A s t r o l o g y - Mandala

Bron: Those Wild Out-of-Bounds Planets by Pamela Welch, first published in the June/July 2001 issue of The Mountain Astrologer, published here with her permission.

As this article illustrates, out-of-bounds planets signify one important aspect of astrological interpretation, especially in relationship to psychological factors and the potential for achievement. Today, planetary declination positions are available as part of most astrology computer programs. "Current declination positions can also be found in The American Ephemeris (2001-2010), the Astrolabe World Ephemeris (2001-2050) as well as the Raphael and Rosicrucian Ephemerides." A plus sign (+) is used to indicate a northern declination and a minus (-) denotes a southern declination.

To identify out-of-bounds planets, note if the Moon or planet is beyond 23°27'declination and to what extent. As mentioned earlier, planets with higher declination numbers may have more of an impact than those that aren't significantly beyond 23°27'. To interpret the planet's effect, consider the qualities and characteristics normally associated with the planet involved and then think how it might manifest if it was behaving in a very extreme way. For example, when Mars is out-of-bounds, its natural assertion and physical energy can become violently aggressive or produce extraordinary courage and physical abilities. The alluring charm and aesthetic beauty of Venus can produce extremely vain indulgence or exceptional artistic talent. The planet's sign and house placement will, of course, give more specific information about its expression.

As I have illustrated here, always look at the chart as a whole along with the aspects that are formed with the out-of-bounds planet. Positive aspects can mitigate the potential for a dysfunctional expression of the out-of-bounds planet by directing the energy in more productive ways. Challenging aspects can increase the likelihood of more abnormal behavior. For example, Oprah's quintile aspect between out-of-bounds Moon and Mercury indicate her intelligence and talent for talk. The 1st-house Chiron conjunct North Node in Capricorn provided the opportunity for her to heal the lack of empowerment from childhood so that she could become a successful business maverick in the field of communications. Even so, the challenging Moon-Jupiter quindecile shows where the Moon's out-of-bounds energy has had its most extreme expression through her weight problems and the insatiable energy she has for work on numerous projects. There may have been times that she needed to cut back on her workload, but just couldn't stop.

On the other hand, even though he has experienced professional success, Evel Knievel's grand square in fixed signs, in addition to his quindecile between out-of-bounds Venus and Uranus as well as between Mercury-Uranus and Mercury-Saturn, indicate the chance for getting stuck in more compulsive or erratic thinking and behavior. Also, having more than one out-of-bounds planet in the chart increases the odds that the influence will be highly stressful. This is especially true when there are challenging aspects (square, opposition, quindecile, quincunx) between the two out-of-bounds planets, as in the case of Judy Garland.(19)

Hopefully, this article has been an informative introduction to out-of-bounds planets that has also sparked your interest in declinations. There is certainly much more in this exciting world to explore. For example, even if a person does not have a natal planet out-of-bounds, through progression the Moon or planet may at some point step out-of-bounds. Depending on the planet's length of time beyond the maximum declination of the Sun, this could be a short or long term influence on the native's life. Begin to utilize these elements in your chart interpretation and see what you discover. Remember, even though an out-of-bounds Moon or planet can be challenging, it can also indicate your most extraordinary qualities. By becoming conscious of out-of-bounds planets, you can tap into their unlimited potential. So, have fun coloring outside the lines!

Part 5: Chart data and sources/ References and notes/