In astrological tradition, the ascendant has been associated with appearance since the time of Claudius Ptolemy, who defined 10 degree segments of the ascendant as "FACES". Yet it seems even well known British astrologer William Lilly failed to recognize the importance of decanates. He used them in his horary work, but failed to see their usefulness in describing physical appearance. Lilly's descriptions of rising sign appearances are quite accurate, but his lack of awareness of decanates limits the usefulness of his work to one decanate per rising sign. The connection between a given rising sign and physical appearance seems logical, but none of the planetary rulerships are applicable. I became sufficiently intrigued by the absence of information to begin my own research project. While there are several books on the market which profess to give insights into physical appearance, the only one of any value in my opinion, is "Man and the Zodiac" by David Anrias. He makes the observation that the physical appearance varies according to the decanate of the rising sign, (faces), and does NOT remain fixed for the entire sign. Despite some very accurate observations on his part, he failed to develop a theory which would tie his own observations into a logical structure. He dismissed conjunctions as irrelevant, thereby creating a new source of error. He also failed to rectify his charts, and ends up describing the wrong decanate on several occasions. It is obvious that some of his descriptions are based on the work of William Lilly, author of "Christian Astrology". As well, neither of the above authors took into consideration such aspects as oppositions, quincunxes and semi-sextiles, all of which affect appearance. In short, any planet within 30 degrees of the ascendant or descendant will affect or modify the appearance expected from the rising decanate alone in some way. This is true whether the planet is in a recognizable aspect to the ascendant or not. With some planets the effect is radical, with others it is barely noticeable. Strangely enough, the major Ptolemaic aspects do not change appearance in the least

Using the idea of decanates as a basis, I carried on my own research for several years. It soon became apparent that one of the main problems was uncertainty of an accurate time of birth. Since physical appearance can vary drastically from one decanate to the next, reliance on the birth time alone for chart accuracy is simply not possible. I use True Solar Arc Directions for rectification, which gives me the correct degree and minute of the ascendant, after using a rectification graph to get me in the ball park. This results in a birth time accurate to the nearest second of time. Directions give dates for physical events, and aren't dependent on psychological experiences. I began to realize that 95% of the charts calculated on the basis of the client's given birth time were in fact rounded off to the nearest half hour. Armed with this knowledge, I was soon able to start making sense of a very tangled situation.

Decanates rely on a rulership scheme in which the first decanate of the sign is ruled by itself. The next two decanates are ruled by the next two signs of the same element in the sequential zodiacal order. There is no similarity between the physical appearance of a rising sign and the appearance of the ruling planet conjunct the ascendant, and planets on the MC are equally irrelevant. The planetary aspects which had a strong influence were conjunctions and oppositions to the ascendant, and semi-sextiles and quincunxes. As well, planets in adjacent decanates to the Ascendant/Descendant axis also bring in the appearance characteristics of that decanate, even if they are in another sign, and too close for a normal aspect. Plotted on a chart, this means that any planet within 30 degrees of the ascendant/descendant axis, whether it is above or below the horizon, will affect the appearance. I use an orb of six degrees for semi-sextiles and quincunxes. In most rising sign decanates it is NOT the appearance of the face that is the key, but the body build, height and weight. This is true even of non European races, but it is very difficult to find charts that do not have a planet within a thirty degree arc of the ascendant/descendant axis.

The logical framework that ties together the three signs of the same element is really quite simple. The first decanate of Aries is the Aries decanate which shares some appearance characteristics with the Aries decanate of Leo and the Aries decanate of Sagittarius. Similarly, the Leo decanate of Aries shares its looks with the Leo decanate of Leo and the Leo decanate of Sagittarius. The Sagittarius decanate of Sagittarius shares its appearance with the Sagittarius decanate of Aries and the Sagittarius decanate of Leo. This connection is so strong that the Aries decanate of Aries, for example, has more in common with the Aries decanate of Sag than with the Leo decanate of Aries.

The Aries decanate of Aries has a short to medium tall and slim body. The long slim nose curves smoothly into (often) heavy curved eyebrows. The overall effect is startlingly like the glyph of Aries stamped onto the face. The neck is longer than average, with well muscled shoulders and thick hair. The head is often carried forward of the body, and the face may have small scars, moles, or blemishes due to illness or injury. The shape of the nose and eyebrows is the characteristic carried over into the other Aries decanates of the other fire signs.

