The Vertex.
christine
In the astro. calc. programs I've seen, there is always a placing for the
vertex. Yet, I read of its meaning as 'a sensitive point' in a page or two
of only ONE book...which I can no longer find!!! As my vertex is at 18 deg.
Aquarius in the 6th, you may appreciate my curiousitiy. I am very interested
in the 'power' of natural healing and health, but It has something to do
with finding this NG as well, I am sure!!!!!
Any comments, recommendations, and book reading welcome.
P.S. A BIG THANKS for the response to The Mercury Function...My head is
still spinning!
Warm regards. Christine.
ZeroZero
<christ...@planet.nl> writes
The vertex has been described as an alternative Descendant - a point of
"fated encounters". My experience of it In Taurus/7th house, is that I
meet people described by the planet transiting the Vertex.
For example, Saturn conjunct Vertex involved having to deal with an old
and very grumpy/almost abusive man at work, and authoritarian/too
conventional types being met elsewhere for a period. Jupiter transiting
my vertex was the opposite - met loads of people, and suddenly found
loads of girls chasing after me <g>. Mars transiting involved an
encounter with the police which I would rather not repeat, and Mercury
transiting over the point involved having to deal with young kids who
were causing my parents problems.
I've also had some interesting experiences with progressions and my
Vertex. My p. Venus was exactly square my natal Vertex one day before I
split up with my last girlfriend, and relationship issues have been a
little bit fraught whilst p. Venus was square my Vertex (for a good 2
and a 1/2 years).
As to your question, I haven't yet found a good book dealing with this
point. There are however many articles on the Internet, and a quick
search should reveal many.
Cheers,
Linden
SeaGtGruff
The Vertex:
There are three great circles that divide our sphere.
The Ascendant is the intersection of the horizon circle & the ecliptic.
The Midheaven is the intersection of the meridian circle & the ecliptic.
The Vertex is the intersection of the prime vertical circle & the ecliptic.
To visualize this concept, cut an orange in half: Meridian.
Then quarter it: Horizon.
Then eighths: Prime Vertical.
You will have made three cuts, perpendicular to each other.
Altho known by astrological mathematicians thruout the ages, the Vertex was
popularized by Johndro in the 1930's, who likened the earth to an electrically
charged sphere, having two ascendants: one magnetic (AS), the other electrical
(VX), perpendicular to each other. Similar to the operation of an electric
motor or generator. This is a very valuable insight based upon knowledge of
electro/magnetic forces that were unknown to the ancients.
A QUIRK: As the Ascendant degrades in the arctic regions, the Vertex undergoes
a similar degradation in the tropics; it goes bonkers as the tropical latitude
approaches 0 degrees, yet calculates quite rationally within the polar regions.
I have found that it is an important parameter in a horoscope. I assign it to
involuntary, fated phenomenon. Diagrammatically, it is necessary for developing
a 3-D chart.
L8r
Grant Weisbrot
Falcon
I have Vertex in 15 Aquarius in 6th house, so we should see some commonality
between us. I was initially much moved by natural healing but went
mainstream and now work for a Pharmaceutical Corporation. I know that Zip
Dobbyns uses the vertex a lot, perhaps her books might help. I have not
followed it except to note that one friend who had Sun/Mercury conjunct my
Vertex did indeed seem like a fated connection (but there were other aspects
which reinforced this). She was an astrologer.
I wonder, I have long known that I make very abrupt, unfounded changes in
career direction that are absolutely bang-on correct for me. Let me
describe a bit and see if you note anything like it - I can't completely
explain it from the rest of my chart. At 19, I was a history of art student
at a party and someone told me, "Why are you studying that? Do you want to
work in the basement of a museum? Why don't you study something like
biology?" So I did. A casual conversation with someone I didn't know that
lasted less than one minute. At 25, I was in graduate school in an area I
did not feel was quite right for me, and standing on top of a hill
overlooking the sea in California. I picked up a sweet scented herb and
held it in my left hand as I looked out to sea, and then I knew. My life
had suddenly made a complete change of direction. It fit. I had stood in
the center of my own circle and I knew that herbs and healing were me. That
is still true, but I feel it is in my past and not in the future, and as a
somewhat Aquarian type, I want to move into the future, not long for what
has past. At 37, I had just spent many years in the Amazon exploring for
medicinal plants, and had returned to a laboratory where I had studied in
graduate school. I expressed frustration to a colleague about there being
absolutely no jobs in the field I had studied. He said, "Why don't you
study xxxx, and go work with Dr. yyy." So that is what I did. True, I do
have Sun trine Uranus (11th), and I do have Moon approaching the MC, and
those might reveal the same pattern, but now I think about it, I wonder if
these changes were also "fated encounters in the 6th house" or vertex
related.
christine
Your responses have kept me busy: Thank you.
