List of Example Horoscopes 10 Acknowledgments 11 Foreword 13 Introduction 17 Chapter 1: Peeling the Onion The Planets 21 The Signs 22 The Houses 23 The Aspects 25 The Qualities Cardinal, Fixed, and Mutable 25 The Elements Fire, Earth, Air, and Water 26 Gender Male or Female 27 Summary of Planetary Strengths and Weaknesses 27 Chapter 2: Planetary Dispositorship Defined The Hidden Rulers Revealed 32 Planetary Mutual Reception 35 Determining the Relative Strengths of the Planets in Mutual Reception 35 The Effects of Aspects Between Planets in Mutual Reception 38 Multiple Mutual Reception 42 The Final Dispositor 43 The Planets as Final Dispositors in the Natal Chart 49 Chapter 3: House Dispositorship and Planetary Rulers An Overview 57 Mutual Reception by House 57 Linkages by Same House Rulership 58 Natural and Natal House Relationships 61 The Strengths and Weaknesses of the Planets When 67 Posited in Their Houses of Honor or Dishonor Aspects Between House Rulers 69 Chapter 4: The Ruler of the Horoscope and Its Dispositor Determining the Ruler of the Natal Chart 72 The Sign on the Ascendant and the Delineation of the Ruler 75 The Intent and Theme of the Ascendant 76 The Essential Meaning of the Ruling Planet and Its Effects on the Horoscope 82 The Ruling Planet by Sign 88 The Ruling Planet by House 91 Ruling Planets in the Houses 93 Secondary Dispositorship 105 Chapter 5: The Ruler of the Horoscope and Its Aspects When the Ruler of the Horoscope Is a Planet Conjunct the Ascendant 111 When the Planet Conjunct the Ascendant is the Ruler of the Sign on the Ascendant 118 The Final Dispositor and the Planetary Ruler 121 Assessing the Affinities Between the Ruler of the Horoscope and its Dispositor 122 Assessing the Effects of Other Aspecting Planets to the Ruler of the Horoscope 123 Chapter 6: Summary of Rulership and Planetary Compatibilities Leo Rising (Sun as Ruler) 131 Cancer Rising (Moon as the Ruler) 135 Gemini or Virgo Rising (Mercury as Ruler) 141 Taurus or Libra Rising (Venus as Ruler) 145 Aries or Scorpio Rising (Mars as Ruler) 156 Aries Rising (Mars as Ruler) 156 Scorpio Rising (Mars as Ruler) 160 Scorpio Rising (Pluto as Ruler) 162 Sagittarius Rising (Jupiter as Ruler) 172 Capricorn Rising (Saturn as Ruler) 174 Aquarius Rising (Uranus as Ruler) 181 Pisces Rising (Neptune as Ruler) 185 Chapter 7: The Placement of the Rulers in the Astrological Houses Summary of Astrological Keywords and Phrases 191 The Nature of the Second House 195 The Nature of the Third House 203 The Nature of the Fourth House 210 The Nature of the Fifth House 221 The Nature of the Sixth House 230 The Nature of the Seventh House 240 The Nature of the Eighth House 250 The Nature of the Ninth House 262 The Nature of the Tenth House 273 The Nature of the Eleventh House 283 The Nature of the Twelfth House 294 Recommended Reading List 306 Index 307