The Oriental Chart ( OR ) is identical with the twelve Equal Houses, starting from the Ascendant, with this important difference - not only are the Houses treated as Signs, but planets have exact positions within these Oriental Signs as they would in any Zodiac. This is one of the most personal of all the zodiacs, and on investigation seems to show what the person actually wants - not what they feel moved to do (GT) or driven to do (DR) or obliged to do (GS). It adds detail to the picture painted by the Houses, of the main action taking place in chosen corners of life's stage. In practice, these choices vary very little throughout life, though they may express themselves in a variety of ways. Once a fifth-house person, always a fifth-house person! - although drawing may give way to sports, then to love-affairs, then parenthood, then to creative renewal or running a children's playgroup, for example. And the Signs through which all this activity is expressed will vary according to the dimensions of self which dominate at various times.
Queen Elizabeth's Oriental chart, with the Ascendant as the first point of Aries, sends her Sun into Cancer. This Cancer theme has repeated in many ways through her interdimensional charts, and here again we find a woman who - with the Oriental Moon/Ceres in Libra - is quintessentially feminine. Her constant desire is to maintain the status quo; family, country, home, history, precedent, friendship, beauty and peace are everything to her, with plenty to occupy a lively Gemini mind. The portrait on the right sums up this side of her nature delightfully. |
Cecil Beaton,
Princess Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace in March 1945 , © V&A Images |