Seasonal Ingresses and Weather Forecasting #

The Mechanics of the Ingress Chart #

To forecast the weather for a specific region, an astrologer casts the ingress chart for the capital city of that country or region. The angles of the chart (Ascendant, Midheaven, Descendant, and IC) are highly location-specific, meaning the Aries Ingress will predict different weather patterns for London than it will for Tokyo, despite occurring at the exact same moment in absolute time.

When analyzing the ingress chart for weather, astrologers prioritize specific factors:

1. The Lord of the Ingress #

The most critical planet in the chart is the planetary ruler of the Ascendant, or the planet that has the most essential dignity and angularity in the chart (often called the “Lord of the Year” or “Lord of the Season”).

• If the Lord of the Season is Saturn, the overarching season will be colder, drier, and more stagnant than average.
• If the Lord of the Season is Mars, the season will be hotter, drier, and prone to extreme, violent weather events.
• If the Lord of the Season is Venus or Jupiter, the season will be generally temperate, moist, and favorable for agriculture.

2. Planets on the Angles #

Any planet located directly on the Ascendant (eastern horizon) or Midheaven (directly overhead) has a massive, immediate impact on the local weather. An angular Mars during a Summer Solstice chart virtually guarantees heatwaves and severe thunderstorms for that region. An angular Neptune during an Autumn Equinox suggests a season plagued by heavy fogs, relentless rain, and potential flooding.

3. The Condition of the Moon #

Because the Moon regulates atmospheric moisture, its condition in the ingress chart is carefully noted. A Moon in a water sign (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces) heavily aspected by Venus suggests a wet season. A Moon in a fire sign aspected by the Sun or Mars suggests a lack of rain.

The Four Cardinal Ingresses #

Each of the four ingresses establishes the baseline for its respective season:

The Aries Ingress (Vernal Equinox) #

This is the most important ingress of the year, as it historically marked the beginning of the astrological calendar. The Aries ingress chart provides the overarching theme for the entire year, as well as specific details for the spring season. A heavily afflicted Aries ingress (e.g., Mars and Saturn in hard aspect on the angles) was traditionally viewed with great alarm, as it predicted poor spring planting conditions and subsequent crop failures.

The Cancer Ingress (Summer Solstice) #

The Cancer ingress dictates the weather from late June through late September (in the Northern Hemisphere). Because Cancer is a water sign, the focus here is often on the balance of heat and moisture. A hot, dry planet (Mars) dominating this chart indicates scorching drought, while a predominance of water planets indicates humid, swampy conditions and heavy summer storms.

The Libra Ingress (Autumnal Equinox) #

The Libra ingress governs the harvest season. Air signs are traditionally associated with wind, so the Libra ingress often predicts the severity of autumn gales and the timing of the first devastating frosts. A prominent Saturn in this chart indicates an early, bitter winter, while a prominent Venus suggests a long, mild “Indian summer.”

The Capricorn Ingress (Winter Solstice) #

The Capricorn ingress determines the severity of the winter. Capricorn is an earth sign, traditionally cold and dry. When Saturn dominates this chart, the winter is long, frozen, and unrelenting. If Jupiter or Venus provides mitigating aspects, the winter may be interrupted by unseasonable thaws and heavy, wet snow rather than dry, killing freezes.

Synthesis #

The art of astro-meteorology lies in synthesizing the ingress chart with the daily movements of the planets. The ingress chart sets the stage; if the Aries ingress promises a wet, cold spring, a brief transit of Mars will not cause a historic heatwave—it will merely bring a few days of milder temperature before the baseline cold returns. The seasonal ingress is the fundamental law that governs the weather; the daily planetary transits are merely local ordinances.

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