BROAD STROKES AND GENERALIZATIONS
weights & shapes
When you first look at a chart, there is a complex graph with pie slices, planets, signs, and angles. It’s daunting to know where to start—how to distill all of the data points buzzing around. In this section we look at big picture ways to enter the chart through its overall shape and different weights. You could say we are looking at the demeanor of the chart and its barer.
One thing to keep in mind in this section: Broad strokes interpretation that we find in the chart's weights, in my opinion, is where a lot of judgement about our overall Self can enter. This is where the sense of 'average' and ‘rightness’ can be perceived, both by others and ourselves. In my experience, the more you get to know your chart and see where you are ‘lacking’ or ‘too much’ of something, the more you can unpack those perceptions as irrelevant. Yes, maybe you’re very earthy or ungrounded, maybe such-and-such person seems outrageously flashy or super meek, but I do believe that when you get to know your chart (or the chart of someone/something else), the more the beauty of that chart and Self/other becomes apparent. Averages are a bit illusionary. The mean of something is not a good representation of the individual. To paraphrase Carl Jung, it is like hearing that the average pebble on a beach weighs five ounces and expecting to pick up a pebble and have each one weigh that. It might take pickng up 500 pebbles before you find one with that exact average (and possibly after picking up 500 pebbles, finding the average one to not be nearly as interesting as one that is very irregular). It’s my opinion that we choose the chart we enter this life with. In my own chart, I have a vast majority of my main planets in the objective half of my chart (the upper half). I’ve had to contend with people close to me perceiving me as a bit aloof. At one job I overhead someone call me an Ice Queen (which couldn’t be further from the truth when I do let you in). I, in turn, started to feel something was wrong with that until I started to do deep work with my chart. There are still moments that this can make me feel ‘other’, but in developing myself with the awareness of my chart, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I couldn’t be the me I want to be if any tiny thing were different or more ‘average’ than what it is. Please keep this in mind with some of the descriptions below. These are taping into perceptions and judgement you may find triggering, but the intention here is to help you blow off these perceptions and recognize how much you adore your overly fiery self, your impractical sensibility, your deep focus on Self, or scattered energy, as well as to love all that is more ‘average’ and ‘normal’ about you. Another note to bring up is that with greater awareness of ways in which we aren’t typical, we can become hyper-aware and start to overcompensate. I’m all for rounding out our skills and personal development so long as it’s not at the expense of being authentic and feeling a need to change to fit in. Take note of where you inauthentically change yourself versus develop awareness and personal growth. THE WEIGHTs OF THE CHART
Before looking at individual elements of a chart, it is helpful to notice if there are some general themes taking place in terms of where the main planets (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Ceres, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto) are distributed. Are there more planets in the top verse the bottom of the chart, on the right versus left hemisphere, in a certain element or modality? For elements and modalities, I also include the ASC sign.
The hemispheres and sides of the chart
Your awareness
With more weight in an area of a chart, we can see if there is are certain tendencies around awareness.
Top of the chart (objectivity): Weight here shows a penchant for being more detached, observant, and reasoned in awareness.
Bottom of the chart (subjectivity): Weight here shows a penchant to take the world in with a more emotional and feeling awareness.
Eastern Hemisphere (self-aware): Weight here shows a penchant in awareness that is personal an individual.
Western Hemisphere (other-aware): Weight here shows a penchant for awareness of how others affect you and how you affects others.
the elements of the chart
your demeanor
With an emphasis of planets in a particular element, one’s demeanor might be described as heightened or lacking in certain ways.
Fiery Chart: Planetary weight in the fire signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) can create a more spirited and passionate demeanor. When it is extreme, risky and aggressive could be used as descriptors. When there is a lack of weight in the fire signs one might be described as reserved or meek.
Earthy Chart: Planetary weight in the earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn) can create a more pragmatic and grounded demeanor. When it is extreme, some may see this as a bit stodgy. When there is a lack of weight in the earth signs one might be described as lightweight or foolish.
Airy Chart: Planetary weight in the air signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) can create a more intellectual and communicative demeanor. When it is extreme, some may see this as a bit nerdy. When there is a lack of weight in the air signs one might be described as daft or inarticulate.
Watery Chart: Planetary weight in the water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces) can create a more reflective and emotive demeanor. When it is extreme, some may see this as a bit irrational. When there is a lack of weight in the water signs one might be described as stagnant or unperceptive.
the MODALITIES of the chart
your functionality
With an emphasis of planets in a particular modality, one’s style of action might be described as heightened or lacking in certain ways.
Cardinal Chart: Planetary weight in the cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) can create more initiative and action taking. When it is extreme, there may be a need to continuously begin things without finishing much. When there is a lack of weight in the cardinal signs one might be described as passive.
