Power of the Midheaven : The Astrology of Self-Realization [Paperback]

Stephanie Clement (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2001

Unlock the gates to self-awareness with this unique combination of psychological and astrological knowledge * From the author of Charting Your Career and of What Astrology Can Do for You * Discover the secrets of your birth-chart, understand your deepest soul urges, and expand your self-awareness * Identify three thinking styles that work for or against you * Learn when to take action and when to stay 'in the flow' * Written by a practicing psychologist and astrologist

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

A professional astrologer for over twenty-five years, Stephanie Jean Clement, Ph.D., is a board member of the American Federation of Astrologers and a faculty member of Kepler College and NORWAC. Her Ph.D. in Transpersonal Psychology has prepared her to work with clients in defining their creative potential and refining their creative process. Her published books include Charting Your Career; Dreams: Working Interactive, What Astrology Can Do for You; The Power of the Midheaven; Charting Your Spiritual Path with Astrology; Meditation for Beginners; and Mapping Your Birthchart.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

1 The Midheaven in Twins' Charts

The astrological study of twins has generally focused on finding the similarities in their lives that are reflected in their charts. Another area of delineation involves the identification of factors in their charts that explain their physical and developmental differences. No matter how identical the lives of twins are, differences in personality emerge. Individual will is the key factor in such differences. In the realm of physical strength and vitality, we expect strong similarities because the charts are so similar. The small differences help the astrologer to understand the nuances of twins' charts, but also serve to understand the individual as well.

Astrologers looking at twins' charts casually ascribe differences in personality and appearance to planets changing houses, or sign changes on cusps. My research has shown that neither of these changes is common in twin charts. Thus, other factors must be involved in the delineation of individual differences.

Many events, such as the death of the parents, will happen at the same time for both twins, but many other events are likely to occur at different times, and in different circumstances. Timing events using transiting aspects to the angles and house cusps seems the most logical approach for events that are different. Because the planets are essentially the same, aspects to planets will more likely be involved in events that are the same. In the case of major events, aspects to the Midheaven and Ascendant reflect the striking differences in personal experience of the event for the twins.

Twin Research Because of the difficulty of tracking the lives of twins, the research was limited to the neonatal period. Charts were gathered for all twin births in Denver General Hospital for a period of years, and a few appropriate cases from other geographical areas were also considered. To be considered, information had to be provided for survival of the first six weeks of life, and in the case where a twin did not survive, information about the cause of death was required. Exact birth times were required. The event under consideration is the survival/death of both twins.

The charts for the twins were calculated using the Koch house system. The following factors were considered:

Astrological Consideration One Twin died Both Survived

Planet(s) changing house 76% (ave. 1.5) 15% Ascendant changing sign 8% 15% Midheaven changing sign 0% 10% Interceptions changing 28% 25% Intermediate cusps changing sign 20% 25% Stationary planet(s)1 92% 15% (Ave. 1.16,) (no more than 1) Ascendant aspects changing 76% 56% (from applying to separating) Midheaven aspects changing 56% 44% (from applying to separating) Planets at 0, 1, 2, or 29 degrees Ave. 2.6 Ave. 1.8

The factors that proved to be insignificant included Midheaven or Ascendant changing sign, interceptions changing, intermediate cusps changing, and aspects to the Midheaven changing. The most significant changes included planets changing house2 and the appearance of stationary planets. In about half the cases of the control and research groups, the aspect to the Midheaven changed, with slightly more Ascendant aspect changes in the research group than the control group.

This research proved the validity of astrology for me and prompted my strong interest in the Midheaven. Even though the time differences between twin births were very small in many cases, the aspects to the angles changed in over half of them. The slightly more frequent Ascendant aspects in the research group are readily explainable: the Ascendant relates directly to the physical body. The insignificant difference in Midheaven aspects in survival rate nevertheless inspired my research into personality differences.

To conclude: Using the Koch house system, planets changing house between birth times and the presence of one or more stationary planets accounted for more than 98 percent of the cases in which one twin died. The stationary planet was a clear indicator for the medical cause of death.

Application of the Research I then began to research case histories of biological twins, time twins, and event twin events. In all three types of charts the very minor changes can be used to explain very different results in the lives involved. I will explain the importance of the Midheaven through examples.