The Leo decanate of Aries is medium to tall in height, with a slim build and a slim straight nose. The Aries and the Leo combine to produce a nice slim body which looks very much like the Leo decanate of Leo. The women tend to be on the thin side.

The Sagittarius decanate of Aries has a short and stocky build, and rarely has the height height of Sagittarius. If there is a quincunx from Scorpio or semisextile from Pisces, this person can be very short to outright tiny. The face has distinctively broad and angular planes, which are very attractive, especially in women.

TAURUS

The Taurus decanate of Taurus is medium tall to tall, with medium shoulders and bony build. The forehead is broad, and the eyes are widely spaced. The women tend to be flat chested, and both genders can be rather thin. Taurus rising women do NOT have large cow like breasts or eyes. Amelia Earhart is a good example of the body type.

The Virgo decanate of Taurus is obvious by its slim build and shortness, making for a tiny person. The face is round and small, and the nose is soft and broad, just like the Virgo decanate of Virgo. Bill Tierney is a well known astrologer.

The Capricorn decanate of Taurus is small to medium in height and slim to medium in build. Look for the strong rounded jaw and face which is the hallmark of Capricorn. Dionne Warwick is a well known singer.

GEMINI

The Gemini decanate of Gemini is of medium to tall in height and very broad and heavy boned. There is a distinct tendency to plumpness and obesity here. Another prominent feature is a very broad jaw, but not a big chin. The arms are fairly long, with short feet and podgy hands. The nose is often straight and pointed. Alphee Lavoie is a well known astrologer

The Libra decanate of Gemini has a broad build, and is medium tall to tall in height. The eyelids often droop on the outside corners, giving the appearance of pointing up in the middle. The heavy Gemini jaw shows up here as THE BIG CHIN. The eyebrows often move up in the center while the person is talking. The nose is fairly strong and prominent. Brian Mulroney is the former Prime Minister of Canada.

The Aquarius decanate of Gemini is short to medium to tall in height, and slim, with the characteristic straight (pointed) Aquarius nose. The overall effect is of someone thin and birdlike, who seems smaller than actual height. Obesity is very common in this decanate with a quincunx from Scorpio. All three decanates are mentally quick, curious, and have a very direct and fearless gaze. Bruce Springsteen is a well known singer.

CANCER

The Cancer decanate of Cancer is usually very tall and robust, with a long straight nose and heavy straight or bushy eyebrows. The overall effect is of a owlish face with (often) bushy eyebrows accentuating the owlish appearance. If the colouring is light, the brows are light as well. The height for men is 6' to 6'6", and even the women often attain a height of 5'7" to 5'10". Noel Tyl is a famous astrologer.

The Scorpio decanate of Cancer is slim to outright skinny, and medium to tall in height. The eyes seem to be very round and the nose is straight and pointed. The cheeks can be plump, despite the slimness elsewhere. The body is relatively long as compared to the legs. Bill Gates is the owner of Microsoft.

The Pisces decanate of Cancer carries with it the broad heavy frame of the Pisces, along with a broad face and medium height. While plumpness is not mandatory here, it's certainly extremely common. Both genders tend to have round faces and pale complexions, with relatively large eyes.

LEO

The Leo decanate of Leo is medium tall to tall, slim and wiry. A slightly aquiline (hook) nose is common here, and the face is often thin or narrow. The hair is usually combed back flat at the sides, with a greather length at the back. I have rarely seen the big bushy lion mane of hairstyle which astrological myth attributes to Leo rising. Celine Dion has long hair but brushes it straight back. While a horse mane is the usual style, the bushy lion mane exists only in myth.

The Sagittarius decanate of Leo is marked by great height (6' and up in men), as well as a very broad body, with a weight well upward of 200 lb. This decanate is impressive for its sheer size and even the women are tall ( 5'7" to 5'10") and husky. The face is often rosy cheeked, and fair hair is common. This gentleman is 6'2'' and weighs 240 lb.

The Aries decanate of Leo has a short and stocky body shape, with either an aquiline or button nose. The short body and shape of nose are the key physical elements to look for.

VIRGO

The Virgo decanate of Virgo is very small, and tiny might be a better description. They appear to have a round, small, soft face, and a broad, soft nose.

The Capricorn decanate of Virgo is small to medium tall with a medium build, with few if any notable peculiarities. The nose is the most obvious characteristic, with a depressed or very low bridge, and sometimes the reverse, with a hawk nose. Sheena Easton is a well known actress.

