The integrated astrologer is a man or woman who has developed the art of astrological synthesis. This is a person who is both an intellectual and an intuitive, one whose intent is spiritual. This person has the ability to guide the client into the next cycle of the unfoldment of life. The integration of which I speak is the natural result of the fusion of mind and heart in the expression of human consciousness. When intellect is coupled with intuition (which itself is a product of love), the potential for healing emerges. —  A.O.

The ruler of the nativity is perhaps the most important planet in the horoscope in terms of the way a person focuses his or her need and way of self-expression in the moment-to-moment relationship one has to life. Yes, the Sun is the “energetic engine” it provides the basic vitality for life itself. And yes, the Moon corresponds to our instinctual nature, our relationship to our family, and also describes the scope of our “biological karma.” All this is true, but it is the chart ruler and its position and condition in the natus that most aptly describes the way a person interacts with his or her environment.

There are two primary ways that the astrologer may determine the planetary rulership of the nativity. The first is to note the sign rising. The ruler of that sign will be the chart ruler. It is as simple as that—almost! If the rising sign happens to have two planetary rulers—as is the case with Scorpio (Mars/Pluto), Aquarius (Saturn/Uranus), and Pisces (Jupiter/Neptune)—then the position of both of these associated planets has to be taken into consideration. The trained astrologer will be able to easily determine which of the two dominates, i.e. which is the stronger or more influential in the horoscope. Here are some guidelines for you to make that determination.

• Is either of these two planets in close association with the Sun, as the latter will add greater vitality to the planet in question?
• Is either of these two planets in an angular house?
• Is either of these two planets in exaltation or dignity?
• Is either of these two planets in fall or dishonor?
• Is either of these two planets in the last half of any of the cadent houses?

If the answer is “yes” to questions 1, 2 or 3, then that planet is greatly strengthened. If the answer is “yes” to questions 4 or 5, then that planet is weakened. Although there are other considerations in deciding upon the relative strength or weakness of a planet, these five will do in order to help you make your judgement.

The second factor in recognizing the ruling planet of the chart is to note if there is a planet conjunct the Ascendant. In this case, a conjunction should be considered if the planet is within 5º of the cusp of the Ascendant and is in the First House or if the planet is within 3º of that cusp but is found in the Twelfth House. If such is the case, then rulership of the chart must fall to that planet. Yes, some of you are no doubt asking—“What if there is a conjunction of planets in this position, which then is the ruler?” The answer to this question is very complex as the possibility for planetary conjunctions is so great. There is no simple response that I can offer you within the space of one article on this subject—it takes a long time and much practise to be able to fine tune our capabilities as astrologers. What I can say is that the dispositor of the ruling sign of the Ascendant will point the way to the position of a planet, which, even in the case where there are other planets at the Ascendant, will nonetheless be of major importance to the entire delineation of the chart.

I will assume that you are already familiar with the basic meanings of the planets but let us take this understanding a step further and focus on each of the planets through their emphasis as being the ruler of the chart. Please keep in mind that in traditional and psychological astrology, the Ascendant and the nature of the First House speak about the characteristics of the personality and the way that this persona is projected into life. In essence, we are speaking here about one’s outer “image.”

Sun (Leo rising): Not only does the Sun serve as the source of vitality in this chart, but when Leo rises, the Sun is also carrying forth the creative potential of the personality. Life will have a very personal touch as the person often conceives of himself as the alpha and omega of all activities. When mature and spiritually developed, the Sun in a Leo-rising chart has the capacity to illuminate and energize others with selfless vitality. In essence, the personality casts no shadows. If this is not the case, then there may be some considerable difficulty in “getting out of the way” of events, so that larger social purposes may not be inhibited by this individual’s ego.

Moon (Cancer rising): The need to be nourished by and nourishing to the people and situations in one’s immediate surroundings is most important to this individual. The way that this is to be accomplished (or prevented!) will be determined by the qualities of the Moon’s sign placement in the natus as well as the aspects made between the other planets and the Moon. If the psychological roots are strong and a certain degree of emotional maturity has been developed, then one may find an individual who is quite capable of properly giving and receiving emotional as well as physical nourishment. A Moon-ruled person is one who is very involved in bringing a sense of context and meaning to each of life’s experience for when well placed, the Moon brings wholeness. If the personality is wounded and/or immature, the Moon-ruled individual will never feel totally safe and secure, bringing a certain degree of fear or suspicion into the environment.

