Working With Charts of Babies and Children

Although one's horoscope begins with a baby's "first breath", different parts of the chart are more emphasized at different periods of our lives. When working with the charts of babies or young children:

1. Give extra weight to everything involved with the 1st house. This includes the rising sign, any planets (and signs) in the 1st house, and the placements of the rulers of the 1st house--both the natural ruler, Mars, and the actual ruler of whatever sign is rising and any signs in the 1st house which are occupied by planets. The 1st house points to what we meet and greet upon arriving in physical form. (This may include the birth process. For example, Mars near the Ascendant may indicate surgical intervention in the birth. Saturn near the Ascendant may symbolize a long or difficult labor. Etc.) A young child will usually express his/her rising sign and 1st house planets from Day 1, while needing to "grow into" other parts of the chart.

2. Give extra weight to everything involved with the 4th house. This includes the IC sign, any planets (and signs) in the 4th house, and the placements of the rulers of the 4th house--both the natural ruler, the Moon, and the actual ruler of whatever sign is on the IC and any signs in the 4th house which are occupied by planets. The 4th house points to our home, our nurturing environment, and one (or more) of our parents. The 4th house parent is the one who was more protective, gentle, and nurturing (or was supposed to be--whether or not the parent actually carried out his/her proper role). Planets in the 4th usually point to major issues faced by that child in his/her home life.

3. Give extra weight to everything involved with the 10th house. This includes the MC sign, any planets (and signs) in the 10th house, and the placements of the rulers of the 10th house--both the natural ruler, Saturn, and the actual ruler of whatever sign is on the MC and any signs in the 10th which are occupied by planets. The 10th house points to our experience of reality, limits, authority figures (including the authority parent), rules, and what is possible in life. Placements involved with the 10th house have much to say about the subjective degree of limitation, power, responsibility, and control which a child experiences. (But this is usually experienced first through a parent--rather than the child feeling strong and responsible. Children grow into their Saturn side.)

4. Pay attention to aspects from the 1st to the 4th or 10th. Squares point to potential conflicts between the child and his/her parent(s). By recognizing the issues, parents can take steps to minimize and even eliminate such conflicts. Sextiles or trines from the 1st to the 4th and 10th point to areas of likely harmony, smooth flow, support and assistance between parent(s) and child.

5. Combine the placements of Saturn, Sun and 4th and/or 10th to gain a view of this child's experience of father or father figure. If Saturn is in the 4th or 10th, assign that house to Dad. Ditto with Sun. If Moon or Ceres is in 4th or 10th, assign opposite house to Dad. Sometimes you will have a mixture of both parents in both houses. Sometimes it appears one parent may be playing both roles (e.g., an empty house with ruler in the other parental house; one parental house strongly occupied while other has Letter 9 or 12 involved which can indicate--among many other things--an absent or disappearing parent; oppositions and quincunxes between parental houses which can indicate polarization or separations such as death, divorce, etc.). Decide where father (or father figure) is a particularly significant role model. For example, Saturn conjunct Mercury indicates father has a strong influence on child's learning ability, communication skills, thinking, and ability to detach. Remember, a parent can be a positive role model--whom the child will emulate or a negative role model--in which case the child will try to do the opposite of what and how the parent acted.

6. As above (#5), you will have to do some work to decide whether the 4th or 10th (or both or neither) appears to "belong" to Mom. Decide where mother (or mother figure) is a particularly significant role model. For example, Moon in the 6th house indicates mother has a strong influence on attitudes about work, productivity, doing a good job, health, and the handling of day-to-day details and routines.