Fundamentals of Astro*Carto*Graphy®

Reading the Map

Each planet has four angular zones labeled MC, IC, ASC, DSC.  These zones actually form two great circles on the globe, but on the flat map the are each labeled separately.  There is a certain amount of difference between the quality of each of the four zones.  The black lines on the map indicate the exact center of each zone.  Naturally, you don't have to be exactly under the line for the planet to be angular.  The distance away from the line that you can be and still consider the planet angular is called the allowable orb.  Jim Lewis was somewhat vague at first about exactly what orb to use, but as time went on it appeared that his usage tended to approximate exactly the same orbs that astrologers ordinarily used for planetary aspects in a natal chart.  In practice, this was 8-12 degrees on either side of the line.

To measure the orb of a line, look along the edges.  You will see, in both latitude and longitude, small degree marks.  You can measure distances in these degrees.  The effect of angularity decreases as you move away from the line.  So the effect is pronounced within 2 degrees, moderate out to about 8 degrees, and then weak after that.

The meaning of each planet has been developed over hundreds, even thousands of years.  So all astrologers should be able to apply their knowledge of planets to the map.  One does have to consider the context, however.  Astro*Carto*Graphy lines indicate changes in emphasis from the natal chart, unlike the natal chart itself, where planets assert fundamental potentials of the individual.  Each Astro*Carto*Graphy map contains an explanatory book by Jim Lewis.  It is interesting to compare the planetary descriptions in this book to other astrology text.  The planets are the same, but the context is different and so are the descriptions.

Additional Zones

Once Jim Lewis was able to use computerized Astro*Carto*Graphy maps for his clients and his case studies, he began to see other significant indications from the maps that might not have been obvious from the theory.  These were somewhat less important that the main lines of angularity, but noticeable.

Zenith Latitudes

There is a point for each planet shown as a small circle that shows where the planet was directly overhead.  This is the zenith position of the planet.  Jim Lewis found that zenith positions are important because they appeared to activate this planet not only at the zenith point, but also at all points along the same latitude as the zenith point.  The orb of this zone is quite small-- one to two degrees.  The zenith latitudes are not ordinarily drawn on the map, to avoid a confusing number of lines. 

Crossing Latitudes

Another common feature of the maps are crossings of the lines of two different planets.  This means, of course, that both planets are angular at the crossing location.  But like Zenith Latitudes, Jim Lewis found that crossings too seem to operate over the entire latitude of the crossing.  Again, the orb seems to be one to two degrees.

Using the Map

So now that we have a basic understanding of how to read the map, and what the lines mean, how do people actually use it?  For some, the lines represent the "good" and the "bad".  Here is what Jim Lewis says about any Saturn Line in the Astro*Carto*Graphy book:

"Generally, location under any Saturn line is not desirable, except where qualities of perseverance and purpose are so lacking in the character that some hardships are needed to direct the life.  Here, you learn the hard way what is lacking in your makeup, and endure periods of want, privation, penury, enforced idleness, hunger, delay, disappointment, impoverishment and loneliness."

Not too good!  When this description accurately describes the life of someone living in a Saturn zone, they naturally think about moving.  On the other hand, how about this? (also from Jim Lewis' book):

Any Jupiterian influence is usually beneficial, and under its lines, prosperity, success, good luck, honor, and accomplishment can be expected.

Now we have a line worth moving to!  While this seems to be too simplistic to be the full truth, it illustrates the power of the Astro*Carto*Graphy map.  It offers a practical way of taking control of the subjective side of life governed by astrology and directing it for your own purposes.

For Jim Lewis himself, the map became a means of exploration: by traveling physically across the planet, he could experience various aspects of his personality.  This meant, of course, enduring the unpleasant experiences as well as the happy ones.  In his computerized readings, Jim Lewis writes that

... the most important thing to  realize is that every location is good for something; if you recognize and understand its potentials, you can use them constructively.

Further Exploration

Over the past 30 years, Astro Numeric Service has computed hundreds of thousands of maps for individuals all over the world. For many if not most of these people, Jim Lewis' book on Astro*Carto*Graphy book was their only source of astrological instruction.  The map and the book were designed to make a simple kit that anybody can use to explore there personal chart.  But there are limits to what can be accomplished in a little book, just as there are limits to this basic article.  This web site is an attempt to connect you with the growing resources that now exist in this field.

One important resource are the articles that Jim Lewis himself published about Astro*Carto*Graphy.  They provide dramatic illustrations of how people's lives can be shaped by geographic planetary configurations.  We are hoping also that individuals might contribute their stories about how they endured or took advantage of their Astro*Carto*Graphy lines.