This week we start from the Ascendant and move through the first three houses in the natal chart.  The last time this happened in The Firdaria Diaries we were 36, 37 and 38 years of age. Twelve years is a decent amount of time to have passed and with the advancement towards our fifth decade, life has changed considerably with the passing of these dozen years. With this change will come attitudes which are poles apart from the ones you held twelve years ago and the way you handle these three areas of life at 48, 49 and 50 will be vastly different from how you imagined you might when you were younger.

Given that the profection for these three years finds us once more at the beginning of a new twelve year cycle it seems a good time to remind readers that the natal chart will have a huge influence on how the profections are interpreted for each year.

Imagine a piece of pie. If we start at the outer crust we have the general house meanings and we can use the Earth’s movement to describe how the pie is cut into twelve pieces.

The Sun’s position is critical to the arrangement of the signs in a horoscope. Two factors in time create the astrological chart. The first factor is the time of the month which guarantees the Sun’s position by sign, and the time of birth during a twenty four hour period gives us the signs on the houses of a chart.

Profecting the houses isn’t just about turning the chart on a yearly basis and focusing on one house principle after another. Your horoscope will have each of the twelve signs on each of the twelve house cusps, especially if you are using the whole sign house method.

Now we are getting to the middle of our piece of pie. It’s going to be different for everyone because the profected houses are the same, but we have twelve choices for each house.

That gives us twelve models to work from. Does the sign of Gemini rise at the time of your birth? Is it Pisces? Or maybe Aquarius? Each of the signs rising will set up new possibilities as the wheel turns through the twenty four hour period.

Now we come to the finer inner section of our wedge of pie as we move further away from the generic and closer to what makes you unique in astrology’s model. Each of the signs is ruled by one of original seven planets (forget the three new ones – Uranus, Neptune and Pluto do not rule signs), so as the wheel turns a different planet will rule a different part of everyone’s lives.

And the smallest tip at the centre of our wedge? Each planet moves and changes its sign, degree, and relationship to each other so that while there may be many, many, many of us with identical charts born at the same time in different parts of the world, our unique chart pattern – and the configuration of the planets –  will never be repeated simply because the mathematics of seven (or ten) planets moving at different speeds set against a revolving background will never, ever form the same pattern as the one into which you were born.

Many pies, many slices, many tips, but never (and I mean NEVER) repeated in the history of our world.

So whilst the model shown here for profections is limited by an ignorance of the sign on your house cusp, or the unique condition and circumstances of the planet ruling your house cusp (in this case, the first, second and third houses), it is still going to point you in the right direction (or get you to take the first bite from the yummy crust).

I hope you will forgive the limitations and enjoy the information for what it is – a generic model to begin an exploration of your life through the profected houses.

If you know your birth time you can run the data through any one of a dozen astrology sites that offer free charts and you will find the signs at the cusp of each house. I suggest you buy a reputable book on astrology (preferably one that incorporates traditional astrology) and work your way further down the pie by familiarizing yourself with the old rulers of the signs and their dignities.

If profections become even clearer by doing this and working with your own natal chart, I suggest you find a way to construct your solar return chart, and then look again at the planet which is profected ruler of the year. Now you’re getting ever closer to the tip of the pie, and this is the juiciest bit!

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Profections: Moving Forward Through the Houses

48 years old : FIRST HOUSE

Each time we return to the Ascendant we find ourselves re-assessing our lives and making major decisions on the labels we wear (both consciously and unconsciously), how we define ourselves and our environment, and how we want the next few years to progress in our favour.

This may be the year when you make an important choice or decide what your life will or will not be from here on in. But making it happen or un-making your life choices is going to take more than just one year. It will depend on which of the seven planets rules your Ascendant as this planet will direct you on how to move forward this year. That is, the ruling planet plus the two planets that combine to make up your current Firdaria.

The first house signifies your attitude and appearance in this world so physical restrictions can hamper you this year. These restrictions can be external and any efforts you make to change an established pattern or move forward can be frustrated or slowed down by an external force that you have little control over.  But the restrictions can also be internalised through your own fear of change, so health issues can show your emotional concerns through your body’s reluctance to move into the unknown. 

49 years old : SECOND HOUSE

The second house signifies your wealth and the fine balance between money in and money out can be a constant source of worry over the next year.  It may be that the changes you began in the previous year have monetary implications during this year. A change in circumstances in your life often rocks the boat financially and you may have to alter your spending habits to accommodate your altered lifestyle.

50 years old : THIRD HOUSE

Congratulations on turning 50!

