Conjunctions To the Midheaven

by Stephanie Clement

Stephanie Jean Clement, Ph,D., has been a professional astrologer since 1974. Her work includes writing books and text for astrological interpretations, as well as editing books and other materials. She lives in Florida with her husband, two dogs, and a cat. See her books at Amazon.com. Purchase her Saturn's Promise interpretation report here.

By solar arc direction and progression, the Midheaven moves at the same speed as the Sun. Most of us will experience the conjunction of Midheaven to a natal planet or planet to natal Midheaven at least once in our lives, signaling major life changes of some kind.

The Midheaven reveals what we know about ourselves - self awareness or ego consciousness. The zodiacal sign of the Midheaven, combined with the decanate, provides an understanding of the potential for self awareness. To expand this understanding we integrate the Midheaven with the rest of the chart through aspects to the planets. This article addresses conjunctions to the Midheaven, using Reinhold Ebertin's Combination of Stellar Influences as a basis of delineations.

Midheaven/Sun

In terms of consciousness this conjunction addresses the very goals of life. Individuals with the Sun and Midheaven conjunct are more in touch with their own consciousness because what they are and self awareness are focused in the same direction. With no aspect between Sun and Midheaven, the connection is less direct. The Sun/Midheaven conjunction focuses on advancement toward success. One knows oneself well enough to recognize changes in direction or mission clearly during the time when Sun and Midheaven are conjunct by progression. The conjunction aspect relates to the beginning and ending of a cycle. Thus any conjunction to the Midheaven relates to the beginning of a new period in life, emerging from the previous cycle.

Midheaven/Moon

When the Midheaven conjuncts the Moon, there is a direct connection between ego consciousness and the soul. The emphasis on inner spiritual meaning and values becomes a catalyst for self understanding. It allows for diffuse interests based upon deeply rooted spiritual values. During Moon/Midheaven conjunctions, preconscious or unconscious motives merge into awareness involving soul, relationships and changing objectives.

Midheaven/Mercury

The Midheaven/Mercury conjunction addresses self knowledge through thought processes which are immediately available for self examination. A Mid-heaven/Mercury conjunction allows resolution of inner conflicts to occur directly through self awareness or ego consciousness, whereas other Mercury aspects would indicate other means. The emerging cycle involves clear thinking, ego conscious action and vocational changes.

Midheaven/Venus

According to Ebertin the Midheaven/Venus aspect addresses the quality of individual love. According to esoteric astrology, Venus relates to concrete knowledge. This combination emphasizes profound awareness that all concrete knowledge is rooted in the love principle. Another expression of the Mid-heaven/Venus conjunction is emerging artistic expression, involving either the physical world or interpersonal and social relations. The conjunction focuses on emerging awareness of the capacity to love, attachment and falling in love. This is the only solar arc conjunction to the Midheaven I have experienced personally. It occurred during the summer of 1974, the year I attended my first AFA convention and took the AFA professional examination. That was certainly the time when I became poignantly aware of my love for astrology and astrologers (I have Aquarius at the Midheaven in my natal chart). This love affair continues to this day.

Midheaven/Mars

The Midheaven/Mars conjunction indicates emerging awareness of ego conscious action. The ability to decide what to do and the action itself are closely connected to the awareness of self. Prudence, a quality not normally associated with Mars, emerges because the individual is bringing self awareness to his or her activities. The integration of ego consciousness with action results, then, in more orderly activities and fewer missteps. Less constructive expression can result in careless action due largely to the lack of clear thinking processes. As usual with Mars, control provides improved results. The conjunction signals achievement of goals, change in occupation and ego conscious action.

Midheaven/Jupiter

Conjunction of the Midheaven to Jupiter emphasizes the nobler facets of human expression as a result of self awareness. The urge to expand is joined with self awareness to provide direction and develop optimism. The desire to accomplish something important can be a powerful motivation; it also can lead to a sense of self importance. The new cycle focuses on success, conscious objectives and optimism.

Midheaven/Saturn

There will be far less movement with this conjunction, as it is less about awareness of change and more about the limitations we find in the physical environment. there is a focus on the structure of one's own personality rather than on things outside the self. There is a tendency to be self critical, sometimes leading to an actual loss of ego consciousness. Once again, the need for sufficient practice in thinking is apparent; clear thought processes win negate the tendency toward depression and mental disorder. Change may be inhibited, self examination and learning from experience will emerge.

Midheaven/Uranus

Midheaven conjunct Uranus indicates the state of being ready to take action, coupled with a strong intuitive sense of what direction to take with one's life. When these aspects are controlled by a well trained mind, they provide equilibrium, as the individual can foresee conditions and events clearly. When they are out of control, emotional imbalances result and change controls one's life, an indication that one is ignoring some significant portion of the psyche and its messages. The conjunction indicates originality, assertive action, ability to advance in career and sudden changes of circumstance.

Midheaven/Neptune

Uncertainty is the keyword for this combination. The individual must work hard to manifest the higher qualities of psychic awareness. Strength gained from contemplative practice of meditation can provide a consistent mental focus which compensates for dreaminess and aimlessness of the Midheaven/Neptune conjunction. Definition in the physical realm balances the lack of definition coming from this aspect. The conjunction can indicate uncertainty, devotion to objectives, strange ideas and a penchant for action/deception.

Midheaven/Pluto

Through sheer force of will, this conjunction inclines one to seek a mission in life and to fulfill it. As the ego consciousness is focused on life's mission, personal power is mobilized to attain success, to organize one's life and to express personal authority. Any misuse or misdirection of personal power can lead to disasters. Power out of control is like a race car without a conscious driver, dangerous in the extreme. This conjunction indicates power, authority, fame and attainment of recognition.

Midheaven/Node

A Midheaven conjunction with the Node indicates a newly refreshed desire for relationships with like-minded people and the effort to form such relations. It also indicates an inner developmental process wherein one learns about the impact of self on soul and vice versa. A less constructive tendency is to waiver in relationships. This is an out-growth of the desire to maintain or to establish one's personal being, different from others, or to place one's personal considerations first in relationship. The conjunction involves friends, individual relationships and self awareness in relationships.

Note: Stephanie's book, Consciousness and the Midheaven, is available in the on-line bookstore in the New Age Forum.

This article first appeared in Today's Astrologer, the bulletin of the American Federation of Astrologers.

Reprinted with permission from Stephanie Clement

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