Over time, I have noticed something about astrocartography. Perhaps this is a theory that is already out there, but it is just an observation I have noticed when working with clients, and in my personal life. People seem drawn towards their chart ruler line or their dominant planet line.
Now you may be thinking, "I hate my chart ruler line!" And you wouldn't be wrong. But perhaps this comes from actually living or visiting there. That is what I mean by drawn. By fate, circumstance, or pure coincidence, you end up at these places, whether you like it or not. I will use my grandmother as an example.
My grandmother followed my grandfather to Germany after he was stationed in a US base there in 1952. Here is her birth chart:
She is one hell of a gambler (and good at it, too) with Saturn, her chart ruler, in the fifth. ;)
But anyways, (just a little side note,) back to Germany. She followed him to Bamberg, Germany. And wouldn't you know, it's right up against her Saturn AC line, with about 8 miles (13 km) to spare.
She thought it was a beautiful little place, though I am not sure she quite fit in with the culture there. She said she always wanted to go back, and has been back with my aunt and my mom. She's traveled to Nuremberg quite a few times, as well as Munich and Garmisch. She loved Garmisch. There are no further lines in any of these places, though they do rest further to her Pluto IC line than her Saturn, unlike Bamberg. But all of these towns and cities are fairly close together.
In my own chart, Mars is my chart ruler. If you use modern rulers, then Pluto is also my chart ruler. But my dominant planet is Uranus if you use modern rulerships (with traditional rulerships it's Jupiter, I believe.) Uranus is also conjunct my IC. So this also leads me to believe that planets already on an angle in the natal chart hold some influence in the astrocartography chart.
Here is an example of when I lived across my Uranus AND a Jupiter line.
I studied glassblowing at Tennessee Tech for a stint. The place of the college, Cookeville TN (smack in between Nashville and Knoxville) was about 9 miles from my Uranus IC line and about 6 ish from my Jupiter trine Ascendant line.
I didn't end up living upon my Uranus line very long (true to form, I suppose), but I had a turbulent time there. My emotions were quite a wreck. I worked full time and went to school part time (which is probably why my emotions were such a mess - I didn't get any sleep!)
However, also true to form, I was generally well liked and accepted by the people there. I was seen as a very positive and upbeat personality. Half the town knew me because I worked the morning shift at McDonald's. I'd end up chatting to regulars during my breaks, or whenever we'd see each other out and about. I even had people stop me (more than once! I suppose it really is a small town) and recognize me. That is the essence of the Jupiter trine Ascendant line.
It's funny because I started to get into astrology around this time. I used to deny that Uranus had any association with astrology or astrologers, until I realized that I got into astrology because I was living across my Uranus IC line, and that that had been the case in my experience.
So quite a weird little mix. I'd highly recommend stopping by for some food if you ever find yourself in town. Grandma's Pancake House is literally a slice a of heaven on earth.
Perhaps a more famous example of all of this is that of Pablo Picasso living in Paris, France. While he lived there he was no more than 22 miles (or 37 km) from his Sun IC line, with the Sun being his chart ruler.
Another neat example is Edgar Allen Poe. In his younger years, he first arrived in the UK by way of Liverpool.
And his Mars sextile AC line is probably one of the farthest of the examples - 53 km (32 miles) away from Liverpool. He later went on to study in London, I believe.
Diana Gabaldon lives in Scottsdale, AZ. She has Saturn conjunct her IC in her birth chart, and continues to live across the line. She lives about 24 km (14 miles) from her Saturn line.
Now, will this theory hold up for every chart or person? No. Obviously, people settle in different places. Stephen King, for example, lived in Bangor, Maine for most of his life. Right across his Venus sextile Ascendant line.
Georgia O'Keefe lived close to her north node MC line. George R.R. Martin lives in Santa Fe, not near anything on his map. Similarly, there were no astrological lines across Ralph Waldo Emerson's Walden Pond. Sometimes it is not where you end up, but where you choose to be.
But I suppose that's the fun of it. Anyways, thanks for reading! Let me know if you have any questions or want anything covered down below. If you liked this article or learned something new, please share it with someone you think will enjoy it. :)
Best wishes,
Abby
