Life with Uranus on the AC: "Man Plans and God Laughs"
I love astrology. The intricacies of the birth chart that gradually reveal itself are so fascinating to me, and it seems as though the study of it is never ending, which is very stimulating to my Gemini and Mercurial mind. As I’ve learned more about astrology, I’ve been utilizing it as a tool to learn more about myself and the lessons I’m here to experience. A big theme that has been coming to the forefront (again) recently was that relating to my Uranus on my Ascendent placement.
When I began studying Astrocartography, I recognized that having a planet exact to an angle can have significant implications for the themes experienced in life. While I know that most people wouldn't necessarily jump with excitement to go to a Uranus AC line, I also know people end up going there without planning it, so if that's you, keep reading to understand what it might be like.
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When I was growing up, something about the phrase, “why fit in when you were born to stand out?” always stuck with me without really knowing why. As I’ve grown older and become more comfortable with being my authentic self, I’ve started to understand why. My Ascendent (the point in the sky that was just ascending upon the horizon when I was born) is exactly conjunct Uranus. By literal minutes.
The Ascendent (AC) is your most visible and outward self. It is the first impression, your personality, and sense of self.
Uranus embodies what is unique about us. It is the radical authenticity that marches to the beat of their own drum. It is the unpredictable innovator that thinks outside the box and often pushes what is possible.
By these definitions, I would likely be seen as an enigma that cannot be pinpointed into one singular “type” and does not stick with tradition or rigid structures (Capricorn). I have no idea what other people actually think of me - my sensitive Scorpio Moon doesn't really want to know to be honest. It could also be that much of this is internalized and doesn't make it's way to my outer world often, thanks to the retrograde placement.
Having lived near this line for most of my life, it's interesting to reflect on how Jim Lewis, the father of Astrocartography, would define a Uranus AC line:
“The planet Uranus is likely to manifest most particularly in your health, personal image, and inner journey. Although it is really your own self-concept that of undergoing change, it is easy to let other people identify you with some ideal, or use you as a catalyst to galvanize them into action on their own behalf. You stand out as the epitome of individuality, able to slip through the cracks and do whatever you please. Your influence can inspire people around you to rebellion and resistance against an injustice that was quietly tolerated before you came on the scene, and those who deal with you closely are never the same again, seeing themselves, perhaps for the first time, as individuals, rather than focusing their behavior and thinking on adherence to norms and standards.”
-The Psychology of AstroCartoGraphy
I have consciously rejected some of the traditions I've been brought up with especially when they felt unfair or backwards, and I find it humorous because much of what I aim to do with my coaching is help people find what makes them unique. It requires integrating all aspects of self. In my humble opinion, that is how you live authentically. What I've also found is the most interesting part about this placement has been the things I wasn't expecting.
I've gone from:
Never thinking about leaving the country without my family to going on a month-long European tour with 30 random kids
Thinking I'd go to a university in the Northeast to going to the only university in the South to which I never planned on applying
Planning to go the pre-med route to polymer engineering (big wtf pivot moment in my life haha)
Thinking I'd spend my first summer in college relaxing at home to going to China for 3 months
Thinking I'd hang out with many different fraternities to becoming the sweetheart at a Jewish fraternity 🤔
Thinking I'd do well in academics to nearly flunking out then getting my shit together and getting on Dean's List next semester
Thinking I'd never be athletic to doing not one, but three half marathons (but let's be real here, I'm still not an athlete haha)
Thinking I'd get a golden retriever as my first pet and then suddenly getting obsessed with Corgis and finding one on Craigslist that I loved for 12 years (RIP Gus Gus 🐾)
Thinking I'd get to work in medical devices (and holding onto that dream for far too long) to working on hardware store products and eventually in Industrial engineering
Thinking I'd get married to my long term boyfriend to ending that and marrying the guy I met at a random job I somehow got in Alabama (also, Alabama? NEVER on my radar!)
Thinking I'd have an intimate destination wedding in Bali to having a blast at a week-long trip with friends and family and a gorgeous wedding in Costa Rica
Thinking I'd go to Hawaii or somewhere tropical for my honeymoon to exploring Southern Africa and going on safari
Feeling ashamed of and hiding my body to doing bodybuilding competitions and being proud of what I'd built
Thinking I'd never be religious/spiritual to having a full blown spiritual awakening
Thinking I'd have to go through extensive challenges to get pregnant due to my PCOS to getting pregnant very quickly after consciously deciding that's what I wanted
Thinking I'd go the standard hospital route for labor/delivery to going the all natural route at birth centers for both kids
Thinking I'd never be an entrepreneur to eventually starting my own spiritual business
Thinking I'd buy a home in suburbia when moving back to Virginia to moving to a historic district and a house built before the Civil War
At this point in life, I've learned that making plans too far in the future is somewhat fruitless because it will always shift. The only thing guaranteed in my life is change, and being adaptable helps with the constant pivots. The constant quest to be my true self materializes as I buck all preconceived ideas of what I thought I should be or do and instead follow what lights me up or intrigues me.
Another interesting thing came up recently when I was speaking to my cousin who was near her Uranus AC line in India. She felt like she was going crazy with all of the far out ideas she was ruminating on. We often think about Uranus and unpredictability but Uranus also is the higher octave of Mercury, meaning things can get quite cerebral in a very chaotic way depending on how it's placed/aspected. I had to laugh when she brought that up and all the wild thoughts she had, because that was just a normal day in my life. Her Uranus is in Sagittarius, which is a mutable sign and likely a less stable sign for Uranus than my grounded Capricorn. Great for out of the box thinking and the potential to reach new heights with wisdom and insights but not so great for wanting to find peace. Her week-long silent Buddhist meditation retreat there I imagine was a huge test of whether she could learn to really integrate that part of her and discern how to work with the constant stream of innovative thoughts she has.
In Summary
Life with Uranus on my AC has been a wild ride. There have been many twists and turns along the way that even I couldn't have predicted. I liken it to the ultimate “Jesus take the wheel!” or “man plans and God laughs” placement. The more I embrace this unpredictability of life, the more interesting life becomes.
If you ever travel to your Uranus AC line, here's my advice (from someone who probaby will never escape this) - never say never, because who knows what will happen next!
If you've ever been to your Uranus AC line, I'd love to hear what that experience has been like for you!
