Antiscia & Contra-Antiscia
Chart Example Included
One of our readers asked a question about antiscia and contra-antiscia, and more specifically “how to glean meaning and insights from these occurrences both in the natal chart and by transit.”
For those who are unfamiliar, I’ll briefly explain what they are before exploring possible interpretations, including a chart example!
Introduction
Antiscia and contra-antiscia are traditional concepts revealing planetary affinity based on mirrored degrees across the solstice and equinox axes, respectively. Rarely seen in modern delineations, this type of aspects do have a hidden quality to them and therefore can be trickier to interpret. Antiscia is considered a “secret conjunction” and contra-antiscia is considered a “secret opposition.”
Antiscia
Antiscia are mirroring degrees across the solstitial axis. To identify the solstitial axis, simply draw a line between the two solstice points, 0° Cancer and 0° Capricorn.
a) Cancer mirrors Gemini
b) Leo mirrors Taurus
c) Virgo mirrors Aries
d) Libra mirrors Pisces
e) Scorpio mirrors Aquarius
f) Sagittarius mirrors Capricorn
To identify the exact mirroring degree, consider that each sign contains 30 degrees, so a planet at 2° Cancer mirrors a planet at 28° Gemini and a planet at 20° Taurus mirrors a planet at 10° Leo, and so on. These mirroring points must add up to at least 28° but not more than 31° to be considered antiscia.
The rule changes slightly if the Moon is involved. Because the Moon moves so quickly, covering an average of 13 degrees per day, we can allow a little more room for her when forming antiscia. For example, the Moon at 23° Libra can still be considered to mirror a planet at 2° Pisces. Although their degrees only add up to 25°, the Moon will reach the Piscean planet’s mirror point in a matter of hours. I wouldn’t take it further beyond that range.
Defined by this solstitial axis, the planets’ equidistance from a common center point shares the same amount of daylight and is thusly likened to the nature of conjoining planets.
Antiscia as Mitigation for Aversions
Notice how some of these mirroring sign pairs like Sagittarius and Capricorn are in aversion; they don’t connect through any of the traditional aspects (sextile, square, trine, opposition). Saturn in Sagittarius doesn’t make a traditional aspect to Mars in Capricorn. However, if the degrees of their location add up to about 30 degrees (Saturn at 8°20’ Sagittarius and Mars at 21°05’ Capricorn), these planets are said to be connected through antiscia.
The example given above would result in a more positive interpretation of both Mars and Saturn even though at first glance Saturn appears to be disconnected from its home sign Capricorn. Instead, Saturn turns out to be indirectly connected by virtue of the antiscia with Mars. According to ancient astrologers, it’s always better for a planet to have a relationship with its domicile ruler, so Mars, too, benefits from the antiscia. Mars and Saturn will work much better together than would have been the case without the antiscia.
As noted, antiscia are similar to conjunctions because they share the same amount of daylight. So, like conjunctions, they’re like a blending of two planets. Mars and Saturn, when not in aversion, work well together, forming a concentrated, goal-oriented, and diligent energy and focus. This secretive conjunction binds their powers in smooth cooperation.
Antiscia as Mitigation for Square Aspects
Both of the solid (fixed) sign pairs, Leo/Taurus and Scorpio/Aquarius, are naturally connected to one another through square whole sign aspects. In traditional astrology, this means that a planet in Taurus is always connected to a planet in Leo by a whole sign square, regardless of their exact location by degree. In general, squares indicate friction and conflict. When squaring planets also form antiscia, however, this connection is fortified, but the antiscia reveal a natural affinity and may therefore mitigate the challenges of the square aspect.
Contra-antiscia
Contra-antiscia are formed by the same principle, but across the equinoctial axis between 0° Aries and 0° Libra.
a) Aries mirrors Pisces
b) Taurus mirrors Aquarius
c) Gemini mirrors Capricorn
d) Cancer mirrors Sagittarius
e) Leo mirrors Scorpio
f) Virgo mirrors Libra
The mirror points across this axis tell a different story. Whereas the solstitial axis connects days of the year with the same amount of light, the equinoctial axis connects planets occupying degrees at which they have opposite amounts of light and dark. Consequently, contra-antiscia are understood as secretive oppositions. Oppositions tend to be more difficult which means contra-antiscia are likely to be disadvantageous for the native.
A Chart Example
I have permission to share this chart of an anonymous client, I’ll call him “Jim”. Jim suspects he’s not the biological father of his kids. His ex-wife, represented by the ruler of the 7th house of marriage, Venus, is in the sign of Virgo where she is said to be in her fall, or depression. This tells us that the native’s relationships may meet with challenges, and this is definitely the case. His wife struggled, and possibly still does, with heroin addiction and admits having been unfaithful several times during their marriage. Despite having full custody, is it possible that one or more of the kids Jim has been raising all this time aren’t his?
The ruler of the 5th house of children is Jupiter in the 12th house of secrets, is conjunct malefic planet Saturn, generally associated with stepchildren and stepparents. That’s our first intriguing clue that might raise suspicion, but there’s another one.
Venus at 21°46’ Virgo is in the process of forming a contra-antiscion to Jupiter at 7°53’ Libra. This secretive opposition might indicate his wife keeping a secret pertaining to their children. While Jim went through the divorce procedure, his lawyer arranged for his kids to take paternity tests, but Jim doesn’t wish to know the results because he’s afraid they will negatively affect his relationship with them. It looks like the true signification of the contra-antiscia will remain secretive!
It’s always important not to jump to conclusions, and this particular configuration could also speak to other dynamics in the chart. As both Jupiter and Venus have hedonistic tendencies, and Jupiter in the 12th so closely involved with a malefic planet show signs of possible addiction, it’s easy to see how this connection paints the picture of Jim’s wife secretly continuing her heroin habit.
Looking for these antiscia or contra-antiscia connections is tricky since we’re usually unable to uncover the true secret!
Transits
Transits to Natal Antiscia and Contra-Antiscia
Antiscia and contra-antiscia are activated whenever one of the relevant natal planets receives a conjunction or aspect from a transiting planet. If you have one of these hidden aspects in your natal chart, and you don’t know how to interpret it, the best time to find out would be during a long-term transit. On very rare occasions, the secret might surface at this time.
Jim has just been through such a transit. Neptune opposed his natal Venus, which dissolved his marriage and at least offered him the possibility to find out whether he’s the biological father or not.
Transiting Antiscia and Contra-Antiscia
Antiscia and contra-antiscia in our astrological weather appear to have much less significance. Even if one or more of your natal planets are hit by a transit of mirroring planets, the main interpretive focus would be on the natal promise, rather than the current transiting configurations. Sometimes there’s a mundane significance but even that’s usually very hard to interpret, mainly because of the secrecy that is inherent to these hidden aspects.
Conclusion
All of what I described above are meant to be guidelines but nothing is set in stone. Since the source texts don’t provide much information, astrologers are still finding different approaches as their experience is growing, and I’m sure you’ll find many different interpretations. I’d love to hear what you find out!