Declinations & the Antiscia

Bette Denlinger 1996

Once you have learned the basic concepts of astrology and understand the
planets, the houses, the rulerships and aspects, you are ready to learn about the
refinements of astrology based on astronomy. Some of these include the use of
declinations and antiscion points. Unless you utilize declinations and antiscia you
are missing much of the chart and a great deal of valuable information. As we
explore the old traditions of astrology through groups such as Project Hindsight
and review the past wisdom handed down by the astrologers of ancient time it
becomes obvious that we have gone far from our astronomical heritage.

We tend to forget that astrology is based upon astronomy and observation of the
“heavens”. In our quest to have instant gratification in our fast paced,
psychologically oriented society we have inclined towards using interpretations
based purely on the signs and longitude placements.

Just as the astronauts would not use merely the zodiacal degrees to plot a course
into space, we astrologers also need to use other calculations to understand
completely the charts before us.

One of the basic maxims of traditional astrology was to make note of the
declinations. All of the older, well established ephemeris publishers, such as
Raphaels, provide these positions. Very simply, if two planets were within a
degree of each other by declination they were considered to be either parallel
(when both planets are in the same direction, either North or South ) or
contraparallel (one North and the other South). These were said to denote
intensity of the natal aspect and act as mild conjunctions or oppositions. It was
taught that these were very important and these aspects should be noted as we
delineated a chart.
We seem to have drifted away from using these in recent times, but those who
utilize this knowledge today have found errors in the traditional teachings
regarding orbs and have refined the techniques.

WHAT IS DECLINATION

Declination is the measurement of the planets placement above and below the
celestial equator, and more precisely, the angular measurement north or south of
the celestial equator as measured along a great circle passing through the
celestial poles. Some ephemeredes do not list these positions unfortunately.

Emphasis has been placed upon the use of zodiacal longitude to view the
planetary placements which is a circular representation rather than north and
south alignment. However, the zodiacal viewpoint misses an important piece of
astronomical information: the declinations.

Declinations are used to view the relationships between the planets from another
dimension of space in relation to the earth. We must use both the zodiacal
longitude positions as well as the declinations to properly locate a celestial body
as well as delineate a chart.

Planets at the same degree of declination may be said to be either parallel or

contraparallel and act as mild conjunctions or oppositions. The effective orbs will
vary dependent upon the proximity to the celestial equator.

Many come to astrology without an astronomy background and use the tools at
hand without understanding their basis. Let’s try to look at declinations from the
perspective of the chart wheel we are familiar with.
The origin of the chart wheel is the ecliptic–the path of the Sun through the sky is
represented by our chart wheels and ancient astronomers drew these. Through
the years this has become a perfect circle even though the actual ecliptic is
shaped more like a football. And the chart wheel concentrates on the twelve
zodiac signs, the twelve houses; the divisions of space that helps us locate
planetary bodies.

Our printed chart forms show lovely, evenly spaced sections even though the
zodiac is not perfectly aligned and there are even things called signs of long
ascension and short ascension. (See Note #1)

Since the earth is tilted approximately 23’ 27.5" degrees, the Sun’s path marks a
great circle around the earth called the ecliptic. (Actually, the earth turns and
views the Sun from this angle).

At the times of the equinoxes, the Sun is apparently traveling along the line of the
equator and is at 0 degrees declination, but at the time of the solstices (the
longest day or night), the Sun is 23’ 27.5" from the equator, thus at 23’ 27.5"
declination. So, the maximum declination of the Sun is 23’ 27.5" North or South of
the celestial equator and those 23’ 27.5 “ degree maximum areas are marked on
our globes as the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.

When you place a planet in the chart wheel you are placing it in the vast area of
that house by zodiacal longitude–showing you only on which of 360 degrees the
planet is manifesting, each degree of a circle being similar to a ray emanating out
into space.

Zodiacal longitude however does not pinpoint how far along that ray the planet
lies or how close it is to the equator or the horizon. (the ascendant in a birth
chart). As an example create a chart wheel and place the Sun at 22 degrees
Gemini. Now place Mars at 22 degrees Gemini.
Naturally it is impossible for both bodies to occupy the same place in space. The
Sun has a declination of 23’ North 13” and Mars 19’ North 56 “. Mars is closer to
the equator, (or the ascendant ) than the Sun. Although by longitude they appear
to be conjunct, by declination they are over 3 degrees apart. (See Illustration # 1)

Combustion is a term used when the Sun and another planet, primarily Mercury
or Venus, is conjunct the Sun, and is said to denote the planet is weakened and
the Sun overpowers it. This does not hold true unless the two are also conjunct by
declination also.

Although the Sun will NEVER exceed 23’ 27.5” declination, the other planets may
and often do. Planets at declinations greater than this are said to be Out Of
Bounds, and may be interpreted as acting out of the ordinary. To further use the
standard chart wheel in the example as a viewing aid, an out of bounds planet
would manifest OUTSIDE the chart wheel.

Note #1: Every 24 hours all signs ascend over the eastern horizon, however, some
signs rise across the horizon faster than others. The reason is this is that all rising
occurs in relation to the celestial equator and since the ecliptic is at an angle to
the equator some signs take longer than others to complete their ascension.