The Taurus decanate of Virgo is generally medium tall to tall, with a slim build, and a peculiar droop to the outside corner of the eyes. The nose is long, straight, and prominent. George Bush Senior is a good example of the body type.

LIBRA

The Libra decanate of Libra is tall to very tall, with a fairly robust frame. There is a peculiar almond shape to the eyes with eyelids that droop in the corners, and short curved eye brows. The face is generally round, and plumpness or obesity is common here. Bill Clinton is the former president of the USA.

The Aquarius decanate of Libra has the slim build and straight nose of Aquarius, combined with a medium to tall body.

The Gemini decanate of Libra is short to medium in height, but slim. There is some evidence of the robust Gemini jaw. A slightly aquiline nose is very common here. Princess Anne of England typifies the appearance..

SCORPIO

The Scorpio decanate of Scorpio is slim of build, and short to medium in height. The nose is often sharp and pointed, and the gaze very intense. Bruce Jenner was the decathlon champiuon for 1976.

The Pisces decanate of Scorpio has a broad build, and the face is broad and square with large eyes. The neck is fairly thick and long, and the legs are somewhat bowed. The height is tall to very tall and broad, and the over-all impression is of someone slightly overweight but fairly good looking. For those born in the forties and fifties, the Neptune semi-sextile from Libra can cause some confusion in appearance. Erin Sullivan is a famous astrologer.

The Cancer decanate of Scorpio is medium tall, combined with the Scorpio slimness. The nose here is often, if not always, aquiline.

SAGITTARIUS

Sagittarius decanate of Sagittarius is usually medium tall to tall, (5'10" in men) but appears taller because of a very slim and wiry body. The thighs, and sometimes the hips tend to be broad. The bridge of the nose is very narrow, with the sparse eyebrows sometimes slanting up in the middle. The head appears relatively small compared to the body. The men are inclined to baldness. Lloyd Robertson is a famous Canadian news anchor.

The Aries decanate of Sagittarius is really quite peculiar. Here we have the slim Sagittarius body shape, combined with three possible facial appearance phases. Phase 1 has the heavy curved and sometimes bushy eyebrows and slim face of the Aries decanate of Aries. Arlene Nimark is a well known astrologer.

Phase 2 has a slightly broader face, with a nose which curves smoothly rather than having a low bridge, and heavier than usual brow ridges topped by fairly ordinary or even light eyebrows. The women with this decanate very often lack the heavy brow ridges so common in the men. The curve of the nose makes the low bridge less obvious here. Both phases are medium tall (5'8"- 5'10") in men, 5'2" to 5'4" in women. Marion March is a well known astrologer.

Phase 3 has a very low bridge to the nose, and brows that slant up in the center. As in most cardinal decanates, the nose is the focus and most variable element in the appearance.

The Leo decanate of Sagittarius is medium tall to tall, with a peculiarly short slim nose. The bridge is almost missing here, but there are no emphasized brow ridges. This decanate is very sensitive to quincunxes from Cancer, which seem to result in obesity, which is very common here. The women seem to vary from short to medium tall, and are on the whole much smaller than the men.

CAPRICORN

The Capricorn decanate of Capricorn is medium in height, and the men can be quite husky, with the women a lot slimmer. The face has a broad forehead and a rounded chin and nose and the women are somewhat stocky. The men tend to thin hair and baldness.

.The Taurus decanate of Capricorn is tall and slim but heavy-boned and with a long slim neck. The skin is often dry or blemished, and the face is lean and slender with a narrow chin and an aquiline or pointed nose.

The Virgo decanate of Capricorn is very small in height and slim in build. The face has the Virgo softness and roundness to it, with a slight nose which broadens at the tip.

AQUARIUS

The Aquarius decanate of Aquarius is tall, with a slim build. The face has a long straight nose, with thin curved eyebrows. The legs and thighs are often heavily muscled. Fair hair is very common here. This decanate is likely to appear very small to tiny if there are any planets in the Gemini decanate, or semi-sextiles from Pisces.

The Gemini decanate of Aquarius is of medium height and stocky, and can be very broad. A very robust frame can easily acquire excess weight. The long, straight Aquarius nose is much in evidence here.

