Combustion is outlined by a planet’s relationship to the Solar, and is a part of a planet’s synodic or photo voltaic part cycle. It defines a definite a part of a planet’s cycle, the place a planet is near the Solar and invisible. The origins of combustion take us again to early Greek and Babylonian star lore, which was tailored to be used with the planets by Hellenistic astrologers.
When a planet is combust the Solar, the ability of the Solar dominates the sunshine and vitality of the planet. This results in the planet expressing and manifesting in a different way than it in any other case would if it weren’t close to the Solar. Themes of sunshine and darkness, of being hidden or being seen had been vital to historical astrologers, and the theories regarding combustion circulate forth from this.
Working with combustion entails figuring out when a planet strikes via a part of invisibility, and adjusting the that means of a planet to replicate this. A conjunction with the Solar is totally different to and distinct from a conjunction between any two different planets, angles or factors within the chart as throughout this conjunction a planet turns into quickly invisible.
Because the Solar is the primary supply of knowledge, a planet near the Solar has particular and uncommon entry to knowledge and perception. This generally is a operate or providing of a planet combust. Gaining access to this knowledge or perception received’t take away from any of the standard challenges you may expertise of a planet combust, however it will probably present that along with that, you even have entry to consciousness, knowledge, perspective, perception and understanding that may be shared to assist or information others.
Obscure and Hidden: Combust Qualities
Since a combust planet is hidden, matters and themes linked to that planet may be obscured.
This may imply you expertise a kind of blindness regarding this planet or its matters, like you possibly can’t see them clearly, otherwise you get shocked by occasions or experiences you didn’t know you had been lacking. It’d imply a few of the matters related to a planet combust in your chart are areas of life the place you expertise some lack or dissatisfaction, or that describe matters and areas of life the place you aren’t seen or accepted as you’re.
Since combustion focuses on a planet’s interval of invisibility, it’s a consideration that solely applies to the unique planets, these that may usually be seen with the bare eye. This consists of Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Venus, Mercury and the Moon. Combustion doesn’t apply to the newer or trendy planets, Uranus, Neptune or Pluto, or to sensitives factors in a chart just like the angles or node.
Every planet meets the Solar, and strikes into and out of combustion, on a daily cycle. For Venus, Jupiter and Saturn that’s normally yearly. For Mars, it’s as soon as each two years. Mercury meets the Solar a number of occasions a 12 months. The Moon meets the Solar each 4 weeks.
Three Methods with the Solar: Combust, Cazimi and Below the Beams
I consider a planet conjunct the Solar in 3 ways, relying on simply how near the Solar a planet is. Combustion is one among these three states. The opposite two are cazimi and below the Solar’s beams. Every of those states – combustion, cazimi and below the Solar’s beams – are outlined by a planet being near however at a special particular distance from the Solar. Every time period defines a barely totally different relationship to the Solar.
| Cazimi | 17 minutes or as much as 1 diploma | Amplifying, elevating, empowering |
| Combust | 1 – 8 levels | Blinded, hidden, limiting, neglected, obscured |
| Below the Beams | 8 – 15 levels | Considerably limiting, delays, scrambling to see/discover |
Cazimi
A planet is cazimi when it’s most tightly conjunct the Solar. There are two technical definitions of cazimi. The tightest definition is when a planet is inside 17 minutes of the Solar and comes from the Medieval astrologers. The second definition, from the Hellenistic interval, defines a planet cazimi when it’s as much as one diploma both aspect of the Solar.
A planet cazimi the Solar is elevated and amplified. This can be a beneficial situation for a planet. Something represented by a planet cazimi has the potential to manifest to the good thing about the person. When cazimi, a planet is claimed to be protected against any of the blinded or obscuring results of combustion.
A planet cazimi is within the coronary heart of the Solar, as if the Solar offers its favour to the planet and holds it near its coronary heart. This is sort of a planet having particular entry to royal coffers and sources to assist it on its mission.
Being cazimi centres and strengthens the themes of the planet, and might imply these themes and matters grow to be dominant within the chart and life. It’s widespread for the person to a take pleasure in particular ability, expertise or favour based mostly on matters and duties regarding a planet combust.
Oprah Winfrey has Venus Cazimi the Solar, in Aquarius in her third home. She additionally has a Libra MC, in the entire signal eleventh home. One easy interpretation of that is that profession, as dominated by Venus, is an space of potential success, elevation and satisfaction for the person.