In the northern middle latitudes, the signs Cancer to Sagittarius are referred to as
signs of Long Ascension and the signs Capricorn to Gemini are called those of
Short Ascension. In the southern middle latitudes it is the opposite. The signs in
the middle of these groups of six rise more uniformly. These terms would not
apply in the equatorial or polar regions .

ECLIPSES AND DECLINATIONS

The new moon is the monthly conjunction of the Sun and Moon. Both are in the
same degree of longitude. An eclipse of the Sun occurs when , at the monthly
conjunction with the Moon, the latter has no latitude, so the two are precisely in
line with one another as seen from earth. The Moon blocks the light of the Sun.
An eclipse of the Moon takes place when the two, at their monthly opposition
(the Full Moon), are again lined up, with the Earth between them. The earth
blocks the light of the Sun so that the Moon is in the earth’s shadow and does not
appear to have any reflected light from the Sun.

One reason to note the importance of declinations is that Eclipses ONLY occur
when the Sun and Moon are in the SAME degree of declination AND longitude.
They may be in the same degree of longitude but no eclipse will occur unless they
have the same declination.

Occultations are a term commonly used when the Moon and a planet are in the
same degree of declination. However, any celestial body can “occult” or hide
another from view. These are similar to an eclipse of the planet and are noted by
serious astrologers.

A significant point to ponder is that the Moon’s Nodes ( see Note #2) in their
approximate 19 year cycle are tied into declination. When the Moon’s Nodal orbit
coincides with the 0 Point of Aries, the ascending Node will be crossing the
ecliptic along this point of the celestial equator and the Moon then achieves it’s
greatest declination in relation to its 19 year cycle, about 28’ 35". However, it
continues for years afterwards to orbit at a high declination, to almost 29’ at
times, and then 9.5 years later, when the Node crosses the autumnal equinox
point ( 0 Libra ), the Moon will be at it’s minimum declination (approximately 18’ )
and remain within the bounds of the ecliptic for a length of time.

Note # 2: The Moon’s Nodes are the two points of intersection with the ecliptic as
it moves from north to south latitude during its orbit.
ORBS

The question of allowable orbs in standard beginning astrology (astrology that

does not acknowledge declinations) is clarified by the use of declinations. The
relative strengths of an aspect by conjunction or opposition can be easily viewed
by adding declinations to the equation.

Unlike the traditional teachings that recommended a standard one degree orb for
parallel or contraparallel, there is a theory that points out that two bodies within
one degree of declination close to the equator are to be considered within orb of
influence, but the further north or south of the equator the orb must be adjusted
downwards on a sliding scale to only minutes of orb.

An example of the reasoning behind this1 would be a planet 0’ Aries (declination

is 0’ North) and another one at 7’ 30" Aries (declination 2’ N 59" ) They are
conjunct by the commonly used standards of allowable orbs of zodiacal longitude,
yet almost 3 degrees apart in declination. These two planets are conjunct but not
parallel. The other end of the spectrum is a planet at 0’ Cancer ( 23’ South 27.5"
declination ) and another at 7’ 30" Cancer ( 23’ South 15"declination) . Although 7
½ degrees is the same distance apart in longitude the Aries planets are NOT
within orb of parallel by declination, but the Cancer planets are.

Another viewpoint would be to look at a planet at the allowable standard orbs for
aspect by conjunction. A planet at 27 ’ Sagittarius, for instance and 23’ S 25"
declination compared to a planet at 13’ 23" Sagittarius and 22’ S 25" declination
(within the one degree traditional orb for parallel) The parallel would not be valid
because the two planets are over 13 degrees apart. This pair is neither parallel
nor conjunct.
If you use more than 12" of orb at these higher declinations, the planets will be
much further apart in alignment in space because the ecliptic flattens out along
the northern and southern extremities. Along the equatorial regions (0 ’
declination), the ecliptic forms a more uniform arc. You could almost say space is
more compressed along the northern and southern extremities. (See Illustration
#2)

Using declinations is a useful tool for weighing the strengths of and influences of
any existing aspects in a chart. Should there be several planets within orb of a
conjunction, the refinement of using declinations can aid you in giving more
weight to the ones closest by declination.

Also consider two planets not in aspect to one another but in mutual reception
and also parallel. This is going to be an important exchange of planetary energies,
as there is a direct line along which the energy can travel by way of the
declination. Two planets in mutual reception, but not related by aspect or
declination will have a more difficult time expressing their energies along a useful
track. However, just the addition of the parallel or contraparallel notation steps
up the power of any planetary influence. Planets already in aspect will have their
energies strengthened by the addition of a parallel or contraparallel in the
manner of longitudinal aspect. So two planets in square and also parallel, will
render the square more powerful.

Look again at the illustrations included with this article and notice how
declinations are measurable avenues by which planetary energies can be
exchanged.

