motivated
and action-oriented, and usually go after what you want.
• Western hemisphere-An emphasis on this hemisphere, which includes the Descendant
(partners), turns your focus to other people. You are motivated by and
responsive to the wants and needs of others.

Quadrants
The quadrants further narrow the focus (chart 3). In many charts, one quadrant is emphasized
over the others because the Sun,Mercury, and Venus are never far apart.More
commonly, two quadrants contain more planets than the others and therefore represent
the dominant energy.

The first quadrant is houses one, two, and three; the second quadrant is houses four,
five, and six; the third quadrant is houses seven, eight, and nine; and the fourth quadrant
is houses ten, eleven, and twelve.
• First quadrant-This quadrant begins with the Ascendant (you) and combines
the influences of the northern and eastern hemispheres. It reinforces independence,
and you easily initiate action and express yourself.

• Second quadrant-With the combined influences of the northern and western
hemispheres, this quadrant begins with the IC, which represents your roots and
family. Although self-directed, you are receptive to others and value their input.

• Third quadrant-Beginning with the Descendant (partners), this quadrant combines
the influences of the southern and western hemispheres. Relationships are
important to you, and as a people person, you seek advice and opinions.
Natal Chart Overview 7

• Fourth quadrant-The fourth quadrant begins with the Midheaven, which is associated
with career and status. It combines the influences of the southern and
eastern hemispheres.With this emphasis you are self-motivated and ambitious;
you value teamwork.

Houses and Angles
A horoscope is divided into twelve pie-shaped pieces called houses (chart 4). Each house
is associated with a particular area of life, such as money, health, romance, or career. The
dividing lines between houses are called cusps.

House emphasis further narrows the scope of the hemispheres and quadrants. If you
have three planets in the first house, for example, and none in the second or third house,
personal affairs will benefit from your initiative. With the three planets in the second
house, action would center on money matters and self-esteem.

Each house is also associated with a zodiacal ruling sign. Just as the houses are numbered
one through twelve, the twelve signs follow in sequence from Aries to Pisces.
Chart 4 shows the sign associated with each house.

The houses and their areas of influence are as follows:
• First house-Self, outward expression of personality, personal affairs, vitality,
strength, stature, coordination, physical constitution, outlook on life
• Second house-Income, possessions, self-esteem, values, giving, receiving,
morals, wealth, spending habits, debt
• Third house-Communication, transportation, short trips, neighbors, siblings,
perceptions, contracts, short trips, intellect, early education
• Fourth house-Home, family, parents, father,1 beginnings and endings, family
traditions, land, property, home life
• Fifth house-Romance, children, creativity, recreation, sports, hobbies, love affairs,
theaters, gambling, exercise, fun
• Sixth house-Work, service, job, health (minor illnesses), co-workers, employees,
pets, diet, food,medical personnel, volunteer activities
• Seventh house-Partners, relationships, marriage, rivals, agreements, divorce,
peace, social life, lawsuits, social skills
Natal Chart Overview 9
• Eighth house-Joint resources, sex, inheritance, insurance, wills, legacies, spousal
maintenance, bankruptcy, taxes
• Ninth house-Travel, education, legal affairs, spirituality, judgment, ethics, religion,
lawyers, philosophy
• Tenth house-Career, ambition, status, reputation, retirement, supervisors, employers,
mother, fame, honors, popularity, prestige, promotion
• Eleventh house-Friends, groups, goals and objectives, hopes and wishes, clubs,
organizations, stepchildren, networking
• Twelfth house-Compassion, health (long-term illnesses, hospitalization), secrets,
intuition, difficult tasks, self-undoing, secret rivals, introspection, sleep,
meditation

The dividing line between one house and another is called a cusp. The first, fourth, seventh
and tenth-house cusps are known as angles; each has a special name and is an important
and powerful point in the natal chart. (The angles are used extensively in predictive
astrology.)

