#interceptions in astrology

[pallastrology]

planets in intercepted signs

sun: when the sun is intercepted, the native struggles to express themselves. too much, too much, they heard - or felt - as a child. they learned to reel themselves in, never say, or show, or do too much. and as an adult, it's a natural reaction. they shrink away from any kind of limelight, and they don't express their opinions much. they are almost muted, or dampened down.

moon: when the moon is intercepted, the native struggles to express their emotions. they can bottle things up, disconnect from themselves, and suffer from somatic illness and emotional outbursts. they can find it hard to really understand their emotions too, where they come from and how to help soothe themselves. they struggle to connect with their nurturing side, and find self-care to be a difficult task.

mercury: when mercury is intercepted, the native struggles to express their thoughts. they can be shy or socially anxious, and may find their thoughts chaotic and uncollected. some will have issues focusing and prioritising, and though generally very intelligent and reflective, these natives often struggle to communicate their inner goings on, stumbling over their words or being quite verbally clumsy and being easily misunderstood.

venus: when venus is intercepted, the native struggles to express pleasure and beauty. they tend to be self-conscious, often feeling inferior to their peers. they can struggle with body image issues, craving external validation to feel ‘good enough’. this desire for validation extends to their hobbies and interests too; they can be codependent and struggle to see their own beauty, or allow themselves to enjoy life.

mars: when mars is intercepted, the native struggles to express drive. they can come across as complacent or lazy, and are prone to fits of deep depression and helplessness. they can’t easily access their ‘get up and go’ and lack the confidence to take steps towards what they want in life. they can become cynical when isolated, because with no healthy outlet, their energy stagnates.

jupiter: when jupiter is intercepted, the native struggles to express growth. they stifle themselves in some ways, especially in their younger years, and they often try to blend in with their peers, dampening themselves down to do so. it takes time for these natives to get to know themselves, and their path through life can sometimes feel quite confusing or disjointed until they do.

saturn: when saturn is intercepted, the native struggles to express discipline. their younger years are often plagued with a vicious cycle of procrastination and pressuring themselves to complete their projects on time. this leads to intense emotions, a sense that the work wasn't really up to standard, and a subsequent punishment of themselves, which really never 'works' as intended, because the cycle continues. wisdom is a skill that develops over time for our natives.

uranus: when uranus is intercepted, the native struggles to express their ideas. they can be buzzing with ideas and plans, but at the crucial point of communication, their mind goes blank and nerves take over. this is a very frustrating experience, especially with how full their brain gets once they're back in their comfort zone. they can also feel quite alienated from their peers because they just can't seem to express themselves accurately to how they feel and how they see the world.

neptune: when neptune is intercepted, the native struggles to express their selflessness. prone to depression, neptune intercepted can feel like a bystander in life, like it's something that happens to them, rather than something they are an active part of. they often feel lost and confused about how to put themselves out there. they are very kind individuals with a lot of love and care to give, but are easily misled and in fact, can easily mislead themselves too.

pluto: when pluto is intercepted, the native struggles to express their power. they are often quite fearful individuals, and this fear can rule them if they don't learn to own it. they become frightened of fear itself, and, like neptune intercepted, they are prone to feeling life is something that happens to them, rather than something they actively participate in. pluto intercepted can feel disempowered and trapped easily, and need to work hard to remind themselves of their personal power.

[pallastrology]

intercepted signs

aries-libra: there is an imbalance between feeling like yourself and feeling loved. you may have felt your opinions weren't taken seriously or weren't heard, leaving you self-conscious and highly sensitive to the opinions of other people. you may now feel you have to fight to be heard or struggle to trust your own opinion of people or situations. your childhood home may have been very strict and even militant, with hard punishments for mistakes or wrongdoing. nowadays, you are probably quite hard on yourself, or conversely, may struggle with discipline and find it very hard to stay on top of your tasks. you may have grown up around authoritarian types, or angry people, leaving you with inadequate emotion regulation skills now. you may find it hard to control your anger, or may swing in the opposite direction and be a people pleaser, struggling to assert yourself. you might feel empty at times and feel you have to hide parts of yourself to be accepted or loved. some people with this interception find it very hard to stay single, with their loved ones being their anchor and feeling empty and disjointed when not in a close relationship or not with loved ones. being alone can be very frightening with an aries-libra interception, but with patience and kindness, it won't be like this forever.

