You’ve heard about your zodiac sign and you probably also know about your Ascendant sign and your Moon sign. But have you heard of the Midheaven and the important role it plays in your birth chart? Best known for its relationship to your career and vocation potential, this highly significant point in the sky reflects all kinds of things, from your relationship with authority to your desire to be a social climber. What does your Midheaven say about you?
What is the Midheaven in Astrology?
In classical astrology, the Midheaven point is known as the medium coeli – often abbreviated to MC - which literally means ‘the middle of the sky’. It was thought that this was the highest point of the Sun’s path across the sky that could be seen from the birth point on earth. Technically, due to complex math, we now know that’s not quite right – but in the symbolic language of astrology, this point in the sky therefore represents your very highest aspirations. Simply put, it’s where you want to be.
Incidentally, if you’re still standing where you were born, at the moment of your birth, and you could see through the earth beneath your feet, you’d also see the opposite point in the sky below you on the other side of the planet. This is known as the Imum Coeli – ‘bottom of the sky’ – this point is abbreviated to IC and it represents your roots and your foundations in life; where you’ve come from as you head towards your Midheaven.
What Does the Midheaven Represent?
We’ve already seen that the Midheaven represents your aspirations. In practical terms, we often consider the Midheaven to represent the career or vocation you would most like to have, or in which you would be most likely to succeed – not always the same thing!
This means that the Midheaven is vitally important when it comes to vocational astrology or career planning.
However, a true understanding of the MC means moving beyond simple career issues. The Midheaven also represents authority in your life: how much of it you potentially have or don’t have, and how you react to the authority others may have over you. Linked to this are ideas of status, too, so the Midheaven tells us about how important your social status is to you and whether or not you are the kind of person who likes to keep up appearances.
The Midheaven can tell us about how comfortable you are – or not – in the limelight and about how conventional or unconventional you are when it comes to fitting in and following tradition and rules.
Most of all, the Midheaven in astrology is a reliable indicator of ambition – remember that ambition does not only pertain to career, work or status. The Midheaven speaks of financial ambition too, as well as lifestyle ambitions, personal aspirations, spiritual aspirations – anything which deep down you are aiming for and hoping to achieve.
Is the Midheaven the Cusp of the Tenth House?
That depends on what house system the astrologer is using. Often, yes. Sometimes, no. The Midheaven is always the point which was directly overhead at birth, but depending how the natal chart is calculated, this may be represented as a point which happens to fall in the 8th, 9th, 10th or 11th house.
What Is the Midheaven Sign?
The Midheaven sign is simply the zodiac sign within which the Midheaven point is located in your birth chart.
Here’s a quick guide to how different zodiac signs manifest the Midheaven point:
Midheaven in Aries
Midheaven in Aries people are strongly motivated to succeed – sometimes at any and all costs. Highly competitive, they can be cutthroat in their career field. There are enormous leadership skills here and a lot of innovation too, but impulsive or foolhardy career choices can delay success.
Promising careers: The military, sports, self-employment, emergency work, fire-fighting, angel investing, motivational speaking
Midheaven in Taurus
Patient, tenacious and hands-on practical, Midheaven in Taurus people are in it for the long haul. These hard-working individuals may take a while to succeed in a career, but they won’t give up. However, inertia may mean that they get stuck for a while in the wrong career or the wrong direction.
Promising careers: Construction industry, banking and finance, farming, artisan crafts, cooking, interior design, the arts.
Midheaven in Gemini
Midheaven in Gemini people are highly versatile and flexible and think nothing of switching career fields at lightning speed. Communication is their greatest strength, but they do sometimes suffer from scattering their attention too widely and not zeroing in on what they truly want.
Promising careers: Sales and marketing, interpreting or translation, journalism, the media, freelancing, portfolio careers, airline industry.
Midheaven in Cancer
Those with a Midheaven in Cancer tend to be shrewd and savvy, with a good head for business. Fundamentally, however, they want to make a difference in life and so often gravitate towards careers where they can help others or nurture the vulnerable. They should beware of taking things in business too personally, however.
Promising careers: Nursing, the medical profession, cooking, working with children, working with animals, teaching, local government
Midheaven in Leo
Midheaven in Leo people love to be the center of attention at work and are natural entertainers and hosts. They are also very good at organizing. Because Leo energy always thinks big, high-end corporate careers can suit these individuals, who will be strongly motivated by money and glamor as well as enjoyment.
Promising careers: Acting, the arts, law, fashion, social media, sales, marketing, event planning, hospitality.
Midheaven in Virgo
People with the Midheaven in Virgo like to be the power behind the throne. They tend to be very efficient and reliable, but an unwillingness to push themselves forward can result in unfulfilled potential. Detail-focused and diligent, these individuals are excellent administrators in any field.
Promising careers: Scientist, alternative medicine, publishing, therapist, nutritionist, retail.
Midheaven in Libra
Midheaven in Libra people are highly diplomatic and personable, able to negotiate and liaise at the highest levels. Charming but with a strong sense of strategy, they excel in very sociable jobs, but a certain indecisiveness can get worse under intense pressure.
Promising careers: Diplomat, beautician, museum or gallery curator, hospitality, lawyer, negotiator.
Midheaven in Scorpio
People with a Scorpio Midheaven are extremely focused and determined, sometimes obsessing about their end goals. Extremely resourceful and often able to thrive under difficult circumstances, they are sometimes drawn to the darker or more hidden careers.
Promising careers: Forensics, hospice work, death or funeral care, research, mining, psychologist, psychotherapist, intelligence agencies.
Midheaven in Sagittarius
Sagittarius Midheaven people love to work outdoors or with considerable freedom. They are upbeat, smart and good at inspiring others. However, a certain reckless streak can cause impulsive career decisions which don’t always work out well. These people need a high energy job.
Promising careers: Lecturer, religious minister, park ranger, work with horses or wildlife, sports, the travel industry, environmental work.
Midheaven in Capricorn
Highly ambitious and motivated by status and success, people with the Midheaven in Capricorn are absolutely focused on their career. Quite corporate-minded, they are also good with high level responsibility and they work very well under pressure. However, a focus on material rewards can inhibit other life ambitions.
Promising careers: Accountancy, law, politics, law enforcement, the military, engineering or mechanical design, IT.
Midheaven in Aquarius
Midheaven in Aquarius people are futurists, attracted to careers at the cutting edge of progress. They are also often loners, preferring to work alone or in very small teams. Independence matters a lot to these individuals, but they are highly motivated to work for the greater good of society.
Promising careers: Medical research, cutting edge tech, space exploration, charity work, environmental work, social media and apps.
Midheaven in Pisces
Those with the Midheaven in Pisces tend to be highly artistic as well as sensitive, caring and compassionate towards others. They don’t thrive in difficult working conditions, however, and can easily suffer from work-related stress. Finding a true calling or vocation matters far more to them than money.
Promising careers: Caring professions, artist, writer, poet, musician, charity work, photography, graphic design.
