Lovers or Enemies? A Look At 7th House Activations

Photo by Leighann Blackwood on Unsplash — *Photo by* *Leighann Blackwood* *on Unsplash*

Lovers or Enemies? A Look At 7th House Activations

Those of us with some familiarity around astrology have a basic understanding of our Ascendant (otherwise known as our Rising Sign). For those that may be unfamiliar with what that is, this is the sign on the cusp of your 1st House, which indicates both physical presence and appearance as well as what we outwardly portray to others. It is the lens through which we view the world – the very beginning of Self. It is our first, natural reaction to new people and situations.

If you know the basic archetypes of the Sun signs, for example, you may come across someone who commands the energy of a room simply by walking into it; someone bold in presence and who seems to radiate positivity. You may think to yourself then, ah, this person must be a Leo – and be surprised to find that, in fact, they are a Capricorn.

But their Ascendant – yes, their aura, that energy you immediately picked up on, is Leo.

Our instinctual impressions of an individual are based on their Ascendants, and indeed the Ascendant is considered the most important facet of an individual’s natal chart. It sets the tone for the entire personality and lifespan of a person, quite literally!

To cast your natal chart, we recommend using the calculators on Astro.com.

But we aren’t here to speak on Ascendants. We are here to discuss the Axis, their Opposite: the Descendent. The cusp of the 7th House. The Other.

Wherein the Ascendant is how we and others see ourselves, the energy we inherently carry and walk among the world with – the Descendant is what we feel we are lacking. What we project onto others. What we seek out in intimate relationships, be they romantic or business, and what we draw towards us like moth to flame.

Now this all sounds well and good, especially for hopeless romantics such as myself who essentially dedicate their astrological studies towards learning about those they love, but my theory posed is this:

Given that the Descendant is the sign on the cusp of our 7th House – the House of which rules our intimate relationships, interpersonal style, and marriage – it is indicative of what partners are best suited to us.

But given that the 7th is also known as the House of Open Enemies… when we do come into connection with those that carry this energy, can it not be a safe bet to say that there is also the potential for great harm?

What we lack or cannot see in ourselves, we have a tendency to project onto others. The Descendent, representing our missing qualities and therefore garnering us an Opposites Attract sort of magic in 7th House activations, is then reflective of a potential enemy.

Someone who opposes who we are. Our values. Our identity. The lens through which we see EVERY aspect and interaction of our world. This is not something to consider lightly.

The cusp of our 7th. The Great Other. These are the people sent on our path to hold up a mirror and bear witness as we see ourselves for what we truly are: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Assuming our newfound self-awareness will be used to confront our personal shortcomings, this can offer a rather beautiful opportunity to grow alongside the one who sparked this activation. In a romantic relationship, this level of vulnerability, honesty, and work dedicated to Self will ideally bring both parties to a place in which they stand on equal footing.

Person B, who carries the sign of Person A’s Descendant, will recognize these traits and have an understanding that comes from lived experience and growth within them. Person A, having BEEN attracted to the, shall we say, ‘better-looking’ qualities in the first place, will then have the opportunity to embrace all that they represent and understand that, no, they were never missing: they simply hadn’t been recognized yet. There is mutual compassion and respect to be held between both.

But in the event that Person A meets Person B and is attracted to them in spite of the negative traits – projected or not – then these two, with their magical connection written in and among the stars, may just be fated to be enemies. Openly.

Rylen Moore is a queer freelance writer, LGBTQ+ advocate, and Child & Youth Care graduate. An Albertan-turned-Vancouverite, they use their astrological studies as a framework to better understand and work with at-risk youth as well as run their own chart-reading business. You can find them on Facebook for Moon horoscopes, weekly astrological content, and personal services @ It's Just A Phase (facebook.com/readingsbyrylen) .