One of the most common questions when first discovering astrocartography: ”where is the best place for me?”
While some think there is an easy one-size-fits-all answer for all people based on certain lines, it’s a bit more complex than that.
When using astrocartography to understand the combination of energies at any given location with their various combination of planetary lines, “best” is very subjective. What may be “good” for one person is not necessarily ideal for everyone. And as we all go through different chapters in our lives, planets/lines that may be supportive at one point in your life may not necessarily be optimal long-term. Likewise, what may be unfavorable to many people could potentially be perfectly fitting for you. And while there may be specific (combos of) lines that may not be suitable for permanent relocations, they may be highly conducive to necessary growth for temporary moves or visits. There are many factors to be considered when thoroughly assessing what options may be “best.”
First & foremost, it is essentially to get clear on your specific wants, needs, and intentions. (Both conscious and, as much as possible, unconscious.)
Giving weight to the opinions of others favouring & disliking certain lines who are not aware of the details of your unique circumstances can potentially be a BIG mistake. (One commonly made when first beginning to explore online astrocartography forums with more people regurgitating opinions rather than professionals advocating an objective assessment and diligent custom-tailoring of mature input.)
There may be planets that are especially suitable to the type of career path you’re on or could excellently facilitate required healing & growth that many strangers might fail to recognize actually could be “best” for your individual situation. If listening to others projecting their biases as truth, one could easily rule out the possibility of places/lines that the mind might overlook as potentially excellent. Following the mind’s interpretation of surface-level textbook descriptions could often be misleading, and it is not uncommon to resort to escapism and bypassing in search of & avoiding what others dictate as “good” & “bad.” Meanwhile, a deeper understanding of the yin & yang natures of all planets and how to effectively work with them in context of your particular life’s conditions can begin to reveal opportunities often missed at first glance.
For some examples:
Not everyone is a fan of Saturn, and many irresponsibly insist others are “best” off avoiding it; however, there are times & places where a person can greatly benefit from the earthly structure & discipline of the planet. While many would often prefer to avoid hard work and have everything come to them easily, it is often disregarded that many of life’s greatest rewards can only come via the Saturnian responsibility of consistent effort over time.
Likewise, Mars is often thought of as another “malefic” that can bring hostility, conflict, and even violence. However, it is also an energy that when managed responsibility, is a fuel for healthy self-assertion and achievement of major goals - which can certainly be “good” to have in the mix in some cases, especially for those who may be into any sort of competitive sports or physical activity where Aries’ energy is naturally expressed at some of its best.
Likewise, there is a great amount of of controversy around the topic of Pluto… a planet which is NOT always the easiest for anyone, however may be the ideal energy for powerful transformation. As any planet/line is bound to be experienced differently based on the level of one’s consciousness & integrity, Pluto has potential for extremes of both the light & dark - whether lacking healthy boundaries and being drawn into highly toxic relationships & situations OR wisely channeling the Plutonic/Scorpionic energies constructively & beneficially into psychological or shamanic work, explorations into the occult, or dealings with powerful people & other people’s resources. Just as nuclear energy can power a city or destroy a city, so too Pluto holds the potential for destruction and evolutionary growth depending on one’s level of maturity, intentions, and choice of response to the challenges it may bring. And perhaps somewhat similarly with the other nuclear force of Uranus, albeit its working more akin to the lightning-strike bringing change in an instant and dealing with the higher mind & revolutionary innovation rather than Pluto’s slowness & depth.
Or considering the similarity with Chiron, which deals with both wounds and healing- there may be potential for deeply-scarring events or relationships, but also immense healing and the activation of one’s higher potentials of the master alchemist (which could be particularly suitable for one in any sort of healing/creative arts or business.)
On the flip side… while many people think Venus & Jupiter may be the equivalent of an astrological Santa Claus that are the “best” lines to relocate to, this is not always the case, as they too have their yin & yang. While Venus may rule love & beauty, it can also facilitate laziness, superficiality, oversensitivity, and indifference. While Jupiter brings expansion, it doesn’t not always make the discernment of what is being expanded and thus expand that which is not helpful, leading to overindulgence, extravagence, fanatacism, and impracticality. Or while the Sun may also be looked as “good,” being in its spotlight & strong masculine energy may not always be ideal for everyone at all times.