taurus-scorpio: the imbalance here is between control and chaos. you may have grown up in a difficult financial situation, or in an insecure home. conversely, you may have grown up financially very comfortable, but with caregivers that just didn't have much time or energy to spend on family, whether that was due to work or pleasure. as an adult, one of two things may happen when it comes to money, food and other resources; you may find it very hard to spend, especially on yourself, and live a very 'simple' life with few possessions and an emotional need to save or hoard money or essentials; or you may find it hard to save, spending your money indiscriminately and perhaps overindulging on things that make you feel comfortable. of course, there's nothing wrong with spending money on yourself, but it's important to think on your goals and more basic needs first. when it comes to relationships, a taurus-scorpio interception tends to indicate that love wasn't given freely in childhood. you may have felt you had to earn it, or that you weren't deserving somehow. nowadays, you may subconsciously 'buy' love, or even overcontrol your own resources and struggle to share, both emotionally and materially. finding a comfortable middle is the key here.

gemini-sagittarius: there is an imbalance between curiosity and wisdom. you may have grown up an intelligent but disorganised child, with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. bursting at the seams with energy and ideas, you might have felt a bit of an outsider growing up, like you didn't connect very well with your peers. you caregivers might have struggled to keep you stimulated and so boredom and escapism might be big themes in your internal experience. something else that could have happened, was the stifling of your curiosity. a lot of things can cause this, but it often relates back to bullying or harsh criticism in childhood making you feel 'stupid'. as an adult, this tends to make you highly self-critical, shutting down your ideas before they can really take shape. some people with this placement are afraid of academia and feel they 'can't' learn or study, while some use their academic pursuits to fill an emotional void. ultimately, this placement can cause delays in finding meaning and figuring out your path in life, but it doesn't erase it. it takes conscious effort to allow yourself to be curious, and let yourself explore the many options that life brings.

cancer-capricorn: there is an imbalance between comfort and stability. often, this placement denotes an unstable childhood; whether that is because of financial issues, a lot of house moves or travel in childhood, or issues relating to your parents, home just may not have felt all that safe. you may have felt the need to retreat inside yourself a lot, creating vivid imaginary worlds and dreaming these hard years by. you made it to the other side, but now what? the instability of childhood isn't something that's easily shaken off. it lingers, and often in one of two ways; you seemingly thrive in chaos and confusion, feeling dangerously bored when things get too 'normal'; or you desperately crave softness and sweetness, seeking comfort above all else. really, both of these options are comfort-seeking, though it's not always obvious. some will become very rigid and defensive in adulthood, focused on protecting themselves physically and emotionally. you grow up to be a sensitive soul kept behind bulletproof glass, which, while safe, is really no way to live. you are safe now, you can keep yourself safe, and you can do that while also letting yourself be a little bit vulnerable and letting love in.

leo-aquarius: the imbalance here is between the inner child and the empowered adult. if you have this placement, you may have grown up feeling disconnected from your peers. loneliness might have been something you faced a lot, and that could have led to your younger self feeling they needed to perform; to earn love. we all seek attention and affection, it's a very natural thing, but when you aren't given it freely, you learn that you only get it if you do something special, or even, be someone special. as an adult, you may try very hard to stand out, not seeing your authentic self as interesting or special enough for others to love. learning to find self-validation and not need to chase the conditional love of others is a real skill that takes time and work to master, but it's well worth the effort. you are bright, but work best when the work means something. you can't just clock in, clock out; and here lies the key. you are inherently special, as we all are, but more than that, you find your place in the world, your people, your passion, through meaningful, special work. you can achieve great things for yourself and your community when you find it.

