This is the third blog in the series The Firdaria Diaries which begins at eighteen and continues the journey from our early adulthood to the final planetary period in our seventies. Last week I looked at the ages from twenty one to twenty three when the focus moved to public life, status, career and study choices, groups with influence over the individual, and the end of a cycle at twenty three and preparation for a new cycle in the coming year. This blog see profections returning to the first three houses in the natal chart at the ages of twenty four, twenty five and twenty six.

Profections: Moving Forward Through the Houses

24 years old : FIRST HOUSE

The Ascendant is the most critical point in the chart. Not only does it mark the beginning of the first, and most important, of the twelve houses, it also acknowledges the commencement of life, and the creation of the natal chart. In terms of profection your birth starts the wheel turning at the Ascendant and every time we return to this place – at twelve year intervals – we begin a new part of our lives. We take action at the Ascendant, and we make things happen in our lives. If we hesitate too long because of the sign, or the ruler of the Ascendant, then something or someone takes the control away from us, and pushes us forward, whether we like it or not.

Some signs are particularly resistant to change because of their elemental nature. Earth and water signs on the Ascendant have their own reasons for hanging back or procrastinating on change and new beginnings. Earth signs at the Ascendant often feel unprepared for something new and leaping into the unknown means they may not have the right tools, or they might fail, if they move forward too quickly. Water signs at the Ascendant need constant support and encouragement from their loved ones or their peers and any negative reactions can cause them to doubt themselves or fear the disapproval of those whose opinions matter to them.

25 years old : SECOND HOUSE

However reluctantly your steps may have been in forward movement at twenty four, the following year becomes one where you start to wonder about the implications that these changes will make on your financial situation. You may have to penny-pinch this year, or an improvement in the balance between money in vs. money out may make you more secure about last year’s choices.

 The second house is a bit of a blind-spot mainly because traditional astrology sees the Ascendant as a source of light and life’s energy. Anything directly on either side of the first house, that is, the second and twelfth houses, receive neither light nor energy from the Ascendant. This situation is a reminder that the Ascendant is the point of first contact between the soul and physical manifestation on Earth.As such, the soul has little concern with monetary issues as its agenda is not tuned to paying bills, saving for a holiday, or buying the right shoes to fit your feet.

“Feet? What are feet?” asks Soul.  

How many times have you caught yourself saying “I would be doing this ….. (for my soul), if I didn’t have to work to earn the money to pay for this …(for my body) ?”

Don’t expect Soul to have a sound understanding of profit and loss in your bank balances. It’s just not that interested.

26 years old : THIRD HOUSE

At the twenty sixth birthday the focus changes from finances back to an awareness of how my body functions in the physical world. The first and third houses in a chart are linked in several ways. If you are using Whole Sign Houses there is a lovely sextile aspect between the sign on the Ascendant and the sign on the third house.

The Ascendant’s house signifies the strength of the physical body, and its relationship to the immediate environment which surrounds it. A sextile to the third indicates the body’s skills and abilities, i.e., the things we take for granted about the physical framework which surrounds our soul. For most of the time we are unconscious of these seemingly simple tasks undertaken by our body. How we walk, how we talk, basically, how we use both our fine, and our gross, motor skills to safely propel ourselves through this concrete realm we call Earth.

Third house is often called ‘the communication house’ with the mistaken belief that the sign Gemini is somehow attached to this house. The true meaning is not about a modern misconception that certain zodiac signs align with certain houses. Rather, third house signifies how we communicate with the world around us.

What is our language? Can we hear? Can we speak? Can we understand and speak more than one language? What does our body language say? How do we read others’ body language?  Do we have a special skill that makes our communication unique? Do we have the ability to carry a tune? Do we have the required agility to dance? Play sport? Juggle four balls in the air at the same time?

The other link between first and third house is the link between me (1^st) and my siblings (3^rd) so this year may show a strong involvement with, or my concern for, a brother or sister who needs my help (or I need theirs), or who rejects or frustrates me in some way.

Profections Summary for 24: 25: 26 years of age

Firdaria: Time Portions Belonging to the Planets

During these three years day-timers will continue with Mercury as their major  Firdaria lord – Mercury is the governing planet for thirteen years and covers the years  from eighteen to  thirty one years of age. Daytime births are for those born between the twelve hours when the sun has risen and before it sets, that is, approximately 6am to 6pm (no daylight saving).

Jupiter remains the major Firdaria lord for those born during the night-time hours. Jupiter began its reign at twenty and continues to rule for the next twelve years, that is, until the nocturnal person turns thirty two years of age. Night births are after the sun has set and before it rises in the east, approximately 6pm to 6 am.

