What Are Angles in Astrology and Why Are They Important?

Those who follow astrology, even on a surface level, have probably heard of things like “Rising Sign” and “Midheaven.” These are names for two of the four angles in astrology. Angles are important lines in a chart that represent certain points along the horizon. On an astrology chart, these four lines divide the chart vertically and horizontally, forming four quarters. Each angle is usually at the beginning of one of four important houses, depending on the house system used. So, what are the angles and what do they mean?

According to astrologer Liz Greene in her book Chiron in Love, the angles differ from the planets in astrology because they do not represent the qualities of a god or other character from mythology. They don’t have a motivation or a personality in the same way that planets and luminaries do. They represent the four “cardinal points” or four “directions,” north, south, east, and west. These directions are present in many spiritual practices across many cultures. In Greek mythology, the four directions were thought of as the four winds, also called anemoi. According to Greene, the four winds, and thus the four angles in astrology, are more like gateways that lead between our earthly world and the world of the divine.

The angles, along with the houses, are the reason why it is so important to have an accurate birth time for your natal astrology chart. The sign of the angles changes every two hours. In most house systems, either the Ascendant or Midheaven determines the layout of the houses, which in turn determines the areas of life affected by the planets and aspects in your natal chart.

Planets and luminaries can also aspect the angles in a natal chart, further affecting how these things show up in your life.

1. Ascendant or “Rising Sign”

The ascendant is another name for the Rising Sign. It is one of the important “big three” signs in astrology. The other two in that group are your Sun sign and Moon sign.

Your Rising Sign represents where the sun rises, and thus, it represents how you present to other people. The ascendant line in a natal astrology chart is where the eastern horizon was in relation to the stars in the sky when you were born.

The ascendant typically comes at the beginning of the First House. If it doesn’t, it is in the First House. This line is the division between the spiritual boundlessness of the collective unconscious in the 12th House and the pointed individualism of the ego in the First House.

Your Ascendant is your proverbial sunrise. It is how you greet the world and the face you put forward each day. Planets that aspect your Ascendant have a bearing on how you present yourself to others and how people see you.

2. Descendant

The Descendant is opposite the Ascendant. It is usually at the start of the 7th House. It represents where the Western horizon was at the time of your birth, which is where the sun sets.

The Descendant is the separation between the houses that relate to individual life and the houses that have to do with other people. Your Descendant sign may provide insight into how you relate to other people, especially in one-on-one partnerships, which is what the 7th House is all about.

The Descendant is the complete opposite of the ego-oriented Ascendant. It is all about how you interact, mesh, and cooperate (or not) with other people. The Ascendant/Descendent pull is about how you identify with things that are similar and different from you.

Planets that aspect your descendent in your natal chart affect how you relate to other people and whether or not relationships are easeful or challenging for you. Planets transiting your Descendant can affect your relationships or desires for a relationship at a specific moment.

3. The Imum Coeli or “Nadir”

The Imum Coeli (IC) is sometimes referred to as simply the “IC.” It is also called the Nadir of your chart. It represents the lowest part of the chart, which is not part of the visible sky at the time of your birth. Imum Coeli means “bottom of the sky” in Latin. It is opposite to the Midheaven.

The Nadir is the boundary of the 4th House, which represents your home, family, ancestors, and private life. It represents our origins and what made us who we are. The IC refers to your relationship to your base safety and comfort. It speaks to what kind of home you might enjoy, what type of family you came from, and what type of family you’d like to create for yourself as an adult.

When planets natally form an aspect to your IC, it informs your own personal relationship to home and family. It may serve as an indication of what type of childhood you had, which then informs how you relate to home and family in adulthood.

4. The Medium Coeli or “Midheaven”

The Medium Coeli (MC), typically called the Midheaven, is the highest point in the sky. It sits opposite to the IC. If you were born close to midday, your Midheaven and Sun are likely close together, depending on the house system used to determine the chart.

The Midheaven is generally the boundary of the 10th House. However, in some house systems, it can be in the 9th House or the 11th House. Regardless, the Midheaven represents your relationship to career and public life. It speaks to whether or not you might enjoy being famous, your potential career path, and whether or not you may change careers throughout your life.

Planets that aspect your MC in the natal chart may affect your public image and career desires. When planets transit you here, it can affect those things on a more momentary basis. Transits can also kickstart shifts in these areas of life.

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