Ask an Astrologer: What is Antiscia?

By Colleen Black

Antiscia “are invisible but powerful points” (Hazel, 2020) that are used to find hidden “aspects of personality, life events and fate” (Hazel, 2020). They point to hidden connections between planets in the chart that may not be shown by Ptolemaic aspects. Antiscia is important to consider as these points represent personality traits that may reside unconsciously in an individual, until they are activated by a transit or progression.

Antiscia is plural for Antiscion (Greek) or Antiscium (Latin), which is the combination of the words anti (opposite) and scia (shadow) (Hazel, 2020). “A planet’s antiscion shows where the Sun casts equal shadows (Hazel, 2020). “At some unknown date the philosophy of ‘opposite-shadows’ or ‘reflective- degrees’ was incorporated into astrology in the belief that each degree of the zodiac has its own counter degree” (Houlding, 2005). This degree/counter-degree is a mirroring, or reflection of light, that occurs in signs on opposite sides of the Cancer/Capricorn solstice axis.

How to find if antiscia exists in a chart.

Take an astrological chart and fold it along the Cancer/Capricorn solstice axis to create a base/border with two half circles on either side, and six zodiac signs on each. The six zodiac signs form opposing pairs which see each other across the solstice and reflect one another like a mirror. These signs are the locations in the chart where antiscia may occur and include the following pairs: Cancer-Gemini, Leo- Taurus, Virgo-Aries, Libra-Pisces, Scorpio-Aquarius, and Sagittarius-Capricorn.

To locate the potential antiscia points in these signs, subtract 29:60 (30 degrees) from a planet’s degrees and minutes, in one sign. The result will be the antiscia point of the planet in the opposite sign. (Smoot, n.d.). This is the equidistant light/shadow position of each planet, across the Cancer/Capricorn axis (solstice axis). Degree/Counter-degree.

Some astrologers do not consider the minutes, in this case, they subtract from 30 degrees (not 29:60) from a planet. Precision is a choice.

An example: Subtracting 29:60 from a planet at 3 degrees 10 minutes of Cancer will be in antiscia at 26 degrees 50 minutes of Gemini. This equals 30 degrees, reflecting the opposite zodiacal degree across the solstice polarity which reflects an equal amount of light and shadow.

Figure 1: Antiscia Chart from Opa Astrology

https://opaastrology.org

Antiscia and delineation.

Evaluate planetary antiscia points and see if they represent any underlying themes in the chart. There would be added importance if an antiscia point makes a conjunction or another aspect to a natal planet. Using a 1-degree orb seems to be the accepted norm but Elizabeth Hazel, a traditional astrologer, uses a 5-degree orb with personal/social planets and a 10-degree orb with the luminaries (Hazel, 2020).

Planets in antiscia are loosely regarded as being in conjunction, due to reflecting an equal amount of light, therefore it is thought that they share their qualities between one another. However, this is a generality, and there is much more to this to evaluate. If you are interested in finding out more, read the book review about Antiscia (written by Elizabeth Hazel).

Jimi Hendrix’s chart below illustrates how antiscia can be displayed in a couple different ways. His Moon and Uranus are placed within signs where they could be in antiscia to one another. This example would demonstrate the antiscia points being conjunct natal planets on both sides of the solstice.

However, traditional astrology has a strong rule regarding the transpersonal planets. Hazel (2020) states “in the strictest sense, planets must produce light to be seen in a mirror. An invisible planet cannot cast a reflection – rather like a vampire. Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, axis points and lots/parts are not points of light” (pg.4).

Therefore, one would have to decide whether to play by the traditional astrological rules when looking at Hendrix’s chart and examining his life history. Did his personality traits and life events solely evolve due to planetary aspects involving his Uranus and/or Moon...excluding the antiscia points? Or did the antiscia points create a double emphasis to his Uranus/Moon by amplification, which then make aspects to other planets? Any transit to Uranus and the Moon, would also activate the antiscion points.

Alternatively, and by following the traditional rule, if his Uranus was a personal/social planet instead of a transpersonal one, this idea of amplification would fully apply with the antiscia points conjunct his natal Uranus/Moon. If this were the case, the planets themselves would not make a Ptolemaic aspect to one another but via antiscia, there would be a hidden relationship between the two.

Meryl Streep’s Venus has its antiscia point at 11 degrees 35 minutes of Gemini. If one uses a 1-degree orb, the antiscia point would be 17 minutes outside the orb. If one uses a larger orb up to a 5-degree orb, this point conjuncts her Mercury and draws in Mars too. A hidden relationship within her chart.

ANT 11*35’ Gemini

Contra-Antiscia.

This is the opposite of antiscia. Much less is written about it and does not seem to be considered as seriously. It folds the astrological chart along the Aries/Libra axis, creating paired signs that mirror each other across the Equinox polarity. Hazel (2020) argues that antiscia may have more effect than contra- antiscia, as this is “a reflection of a reflection so the influence is further diluted” (p.25).

Some History of this technique.

“The first century BCE Phenomena of Geminos is one of the oldest texts to use the term antiskian, meaning ‘shadows thrown opposite’, while telling us that signs in this relationship are said to be in szyzygy” (Houlding, 2005). In the second century, this technique “was taught by Hipparchus in the 2nd century BC” and “reference to the technique is found in the astrological texts of Manilius, Ptolemy, Dorotheus, Antiochus, Palchus, Paulus Alexandrinus, and many other ancient works” (Houlding, 2005). It was the fourth century Roman astrologer, Firmicus Maternus, who detailed an account of antiscia in the second book of his Matheseos Libri VIII (Houlding, 2005).

References

Hazel, E. (2020). Antiscia: Secrets in the mirror. Kozmic Kitchen Press.Houlding, D. (2005, December 21). The classical basis of antiscia & contra-antiscia. Skyscript. https://www.skyscript.co.uk/antiscia.html#1 Smoot, R. (n.d.). Exploring our full self: Working with the antiscia. Opa Astrology. https://opaastrology.org/antiscia/