Combustion
A planet combust is exterior the cazimi zone, and inside 8 levels of the Solar. There may be some debate as as to if combustion must be a little bit extra or rather less than 8 levels, however as a tenet, 8 levels is helpful.
A planet combust is just not in a position to fulfill and care for his or her normal duties or matters within the chart and these areas of life might endure from an absence of consideration, clear pondering or from being neglected. Having a combust planet isn’t a barrier to success, however it will probably make it easier to determine any ache factors you might need to navigate.
Themes of blindness present up regarding a planet combust, and when you have a combust planet you may miss or not see what seems apparent to others round these matters and areas of your life.
A combust planet may describe a blind spot or a shortcoming you study to handle via your life. You may expertise the matters of any planet you’ve gotten combust as being ineffective or irregular, or as areas of life that require additional consideration and energy to maintain regular and operational. Partaking with a combust planet would require nuance and subtlety, in addition to creating profound self consciousness.
A combust planet operates below a kind of cloak of invisibility. Whereas this will imply there could also be issues with not being seen or not seeing, it additionally gives for the flexibility to behave in secret, or to function in a approach that’s hidden from view. In the event you had been sporting a blind fold, you may discover it arduous to stroll round an unknown room. However it is perhaps simpler to do one thing artful together with your fingers beneath the cloak.
Since combustion is outlined by a planet’s nearness to the Solar, combustion will apply even when the Solar and the planet are in several indicators. So long as the planet and the Solar are throughout the 1 – 8 diploma vary, the affect of combustion shall be in play.
Think about a consumer has the Solar at 27 Most cancers and Mars at 3 Leo. Despite the fact that these planets are in several indicators, the affect of combustion will apply, because the planets are solely six levels aside. It is going to affect the matters of the home Mars is positioned in, in addition to the 2 homes dominated by Mars, that’s, the 2 homes which have the indicators of Aries and Scorpio on the cusp.
Below the Solar’s Beams
A planet that’s exterior the combustion zone however nonetheless inside approx. 15 levels of the Solar is below the beams. The precise diploma distance a planet must be from the Solar to be seen or grow to be seen once more varies based mostly on the brightness of the planet, atmospheric circumstances and geographic location so the 15 diploma marker is a information quite than an actual measurement.
A planet below the beams is much less harmed in comparison with a planet combust however stays invisible and fewer efficient. A planet below the beams remains to be in a state of restriction and diminished operate/effectiveness, but it surely’s not fairly so limiting or restrictive as if the planet had been combust.
Purification and Ritual
As a planet turns into invisible and strikes into and thru these three states it joins with the Solar and undergoes a kind of purification course of, like a ritual burning or cleaning. Historical Egyptians thought-about this a kind of loss of life, turning into invisible, after which a rebirth, when seen once more. This course of can result in a dismantling of matters and expression of the planet for a time period, earlier than a re-mergence that brings forth new potential.
If you’re born with a planet in one among these three states, it’s deep into its purification course of, like a devotee taking day trip of standard life to attend temple or endure a ritual rebirth. Whereas the consequences of combustion or being below the beams may be difficult, the hyperlinks to this mystical purifying and rebirth sequence can spotlight non secular issues or matters as typically being of curiosity.
Getting Technical: Motion
It’s applicable to think about whether or not a planet is shifting nearer to the Solar, and into combustion, or whether or not a planet is shifting away from the Solar and out of combustion. These are barely extra technical concerns which can be helpful for extra superior readers to think about. In the event you’re new to the concept of combustion, studying the idea and determining the right way to weave combustion into your chart interpretation would be the vital place to begin.
Combustion in a start chart
Not each chart may have a planet combust. Some charts may have multiple planet combust, like musician Pink who has Mercury, Saturn and Venus combust the Solar in Virgo. When working with a combust planet, it’s vital to determine the precise matters and themes which might be tied to the planet, so you possibly can appropriately describe and interpret the methods through which the combust planet may affect the chart and life.
Whereas there are some widespread matters to every planet, like love, relationships and self value for Venus, or confidence and assertiveness with Mars, there can even be particular matters hooked up to every planet based mostly on the homes on which their indicators are positioned in any given chart.