A Case of Meningitis Twin boys were born February 24, 1977, in Denver, Colorado, at 8:45 and 8:46 p.m. by C-section. At the age of five weeks the first-born child developed meningitis (chart 3).3 Considering the tiny differences between the charts (fourteen minutes of arc difference on the Midheaven), the astrologer cannot use ordinary delineation methods to delineate why one child contracted the disease and the other did not. On the day the illness began, transiting Pluto had retrograded to 12 Libra 54, exactly conjuncting the Ascendant (reflecting the physical body). In the second twin's chart this was a past transiting aspect on the date of onset (chart 4).

Where the Midheaven is concerned, I was very interested in what the mother had to say about the personalities of these boys. Astrologically, I considered the degree differences on the Midheaven. The first born has the Midheaven in the Sagittarius dwadasamsa (2.5-degree division of the sign), while the second has the Capricorn dwad there. I suggested to the mother that the second son would be more self-possessed (earth) and the leader of the pair (Capricorn ambition). The first would be more creative (Sagittarius would emphasize the loose fire grand trine). The mother confirmed that the second child was already the definite leader, and the contemplative, creative side of the first child was emerging.

From a counseling perspective, I was able to reassure the mother that the second child was not at risk for developing the disease, as the astrological indicators were already past aspects in his chart. I was able...(Continues)

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications (January 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1567181473
• ISBN-13: 978-1567181470
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,525,738 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Faulty Information but overall..., February 5, 2002

By 

"firerizing" (Charlotte, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Power of the Midheaven : The Astrology of Self-Realization (Paperback)

This is firstly, I should state, the only book I have come across that focuses at all on the MC, and for that, Ms. Clement should be praised. I have always found the MC to be highly relevant in an individual's chart and most books barely even touch on its significance.
Ms. Clement seems to apply her own ideas as to what each placement means, and I am not sure at all that some of them are correct. While there are always opportunities for new applications and certainly should not be thwarted or discouraged, I would like to at least be offered her reasoning on some of the interpretations she offered.
The bulk of this book is charts and birth datas for an individual to refer to while learning. I found that to be extremely beneficial, as you can erect the chart and work your way through the learning process.
Midheaven is so much more than just the tenth house cusp and work ethics and so forth, it really is the deeper side of our own individual selves. I think that the reader should use this book to learn more about the MC's importance, but as far as interpretations, if it sounds incorrect, verifiy it with one of the "Planets in" books.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed, June 29, 2004

By 

Y. Collins "yodi1" (Fairfax, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Power of the Midheaven : The Astrology of Self-Realization (Paperback)

I purchased this book recently, looking for greater insight into my Midheaven. I was happy to find the text, as there are not many books on this subject in print. But I didn't get the insight I was looking for. Clement discusses the Midheaven from more of a spiritual aspect, which left the astrological aspect lacking. I closed the book still feeling hunger for the knowledge I sought. If there's a better book on Midheavens out there, I don't know about it, but I'm definitely looking for it.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Response to California Reader, July 22, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Power of the Midheaven : The Astrology of Self-Realization (Paperback)

Dear California Reader,

I found this book very useful, as it explores a point that has not been discussed much in other books. Here are some thoughts for you about your review:

Ms. Clement uses the Koch house system. The Midheaven is the same for Koch as it is for Placidus, so you can rely on the charts you have as far as this book is concerned.

I would not think the examples of the Sagittarius Midheaven, Ivan the Terrible, Allen Ginsberg and Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, represent conservatism. The Midheaven shows what you know about yourself, according to Ms. Clement, or what you can know. California Reader, you are correct in stating that the inner self is on the other side of the chart - the inner self is the IC. Ms. Clement's work explores one avenue to that inner, less conscious knowledge, and her examples show us people who knew themselves quite well.

Finally, Ms. Clement did characterize Sagittarius as a time of the year when we traditionally need to conserve food and fuel because of the cold (this is a clearly Northern Hemisphere view of the sign). That does not mean that all people with a Sagittarius Midheaven are conservatives - rather, they tend to be careful consumers. I think it is important to follow Ms. Clement's advice: The Midheaven is not the Sun. We can apply broad concepts of the zodiacal signs here, but we cannot expect that the Midheaven in your chart will be just like the Sun in that sign.

The book jacket includes recommendations from such lights of the astrological community as Maria Simms, Bernie Ashman, Gloria Star and Eleonora Kimmel. These folks know a valuable new title when they see one.