The Vertex in the Natal Chart
The Vertex is almost always found on the right or occidental side of the horoscope. The exception occurs in extreme northern latitudes. The occidental side of the horoscope is co-dependent and other-directed so that the Vertex represents characteristics, attributes, qualities and skills to be cultivated in this lifetime through the demand and urging of other people. For those interested in esoteric astrology, my theory is that the Vertex indicates the Ray energy to be cultivated in this lifetime – a shift in the personality, astral or mental body.
When there are transits or progressed aspects to the Vertex, the qualities of the Vertex sign will be emphasized. Under favorable aspects, we are drawn by people (indicated by the House position) to express the aptitudes of the Vertex sign. Under afflictions, we seem to have problems with the Vertex sign energy.
Aries: In cultivating Aries energy, you will be drawn into taking charge in emergencies, taking the initiative and developing fast solutions to crises situations. There will be no time to coordinate efforts. Circumstances in the life will force you to pick up the reins of leadership and react to emergencies as a trouble shooter. You will be commanded to be your own person rather than stay on the sidelines, waiting for someone else to do it or ducking out completely.
Taurus: You will be forced to develop a sense of self-worth and material self-sufficiency, not relying upon others for support and not being obligated to others. You may be drawn into helping others achieve financial security or make value judgments for another. Freedom is found through financial independence. Esoterically, it is associated with the ability to let go, to simplify that which is complicated and to extricate by eliminating indebtedness. This can be for self, as well as others. Speak your truth when necessary and honor your own values and principles. Be willing to stand up for what you believe to be true.
Gemini: You will be drawn to teach, to present your own ideas and to back up the information with facts. Gemini will draw you into a relationship or work activity that will demand that you learn to be flexible and to do more than one thing at a time. Flexibility is often connected with allowing others to change their minds, something that Gemini does quite easily.
You may be forced to debate and prove your views or to relay the messages of others correctly. You may be forced to prove your believability, choosing your words correctly and not relying upon generalities. Such an individual may not like the pressure of facts but this will ultimately build confidence in communication skills. You will learn that in theorizing you give your power away, being at the mercy of others who fight with the facts.
Cancer: In this life, you will be pulled into dealing directly with the public, with the media, with the emotions of others— often this starts with the emotional issues in the family, depending upon the Vertex House position. In dealing with the emotional issues in your relationships with others, you will be drawn into soothing troubled water and nurturing others’ needs. You may also be drawn into dealing with issues connected with women in general. Cancer is the sign of the masses, mass trends and Universal Consciousness. This position can provide and opportunity to assess and spot trends on behalf of the public interest.
The natural tendency with the anti-vertex in Capricorn is to appear authoritative and unemotional. Now you are to learn compassion for the feelings of others. In this lifetime, you cannot let others down. You must get emotionally involved and care!
Leo: In this lifetime, you must learn to get personally involved so that you gain recognition for yourself and not share the glory with the group. You are to learn to be creative and to cultivate Self-Expression and Willpower. The tendency is to fade into a group rather than individualize. Individualization is the task at hand. A personal approach to dealing with people is needed rather than a detached and objective orientation.
I have a good friend with the Vertex in Leo. Her natural tendency is to give to the group without individual recognition. I cannot help but feel that there is much frustration when the group and her partner gets the recognition and she does not. Even her writing style tends to be philosophically Aquarian, lacking in a personal revelations. When this point was hit by a transit, she found it impossible to gain the personal recognition. The timing was wrong.
Virgo: In this lifetime, the individual will be drawn to provide a service which brings something to a practical, useful order. Since the anti-vertex is in Pisces, the individual already understands and has experienced confusion but now you must learn to bring order out of chaos. Remember, Virgo rules useful service, not servitude. One client has this Vertex in the 7th and she is an accountant, working on the financial chaos of others.
Libra: In this lifetime, the individual will be drawn into learning how to bridge opposing factions, to mediate compromises, to restore fairness and to bring harmony out of conflicting issues in order to re-establish peace and order. Because the anti-vertex is in Aries, the individual must not allow personal desires to influence the situation. The individual must not take sides or impose the personal ego. The need is to detach the self, make no judgments and establish harmony that would benefit the whole rather than any specific individuals.
Scorpio: In this lifetime, the individual will be drawn into dealing with that which is complicated, matted and ensnared. Plutonian issues connected with the abuses of power can be involved, fighting for the rights involved with exploitation issues. The individual maybe drawn to working with the finances of others, assisting them in achieving security and empowerment. I have one client who was compelled to investigate death/dying issues, learning to transform and heal, learning metaphysics in order to help others.
