Aries Point Revisited

I was honored to have been selected as a speaker for the ASTRO*2000 Conference (a joint production by Jeffrey Wolf Green and Noel Tyl) in Denver in April of 2000. After considerable deliberation, the Aries Point (AP) had really grabbed my interest and would be the chosen subject of my presentation.

Subsequently an article was published on Noel Tyl's web site (www.noeltyl.com) where I was a guest columnist this past January. The entire text of the article can be found in that site's archives at:

http://www.noeltyl.com/techniques/010130.html

and may serve as a primer for those not already familiar with the AP.

As my initial research progressed I was astounded by this "old measurement" that was infrequently used. Thanks in large part to the tremendous compilation of astrological data by Lois Rodden and Mark McDonough of ASTRO*DATABANK, I was able to assemble some amazingly demonstrative examples of AP involvement in the charts of prominent, well-known people. I quickly became engrossed with the research as I began to analyze stacks of examples showing how the AP can be an indicator of an individual's "Potential for Public Projection." Often this measurement was uncannily related to the person's claim to fame or for what they will be remembered.

When there was direct contact between a specific Planet or Point (i.e. Ascendant or Midheaven) and the AP (within a two-degree orb), there was frequently a distinguishable relationship with the energies traditionally associated with that planet that was publicly observable in the individual.

Time and time again the observations held together. What I found most fascinating was the wide range of possible manifestations associated with the specific Planet's keywords. For example, with Neptune in contact with the AP one could find examples of tremendously diverse extremes -- from inspired, selfless spirituality to fraud and deception. Incredibly, sometimes both extremes exhibited in the same individual's life.

Further, I found that even in charts with no direct AP contact there was still a relationship to Midpoints that fell within the AP range. Though usually all Midpoint pictures within the range were accurate interpretively, it was often the closest midpoint picture to the AP that graphically suggested how the public projection would play out.

The AP contact can easily be seen with a little practice and its inclusion can add a fascinating dimension to Natal Chart Analysis.