The angles are normally positioned at 3,6,9, and 12 o’clock; but, depending on where you were born, the chart circle may appear to be a little less centred.
The Ascendant (also known as the ascendant, ascendant sign, or rising sign) divides the chart in half horizontally and reaches over to the Descendant (DC or DSC) and depicts Self vs. Other, or how you balance your need to individuate with working with others.
The Mid-Heaven (also known as Medium Coeli or MC) indicates your personal integration vs. social function, or how your home base supports your professional expression, and divides the chart in half vertically down to the Immum Coeli (also known as IC or nadir).
Each angle point (AC, IC, DC, and MC) reflects a different part of your life, and the sign each angle is in reveals something about you.
In This Article...
What is the difference between MC and AC astrology?
The MC (midheaven), IC (Imum Coeli), and DC (descendant) comprise the anchors of your birth chart and your life, along with the ascendant, or rising sign. The MC, IC, and DC are technically known as “angles,” but you may think of them as compass points that help you find your way around the universe.
In astrology, what do the letters IC and MC stand for?
The Imum Coeli (IC; Latin for “bottom of the sky”) is the point in space where the ecliptic crosses the meridian in the north, directly opposite the Midheaven, according to astrology.
What is the difference between ASC and DSC in astrology?
Imagine being aware of the exact lessons your relationships are teaching you. Though understanding does not solve problems, it does provide assistance in navigating the maze of human relationships.
If you have a simple birth chart, you may learn everything you need to know about your relationship “school” by knowing the Ascendant (first house) and Descendant (seventh house) axes.
The ascendant is the first house, and it is the sign rising on the horizon at the time of our birth. This is why knowing where you were born and when you were born is so important when creating a birth chart. This sign, also known as the rising sign, reveals our incarnational intent as well as how we filter and project our energies into the world.
The ascendant serves as the “personal identity project, or the archetype we have decided to engage with in this lifetime,” according to Daniel Giamario, the founder of the Shamanic Astrology system.
The DSC is on the other side of the ASC.
It is made up of the 7th house, or the house of relationships. The 7th house is the doorway via which we enter partnerships in the Shamanic system. Our unconscious, karmic mission that drives our interpersonal connections is described by the sign that rules this house. This is referred to as a “joint endeavor” by Giamario.
When we think of our relationships and identities as projects, we’re implying that they’re something we strive towards rather than something we complete.
Jen had been a long-time client, but she’d never had an astrological chart reading with me before. ” She admitted that she had once gotten a horoscope reading. “Doesn’t that suffice?”
I explained that everyone takes a different approach and asked if I may observe. “I’m sure we can obtain more clarity looking at your chart if you have huge doubts regarding your relationship with your husband.”
Jen had never heard of the subject I was talking about, but she was intrigued. I made up her chart and discovered that she was born under the sign of Aquarius, with Leo (the sign opposite) as the descendant. Her husband Avery’s chart was also available to us, and we discovered that he had Capricorn on the ASC and Cancer on the DSC.
Jen’s spirit had incarnated in order to be free, to defy society’s harsh norms and codes. She’d come to experiment, discover, and establish new paradigms. She hadn’t come here to do “regular” things. This was revealed to me through having an Aquarius identification project.
On the DSC, Leo indicated that she was learning to share power in relationships and to recognize the various forms of co-dependency with others. To have the most creative, generous relationship experience, she needed to be free to be herself and to let others be themselves as well. Those predicated on need and conformance were not going to work with traditional relationship patterns. Relationships with this placement needs to be built on recognizing each other’s individuality rather than fostering the concept of “two becoming one.”
(Giamario argues that this is now humanity’s overarching relationship template, and that we are all in this relationship school as a species.)
Jen agreed with this viewpoint. She thrives on technology, cutting-edge approaches, and dispelling her clients’ self-limiting ideas as an entrepreneur dedicated to helping women creatives flourish.
She also acknowledged that she wanted Avery’s undivided attention in her relationship and didn’t want to “share him, particularly with youngsters.” Their opposing viewpoints on having children had pushed them to the brink of a relationship breakdown.
Avery had come into this existence with his Capricorn ASC in order to cultivate responsible “father energy.” His soul’s mission was to create a more sustainable society in which people may grow and thrive. He needed to live in the real world, with integrity and a sense of community.