To ensure you acquire all of the matters that could be influenced by a combust planet, test the homes which have the next indicators on the cusp for every planet within the desk beneath.
Planets, Matters and Homes
| Planet | Basic Key phrases | Homes to Test |
| Moon | Feelings, mom, childhood, household, historical past, well being, meals, vitality | Most cancers home matters |
| Mercury | Communication, pondering, speaking, expression, know-how | Gemini and Virgo home matters |
| Venus | Love, relationships, self value, magnificence | Taurus and Libra home matters |
| Mars | Power, drive, motivation, confidence, braveness, anger, having the ability to put self first | Aries and Scorpio home matters |
| Jupiter | Optimism, luck, abundance, adventurous spirit, knowledge, instructing and sharing of information | Sagittarius and Pisces home matters |
| Saturn | Accountability, father determine, stability, safety, restraint, long run focus and planning, critical and considerate | Capricorn and Aquarius home matters |
It’s widespread to see a few of the normal matters and ideas of a planet strongly emphasised within the lifetime of a person with a combust planet, as if the tone and qualities of the planet infuse the Solar and grow to be an vital a part of their identification. These matters and themes might grow to be a part of the central ideas for the person, round which a lot else of their life and focus is centred.
The matters of the homes dominated by a planet combust are sometimes the place a few of the largest challenges, limitations or blocks may be discovered. Do be sure that to test the precise home the place you’ve gotten every of those indicators, in your personal chart or the chart of the individual you’re working with, and keep away from defaulting to the generic Aries rising chart format.
A Shopper Instance of Combustion in Actual Life
A consumer has Mercury combust, simply two levels from the Solar. They’ve an Aquarius rising, with the Solar and Mercury in Taurus. The Solar is at 11 Taurus and Mercury is at 9 Taurus. On this chart, Mercury is answerable for the 5th and the 8th homes, the place Mercury’s indicators of Gemini and Virgo reside. Mercury is positioned within the 4th home, alongside the Solar.
As Mercury is combust, this consumer may battle to obviously categorical themselves, or be heard by others. They might have to evaluate or repeat themselves, to ensure that what another person heard is what they stated. They might really feel their voice isn’t heard in household settings, (as Mercury and the Solar are within the fourth home of residence and household), or that with household, another person has a louder or dominating presence, compared to which they could really feel not seen or neglected, as if who they’re is just not absolutely appreciated or understood by their household.
As well as, they could expertise some challenges to do with hidden info, blocks or arduous to unravel issues with fifth home matters, like youngsters, fertility, creativity and having enjoyable or concerning eighth home issues like cash, taxes, debt, their associate’s funds, their very own psychological state and extra.
This consumer struggled for years to conceive and later in life was in a position to lastly give start to a a lot longed for little one. As well as, they’ve handled stressors regarding their associate’s revenue and tax state of affairs, which has prompted pressure and challenges for them as a pair.
Presents of a Combust Planet
I like to think about a planet combust working in a liminal place, like within the inside workings of your thoughts and psyche, or within the locations the place energetic consciousness and instinct reside. A planet combust might not be useful for managing and organising sensible, actual world issues that depend on time, construction and readability– these constructs of an organised, practical, structured world. However they could be uniquely helpful within the realms of psychology, the psychic and emotional fields in addition to in artistic areas.
There are quite a few examples of profitable people with a combust planet. They excel in a variety of fields that depend on a robust sense of the intangible and a willingness to work in ways in which draw on consciousness of the unseen and the sensed, the place issues aren’t sure however the place potentialities and sensation maintain worth. Planets which might be combust might maintain particular presents at serving to or encouraging you to dive inside, to discover and get to know the inside workings of your self or others.
As you navigate life with a combust planet, chances are you’ll study to search out your approach via the darkish, and will develop a robust instinctive sense. This may imply you’re extra snug in locations of darkness, or in states of uncertainty, than your friends, mates, household or purchasers is perhaps.
When you have a planet combust chances are you’ll profit from cultivating reference to your personal emotional state, or from studying extra about human behaviour and emotions. On this approach, a planet combust can present expertise, presents or skills with feelings and emotions, with instinct and with artistic inspiration, like tapping into the generally obscure however nonetheless potent messages from the muses.
