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Placidus vs. Whole Sign Charts: Understanding Astrology’s Charting Variations

Placidus vs. Whole Sign Charts: Understanding Astrology’s Charting Variations

Consider dividing a snapshot of the sky as it reaches from the ground into twelve portions. These portions are known as homes, reflecting various aspects of your existence. Each planet, including our solar system’s two luminaries, the Sun and the Moon, is assigned to one of the houses based on the time and location of your birth.

There are many house systems that astrologers use for calculations. Some of them are:

  • Koch
  • Equal
  • Placidus
  • Meridian
  • Whole Sign
  • Morinus
  • Porphyry
  • Geodetic
  • Alcabetius
  • Campanus

However, Placidus is the most frequently used system in Western Astrology, whereas Indian astrologers prefer the Whole Sign system. The main difference between these two systems is the placement of Houses.

Today, we’re discussing the differences between Placidus and Whole Sign Charts. Stay with me while I go through these differences.

What exactly are Astrological Houses?

The Houses serve as a guide to knowing your history, existence, and destiny. Various natural and emotional intensities are produced as the planets in the sky traverse over these regions. The Seventh House of Partnership, for example, is related to Libra energy: Libra is the sign of partnerships, balance, love, and justice.

The Houses are what makes astrology so fascinating. Each one represents a different aspect of existence, yet none of them live in isolation. Their geometric rhythm is a metaphor for an individual’s whole universe.

The Houses are not to be confused with the zodiac wheel, which depends on the Sun’s rotation. On the other hand, the Houses represent the Earth’s natural 24-hour revolution around its axis. Because the Houses spin every 24 hours, it is critical to calculate your chart using your accurate time of birth.

Difference Between Placidus Charts and Whole Sign Charts

Tarot Cards
Tarot Cards

Whole Sign Chart

Whole Sign Houses are one of the earliest house systems, dating back to the Hellenistic era. Simply put, the sign borders determine the limits of the houses. It differs from other home systems in that the houses and signs do not overlap as neatly.

Each home in WSH is divided into 12 equal 30-degree pieces. The houses and signs match up since the characters are similarly organized into 12 similar parts (regardless of the housing scheme). For example, if you were born with 22 degrees Pisces rising, Pisces will make up your whole 1st House. Your second House begins at 0 degrees Aries, your third House at 0 degrees Taurus, etc.

The Whole Sign home system is the earliest kind of house subdivision and has been the favored technique for designating houses for over a thousand years. The whole sign refers to the complete span of the zodiac sign that appears as the 1st House on the Ascendant at the moment of a person’s delivery. The following sign represents the second House, another the third house, and so forth. All homes are the same size (30°) in the Whole Sign method.

Whole Sign homes are simple to compute and apply. The Whole Sign approach is not possible for more complex events, such as delayed signs.

Placidus Chart

Placidus is the most often used housing system today. Placidus is a time-based technique for estimating houses invented at the time of the Renaissance. Everything works by recording the house cusps in two-hour intervals from your birthdate.

The cusp of First House is marked by the degree of the zodiac sign rising on the Eastern Horizon at the moment of your birth. After two hours, measurement is taken to determine where that degree has now become: the cusp of the 12th House. Every twelve hours, this process is repeated until the 7th house cusp is noted.

The angles of these six homes are then added together to form the curves of the other six houses. Since every House is sized according to the duration of time the stars pass on the horizons from the viewpoint of Earth, buildings of varying sizes are standard. The bigger the deformation of the dwellings, the closer your birth location is to the equator.

Because the ellipsoidal form and movement of the Earth around the Sun is not a perfect circle, the home measurements are uneven, according to Placidus. Because each Astrology has its house arrangement depending on its technique, precision is not a fair benchmark to evaluate.

Zodiac Signs
Zodiac Signs

Differences in Brief

The following table briefly shows the differences between Placidus Charts and Whole Sign Charts.

Placidus ChartsWhole Signs Charts
The Placidus Chart indicates which manner, location, or region of life you have to transform your “soul” resources into reality. What you have in Whole Sign has to be triggered with Placidus House placement to materialize.The radix is depicted on the Whole Signs Chart. What type of resources do we have in each House and Sign, and what sort of power routes have you devised? Fundamentally, what’s in your innards.
Placidus demonstrates what you should do.The Whole Sign indicates “How”?
Placidus Charts Vs Whole Signs Charts

Understanding Astrology Chart

An astrological chart, also known as birth astrology or natal chart, depicts the sky at your birth. But that isn’t all. Have you observed how the night sky changes when you go to a different location? Or how about the fact that the Sun rises and sets at various times depending on where you are? Because your birth chart is generated from your birth’s particular time and geographical dimensions, your horoscope is a powerful resource for you. Your birth chart pulls the heavens down to Earth, establishing your specific plan for this life.

On a more scientific level, an astrological chart consists of three fundamental elements: planets, signs, and houses.

The planets indicate the primary motivations in a chart, including the desire to love and link (Venus), think and express (Mercury), or conquer (Pluto) (Mars).

The signs symbolize the many ways in which those planets manifest themselves. Venus in Leo’s bright fires will love more profoundly than Venus in Pisces’ deep seas.