• First-house cusp-Ascendant (you)
• Fourth-house cusp-IC (home and family)
• Seventh-house cusp-Descendant (partnerships)
• Tenth-house cusp-Midheaven (career and status)

Elements and Modes
The four elements-fire, earth, air, and water-define another layer of personality that
reflects your basic responses. Each sign is associated with one element, and each planet
is in one sign/element (chart 5).
Most people are a combination of all four elements, although one or two usually
dominate, in part because the Sun, Mercury, and Venus are always close together. The
Ascendant and Midheaven signs sometimes tip the balance to make one element
stronger than another.
Occasionally an element is absent, but other factors usually compensate. For example,
a chart without any planets in water signs could have one or more planets in water
houses-those houses that are naturally associated with the water signs (fourth, eighth,
and twelfth houses).

Here are the elements, signs, and glyphs:

Fire Earth Air Water

Aries 1 Taurus 2 Gemini 3 Cancer 4
Leo 5 Virgo 6 Libra 7 Scorpio 8
Sagittarius 9 Capricorn 0 Aquarius - Pisces =

Fire-Action-oriented, enthusiastic, impatient, spontaneous, risk taker
Earth-Practical, linear, efficient, common sense, needs security
Air-Intellectual, logical, communicator, restless, thinks rather than feels
Water-Sensitive, receptive, impractical, compassionate, intuitive

The three modes-cardinal, fixed, and mutable-describe your preferred method of operation.
As is true with the elements, each sign is associated with one mode (chart 5)
and each planet is in one mode. All three modes are usually present somewhere in your
chart, even if only by one or more planets in houses naturally ruled by that mode.
The dominant pattern is revealed in the mode that contains the most planets.As with
the elements, the Ascendant and Midheaven signs are counted along with the planets.
Here are the modes, signs, and glyphs:

Cardinal Fixed Mutable
Aries 1 Taurus 2 Gemini 3
Cancer 4 Leo 5 Virgo 6
Libra 7 Scorpio 8 Sagittarius 9
Capricorn 0 Aquarius - Pisces =
Cardinal-Enjoys challenges, initiates, likes change, persistent
Fixed-Determined, stubborn, dislikes change, follow-through
Mutable-Flexible, easygoing, procrastinates, indecisive

Each sign is a combination of one element and one mode. Together, they signify the
basic energy of the sign:
Aries-cardinal fire Taurus-fixed earth
Gemini-mutable air Cancer-cardinal water
Leo-fixed fire Virgo-mutable earth
Libra-cardinal air Scorpio-fixed water
Sagittarius-mutable fire Capricorn-cardinal earth
Aquarius-fixed air Pisces-mutable water

With the elements and modes combined, the following keyword traits are representative
of the signs:
• Aries-Initiative, energy, headstrong, impatient, enthusiastic, ambitious,
insomnia, physical activity, anger, courage, pioneer
• Taurus-Secure, stable, placid, materialistic, determined, passive, stubborn,
jealous, rigid, lazy, artistic, conservative, devoted
• Gemini-Adaptable, sociable, flirtatious, versatile, talkative, nervous, restless,
alert, active, impatient, scattered, studious
• Cancer-Tied to the past, emotional, domestic, self-indulgent, touchy, intuitive,
moody, cautious, patriotic, nurturing, impressionable
• Leo-Confident, vital, leadership, dynamic, ambitious, snobbish, selfish, vain,
loyal, honorable, determined, affectionate, generous
• Virgo-Practical, honest, analytical, meticulous, critical, worrisome, precise,
detail-oriented, reserved, dependable, discriminating, nervous
• Libra-Partnership, idealistic, refined, cooperative, impatient, vain, dependent,
indecisive, considerate, neat, appreciative, balanced
• Scorpio-Magnetic, secretive, competitive, jealous, stubborn, domineering,
tenacious, creative, emotional, penetrating, distrustful

Edition details

• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications
• Publication date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0738705012
• ISBN 13: 9780738705019
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 240