The foundation of Evolutionary Astrology is that each of us has the conscious choice to work on ourselves and create a fulfilling life. You were born with the chart you have for a reason, and it is perfect for your evolution. Your natal (birth) chart is a representation of your soul’s lesson plan. You’re here to learn certain lessons and your chart reveals them and the road map to your evolution for living a meaningful and fulfilled life. In essence, your chart illuminates and helps you become who you came here to be.
What makes Evolutionary Astrology different from other branches of astrology is the focus on the south and north node of the Moon. The south node represents karmic wounds (patterns and behaviors that were carried over from the past or through your DNA/ancestry) that need to be resolved. The north node represents the remedy. It resolves the south node’s dilemmas and represents the way forward for your evolutionary intention.
Focus is placed on the nodes of the Moon because the Moon represents your soul. And even though your soul might not remember what it experienced in the past, it remembers how it felt and carries the emotional memory.
The nodes represent the doorway into the heart of the past life story which shows how the challenges of the present are rooted in the past. It represents a challenge we face (south node) and the option to rise up and embrace higher potentials (north node).
Astrology is a symbolic language consisting of signs, houses and planets. Each serves a distinct purpose. And in order to understand it, you must first learn the language. Let’s start with the:
PRIMAL TRIAD
Your primal triad consists of your Sun, Moon, and Ascendant.
These placements are central to understanding who you are which is why they hold such high importance.
The Sun represents your healthy ego and sense of identity. It comprises a set of core values to which you must remain true. The Moon represents your heart and soul; your inward, subjective reality. It is connected to your emotional and psychological needs. The Ascendant is how you dawn on people and how you present yourself to the world. It’s also the filter through which you view the world.
In taking care of the Sun you ensure your vitality and authenticity. In taking care of the Moon, you maintain your happiness and well-being. Having a strong response to your ascendant allows you to self-actualize and feel centered. It’s our outward style that best fits our inner needs.
In essence, the primal triad is your identity (Sun), the soul behind the identity (Moon), and the mask it wears in the world (ascendant).
So, for example, let’s say you are a Taurus Sun, Gemini Moon, Sagittarius ascendant, your essence/personality is that of a sensualist (Taurus) with the soul of a storyteller (Gemini) wearing the mask of a philosopher (Sagittarius).
PLANETS, SIGNS, AND HOUSES
The planets represent a map of the mind or psyche. They tell us which part of the mind we are looking at (the what). Each planet represents a psychological function.
The signs represent a psychological motivation. They let us know what motivations and values drive the planet and what methods it might use to best achieve those goals (the why and how).
The houses specify in exactly which of life’s arena the planet-sign combination is developing and expressing itself in action (the where).
In summary, planets are psychological, signs are motivational and houses are behavioral. We are our signs and we do our houses.
MEET THE PLANETS
The planets represent a map of the mind.
The Sun, Moon, lunar nodes, and the ascendant are not planets, but they are included here for the importance they hold and for shorthand purposes.
Sun: Identity/Healthy ego
Moon: Heart/Soul
Ascendant: Your social mask
Mercury: Communication
Venus: Relationships/Values/Aesthetics
Mars: Drive/Willpower
Jupiter: Faith/Optimism
Saturn: Self-discipline
Uranus: Individuation
Neptune: Spirituality/Imagination
Pluto: Truthfulness/Transformation
South Node: Karma/Old patterns and behaviors
North Node: Evolutionary potential
MEET THE SIGNS
It’s important to note that signs are not static. They each have a developmental aim (what it is learning):
Aries: Courage
Taurus: Inner serenity/Simplicity
Gemini: Open mind/Curiosity
Cancer: Open heart/To feel life
Leo: Authentic Self-Expression/Personality
Virgo: Perfection
Libra: Inner harmony/peace
Scorpio: Depth/Truth
Sagittarius: Faith/Meaning in life
Capricorn: Integrity/Great Works
Aquarius: Individuality
Pisces: Self-transcendence/explore consciousness
MEET THE HOUSES
The houses represent which arena of life the planet-sign combination is taking place (the where). This is where a planet-sign combination expresses itself behaviorally. It’s where we make concrete choices and choose a road:
1st: House of Personality = establishment of personal identity/style, autonomy, self-actualization
2nd: House of Money = personal resources, values, self-worth, proving yourself to yourself
3rd: House of Communication = information exchange, learning, and perception
4th: House of Home = personal roots, inner self, family
5th: House of Children = creativity, self-expression, activities that bring you joy/pleasure
6th: House of Servants = finding meaningful work, duties and skills, mentoring, being of service
7th: House of Marriage = intimate relationships based on equality (romantic and platonic)
8th: House of Death = instinctual bonding and intimacy, everything psychologically charged or taboo (sex, death, occult)
9th: House of Long Journeys = formation of belief systems and personal world view, cross-cultural experiences, education, travel
10th: House of Career = one’s mission in life, the need to leave a mark on the world/your community, reputation
11th: House of Friends = alliances, identification with groups, dreams, goals, and aspirations
12th: House of Troubles = spiritual experiences, consciousness, self-transcendence (decentralization of ego)
Now that we have an understanding of what the planets, signs, and houses represent, let’s put the planet-sign-house combination in action to paint a picture of how this plays out.
Using the Taurus Sun, Gemini Moon, Sagittarius ascendant example from earlier, let’s look at what this individual would need to 1) maintain their authenticity and vitality (Sun), 2) happiness and sense of well-being (Moon), and 3) compose their outward style (ascendant) to achieve a sense of centeredness.
To stay true to their authenticity and feel vitalized (Sun) this individual would need to cultivate inner serenity (Taurus), embrace the pleasures of life, and find a creative outlet (fifth house).
To feel happiness and a sense of well-being (moon), they would need mental stimulation (Gemini) in their daily life while engaging in meaningful work (6th house).
To feel centered (Ascendant), they would need to approach life as an endless quest for meaning (Sagittarius)
Astrology is one of many paths to self-knowledge and awareness that illuminates who you are at the core of your being. Because of this it can be used as beautiful tool for self-exploration and growth. Clarity, insights, and understanding yourself on a deeper level are what you’ll gain from a reading. You’ll understand what drives you, how you learn, how you love, the types of people that are good for your soul, your natural skills and how to best express them, what you need to center yourself and so much more. Your natal chart is a map of your soul containing the lessons you’re here to learn and the potential that lives inside of you for your unique growth and evolution.