And of course, it is rarely ever possible to focus on one single line and determine what’s “best” based on that alone, as there is more often than not several lines and parans where one may be considering relocating, ALL of which are to be factored in.
One “good” major line line may not immediately equate to being your “best” location due to others there. Or what some may typically view as a “bad” line could potentially be supportive and worked with constructively in combination with others that counterbalance and/or compliment it.
As you may now see, there’s a bit of complexity to this art & science of astrocartography, with alot data points coming into the algorithmic & alchemical assessment of options in search of “best.” (And we have not even touched on details of the natal chart, transits and progressions here yet.)
Another fundamental principle of the unique approach you’ll find to the use of astrocartography here: there may also be a difference between the mind & ego’s desires & judgements of “good/bad” and what is actually “best” for our soul’s growth & needs.
With maturity, comes the realization that life is not all fun & games at some times; and while it may be part of human nature to avoid conflict and seek pleasure instead, doing drugs and having orgies all day might not be “best” for what we actually require to fulfill our purpose here in this lifetime. (An extreme example, of course, to emphasize the point.) Even on the “best” of lines, we will still inevitably encounter challenges - it’s just part of the human experience. And even on the “hardest” of lines there is tremendous opportunity and potential for satisfaction & success as rising to the challenges. In fact, it is often through harnessing the tension offered through the more difficult aspects of life that we evolve the most… and thus, a great gap existing between what superficial textbook descriptions & common opinions of “good/bad” lines and what is “best” for us at different stages of our journeys. This is why if continuing further down this path - whether simply continuing exploring the written content here or booking a consultation - you will sooner or later come across the emphasis on the fundamental components of Human Design known as “Strategy & Authority” to guide your decisions…
Ultimately… no one else is equipped to say with certainty where is “best” for you.And it can potentially be equally as devastating a mistake to delegate authority to your own mind and/or ego.
Whether looking at it as “instinct,” “intuition,” “inner guidance,” or through the lens of the more specific mechanics Human Design’s framework provides to better attune to the inherent guidance system of your body/genetic vehicle, there is some part of us that is drawn/called to certain places. And whether subscribing to concepts of fate, destiny, or soul contracts, there is a higher/deeper order to/behind our lives that include some sort of “blueprint…”
The deeper one proceeds into the world of astrocartography, the more intriguing it becomes as we more clearly see the patterns inherent in the blueprint. At some point, there is a shift from “trying to find one’s best place” to observing the perfection of your life’s storyline unfolding through the matrix of different energies in different chapters & locations. And more importantly attuning to your innate compass to guide you correctly in ways that no solely-logical approach to interpreting astrocartography can…
At this point, “best” is revealed not through the interpretation of the astrology itself, but *through your own correct response to what all is discovered through the process of its exploration - all “good/bad” judgements abandoned to clear space for perceiving details of the unique sets of challenges & opportunities potentially awaiting at your different options… and recognizing the resonance (or lack of) with them
Every person’s soul journey is unique, and no two people will experience the same planet/line exactly the same. No lines guarantee a “good” experience, nor “bad” ones. Sometimes the patterns visible through the lens of astrology clearly articulate how/when/where certain locations are “best” for different chapters with different needs, wants, and intentions, and sometimes not. Though even when the theory of astrocartography matches up perfectly with real life experience, it is of the highest recommendation here to follow your instinct/intuition / Strategy & Authority to lead what is best for you - even if it leads to “hard/difficult” lines and circumstances providing what is essential for the lessons in and integration of those energies for your highest soul growth.
May these foundational perspectives serve you well in finding your way through the fascinating realm of astrocartography and its application in charting your alchemical journey through the world with increasing clarity, confidence, purpose, strength, and grace, and may many blessing await on your path… 🙏💫