The Neglected Nonagesimal

In most types of astrology the Midheaven (MC, or Medium Coeli) is considered to be of extreme importance. Most quadrant house systems use the MC as the cusp of the 10th house. Some astrologers incorrectly refer to the MC as the ‘zenith’ or as the ‘highest point in the chart’. In fact, at the moment for which the chart is cast the MC is rarely the highest point above the horizon in the chart. A bit of reflection will help us to understand why this is so.

The two principal axes in the horoscope wheel are the horizon and the meridian. These circles divide the astrological chart into four quadrants, which are further subdivided into three astrological houses in the quadrant house system. The horizon is the imaginary circle surround the observer at which the earth’s surface and the sky appear to meet. The meridian is the imaginary circle of constant longitude passing through the observer’s location on the earth’s surface and the terrestrial North and South poles. The MC or Midheaven is the point where the meridian circle of the observer intersects the ecliptic circle (the path of the Sun in the geocentric model) above the observer’s horizon.

Image from ExeterAstrologyGroup.uk.org

Distinct from the MC (Midheaven) is a point called the ‘Nonagesimal’, which is in fact the highest point of the ecliptic above the horizon at the moment for which the chart is drawn. The site lexico.com notes that the word ‘nonagesimal’ derives from the classical Latin nōnāgēsimus ninetieth (from nōnāgintā ninety (from novem nine + -gintā, suffix forming cardinal numerals from thirty to ninety, related to decem ten: see decem-) + -ēsimus, extended form (after vīcēsimus) of -simus, suffix used to form ordinal numerals) + -al, and defines ‘nonagesimal’ as:
“The point of the ecliptic which is highest above the horizon at any given time, being 90 degrees round the ecliptic from the point at which it intersects the horizon.”

In other words, the Nonagesimal is the point on the ecliptic above the horizon that is exactly 90 degrees from the Ascendant degree, that is, it is the midpoint above the horizon of the Ascendant and Descendant degrees of the chart. In the equal house system from the Ascendant, the Nonagesimal is the cusp of the 10th house. In Hellenistic astrology a planet on the Nonagesimal forms a dominant square with respect to the Ascendant and has a powerful effect on the vitality, motivations and life course of the native. Applying this Hellenistic principle to horary astrology, a planet on the Nonagesimal (the highest point above the horizon) would have a major and overarching impact on the Ascendant, which signifies the querent as well as the horary question itself.

Why is the elevation of a planet so important? My hunch is that the idea of the importance of elevation dates back to the Persian influence on Hellenistic astrology. When Alexander the Great conquered Persia in 334 BCE, he became enthralled with the idea that no one’s head should be held higher than that of the king. The following passage from the book Shanameh: The Persian Book of Kings illustrates this idea (italics mine):

“When Zal saw Kavus sitting in state on the throne, he bent his arms submissively across his chest and lowered his head. He said, ‘Lord of the world, whose head is lifted higher than those of all other noblemen and chieftains, no one has seen a king like you occupying the throne …”

Alexander brought back not only astrology but also parts of Persian culture to the city of Alexandria where Hellenistic astrology developed.

Recently I was looking at a horary chart in which Mars was almost exactly conjunct the MC, thus making Mars a highly significant planet in interpreting the chart. About 11 degrees west of Mars was Mercury, cadent in the 9th house. Cadent planets are supposedly less influential, but in this case Mercury was more elevated than Mars and would plan a major role in the interpretation of the horary figure. Specifically, Mars had an altitude above the horizon of 30n34, and Mercury had an altitude of 35n25′, almost 5 degrees of altitude higher than Mars. The following figure from Stellarium illustrates this fact.

In this figure Mars closely conjoins the MC but Mercury has a higher elevation above the horizon. The Nonagesimal, the highest point of the ecliptic above the horizon, lies at about 15 degree Virgo, midway between the Asc and Dsc of this chart.

The practical implication of the Nonagesimal as the highest point in the chart is that we should pay close attention to planets conjunct the Nonagesimal, much as with do with planets conjunct the Midheaven.