Linden:- there were 34,000 docs. with 'vertex', but only 2 with 'Astrology,
Vertex', so I was through them pretty double quick! Thanks for the idea; I
didn't see the light!
Grant: Your reply got me searching through my old astro. calc. book again!
It says that the Prime Vertical goes through the Zenith, Nadir and East and
West points of the horizon. I could never 'see' to truly grasp the
astronomy! My questions to you are: Would this mean that the East vertex
point is the actual sunrise point at birth? If so, would the vertex position
relate to a longitude of Earth, and would 18 deg. AQ. relate to approx
42deg. W. of Greenwich, (0 Aries = 0 merid?) which ....wait for it, Falcon,
... goes through Brazil!!! ( I always wondered where the amazone rebel in me
came from!!).
In my own life, I feel 3 definitely 'fated' encounters that shaped the
course it took. One has VE/SA/JU/UR conj. my 9th house Sun in Taurus sqr.
my JU. opp. Vertex. When a tr. planet has aspected the 18-21 degrees, I have
been confronted with the past and had to deal with it, in order to go
forward into the future(Terrible in Scorpio, burning each and every
bridge!). The second had her Sun at 20 degr. Scorpio, opp. my Sun at 21
degr. She was the devil incarnate but, through her, I eventually found my
own will to survive and never more 'go under'. The third was Ingrid Naiman,
who has inspired me since she walked into the clasroom in which I was a med.
astrology student when JU.(American!) transited my 9th cusp, quintile
within a degree to the Vertex in 6.
My prog. Sun in 10th was trine the Vertex in the year my Aquarian son was
born. Prog. VE was trine the Vertex when my Libran daughter was born.....who
would have been a reincarnation of me had I not been alive at the time! It's
eerie seeing how strong I COULD have been!! I have a strong inner feeling
of 'wanting to do it right, this time'. I may have once been drawn towards
herbal healing. I've never gone into past lives because I prefer to find my
own way rather than act because of the answers. I strongly believe that
dis-ease CAN be overcome once the 'root' of it has been found. After the
Eclipse of '99 co-joined my Ju. (and opp. the vertex, Falcon. Did you
experience anything?), I was brought in touch with an object in Astrology
that has since been discussed on this NG. My article about it was published,
as tr. Ur. co-joined the Vertex. As Ur. will 'hit' this point 3 times within
the next year, I expected and already have duly received the first
criticisms about this alternative idea, which I feel MAY have a strong
bearing on the 'root of all physical problems'. It's early days, but time
and observation will tell!
It would be interesting to learn how the dispositor of the vertex effects
other people's lives. Perhaps we'll get some reactions from the group.
I'll definitely try to find some Zip Dobbyns to read! From what we have
experienced, it would seem that the Vertex could be another important point
to look at in the chart, if meaning and direction means anything to you.
Thanks for your input. Christine.
Axel Harvey
> [ ... ]
> Grant: Your reply got me searching through my old astro. calc. book again!
> It says that the Prime Vertical goes through the Zenith, Nadir and East and
> West points of the horizon. I could never 'see' to truly grasp the
> astronomy!
Learning positional astronomy with words only is a drag. When I teach
my "Celestial Geometry" course I use a lot of body language with arms
swinging along the various basic planes. You have to imagine yourself
outdoors, actually looking at the sky. Of course pictures are
essential. And *being* outdoors is best.
> My questions to you are: Would this mean that the East vertex
> point is the actual sunrise point at birth?