SOLSTICE POINTS and THE ANTISCIA

The word Solstice comes from the Latin : solstitium. . ( Sol, the Sun. sistere, to
make stand. ) The Sun at the solstices is at its turning point in its apparent course
and its declination remains essentially the same for three days. At the winter or
summer solstices the Sun turns back towards the equator. A body on an antiscion
point of another will make an exchange of energy by way of declination and its
position by common relationship to the Solstice Points and the Sun’s path. It
could be termed a Solar Parallel.

Understand the Sun’s path and the solstice points and you can understand the
antiscion points for any planet. The entry of the Sun into the Cardinal signs is
called the Solar Ingress. Mundane astrologers use the charts of these points as
maps of minor beginnings to analyze current events.

Remember that the entry of the Sun into Cardinal signs reflect the turning points
of the Sun on its path around the ecliptic. As the Sun starts on it’s path in the
spring at 0 Aries (around March 21) it is also at 0 degrees declination. The Sun’s
warmth as received by earth increases (in the Northern hemisphere) as the Sun
travels through Taurus, and Gemini until it finally reaches 0’ Cancer (around June
21, the summer solstice).

The summer solstice is the longest day and thereafter the days shorten until they
are equal in the fall at the equinox. See Note # 3 At 0’ Cancer the Sun has
achieved it’s maximum declination North. Traveling from 0 Aries to 0 Cancer, the
Sun’s declination has traveled from 0’ North to 23’ 27.5" North. From June 21
until September 21 the Sun is still at a northern declination, but traveling south,
back to the 0’ point of Libra and 0 declination.

After September 21 , when the Sun crosses 0 Libra and the equator, the
declination will be South. And the Sun’s declination will continue to increase in
south declination until it reaches 0 Capricorn, December 21, and the winter
solstice. 0 degrees of Cancer and Capricorn are called the Solstice Points. The Sun
at 0 degrees Libra or 0 degrees Aries will be the same distance from these points.
As the Sun moves between 0 Aries to 0 Cancer it will cover 0 to 23’ 27.5" in
declination moving North. On it’s path back to the equator degree of 0 declination
and 0 Libra , but traveling South, it will be at the SAME degree of declination, the
SAME distance from the equator as it was on it’s way North. Likewise, once past 0
Libra and traveling South in South declination towards 0 Capricorn and then
“turning” back towards 0 Aries it will cover the same degrees of declination.

Any two points equidistant from 0 Cancer or Capricorn when the Sun would be at
the SAME degree of declination north or south, though traveling in a different
direction, are called the “antiscia” and also known as the solstice point positions.
So 0 Aries has a solstice point of 0 Libra, 1 Aries = 29 Virgo, 2 Aries = 28 Virgo, etc.
The easy way to check if the antiscia of a body is correct is to observe that the
degrees will always add up to 30.

A method to visualize this concept is to draw a “natural” chart, i.e.: a chart having
0 Aries rising and 0 Capricorn on the MC. Then draw lines parallel to the Aries-
Libra axis.

A planet in Aries will correspond to Virgo, Libra = Pisces Taurus will correspond to
Leo, Scorpio=Aquarius Gemini will correspond to Cancer, Sagittarius=Capricorn

To find the antiscion of any planet find its longitude, for instance 10’ 19" Pisces,
then subtract the longitude from 30 degrees. What is left over is 19’ 41". We see
above that Pisces corresponds to Libra. So the antiscion will be 19’ 41" Libra.

Let’s look at a transit of a planet by the Sun. The concept behind the use of
Antiscion Points is that a planet crossing one side of a pair of antiscia will be on a
point that would be in parallel of declination were it the Sun. Let’s choose Venus
as an example at 6 Scorpio, ( and also 13 ’ South declination) It is on a point along
the Sun’s path that will be triggered when the Sun reaches that same point by
transit, naturally.

The Sun transit at 6 Scorpio will be at 13’ S . The Sun will oppose 6’ Scorpio when
it is at 6 ’ Taurus, ( by declination, the Sun at 13’ declination North ) This will be
about 6 months difference in time. The declinations will be the same but in
opposite directions, thus a contraparallel. However, in February, when the Sun is
at 24’ Aquarius, it will also be at 13’ South declination (24 degrees Aquarius is the
“anti scion ” or solstice point equivalent of 6 degrees Scorpio) . This would be
then a parallel.

So, ANY planet that transits 24 Aquarius will be able to vibrate along the ecliptic
path across to 6 Scorpio.

Note # 3: An interesting side note is that most astrologers/astronomers were

from the northern latitudes and they observed the Sun’s intensity in August and
thus Leo is ruled by the Sun, when the Sun’s heat is strongest. And it is old, tried
and true astrological wisdom that any aspect that is formed is stronger in effect
after it’s exactitude. The Sun reaches it’s maximum point in June, but the effects
are seen for several months afterwards in the heat of the summer.

ADVANCED STUDIES

To go further in your studies of declinations one can convert the declinations to

degrees of longitude, since one can utilize the distance from the equator and
relate that to the ecliptic by drawing lines parallel to the celestial equator. Just as
the antiscia use the Sun’s declinations as a guide, so also do Declination
Conversions to Longitude. An astrology computer program including this
technique is available from Halloran’s Astrol Deluxe.

Declinations and Antiscia by Bette Denlinger © 1996 Revised 2002