Fixed Chart: Planetary weight in the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius) can create good managerial and steadying actions. When it is extreme, there could be a myopic focus. When there is a lack of weight in the fixed signs one might be described as unsettled.
Mutable Chart: Planetary weight in the mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces) can create action around adaptability and problem solving. When it is extreme, some may see this as scattered. When there is a lack of weight in the mutable signs one might be described as ineffective.
THE shape OF THE CHART
Your pattern
Astrologer Marc Edmund Jones identified seven general chart patterns, or shapes, in the 1940s. Another accepted shape, the Fan, was also later identified by Robert Carl Jansky. These shapes take into account the distribution of the ten main planets used in astrology (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto). I personally also include Ceres as she was promoted to a dwarf planet and I believe deserves a seat at the grownup table. General patterns can be distilled by identifying the chart shape. Of course, where planets tend to gather brings emphasis to whether that pattern is more public or private. For example, the Bundle shape is a chart with all ten planets (or eleven in my method) coalescing in a small portion of the chart. This specialized focus could be directed toward career, home, physicality, relationships… Every chart is its own world and that allows us to interpret with nuance, using lots of data points. This is simply one data set of so many.
The examples I use in this section are all from one industry—musicians. There are numerous musicians that I could have pulled from, but I choose one’s whose chart shapes were quite clear. Sticking to one genre, I believe, helps to bring a more focused insight into how these chart shapes play out.
*I also have to say, including Ceres in analyzing musician’s chart shapes added an amazing layer to witness unfold. Numerous of the below musicians had Ceres as a crux planet, whether the entry to one side of a bowl shape, the handle of a bucket shape, or the handle of a fan shape. This planet, that I use as a co-ruler of Virgo, shows something about practice, technique, and rhythm, which would make sense to see as foundational in developing music as a craft.
Bundle
The specialist
With all ten major planets in a 120° segment of the chart (I like to allow up to 140°), something is nicely packaged in bearers of this shape. There is a strong focus and dedication, further qualified by the signs and houses occupied. While much of life may feel like background noise to this chart shape, the specialty they develop is prolific. That said, they can also take risks by betting it all on one thing.
Examples: One bundle shape I found in a musician belongs to Nick Cave. His lyricism, dark subject focus (8th-12th house bundle), and even his physical traits conjure a package of menace, but not in a gimmicky way. Cave’s credits and staying power are a testament to a prolific and focused gift.
Other examples include: Niki Minaj, Britney Spear, Beyonce, and Mick Jagger.
locomotive
the conquerer
Those with a locomotive chart gather steam and charge toward an aim. In this chart shape, up to 120° of the chart is empty. The ten major planets charge around the chart, somewhat in ant fashion, with no less than 60° separation between them (minus that main gap). The middle of the empty space is like the missing puzzle piece that keeps this chart going. The first planet of the train, the one that moves toward the gap in a counterclockwise direction around the chart, is the engine that leads the charge.
Examples: Aretha Franklin and Erykah Badu. Looking at Aretha, her voice was certainly like a locomotive that could bowl you over. The head of her particular locomotive was Venus, the planet that rules the voice. It was in her 4th house of soul and in Aquarius which breaks barriers and rules. The midpoint of the gap in her chart fell in Sagittarius in her 2nd house—chasing an expansive sense of self-worth.
Adding Ceres in gives Freddie Mercury and Billy Idol locomotive charts as well. Sort of Locomotive (the gap is less than 120°, but there are no other gaps more than 60°): Elton John, Tim McGraw, Steven Tyler, LL Cool J, Bob Marley, and Elvis.
splay
the dynamo
With the ten (or eleven) planets congregated in three separate and somewhat tight areas of the chart, the Splay (or Tripod) chart is one in which the individual has several interests and talents. Not exactly a jack of all trades like the Splash chart might be, they develop focuses, just in a few things. It can take some time for those with this chart shape to figure out how to marry their disparate talents and interests. They find a lot of fulfillment in being multifaceted. It’s not uncommon to find a grand trine as a central aspect patterning these charts, showing a smooth flow of energy between the concentrated areas of their chart.
Examples: Selena Gomez and Snoop Dogg were the only two musicians who I found somewhat true Splay charts for. Selena isn’t only a musician, but also an actor, mental health advocate, and business owner of a beauty line. Snoop, like Selena, is somewhat of an American commodity, basically the US mascot at our most recent Summer Olympics in Paris (to help promote the coming LA Summer Olympics). He is a rapper, a marketer, a cannabis entrepreneur, and has dabbled in film. Interestingly, Dr. Dre has a loose Splay chart as well (peas in a pod with Snoop Dogg).
bowl
the individualist
Charts with a Bowl shape (about 145° - 200° in a row is populated) tend to produce somewhat thoughtful and introspective persons. There is a sense that they are the carriers of their own life and destiny. The half of their chart that is empty of major planets can feel like something they lack—there is a self-awareness of their strengths and weaknesses. The planets that take them into their Bowl are where they often strive to reach out into life and fill themselves up with what they feel is lacking, limited, or isolated. The entry planets are also what they filter their life experiences through. These people seek experiences and lives that feel meaningful to the contained individualistic half of their chart, even as they reach out to integrate, and endlessly fill their bowl with external things.
