DEGREES

Beyond horoscopes and Sun signs, Astrology and your Birth Chart is a nuanced treasure trove that helps explain who you are and what your life path holds for you. One of the crucial keys to unlocking this box is understanding the concept of degrees in Astrology and how they can impact your interpretation of the Chart. Even just a slight shift in degrees can alter the entire reading of your Birth Chart.

The Birth Chart is a 360-degree circle divided into 12 Astrological signs at 30 degrees each. These degrees mark exactly where a planet or celestial body sat at the moment of your birth. Exact placements - right down to the degree add a whole new layer of meaning to your Chart and help you to understand certain tendencies and traits in a much deeper way.

To further unpick the power of degrees in Astrology, each degree is also divided into 60 minutes helping in nailing down the exact degree with precision. This knowledge further helps lock down those subtle variations found within the degrees.

There are “critical” degrees within each sign that are known to have intensified astrological significance. These degrees are 0, 29, and sometimes 15. Each of these has a special energy and deals with beginnings, endings, and heightened traits or intensity.

0 degrees can represent the beginning of something, or it can kickstart a new cycle. Planets at 0 degrees are thought to carry a purer energy and symbolize innovation, fresh starts, and a new direction associated with the traits of that sign.

The final degree, 29 degrees can represent the closing of a chapter and bring a sense of completion or ending in some form. Rather than a simple soft ending, there can be an urgency associated with planets at this degree. This degree can also be seen as a placement that brings the more challenging aspects of a sign to light.

The jury is still out on whether 15 degrees is considered a “critical” degree but it does play an important role. The midpoint of a section, 15 degrees can serve as a halfway mark meaning it has heightened energy or intensity or can also serve as a mark of balance. Planets at this degree may also have to reconcile with the sign's key issues.

Retrograde planets and their degree stations are also worth looking closely at, as these planets can also be significant at their direct or retrograde position.

The more information we have about the conditions in the cosmos during our time of birth, the richer insights we can enjoy in unraveling the mysteries of the Self. Beyond the basics of knowing ourselves better and growing in our Self-awareness, it can also help us to map out life plans and to pick dates and timelines for important life choices that are aided by the right alignment in the sky.