Once you have learned the basic concepts of astrology and understand the planets, the houses, the rulerships and aspects, you are ready to learn about the refinements of astrology based on astronomy. Some of these include the use of declinations and antiscion points. Unless you utilize declinations and antiscia you are missing much of the chart and a great deal of valuable information. As we explore the old traditions of astrology through groups such as Project Hindsight and review the past wisdom handed down by the astrologers of ancient time it becomes obvious that we have gone far from our astronomical heritage.

We tend to forget that astrology is based upon astronomy and observation of the "heavens". In our quest to have instant gratification in our fast paced, psychologically oriented society we have inclined towards using interpretations based purely on the signs and longitude placements.

Just as the astronauts would not use merely the zodiacal degrees to plot a course into space, we astrologers also need to use other calculations to understand completely the charts before us.

One of the basic maxims of traditional astrology was to make note of the declinations. All of the older, well established ephemeris publishers, such as Raphaels, provide these positions. Very simply, if two planets were within a degree of each other by declination they were considered to be either parallel (when both planets are in the same direction, either North or South ) or contraparallel (one North and the other South). These were said to denote intensity of the natal aspect and act as mild conjunctions or oppositions. It was taught that these were very important and these aspects should be noted as we delineated a chart.

We seem to have drifted away from using these in recent times, but those who utilize this knowledge today have found errors in the traditional teachings regarding orbs and have refined the techniques.

WHAT IS DECLINATION

Declination is the measurement of the planets placement above and below the celestial equator, and more precisely, the angular measurement north or south of the celestial equator as measured along a great circle passing through the celestial poles. Some  ephemeredes do not list these positions unfortunately.

Emphasis has been placed upon the use of zodiacal longitude to view the planetary placements which is a circular representation rather than north and south alignment. However, the zodiacal viewpoint misses an important piece of astronomical information: the declinations.

Declinations are used to view the relationships between the planets from another dimension of space in relation to the earth. We must use both the zodiacal longitude positions as well as the declinations to properly locate a celestial body as well as delineate a chart.

Planets at the same degree of declination may be said to be either parallel or contraparallel and act as mild conjunctions or oppositions. The effective orbs will vary dependent upon the proximity to the celestial equator.

Many come to astrology without an astronomy background and use the tools at hand without understanding their basis. Let's try to look at declinations from the perspective of the chart wheel we are familiar with.

The origin of the chart wheel is the ecliptic--the path of the Sun through the sky is represented by our chart wheels and ancient astronomers drew these. Through the years this has become a perfect circle even though the actual ecliptic is shaped more like a football. And the chart wheel concentrates on the twelve zodiac signs, the twelve houses; the divisions of space that helps us locate planetary bodies.

Our printed chart forms show lovely, evenly spaced sections even though the zodiac is not perfectly aligned and there are even things called signs of long ascension and short ascension. (See Note #1)

Since the earth is tilted approximately 23' 27.5" degrees, the Sun's path marks a great circle around the earth called the ecliptic. (Actually, the earth turns and views the Sun from this angle).

At the times of the equinoxes, the Sun is apparently traveling along the line of the equator and is at 0 degrees declination, but at the time of the solstices (the longest day or night), the Sun is 23' 27.5" from the equator, thus at 23' 27.5" declination. So, the maximum declination of the Sun is 23' 27.5" North or South of the celestial equator and those 23' 27.5 " degree maximum areas are marked on our globes as the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.

When you place a planet in the chart wheel you are placing it in the vast area of that house by zodiacal longitude--showing you only on which of 360 degrees the planet is manifesting, each degree of a circle being similar to a ray emanating out into space.

Zodiacal longitude however does not pinpoint how far along that ray the planet lies or how close it is to the equator or the horizon. (the ascendant in a birth chart). As an example create a chart wheel and place the Sun at 22 degrees Gemini. Now place Mars at 22 degrees Gemini.

Naturally it is impossible for both bodies to occupy the same place in space. The Sun has a declination of 23' North 13" and Mars 19' North 56 ". Mars is closer to the equator, (or the ascendant ) than the Sun. Although by longitude they appear to be conjunct, by declination they are over 3 degrees apart. (See Illustration # 1)

Combustion is a term used when the Sun and another planet, primarily Mercury or Venus, is conjunct the Sun, and is said to denote the planet is weakened and the Sun overpowers it. This does not hold true unless the two are also conjunct by declination also.

Although the Sun will NEVER exceed 23' 27.5" declination, the other planets may and often do. Planets at declinations greater than this are said to be Out Of Bounds, and may be interpreted as acting out of the ordinary. To further use the standard chart wheel in the example as a viewing aid, an out of bounds planet would manifest OUTSIDE the chart wheel.

Note #1: Every 24 hours all signs ascend over the eastern horizon, however, some signs rise across the horizon faster than others. The reason is this is that all rising occurs in relation to the celestial equator and since the ecliptic is at an angle to the equator some signs take longer than others to complete their ascension.