The Libra decanate of Aquarius is tall to very tall, with a heavy frame. Like the Sagittarius decanate of Leo, these people are impressive for their sheer size. Six foot to six foot six is expected, with a weight in excess of 200 lb or more for the men. The forehead is broad, with the droopy Libra eyelids and eyebrows. The nose is the slim and long one characteristic of Aquarius, and the cheeks are often ruddy. The overall effect is that of a very massive individual. Even the women can be in 5'10" and 150 lb.

The Pisces decanate of Pisces has a broad, stocky body and is medium to tall in height. The body weight varies from pleasantly plump to grossly obese. The nose and face are usually broad and rounded, with a pale complexion and large eyes. Because this is the mutable decanate, it is also the most variable. With oppositions from planets in late Leo, this decanate is often very small instead.

The Cancer decanate of Pisces is tall and slim, with generally straight and heavy eyebrows, which can be curved as well. Sometimes the heavy build and weight from the Pisces decanate carry over.

The Scorpio decanate of Pisces is short to medium in height and weight, and usually slim in youth, but tends toward plumpness in middle age. The rounded nose and face of the Pisces decanate are retained. The eyebrows are often short and heavy.

The previous descriptions apply only to those people with an unaspected ascendant. By this I mean no conjunctions or oppositions to the Ascendant and no Semi-sextiles or Quincunxes to the Ascendant-Descendant axis. I have NOT seen any physical correlation with any other aspects, such as sextile, square, and trine. I must point out that only about 3% of the population has an unaspected ascendant. This makes research into "pure" ascendants very difficult, and determining the ascending sign from the appearance impossibly complex.

The twelve rising signs, with three decanates each, account for only thirty-six basic appearance types. Obviously, there have to be many more factors in order to yield the infinity of different faces and bodies. The conjunction of planets with the ascendant or descendant (opposition) can drastically alter the appearance one would otherwise predict from the ascending decanate alone.

Sun conjunctions merely force conformity to the ascending decanate, if they occur in the same decanate as the ascendant. They confer enormous vitality, confidence and physical strength. There is also a tendency to physical action and to give in to physical pleasures. The appearance becomes typical of that decanate, even if there are other aspects to the ascendant. Wayne Gretzky, with the Sun on his ascendant in Aquarius, is well known for his physical energy and achievements as a hockey player.

The Moon brings with it a rounded face, with deep sunk eyes and high, emphasized cheekbones. The cheeks but NOT the body are usually plump, but the extent of this factor depends on the particular decanate in which it appears. The hands and fingers are generally short, and this person is not inclined to physical action.

Mercury conjunctions result in a VERY much shorter and slimmer body. The face is small and the forehead is high. There is a tendency to be very restless and talkative, as if trying to deal with ants in the pants, and hands and fingers are often used when talking. Judy Garland was only 4'9', so the most important physical fact is not her facial appearance but her very small size.

Venus conjunctions cause a soft and almost always a very good looking face with soft, red, sensuous lips. The lower lip is often fuller and appears to be pouting. Look for a very pleasant voice and very slow, measured speech. There is grace in both speech and movement, and this person loves to flirt. The complexion is often pale, with dimples on the face. The body is well proportioned and attractive, and this person is fussy about appearance. Angelina Jolie is well known for her acting career, as well as her famous father, John Voight.

Mars on the Ascendant results in a decidedly plump and sturdy body and enormous physical energy and strength. As well, we expect and get the characteristic aggressiveness of Mars expressed loud and clear. Sometimes the eyebrows are extra heavy or bushy, and the eyes have a penetrating gaze. William Lilly refers to this as having a fierce countenance, and there may be small scars on the face. Both face and body are often, but not necessarily plump. The hair may be red or auburn if Mars is within 30 degrees of the ascendant, so there is good reason for the traditional association of red hair and hot temper. Without mitigating aspects, the voice will be loud and assertive, and the whole personality tends to be impetuous and careless.

Jupiter conjunctions result in a broad and rounded face, short and robust body, and very heavy curved eyebrows high on the forehead. This makes it appear that the eyes are much larger than normal. The nose is rather broad, and men with this placement tend to bald early. The expression is very confident, with a distinct touch of arrogance.

Saturn on the ascendant produces a tall, slim and hard body, and a long, bony face. The complexion is often pale, and the lips very full. The physical movements are slow and deliberate. Jamie Lee Curtis is a well known actress, and from both views provided it is obvious that she fits the description very well.

Uranus sometimes reduces body height, where it would be expected to be tall, and gives the eyes a strange electric intensity, or an equally disconcerting calm and detached gaze.

