The Floating Midheaven and Imum Coeli

Join us for a live presentation with Drew Levanti on how to interpret the MC and IC, particularly when they fall outside of the 10th house in whole sign and equal house systems.

This is a pay-what-can in-person event at the New York Theosophical Society. You may also join the Zoom livestream that night for a small $5 required ticket fee. This fee is necessary to prevent Zoom bombers.

Livestream Tickets:
https://buytickets.at/bigappleastrologymeetup/1329476

Event Description:
What if the MC isn’t always meant to be the cusp of 10th house?

In modern astrology, one feature of the Placidus House system is that it always calculates the Midheaven (MC) as the cusp of the 10th house and the Imum Coeli (IC) as the cusp of 4th house. The intention was to mathematically correct what was perceived to be a defect in the earlier systems like Equal Houses or Whole Sign Houses, where the MC could fall in the 11th or 9th house, or occasionally even in 8th or 12th house.

However, the earliest astrological texts show ancient sages interpreting the MC and IC as “floating”. For example, in the work of early astrologer Vettius Valens (120 – 175AD), there is detailed information about what it means when the MC is not in the 10th house and the IC is not in the 4th.

In birth charts today, we can still see this “floating” axis as a powerful omen calling an individual, perhaps, to deviate from established career paths, or from a conventional relationship with their family. Could the floating MC/IC make you a non-conformist?

The choice of house system, ultimately a personal one, has grown so polarizing in today’s atmosphere, but it doesn’t have to be. This talk is an invitation to unburden ourselves from the quest for one ‘true’ house system, and instead take up the approaches of Valens and others from the classical tradition, which are so rich in part because they employ techniques and ideas from multiple house systems at the same time, including Whole Sign or Equal but by no means limited to it. Even for astrologers who continue to resonate with Placidus, this talk can add an additional tool to the kit.

Being polyamorous with house systems is our past, and our future. It doesn’t need to be complicated, either! Most importantly, this approach can give us more holistic interpretations of the demands of our public personas, from which we seek a respite and counterbalance in our private lives. This tension between what the collective asks of us (MC) and what recharges our batteries behind closed doors (IC) is mirrored in the oppositional sign pair of the Midheaven (MC) and Imum Coeli (IC).

Several chart examples in this talk will demonstrate how to incorporate the floating MC and IC into your interpretation of the angles. It will be accessible and suitable for astrologers at all levels, who are looking to deepen their understanding of the angles in astrology.

$$ In Person Event:
A suggested donation is $5 -$30 is very VERY much appreciated, but please know whatever you can afford is acceptable. Donations collected pay our rent, Meetup.com fees, beverages and snacks, and the honorarium for Drew Levanti. You may bring cash to donate on the evening of the event, or you can donate online by purchasing a livestream ticket.

$$ Livestream:
You may also join the zoom livestream that night with a small $5 required ticket fee. You are encouraged to donate more to Drew. This fee is a precaution against trolls and zoom bombers, which occurred frequently when we shared a free zoom link on meetup.com. E-mail Danny Larkin at DanielBLarkin@gmail.com with any questions.

Livestream Tickets:
https://buytickets.at/bigappleastrologymeetup/1329476

Recording:
The recording will be shared with all livestream attendees as well as individuals who RSVP yes for the event. The recording will also be for sale after the event. Email Danny Larkin at DanielBlarkin@gmail.com to make a donation to Drew Levanti post event for the recording.

Directions:
The meetup takes place at the New York Theosophical Society, which is next door to the Quest Bookshop. You may enter through the bookshop before 7 pm (when it closes) or to the left of the bookshop after 7 pm.

Timing:
7:00pm - 7:30pm - General Q & A
7:30pm - 9:00PM – The Floating MC/IC