An interesting thing happens in solar arcs when two planets in a natal chart are at degrees that, regardless of sign, are either the same or else 15 degrees apart (allowing an orb of half a degree or less). About every 15 years the two planets will form mutual aspects by solar arc within a year of each other. The tighter the orb of the natal aspect, the closer in time the arcs will occur. By the same token, for wider orbs the mutual solar arcs will occur further apart in time; two years apart if the natal orb is one degree, four years apart if the natal orb is two degrees, etc.

I call this phenomena the “Kaleidoscope Effect” because of the way it shifts into new permutations at regular intervals as the planets arc around horoscope. For example, two planets that are quincunx (150 degrees) in the natal chart will arc to form a quindecile (165 degrees) and a sesquiquadrate (135 degrees) at about 15 years of age. Those same two planets will then arc to form an opposition and a trine when the person is about 30 years old, followed by another quindecile and a minor aspect of 75 degrees at age 45. At age 60 the two planets will form a quincunx and a sextile. (For those born when the Sun’s motion is slower, between about May and September, the period between mutual arcs gradually increases with age so that later permutations occur at about 46, 62, etc.)

Natal oppositions create perhaps the most interesting Kaleidoscope Effect due to the symmetry of the mutual solar arc aspects that occur, as well as the power of the first set of arcs – mutual quindeciles at about 15 years of age. At about age 30 there will be mutual quincunxes by solar arc, followed by mutual sesquiquadrates at about age 45, and then a mutual trine at age 60. A minor aspect of 105 occurs at age 75, followed by a whopping mutual square at age 90 if the person lives that long!

Studying these cycles reveals much about how emotional and behavioral patterns evolve in step with each permutation in the kaleidoscopic cycle of mutual solar arc aspects.

Take as an example my Mars at 15 Pisces and Pluto at 0 Virgo in my 10th House. At age 15, I had solar arc (“SA”) Pluto opposite my Mars and SA Mars quincunx my Pluto. This was a time of intense power struggles between my mother and me. Then, at age 30, I had SA Pluto quindecile Mars and SA Mars sesquiquadrate Pluto. I was in law school then, and experiencing a lot of professional (10th House) empowerment. At age 45, I had SA Pluto quincunx Mars and SA Mars trine Pluto. At that time, adjustments (quincunx) were made to my job that made my work life much easier (trine) – a new coworker (Mars rules my 6th House) was hired who both eased my workload, and boosted my confidence. Thus, we can see that over time my natal Mars-Pluto quindecile has unfolded in terms of first struggling with power issues, then embracing my own empowerment, and later experiencing adjustments that allowed me to relax and feel more confident. When I’m 60 I will have SA Pluto sesquiquadrate Mars and SA Mars in a minor aspect of 75 degrees to Pluto. I’ve got 10 years to figure out how to make the most satisfying use of these empowering arcs!

Take a look at your own chart. Have you got any two planets very close to the same degree point, or 15 degrees apart? If so, what happened when you were about 15 that reflects those planets in your chart? At about 30? And 45? I expect you will see a consistent theme unfolding through this kaleidoscopic lens!

What Is Declination Conversion?

Declination conversion is a method for converting a planet’s degree of declination to a degree of the zodiac. What we commonly think of as a planet’s zodiac degree –its “Longitudinal” position–is just one of three zodiac degrees that correlate to the planet’s actual position in our sky.

Astrology derives meaning from planets’ positions along the ecliptic (the Sun’s apparent path through the zodiac). But most of the time, except for the Sun, planets are located off the ecliptic. So we must decide which point(s) along the ecliptic to use as a planet’s zodiac degree.

Astrologers almost exclusively use the longitudinal zodiac degree for position reference (the zodiac degree the Sun would be at if it were at that planet’s degree of Longitude). However, for a planet’s position off the ecliptic, there are two other meaningful zodiac degrees, known as the “Declination-Equivalent” and “Declination-Antiscia.” By taking these other zodiac degrees into account, we can fine-tune our astrology!

Declination-Equivalents and Declination-Antiscia

A planet’s Declination-Equivalent and Declination-Antiscia degrees are the two zodiac degrees at which the Sun could be if it were at that planet’s degree of declination (the distance north or south of the celestial equator). Except for the solstices, for every degree of declination the Sun passes on its trek North, it passes the same degree of declination again on its way South. So for each degree of declination there are two corresponding zodiac degrees. The position closest to the planet’s regular, longitudinal zodiac degree is its Declination-Equivalent zodiac degree. The other position is its Declination-Antiscia zodiac degree.