Neptune causes a flare to the nostrils which varies from a cute button nose to a wide flare if combined with other aspects. Neptune may also be the only planet whose trines and sextiles to the ascendant are effective in producing appearance changes, and often produce the same button nose as Neptune conjunctions. In children, look for the button nose, which grows a little longer as puberty is reached, but never looses the soft button end.

Pluto's main effect is to give deepset, brooding eyes, and the bridge of the nose is very narrow, making the eyes rather close. Prince Charles is well known for his romantic misadventures and and his overcontrolled childhood.

One of my most surprising discoveries was the realization that planets conjunct the Descendant (Opposite the Ascendant) have an equally powerful effect on appearance. Since the ascendant and descendant are in fact the same axis, it stands to reason that a planet conjoining either end should have a very powerful effect. However, planets on the descendant also bring in the appearance of the sign (decanate) of the descendant as well as adding the appearance of the planet. This can make analyzing the appearance very complex.

This explained a great many correlations between chart and physical appearance, but left many questions unanswered. There had to be more influences on the ascendant. After accumulating several hundred charts, and poring over them repeatedly, I finally realized that the aspect which I was looking for is the INCONJUNCT. INCONJUNCTS bring in certain physical characteristics peculiar to the sign rather than the planet aspecting the ascendant. The following pages are an attempt to present the many semi-sextiles and quincunxes in an orderly and logical manner. I must point out that some of them are derived from my experience with the various rising signs, rather than having all been observed personally. The effect of the quincunxes and semi-sextiles depend on the decanate where they originate, and the decanate of the ascending sign. It would be wrong to assume the effect is the same over the whole rising sign. While my knowledge of the appearance characteristics of the many different ( 36 x 4 ) semi-sextiles and quincunxes is still limited, I will attempt to list them as I know them.

With Aries ascending, the Taurus semi-sextile brings with it the smoother, less distinct Taurean features, which include larger size and more weight, depending on the decanate. The Pisces semi-sextile brings with it the heavy weight/ obesity of that ascending sign. Quincunxes from Scorpio and Virgo both result in a much smaller than expected body size and weight, which makes the Aries ascending rather tiny. Again, look for the size to vary with the decanates. Since both the first decanate of Scorpio and Virgo are very small, the first decanate of Aries will be the smallest under quincunx influence.

Taurus ascending with an Aries semi-sextile is smaller and slimmer than expected. With a Gemini semi-sextile, the robust build of Taurus and the stocky build of Gemini result in a very large body, and obesity may be a problem. The Libra quincunx brings in the characteristics of tall and broad size, while with the Sagittarius quincunx weight is often a problem.

Gemini rising with a Taurus semi-sextile is very much like Taurus rising with Gemini semi-sextile. The body is tall and robust, with a distinct tendency for weight problems. The Cancer semi-sextile slims the body a great deal. The Capricorn quincunx slims the body tremendously, and the result can be quite good looking. The Scorpio quincunx, especially from the middle or last decanate of Scorpio, can bring weight problems. Obesity is often always the result.

Cancer rising with a Gemini semi-sextile is somewhat heavier and shorter than expected. With a Leo semi-sextile, this ascendant becomes even slimmer than normal. With the Sag quincunx, weight problems and obesity are common. The Aquarius quincunx only changes the appearance a little bit, adding some weight, especially in the last decanate. Look for the curved eyebrows typical of Aquarius in the first decanate.

Leo rising with a Cancer semi-sextile again has no tremendous changes, depending mainly on the decanate. With a Virgo semisextile, especially from the first decanate, the appearance changes drastically. The body is very much shorter than would otherwise be expected. With a quincunx from Pisces, the body again becomes very short, and the face has a short, broad nose. The overall effect is someone tiny. The Capricorn quincunx brings in the very broad frame and face, and heavy bones of that sign, and the eyes are often droopy.

With Virgo rising and a Leo semi-sextile, the body is taller and slimmer, especially in the first decanate. The Libra semi-sextile does a similar job, except that the body is heavier and more robust. With a quincunx from Aries, the body is taller and slimmer, whereas the Aquarius quincunx results in a body both taller and heavier than the tiny Virgo.

Libra rising with a semi-sextile from Virgo is very much smaller than expected. The Scorpio semi-sextile has much the same effect, but look for the middle decanate of Scorpio to add weight as well as reducing height. The Taurus quincunx doesn't change much, just adding a little bulk and height to the Libra slimness. The Pisces quincunx, however, drastically reduces both height and weight, and the result is a fairly slim and small person.

