The Angles
Key starting points
in a chart
What are the angles in a chart?
After the Sun and Moon, what are called “the angles” are some of the most sensitive and important points in an astrology chart. They are the:
- Rising Sign, also called the Ascendant (AC), at the cusp of the 1st house
- IC—short for Imum Coeli, the Latin for bottom of the sky
- MC, or Midheaven—short for Medium Coeli, the Latin for top of the sky
- Descendant (DC), at the cusp of the 7th house.
These four points are key to understanding any chart. Read more about them below.
The Ascendant
Corresponding with the cusp of the 1st house, the rising sign is also called the Ascendant, or AC.
While some astrologers call the rising sign a “mask,” in my experience, it is an authentic aspect of personality—nothing fake about it. The Ascendant marks the point at which we interface with the external world—its time and degree coinciding with the moment of birth and first breath—hinting at the possibility that we all, to a certain degree, create our own worlds, or, at least, that the world we experience is determined to a certain degree by how we travel through it.
See the images for more about the Ascendant.
The Descendant
Whereas the Ascendant in a chart represents the self, the Descendant has to do with others—close friends and our inner social circle, as well as romantic and business partnerships. The signs in the 7th house are often overrepresented among our friend groups.
See the images for more about the Descendant.
The Midheaven
The Midheaven, or MC, represents the work we do in the world—what we do while we’re here as well as leave for posterity. The signs in the 10th house reflect the type of work we gravitate to or enjoy.
See the images for more about the Midheaven.
The Imum Coeli
The IC represents the root, or foundation, of the chart. It provides insight into how we experienced our childhood and family of origin as well as the home we create for ourselves as adults.
See the images for more about the IC.
Explore
The “Big Three”: Sun, Moon, and Rising Signs
The big three Sun, Moon, & Rising sign The Sun, Moon, and Rising Sign (or Ascendant)—what are often called “the big three” in astrology—are a great
The modalities
The modes Mutable, Cardinal, & Fixed What are the modalities? Cardinal, fixed, mutable: these are another way to understand the 12 zodiac signs. Modality refers
The Elements
The Elements Earth, Air, Fire, & Water What are the elements? The traditional elements—Earth, Air, Fire, and Water—are a helpful way to categorize the energies
Curious about your chart?
Explore your astrology with a professional
I offer several consultations:
- A getting-to-know-your-chart session is ideal if you’re new to astrology and curious about what your chart reveals.
- In our overview of the moment session, discover the present time using transits and other highly insightful predictive tools.
- An in-depth session can explore a relationship, advanced predictive techniques, or be tailored to any other questions you may have, and allows time to delve into the wonderful insights astrology offers.