Because he had cancer on his DSC, his goal/challenge in terms of relationships was to create a safe atmosphere for others to succeed. All of his relationships were tinged with the mother image, and he felt compelled to nourish and sustain others. Of course, this may appear as codependency, and he frequently put Jen first in the relationship, which her Leo adored, but he was resentful inside when his own desires weren’t met.
After his 40th birthday, Avery’s desire to have children had caught him off guard, and he and Jen were forced to negotiate on a major topic they had previously agreed on.
Despite the fact that their astrological charts were significantly different, they were both dedicated to the partnership. Jen needed to learn to respect Avery’s nurturing nature and to assist him by allowing him to find the community and family he sought, even if it wasn’t with her. In turn, he needed to help her grow and expand her business by making it “safe” inside their relationship for her to flourish and shine.
A little soul-searching revealed to Avery that he didn’t need his own children, but he did want to be involved in the development of young people on a regular basis. Jen volunteered to help him transition from CEO of a medium-sized firm (where he had fully explored his Capricorn) to fundraising director for a non-profit that worked with at-risk children. He also mentors a child on a regular basis. Jen isn’t very interested in his mentoring, but she appreciates the time he spends away from the relationship pursuing his own interests. When they’re together, he has more to offer her as a fulfilled individual.
Aries/Libra: Those born under these signs in the first or seventh houses are here to learn about and create their identities through partnerships.
Taurus/Scorpio: These signs deal with creative and sexual energies, as well as sharing and experiencing life force energy with others.
The partnership/identity drives in Gemini/Sagittarius are centered on finding individuals with whom to adventure and search for the truth, as well as relationships that promote independence and space.
Cancer and Capricorn are devoted to community, stability, and family.
Regardless of what that word means to them.
Leo/Aquarius: This pairing is experimenting with actual interdependence and freedom in relationships, while honoring each other’s individuality and aspirations.
Virgo/Pisces: These zodiac signs are dedicated to their spiritual journey and/or sacred work. Relationships must be able to sustain a commitment that is greater than the relationship itself, such as a dedication to work or service.
Working with an astrologer or other advisor might help you figure out what’s going on in your relationship. The ASC/DSCaxis is self-evident, and it gets more so as other astrological data or karmic agreements are added on top. Relationships with family, coworkers, friends, and opponents can all be viewed and processed through the relationship axis lens.
If you have a basic birth chart, you can learn more about your relationships by comprehending the ascendant (first house) and descendant (7th house) axis by speaking with a Keen advisor.
What should I do if I can’t find my IC?
The Imum Coeli (IC): The IC indicates the point opposite the MC and is located at the bottom of the chart, or at the 6 o’clock mark on a clock. This is the beginning of the fourth house of home life, which represents your personal life.
What do the degrees in a birth chart mean?
At a glance, here are the crucial degrees for the signs: 0, 13, and 26 degrees for the Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn). 8-9 and 21-22 degrees for fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius). 4 and 17 degrees for mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces).
In your natal chart, what is DC?
If you’ve even dabbled in the world of astrology, you’re definitely aware that you have an astrological birth chart full of zodiac signs, houses, and planets that make up your cosmic profile. And, while you may know what your sun, moon, and rising signs represent in astrology, do you know what your descendent sign means? This important axis in your horoscope can reveal a lot about your relationships, both with others and with yourself.
The descendent sign, unlike the sun and moon signs, is represented by an angular point in the birth chart rather than a real planet or celestial body. It’s one of four key angles in any astrology chart, all of which are on the X/Y axis (see the chart below for a visualeach point is labeled with letters on the perimeter of the zodiac wheel). The midheaven sign (commonly abbreviated as MC) and the imum coeli sign (abbreviated as IC) reflect your public and private lives, and are seen at the top and bottom of a chart, respectively. However, the ascendent sign (AS) is on the right side of a chart, whereas the descendent sign (DC) is on the left (AC). While your ascendant (also known as your rising sign) portrays your personality and self-image on a surface level, your descendent sign in astrology is all about what you seek in interpersonal interactions.
In astrology, who is Lilith?
In astrology, what is the Black Moon Lilith? The black moon, also known as the Black Moon Lilith, is the point on the moon’s orbit where it is the furthest away from Earth. Lilith, unlike the planets and asteroids in your birth chart, isn’t a physical entity, according to the AstroTwins.
In Astrocartography, what does IC stand for?