virgo-pisces: there is an imbalance between pragmatism and pessimism. with this placement, you weren't taught discipline properly. that could either mean that you were raised to an unreasonably high standard, with militant and perfectionistic caregivers, or your home was chaotic and confusing, with no real structure or predictability. neither of these houses are healthy ones to grow up in, bringing us to the present day. you may find it very difficult to manage your life now, feeling at the mercy of the external world and easily becoming burned out and despondent. addiction can be an issue here too, as a means to escape the overwhelm of daily life. the key really does lie in mastering the basics, which can feel unfair at times, as you should have been taught these skills much earlier and not have to teach yourself now. it's helpful to remember here that what happened wasn't your fault, but what happens now is your responsibility. prone to anxiety and overwhelm, the world can be a very depressing place, but you can find balance between desperate escapism and cold, hard reality all the time.

libra-aries: here, the imbalance is between conflict and authenticity. growing up, there was an emphasis on things looking perfect, despite how they really felt underneath. you might have grown up with fundamentally good, but somewhat distant parents, and they may have been people pleasers themselves, spreading themselves too thin to really be present in your life. alternatively, you may have grown up in a codependent house, witnessing unhealthy relationships and what could be seen as a lack of will to improve things. as a result, you might feel you raised yourself, and are now a fiercely independent person. relationships can feel like a power struggle to you, more so than a close connection, and you can subconsciously 'fight' your partners for dominance. you don't like to submit or feel dependent, and so relationships can be very difficult for you. you may even feel you're better off alone, and they just aren't worth the hassle. while nobody needs to be in a relationship, being able to connect with people when you want to is an important skill; humans aren't built to survive alone, after all, and so reframing love as a positive, rather than a negative, can be a very helpful thing.

scorpio-taurus: there is an imbalance between power and connection. your childhood home may have held secrets, and trust was in short supply. you may have found your experience of childhood to be chaotic and even frightening. you were probably a sensitive child, and whether sceptic or superstitious, you might have had experiences you just can't explain away growing up. now, you are likely quite spiritual in your own way, and this brings a sense of meaning to your life. you may be quite concerned with making your space, appearance and professional life comfortable and steady, which, though an admirable goal, can become all-consuming if you aren't able to confront what drives it. the need for material security can sometimes be underpinned by a lack of emotional security within, which an out-of-control childhood could absolutely induce. reaching out to your shadow or inner child can help immensely to bring you fully into the present and help balance your need for safety.

sagittarius-gemini: here, the imbalance is between exploration and containment. traditionally, this placement would indicate moving around a lot as a child or having quite an unorthodox upbringing. whatever the case, you probably grew up with some very intelligent, though perhaps eccentric or ego-driven caregivers, who praised your uniqueness and interest in the world. whether it is through bullying, unkind words from family, or cruel feedback from teachers, you may have grown to feel you couldn't really think for yourself; that you were unintelligent or incapable of reaching your goals. education may have been a difficult experience, leaving you with a lot of internal conflict or confusion. now, you flounder a bit, unsure of where you're going and why. you can easily become close-minded and gossipy, as your active mind needs constant stimulation but academic pursuits can be daunting. finding some of your childhood curiosity, and nurturing that spark, can really help you to figure out what's going on for you and what is meaningful to you. you need to explore without just wandering, and wander without getting lost.

capricorn-cancer: there is an imbalance between expertise and cultivation. growing up, you may have been described as an 'old soul'. as a kid, this can feel like something to be proud of, but in reality, it tends to mean you've had to grow up too quickly. you might have been a carer, or had to fill the role of 'man of the house', whatever your gender... ultimately, you didn't get to be a kid the way that we all should in childhood, and so you might have struggled to fit in with your peers. as an adult, you are seen as mature, sensible and a go-getter, but underneath, you may struggle to care for yourself properly. you might have a really hard time with accepting and feeling your emotions, with anxiety around losing control or being seen as weak or childish. there's nothing childish about feeling, it's part of the human condition and caring is what makes us strong. you are a kind, compassionate person but may find you treat yourself very harshly, with high standards and strict punishments. finding some balance and learning to nurture yourself the way you do the rest of your life is what will really help you in the long run.