Regardless of whether you were born during the day or the night, both categories will experience the middle period of their respective major Firdarias during these three years.

The mid-point of any system or structure is often the place that receives the greatest amount of tension, simply because it is the pivotal point for anything that has a beginning, a middle, and an end.

Geometry creates formulae to calculate midpoints whilst physics discusses the tension at the mid-point of a rope. Look in any children’s playground and you will find a see-saw that demonstrates the importance of the fulcrum point in the centre, and the effect that gravity has on either side of the see-saw.  In any system, mid-points matter, and Firdaria is no exception.

Daytime Births 24 – 26 years of age

DAYTIME BIRTH  – Age at Birthday : 24 years

Major Long-term Lord: MERCURY        (Years)

Minor Short-term Lord: JUPITER          (Months)

The mid-point for Mercury’s major Firdaria occurred six months before the twenty fourth birthday.  From eighteen the twenty four you have lived under the short-term rule of Mercury, Moon, and Saturn.

Now you have moved on to Jupiter and you are now half-way through Mercury’s thirteen years. So far you have started to make choices for yourself, to form your own opinions, to find others to communicate with using your own form of language, and hopefully, to problem-solve your way through the difficulties you have mostly made for yourself. The Moon may have guided you through the emotional minefield of growing into adulthood, and Saturn has taught you either to take up responsibility for your choices, or how to play the blame game better than anyone else.

Jupiter is the ideal planet for the mid-point ruler of Mercury’s thirteen years. It loves to brag about how wise it has become over the past few years (six years to be exact), thinking that there’s not much more they need to know to complete the journey through life. It is no coincidence that twenty four also marks Jupiter’s second return around the chart and anyone who is older, and has lived through more turns of Jupiter, will listen to Jupiter’s boasts and smile quietly to themselves. Life (and Jupiter) has plenty more surprises in store for the twenty four year old, so be gracious, and let them have their moment.

Jupiter is very comfortable in a daytime chart as it has the ability to look for opportunities, to be ambitious, and to dream about a bright future. Add Jupiter’s enthusiasm to search for new horizons with the fact that this is a first house year, and the world is your oyster. Maybe.

If things aren’t going so well, remember that Jupiter is the short-term lord from 23 ½ to 25 ½ years and this is a time to sort out what is going wrong for you in life: job-wise, relationship-wise, and self-esteem and spiritually-wise. This mid-point term in Mercury’s Firdaria may be an ideal time to make changes that are more important for your inner landscape so that you can prepare for the future. Be brave and pay attention to the whispers coming from your heart, rather than distracting yourself with what’s going on outside in the world around you.

DAYTIME BIRTH  – Age at Birthday: 25 years

Long-term Lord: MERCURY

Short-term Lord: JUPITER

Jupiter is still in charge for the first five months after turning twenty five. The change in houses from first to second is a warning about being overly confident or too generous with your money. Life might seem rosy at this point, but a second house year is rarely easy and Jupiter is about to hand over to Mars.

25 years and 5 months

Short-term Lord Changes from JUPITER to MARS

Long-term Lord: MERCURY

NEW Short-term Lord: MARS

The transition from Jupiter to Mars is a bit of a bumpy ride. Last blog (ages 21-23) I used the comparison of the long-term ruler as the professor or course-setter, and the short-term lord being one of seven lecturers who teach the course. In this scenario, Jupiter is the wise old fellow with a lot of teaching years under his belt. Under Mercury’s rule Mars is the young academic hothead who thinks they know their audience, and making a great deal of noise is the way to get the message across to the poor souls on the other side of the lectern. The trouble is that there is a fine line between inspiring speeches and bullying tactics, and sometimes Mars can’t see the difference between the two.

As this is still the year concerning finances, I suspect things have gotten a little grimmer at the middle of this year. Buckle in and try to salvage your bruised and tattered bank account. And hope that you haven’t gone crazy with the credit cards in the earlier part of the year. Time to pay up, or face the consequences, for your extravagant lifestyle or uncontrolled expenditures.

DAYTIME BIRTH  – Age at Birthday: 26 years

Long-term Lord: MERCURY

Short-term Lord: MARS

A third house year is not such a bad use for Mars under Mercury’s direction. Mars needs a physical outlet for its built up energies and Mercury is the planet responsible for our fine and gross motor skills. What better combination to improve our speed or agility, and to concentrate our mental prowess on problem-solving, economics, or a new scheme/project we have up our sleeves.

Better to keep Mars busy, active and challenged during this year by getting to know your body and understanding its capabilities and its short-fallings. Developing good hand-eye coordination or strengthening muscles, ligaments and bone density can hold you in good stead when there are later years of fatigue, illness, or injury on the way. Speaking of injury – if you go too hard or do not listen to your body, you risk injury under Mars’ supervision.