On the birthday when you begin a new decade the yearly focus shifts from finances back to an awareness of how you fit into your environment. You may begin to play a bigger role in your local community or you may decide that this is the time to pull away from a visible role in the community and change your focus to something else instead. If the previous year has created a change in ready cash you may be looking to downsize and find a new area in which to live. If the area is new to you it may be that this year is about becoming comfortable in your new surroundings or finding familiar faces who welcome you into their territory.

Third house is concerned with how we communicatewith the world around us. For many people the internet has opened up a whole new world of networking for the dual purpose of work and social commitments. This year may find you spending a large amount of time ‘broadcasting’ whether for career advancement, or pursuing a personal interest or skill, either of which means you are communicating with groups or individuals from around the world.

Third house connects us to our world through the relationship we share with our siblings as we learn many life skills from interacting with our brothers or sisters. For this reason, a third house year can indicate a strong involvement with a particular sibling and depending on the planet ruling the third house, or any planets located in third, this relationship might waver between being one of support, or a state of constant agitation and conflict.

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Profections Summary for 48: 49: 50 years of age

Firdaria: Time Portions Belonging to the Planets

If we are looking at profections in finer detail then it seems appropriate to put Firdaria under the same microscope and examine some of the more obvious shortcomings in The Firdaria Diaries. This blog is intended to reintroduce Firdaria, and the only way to do this is to provide a general overview of the technique. A more complete explanation of Firdaria is available in the last three chapters of my second book, A Tiny Universe’s Companion.

The interpretations given here in The Firdaria Diaries are in no way going to beabsolutely correct for absolutely everyone. This is Impossible (with a capital ‘I’). Better to talk about what is possible and what further information is needed to bring the Firdaria periods closer to the individual’s actual experiences. 

Simply put, there are three basic components that you need to understand to use Firdaria effectively.

One: Pay attention to the general significations of a planet, i.e, Moon represents mother, family, the strength and resilience of the physical body, popularity, emotional safety and security – this is a modern interpretation of the Moon, but should not be ignored.

Two: Always note the relationship between the long-term ruler (for years) and each of the remaining six short-term rulers (for months). For details on these relationships go to the source (11^th century astrologer al-Biruni) or read  A Tiny Universe, Ch. 4:  Friends and Enemies. These connections, whether based on alliance or animosity, will help to define what you might expect from their time together in any short Firdaria period.   

Three: The previous two components become very personal when the two planets involved in the Firdaria are examined through the lens of your own natal chart. Examine their signs for dignity or debility, work out their natural sect preference and their sect comfort in your chart, look at where they are situated in the chart and their houses of rulership, and note any aspects they may have, both to each other, and to the remaining planets. Once you have worked through this list, you will know what makes the Firdaria unique to your own life experiences.

I also need to remind you that 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). Night births are after the sun has set and before it rises in the east, approximately 6pm to 6 am.

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Daytime Births 48 – 50 years of age

DAYTIME BIRTH  – Age at Birthday : 48 years

Major Long-term Lord: SATURN        (Years)  

Minor Short-term Lord: MERCURY      (Months)

Saturn and Mercury have neither affinity nor animosity but there are some points that need to be mentioned about their relationship. Saturn is the planet ruling the eleven year period from forty to fifty one years of age. The blog which follows this one, the ages 51, 52 and 53, will show the changeover from Saturn to Jupiter, the next planet in the Firdaria sequence which follows the Chaldean Order. The Chaldean Order presents the planets in their divine order from slowest moving to fastest moving planet, that is, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Sun, Venus, Mercury and the Moon.

But Jupiter belongs to next year and until then Saturn will continue to set the agenda for these three current years at 48, 49 and 50.  Saturn expects its sub-lord Mercury to provide valuable information, sound and useful contacts, serious communication and concrete plans for the future. Mercury is not always capable (or interested) in such seriousness and finds Saturn a bit on the boring side whilst Saturn perceives Mercury to be disrespectful, incapable of taking orders, and a bit of a ne’er-do-well.

Mercury, as the short-term ruler, provides loads of ideas, notions and possibilities for Saturn to react to by obstructing, rejecting or disregarding Mercury’s suggestions. The result of this inner dialogue between these two planets may be that although you are keen for new beginnings, there is either a feeling of being constantly blocked or frustrated by others’ lack of concern for your plans. You might expect disputes, arguments over money matters as Mercury rules the marketplace and all ‘mercantile’ matters, even the defence of your honour as Saturn stands for integrity and Mercury implies gossip, malpractice and mischief in the making.