In the northern middle latitudes, the signs Cancer to Sagittarius are referred to as signs of Long Ascension and the signs Capricorn to Gemini are called those of Short Ascension. In the southern middle latitudes it is the opposite. The signs in the middle of these groups of six rise more uniformly. These terms would not apply in the equatorial or polar regions .

ECLIPSES AND DECLINATIONS

The new moon is the monthly conjunction of the Sun and Moon. Both are in the same degree of longitude. An eclipse of the Sun occurs when , at the monthly conjunction with the Moon, the latter has no latitude, so the two are precisely in line with one another as seen from earth. The Moon blocks the light of the Sun. An eclipse of the Moon takes place when the two, at their monthly opposition (the Full Moon), are again lined up, with the Earth between them. The earth blocks the light of the Sun so that the Moon is in the earth's shadow and does not appear to have any reflected light from the Sun.

One reason to note the importance of declinations is that Eclipses ONLY occur when the Sun and Moon are in the SAME degree of declination AND longitude. They may be in the same degree of longitude but no eclipse will occur unless they have the same declination.

Occultations are a term commonly used when the Moon and a planet are in the same degree of declination. However, any celestial body can "occult" or hide another from view. These are similar to an eclipse of the planet and are noted by serious astrologers.

A significant point to ponder is that the Moon's Nodes ( see Note #2) in their approximate 19 year cycle are tied into declination. When the Moon's Nodal orbit coincides with the 0 Point of Aries, the ascending Node will be crossing the ecliptic along this point of the celestial equator and the Moon then achieves it's greatest declination in relation to its 19 year cycle, about 28' 35". However, it continues for years afterwards to orbit at a high declination, to almost 29' at times, and then 9.5 years later, when the Node crosses the autumnal equinox point ( 0 Libra ), the Moon will be at it's minimum declination (approximately 18' ) and remain within the bounds of the ecliptic for a length of time.

Note # 2: The Moon's Nodes are the two points of intersection with the ecliptic as it moves from north to south latitude during its orbit.

ORBS

The question of allowable orbs in standard beginning astrology (astrology that does not acknowledge declinations) is clarified by the use of declinations. The relative strengths of an aspect by conjunction or opposition can be easily viewed by adding declinations to the equation.

Unlike the traditional teachings that recommended a standard one degree orb for parallel or contraparallel, there is a theory that points out that two bodies within one degree of declination close to the equator are to be considered within orb of influence, but the further north or south of the equator the orb must be adjusted downwards on a sliding scale to only minutes of orb.

An example of the reasoning behind this¹ would be a planet 0' Aries (declination is 0' North) and another one at 7' 30" Aries (declination 2' N 59" ) They are conjunct by the commonly used standards of allowable orbs of zodiacal longitude, yet almost 3 degrees apart in declination. These two planets are conjunct but not parallel. The other end of the spectrum is a planet at 0' Cancer ( 23' South 27.5" declination ) and another at 7' 30" Cancer ( 23' South 15"declination) . Although 7 1/2 degrees is the same distance apart in longitude the Aries planets are NOT within orb of parallel by declination, but the Cancer planets are.

Another viewpoint would be to look at a planet at the allowable standard orbs for aspect by conjunction. A planet at 27 ' Sagittarius, for instance and 23' S 25" declination compared to a planet at 13' 23" Sagittarius and 22' S 25" declination (within the one degree traditional orb for parallel) The parallel would not be valid because the two planets are over 13 degrees apart. This pair is neither parallel nor conjunct.

If you use more than 12" of orb at these higher declinations, the planets will be much further apart in alignment in space because the ecliptic flattens out along the northern and southern extremities. Along the equatorial regions (0 ' declination), the ecliptic forms a more uniform arc. You could almost say space is more compressed along the northern and southern extremities. (See Illustration #2)

Using declinations is a useful tool for weighing the strengths of and influences of any existing aspects in a chart. Should there be several planets within orb of a conjunction, the refinement of using declinations can aid you in giving more weight to the ones closest by declination.

Also consider two planets not in aspect to one another but in mutual reception and also parallel. This is going to be an important exchange of planetary energies, as there is a direct line along which the energy can travel by way of the declination. Two planets in mutual reception, but not related by aspect or declination will have a more difficult time expressing their energies along a useful track. However, just the addition of the parallel or contraparallel notation steps up the power of any planetary influence. Planets already in aspect will have their energies strengthened by the addition of a parallel or contraparallel in the manner of longitudinal aspect. So two planets in square and also parallel, will render the square more powerful.

Look again at the illustrations included with this article and notice how declinations are measurable avenues by which planetary energies can be exchanged.