Without a positive outlet Mars can be fractious, restless, irritable and frustrated when serving Mercury. Sharp tongues and sarcastic retort can bring you troublesome times, especially if third house means your communication skills are defensive to the point of attacking, or if sibling quarrels are a big part of your landscape for this year.

Mercury is also the trickster, and with Mars as its representative, you need to keep a sharp eye on the truth. Uncontrolled rants, outrageous blogs, crazy emails or angry postings on social media, all have the potential to get you into trouble in this year if you’re not careful with this house. Take a deep breath, get someone else to read your messages, or better still, destroy it before you hit ‘send’ and start again with a clearer head. Otherwise you risk the chance of becoming a nasty troll – and no-one needs that on their conscience.

Night Births 24 – 26 years of age

NIGHT BIRTH  – Age at Birthday : 24 years

Major Long-term Lord: JUPITER       (Years)

Minor Short-term Lord: SUN             (Months)

Jupiter and the Sun are highly compatible planets so with some good luck and clever planning you may be moving up in the world. My only word of warning would be that whilst success is nice, you are a night-time birth and as such, you are ruled by the Moon. Being happy and content with what you do for others as well as yourself, is more important than any glory or acknowledgement you receive from the outside world.

Night-timers need the inner glow of being in willing service to something or someone else, so a first house year may see you walking away from a lucrative job, or a completed degree, or the ‘easy’ path, in order to do something completely different with your life. Others may be shocked or dismayed by your decision, but it is after all is said and done, your life, and you have to live it in a way that is authentic to your principles – even if you’re not exactly sure of what that means right now.

NIGHT BIRTH  – Age at Birthday: 25 years

Long-term Lord: JUPITER

Short-term Lord: SUN

You may be wondering what on earth you are doing if you have made major changes in your life. Expenses and money worries may be accumulating but if you can trust your inner voice and pull the purse strings in, you will get through this tough time. Not long into this year the Sun hands over to Venus, and this could be your change in fortune.

25 years and 2 months

Short-term Lord Changes from SUN to VENUS

Long-term Lord: JUPITER

NEW Short-term Lord: VENUS

Luckily, these two planets have a good relationship and this period brings good friends, a fresh approach to love, and a number of personal benefits which will be specific to your birth chart.

Just be careful that you are not splurging too much money on your new love interest or a hedonistic lifestyle that you cannot maintain for any length of time. Jupiter’s pockets are not limitless and it would be a shame to spoil this year with debt and terrible excess credit card charges.

Venus is the middle short-term ruler of Jupiter’s twelve year Firdaria and any quiet reflection on the time since you turned twenty will hopefully involve honest scrutiny of all relationships over the past five years. Try to be kind in your assessment of others’ and your own behaviour, learn from your mistakes, and move forward if you can. So far, you have experienced life through the lens of Jupiter, Mars, and the Sun. Take a deep breath and enjoy this middle period where Venus is, we hope, a gentler, sweeter and more persuasive teacher than the previous three planets.

NIGHT BIRTH  – Age at Birthday: 26 years

Long-term Lord: JUPITER

Short-term Lord: VENUS

This year begins with Venus continuing as the short-term ruler so this year can be a good opportunity for you to try out those hidden third house skills. Find something you love doing, and do it better. This improves your moods, your confidence, and brings a smile to your face. Perfect reasons to develop these skills and learn to love yourself a little more. Don’t worry about what everyone else is doing, enjoy yourself and find out what makes you unique (or should I say ‘you-nique?).

26 years and 10 months

Short-term Lord Changes from VENUS to MERCURY

Long-term Lord: JUPITER

NEW Short-term Lord: MERCURY

Almost at the end of this year and Venus is handing over to Mercury. Venus, the significator of love, pleasure, female companionship and beauty is wafting out the door and hard-headed Mercury is taking her place.

Mercury’s relationship with Jupiter is a bit hit-and-miss and if love has been in the air, you might come back to earth with a thud. What was cute and adorable about your partner a few months ago is starting to get on your nerves now, so reflect on what you need to change – your attitudes, your expectations, or your relationship.

So far as third house is concerned, you may be dealing with a sibling and the conversations you need to have may be difficult for the both of you. Jupiter gives you have the ability to see both sides, but Mercury can mean you are being stubborn or opinionated and this will not help the situation. Perhaps a third party can help mediate between you and your loved one.  Mercury will still be the short-term lord next year, and part of the year after, so perhaps some family ‘time-out’ might ease the tension and you can re-address the issues at some time in the future when all parties have calmed down.