Hi housemouse,
I am new to the forum, too. If I were making the ?big switch? to trad I would begin by determining temperament and planetary condition. This includes essential and accidental dignity, debility, almuten, sect, reception, conjunctions and aspects to benefics and malefics, then other aspects. If you have not already read them, Deb Houlding?s articles
Understanding Dignity and Debility and
Lilly?s Use of Reception on this site are excellent.
Unless I put in the prep work I get lost in the chart. Once the conditions are known, I begin at the ascendant, planets in the 1st house, asc ruler with the most dignities, domicile ruler ? keeping in mind the chart temperament and almuten. Your sibling?s asc is Libra conjunct a prominent fixed star, Spica, considered a highly fortunate and lucky star. Robson says it could indicate a spiritual vocation or inclination. More so with the Jupiter conjunction. I don?t always begin with a fixed star, only if its prominent ? and this one is.
My training is to look for what motivates someone, what makes them happy (called prime motivation) then to see if it is achievable. The domicile ruler Venus is in the 9th associated by Lilly with journeys, dreams and religion (third indicator for a spiritual inclination, or related area). Plus, philosophy, higher learning and publishing. Venus is in Gemini, so the prime motivation is freedom of movement and communication in a Venusian manner through affairs of the 9th house. It is trine the asc and unafflicted ? a very good start. Plus it trines the rx Jupiter with reception and is in mutual reception with Mercury. One drawback is Venus is peregrine (has no essential dignity). Dignity gives a planet strength - peregrine may not have the strength to realize its goals right away (towards happiness on the inner planes). It could just wander.
Many people would look at planets in the 1st before looking at the 1st house ruler/almuten. Planets in a house do trump the ruler for the affairs of the house. It's just my preference. I believe happiness is a virtue and I can?t seem to make head or tail of a chart until I resolve it?s prime motivator. Then I look to the Sun, Moon and almuten (which I have not computed here) to see if they help or hinder the prime motivator. Technically, neither the Sun or Moon afflict Venus, but they do not help Venus either. This could lead to some confusion of direction. Some fixed stars for you to check out with the Sun. Then I get back to planets in the 1st and so on. For example, the Jupiter-Saturn square on the ASC and MC angles in mutual reception by exhaltation! Where does a person go with that besides wrestle it on and on unless they had some help focusing on their prime motivation. Even when one adapts the square to good result (mutual exhaltation reception) one can become monopolized by the success yet never feel fulfilled.
Hope this helps. Welcome to the big switch. You?re sure to enjoy the results.
