This Week's Astrology Term: The Midheaven

The Midheaven or Medium Coeli (MC for short) is the highest point in the sky at the moment of birth. Like the Ascendant, the degree marking the Midheaven changes every four minutes or so. Taken together, the degree of the Ascendant and the degree of the Midheaven form the horoscope. Most systems for dividing the horoscope circle into sections (called houses) derive from the placement of the Ascendant and the Midheaven.

The Midheaven or MC usually represents the beginning of the 10th House in a horoscope. It is associated with career, accomplishment and our “public” image or reputation. The person with Aries on the Ascendant, for example, might seem impulsive and reckless in terms of his or her outer personality but if this person has Capricorn on the MC (which is likely) then he or she will strive toward substantial accomplishments that have long term value. In the end, the reputation of this person would be that of a productive and rather conventional citizen, despite the more adventurous attributes of their outer personality.

Directly opposite the Midheaven, we have the Imum Coeli (or I.C). Some people also refer to it (incorrectly in purely astronomical terms) as the Nadir. It is generally associated with the home and family connections.