The Descendant in the Birth Chart: Meaning, Symbolism and Wisdom

The Descendant Astrological Symbol Glyph Meaning — **our shadow self is our point of greatest attraction**

**Keywords:** the other, one-on-one relationship, point of greatest attraction, shadow self, unintegrated aspects of self, projection, acting out, exteriorisation, marriage partner, business partner, lovers, perceived enemies

Tool For Relating

The Descendant is our greatest point of attraction and describes our long-term relationships, one-to-one committed exchanges with lovers, business partners, as well as our perceived enemies and opponents. The Descendant is closely tied to the symbolism of the seventh house and cannot be considered without its counterpart, the Ascendant, which lies at the opposite of the axis. On a technical level, the Descendant is where the ecliptic intersects with the horizon in the west. Symbolically speaking, this is what we push away from ourselves, which hence makes up our unconscious Self.

I’m The Problem, It’s Me

The Descendant’s sign expresses qualities we tend not to own or see in ourselves. At its core, it constitutes our denied ‘Shadow Self’ — traits we deny or ignore in ourselves, yet proceed to externalise and project onto others. Partners see these traits very clearly, and it is in the realm of relationships where we meet ‘the Other’. Anything we refuse to own, integrate or identify with, will inevitably emerge in our intimate one-to-one relationships. Although the array of traits we dislike seem to be generated by others, we are intuitively attracted to these ‘lost’ parts of ourselves, drawing them towards us in the form of partners. The Descendant’s sign thus embodies a hidden and challenging lesson to integrate these very qualities into our conscious identity of Self.

Of Shadow and Light

The Descendant can be viewed as a mirror to show us who we really are, since nothing reveals our true self, nor makes such demands, or challenges us as directly as the arena of relationship. Encompassing the whole spectrum of transaction and connection, here we meet the idea of ‘not me’ and engage in the balancing act of compromise and the push-pull of negotiation. The more we can consciously integrate this opposite side of our chart, the more rounded we ultimately become. This is the turning point when we finally attract and engage in healthy relationships. If you need deeper insights into how your Descendant placement operates in personal and business relationships and how to integrate its position to engage in healthy relationships, please book a birth chart reading here.

The Descendant in the Birth Chart

The Descendant’s sign in the birth chart shows our personal tool of relating — how do we relate, who do we relate with, and what qualities do our one-to-one relationships exhibit? The Descendant highlights our greatest projections and describes the experiences and qualities we encounter in significant, long-term relationships, including marriage as well as business transactions. Planetary aspects to this point in the birth chart can significantly modify and deepen its expression in our lives. Any planets we have close to the Descendant are also likely to colour our experience of relationships vividly and the types of partners we attract.