Expert: Vic DiCara - 11/14/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hi Vic,
I'm fairly new to Astrology and find it very interesting. I've been told that Saturn is going to be in the optimal position over the next 3 months for Cancer, can you tell me which house or houses that might reside in or how to identify it for myself?

ANSWER: I disagree that Saturn is in an "Optimum placement" in regards to Cancer. Saturn is currently in Leo up till 9/9/09. Leo is the 2nd House/Sign from Cancer. I do not like Saturn in the 2nd House from cancer for a few reasons.

1. This house is Leo which is the house of Saturn's enemy.
2. This makes Saturn, who rules the 8th House (death) from Cancer, an occupant of the 2nd house of wealth and family.
3. Saturn also rules the 7th from Cancer. Perhaps this could indicate acquisition of a spouse or good partner, but it is not likely when Saturn is malefic by nature and also the owner of the 8th House.

So no, I would like to see Saturn get out of Leo ASAP. (I have a Cancer sun).

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you this fantastic information. I have another question, I have my chart in front of me and am trying to understand how to determine "house" verses month. I realize signs make up the "time line" so to speak, but how do I gage say Saturn in the 2nd house of Leo when for me Leo is the 11th house orginally on my chart? Sorry hope I don't sound like a terrible green horn, but I would really like to learn something further.

Answer
I'd like to direct you to www.vicdicara.com - then click "learn astrology" in the black navigation area towards the top of the page. All those articles I've written there should give you just what you need.

Essentially a "house" is a section of the sky. Astrology divides the sky into 12 sections each one pertains to a different area of life.

There are various ways to calculate the sections or houses - but the original and fundamental way is that the constellation (Aries, Taurus, etc.) which was rising in the east "builds" the 1st House, and they proceed in order from there. So if Taurus was on the eastern horizon it would build the 1st House, Gemini would build the 2nd House, cancer the 3rd etc. etc.

Houses are not directly related to months in any way. Indirectly though, the sun moves roughly 1 degree per day through the 360 degrees of the sky. Each sign and house is 30 degrees wide, therefore it takes about a month for the sun to cross 30 degrees of sky, which is equivalent to one full sign and one full house.