Concept of Intercepted Signs

Let’s talk about Concept of Intercepted Signs which is more popularly used in Western Astrology but I feel that it can be utilized in other systems too. At the outset, it may be kept in mind that I am not perfect at Western Astrology or any Astrology, hence there are chances of me making mistakes here. I am just explaining this concept as I understood it -

Let’s cover Concept of Intercepted Signs on following points –

Various House Systems.

Whole Sign/Equal House System.

Placidus/Koch House System.

Concept of Intercepted Signs.

My Chart as per Placidus House System.

Intercepted Signs as per Placidus House System.

Meaning of Concept of Intercepted Signs.

Paap Kartari Yoga.

Conclusion & Reference.

Let’s cover all points one after the other –

Various House Systems – First of all, there are various House Systems in Astrology. It is just like we have so many different streams of Astrology. These various House Systems are Placidus, Whole Sign, Equal, Koch, Regiomontanus, Morinus, Alcabitius, Campanus, Porphyry, Topocentric, Meridian, and Vehlow etc. For the purpose of this article, we will focus on Whole Sign/Equal House Systems and Placidus/Koch House Systems.

Whole Sign/Equal House System – By the name itself we can understand that in these House Systems, length of Houses and Signs are same. Like, if one House is 30 degree long then one Sign is also 30 degree long. These House Systems are normally used in Vedic Astrology. The end result of Whole Sign/Equal House System is that every next House Cusp is ruled by every next Zodiac Sign altogether. Like, being a Scorpio ascendant, my First House has Scorpio sign and my Second House will automatically have Sagittarius sign and so on…

Placidus/Koch House System – In Placidus or Koch House System, a House can be bigger than 30 degrees but Zodiac Signs will stay at 30 degrees only. Now, if some Houses are bigger than 30 degrees then obviously there will be some Houses which are smaller than 30 degrees because at the end of the day, Sky is going to remain at 360 degree only. So, in Placidus or Koch House System, some Houses can be 40 degree or 50 degree long and other houses would compensate for this expansion by being at smaller than 30 degrees but Zodiac Signs will remain at 30 degree only. One of the reasons given for having a House bigger and other smaller in this system is that native, in this lifetime, needs to spend more time and learn/explore more things related to the House which is lesser in comparison to the house which is bigger.

Concept of Intercepted Signs – Now, the result of Placidus/Koch House System will be that 1 house can be so big that it can absorb within itself one whole Zodiac Sign. For example, if X has 1^st house in his chart which is of about 40 degrees and he happens to be a Libra ascendant then it means that his 1^st house will start with last 5 degrees of Libra Sign then it will absorb whole of 30 degrees of Scorpio sign and then it will end at 5^th degree of Sagittarius sign. It is like this -

40 degree 1^st House – 5 degrees of Libra + 30 degrees of Scorpio + 5 degrees of Sagittarius.

So, effectually what is happening is that 1^st house cusp has Libra sign falling and 2^nd house cusp has Sagittarius sign falling. Which Sign got missing? Scorpio. Scorpio is intercepted sign here.

Another thing here is that if 1^st house is 40 degree long then house exactly opposite to 1^st house, i.e. 7^th house, will also be 40 degree long. It means that if Scorpio gets intercepted in 1^st house then exactly opposite sign Taurus will also be intercepted in 7^th house between Aries and Gemini.

As I said, other houses in chart will compensate and will be lesser than 30 degrees to make it for total 360 degrees.

My Chart as per Placidus House System – For example, if I make my chart as per Placidus System here - https://www.astro.com/, then 1^st house begins at 25 degree Scorpio, 2^nd house begins at 24 degree Sagittarius, 3^rd house begins at 26 degree Capricorn, 4^th house begins at 29 degree Aquarius, 5^th house begins at 1 degree Aries, 6^th house begins at 0 degree Taurus, 7^th house begins at 25 degree Taurus, 8^th house begins at 24 degree Gemini, 9^th house begins at 26 degree Cancer, 10^th house begins at 29 degree Leo, 11^th house begins at 1 degree Libra and 12^th house begins at 0 degree Scorpio.

Now, which Zodiac Signs are missing?

Pisces and Virgo. It is because there are a few houses like 2^nd house, 3^rd house, 4^th house and 10^th house are longer than 30 degrees. Their bigger length was compensated by smaller 5^th house, 6^th house and 12^th house.

Intercepted Signs as per Placidus House System - So, as per Placidus System, my 4^th house and 10^th house have intercepted signs Pisces and Virgo.

Meaning of Concept of Intercepted Signs – Now, what does it mean to have Intercepted Signs?

It means that that particular sign or sign related things are just invisible or hidden from your life and you may have to work a lot in that area of life. Like, if someone has Gemini as intercepted sign in 10^th house, it means that person can be very poor in communications at work place. This also means that Sagittarius is intercepted at 4^th house. So, this person may feel that he didn’t get proper guidance or morale at home. This also means that person needs to work double hard on the matters related with houses/signs involved to improvise on those areas of life and if they work hard then they can actually gain more than what they ever dreamt in those areas of life.

Likewise, if any planet is placed in intercepted signs then person can feel like that planet or its results are invisible from his early life and there is need to put extra effort there. Again, if they work hard then they can actually gain more than what they ever dreamt in those areas of life.

Paap Kartari Yoga – I find a little resemblance between concept of Interception and Paap Kartari Yoga in Vedic Astrology - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwuAR7KwLQA. In Paap Kartari Yoga, 2 strong malefics surround a house or planet from either side and we have to work really hard in matters related with that house or planet.

Again, in both the cases, we may need to let-go of Jeeva Karaka of that house and work on Ajeeva Karakas. Like, if interception sign is falling in 4^th house, like in my case, then person should be away from home land.

Conclusion & Reference – Again, all systems get aligned with each other. If Western Astrology is showing intercepted signs in 4^th house/10^th house axis in my chart then I have Ketu in 4^th house/Aquarius and Rahu-Saturn in 10^th house/Leo. So, both systems are indicating that I need to make a special effort on 4^th house and 10^th house related matters. Intercepted signs are also telling to focus on things related with Pisces and Virgo.

If anyone wants to learn more about then you can check these links from Alyssa Sharpe - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w63doKtkcLM, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fw5cgIX3VnI , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbGOszxKCCs and https://www.thedivinevenus.com/interceptions-in-your-horoscope/. She is always a great teacher.

Hope I could convey the concept logically. Thanks,

Swami Premanand Bharti