The Ascendant or first house is as much your name and reputation as the tenth house, and if you have done some shading dealings in the twelfth house during the previous year when Mercury slipped in as the new sub-lord, then they may be revealed under the light of a first house profection. Deny, deny, deny is usually Mercury’s way of avoiding such pitfalls, but under Saturn’s direction this evasive action is much harder to maintain. Maybe coming clean and bravely accepting the punishment is a good way to begin this new twelve year cycle.

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DAYTIME BIRTH  – Age at Birthday: 49 years

Long-term Lord: SATURN        

Short-term Lord: MERCURY

With the next birthday we have really moved into the money house and you may be suffering financially for some foolish decisions made earlier in Saturn’s eleven year Firdaria. Saturn may be teaching Mercury a few lessons and it will likely hit your hip pocket for the first five months of this year.

If you are familiar with your natal chart, then look at the ruler of your second house to see how you can reduce your expenses and come away from this with a few pennies to spare, as well as some shred of dignity by dealing well with an embarrassing or difficult situation.

49 years and 5 months

Short-term Lord Changes from MERCURY to MOON

Long-term Lord: SATURN         

NEW Short-term Lord: MOON

The Moon is the final planet to take its place in Saturn’s Firdaria as the last short-term ruler for the remaining eighteen months of Saturn’s term. If you thought Mercury was a pain, then the combination of two natural enemies does not hold the promise of a year and a half of sweetness and light.

Saturn and the Moon have been adversaries since the beginning of Time and their natural distrust of one another is duplicated in the Moon’s sub-period. Traditional authors predict trouble or illness for the mother, and any female relatives in general. Poor health, exhaustion, emotional upheavals, family disputes are all trademarks of Saturn who does not like to hand over any instructions to the Moon.

If I am working with a client and explaining Firdaria I will often use the analogy of a working bee at the grounds of the local school or church – limited time and someone in charge who is going to delegate jobs to volunteers as they arrive to help out.  The supervisor of all the tasks to be achieved for the day is the major Firdaria lord, or the planet that rules for its allotted years, and its time period is how long the supervisor has to complete the list of tasks to improve the site. The supervisor knows what they want done and how long they have to successfully complete the list of jobs. The minor Firdaria lords are the six volunteers who show up on their specified shifts during the day to do their jobs. The supervisor who holds the clipboard (major lord) tries to match the jobs on the list to the appropriate volunteer’s (minor lord) skills and talents.

The problem is that the supervisor has different relationships with all of the volunteers and those whom they like get good jobs that suit their nature, and those whom they dislike get terrible jobs that cannot be completed in the time period.

In this scenario Saturn is the supervisor and as the Moon reluctantly steps forward to do the worst job, Saturn gleefully sets a task that is onerous to the Moon. You, the benefactor of this Firdaria, get to experience the results of this combination, and as it begins in your profected second house year, the effects will most likely be a downward turn in your job security or a monetary loss that affects your family or loved ones.

An illness, an unexpected expense, a negative turn in your employer’s business, a family member who needs you to take time out to care for them, a variety of one or any of these possibilities will begin to present themselves during the next eighteen months as the Moon stresses under Saturn’s harsh supervision.   

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DAYTIME BIRTH  – Age at Birthday: 50 years

Long-term Lord: SATURN        

Short-term Lord: MOON

The final year of Saturn’s Firdaria arrives and the Moon is still taking orders from Saturn. It’s still a bit miserable but the plot has thickened as the movement from second house to third house has introduced new players and new complications in your life.

Physical ailments that slow you down, especially of a Saturnian nature such as skeletal problems, back pain, joint swellings, injuries from general wear and tear and you might think this is just because you are turning 50!

Some factors are your age and your fears of aging, but Saturn’s Firdaria will pass and you should begin to feel revitalized when Jupiter takes over in a year’s time. Don’t be too hard on your body or yourself if you are finding new aches and pains – it’s probably Saturn and the Moon fighting it out in your Firdaria – and rest and recuperation are a better option than forcing your body to keep going when it needs to slow down.

You still need to deal with family issues, especially where siblings are concerned, disputes with neighbours are vexing, and separations from loved ones or communication problems upset you, so take stock of what it is you want to achieve when the next birthday rolls along and you finally get to escape Saturn’s vice-like grip for a while.

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Night Births 48 – 50 years of age

NIGHT BIRTH  – Age at Birthday : 48 years

Major Long-term Lord: SUN        (Years)  

Minor Short-term Lord: MARS              (Months)

This year is the final year of the Sun’s ten year reign and Mars will see out the Sun’s Firdaria over the next twelve months. This combination is not a bad one to herald in a new cycle of fresh beginnings and new potentials. Both planets love a challenge and Mars is happy to fulfil the Sun’s wish-list in raising your profile and having others acknowledge your valuable contribution to their lives, whether it be professionally, socially, or in personal matters where you aid them through love, encouragement or support.

