A Stellium is technically a grouping of planets (a minimum of 3 to 5 Planets depending on who you ask) in a particular Sign or House.  For the purposes of this article we will consider a stellium to be a grouping of three or more Planets in a particular Sign.  

At first, the interpretation of these compact conglomerations can indeed be challenging and confusing.  Incorporation of House Rulership analysis can help us to more easily understand the anticipated effects of the individual Planets.  

Consider the chart of Vincent Van Gogh (March 30, 1853 at 11:00 am LMT in Zundert, Netherlands  04E40 51N28).  Using Placidus Houses and tight orbs, the 3-Planet Stellium in the 11th House is intercepted in Taurus. 

Often conjunctions exist between some Planets in a given stellium, but not always. In fact, the three in this stellium (when using a 6 degree orb) are each unaspected¹, with corresponding emphasis on each to compensate for the lack of connection to the rest of the chart.  This rather unusual situation also involves no personal planets and demands that we look at each individual Planet for further meaning.

The Taurus influence certainly colors each Planet's interpretation.  We also need to include the 11th House placement, and the House rulership of each Planet.

We could break down the stellium as follows:

Saturn Ruling the 7th -- Rigid, inflexible, and firmly-held views (perhaps stubbornness) within relationships a tremendous need for love.  Van Gogh's difficult relationships are well-chronicled.

Uranus Ruling the 8th & 9th -- Anticipated unpredictable, even volatile or bipolar behavior in response to other people's expectations and with a probable sexual component.  May also involve personal religious or spiritual beliefs.  By all accounts a difficult person to be around.  Had been a preacher to impoverished coal miners prior to beginning art full-time.² 

Pluto co-ruling the 5th -- Intense empowerment, perspective, and transformation as a result of creativity and/or affairs.  Additional sexual reference may suggest a need for control and further complicate relationship challenges.

Of course there is much more in this fascinating chart, but this approach to breaking down the stellium helps us makes sense as we attempt to anticipate the person represented by this Horoscope.

¹ Forming no major (Ptolemaic) aspects with any other Planet.  [The Nodes and the Angles are not included for evaluation of unaspected planets]

² From AstroDatabank biography

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