Examples: Jerry Garcia and Herbie Hancock have the classic bowl shape, and with the addition of Ceres, we also get Amy Winehouse, Paul McCartney, Harry Styles, and Yo-Yo Ma. While externally, these musicians all contain very individualistic styles, privately they’re described as humble or thoughtful—in a sense, self-contained. They have all leaned into what’s meaningful to them as they simultaneously opened up as seekers, continuously integrating new aspects of themselves.
bucket
the missionary
With all but one planet contained within 180°, and the remaining planet (or two if they are conjunct) outside of this by more than 60°, we find the Bucket chart shape. The planet that is outside of the of the others is like the bearer of the weight of the chart—the handle. There is a feeling that if this planet isn’t strong enough, all else will fall apart. Because of this, much of the Bucket person’s life is geared toward strengthening their separate planet, like a focal point that all other planets lean on. This can give this chart shape a sense of having a specific mission in life and something they end up being a strong influence and strength in the world for—lending their strength to what they care about and find meaningful.
Examples: Eminem, Miles Davis, and Eddie Veder. In all three cases, these musicians became, in a sense, missionaries for their genre of music, bringing a needed strength. Eminem has been a large factor in globalizing hiphop, Miles Davis introduced a cool factor into jazz, and Eddie Vedder was basically the poster artist for grunge and Gen X.
With the addition of Ceres, Jimi Hendrix had a bucket with a legacy of revolutionizing electric guitar sound, founding psychedelic rock. Tina Turner had a slightly odd Bucket chart with three handle planets, one not quite conjunct the others. While not as focused, she still exhibited a notable strength as an R&B icon.
fan
the fanciful
This chart may seem similar to the Bucket but its shape’s namesake, Fan, says it all in terms of how differently it manifests. There is a softer quality to the Fan. All but one planet are congregated into a 120° (I allow for 140°) area of the chart with the handle being one planet (or two if they are conjunct) that’s at least 60° away from the rest. The handle in this shape is more like a support that this chart leans on and uses to nourish their highly focused specialty. The result is an ability to fan their specialty into the world with the help of something holding them from within. There is something more fanciful than the bucket, more easy and even flirtatious.
Examples: Taylor Swift, Alicia Keys, SZA, Bob Dylan, Madonna, Stevie Nicks, Dolly Parton, Faith Hill, and Drake. This chart shape popped up quite a bit in my search, which doesn’t surprise me. Many career musicians are somewhat fanciful yet specialized. There is an artistic quality present in this shape itself. Looking at Taylor Swift, her handle is a Ceres/Moon/Jupiter conjunction in Gemini/Cancer. I would assume she has a very imaginative and expansive inner world that nourishes and holds her specialty focus.
see-saw
the tightrope walker
It didn’t shock me a bit to find a lot of SERIOUSLY technically gifted musicians with this chart shape. When I think of the See-Saw I think of tension. When I think of tension, I think of harmonizing. When I think of harmonizing, I think of music. The planets in this chart tend to congregate in two areas of the chart, with often multiple oppositions. This chart shape highlights polarities in its inhabitants’ lives. Events may swing from one spectrum to another, aspects of personality as well. Over time they learn how to find balance and peace within the swings, able to view life with objectivity, knowing intimately that nothing is one-sided or static.
Examples: Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Bach, Beethoven, Joan Baez, Nina Simone, Norah Jones, Thom York, Kurt Cobain, James Hetfield, Andre 3000, and Kendrick Lamar.
splash
the chameleon
With the ten (or eleven) planets spaced out around the chart, and no real specific chart shape appearing, those with a Splash chart shape are good at morphing, moving, pollinating, and dancing through life in fun and versatile ways. While there is a bit of jack of all trades going on here, a Splay chart doesn’t mean you can’t master things as well. In my imagination, I see this kind of chart leaning on its Sun and chart ruler to be the ultimate director of things, giving some focus and prioritization, but not without dabbling and being their multidimensional selves.
Examples: Florence Welch, Post Malone, Lenny Kravitz, Max Richter, Prince, Bob Dylan, and Michale Jackson. There is something about the way each of the above moves/d, a bit mercurial, illusionary, and fascinating. There is a genre-bending and defying thing going on, unwilling to fit into a neat box or package. You could say these musicians are the antithesis to the Bundle shape. Fashion and trend-setting also stick out to me with this list of artists.