"I had my chart done by two different astrologers, one from London, and one from Berlin, although most of the information match, one has my Moon in the 11th house, the other in the 12th, which one is correct?"
This may sound strange, but actually both charts are correct. There are several different systems to divide a horoscope into houses, and each astrologer you chose used a different system. Your first chart, done in London, was calculated on the Equal House system, while your more recent one was done on the Placidus system. Each of your horoscope charts were calculated correctly in the way that each of these House systems divide a horoscope. So, mathematically, both of these charts are correct. Since each House system divides the horoscope in a different way, sometimes you do get different results. Which one is best? We will get into that later, first let's explore the differences between the two house systems, so you can then decide which horoscope chart you want to work with.
Whereas the 12 star signs divide the your horoscope by the starsigns in the heavens, the 12 houses divide your horoscope by a perspective as seen from the earth. As history has increased our conception of the universe, it also increased our abilities and techniques for celestial measurement. Each age has produced a different way to divide the ecliptic (the path that the Sun, Moon and planets travel on) into 12 houses based on the knowledge and beliefs of the times. It is the ecliptic that is the circle you see around you horoscope.
Your first chart basically starts at the ascendant and creates a new house every 30°, therefore each of the 12 houses are exactly the same size. That is why it is called the Equal House system, since each house is equally 30 degrees in size. The Equal House system is very popular in Great Britain, since it works well in their northern latitudes, where most house systems seem to break down* (*that is, part of the zodiac will not be represented on the horoscope).
This is one of the oldest house systems, seen ancient Greece, and claimed be in used in around 3,000 BC. in India. However since the oldest known horoscope found in India is dated around 320 BC. - just after the invasion of Alexander the Great - we can assume they copied the art of house division from the Greeks. (You would not believe all the exaggerations found when researching historical facts on astrology!) You can see in the Equal House diagram, when you start at the ascendant and make a mark every 30° you end up with something that looks like a pizza that has been divided into 12 equal slices.
Your other chart was calculated using the Placidus system, which was developed in the 17th century by the Italian monk Placidus de Titus. This system sets up houses in your horoscope by dividing the arc of a moving point, usually a planet.
Starting at the ascendant, a point is marked when it has made it's way 1/3 and 2/3's of the way to the Midheaven. These will mark the 12th, 11th, and 10th House. (That is why the Midheaven and 10th house are the same point in this system). An arc is then drawn from these points to the other side of the ecliptic to mark out the other houses.
In the Placidus diagram, you can see how the arcs are drawn out from these three points to divide the circle that is your horoscope. This house system is the most popular in Europe, mainly because since the 1820's it was the only one published (Raphael's Almanac)! This system breaks down in northern latitudes which is why it is not popular in England and the Scandinavian countries.
There is another difference the two systems have created besides putting your Moon in different houses. You will notice in your Equal House chart the cusp of the 10 house is not the Midheaven, while in the Placidus chart it is. Besides checking your Moon position later on we will also have to see which degree marking your 10th house is most accurate, for this is important in making descriptions concerning career, which the 10th house represents.
There are over 20 different house systems in use around the world today, and half of these are just variations from the top ten. Since the path of the Sun, Moon, and planets differ depending upon from what place on the earth you observe them - you need a house system that mathematically can adjust to the angles and vectors associated to the area of your birth. (By the way, to all you professional astrologers, and those who are serious students, I have a special analysis sheet where you can see how your, or any chart, would be divided under all 10 major house systems. Just write me in care of Kurier to order one. For those of you who are now curious and want find out what house system your chart was calculated on, just look for the word "Houses" in the center of your chart, or where ever your birth data, longitudes and latitudes of your place of birth are listed. The name printed before 'Houses' will be the house system - look for names like Meridian, Koch, Campanus, Topocentric, Porphry, Topocentric, Morinus, and Regiomontanus, to name a few).
Which house systems are best? There are two considerations to answer this. The first is the mathematical factor, as stated above, that you choose a house system that is appropriate to the latitude of the earth you are working on. For example, many of the House systems most commonly used break down in the polar regions - so if you were born above 55° Latitude (or work on charts of people who were), you should check to make sure that all the star signs are represented in the horoscope. If not, calculate your chart using the Horizontal or Arcturan House systems, which are specially designed for polar regions.
The second consideration is how accurately the house system in question describes behavior, and forecasts events. I personally prefer the Koch House system, which has the best record for accuracy in making predictions. This system was developed by Walter Koch (1895 - 1970) a Nazi concentration camp survivor, who created the first house system where every house cusp is projected through the exact birthplace. With other house systems only the ascendant is usually fixed to the birthplace, while other house lines project to the stars from the center of the earth.
In your case, to decide whether you want to use your Equal or Placdius system chart,
first see which Moon position best describes your personality. An 11th house Moon
would suggest a need for group activity, lots of friends (and a high turnover of friends) as
well as an attraction to politics. A 12th house Moon would suggest a tendency more
towards solitude, sensitivity to mysticism and the occult, and psychic ability on the
emotional level. Since your Moon is in the sign of Aquarius, you probably express either
of these house descriptions in an eccentric way, so it should be easy to spot which one is
you. Like to be alone usually? Then the Placdius chart is probably best suited for you.
Confirm this by looking at the activity when planets transit your 10th house and affect
career matters. If business starts to rock and roll more when they hit your Placdius 10th
house cusp instead of the Equal house one, then that should settle this matter.
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