aquarius-leo: the imbalance here is between doing good and being good. growing up, you may have felt 'other' somehow; maybe you were an eccentric child, or grew up with an unconventional lifestyle, or had issues that got in the way of school and friendships. either way, you never quite found your people in childhood, and were left feeling somewhat anxious and unsure of how to act around your peers. like capricorn, you may have been seen as an 'old soul', but not quite in the same way; with aquarius intercepted, you perhaps weren't able to really express your uniqueness, and had to perform and fit in. as an adult, you may spend a lot of time worrying about where you belong, and who you belong with. your style, taste and friendship groups may change frequently, and you might not really know who you are outside of these things. some internal work can be helpful here, to get to know yourself, who and what you align with, what your morals and values are. forget other people for a moment and live for yourself; you'll find your people along the way.

pisces-virgo: here, the imbalance is between illusion and overwhelm. your childhood home was most likely chaotic and confusing; there may have been addiction issues, illness in the family, role reversals or frequent house moves. you had to become adaptable, and you did. but a deep sense of sadness and worry might have followed you through childhood, leaving you feeling easily overwhelmed and almost numb sometimes. as an adult, you may cling to routines, health and wellness as a way to feel okay, and this can be a great comfort, of course. but when life gets stressful, you may find you don't have many coping skills and are deeply affected by anxiety, sleep and health issues. the beauty and calm of wellness trends are very soothing, to be sure, but they are mostly skin deep. taking some time to pull back the curtain and look inwards is where you will find real healing. you have a quick mind and a big heart, and have the ability to see where the wounds lie and how best to mend them, it just takes a lot of bravery to face it head-on.

[pallastrology]

nature vs. nurture in astrology

just a quick post with some thoughts on the topic, prompted by a reply to my recent post on interceptions and duplications. i was talking about interceptions, and the early experiences they can represent. i think, when writing that post, i missed an opportunity to talk about how nuanced astrology is, especially when it comes to the more psychoanalysis-y side of things, which is the angle i'm usually coming from.

i was asked if you could cause interceptions in your childrens' birth charts. interceptions are, at their core, an imbalance somewhere in the chart. from my own experience and study of other astrologers' work and reading charts, this usually translates to negative childhood experiences that start to form destructive patterns. so this question makes perfect sense, since it's a placement that is often activated in childhood. but i think that's the key word here, activated. we are all born with all of our placements, and some belief systems actually argue that we choose our placements, and therefore the trials that come with them, before coming into the world. whatever your own beliefs around this concept, it's important to remember that the natal chart is a blueprint, not a finished house.

having intercepted signs shows a predisposition to disharmony in the affected signs and houses. i think, even with the most attuned and loving parents, we will all go through negative and damaging experiences in our early years. for me personally, i can see clear links between my interceptions and my home life, and there are a lot of details within the interceptions of my chart that i didn't list in the original post that ‘back up’ those links. i think, in hindsight, i should have added more of a disclaimer about this, because i'm obviously biased by my own perceptions and study. i think another point worth looking at here is that where there are interceptions, there are duplications. they show where we have an abundance of the more helpful qualities of a sign, and these qualities are the way forward when it comes to rebalancing intercepted signs.

in a nutshell, i believe that we are born with interceptions, and therefore we are predisposed to the issues they represent, but not fated to suffer them, forever or even at all necessarily. even the most loving, stable and healthy environment isn’t without painful experiences, and none of us reach adulthood without a few scars, but with the right support we learn to heal our wounds and build new connections and internal pathways. it’s very natural to worry about the impact we may have on our loved ones, especially so with children, but all we can do is our best, and guilting ourselves over what we may be doing wrong is likely not much help in the grand scheme of things. what matters the most is that we show up, try our best, and seek out support where we need it.