One other consumer has the Solar conjunct Mercury in Virgo within the sixth home. Mercury is at 19 Virgo and the Solar is at 21 Virgo.
Mercury guidelines the third and sixth homes, and makes a good trine side to the MC, which is in Capricorn. Whereas this consumer has handled their very own anxiousness and needed to learn to handle their busy thoughts, in addition they excelled of their chosen subject, of psychology, serving to look after and information others as to the right way to handle their very own minds and psychological state.
Additional Concerns of Combustion
One historical thought is {that a} planet in its personal signal is protected against combustion, as if the vitality of being in a single’s personal signal, exaltation or certain/time period reduces or removes the influence of combustion. I’m unsure I wholly agree with this.
Whereas I do assume it’s higher for a planet to be in its personal signal and combust than in a wierd signal and combust, the planet will nonetheless be invisible.
It’s my expertise that most of the results of combustion are nonetheless current in these situations, maybe with a greater potential for a helpful or productive use of the combust planet, as within the case of the consumer who’s a psychologist above. On this occasion, the planet might battle with the affect of combustion, but it surely does have the sources of rulership or exaltation readily available to attract on.
The Impression of the Ruling Planet on on a Planet that’s Combust
One other consideration is that in conventional types of astrology, the ruler of one thing impacts how a factor expresses, by way of how useful and supportive to the individual a placement is perhaps, or how a lot of a hindrance or distraction it is perhaps. Right here’s an instance that illustrates this.
Let’s evaluate the charts of Princess Diana and a consumer. Each have a Sagittarius rising, and Gemini on the descendant. Which means that Mercury would be the ruling planet of the seventh home in each charts and answerable for the subject of relationships.
Princess Diana has Mercury retrograde at 3 Most cancers within the 8th home. The Solar is at 9 Most cancers, making Mercury combust. All of the issues of combustion, about not seeing occasions or circumstances clearly are in play, and relate to the subject of relationships and marriage.
Princess Diana has the Moon – the ruler of the Solar conjunct Mercury side and combustion in Most cancers – in Aquarius conjunct the South Node. Being in Aquarius is just not the priority right here however the Moon’s proximity to the South Node is. This can be a depleting, diminishing affect for the Moon, which is able to severely restrict the Moon’s capacity to assist out or make up for any lack of readability indicated by Mercury being combust.
As her marriage to Prince Charles unravelled, Princess Diana famously talked about how there have been three folks of their marriage, as she slowly come to see and realise what many round her already knew, that Prince Charles was in love with Camilla.
Alternatively, my consumer has the Solar and Mercury in Taurus, within the sixth home of their chart. The Solar is at 2 Taurus and Mercury is at 10 Taurus. Like Diana, the issues and concerns of combustion will have an effect on Mercury and can affect the matters of relationships and marriage. Nevertheless, on this occasion, the Solar conjunct Mercury side and combustion is dominated by Venus, who herself is in Taurus, at 23 levels.
Right here, the combust planet, Mercury, is dominated by a planet, on this case Venus, with extra to supply. The advantages Venus has obtainable from being in one among her residence indicators, that of entry to sources, and her normal inclination to assist stabilise issues and assist accumulation, has extra of a useful affect, going some option to fortify and make up for a few of the shortcomings of Mercury combust.
This isn’t an ideal remediation, and doesn’t take away from the truth that Mercury is invisible and can nonetheless miss issues, but it surely does present the lacking of issues as indicated by combustion to be much less damaging or dangerous, or to have lesser results or penalties. This consumer had an extended, 20 + 12 months marriage earlier than separating from their partner. Within the consumer’s case, their partner was consumed by their profession, leaving little time for his or her marriage or household life.
Being conscious of a few of these totally different {qualifications} round combustion might encourage you to maintain an open thoughts for the various methods through which a combust planet may manifest, in addition to a few of the qualifying components round what may make a combustion might tough than anticipated, or much less dangerous than anticipated.
Going Inside, Shifting Ahead
Loads has been written about combustion that may make you concern having a planet on this state. Take into account there may be at all times area between the idea on the web page and the lived expertise of a chart placement. I hope that by coming to grasp the precise challenges a combust planet might need, in addition to any explicit perception it could provide, you’ll be capable to work with any combust planet holistically.
For extra on a combust planet, you may like this webinar.
This text initially appeared in Wellbeing Journal in 2023
