The Imum Coeli - our way to the very bottom | The Main Axes Part 4
- The foundation of who we are today
What even is the IC?
In order to now finally conclude our journey through the chart we have now reached the very bottom. Because where there is a tip of the iceberg, where the highest tree stands tall, there must be a solid foundation, roots dug so deep they can support it all.
In opposition to the MC, the image that we want to portray to the outside world, the mask we want others to see and the career, the person we want to grow into, lies at the very bottom of the chart - and therefore also of the soul - the roots of ourselves. The IC describes where we came from instead of where we want to go. It describes our family, our traditions, our home and our private life. Often also our childhood. It is the things we got brought up with, the habits and thinking patterns we took on from our relatives, it is the foundation of everything that we are and that we will be.
Like I have already mentioned in the article about the MC, these two Axis points always lie exactly opposite from each other. The MC being noon, so the highest part of the chart, and the IC being midnight and therefore the lowest point in the chart. In most western house systems the IC is also the start of the 4th house and in this example it falls into Virgo.
Its significance in day-to-day life
If we think back to the MC and the 10th house, we might remember that it was all about who we want to be, who we want to show to the world. This might be more accurate to be called a “social mask” like people usually like call the Ascendant. It shows us as an adult who wants to be part of society and shows us what our role is, who we grow into. But before we can become this shining façade, before we can even develop any dream that might take us to the tips of the world, there must be a seed. Solid roots and a foundation that our big career, our big new – and especially own – life can be built on. There needs to be an environment that we know inside out in order to to grow out of it. There must be rules that were implemented by others for us to be able to consciously disapprove of them, break them and make our own. The MC is purely us - even if maybe a version of ourselves that we might not know yet - whereas the IC for some might feel very alien at first.
Even for me it sometimes is a little hard to really pin-point precise interpretations for each sign at the IC, mainly because most people would not agree with whatever I say anyways. It really is a “sensitive point” as they are called and especially the IC is usually an energy that has been implemented into our life from the outside in such a subtle manner when we were still so young, that we usually never bothered to really feel further into what it really means to us.
It is not before we analyze the ruler of the IC or planets resident in the 4th house that the average client will start to recognize themselves and the things they have experienced. Now, this is not supposed to be a scolding or shaming of anyone who feels like that. With this I do not want to say “Well, I guess you are just not that reflected yet.” nor “Long way to go to actually be self-aware.” Because the reason we cannot relate to this lays far beyond our abilities.
The IC marks the start of the 4th house. The 4th house usually gets associated with the Moon and therefore also many of its properties. The inner child, our internal life in general, especially emotions but more importantly: family. Like I have mentioned before it is what we grew up with, what was natural and normal for us before we were even able to grasp the meaning of the word “normal”. It was simply second nature, or more probably even first nature. The 4th house is one of the three Water houses, which in some astrological practices are also seen as generational houses. Where the 8th house describes generational trauma and the 12th house describes what our parents dreamed us to be before we were even born, the 4th house is way more concrete. For one instance it can give us some background information on why we are called what we are called. There is barely something that describes us better than our own name, yet it also holds hopes, meanings, origins (yes, even if the namegivers insist on there not being any meaning behind it).
If you look at it this way now, maybe it becomes more clear why we have trouble associating with the sign at our IC: because the expectations that our caregivers held are not our own, yet they affect us in ways that we usually only really process decades after. The IC is a hope, a wish and an intention (hopefully a good one), but not our own. It is what was given to us coming into this world, therefore also what we bring with us when we first take off into it on our own. But usually those are gifts, hopes and dreams that are barely our own and mindsets we didn’t even really know that we have adapted to.
Please keep in mind that, like I have mentioned before, planets close to the IC and/or in the 4th house probably easier are for you to identify with, if these interpretations don’t resonate with you a lot, also make sure to analyze the position of ruler of your IC in more detail. I also want to mention that these are just a snippet of things that you IC can indicate. I do not mention topics like your name, your housing style, old habits etc.