Since Taurus is the anti-vertex, it is too easy to stay in one’s comfort zone, taking the line of least resistence, not jeopardizing personal security and comfort. You must give strength and courage to the concerns of others, overcoming the fears that make you too comfortable with the status quo.
Sagittarius: In this lifetime, you must go beyond the facts in order to see the Big Picture. You may be drawn to give testimony wherein you must draw conclusions from many facts. The Gemini details may look good for now but they do not serve in the long run. The individual must teach at an expanded or philosophical level based upon the accumulated facts— extracting wisdom from what you know. Go beyond the facts to the truth of the matter. Do not get bogged down with superficial, gossipy information. You will be drawn to deal with philosophical, spiritual or moral issues in connection with the Vertex House position.
Capricorn: The individual will be called to develop skills in responsible leadership. It is essential that you learn to accept duties and obligations for a future control. Leadership and organizational ability go hand-in-hand and you must learn patience to cultivate these skills. Do not allow your emotions and fears to interfere with a realistic attitude in administration. It is essential that the individual not allow the needs of home, family or feelings of insecurity to impede in fulfilling your destiny and thereby rise to a position of respect.
Aquarius: First, you must learn tolerance for the differences in others. This would be particularly true if Saturn and Earth-Water signs are strong in the chart. If Uranus and Fire-Air signs are strong, the individual must learn how to coordinate one’s efforts with other independent, task oriented types. Regulating Uranian people is a hard-learned lesson! Since the anti-Vertex is in Leo, the individual must guard against allowing one’s strong subjective and “MY WAY” opinions to interfere with cooperation. The lesson is to be detached and impersonal.
Any prejudices will come back to haunt you in this lifetime. Learn to be a good friend, to be a part of group effort rather than trying to shine on one’s own. When tolerance is not an issue for the individual, I find that there is some difficulty working with group energy. One client felt that she needed to learn to function and protect herself while working within groups.
Pisces: In this lifetime, the individual is to cultivate sensitivity for the intangibles rather emphasizing the pragmatic, the materialistic and the fine points fo detail. The individual will go through experiences that bring out compassion, the ability to listen with empathy to the concerns of others, and experiences that will make for greater sensitivity to the suffering of others. Another lesson is to let go of criticism. With the anti-Vertex in Virgo, it is easy to zero in on the details, the flaws and imperfections, losing sight of the whole. Learn to go with the flow. Do not judge by rules but rather by instinct and compassion.

Dec 16, 08:47 AM
With the Vertex in Libra in the 7th House and the Aries influence, this combination seems “karmic” in that your relationships will force you to temper your instinctual reactions – to mediate the crises of others, to bridge differences and to take others into consideration before taking action. With this lesson learned, it is a very positive and powerful combination.
Aug 16, 07:55 AM
The Moon conjunct the Vertex can make it easier to access and cultivate the energies of Capricorn but there is a problem.
The Vertex is always cultivated by the demand and needs of others. This can be very frustrating when you do not take time to take care of your own emotional needs.
When planets cross the Anti-Vertex, on the opposite side (Cancer), you are encouraged to take care of your self and your needs….or you will get sick and be forced to do this. This is what happened to me as I have the Vertex in Capricorn too.
Feb 15, 01:10 PM
Uranus transiting the Anti-Vertex warns that you do for yourself and not others with its passing. If you do not take care of yourself, place yourself as the priority, then something can happen, like getting sick, to force this.
Apr 22, 08:06 AM
First, I never use the Vertex or a Node as a point in an Aspect Pattern, such as the Cross. But, its alignment within this pattern is important, as you have indicated.
What I wrote for the VX in Scorpio with a comment on the Anti-Vertex is really your answer. The Sun in Taurus can settle into its comfort zone. Your relationships with others will force you to address complications in life, learn to handle complicated situations, to dig for deeper meanings.
The Anti-Vertex is all about YOU and not other people. Others will force you to address Scorpio issues.
You need to look at your entire chart so this is just a general analysis.
May 27, 12:45 PM
HI Lynn,
I have Vertex in Gemini(8th house) conjunct my Moon in Cancer. These two are also Trine Pluto in Scorpio(12th house) how does this play out, how would you read this?
May 27, 01:07 PM
Gemini: You will be drawn to teach, to present your own ideas and to back up the information with facts. Gemini will draw you into a relationship or work activity that will demand that you learn to be flexible and to do more than one thing at a time. Flexibility is often connected with allowing others to change their minds, something that Gemini does quite easily.
