Boring
Intro Remarks
The Vertex - Granted... this is just me, but I've monikered the
astrological Vertex:
"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 Meridian, 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 about it. It's only here for those few certain pesky eggheads
who might possibly know what to do with it and/or like to think about
such weighty things.
It's
An Axis - The Electric Axis
The Vertex is actually part of a two point axis comprised of
the Vertex and Anti-Vertex... and
as an 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, this axis generally functions as a "gate," "funnel,"
or "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.
In
Astrology (the Nitty Gritty)
So anyway, based on the Vertex being located on a "turning point"
in your sky chart, then it 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." It does.
Here's my personal astrological rule of thumb definition of the Vertex:
the 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 "gates,"
"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 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 be:
-
a
person (and how they effect you)
in synastry, the most effective when another person's natal Sun, Moon,
Ascendant, 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 - especially the Sun - 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 may feel like 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." 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
As I mentioned previously, 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 or Venus was passing over my birth (natal) Vertex and/or anti-Vertex.
There, of course, was other lots of other 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).
The
problem is that the Sun (and Venus) has also, once each year, passed over
my birth (natal) Vertex and anti-Vertex (so far, 94 some other times)
when I didn't meet one of the life changing (and gut wrenching) "loves
of my life."
Thus,
for those folks who prefer solid, firm (1, 2, 3) definitions of astrological
points and symbols that you can always count on and use - the Vertex can
be 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
-
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
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
links it with the mythology of the Roman god Vertumnus and nymph Pomona.
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