Mercury (Gemini rising): The expression of the personality is primarily conditioned by the nature of the development of the lower mind (reason). One is therefore very much controlled by the urge to communicate and the main focus of communication in the immature is to dominate the environment through the projection of one’s thoughts and opinions. If the individual is more introverted than such ideas are kept inside, although they still nonetheless dominate one’s life. The tendency is for one to search for experience in as many ways as life allows and/or the individual may create. Look to the house Mercury occupies to see where the main focus for such experiences will lay. When mature, Mercury as the ruler of a Gemini Ascendant can point the way to being a real “Messenger of the Gods.” In this respect, this indicates being a path between the higher and lower selves—a true conduit between the soul and the personality.

Mercury (Virgo rising): The process of communication seeks expression not just in terms of ideas but also and most importantly in terms of form. Life is ever changing (especially if Mercury is in a mutual sign in the natal chart), so the Mercury-ruled, Virgo rising person seeks to be equipped for each and every change. The urge is to amass tools for self-development, i.e. techniques, processes, and methodologies that advance one’s way through life. When immature, all of these efforts are basically for the self. When mature, this developmental orientation evolves into an urge for healing and wholeness. I point out here that in soul-centered astrology, the sign Virgo is ruled by the Moon, so that once consciousness is awakening, the Virgo rising person seeks to bring wholeness into life and not critical divisiveness.

Venus (Taurus rising): Venus is essentially a magnetic field that draws her to those social circumstances and people to whom the personality is naturally attracted. When ruling a Taurus-rising chart, Venus will definitely tend to see these desires manifest as form and substance rather than as ideals and ideas. Should Venus be poorly placed by sign, house or aspect, such attractions may not always result in the pleasant circumstances that Venus would otherwise enjoy. The sign and house Venus is occupies in the natal chart will tell the astrologer a great deal about the particulars of where and how such attractions and their manifestations (or lacks) will take place. When mature, Venus as ruler of Taurus will seek to attract those material substances that will be of benefit to others and thus the individual will come to experience him or herself as the attracting power of the soul. When immature, such urges will be much more egocentric in nature.

Venus (Libra rising): Life is oriented to experiences that come through personal relationships. There is a constant sense of reflection, comparison, and competition. The urge for the balance or complementation of personal needs through relationships is uppermost, whether this is conscious or unconscious on the part of the individual concerned. When mature, Venus, as ruler of a Libra chart will seek to bring a more harmonious interplay in all social exchanges so that all concerned may experience greater creativity. When immature, there can be a very obsessive quality to the “urge to merge.” As always, a lot depends on the condition of Venus in the natal chart by house, sign and aspect .

Mars (Aries rising): Life is focused upon the need for self-assertion in the immediacy of the environment. Self-repression or the perceived repression of society is very difficult for this type of person to handle. Psychological and social complications therefore, such as a “passive/aggressive” personality are more likely when Mars is found in a female sign in the chart and Aries is on the Ascendant. When mature, the Mars-ruled Aries person is ever ready to fight injustices and stand up for the oppressed. When immature, the need for immediate gratification and “victory” is very present and the sense of rejection—leading to war—may be a dominant factor of the personality.

Mars (Scorpio rising): The urge for self-projection and “victory” is very strong but also quite covert. As we say in astrology, “You just never know with Scorpio!” Once this is certain, there is always a battle going on either to satisfy or transform the desire nature. The way this is done is described by the condition in which Mars finds himself in the natal chart. Death is carried out through Mars and resurrection through Pluto (see later).

Jupiter (Sagittarius rising): When it functions as the ruler of the chart, Jupiter expands and enlarges the scope of the need for self-expression. When immature, this gives the tendency to make more out of every situation than there really is, especially those situations in which the individual is either the initiator or a main participant. The primary urge is to widen one’s horizons but such horizons are always limited by the degree of the psychological or spiritual development of the personality. When mature, the Jupiter-ruled Sagittarius person has a deep sense of mission and a personality that is very one-pointed in its orientation. This mission can be overly idealistic and futuristic in nature but it is always altruistic in intent. Where that mission is likely to take place, is seen through Jupiter’s house position in the natal chart.

