felipeastrologo wrote:Hi Polina,

Polina wrote:One thing I do not understand is why this is not a "miscarriage" chart.

Now that you mention it, yes, this can be a miscarriage chart. (I did not want to say it because I did not want to alarm you.) As you pointed out, Mercury is radical L8, so the aspect could mean literally "the death of the baby". So yes, the picture in the chart *could* show that there was conception but it will not survive.

BUT! Big BUT! That was not the question asked. The question was "Am I pregnant?" So that is what the astrologer answers.

If, however, you had the baby's survival as your primary concern when asking the question we could answer about a miscarriage. So you have to be very clear about what you were asking. If the question was not about a miscarriage, or if you are now uncertain if you thought about a miscarriage when casting the chart, then Mercury could be anything. In that case we cannot assert this is a miscarriage chart.

In a client situation I would drill the client to help me understand the question clearly. Here we are unfolding the chart and the situation surrounding the question as we discuss.

Polina wrote: In other words, if the chart shows pregnancy but then you have an opposition (or square or applying aspect) from any "malefic" or bad or negative planet (ie one representing death 8H or ill health 6H) then wouldn't that (couldn't that) necessarily "undo" the fact that the pregnancy occured, ie the chart shows "yes there was conception but look what happens next"?

Yes. *If* this is a miscarriage chart that is exactly how such a thing is shown in horary.

Polina wrote:I tend to think of positive aspects as good, negative as bad.

In my opinion, the notion of positive aspects and negative aspects is biased and misunderstood by many astrologers.

*Generally speaking*, trines are easy, smooth. Sextiles less smooth. Squares involve aggravation, difficulty or delays. Oppositions cause regret. Oppositions and conjunctions are strong/intense.

The goodness or badness of an aspect depend on two things: receptions and the CONTEXT.

If death is indicated by a trine or an opposition it makes no difference, you die anyway. In death charts receptions are usually irrelevant. Any aspect with L6 or L12 is unpleasant. A trine with L6 makes you sick easily! A conjunction with L12 takes one back to one's addiction easily! What's good about that? If you get a job by trine it will be easy to get the job. If you enter a relationship by an opposition you will regret that you entered it. If you get to the top of Mount Everest by an opposition you will get there, but you may not be able to get back! If you graduate from school by a square it means that you will graduate with difficulty, but you can still graduate.

Events occur if the receptions support the aspects otherwise even a trine or a conjunction will not work. If one person dislikes the other and then connect by conjunction they will not come or stay together. That is common sense and reality, isn't it? And horary is a snapshot of reality! So we look at the aspect along with receptions. There is no absolute good or bad aspect. With some exceptions the outcome of aspects depend on receptions; and always depend on the context.

Polina wrote:"how could a trine from [a planet in Cancer] be bad" since Cancer represents motherhood and fertility...and this is where I get blinded by my limitations.

Context! And receptions. If the reception is bad the trine can show "someting bad happening easily". I is rare in practical horary that Cancer would mean motherhood and fertility. The primary concern in horary is house rulers. So if The cusp of a relevant house falls in Cancer then the Moon is a sinificator. If any significator is in Cancer we look at the receptions and aspects with that planet, etc. If L6 is in Cancer and you aspect it you will get sick regardless of the type of aspect or receptions.

There are many possible contexts and combinations?

Polina wrote:Example: if Mars were applying to an opposition within orb of Venus (ruling the child's 8H) would that not show death in X time units? Or not necessarily?

Unless timing is part of the question is is not certain that the timing will appear in a chart. In the majority of the cases it does not appear in a chart if not part of the question.

felipeastrologo wrote:This chart shows the most common testimony for pregnancy: L5 is in house 1. That is: "there is a baby inside the mother". (Mother being the querent) It is rather literal.

In this chart there is no need of any aspects and there is no need of a significator for the mother. So yes, there is pregnancy.

But there is a significant affliction to the baby in the form of an applying opposition with Mercury with negative reception from Mercury towards Mars. If there is a history of pregnancy problems or concerns with difficulties in becoming pregnant this *can* be such an indication.

Polina wrote:I don't knwow if I conceived and it did not implant, or if there was no fertilization but by the end of the month the cycle ended as it normally does.

Polina wrote:I am now wondering if the affliction you saw from the father was in fact an event that happened with my ex (the father of a previous loss and a man who I had separated from).

Polina wrote:Jupiter is in the 1st. I note in your sentence above, "L5 is in house 1" is a given for pregnancy. In this case the H5 cusp is not ruled by Jupiter, it's ruled (ugh) by Saturn. I know Jup is the natural significator for children however I presume that alone is not enough testimony for a "yes"?