Under these conditions you can plan ahead but don’t be too invested in your plans as things are likely to change again when you turn forty nine and a new Firdaria lord takes the Sun’s place.

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NIGHT BIRTH  – Age at Birthday: 49 years

Major Lord: Years

VENUS for 8 years – Start of New Long-term Period

The year before you turn fifty is the year that Venus begins its eight year plan for you. This seems a little unfair that the goddess of Youth and Love has waited so long to show her pretty face. If you had been born in the daytime you would have met Venus during the teenage years but for a night-time birth Venus rules between the ages of forty nine and fifty seven – not exactly ages when our bods are at their supreme best.

Perhaps Venus’ advantage at this age is that if we are women, we truly know who we are and what we like at this age. If we are men, we appreciate women for their characters, their company and their wit, rather than merely ogling their fabulous bodies.

Sex at this age is supposed to be pleasant, familiar, enjoyable or comforting so who would chose instead the agonized fumblings of youth and the teenage years of desperate crushes and painfully heightened sexual impulses? Venus may have provided loads of exhilarating moments but she can also crush one’s heart if we meet her during our most sensitive and angst-ridden years.

Minor Lord: Months

VENUS – Start of New Short-term Period of 14 months

In Firdaria the same planet which is the major lord always has the first shift for the initial short-term period so Venus will be both the short-term ruler for fourteen months as well as the long-term ruler for eight years.

Hypothetically, Venus’ period may be said to cause us to examine our attitudes towards women, be they partners, friends, sisters, mothers, daughters, or work colleagues, regardless of whether we are women or men, or straight or gay in our sexual preferences. Women abound in our lives and this age is an excellent opportunity to examine how we react to them as a group and as individuals. Your own version of Venus in your chart will answer many of these questions and although we have already established some patterns, there is always room for improvement.

On a practical level, an eight year period of Venus is a journey towards the examination of all levels of our relationships and throughout the coming years we will scrutinize those unions and associations which enhance and enrich our lives, and question the other friendships and alliances that make us feel bad about ourselves or seem to bring out our most negative qualities.

Second house concerns may be about how we choose to spend our money on the things that give us the most pleasure. Modern astrologers often equate Venus with the second house but this would mean that all money was spent on doing exactly what we want, when we want it, and with whomever we want but this is definitely not the case where money is concerned. 

To the ancient’s mind the second house was fraught with concerns of putting a roof over your head and food in your bellies, keeping out of debt, and finding a way to provide for yourself when you were too old, too weak or too infirmed to work for a wage. The threat of poverty is a second house concern and Venus is more about luxury, pleasure, beauty and play.

Second house is concerned with the question of ‘How will I survive if the money runs out?’ Not exactly Venus’ problem – unless you actually have either of her signs on your second house cusp – in which case, curb your spending. Otherwise the rent and the bills won’t get paid in time and Venus had better hone her skills at the World’s Oldest Profession if you are going to survive, especially given that forty nine might be a little late to take up this particular profession for the first time in your life.

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NIGHT BIRTH  – Age at Birthday: 50 years

Long-term Lord: VENUS         

Short-term Lord: VENUS

Venus is only going to take up two more months of your time until Mercury takes over shortly after you turn fifty. Third house is now the focus house and there may be situations where you get involved in one of your sibling’s lives as this is the house of brothers and sisters.

The Third is also the house of your natural talents and if there is something you are good at, and you love doing on a practical level, then this is a good time to pursue it and improve your skills at the same time.

If there has been bad blood between yourself and a neighbour, then this may be the year that you can come to some amicable agreement under Venus’ guidance. Love interests can also pop out of the third house which is your general neighbourhood haunts so if this appeals to you, keep your eyes peeled for any possibilities.

50 years and 2 months

Short-term Lord Changes from VENUS to MERCURY

Long-term Lord: VENUS         

NEW Short-term Lord: MERCURY

Venus hands over to Mercury at this stage and whilst the talk is smooth and flirting is part of Mercury’s natural abilities, these two planets can lead to misunderstandings or mixed messages.

The new wave of social media is often linked to the third house so you may find an increased interest in other people’s lives, new contacts, or new correspondents who live on the other side of the world. Mercury is the planet of tricksters so be careful that your desire for connection does not over-ride prudence and common sense.

Love might be in the air, but be careful to separate business from pleasure as Mercury directed by Venus can blur the boundaries and create heartache with sudden hardship if you are not cautious about the truths you reveal to a sympathetic stranger.