SOLSTICE POINTS and THE ANTISCIA

The word Solstice comes from the Latin : solstitium. . ( Sol, the Sun. sistere, to make stand. ) The Sun at the solstices is at its turning point in its apparent course and its declination remains essentially the same for three days. At the winter or summer solstices the Sun turns back towards the equator. A body on an antiscion point of another will make an exchange of energy by way of declination and its position by common relationship to the Solstice Points and the Sun's path. It could be termed a Solar Parallel.

Understand the Sun's path and the solstice points and you can understand the antiscion points for any planet. The entry of the Sun into the Cardinal signs is called the Solar Ingress. Mundane astrologers use the charts of these points as maps of minor beginnings to analyze current events.

Remember that the entry of the Sun into Cardinal signs reflect the turning points of the Sun on its path around the ecliptic. As the Sun starts on it's path in the spring at 0 Aries (around March 21) it is also at 0 degrees declination. The Sun's warmth as received by earth increases (in the Northern hemisphere) as the Sun travels through Taurus, and Gemini until it finally reaches 0' Cancer (around June 21, the summer solstice).

The summer solstice is the longest day and thereafter the days shorten until they are equal in the fall at the equinox. See Note # 3 At 0' Cancer the Sun has achieved it's maximum declination North. Traveling from 0 Aries to 0 Cancer, the Sun's declination has traveled from 0' North to 23' 27.5" North. From June 21 until September 21 the Sun is still at a northern declination, but traveling south, back to the 0' point of Libra and 0 declination.

After September 21 , when the Sun crosses 0 Libra and the equator, the declination will be South. And the Sun's declination will continue to increase in south declination until it reaches 0 Capricorn, December 21, and the winter solstice. 0 degrees of Cancer and Capricorn are called the Solstice Points. The Sun at 0 degrees Libra or 0 degrees Aries will be the same distance from these points. As the Sun moves between 0 Aries to 0 Cancer it will cover 0 to 23' 27.5" in declination moving North. On it's path back to the equator degree of 0 declination and 0 Libra , but traveling South, it will be at the SAME degree of declination, the SAME distance from the equator as it was on it's way North. Likewise, once past 0 Libra and traveling South in South declination towards 0 Capricorn and then "turning" back towards 0 Aries it will cover the same degrees of declination.

Any two points equidistant from 0 Cancer or Capricorn when the Sun would be at the SAME degree of declination north or south, though traveling in a different direction, are called the "antiscia" and also known as the solstice point positions. So 0 Aries has a solstice point of 0 Libra, 1 Aries = 29 Virgo, 2 Aries = 28 Virgo, etc. The easy way to check if the antiscia of a body is correct is to observe that the degrees will always add up to 30.

A method to visualize this concept is to draw a "natural" chart, i.e.: a chart having 0 Aries rising and 0 Capricorn on the MC. Then draw lines parallel to the Aries-Libra axis.

A planet in Aries will correspond to Virgo, Libra = Pisces Taurus will correspond to Leo, Scorpio=Aquarius Gemini will correspond to Cancer, Sagittarius=Capricorn

To find the antiscion of any planet find its longitude, for instance 10' 19" Pisces, then subtract the longitude from 30 degrees. What is left over is 19' 41". We see above that Pisces corresponds to Libra. So the antiscion will be 19' 41" Libra.

Let's look at a transit of a planet by the Sun. The concept behind the use of Antiscion Points is that a planet crossing one side of a pair of antiscia will be on a point that would be in parallel of declination were it the Sun. Let's choose Venus as an example at 6 Scorpio, ( and also 13 ' South declination) It is on a point along the Sun's path that will be triggered when the Sun reaches that same point by transit, naturally.

The Sun transit at 6 Scorpio will be at 13' S . The Sun will oppose 6' Scorpio when it is at 6 ' Taurus, ( by declination, the Sun at 13' declination North ) This will be about 6 months difference in time. The declinations will be the same but in opposite directions, thus a contraparallel. However, in February, when the Sun is at 24' Aquarius, it will also be at 13' South declination (24 degrees Aquarius is the "anti scion " or solstice point equivalent of 6 degrees Scorpio) . This would be then a parallel.

So, ANY planet that transits 24 Aquarius will be able to vibrate along the ecliptic path across to 6 Scorpio.

Note # 3: An interesting side note is that most astrologers/astronomers were from the northern latitudes and they observed the Sun's intensity in August and thus Leo is ruled by the Sun, when the Sun's heat is strongest. And it is old, tried and true astrological wisdom that any aspect that is formed is stronger in effect after it's exactitude. The Sun reaches it's maximum point in June, but the effects are seen for several months afterwards in the heat of the summer.

ADVANCED STUDIES

To go further in your studies of declinations one can convert the declinations to degrees of longitude, since one can utilize the distance from the equator and relate that to the ecliptic by drawing lines parallel to the celestial equator. Just as the antiscia use the Sun's declinations as a guide, so also do Declination Conversions to Longitude.  An  astrology computer program including this technique is available from Halloran's Astrol Deluxe.