Many astrologers already use raw declination degrees to determine whether two planets are “parallel” or “contra-parallel” one another. While this provides some information, it has drawbacks. Raw declination degrees do not have the impact of zodiac degrees. Notice the differing impressions you get reading “12N43” and “26Leo25.” (Or, for that matter, the raw longitude degree of “146.42.”) While each corresponds to the same point on the ecliptic, far more information floods into your mind with the zodiac notation. More importantly, raw declinations do not show all the aspects we use, such as squares, semi-squares and quindeciles.

Caution! Because declination conversion increases the potential number of aspects, it is crucial to strictly limit aspect orbs and to focus on measurements that either activate tense natal configurations or have their own clear, significant symbolism.

Declination conversions are easily calculated using software such as Halloran’s AstrolDeluxe. I’ve recently learned that SolarFire 6 also has this function. Conversion tables are also available on the Internet (including one on my website, referenced at the end of this article).

How I Became Fascinated with Declination Conversions

I first learned how to use the declination conversion technique from Kt Boehrer, both through her book and through email discussions. Kt was one of the early pioneers of this technique in modern times. Charles Jayne was another pioneer of this technique in recent times. However, my understanding is that the concept of converting declination to longitude equivalents has been around since Ptolmey’s time. More information about the history of this technique is available at Solsticepoint.com.

I became fascinated with declination conversions because it was the only technique I found that really reflected an accident I had when I was 16 that an old astrologer had predicted for that very day (as a “big bump”) many months before it happened.

The accident happened while I was walking home one day. The car hit me from behind, throwing me over its hood. I landed on my hip and then my face hit the pavement. My injuries included a concussion, massive tissue damage in my left leg and right hip (one spot is numb to this day), abrasions on my face and hands, a nasty cut over my right eye, a hairline fracture on my spine at the base of my neck, and six broken teeth (right in front, unfortunately).

When I later learned more about astrology I tried to see what the astrologer, Henry Gertsen, had seen. Nothing ever seemed to “pop” for that day. Then I met Kt online, and read her book “Declination: The Other Dimension.” The declination-based transits practically jumped off the page for the day of my accident!

I was born October 27, 1956 at 6:22 a.m. PST in Oakland, California (1Sco45 rising). The accident occurred in the late afternoon, around 4 pm, on September 29, 1973.

Using just Longitudinal arcs and transits, my natal Saturn-Pluto square had arced to be roughly semi-square my Ascendant-Sun conjunction (SA Saturn semisquare Sun 0ÌŠ25′a, and SA Pluto semi-square Ascendant 0ÌŠ20’s). But the only outer planet transit was Uranus conjunct Mercury with an orb of well over 1 degree.

Looking at the declination-based arcs and measurements, we find SA Mercury squaring my MC with an orb of just 0ÌŠ04′a; SA Venus (12th ruler) quincunx Mars (6th ruler and physical body in general) with NO orb: 0ÌŠ00′; SA Mars quincunx Neptune (concussion) with an orb of just 0ÌŠ02′a); and SA Saturn (ruling 3rd House of vehicles) semi-square Neptune with an orb of 0ÌŠ19’s.

Declination-based transits included T Pluto opposite Sun (0ÌŠ08′) and square Uranus (0ÌŠ15′); as well as T Uranus conjunct Mars (0ÌŠ11′) and sesquiquadrate both Mercury (0ÌŠ18) and Pluto (0ÌŠ05′). These major transits were triggered that day by, among several other things, T Mars conjunct Pluto (0ÌŠ01′). In addition to activating my natal Sun-Uranus square (which occurs in both longitude and declination, but is much tighter in declination), the transits were activating a Mercury-Pluto square that appears only in the Declination-Equivalent version of my chart. Pluto rules my Ascendant (health center, personal appearance) and Mercury represents my mind and mental functioning. (Mercury also rules my 8th House, which relates to insurance, and I eventually received a tidy insurance settlement as a result of the accident.)

Taken as a whole, these astrological measurements paint a much clearer picture of my accident than any other technique I ever tried. This led me to look at other serious accidents using declination conversions. Over the years I have studied many such events and I continually find striking, relevant measurements using declination conversions. The next step is to develop more efficient means for using declination conversions in astrological forecasting!

More information about declination conversions, other accident examples, and a conversion chart are available in the articles section of my website at AstrologyWithDonnalyn.com.