Hi, there is a 'Sticky' at the top of the column for the 'Degree Symbol' forum on 'Understanding the Enumeration of the Degrees.' You should read it.
The four points of the chart axis are the most important thing you could do with Sabian Symbolic interpretation to a natal chart.
The Asc., Desc., I.C. and M.C. are symbolically [in the same order] "WHO", "WHERE-TO" [or whom you are to become in this lifetime], 'HOW", and "WHY".
this is explained by Dane Rudhyar in his book "The Sabian Symbols. An Astrological Mandala." I recommend his book,for both the understanding of the symbols and the technique and methods of use and for his particular gift for altering a few of the symbols slightly and the layers of meaning he finds in them and His excellent writing skills that give him such ease of communication ...conveying them to the reader. If you stay with the study and practice you'll eventually want a copy of the symbols by Marc Edmond Jones as well.
Then figure the Sabian Symbols for the more major Astrological Parts. The Part of Fortune, Spirit, Intelligence, Increase and Benifits, Service, Inheritance,Catastrophe, Sudden Advancement, Love.
[Note ...recent revelations and understandings in support of Dane Rudhyar's implications and the 'Esoteric School of astrology' that is associated with the Theosophists. Gives all support and reason to read the I.C. as "WHY" ...and the M.C. as "HOW". The difference being that the one direction leads one more meshed in Maya [Involutionary]...the other is the 'yogi' way...the Spiritual aspirants way...the way out of the illusion and entrapment in Maya/materiality. [Evolutionary].
The symbol you find for your Part of Fortune is that attitude, action, outlook, frame of mind, whatever...that you must actively keep conscious of and always in a continuous effort of manifestation to provide you with the most fortunate cycles of events that will aid and assist your everyday goals and trials too.
The Part of Catastrophe is the symbol you don't want to activate...but all indication so far has shown that the 'Catastrophe' symbolized is inevitable...but being forewarned will let you at least mitigate it... control the damages...so to speak. President Obamas Part of Catastrophe is the 1st degree of Pisces
[from Rudhyars' book]
"IN A CROWDED MARKETPLACE FARMERS AND MIDDLEMEN DISPLAY A GREAT VARIETY OF PRODUCTS.
KEYNOTE: The process of commingling and interchange which at all levels demonstrates the health of a community.
..... In this section of the cycle a man reaps what he has sown. But it may also be honors, social prestige, the interests of well-managed wealth. In this.....scene what is stressed is the coming together, ...... In a practical sense, the symbol, whenever it is found, emphasizes that the time has come to take full advantage of the social opportunities to bargain and to trade.
This is the first stage of the process related to the sixty-seventh five-fold sequence of symbols. It refers to all that can be gained from social interplay and especially, in the broadest sense of the word, from
COMMERCE."
[full text of the symbols and more at this link:
http://mindfire.ca/The Sabian Symbols/An Astrological Mandala - Contents.htm
Dubyas was in a degree of the Zodiac for which the symbol is of a man standing up for his own integrity and making his own decisions and voicing his own opinion.
...I think you can agree that each one is that particular Mans catastrophe...Obama's is the economy.
The symbol you find for your Part of Increase will assist you in prompting the $$$ flow into your life way more easier [there are a few exceptions...as My brothers' Part of Imprisonment is the same degree of the Zodiac as his Part of Increase...as the part of Imprisonment has been shown to be 'That form which we are kept from...[Imprisoned away from it...or you can think of 'it' being imprisoned from you...another example would be Taurus 18*...as it is a symbol of renouncing material things how can $$$ into your life if you refuse it?]...as the symbol found for that part is one like that of the Part of Fortune...in that you want to make it a conscious daily effort to remember both those and a few other of these symbols and incorporate them into your life.
Each house cusp [I only use Placidus for this] symbol can be viewed as the role you must play as an actor in the affairs of the particular House in question. The particular qualities of the planets or Luminary in question should be seen as expressing itself as the symbol found in the degree for those. ...for example my Pluto is in the 21st degree of Leo...and the symbol is about the premature expansion of consciousness. I twas the first symbol that i took serious consideration for cause of validity as I had an OBE meditating the very first time I tried it in 1968 at age 15. ...something that should of taken most of a lifetime to achieve if it is even achieved [or at least a considerable amount of practice ...for the great majority of Humankind - ] ...the symbol for my Uranus at the 16th of Cancer in my 8th house.
[ibid.]
"
A MAN STUDYING A MANDALA IN FRONT OF HIM, WITH THE HELP OF A VERY ANCIENT BOOK.
KEYNOTE: A deep concern with problems raised by the process of personality integration.
...and Uranus is the higher octave of Mercury..."The Great Awkener'...and, as I said the Sabian Symbols "Are An Astrological Mandala"
..check symbols for the Moons Nodes' too.
...and of last night my friend Mitch and I concluded that the Hermetic lots very much need to be symbolically understood and put into utilization in each ones life.
We studied ours and compare them with the ones I got for the natal chart I propose/Claim to be that of Yeshua/Jesus. The Hermetic Lot of Courage, Lot of Necessity, Lot of Victory and Lot of Eros.
We believe that anyone that is involved in any way with doing some part of function in the inevitable conflicts and transformations that will occur next year will need to know them for their self. Even if you don't believe that you are of any significance...you might find, out that, it is very much otherwise at a later date...maybe at a 'most very last possible time to be of positive influence for a 'Great Cause'
I am going to start a thread on that in the next day or two.