No, it's the point of the ecliptic exactly due east. If the Ascendant
happens to be in Cancer (therefore rising way north of due east), the
East Vertex--alias Antivertex--will be above the horizon, and if the
Sun happens to be there it will have risen quite a while ago. If the
Ascendant happens to be in Aquarius (therefore rising way south of due
east), the Antivertex will be below the horizon.
> If so, would the vertex position
> relate to a longitude of Earth, and would 18 deg. AQ. relate to approx
> 42deg. W. of Greenwich, (0 Aries = 0 merid?) which ....wait for it, Falcon,
> ... goes through Brazil!!! ( I always wondered where the amazone rebel in me
> came from!!).
I'm not sure what you mean here. The calculation for the Vertex is very
similar to that for the Ascendant, so its position varies with
geographic latitude even as the MC stays the same. Or are you referring
to astrogeography. Unfortunately most astrogeography maps don't show
the curves around the earth where planets fall on the VX-AVX. They
should.
> In my own life, I feel 3 definitely 'fated' encounters that shaped the
> course it took. [ ... ] The third was Ingrid Naiman,
> who has inspired me since she walked into the clasroom in which I was a med.
> astrology student when JU.(American!) transited my 9th cusp, quintile
> within a degree to the Vertex in 6.
Jupiter quintile the VX from cusp IX would certainly do it--you did
fine by that one! But...I am somewhat flabbergasted...is Jupiter
American? And is that North or South American?
Axel Harvey
> The vertex has been described as an alternative Descendant - a point of
> "fated encounters". My experience of it In Taurus/7th house, is that I
> meet people described by the planet transiting the Vertex.
This is rather downgrading the Vertex. The Vertex-Antivertex pair are
angles of the birth map, as important as the AS-DS and MC-IC. The
Vertex IMO is not "fated" at all; it describes quite well one's
conscious values and how one tries to direct one's life.
In this divorce-crazed age, people often marry the ruler of their
Antivertex (i.e. in the east) after they have tried the ruler of their
Descendant. Or vice versa. The major point of the prime vertical is the
Vertex (in the west); therefore the relationship or projection point of
that axis is the Antivertex in the east--just as the projection point
of the Ascendant is the Descendant.
Transits are another matter (see below). I am talking about the natus.
Axel Harvey
meridian and horizon are important then the only plane orthogonal to
these must also be important. That is the prime vertical. The first two
make the Midheaven and Ascendant; the third gives the Vertex.
Since these six points--the three abovementioned and their opposites--
are the angles of the birth map, they are the main framework of the
horoscope and define the more detailed part of the framework, i.e. the
houses. It is "bad grammar", I think, to talk about the Vertex being in
house such-and-such. The Vertex can be (and is in my practice) the
first cusp of its own house system. I use it in conjunction with a more
classical house system. Comparing the two often reveals interesting
tensions in the psyche.
Maybe people might be interested in examples, but I have to run and
prepare for an emergency client tomorrow (another darned breakup).
christine
I understand why I failed the Celestial Geometry! Some parts ARE difficult
to conceive just in the head. I have really got to think about and work out
your more detailed explanation!!
Re. the Earth coordinate to Brazil. I worked backwards from 0 Aries to 18
degr. Aquarius( the position of discussed vertex) = 42 degr.. It seemed to
fit the longitude coordinate of 42W. degr. that passes through Brazil, the
country where Falcon lived for a while. It's just 'coincidence'(?), I
realise, and not based on fact!
( Just goes to show that one can believe ANYTHING if they have a mind to!)
My reference to American = Jupiter. I am not into World Astrology, but I
read that (one of) the U.S.A. chart(s) has a Gemini Sun and Sagittarius
rising. The people who make up 'the spacious country of U.S.A.' may be of
all races of the world, but the 'face, attitude, and personality of ( a
citizen of)U.S.A' is, to me, purely Sagittarian of nature, corresponding to
Jupiter. It's strictly a personal feeling, apparently, although Ingrid's
wisdom as a teacher and spiritual guide is also surely Jupiterian in itself.
Perhaps someone else would see "an American" as being Mercurian, Venusian,
Martian of nature, whilst the U.S. members of Alt. Astr. also give
indications of strong Uranian, Neptunian and Plutonian tendancies. I guess
it depends upon how each individual tunes into another as representing some
part of his/herself. Regards.