[pallastrology]

FAQ: interceptions and duplications

hello loves, tonight we're talking about interceptions and duplications in astrology. what are they, what do they mean, how do we interpret them? the specifics of each intercepted/duplicated sign and such will be up in a future post! i'll be using my own chart for examples here, and if you have questions about interceptions or duplications in your own chart, i'm always down to try and help via asks :-)

interceptions are an astrological concept that indicates an imbalance somewhere. there are a few ways they can be interpreted, but generally it points to either a lack of guidance or opportunity to express the qualities of the intercepted sign in early life. this leads to insecurities, negative beliefs and problematic behaviours later in life, often manifesting in the way of the opposite sign to the first interception. an intercepted sign will always have its sister intercepted too, so you can kind of see that it has a polarising effect. duplications are often where and how we find our path towards healing from these difficult patterns. duplications show us where we received a lot of guidance or opportunity, where we were shown the right way to express the energy of the sign involved, and where we have a lot of those traits. although there is still an imbalance, utilising our duplications helps us grow and develop the intercepted signs and consciously bring their energies into our daily lives.

when it comes to interceptions, we're looking for a sign that is fully contained within a house, and doesn't rule any houses, and for duplications, we're looking for one sign ruling two concurrent houses. for example, i have sagittarius and gemini intercepted in the fourth and tenth houses (purple highlight), and virgo and pisces duplicated in the first and second/seventh and eighth houses (pink highlight).

time for a personal example: as a child, i was very isolated. i never traveled and had very little contact with my grandparents, teachers or other adult role models. i was taken out of school at a young age to be homeschooled and had undiagnosed ADHD, so didn't take to it very well. in a lot of ways, i had a very unconventional upbringing and was often told i was very clever, but i was taught (not explicitly, but through the actions of the adults around me and the at-the-time unnoticed ADHD) that i was stupid, lazy, careless etc., and that my thoughts and writing weren't good enough. as an adult, i carry those beliefs with me, and until very recently have behaved as if i was stupid, lazy, thoughtless... i would not apply for things, not work hard due to the fear of not shaping up, and would unconsciously sabotage myself, even to the point of deleting projects, ghosting people and opportunities. i think this is very sagittarian, but you can see bits that reflect gemini too. it's pretty bad, and i'm embarrassed to admit it, but after a lot of work... i still hold those beliefs, and the fear of failure, and the worry that people will see i'm stupid and will reject me. but for the last couple of years i have returned to this blog and continue to write, i got my high school education and a counselling certificate, and am now at university studying an academic subject. i even have hopes of writing a book in the near future. what helped me was therapy, psychoanalysis to be specific, and meaningful relationships with good, safe people. over time i became aware that these beliefs weren't normal or right, and that awareness and curiosity about myself is what started the process. i slowly started to be able to put my hectic brain to use and start gathering more practical knowledge. my relationships are what keep me grounded and connected to the world, and my loved ones are quick to reassure me when i need it, or talk things through with me, for which i will forever be grateful. i think it's pretty self-explanatory that these are very virgoan and piscean concepts, lol. in a nutshell, the traits and experiences of the duplicated signs help you to rebuild the qualities of the intercepted signs in a healthier way, and bring balance back into your chart.

are they bad? i would say that interceptions are a challenge. they are painful, and can be hard to deal with. they take time to master; i'm nowhere near done with my own interception 'journey', and i've been at it for years. but a birth chart is a blueprint, a list of potentials, and we have all the tools in that list to rise to these challenges. learning to heal interceptions makes for a fuller experience of life and accessing more of our own potentials. that being said, some things just suck for no reason at all, and interceptions definitely fit that bill. it's okay to mope about them from time to time.

a note on house systems: not all charts or house systems will show interceptions. if you were born very close to the equator, your houses will most likely be very even, and systems like equal houses or whole signs cannot express interceptions. i work mostly in placidus, and so this post is geared towards that house system, but it's always a fun learning experience to look at your chart through different house systems and note down the differences and what that might mean to you :-)