(Originally
written in 1996, but revised and expanded for content March 11,
2009)
So
you're hungry for a little info regarding the ever illusive astrological
Vertex
and its interpretation?
Well...
you've
come
to (or rather
stumbled
into)
the right place! It
would seem there's not much good, solid info that's ever been
written about the Vertex...
If
you found this popular Vertex article via Google - and it's your
first experience traveling with me - then I'll warn you
in advance that I can be a rather irreverent and iconoclastic
traveling companion with a warped sense
of
humor.
Boring
Intro Vertex Remarks
The Vertex - Granted... this is just me, but I've chosen to moniker
the astrological Vertex with the nickname: "Destiny's Gate"...
According
to the dictionary, the Vertex is: "the summit, the highest point reached
in the apparent motion of a celestial body or other points. Taken from
the Latin - vertere, meaning 'to turn.' "
In
the horoscopic chart, the astrological Vertex is calculated as being
the
point located at the intersection of the Ecliptic (path of the Sun)
and the Prime Vertical, a plane that divides the celestial sphere
into front and back.
Huh?
If none of that mumbo jumbo chart calculation stuff makes any
sense, then
don't worry too much about it. It's primarily here for those
few certain pesky eggheads (who are generally greatly offended
by my
referring
to
them as eggheads) that might possibly know what to do with it and/or
like
to think about
such weighty things.
Three
Incarnational Axes – "Openings to Transcendence"
Through the passing of time I came to the conclusion that there
were three primary "incarnational" chart axes that tended to be
of the foremost significance when doing any type of chart reading.
And
we're
all, of course, rather familiar with these three incarnational axes...
These three incarnational axes are the:
• Ascendant/Descendant
axis - magnetic axis
• the Midheaven/IC axis - gravity axis
• and the Lunar Node axis - karmic (or fate) axis
Openings
to Transcendence
“People have had experiences of the soul’s
transcendence since time immemorial. Yet we continue to wonder...What
do these
experiences prove? Do they offer a genuine vision of reality, or
are they only products of human imagination? Are they rooted in human
desire, in the wish for immortality, in projection?
There
are certain special moments in life, call them “openings
to transcendence,” when we confront a symbol and see reality
much as the Unconscious (according to Jung) sees and regards
it [reality] all of the time. At this level, the psyche knows
no difference between
spirit
and matter.
They are identical. Figures from both dimensions of reality are
experienced as woven of the same threads.”
Short
excerpt from Jungian Analyst and author Dr. Murray Stein’s
lecture on "The Reality of the Soul" 2000
The
word transcendence comes from two Latin words: trans and escendo.
Trans literally means "across."
Escendo means "to climb." So transcendence literally means "to climb
across." As Dr. Stein would explain: an opening or signal
to transcendence allows us "to climb across" the artificial division
between spirit and matter.
The
incarnational axes of the birth chart act as entry points or (put
another way)
as “openings
to transcendence.” These
astrological “openings to transcendence” are
sensitive to all the various planetary symbols: the Sun,
the Moon, Mercury,
Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto.
Whoops!
Did I forget to mention that, at some point in time, I discovered
a fourth incarnational axis that
I now look at and consider...
Enter
The Fourth Incarnational Axis
The astrological Vertex is actually part of a two point axis comprised
of the Vertex and Anti-Vertex... and
as a chart axis... if your Vertex is located in 10 degrees of Scorpio, then your
anti-Vertex is located in 10 degrees of Taurus.
And
like all self-respecting axes, the Vertex/Anti-Vertex axis generally
functions as a "gate," "funnel," or "transcendent
opening" into
the astrological chart. The
Vertex/ Anti-Vertex
axis is for good reason (that I'm about to explain)
also nicknamed the Electric Axis.
Some
astrologers have devised fascinating distinctions between the Vertex
and the Anti-Vertex, with the Anti-Vertex generally having the more
negative and/or lessor effect. In practical experience, I haven't noticed
a difference.
Due
to the "nature of the beast" - in any astrological chart,
the Vertex is normally found lurking around in either the 5th, 6th,
7th, or 8th house.
Vertex
In Astrology (the Nitty Gritty)
So anyway, based on the astrological Vertex being located on a "turning
point"
in your sky chart, it then probably has something to do with "turning
points" in your life. It does. Based on it being located
in the 5th through 8th houses, then you can also bet it quite
often has
something to do with "meetings of people." Again,
it does.
Here's my personal astrological rule of thumb definition
of the Vertex: the astrological Vertex is a sensitive point on the chart (any
chart) that during unusual,
extraordinary times feels like an electric, fortunate "turning
point" or a meeting with "Destiny's Gate."
As
mentioned above, all self-respecting axes function as "gateways,"
"funnels," or "openings" into the astrological chart.
As such, when a birth (natal) planet is conjunct your birth Vertex/anti-Vertex
axis it may typically add strength to this planet's placement
and its potential efficacy in your life.
In
practice, the Vertex often feels like a compulsive, yet
fortunate experience and meeting up with destiny that you couldn't
avoid (even if
you wanted to). According
to Bill Meridian (Mountain Astrologer, June/July 2001),
astrologer, Charles A. Jayne who (along with Lorne Johndro)
first came up with using
the astrological Vertex, "felt this point was fated and
that it represented matters
beyond our control."