You may be forced to debate and prove your views or to relay the messages of others correctly. You may be forced to prove your believability, choosing your words correctly and not relying upon generalities. Such an individual may not like the pressure of facts but this will ultimately build confidence in communication skills. You will learn that in theorizing you give your power away, being at the mercy of others who fight with the facts — I cannot say anymore about the VX in Gemini.
In the 8th House, you may find yourself drawn by others to communicate information in healing, transformational activities and empowerment issues.
While the Moon may be important since it is a conjunction, I do not use other aspects to the VX.
May 28, 12:42 AM
Hi Lynn —
Just to check, do I use a standard ‘Synastry’ chart for two to figure out the Vertex connection?
May 29, 08:14 AM
KADEN – I personally do not use the Vertex in synastry, comparing the planets in the charts of two people. The Vertex is such a personal point. I feel it is relevant only to the individual…but this is just my perspective.
Jul 24, 12:28 PM
Hi Lynn!
How does the house position affect the vertex in the context of the signs? On my natal chart, my vertex is in Aries (7th house). My anti-vertex is in Libra (1st house) in almost perfect conjunct with both Pluto and my ascendent. As a newbie to this, I’m at a loss to make sense of it. How would you read that?
Aug 4, 08:10 AM
PALA: As I said in the article, the VX in Aries indicates that you will be drawn into handling the crises of others. In the 7th House, it denotes that this will come through the public or your one-to-one relationships…or even as consultant.
The Anti-VX, when triggered by transits, warns that you must be fair to yourself at that time.
I have not used natal aspects to the VX. Janet Booth is about to put her VX article from the Mountain Astrologer magazine on her website. Check this out.
Aug 30, 02:49 PM
Hi Lynn,
I have a question for you. I’m in a personal dilemma with this Vertex thing. Mine is in Virgo in house 7, and it says I need to bring order out of confusion, but my North Node is in Pisces. Wouldn’t living up to my Vertex be like falling back on past life issues, instead of embracing what I’m learning in this one?
Aug 31, 08:12 AM
JUSTIN – This is a good question. While I cannot go into this here, I have a very different interpretation of the Nodes. I am old and I have seen these cycles many times. Just because something was said by some astrologer eons ago does not mean that it is accurate.
The South Node of Virgo represents to me the Journey of the Prodical Child…you must venture there, embrace its lessons before you can return to the North Node.
It helps when there is a planet or VX near the North Node because it encourages you to venture to this Node to learn the lesson of ordering chaos…rather than just living in chaos without order.
Eventually, I will write a Node article but this will be at a less busy time.
Jan 23, 07:35 PM
I am curious about VTX conjunctions with transiting planets that end up going retrograde.
For example, I had transiting Mars conjunct my VTX when I met my recent boyfriend and we immediately dived into a commitment one week later-yes, I know, that’s quick. Later, Mars went retrograde. We broke up a short while ago. Transiting Mars now retrograde is about to pass over my VTX again at the same degree it was when we first met. This time, Mars is conjunct the transiting Moon conjunct my VTX. Transiting Venus is conjunct my Anti-VTX with the transiting Sun. These very same aspects are exactly the same for him but it’s reversed such that transiting Mars conjuncts the transiting Moon on his Anti-VTX and transiting Venus conjunts the transiting Sun on his VTX.
My question is this: “Is it possible to interpret this as a second chance at our relationship?”
And does the Anti-VTX bring things in or take them out of your life?
Jan 26, 09:01 AM
Gina – Relationships coming in and out of your life is Mars R, not the Vertex or Anti-Vertex.
The Vertex is more connected with people coming into your life, forcing you to cultivate certain traits and attributes, as shown by the sign…and the House…but mostly the sign.
The Anti-Vertex, when hit by transit or progression, marks a time to focus upon ourselves and NOT OTHERS.
When there was a strong aspect to my Vertex, I began taking books, computers and shareware to astrologers in “Eastern Europe.” This is something that I did for many years and continue to do.
Many years later, when my Anti-Vertex was hit by progression, a health crisis forced me to stay home and take care of myself…something I had to do for 2 years.
I did “sneak” back into Bavaria without telling anyone so that I could just spend time enjoying myself. A healing soon occurred after that visit.
But, to stress again, the Anti-Vertex marks a time to DO for YOU and NOT for OTHERS!!!
Feb 3, 07:21 PM
Can anyone help me by telling me where I can go to find out aspects to my vertex and anti vertex? THANK YA!!
Feb 3, 07:42 PM
The only important aspects are transiting conjunctions from Saturn-Urans-Neptune-Pluto and progressions. Purchase an ephemeris that will give you the planets’ positions by transit.