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Mars
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The planet Mars
symbolises aggression, drive, anger, sex, conflict,
confrontation and taking action. Planetary
ruler of Aries and
Scorpio (traditional). Fast moving takes
from 6 weeks to 7 months to go through a sign, and from
18-24 months to go through all 12 signs.
See
also the article series on
Retrograde Planets, including two articles on Mars
Retrograde.
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 Mars Symbol |
MC
Medium Coeli
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M.C. is another term for
Midheaven. Stands for
Medium Coeli, Latin for "middle
of the heavens."
See: Midheaven.
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Mercury
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The planet Mercury
symbolises the conscious mind, intellect, ideas, thoughts,
information and communication of all kinds. Planetary
ruler of Gemini and
Virgo. Very fast moving
takes 2-10 weeks to go through a sign, about a year to go
through all 12 signs.
See also: Mercury Retrograde. See also
folklore article on Hermes.
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Mercury Symbol |
Mercury Retrograde
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All planets (except the Sun
and Moon) go retrograde
some of the time.
Retrograde means the planet appears to go backwards, and means that the
planet's energy is internalised, intense and often difficult to express outwardly.
Mercury retrograde
is special for a couple of reasons. For one thing, Mercury is our conscious
mind and communication, and therefore it can intimately affect how
we think and perceive and express ourselves. Also, Mercury
goes retrograde about 3 times per year more often than any other
planet. Mercury goes retrograde for about 3-3½
weeks at a time, and the overall cycle (including the Shadow
period) extends over almost 2 months.
Mercury retrograde is typically a time when it is necessary to
rethink, rehash and reflect, and it is common for new information to
emerge later in the retrograde cycle that you didn't anticipate (but
wish you had!) Because of this, it is advisable to avoid making final,
permanent decisions (e.g., signing contracts) during this time, but it
is an excellent time to do your homework and research in
preparation for major decisions.
On the other hand, life must go on and things can't always be put on
hold for that long! The Mercury retrograde dance can also be seen as a
natural part of a trial-and-error process, in which you take one step
forward, see what the result is, and then step back to rethink your
actions.
The important thing is not to paint yourself into a corner by making
final decisions that can't be changed later without creating serious
problems. Try to build in some flexibility, so that you can adjust your
gameplan later, as new information is revealed. See also:
span class="glwd">Retrograde, Shadow.
Also see the article on Mercury
Retrograde, and other articles
on Retrograde Planets.
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Midheaven
MC
Medium Coeli
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Also known as
the MC. The highest point in the sky
(zenith),
corresponding to the geographic meridian running through the
location of the chart (e.g., place of birth). If you are
born at noon, the Sun would be found around the
Midheaven
in the chart.
The MC is also the
cusp (starting
point) of the 10th House.
"MC&" stands for the Latin
Medium Coeli which means "middle of the
heavens" or mid-heaven.
The sign on the
Midheaven, and any planets
in the 10th house, indicate what
the person aspires to, their goals, their societal standing and
career. Associated with one of the parents, often the mother.
Compare with: IC.
Pronounced: MID-heh-ven.
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 Red line above is the Midheaven of the chart. |
Mini-Trine
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This is an aspect configuration where two planets are in trine aspect to each other, and both are sextile to a third planet. Similar to a Grand Trine
configuration, this combination of energies is typically beneficial and creative. It indicates talent and natural ability in the person who has one in their natal chart.
These gifts must still be applied with some deliberate intention. See also: Aspect configuration, Grand Trine.
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 Mini-Trine Aspect
Configuration |
Modalities
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Each sign
is associated with one of three "modalities"
or "qualities":
Cardinal, Fixed or
Mutable. Each sign is
a unique combination of Element and
Modality. See also:
Element.
Pronounced: Moe-DAL-it-ee.
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Moon
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The Moon
symbolises our feelings, intuition, needs, nurturing and memory;
also the unconscious and female energy, especially the mother.
Planetary ruler of
Cancer.
Very fast moving
takes about 2.5 days to go through one sign; about 28.5
days to go through all 12 signs. Although
technically not a planet, the
Moon is often referred to by astrologers as a planet in the chart
for convenience.
See zodiac article on
Cancer for more about the Moon's phases.
See also: Lunar Nodes,
Lunar Eclipse,
Solar Eclipse.
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 Moon Symbol |
Moons Nodes
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Another term for the Lunar
Nodes.
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Multiple Conjunction
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This is an aspect configuration in which 3 or more planets are in conjunction (near the same degree of the same sign).
These planets are typically (though not always) in the same sign. All planets in the group are within orb of being conjunct with
all other planets in the group. In other words, the planets at the beginning and the end of the group must be within orb of conjoining each other, even if the other planets
were not involved in the conjunction.
This collection of planetary energies is very powerful and complex. This is not merely a merging of two energies (as in a typical conjunction); this is a very intense
merging of many energies that can give an powerful focus to the resulting effect. The effects will vary depending on the planets involved, since each planet contributes a
unique kind of energy.
Someone who was born with a Multiple Conjunction can seem like they were born under the sign where the Conjunction takes place, whether the Sun
is one of those planets or not. There is a lot of that person's personality and perspective focused in the sign in question.
There is usually a struggle to find ways to bring all of the planetary energies into cooperative harmony. The energy is typically very creative (in terms of artistry,
innovation, originality, etc.), although it can be a challenge to grasp all of the planets at once. Certain planets will often be more dominant and others more in the
background, depending on their strength, dignity, rulerships, etc.
See also: Conjunction, Rolling Conjunction, Stellium.
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 Multiple Conjunction
Aspect Configuration |
Mutable
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One of the three Modalities.
Mutable signs are:
Gemini, Virgo,
Sagittarius, Pisces.
Mutable traits are: changeable,
flexible, adaptable, synthesis, versatile, impressionable,
vacillating, restless, fluid, unstructured.
Pronounced: MEW-tah-bull.
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Mutual Reception
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This is when two
planets are in the
sign that the other rules. For
example: when
Venus is in
Scorpio and
Mars is in
Taurus at the same time, they are in mutual reception, using
traditional rulerships.
Another example:
Neptune is currently in
Aquarius (1998-2012), and while
Uranus is also in
Pisces (2003-2011)
they are in mutual reception, using modern
rulerships.
When two
planets are in mutual reception, they combine their energies in a
reciprocal way that is, their energies are like mirror images of each
other. They reflect similar energies. Even if there is no geometric
aspect between them (e.g.,
trine,
opposition, etc.), they resonate together as
if they were.
Many astrologers consider this resonance of energy to be
similar to a
conjunction aspect. However, unlike a
geometric aspect, which is in effect only when the planets are within a
narrow
orb of degrees, mutual reception lasts as long
as the planets are in each other's sign. In the case of slow moving
planets (like Uranus and Neptune), this can last for years.
See also: Dispositor, Final Dispositor,
Rulerships.
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Mystic Rectangle
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Aspect
configuration. Consists of four or more
planets whose
aspects
resemble a rectangle shape, through
Trines (120 degrees),
Sextiles (60)
and
Oppositions (180). The person who has this
configuration tends to
feel a lot more stress, distress and tension on the inside than they
show on the outside. They may come across as pleasant, easy-going or
even apathetic on the outside, but tend to hide a lot of anxiety, unrest
or worry on the inside. In Huber astrology, this is called a
Righteousness Rectangle. See Bruno and Louise Huber's book
Aspect Pattern Astrology
for excellent information about aspect patterns. |
 Mystic Rectangle Aspect Configuration |
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