Solstice Points in Relationship Astrology

Solstice Points / Antiscia - in Relationship Astrology
Homage to friend Jacqueline

A Few Thoughts On The Matter

Yep! I admit it... when it comes to Relationship Astrology I've long been guilty of choosing to ignore an interesting methodology based on an extension of the ancient astrological usage of Solstice Points (or Antiscia).

However, after a fascinating discourse with relationship astrologer, Jacqueline Bigar, I felt it necessary to honestly reaccess and rethink my attitude toward the usage of Solstice Points in Relationship Astrology.

Yep! It would seem that even really old dogs are (on the very rare occasion) capable of learning new tricks.

Solstice Point Theory and Usage

In traditional astrology, Solstice Points were (and are) used, in part, to reveal potential hidden connections between planets in the birth chart.

"At some unknown date the philosophy of 'opposite-shadows' or 'reflective-degrees' was incorporated into astrology in the belief that each degree of the zodiac has its own counter degree, mirroring its distance from the solstice axis on the opposite side of the chart. The solstice axis runs from 0° Cancer to 0° Capricorn; thus a planet at 20° Sagittarius will cast its antiscion to 10° Capricorn, both planets being an equal distance from the Sun's solstice point at 0° Capricorn." Deborah Houlding at Skyscript.co.uk

Greatly oversimplifying... when utilizing Solstice Points, the person's Solstice Points were then compared with their regular birth chart placement points looking for hidden connections only using the conjunction (potentially revealing easy hidden connections) or the opposition (potentially revealing difficult hidden connections).

I'm not going to go too deeply into the usage of Solstice Points in classical astrology for two very good reasons:

I'm lazy
and because (after you're done here) I really want you to read Deborah Houlding's excellent article on the subject.

In more modern times (and the purpose of this article) some relationship astrologers have been advocating a newer use of Solstice Points and have been including them in their favored bag of tricks...

Okay... okay... I've stalled around long enough... don't you think?

Here's The Skinny
If you're reading this boring article, then you likely already understand that in regular "synastry" the typical cross "aspects" (such as the conjunction, square, opposition, sextile, and trine) between two birth charts are considered.

Here's where it (hopefully) gets interesting... as a reasonable and logical extension of the traditional use of Solstice Points, the Relationship Astrology methodology that utilizes Solstice Points is thought to potentially reveal hidden connections (not revealed in regular synastry) between two people.

Solstice Points in relationship astrology are treated as hidden, beneath the surface, connections between the charts of two people. When utilizing Solstice Points, one person's Solstice Points are then compared with the other person's regular birth chart points only using the conjunction (revealing easy hidden connections) or the opposition (revealing difficult hidden connections) and then vice versa. The two planets involved are able to "behold" each other.

Normally, only very close conjunctions and oppositions (1 to 2 degrees) between one person's Solstice Points and the other person's birth chart placements are considered. However, being forever an iconoclast, I confess that I tentatively find myself willing to consider orbs as large as 3 or (on the very far end) 4 degrees within the appropriate Zodiacal sign.

Solstice Point Signs Formula
If, for example, the regular birth chart sign of a planet is located in the sign of Gemini - then the Solstice Point of that planet will always be located in the sign of Cancer. If the birth chart sign of a planet is located in the sign of Cancer - then the Solstice Point of that planet will always be located in the sign of Gemini.

If Leo - then Taurus; if Taurus - then Leo...
If Virgo - then Aries; if Aries - then Virgo...
If Libra - then Pisces; if Pisces - then Libra...
If Scorpio - then Aquarius; if Aquarius - then Scorpio...
If Sagittarius - then Capricorn; if Capricorn - then Sagittarius

Figuring out the particular exact degree within a Zodiacal sign (which is very important) however calls for a little extra math on your part...

Related Useful Links
Rather than attempting to reinvent the wheel... struggling to adequately describe just what the concept of antiscia is and how it's been looked at and treated over the past 2200 years... I'm including a link to Deborah Houlding's incredible traditional treatment of the subject.

I'm also including a link to Cafe Astrology where they explain how to manually determine the exact placement of your Solstice Points. This will be helpful if you don't own any of the fancy smancy astrological software that's capable of calculating Solstice Point charts.

And finally... I'm including a link to a blog on the subject written by Jacqueline Bigar.

Classic Look at the Antiscia / Contra-antiscia - excellent article written by Deborah Houlding on the origins and rationales behind the concept of Antiscia. If you don't know squat about the concept of Antiscia, then you really should check out this article. If you "think" you know all about Antiscia, then you should definitely check out this article.

How To Calculate Your Solstice Points - if you don't own fancy smancy astrological software that will automatically calculate your Solstice (antiscia) points, then Cafe Astrology gives you instructions on how to do it manually.

Relationships / Solstice Points a delightful article on Solstice Points as applied to relationships written by Jacqueline Bigar.

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