Jupiter (Pisces rising): The primary meaning is the same except that the emphasis of life shifts from the more creative and mental (the fire of the Centaur) to a more emotional and intuitive one (the water of the Fish). Thus in the more spiritually oriented man or woman with this position, one is ever aspiring to broaden one’s compassion and inclusivity. The less mature individual will seek to expand the urge for emotional sensation or the fulfilment of dreams that are based on the needs of the personality.

Saturn (Capricorn rising): Structure, order, process, perimeters, and boundaries are the keywords for the Saturn-ruled Capricorn chart. The personality expresses itself best when the circumstances surrounding the individual are well defined and predictable. The person is also most comfortable when in control of such circumstances. When immature, there is very little objective ability to create the self-discipline needed for growth and thus one may easily feel controlled and dominated by outer (and inner) restrictions and circumstances. When mature, Saturn works to coordinate and process things so that there is a sense of integration and right timing—even if one has to wait! In the former case, there is a very strong sense of responsibility that can be experienced as repressive, while in the latter, such responsibilities are seen as opportunities for growth and development. The house position where Saturn is found in the chart describes where the majority of such responsibilities in either case are located.

Saturn (Aquarius rising): At this time (the cusp of the Aquarian Age), astrologers tend to give increasing emphasis to Uranus as the ruler of Aquarius and less power to Saturn in this respect. Yet, I feel that without the social structure and order of Saturn as ruler of Aquarius, the extremes of Uranus (consistent revolution to the point of anarchy) would dominate. Every society (Aquarius) must contain within it a sense of structure and a focus of order (Saturn). In terms of the Aquarius-rising person, the need for boundaries and finding one’s place in the “ordering of things” is most important as is the urge to assume the right measure of social responsibility. How this is to be accomplished and/or inhibited can be judged from Saturn’s placement in the natal chart.

Uranus (Aquarius rising): The urge to individualize is a factor when both Leo and Aquarius rise. In the case of Leo, individuation is a case of finding oneself through one’s creative self-expression, regardless of social circumstances. In the case of Aquarius, individuation takes places as a result of integrating oneself into the larger social environment. A strong Uranus will see to it that the Aquarius urge towards dispersion does not take place, so that the path to the true emergence of “self” is clear and strong. In the immature, a strong Uranus can lead to eccentricities that have absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with spiritual growth or taking part in humanitarian activities. In the case of the more conscious, soul-centered person with Aquarius rising, his or her path will take one into a field of right human relations that will be of benefit to all.

Neptune (Pisces rising): The life urge is centered on finding a universal link that unites and joins all things together. Taken at its most spiritual, this is the urge to unveil what is known by some, as the Christ Consciousness, by others as Krishna Consciousness and by all who seek it as, the Presence of Love Eternal. Taken purely on the level of the unevolved personality, this need to dissolve the boundaries of the personality can manifest as addictions in all their varied forms. More positively, Neptune as one’s ruling planet can bring many artistic gifts as well as increase one’s general sensitivity to others and to the environment in general. In the life of a soul-centered person, having Neptune as one’s ruler stimulates the urge for the spiritual path. In all cases, the Pisces’ ocean can yield many hidden resources—some will come in the form of temptations and others in the form of unseen gifts from a saving Grace.

Pluto (Scorpio rising): Life unfolds through a series of slowly manifesting crises of transformation. These require the reorientation of the desire nature to one that is more unselfish and less harmful to self and others. Pluto is the Lord of the Underworld. When positive, he is Osiris, the god of the resurrected Sun/soul. When negative, he is the gangster of the solar system, pulling one deeper and deeper into the underworld. The position of Mars in the Scorpio-ruled chart points to the nature of the desires of the lower self while Pluto speaks more about the process of resurrection and transformation. The Scorpio-rising individual must always expect there to be deaths in one’s life—Mars will initiate them but Pluto promises eternal life. How one tunes in to the immortality within the scope of one’s mortality is a secret and a gift of the spiritual path, one that is revealed through the horoscope. Astrology is a very great gift.