Isn’t it a little frantic? To read it, you must first understand the forces that each planet possesses. I was able to grasp the basics of astronomy thanks to Dubinet’s Intro to Astrogeography video lectures. However, here’s a quick summary.
- Sun line: This is what Dubinet refers to as our “famous and reputation” line. It’s how people perceive us. If you want to be an actor and Los Angeles is on your sun line, that would be the ideal position.
- Our feminine nature, our nurturing qualities, and our ambitions are all represented by the moon line. Are you ready to start a family? Take a vacation somewhere on your moon line or channel the energy of the moon.
- The Neptune line represents our spirituality. Go somewhere on your Neptune line if you wish to connect to the unconscious or investigate the secrets of existence.
- Venus is the goddess of love, beauty, relationships, and affection, as well as fashion and the arts. “It’s where you’ll look and feel the most beautiful, according to Dubinet. Are you finally ready to meet the one? On your Venus line, you might run into them.
- In terms of achievement, Mars represents passion and fire. It’s your manly, competitive force that’s opposite the moon.
- Mercury line: Mercury is the planet of communication; it’s the place to go if you want to improve your writing talents, for example, if you want to publish a novel.
- Jupiter is the planet of good fortune, favors, and abundance. It’s a lucky charm for you.
- Dubinet refers to this as the Saturn line “planet of the taskmaster It’s a more difficult line that emphasizes discipline, order, and rules. It may not be enjoyable to live on, but it would be ideal for short-term purposes, such as deciding where to attend college.
- Uranus line: Uranus, the planet opposite Saturn, is associated with rebelliousness, surprises, and change. As part of an Eat, Pray, Love journey, go here for an off-the-beaten-path excursion.
- The Pluto line is feared by many individuals because it implies death and rebirth. It is, however, a planet of radical transition, making it the ideal spot to visit if you need to shake things up and emerge a new person.
- The asteroid Chiron is known as the wounded healer, according to Dubinet. It has a patient and gentle energy that aids us in helping others. (It’s something to think about for that Peace Corps application.)
- North and south nodes: These correspond to the moon and indicate a karmic link. You may get dj deja vu or a sense of familiarity, as if you’ve been there before. If you’ve ever visited Ireland (or anywhere else) for the first time and felt at ease, you’ll understand what I’m talking about.
The lines in your chart also move through four different angles. You could note that you have two Venus lines on the map, each relating to a different aspect of life depending on where they are on the map. One can have the code AC next to it, while another might have MC. Here’s how to figure out what each one is about:
- Rising (AC): When a planet is ascending, it represents your outward self-expression, or how you portray yourself to the world. If you travel to the location of an ascending planet, you will take on the appearance and energies of that planet. Is your Venus set to cool? This is the ideal mix for exuding physical attractiveness.
- The Imum Coeli (IC) expresses your sense of place in the world. The forces of the influencing planet will help you to find your center. If Pluto is on the IC in your horoscope, you may experience turmoil in your personal relationships.
- Midheaven (MC): If a planet is on the midheaven, it has to do with how it influences you socially and professionally, as well as what you’re drawn to. Do you have your Mercury on the MC? This is literally the world pleading with you to create the next great American novel or pursue your aspirations of becoming a podcast host.
- Descendant (DC): This category indicates the energies you’re attracting from others, such as in partnerships and friendships. When it comes to partnerships, Dubinet advises caution, but if a favorable energetic force, such as Venus, Jupiter, or the Sun, is on the DC, it can bring about a permanent, beneficial connection.
You may also observe that some lines cross, run directly over, or are incredibly close to one another. This means that the energy of each line interact with one another, forming a unique entity. When traveling to or migrating to that location, you must consider all energies. Pro tip: If you hover your mouse over any of the lines or crossings in your chart, further information will appear on the right side of the website to help you figure out what they imply.
What is the difference between ascendant and descendant?
On the same axis of the Zodiac wheel, the Ascendant sign (or rising sign) and the Descendant sign are situated on opposing sides of the birth chart, facing each other. The Ascendant is associated with the First House, whereas the Descendant is associated with the Seventh House.
At the precise moment of birth, the Ascendant is the sign that is on the most eastern horizon (east, rising). At the same time, the Descendant is the sign that is discovered below the western horizon (west).
The Ascendant/Descendant axis can control Houses on opposite sides of the zodiac, but in Astrology, rather than separating, it links, relates, and complements two halves that appear to be independent and opposite, forming an unified entity.