As previously said, the homes indicate where in life action occurs. While planets in signs are determined by external reality (the solar system), the houses are determined by the time and place of your birth. To make matters even more complicated, their layout on a chart might vary according to the house system used.

Interpreting Your Own Birth Chart’s Houses

After you’ve established your starting point at the Ascendant, you can begin to determine which Houses the planets inhabit in your birth chart. To begin, consider the distinct purpose of each world: Mercury, for instance, is a communicator, Venus is matchmaking, and Mars is a warrior. On the other hand, the planet’s behavior is governed by its zodiac sign. Mercury in sober Capricorn, for example, will speak analytically and critically; Venus in enigmatic Scorpio likes secret romance; Mars in protecting Cancer prefers to pursue combat indirectly, and so on.

Once we’ve determined how each planet and sign interact, we can turn to the Houses to see where that energy is expressed. Is Venus-Scorpio in the Second House of worldly things, making a person more attracted to financially solid lovers? Or is Venus-Scorpio in the Ninth House of Travelling indicating a preference for a long-distance love story? The planets inside the Houses show the breadth of our knowledge and the subtleties of our character.

Let’s watch the following video to get more insight into these house systems.

Placidus Vs Whole Signs

House Systems

The birth chart is split into 12 “houses,” which depict the sky at your birth. The atmosphere is also divided into 12 sections, each of which is responsible for your personality, conduct, reasoning, intellectual growth, etc. They can provide solutions to numerous concerns about our origins. It is essential to explain how such houses are classified based on the utilized housing system. There are three types of house systems: the Equal house system, the Placidus system, and the Koch system. It is critical to understand that the latter two categories are not equivalent. Even though there are three separate home systems, the true meaning of every House stays constant.

The First House 

House of One’s Own the First House represents the location of the horizon at the time of your birth. The sign on the peak of this House corresponds to your “Rising Sign,” also known as your “Ascendant.” Bodily features and initial perceptions will be discovered in this House. People who encounter you for the first time will exhibit the traits of the First House sign.

The Second House

The House of Wealth All belongings, tangible commodities, and riches, in general, are ruled by the Second House. This home represents how you handle your money all expenses, and what gives you confidence and safety.

The Third House

Interaction, House of Brothers, and Adventures The Third House represents how you connect with the individuals who are most important to you – relatives, friends, neighbors, and others. It also demonstrates your bravery in dealing with difficulties and tragedies and handling your short travels and adventures.

The Fourth House

Mother’s (or Father’s) and Pleasures’ House This House depicts much of your past, including your youth, home life, and relationships with your mother. The Fourth House indicates the House where you were raised and the House in which you wish to dwell.

The Hermit Card
The Hermit Card

The Fifth House

Parenting and Romance’s House The Fifth House represents everything related to children. Affection in personal relationships reigns supreme, as does a passion for sports, activities, attachments, and artistic aptitude.

The Sixth House

Illness and Wellness in the Home. Various diseases and conditions, as well as diet and fitness, collide here. Jealousy and resentment are also prevalent in the Sixth House.

The Seventh House

Unions and Relationships House, the relocation of the Seventh House to the First House is contradictory. The “Descendant” symbol is on its spike, indicating how we respond to different identities. This House is also in charge of business and love relationships.

The Eighth House

House of Mishaps and Death Irrespective of the moniker “Death” given to this House, its significance is not as straightforward as it may appear. It is connected with poor relationships or job decisions that result in a sad ending. The House of the Eights also refers to numerous transformations, succession, and preferences in everything, secret and concealed.

The Ninth House

Destiny and Fortune’s House, the Ninth House, is concerned with psychological and religious issues. There are also long journeys here. This House is in charge of profound thinking, destiny, karma, and fortune.

The Tenth House

House of Professions and Trades. If you are looking for a hint in your professional life, you should look in the Tenth House. It is teeming with political activity and authority and ruling and status.

The Eleventh House

Earnings and Gains House. The Eleventh House exudes riches, good fortune, and success. Ethical ambition, as well as allies and supporters, can be found here.

The Twelfth House

House of Losses and Secrets. The Twelfth House is recognized for its deep and sensuous devotion and its vast mysteries. It is also well-known for its sacrifice and commitment. This House contains pain, sadness, deceit, and places of constraint.

Conclusion

  • Various house systems in astrology are Koch, Equal, Placidus, and Meridian. Also, Whole Sign, Morinus, Porphyry, Geodetic, Alcabetius, and Campanus.
  • Placidus is widely used in Western Astrology. Indian astrologers prefer Whole Sign.
  • These houses play an important role in understanding life aspects. They represent emotional and natural intensities.
  • Placidus and Whole Sign Charts are two different calculation systems. The differences lie in the house placement and their calculation methods.
  • Whole Sign Charts are early and aligns houses with zodiac sign borders. Each house is divided into 12 equal 30-degree segments.
  • Placidus Chart is introduced as a time-based technique. It involves house cusps recorded in two-hour intervals.
  • Whole Sign is known for its simplicity. Whereas Placidus is known for accounting for geographical variations. It is also known for elliptical Earth movements.
  • The outline of the astrological chart briefly explains the roles. Planets, signs, and houses play a role in interpreting one’s birth chart.

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