Finding the Master of the Nativity: The Five Minute Quick Introductory Method
The Cliff Notes Version of Chris Brennan's Excellent and Exhaustive 200+ minute Lecture.
The Master of the Nativity is an overall planetary ruler of the birth chart that characterizes the native throughout his life. In ancient texts, it has been described as being used to identify the daimon or guardian spirit. Once the guardian spirit was identified, they could then be invoked through incantations and ritual magic. In some instances, the native might request that this guardian spirit free them from the powers of fate. There is an ongoing ancient philosophical debate as to whether or not the planetary rulers are interested in intervening in human affairs in this manner. Modern astrologers would likely argue that we already have sufficient free will and so there is no need to invoke the spirits.
In order to find the Master of the Nativity you must first find the predominator. The predominator is almost always one the luminaries, the Sun or the Moon. In some exceptional cases, the predominator is the native’s ascendant also known as the rising sign.
Determining the predominator — Angularity is the most important factor for determining if the predominator is the Sun or Moon. If either the Sun or Moon is in an angular house (1,4,7,or 10) then you have found the predominator. If neither luminary is angular then you would look to see if one them is in a succedent house (2,5,8, or 11). If so, then that luminary becomes the predominator. If both of the luminaries are in cadent houses (3,6,9, or 12) then the ascendant becomes the predominator. If the luminaries tie, by both being in angular or succedent houses, you break the tie by looking to see which luminary is eastern most, closest too the ascendant. Finally, if there is still a tie then you look at Sect. If you were born during the day, it is the Sun; if you were born during the night then it is Moon.
Once you have found the predominator (Sun, Moon or ascendant) all you have to do is determine the predominator’s domicile lord. Simply put, you determine what planet rules the sign that the predominator is in. My predominator is the Moon. My Moon is in Scorpio. So, Mars is the Master of the Nativity because Mars rules the sign of Scorpio.
After watching Chris Brennan’s video a few times, this is my understanding and short take on the rather convoluted subject of The Master of the Nativity. If you watch Chris and Lisa, give their more exhaustive three hour lecture, you can skip straight to any specific area you might want to know more about by using the time stamps that appear below the video on YouTube. Following the video, here, are seven example charts you can use to test your skills at determining the Master of the Nativity.
Jeff Buckley —
Which luminary is his predominator? ___
What planet is the Master of the Nativity? ___
Jeff Buckley’s Sun is in the Angular 4th house and his Moon is in the cadent 6th. Since angularity is the main determining factor. The Sun is the predominator
In order to find his Master of the Nativity we look to see what planet disposes the Sun. With his Sun is Scorpio, the Lord of his dispositor is Mars. Mars is the Master of the Nativity.
This is my chart. Which is the predominator? Who is the Master?
The predominator is the Moon because the Moon is angular while the Sun is in the succedant 8th house. The Moon is in the sign of Scorpio; Mars rules that sign. The Master of the Nativity is Mars. I think it is interesting that the Moon is the predominator even though this is a day chart (Sun is above horizon). I can’t help but think that having the Moon as the predominator in a day chart can give some added description when interpreting the natal chart.
This is a friend’s chart. This one is a little trickier. Which of the luminaries is the predominator? What planetary ruler is the Master?
If we ignore the “5 degree rule” for a minute we can use this chart to form two separate examples. Without the 5 degree rule, both of the luminaries are in the 9th cadent house. When both luminaries are cadent the ascendant (Asc) becomes the predominator. Walt’s ascendant is in the sign of Libra. The Master of Walt’s Nativity would be Venus the ruler of Libra.
Using the 5-degree rule puts both of the luminaries into the 10th Angular house. That means we must go to the second most important factor and ask which luminary is eastern most. The Sun is closer to the Asc but only by a few degrees and they are both in the same house. It is not clear from the ancients if this is enough to determine that the Sun is the predominator. So we might want to look to see if there is agreement by looking at the last fact of Sect. This chart is a day chart; the Sun is about the horizon. If that were to be the deciding factor then the Sun would be the predominator. Since both the Sun and Moon are in the sign of Cancer, the Master of the Nativity will be the Moon regardless. I do think that if the Sun is the predominator that adds information to the natal chart interpretation. What exactly that is in this case I cannot say at this time. It may become more clear as one delves deeper into a natal chart.
This is another chart that I am working on. Which is the predominator? Who is the Master? I am using the 5 degree rule here and thereby putting the Sun into the 11th house.
If we consider the Sun to be in the 11th house then both luminaries are in succedent houses. This means we must go to next most important factor and determine which luminary is most eastern. Though the Sun appears to be further from the Asc, in actuality the Sun is 56 degrees from the Asc while the Moon is 64 degrees past the Asc. Again, it is not clear from the ancient if we can break the tie between thee two luminaries in this way. If we look at the final factor of Sect, we see that this is a day chart because the Sun is above the horizon. This would again provide support for the Sun being the predominator. The Sun is in the sign of Capricorn; Saturn is the Master of the Nativity. The Native has a very strong Capricorn signature in the rest of his natal chart; this gives further support for Saturn as the ruler.
These are Freddie Mercury’s luminaries. Which is his predominator? Who is the Master? Both luminaries are angular.
Because both luminaries are angular we advance to the next most important consideration. Which one is eastern most? The Sun placed in the first house is clearly more to the east. So, even though this is a night chart, the Sun is the predominator. The Sun is in the sign of Virgo; this makes Mercury the Master of Freddie Mercury’s natal chart. Interestingly Freddie Mercury’s Mercury is also in Virgo, the sign of Mercury’s domicile and exaltation. I think we can safely say that Freddie Mercury was a very Mercurial person.
These are Donald Trump’s luminaries. Using the 5 degree rule, which one is his predominator? Who is the Master of the Nativity?
The Sun and the Moon are both angular. The Sun is more eastern; Since this is a day chart the Sun meets both of the second and third criteria to be the predominator. The Sun in the sign of Gemini; this Makes Mercury the Master of his Nativity.
Finally, we have Kamala Harris’s chart. Which is the predominator? Who is the Master of the Nativity?
Both luminaries are Succedent. The Moon is eastern most thus making it the predominator. The Moon is in the sign of Aries; the Master of her Nativity is Mars.
Here are Biden’s luminaries. Which is the predominator? Who is the Master of the Nativity?
Biden’s predominator is the Moon. His Moon in Taurus makes Venus the Master of his Nativity.