It
was Johndro that called the Vertex the "electric ascendant."
Here's how I typically use the Vertex (and the anti-Vertex):
Destiny's
Gate can (among other things) be:
-
a
person (and how they effect you)
in synastry, the most effective when another person's natal Sun,
Moon, Ascendant, Midheaven, Venus or Mars conjuncts your
natal Vertex or anti-Vertex. I've
gotten a wee bit stingy in my old age - and I only (90%
of the time) use conjunctions when looking at the
Vertex and anti-Vertex. Also,
the slower a planet is... the more narrow my orbs tend
to get when looking at cross aspects with the Vertex
and anti-Vertex.
-
a
time (when you meet a special person)
when a transiting planet conjuncts your
birth Vertex or anti-Vertex.
Be
Careful What You Wish For
Through the years, I've discovered that it's a whopping big mistake to
overly romanticize the Vertex and/or the people that it brings into our
lives. In this regard, I especially like what my good friend Aussie astrologer
Judy Crichton Weeks has to say about the Vertex. In a nutshell, she feels
that the Vertex is a "relationship" point and a "wish fulfillment"
point. When the Vertex is involved, we may get exactly what we wished
for, but then again we might (or might not) get it in a "perverse
manner."
Yep!
You (like me) may feel as if you've literally "wished" this
destined meeting with a person into existence. However, later
on (after
everything's said
and done)... she... er, I mean... "Destiny's Gate" may not feel
quite as "fortunate" as you originally thought! Okay?
This
destined meeting often fills one up with the sense of needing
to bring
something (or someone) to "completion." As often as
not, a Vertex person can complicate your life. You may even find
that you simply can't "let go" of that pesky Vertex
person
(maybe for years or
even decades) until the "business" between the two
of you is finished and/or somehow felt to be complete.
Final
Word Of Caution
Now here's where some I'm going to lose some of you...
As
previously mentioned, the Vertex is a sensitive point
on the chart (any chart)
that during unusual, extraordinary times feels like
a fortunate "turning point" or a meeting with "Destiny's Gate."
When
folks first discover the Vertex, they usually go a little "hog
wild" with it! It seems like most us assume anything and
everything about us and our chart is going to be unusual and extraordinary.
It's not and we're not.
So...
yes, there are those "unusual, extraordinary" times when the Vertex
(and/or the Anti-Vertex) on a chart gets "lit up" and becomes very powerful.
Then, it seems, that in every subsidiary chart cast (in relation to that
original chart) - the Vertex is equally strong and "lit up."
But
then, there are plenty of other times when it (the Vertex) ain't doing
a blessed thing... there are plenty of times when (for example) the transiting
Sun or Venus is going to pass over your birth chart and you're not about
to meet a new and exciting lover (and/or you're not going to come into
easy money). Other times... it may mean exactly that.
Here's
one small concrete example:
My birth (natal) Venus is closely conjunct my birth (natal) Vertex.
As such, I've gotten involved with two of the life changing (and
gut wrenching)
"loves of my life," almost exactly at the very moment the transiting
Sun and/or Venus was passing over my birth (natal) Vertex and/or
anti-Vertex.
The
problem is that the Sun and/or Venus have also fortunately, once
each year, each passed over my birth (natal) Vertex and anti-Vertex
(so far, 108
some other times)
when I didn't meet one of the life changing (and gut wrenching) "loves
of my life."
The
times that the Vertex did wisk someone significant into my life...
there was, of course, lots of other major stuff going
on in my chart and in their charts (including, in one case, where
the
transiting
North
Lunar
Node was exactly conjuncting her birth North Lunar Node at
precisely
the moment we laid eyes on each other - and that "puppy" only
happens once every 18.5 years or so).
So
the example of the Sun or Venus passing over one's birth Vertex
and/or anti-Vertex generally appears to serve as a minor
transit that sometimes
acts as a trigger for another more major transit, secondary
progression, and/or solar arc.
Feeling
Frustrated?
For all those folks who prefer and need solid, firm (1, 2, 3) definitions
of astrological
points and symbols that you can always dogmatically count on
and use - the Vertex is going to be downright frustrating and elusive.
Questions arise,
such
as: "How
do I use it?" "How do I know when to use it?" "How
do I know when not to use it?"
Good!
I'm glad that it frustrates and confuses you. You may actually be on the
verge of learning something very important about the true nature of astrology
and working with living, active symbols...
Major
Chart Axes Rundown and Recap
-
The
Ascendant/Descendant axis is nicknamed the Magnetic
axis.
-
The
Midheaven/IC axis is nicknamed the Gravity
Axis.
-
The
Lunar Nodes axis is nicknamed the Karmic
(or fate) Axis.
-
and
finally the Vertex/ Anti-Vertex axis is nicknamed
the Electric Axis.
Suggested
sites:
Kim
Falconer's site
where she also discusses the subject of the Vertex and ever so
cleverly (and aptly) intuitively links it with the mythology
of the Roman god Vertumnus and nymph Pomona. Darn... but she's
good...
The
Cycle of
the Lunar Nodes in Individual Charts -
Part 2 of Dane Rudhyar's article "How To Interpret the Lunar Nodes"
at the Rudhyar Archival Project.
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