What your IC says about you and where you come from
If Mars is the ruler of your IC (Aries) or is placed close to it or in the 4th house you might have experienced a very fiery household. You were often overshadowed and maybe needed to stand up for yourself a lot in order not to be walked over. Maybe you even experienced a lot of aggression in your home, which is why now you are striving for a more peaceful life, want to be friendly to others and have a social job. (If your MC now falls into Libra)
If Venus is the ruler of your IC (Taurus or Libra) or is placed close to it or in the 4th house you might have experienced an especially nurturing home. Maybe aesthetics in the house are really important to you. This could also stand for high beauty standards and security is a big anchor for your self-esteem. Especially with Taurus here you might have had a hard time parting from home or traditions were a huge topic. With time you probably needed to learn to let go of that comfort and build a thick skin in the outside world, wanting to explore it for yourself and not follow the blueprint. (If your MC now falls into Aries or Scorpio)
If Mercury is the ruler of your IC (Gemini or Virgo) or is placed close to it or in the 4th house maybe the life with your family was really hectic. These are two mutable signs which could indicate a lot of change and little reliability. Contact with others and intellect are important to you, but you probably stayed more within the realms of what you learned to be true. Which is why now you are more open to open your mind to new horizons and maybe even the spiritual side. (If your MC now falls into Sagittarius or Pisces)
If the Moon is the ruler of your IC (Cancer) or is placed close to it or in the 4th house your home is your comfort space. This is where you need to be able to crawl back to your little nook and collect your thoughts and emotions. You might feel a strong desire to take care of others and start a family. If not maybe where you grew up family was really important, maybe almost all-encompassing therefore now you prefer to keep a cool head and focus on your career. (If your MC now falls into Capricorn)
If the Sun is the ruler of your IC (Leo) or is placed close to it or in the 4th house you might have had to deal with a very big personality in your house, someone who always wanted to take the spotlight. That was probably a learning ground for you to also stand up for yourself and later on wanting to take responsibility in your own home. It is where you can express yourself best and like to be seen as strong and competent. It can also mean that you only really allow yourself to be your true self in the privacy of your own home. In your workplace you are probably sick of letting others order you around, so you are likely to start your own business or are finally able to express your unique self. (If your MC now falls into Aquarius)
If Pluto is the ruler of your IC (Scorpio) or is placed close to it or in the 4th house you might be reminded of a lot of fights over power in your household. Pluto in the 4th house can often symbolize trauma in your childhood or feeling really overpowered by your caregivers. But it also opens doors to the biggest chance in the chart. Here you are able to transform yourself and your old habits and believes. Nowadays you probably like to keep the peace and prefer a safe and orderly environment. (If your MC now falls into Taurus)
If Jupiter is the ruler of your IC (Sagittarius) or is placed close to it or in the 4th house, one word to describe your childhood might have been “a lot”. Jupiter usually stands for all kinds of expansion. A big family, many siblings, multiple languages, maybe also a lot of religious believes and an upbringing in a different country than you live in now. It also is the planet of luck, but in your job you probably like to keep it more professional. You might have grown into a really realistic person who is diligent in their job but still likes to socialize. (If your MC now falls into Gemini)
If Saturn is the ruler of your IC (Capricorn) or is placed close to it or in the 4th house it’s all about restriction and rules. You might have experienced a really safe household but at the same it might have felt really hostile. Saturn often lets a feeling of loneliness and hardship arise. In this department you need security and are scared of being left on your own (again). Therefore to others you probably like to be a supportive and kind friend and care a lot about keeping them around, even if you are not that close. (If your MC now falls into Cancer)
If Uranus is the ruler of your IC (Aquarius) or is placed close to it or in the 4th house there were probably a lot of unexpected changes in your life. Your upbringing might have been unusual to others and at times pretty chaotic. In your own house you might also choose uncommon styles and designs and appear really confident to the outside. Whether as a mask or simply because you are proud of being different. (If your MC now falls into Leo)
If Neptune is the ruler of your IC (Pisces) or is placed close to it or in the 4th house… I’m sorry. Neptune is the planet of dissolving and also yearning. This might mean that you always dreamt of a perfect family, but also that your caregivers might not have been there for you the way you would have needed them to. It is a very vulnerable and confusing placement, but also gives you the power to stay positive and daydream your way out of negative situations, which is also a reason why nowadays you are probably really eager to be there for others at your workplace and find comfort in serving and being needed by others. (If your MC now falls into Virgo)
Please as always keep in mind that this comes nowhere close to an actual consultation and are just snippets of what each of these placements can mean. As always in the birthchart the focus lays where oneself has felt its impact the most. Maybe you can relate to multiple of these and having one or the other sign at your IC doesn’t make your life worse or less bad than that of others. It is all about the unique perception and like I have mentioned earlier, the IC is such a vulnerable and personal Axis-Point in the chart that only a unique interpretation can do it justice. In my opinion in becomes especially interesting as soon as you start to interpret it in unison with the other two Water houses and dig deep into your family’s heritage and all the heavy baggage that comes with it.
Also make sure to check out my blogpost about the MC, since there I obviously go into more detail about the accompanying Axis point than I did in this one and maybe to gain a little more undestading for the vertical Axis as a whole.
I hope I was able to spark your interest and inspire you with my little series through the Main Axes. Now you already have some of crucial knowledge about the chart that usually doesn’t get talked about too much. In our next part of the Astrology 1x1 we will be talking about the planets. As always with astrology – but also with ourselves – the learning never ends.