Scorpio rising with a Libra semi-sextile is usually taller and slimmer than this sign would ordinarily suggest. The Sag semi-sextile has a similar effect. The Gemini quincunx is one of the most powerful of all the rising sign aspects. The size and weight of the Gemini are added to the Scorpio, resulting in great height and weight, with more than a little tendency for obesity. The Aries quincunx works just the reverse, reducing both height and weight. Since the first decanate of Scorpio is already small, this can make for a very tiny person.

Saggitarius rising with a Scorpio semi-sextile, especially from the second decanate, usually has a great deal more weight than otherwise expected. With the Capricorn semi-sextile, there is a greater tendency for stockiness and heavy bones. With the Taurus quincunx, the body is much heavier and more robust. With the Cancer quincunx, the face is changed drastically. It becomes softer and better looking, and the eyebrows take on the very heavy, curved shape of the Cancer, or sometimes straight and bushy.

Capricorn rising with a Sag semi-sextile is slimmer and taller, as is the tendency for an Aquarius semi-sextile. The Gemini quincunx brings in the heavy Gemini jaw, and softens the somewhat harsh Capricorn face. The Leo quincunx increases the height and width of the otherwise rather short Capricorn.

Aquarius rising with a Capricorn semi-sextile changes the face and body according to the decanate. As well, often the eyes acquire an almost oriental slant, and the nose is shorter, with a bobbed look to it. The Pisces semi-sextile, especially from the first decanate, brings with it the expected plumpness of the Pisces, yet the slim Aquarian build remains. The Virgo quincunx, especially from the first decanate, drastically reduces the height, while keeping the slimness. This gives a tiny, almost birdlike appearance. The Cancer quincunx appears to add a little weight, especially to the hips and thighs. The face remains typically Aquarian, and the body retains its height and slimness.

Pisces rising with an Aquarius semi-sextile makes for a slimmer but still plump and taller body. The pointed Aquarius nose is carried over. With an Aries semi-sextile, the relative slimness remains, but the height does not increase, since Aries is not that tall itself. The Leo quincunx makes for a tall and slim body, which appears much more like a typical Leo than a typical Pisces. The Libra quincunx also adds height, as well as superimposing the broad Libra build. The broad flared nose of the Pisces ascendant remains, but the plumpness of the Pisces disappears.

One more peculiarity came to my attention. A planet in the first or twelfth house, but in the previous or following decanate, brings in some of the physical characteristics of that decanate, even though the planet is not close enough by orb for a conjunction, or even in the same sign. This seems to show that any planet within 30 degrees of the ascendant or descendant will significantly affect physical appearance, bringing with it some of the characteristics of that decanate, as well as the planetary influence if it is close enough by orb (5 degrees) for a conjunction.

This finally seemed to complete the list of astrological factors affecting physical appearance. To sum it up, there are 12 signs, each with 3 decanates, which can be affected by any one or more of 10 planets on the ascendant, and 10 planets on the descendant with accompanying decanate modifications. There are also 4 possible semi- sextiles to the ascendant/descendant which can alter the appearance drastically. As well, there may be 4 planets in adjacent decanates influencing appearance. This totals 64 different factors, which comes out to a possible 1.27 x 10 to the 90th different appearance types. This number is greater than the number of atoms in the known Universe, and means for all practical purposes infinity. Multiply this by the many different racial and ethnic groups, each with their own separate baseline of physical appearance, and it becomes obvious that guessing the rising sign from physical appearance alone is simply not practical. However, predicting the general appearance from an accurate chart is not only possible, but is a great help in determining the correct ascendant. Let me warn you that blending the many factors mentioned into a correct prediction of the physical appearance is a very complex task. It takes a great deal of practice to become proficient. It is a lot like learning to play the piano, knowing how to read the sheet music doesn't make you a concert pianist overnight.

The above descriptions apply to people of Northern European origin only, but in theory, the astrological aspects should affect all races equally. However, it is obvious that the different genetic backgrounds necessitate tailoring the above data to fit each racial group. There are also families which appear to have their own genetic baseline, with everyone appearing to be as alike as peas in a pod. For this reason, the aforementioned description will work only about 80% of the time. As well, there is what I call a "Heinz 57", someone with so many aspects to the ascendant that any attempt to predict appearance becomes hopelessly impossible.